Anaya's Prison

Dear Diary,
 
We were lost, the Lorewood a labyrinth of endless trees. Gael climbed the tallest tree, hoping to catch a glimpse of civilization. But the vast and impenetrable forest offered no clues.
 
Alistan suggested we head west, a direction that should lead us back to Keralon. We followed his advice, our hope dwindling with each passing hour. As we ventured deeper into the woods, we noticed a strange phenomenon. The trees were coated in a thin layer of a mysterious substance, a residue that evaporated upon contact. A closer look revealed that the substance seemed to be magical residium, a key component in artificing and certain magical spells, and that it covered the ground. It is very rare to find this substance outside places of intense magic or an arcane laboratory.
 
In a bout of youthful playfulness, Liliana ignited a bit of the residium with a bolt of magic. The substance, highly flammable, burned with an intense heat. Inspired by her success, Hayley coated her dagger with the residium, imbuing it with a temporary magical aura. Though the effect was subtle, it was a promising discovery.
As we continued our journey, we stumbled upon a peculiar sight. A small clearing, hidden among the trees, held a forgotten treasure: a backpack, a quarterstaff, and various supplies. The items, covered in the mysterious residue, had been left there for quite some time.
 
We examined the backpack, its contents a mix of wizard's tools and survival gear. Spell components, flint and steel, and rations were neatly packed. Yet, there was no sign of the wizard who had once owned these items.
 
Faced with this mystery, Gael sought the help of the forest's creatures. He coaxed a fox from its burrow, communicating with it in a language of clicks and whistles. The fox revealed the history of the forest from its perspective. The residue, it explained, had been there for as long as it could remember. The backpack and its contents had been abandoned long ago. Although the fox was relatively young, so long ago was, of course, relative.
 
The fox then led us to a hidden clearing where it claimed the substance had originated. A large rock, surrounded by a small pond, dominated the landscape. Towards the side a small cave led into a hill. The pristine forest had been scarred by destruction as it had bore witness to a cataclysmic event. Toppled menhirs stood as silent sentinels with runes etched with ancient symbols.
 
Liliana and her vast knowledge of the Sylvan language deciphered the runes. The menhirs were once part of a powerful containment circle, but had now been shattered. We looked around trying to puzzle together what had transpired in this part of the Lorewood. As Alistan disturbed the earth near the large rock, a low growl echoed from the depths of the forest.
 
Suddenly creatures, grotesque amalgamations of tree and beast, advanced towards us. Their roots, gnarled and twisted, tore through the earth, their branches clawing at the air. Gael and Dadroz unleashed an immediate barrage of arrows, but the creatures were unfazed.
 
As the creatures lunged, Alistan was attacked by another unseen foe. A small, shadowy figure, its form shifting and changing, struck from a distance with surprising speed and ferocity. Alistan, wounded but unyielding, braced to defend the rest of us from the onslaught of the two large trees.
I, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a devastating firebolt, the flames engulfing one of the awakened trees. Its screams echoed through the forest, a chilling sound that sent shivers down our spines. The second tree momentarily hesitated.
 
Gael, his focus unwavering, meanwhile pursued the unseen assailant. The creature, a master of stealth and deception, struck again, a thorn piercing Gael's side. The pain must have been excruciating, but Gael persevered.
 
I attempted to burn the second tree, a firebolt hurtling towards its base. But the creature resisted the flames much better than its companion. Instead, Dadroz with a well-aimed shot in a soft spot of bark, felled the tree. Its massive form came crashing to the ground.
The final unseen foe was soon revealed to be a twisted and corrupted dryad. Drawn out from its hiding space, it immediately attacked Liliana. The creature, its form distorted, its eyes filled with a feral madness, lashed out with thorny vines.The thorns digging into Liliana flesh as they draw blood. To our horror, the vines start consuming the released blood, draining our paladin friend.
 
I unleashed a fireball, aiming to destroy the creature, or at the very least distract it to save Liliana. But the dryad was highly resistant to my attack, and survived the blast that tore through the clearing. Alistan and Liliana, their movements hindered by the vines, struggled to reach the creature. Finally, Liliana broke through the barrier, her sword flashing in the dim light as she cut the corrupted dryad in two.
 
As we examined the creature's remains, we discovered traces of the residual magic, a dark influence that had corrupted its mind and body. The creature, once a guardian of the forest, had been twisted into a monstrous being.
 
We rested and allowed our bodies to recover from the ordeal. The cave, shrouded in mist, beckoned us. Liliana, her senses attuned to the supernatural, detected an undead presence within. We ventured into the cave with our weapons drawn and our hearts pounding with anticipation.
 
The first chamber was dominated by two colossal statues. However the rest of the chamber was completely wrecked by explosive blasts, with smoldering embers of the destruction illuminating the scene. Liliana, her eyes scanning the room, identified an undead aura emanating from one of the statues. Alistan addressed the statue as his voice echoed through the cavern. The statue, its movements slow and deliberate, stepped forward, its voice a haunting whisper. It declared that entry was forbidden, a decree issued by the ancient wizard, Myrdin.
 
I presented my sigil, a symbol of my authority as a Knight of Briar Ring. As my order is closely tied to Myrdin, I had hoped to sway the statue to let us through. But the statue, bound to its ancient duty, remained unmoved. Alistan, undeterred, inquired about Myrdin's whereabouts. The statue, its response mechanical, revealed that Myrdin had long since departed.
 
As I surveyed the chamber, I noticed a shadowy figure lurking in the corner. A naga, its serpentine form coiled and ready to strike. The guardian, aware that it had been seen, moved towards us, its voice a low, ominous rumble.
 
Gael engaged the guardian in conversation, explaining our intentions. The naga, bound by an ancient oath, revealed the history of the place. Five years ago, a powerful sorceress, Anaya, Myrdin’s longtime rival, had escaped from her imprisonment within the cave. Myrdin himself had been staying in the prison to keep it secure, but had gone after Anaya in an attempt to recapture her. A desperate attempt to recapture her with summoned fey creatures had resulted in the release of a powerful force, the residual magic that plagued the forest. Neither Anaya nor Myrdin had returned in five years.
 
The menhirs and the runes of the prison, once a powerful barrier, had been destroyed, their protective power lost. The guardians, bound to their duty, remained, their existence a silent vigil. We decided to spend the night in the cave and keep the creatures company with the hopes of getting more information from them. As we drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder about the timing of it all. Five years ago was when we had journeyed from Tarn to Keralon, and had gotten stuck in the Lorewood. During that troublesome time, the magic of both my sister and I had gotten strangely enhanced and unpredictable. Could we have picked up an aftereffect of the residual magic that had been released from Anaya’s escape?
 
The next morning my head was still spinning so I once again approached the naga guardian. I inquired about the elemental towers in the area of Keralon, knowing somewhat of their important role in the city’s magical history. The guardian confirmed that the towers had once been under the control of Anaya. Later, Myrdin had seized control, using them for his own ends. They were a massive source of magical power and thus a precious prize for any spellcaster.
 
I also asked about High Magic, the pinnacle of arcane power. The guardian explained that within the depths of the cave, in the chambers of Anaya and Myrdrin, tomes of ancient knowledge were hidden. However, access to these chambers was strictly forbidden. The only way to get to the tomes was to get permission from the missing Myrdin, or overcome the guardians and the cave’s protections. I did not wish to test my skill against that of the legendary Myrdin, nor did I have any appetite to kill the guardians he had left behind. I want to acquire this power to get stronger and project the people I care about, but not at the expense of who I am. Otherwise I would be no better than the fey.
 
As I pondered the guardian's words, a thought occurred to me. Amarra, my mentor, had once held the power of Cairn Fussil and now had urged me to secure the entire quadrumvirate. Could there be a connection between her and the ancient wizards, Myrdrin and Anaya? Her cryptic past, her knowledge of arcane secrets, definitely hinted at a deeper involvement in the world of magic.
 
The possibility of encountering Myrdrin, or perhaps even Anaya, during my attempt to claim the towers as my own does excite me. And I am left wondering what it would be like to discuss the details of magic with the legendary spell casters, after the strong disappointment that is the magical academy of Keralon.
As we emerged from the cave and headed back into the Lorewood, a magnificent sight caught our eye. A giant butterfly, its wings shimmering with silver, fluttered nearby. Liliana recognized the creature from Vivienne’s gardens during her time in the Feywild.
 
I focused my senses on the butterfly and detected a faint divination aura. The creature, it seemed, was part of a spell to lead us somewhere, its path a mystery. Though I was hesitant to trust anything fey related, I had to admit that we were also thoroughly lost. So while it seemed to take us away from Keralon, we diligently followed the magical creature. The butterfly, its flight effortless, led us deeper into the forest, towards a hidden glade.
 
As we entered the clearing, we were greeted by a host of tiny fey, their forms ethereal and enchanting. The air was filled with magic, the very essence of the Feywild. But the butterfly did not stop and guided us further along the path. We are soon brought into a smaller area with a gate similar to those we had encountered before. We had long since speculated that they were passages to Immerglade, but the previous gates had been broken beyond repair. However this gate seemed intact and offered an irresistible chance to journey into the lost fey kingdom.
 
As we approached the gate, a towering elven guardian emerged, his form imposing and his voice commanding. He ordered us to halt under the orders of High King Ulther, his words echoing through the clearing. Hayley stepped forward, introducing Liliana as an emissary of Lady Vivienne. Liliana, however, declined to deceive the guardian, admitting that her current connection to Vivienne was tenuous at best.
 
Alistan sought to learn more about the guardian. The giant, whose name was Davozan, explained that he was tasked with guarding the gateway, preventing unauthorized entry. Instead we asked about the way back to Keralon, but the giant was barely aware of the city.
 
With the path blocked, we were forced to consider our options. The guardian was formidable, but also an agent of King Ulther, for whom we share no love. The ever cautious Gael hesitated to challenge the guardian. However, the others, their determination unwavering, urged him to reconsider. The butterfly, a messenger from the Feywild, had led us here. It was a sign qnd a chance to explore the mysteries of the realm.
 
We voted and decided to take the risk. With a mix of hope and trepidation, we approached the gate once more, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.