The soul of the forest

Wandering though the endless dunes of Rosliye, the endless desert, one can't but wonder how life can exist in this harsh environment. Apart from the odd oasis, there is only sand, as far as the eye can see, and unbearable heat, hardly anything that one would call a hospitable environment.
Legends however describe Rosliye very differently, as a lush forest, filled to the brim with life. From frogs to pride stags, everything that lived here strived, taller and stronger than their bretheren from different regions. The nature of these creatures described as majestic and unmatched in beauty.
According to the tales, this was all made possible by an artifact, the soul of the forest, a small orange crystal branch. This item, supposedly created by the worlds very own magical energy, stood firmly planted in the center of the area. Its magic radiating in all directions, growing plants where none should normally survive and with it, natures beasts came in droves as this environment gave them everything they needed to survive and more.
Over time however, it also attracted less welcome visitors. Hellspawn, drawn to the life energy of the fauna and flora, invaded, slowly corrupting the forest. First, the outside was no longer lush but turned barren, the demons robbing the soil of its fertility, turning it to sand. Over time, despite natures best efforts, the forest grew thinner and sicker until there was nothing left. Being unuseable by the demons, the soul was burried, so it could never spread its wonders again.
To this day, rumor has it that somewhere in Rosliye, buried deep beneath the dunes, it lies in wait until the time comes when the corruption subsides and the desert can be turned back into what it once was.