NOVEL NEXT 38. The Darkwood
They walked another hour, following the winding trail through rougher and rougher terrain. Night had fallen, and were it not for Kargan's Sacrificial Armor, which cast an eerie crimson aura around them, they would have had no light at all. It almost functioned like infrared vision, given the hue. The armor dissipated every five minutes, forcing him to cast it again, almost always accompanied by a grunt of pain.
Despite this, Kargan seemed unfazed, accepting it as part of his duty. Justin felt bad for the guy. He wondered if he ever got used to it.
As they ventured deeper into the Darkwood, Justin's sense of unease only grew. The towering trees seemed to press in on them. Strange sounds echoed through the forest—unfamiliar bird calls, the rustling of unseen creatures, and the occasional low growl that sent shivers down his spine. A faint mist crept along the forest floor.
They hadn't come upon a fork in the trail, as expected. Justin was afraid that they had missed it in the darkness.
"We need to get well away from that Vault, wherever it is," Kargan said, his voice tense.
"I'm afraid we're getting closer to it," Lila said, her eyes darting around.
It was at that moment that Justin noticed an angry buzz. Flying right before them was what appeared to be a giant wasp.
Kargan immediately reacted, casting Blood Aegis just in time to send the insect reeling back. Lila let loose two of her knives, both finding their mark. The monster landed with a sickening splat.
"This is the Forest of Death," Justin said.
They had no choice but to keep going. Justin was afraid to even get out his map, which would mean dropping his concentration. Any lapse in alertness could end in their deaths.
He just had to trust it was still leading them north, that they had taken the right turn.
Another hour passed. Kargan set a fast pace. They went up and down hills, across small streams, as the narrow path took them higher in elevation.
"We're getting closer to the Umbers now," Kargan said, his voice low. "Too close."
At last, after what he guessed to be midnight, Justin saw a light through the trees. Hope rose in his chest. "Please tell me that's Greenhollow."
"It's green," Lila said. "I'll give it that much."
Indeed, the light had a green hue to it, not what would be expected of a small village. The light belonged to something else, and Justin already had an idea of what.
His worst fears were confirmed when they rounded the path, coming face-to-face with what looked like a broken wall covered in vines, the trees of the Darkwood interspersed with broken stone buildings and towers. It was hard to tell in the darkness, but it looked like the ruins of an ancient city, long claimed by the forest.
The entire area was surrounded by a green veil of magic that made a dome over the ruins. The stone structures and towers were covered in moss and vines, crumbling with age, yet still holding a ghostly majesty. The trees had grown through and around the buildings, their roots and branches intertwining with the stone, a hauntingly beautiful blend of nature and architecture.
Kargan surveyed the scene with a furrowed brow. "I…can't believe it. We've definitely come too far west. Justin, have you been checking the map?"
"Not for a while, no. I've had my eyes peeled for that path you mentioned."
"We must have gotten sidetracked," Kargan said in frustration. "We're way off base here."
"Well, where are we then?" Lila asked. "Because this city looks big, ancient, and scary."
Kargan shook his head. "I…can't be sure. But if I had to make a guess, this would be the ruins of Eldareth. But Eldareth doesn't exist anymore."
"Eldareth?" Lila asked tentatively.
"It was an Ilvari Elven city, truly ancient. As in, over two thousand years old, ancient. The clan elders always tried to avoid this area. It is said to be completely swallowed by the Darkwood."
"Damn," Justin said. "There are elves? You mean tall and pointed-eared elves? And I'm just now learning this?"
"Yes, but they aren't around anymore," Kargan said. "They were known for being strong with magic and quite advanced. Of course, there hasn't been an elf left in Serenthel in at least fifteen hundred years, and all of Eyrth for a thousand or more."
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Justin felt a pang of sadness. "So, they're all dead?"
"Yes. If this is really Eldareth, we've definitely strayed too far to the west. It's said to be located in a hidden valley that sort of carves its way into the Umbers. There was a big war between elves and orcs back in the day. The elders say that the elven spirits are especially violent toward those of my kind."
Justin frowned. "Can't we go around it? Or turn back?"
Kargan shook his head. "The trees are too thick to go around. We'd lose too much time. Besides, the city occupies a pass that cuts right through the Umbers. You see, the mountain range sort of veers east here instead of north and south for a small section. We're in that part now, called the Serpent's Bend. So, the fastest way would be to go through it. Unless we want to backtrack and see where we missed the turn."
"We didn't miss any turn," Lila said. "I've been watching the trail closely this entire time. I think the magic of the forest is playing tricks on us."
"You're saying the road changed?" Kargan said. "This is the same path I followed down from the mountains. And I definitely didn't run across this place."
"If it's the same path, then why did it lead here?" Justin asked. "Can magic really switch the direction of the trail? Wouldn't these shield stones prevent that?"
Kargan grunted. "They would have, assuming we stayed on the right path. I don't know about you, but I haven't seen a shield stone in miles."
"If we go back, it could change on us again," Justin said. "I think we should check this Vault at the very least. If we read the description, we're not actually committing to anything."
"A Vault in a city like this one will be far beyond our party's abilities," Kargan said. "We might camp in front of it tonight, assuming it's low enough in level. But we'd need to head back into the forest tomorrow and take our chances. The important thing is we need to make sure we keep pointing north, even if we have to go off trail."
"You said the city is in a pass," Lila said. "What's on the other side?"
"The Northwood," Kargan said. "Much gentler terrain, to be sure. The path to Windfall would be fairly clear, admittedly."
"Maybe we should check out the Vault first," Lila said. "Who knows? It might be doable."
Kargan sighed, clearly not liking this. "It doesn't hurt to learn more."
As they approached what appeared to be the entrance to the city, a large archway covered in ancient runes, a notification appeared before Justin's eyes.
Vault Discovered: The Fate of Eldareth
Recommended Party Level: 8
Average Party Level: 4.667
Risk Level: Extremely Dangerous! Your party is well below the recommended level. Some challenges may be difficult, perhaps even fatal.
Description: Eldareth, once a flourishing city, now lies in desolate ruin. However, the city's ancient magic endures, offering adventurers a rare glimpse into a forgotten past.
Over two millennia ago, during the twilight of the Age of Wonders, the Elven Kingdom of Ilvaria and the Orcish Confederation were embroiled in a brutal war over the fate of Serenthel. Despite the splendor of the past, it was a dark time for Ilvaria, especially as the war dragged on with no clear resolution.
Your party must assume the role of a diplomatic delegation sent from the Orcish Confederation to offer terms of peace, with neither side gaining or losing ground or resources in the deal. The Vault is only cleared when King Thalion and Queen Alaria agree to enter peace talks with the Orcish Confederation.
This challenge is not solely political. It may also lead to physical confrontations if the party cannot convince both monarchs. It demands both sharp intelligence and a capable hand.
Rewards Upon Completion:
Experience: Scaled to party member levels and individual contributions.
Guaranteed Bronze-Tier Item: For each party member.
Chance for a Silver-Tier Item: For one party member.
Treasure: One golden crown to be divided among the party.
[Do you accept the Vault's challenge?]
Kargan turned to Justin and Lila, his expression serious. "This is it. If we go through, we're committing to this. There's no turning back from the moment you enter a Vault."
Justin took a deep breath, glancing at the foreboding ancient structures before them. "Looks like we have little choice. Let's do this. Level 8 is less than anything we've done so far."
"Right now?" Lila asked incredulously. "I'm beyond exhausted, and we don't have Eldrin or Alistair to breeze through it anymore. And need I remind you, both of us are only Level 6 and a Charisma class?"
"Are those your friends?" Kargan asked curiously.
Justin and Lila both nodded somberly. So far, they hadn't told Kargan anything about Alistair or Eldrin. Everything was still too fresh, and Justin hadn't even had time to process things.
Justin broke the silence. "Let's camp out in front of the entrance, then. At Level 8, this Vault isn't making monsters anytime soon. There must've been another Vault in the forest doing that. We're probably safe to camp here as long as Kargan has his ward up."
"Hmm," Kargan said. "True enough. It's late. We should definitely take a rest while we have the opportunity. Plus, I have enough experience to unlock my next spell, which could prove vital."
"That's what we'll do, then," Lila said. "We can make a better decision tomorrow morning."
"I'll take the first watch," Kargan said. "We can't count on the ward to completely protect us."
"I can grab second," Justin said. "Wake me in a few hours."
"I'll take the last one, then," Lila said.
As they settled down for the night, Kargan created his Blood Aegis. Justin could only hope it gave them some measure of protection. They ate a hasty dinner, each lost in their thoughts, with the ancient city looming behind them.
This Vault would prove a challenge to them for sure, especially with Kargan being at such a low level. Then again, from what Alistair and Eldrin were describing, it seemed all Vaults started at a low level and grew more powerful over time.
As such, perhaps this Vault was still quite new. Over the centuries, perhaps numerous Vaults had been cleared from these ruins dozens of times by various adventurers, the scenarios encountered within different each time.
They laid out their bedrolls near the entrance. Justin lay down and stared up at the starry sky. Lila rested on her side, her knives within reach.
Justin could only hope it wasn't a long night.