"Get those blasted chickens out of my face!" Ferdinand thundered, his voice reverberating through the air and causing Talax to jolt awake with a start. He bolted upright, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of the half-orc clutching his savory scarf protectively. Franny, on the other hand, was fuming, a piece of decaying wing was precariously perched on his blond hair, tarnishing his perfect image.
Talax stretched his tired frame and rubbed his sleep-filled eyes, trying to drive away the last vestiges of exhaustion that clung to him. The scent of decay and poultry filled the air, assaulting his senses.
"Keep your hands off my food!" Qalo responded to Ferdinand's outburst. He wound his chicken-laden scarf around his neck multiple times, causing the lifeless birds to bounce around with a sickening wet sound. The grotesque spectacle caused Talax's stomach to revolt, and he had to forcefully swallow down a piece of vomit trying to escape.
Desperate to escape the repulsive scene, Talax swiftly maneuvered through the closed confines of the hollow tree, giving Qalo an unintentional shove in his haste. Stepping out into the open, he inhaled deeply, relishing the fresh smells of damp earth and fragrant flowers that embraced him. A sense of relief washed over him, momentarily erasing his unpleasant awakening.
After a hectic breakfast of constant fighting and bickering they resumed their journey towards the dungeon.
The uncanny sensation that had gripped the three companions since the previous day grew even more palpable as they ventured deeper into the heart of their target. The once dauntless patches of fog that had shrouded their surroundings had now dissipated, replaced by a gentle breeze that danced through the air. However, this newfound wind proved to be a source of annoyance for the nobleman, who found himself constantly catching his plumed hat as it threatened to be carried away.
The towering trees that surrounded them rustled and swayed in response to the phantom breeze, casting eerie shadows that seemed to taunt and tease the trio. Every so often, a flicker of movement would catch their attention from the corners of their eyes, yet when they turned to face it, there was nothing to be seen. The forest seemed to be playing tricks on their minds, whispering secrets and conjuring elusive shapes that vanished upon closer inspection.
The evidence of magic was unmistakable, permeating the very fabric of their surroundings. Talax could feel mana seeping into his very skin, its presence weighing heavily upon him with an almost suffocating intensity. Some trees emitted an otherworldly glow, their sickly green hue pulsating with an unsettling energy. And the vegetation itself seemed animated, as if sentient, wriggling and squirming as if trying to reach out as they walked by.
A sickly-sweet scent, reminiscent of overripe fruit tinged with an unnatural sweetness, assaulted Talax's nostrils, causing him to scrunch his nose in discomfort. Yet, beneath the cloying aroma, a faint but unmistakable undercurrent of decay wafted through the air, setting his hairs on end. He attempted to use his tracking skill, but to his surprise, he could barely make out any signs of life on the forest floor. The few tracks he could discern were ancient and barely distinguishable, as if the creatures that once roamed this part of the forest had long since fled.
"That's peculiar..." Talax murmured, his brow furrowing with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Franny, still clutching the pulsating orb that now emitted an intense light akin to a frenzied strobe, turned his gaze toward Talax. His expression had transformed into one of solemn unease, mirroring the disquiet that had settled within Talax.
"I believe the high concentration of mana is a result of the dungeon's presence," Franny began, his voice carrying a note of confidence born from extensive studies in the realm of magic. "When the dungeon was unsealed, the trapped mana flooded the forest, causing the flora and fauna to mutate and evolve. It's a common occurrence, actually." Franny's words were laced with certainty, his understanding of magical forces evident in his tone. "However... the sealed mana must have been influenced by a specific branch of magic. The forest feels... dangerous. It's as if it is luring us into a trap..." Franny's voice trailed off, his gaze distant as he delved into deep thought, contemplating the implications.
"What do you mean affected by a branch of magic?" Talax asked, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow. In the corner of his eye, he observed Qalo swinging his sword at a stray vine, his focus divided as he surreptitiously nibbled on his chicken scarf.
"Um, have you ever heard of ley lines?" Franny inquired, disappointment flickering across his face upon witnessing Talax's shake of the head. "Your education is sorely lacking. You should prioritize improving your knowledge. Understanding ley lines is crucial for any mage worth their salt." His tone carried a sharp edge, betraying his low opinion of Talax's educational background.
"In essence, ley lines are the intricate network of magical pathways that span our world," Franny explained, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and condescension. "Countless scholars throughout history have attempted to locate and map this vast system, but their endeavors have ultimately met with failure. Each ley line carries mana from a distinct branch of magic—life, death, fire, water, and so forth—and exerts its influence on the surrounding area. Creatures and plants within the vicinity of a ley line adopt certain characteristics associated with that particular branch of magic. For example, if a fire ley line traverses an area, the creatures inhabiting it would likely possess a natural affinity for fire." Pausing to catch his breath, Franny pressed on.
"On rarer occasions, however, ambient mana can be artificially influenced," Franny continued, his voice taking on a more measured tone. "For example, in the aftermath of a catastrophic disaster resulting in numerous casualties, if the affected area is not properly cleansed, there can be a surge of death magic. Another instance is when a mage employs an exceptionally advanced spell that requires an immense amount of mana, and the spell's impact alters the surrounding landscape. In such cases, it is possible for the ambient mana to assimilate the properties of the mana used in the spell."
Franny's explanation stretched longer than Talax had anticipated, and he struggled to absorb the wealth of information being imparted. Meanwhile, Qalo had come to a sudden halt, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes vacant, seemingly overwhelmed by the intellectual onslaught. “Did you catch any of it?” The stupefied orc asked, almost cross-eyed. Talax ignored him and tried to sort out the newfound knowledge.
"So..." Talax began, his tongue darting out to moisten his lips. "If I understand correctly, you're saying that the dungeon was filled with mana affected by some external force, and when the dungeon was unsealed, that altered mana spread throughout the surrounding forest." Franny's face lit up with a triumphant expression, like a mentor pleased with a favorite student who had grasped the essence of the lesson.
"That is my assumption. Perhaps a combination of earth magic intertwined with death or blight," Franny responded thoughtfully, his train of thought interrupted by a peculiar sight. He plucked a crimson flower, its petals, stem, and even leaves tinged with a deep red hue, as though someone had dipped it in blood.
"I mean, the forest doesn't inherently feel sinister... I think..." Qalo interjected from the side, a hint of skepticism coloring his voice. His finger extended toward a small, willowy tree positioned just behind them. "Tell that to that tree," he added, pointing with conviction. "It has been tailing us for hours." Both humans turned to look at the orc, their eyes widening in surprise.
"Are you certain?" they demanded in unison, their voices tinged with a mix of disbelief and concern. Qalo nodded, his nonchalant demeanor untouched by their reaction.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Talax demanded, his voice laced with frustration.
"I wasn't sure, and since it didn’t attack us, I didn't think it was worth mentioning," Qalo answered casually, seemingly unperturbed by Talax's rising anger. The response ignited a simmering rage within Talax, his voice thick with impotent fury.
"You... Didn't... Think... It... Was... Worth... Mentioning..." Talax enunciated each word with mounting intensity, punctuating his statement with a threatening step towards the orc. Qalo stared at him with a bewildered expression, seemingly taken aback by the man's heated reaction.
"Are you truly certain, Qalo? The tree doesn't appear to possess sentience," Franny called out from a few meters behind, frustration edging his voice. He prodded the tree with his sword, hoping for some kind of response. Talax tore his gaze away from his staring contest with Qalo and approached the enigmatic tree, his steps cautious and uncertain. However, when he looked closer, he found no signs of sentience or any discernible traces of magic within its gnarled trunk and willowy branches.
Several minutes passed as they studied the suspicious tree, even prompting Franny to retrieve a peculiar device from his satchel, which emitted a faint hum and sporadic groans. Eventually, they concluded that the tree held no immediate threat or answers to their lingering questions and decided to move on. With each step bringing them closer to the dungeon entrance, they could sense their destination drawing near, and their eagerness to escape the cursed forest and join Franny's uncle's expedition grew stronger.
They pressed on, journeying through the remainder of the day. As night descended, casting ethereal shadows that danced across their path beneath the pale moonlight, they reached a unanimous decision—they had had enough. The unsettling presence that had taken root in their hearts had drained them, sapping their energy with each passing moment. Though they had encountered no real danger, the absence of signs of life in the forest had left them restless and apprehensive, amplifying the weariness that clung to their bones.
They made camp in the safest place they could find, seeking refuge within a protective circle of towering pine trees, their branches reaching skyward like guardians. Exhausted, they surrendered to sleep, their bodies craving rest after a day filled with tension.
With the first light of dawn, they roused themselves and resumed their journey without much fanfare. As they walked through the dense undergrowth, an undercurrent of anxiety flowed through each of them, their nerves frayed. it was then that Talax's picked up a change in the air—a sickly, cloying scent that infiltrated his nostrils, coating them with the unmistakable flavors of death and decay.
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"Do you smell that?" Qalo's voice quivered, carrying a tremor of fear. Both humans nodded in silent agreement, their eyes darting around, desperately seeking the source of the haunting aroma. Time slipped away as they scoured the surroundings, but the wild forest revealed nothing. It remained an eerie realm, inhabited solely by the three companions and the occasional bird, which would announce its existence with a hushed chirp or hoot.
Qalo, as had become the norm, led their small group when he suddenly came to a halt. Talax observed the orc's body freeze, followed by violent tremors as if he had been struck by lightning. Qalo clenched his fist tightly, as though trying to hold himself together. Franny and Talax exchanged a glance of concern before sprinting toward the orc, eager to discover the cause behind his intense visceral reaction.
As Talax approached the half-orc, a chilling sight unfolded before him. The towering trees that had always stood like solemn sentinels now receded, revealing a vast expanse of desolation. It was as if a curtain had been drawn, unveiling a ghastly spectacle.
“Aavaas protect us.” Franny murmured placing his fist above his heart.
A small glade stretched in front of them, at some point it must have been full of life and wonder but what Talax saw was anything but. The earth itself appeared devoid of life, tainted pools of infested water festering under the merciless morning sun. The forest floor, strewn with bones both small and large, painted a macabre tapestry. Yet, the true horror lay in the mangled remains of animals, beasts, and gnolls, discarded haphazardly across the glade. Whole parts of them were missing, while others remained grotesquely intact, pockmarked with gaping wounds. From these wounds sprouted festering, swollen plants, their sickly yellow hue akin to blistered hands reaching out for attention.
Franny's voice quivered with alarm as he asked, “Are... Are we in a lair?”
As Talax surveyed the grim scene, realization washed over him like a chilling breeze. "So this is where all the forest animals had disappeared to," he murmured, his voice heavy with understanding. "The survivors must have fled, desperately seeking safety." Franny nodded in agreement, acknowledging the dire fate of the woodland creatures.
Meanwhile, Qalo stood motionless, his gaze transfixed on the unfolding horror. Every sinew in his body seemed poised for action, ready to unleash a storm of violence. Yet, his eyes betrayed a different tale. They flickered with fear, darting about as if the half-orc's consciousness had transported him elsewhere, reliving a tormenting experience that rendered him utterly paralyzed, unable to command a single muscle of his body.
"Qalo? Qalo, are you alright?" Talax shook his friend desperately, trying to break through the veil that seemed to envelop him. But Qalo stood there, unyielding as a stone statue, oblivious to his surroundings. His focus was consumed by memories locked deep within.
Feeling a rising sense of helplessness, Talax's eyes darted around until they caught sight of something that made his heart skip a beat. With a voice quivering with fear, he pointed behind Franny. "Look... Look over there. Isn't that...?" His words trailed off as Franny's sharp intake of breath confirmed his worst fears.
"The tree... It's... it's actually following us," Franny whispered, his voice laced with horror.
Talax couldn't tear his gaze away from the seemingly innocuous tree. “Do you think that it’s the thing that killed all those creatures?” he asked, the weight of the situation pressing upon him.
Before Franny could respond, Qalo abruptly interrupted, his voice filled with hysteria. "We need to go! Right now!" In a frenzy, Qalo's large hand closed around Talax's forearm, pulling him away forcefully. Unable to react in time, Talax found himself being dragged away by the frenzied and unhinged orc.
Before he was dragged away, he had managed to throw a last glance at the unassuming tree. It started moving like it was shivering from the cold and its leaves rustled sending out a peculiar hum.
The next thing he knew, he was running as if his life depended on it. Qalo was running with unprecedented speed, his big feet stomping on the sloshy ground sending the festering liquid flying everywhere. Franny was running behind them with a confused and terrified look on his face, because in the noble’s mind whatever could scare the unflappable orc would surely be terrifying.
The trio raced through the glade, leaping over lifeless carcasses and zigzagging to avoid piles of desiccated bones. Every time Talax passed a body adorned with the strange, hand-like plants, he felt a draining sensation, as if his energy was being sapped away, his body on the verge of surrendering to decay. The first encounter with the plant caused him to stumble, nearly toppling over. A feverish heat surged through his veins, accompanied by a sense of disease and corruption engulfing his being.
Thankfully he managed to keep going and as soon he left area of effect, he felt his body fight back the assault. From then on, he made a point to steer clear of the afflicted bodies, even if it meant taking a longer path to traverse the opposite side of the glade.
Before they could even cover half the distance, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the forest. The treetops swayed violently as if struck by a devastating wave, while the earth quivered, causing Talax to stumble and nearly plunge headfirst into a half-eaten gnoll.
"What?" Talax gasped, his breath labored. But Qalo seemed to have sprouted wings on his feet as he dashed even faster. His terrified voice pierced the air, "RUN!"
No sooner had he uttered the word, than Talax heard a rhythmic thud that sent shivers through the stagnant pools of polluted liquid. From his right, the sound of trees being crushed reached his ears, and his eyes widened in shock as he witnessed a cascade of trees falling in the distance with a thunderous crash.
Finally, Talax understood the orc’s terror and started running for all his worth. He could hear Franny's heavy panting as he struggled to keep up, his cumbersome armor slowing down his every step. The noble's face had turned crimson from exertion, each breath a visible struggle. But if they wished to survive, they had to press on. Talax was sure that whatever their enemy was, it couldn’t be opposed, the only result would be their instant deaths.
Talax looked back frantically trying to gauge the distance between them and their foe when the creature emerged from the dense forest, leaving behind a path of destruction. The sight of the creature, that had emptied all life from the forest, stole Talax's breath away, leaving him breathless and filled with a mix of terror and fascination.
Standing at an imposing height of four meters, the creature resembled a grotesque fusion of a tree and a putrid sludge. Its humanoid figure was composed of blackened flesh, marred by festering wounds and blister-like growths that pulsed and oozed with an incessant, nauseating motion. The creature's limbs, both hands and legs, ended in gnarled vines that hardened intermittently, resembling the twisted bark of a withered tree. These vine-like appendages constantly shifted and transformed into an array of disconcerting shapes.
Shielded by a bark-like substance, its torso gave the impression of being encased in a formidable armor. The same bark-like material extended to its head, where a haunting mask, mirroring the appearance of the armor, concealed its face. The mask took the form of a deer skull, complete with menacingly swaying sharp antlers that added to the creature's aura of menace and danger.
As a touch of hysteria infiltrated his mind, a rapid chant of "Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool..." echoed within him, betraying the fear that threatened to consume him entirely. The sight of the creature had ignited a sense of impending doom, overpowering his senses. The odds of escaping alive from a creature capable of annihilating every living being in the forest seemed bleak, regardless of how long or how fast they ran. A morbid fate, where their lifeless bodies would swell grotesquely, loomed ominously in his thoughts... No!
With a sudden jolt, he shook his head, snapping back to reality. In a panic, he realized he had come to a halt, unaware that the creature had closed in, closing half the distance between them. Frantically scanning his surroundings, he locked eyes with Franny and Qalo, who mirrored the same hopeless expression he had worn just moments ago.
"Snap out of it!" Talax's urgent shout pierced the air, jolting Franny back to his senses almost instantly. However, Qalo continued to gaze at the creature with a terror-stricken expression. Talax realized that both of them must have fallen victim to the creature's fear effect, but he and Franny, protected by their wreaths, were able to resist its influence. Qalo, on the other hand, was vulnerable to such mental attacks, and his susceptibility had been evident even before the creature appeared.
Locking eyes with Franny, Talax conveyed a sense of determination. "Go! We'll catch up with you," he exclaimed, urging Franny to leave them behind. Franny hesitated briefly, his gaze torn between his friends and the impending danger, before finally relenting and sprinting away, casting them one last helpless glance.
Turning his attention back to Qalo, Talax swiftly approached him and delivered a resounding slap across his face, a tried-and-true method that had worked miracles in the past. To his dismay, the half-orc remained unresponsive, as if the slap had no effect. A groan of frustration escaped Talax's lips, and as he glanced back, he saw the creature dangerously closing in. The eerie plants surrounding them seemed to sense its presence, vibrating and stirring as if they were coming to life.
Cupping Qalo's face, Talax pleaded with a desperate urgency he had never felt before. His voice quivered with a mix of fear and determination.
"Look at me, Qalo! Please, my friend, look at me! This is just the fear effect. You have the strength to fight it. I know you do!" Qalo's gaze remained vacant, as if his mind and thoughts were locked away, lost to the clutches of fear. Despair washed over Talax, his heart sinking as the creature's thunderous steps drew closer and closer.
"Damn it, Qalo!" Talax exclaimed, frustration seeping into his voice. "You're an orc! A fearsome warrior! This is just a tree, a tree filled with mud! You've battled against thugs, bandits, gnolls, and who knows what else! You're not scared of a dead tree. You've vanquished your enemies, and when they're tasty enough, you turn them into scarfs to eat at your leisure. Okay, that sounded wrong and disgusting. But you get my point! That tree doesn't look appetizing, but I've seen you eat stranger things, so who's to say? Maybe you enjoy sickly trees filled with disease..." Talax rambled on, his words tumbling out in a desperate attempt to break through to Qalo.
In that moment, a flicker of recognition sparked in the orc's eyes, breaking through the haze of fear. Qalo blinked, as if awakening from a trance, and his gaze focused on Talax.
For a fleeting moment, Qalo looked at Talax with a mix of relief and gratitude, as if he had finally snapped out of his fearful trance. However, his gaze gradually shifted past Talax, his eyes widening with renewed terror. In an instant, Qalo's fear transformed into fury as he thundered at Talax.
"What the hell are you doing standing there as if you're waiting for a pic-eagle to come and get you?" Without waiting for a response, the orc bolted away, leaving Talax bewildered and infuriated.
"Are you kidding me?" Talax shouted, his anger boiling over. "I risked my life trying to wake you up from your stupor!" The orc offered no response, simply raising his hand and giving Talax the finger.
"That ungrateful bastard!" Talax muttered through gritted teeth as he leaped over a mound of lifeless animals strewn across the ground.
They were nearing the edge of the glade now, with Franny anxiously awaiting them at the first line of trees, frantically gesturing for them to hurry. But then, to Talax's horror, the undead plants surrounding them began vibrating with renewed vigor. He realized, with a sinking feeling, that sickly-looking spores were spreading from the plants. Before he could react, he felt the spores settle on his skin, and a sudden weakness gripped his body, threatening to consume him.
Before Talax could warn Qalo, the creature unleashed a deafening roar, the sheer force of which sent a literal wave crashing into him, forcefully propelling him to the grimy ground.
Agony coursed through his body, eliciting a pained moan as he instinctively clutched his injured side. Gritting his teeth, Talax swiftly removed a broken bone that had become lodged in his flesh, wincing as he did so. As he attempted to rise to his feet, his gaze fell upon a partially decomposed carcass nearby. From its ruptured belly, a hand-like plant wriggled and squirmed, its intent seemingly focused on reaching Talax.
"Oh no..." he murmured, a sinking feeling washing over him as he felt his body grow weaker by the second. His balance faltered, and he nearly tumbled headfirst into the ground when another roar reverberated through the air. Glancing up, he saw the creature closing in, mere meters away, its sinewy vines extending menacingly toward him, poised to snatch him up.
"Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool..." he whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation.