The First Land Herald/440-08-38
| Article Number: 69 |
| Dateline: 440-08-38 |
| FOREST OF NIGHT RESEARCH TO RESUME Some may recall that last year a man named Eyst brought people together for an expedition into the Forest of the Night. After years of alchemical studies, he was curious about the fact that remedies cure almost all that ails us, yet nothing has been discovered to relieve plant life which suffers the touch of blight. Eyst saw the haunted Forest outside of Leth Deriel as the perfect subject. While he did consider ties to its creator Sithsia and her infamous tower, he was doubtful she would appear. While studying the curse of blight afflicting various plantlife, including the dryads and nyads present, Eyst led a foray into the Forest of Night with offerings of water, rare flora, and some even brought worms. Accompanied by playing from the musicians present, they placed the gifts at a spot deep in the woods, hoping to gain attention from the local fae inhabitants. Eyst initially hoped the nyads or dryads of the forest would have a deeper connection to it, and be able to assist in his research. These creatures, however, remained silent, and the experiment instead resulted in a series of hoots followed by the appearance a strange figure from the following Moon Mage vision: "It was a scene of thick pine and cedar, low growing groves of juniper and holly, birds chirruping and flitting between the canopy above. As the visionist wandered, they got the strange impression that they were being watched, a foreboding malevolent danger followed. Suddenly, the birds fell silent. Strong, calloused hands covered their mouth and pulled them into a copse of holly, while spiny leaves tore at clothes and skin. The visionist found themself staring into the eyes of a man wearing a crown of antlers, draped in leaves and vines, mud covering his face. He held a single finger to his lips and pointed up. As they slowly raised their eyes, the vision faded." Around this time, sightings were reported from Boar Clan to Riverhaven, and I discovered that the enigmatic figure had also appeared during a Ranger meeting. By Hanryu's account, attendees saw a shadow visible from the treeline, moving silently between trees. The flash of motion was followed by an instinctive feeling, a remnant of a time long before civilization, as if they were being watched -- or hunted. As they turned to look, it was gone. Then, more movement darted along the treeline, abruptly and swiftly. Though they could not clearly see, they were able to make note that the shadow was hunched over, as if moving on four limbs, and were able to almost make out a large pair of antlers. Rather than moving like a prey animal, however, they could not help but notice a single pair of predatory eyes watching as it skulked. Visiting the Forest for a second time, Eyst held a meeting on the platform of the Silverclaw Hub to discuss his previous findings. Heralded once again by hooting sounds, the antlered face appeared from within the woods, seemingly drawn to the enchante being sung by Ariya. I hooted back in the direction from which she noticed its gaze, but I did not hear an owl's response. Instead, I noticed a figure from behind the treeline, silently watching me. In a final attempt to communicate, Kamisama beseeched the dark to sing, creating a series of haunting clicks which echoed throughout the area. He alone noted a single figure from within the treeline, and his gaze lifted to meet its eyes. Kamisama reported he saw a silhouette of antlers that extended dramatically upward from its face. Its head dipped in a nod of recognition, and he watched it step quickly away, further into the forest. The figure was now, truly, gone. I hoped to catch our readers up on these happenings as Eyst prepares to continue his studies in the near future. I also wanted to mention that, although his original point of concern was the corruption that afflicts the trees, twisting and causing them pain, he is shifting his focus to include the antlered figure given its consistent presence. He hopes to collaborate with any Rangers, Bards, or folks who may have a means of attracting and communicating with the antlered figure or its kind. Sincerely, Shaylynne Kendialahle |
| Real Date: Unknown Date |
| Subject(s): Ariya Bard Boar Clan Dryad Eyst Fae Forest of Night Hanryu Kamisama Leth Deriel Moon Mage Nyad Ranger Riverhaven Silverclaw Hub Sithsia |
| Author(s): Shaylynne |