[Chapter Summary]: Gloamwood

    

     And here we come to the close of the Gloamwood story arc! I'm so excited to be finished this section and move on to another one. Although also, here is where I've come to an impasse. I'm moving out of straight Guardian territory and into contested zones, where the Guardian and Defiant share zones. Since I don't have to just repeat the same thing with both Kara and Rae, I'll have to decide how I'm going to do this next chapter. I think I'll alternate zones. That way they both still get stories to tell as they continue on their journey, and I'm still telling the story of Telara. As always, only story and lore posts that relate to Rae's side are being listed here. Any stories of lore posts that are relevant to Kara and the Defiant will be listed on Kara's summary. Any off topic discussions that fall after Rae's chapters will also be posted here, while any off topic discussions that fall after Kara's chapters will be posted on her summary. I hope that isn't too confusing. Just to be sure, all the links for all the summaries will be posted in the "prologue" page, which I'll link to at the bottom of this page don't worry!

     I had a lot of fun exploring Gloamwood and learning about the sub story being played out here. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the Hag and her werewolf curse was really neat, and uncovering each layer of the plot felt like not just reading a mystery novel, but living it, and doing it for myself! A very cool and fun story, although the dark surroundings felt depressing and confusing at times.

     I like how each zone has it's own plot, but also has the overall plot to connect it to the greater story of the Ascended. Also, Rae received yet another wardrobe update in this zone! I feel that as she grows stronger in her abilities and her faith, her wardrobe would reflect that. So here, she's wearing darker browns and golds, as well as two long bronze daggers and some fancy shoulder pads. She's also sporting an elaborate cloak. I've yet to find a proper helmet or head cover that looks assassiny like though, so she'll keep her eyes unobstructed for now! Also, Rae has become a little more.....cocky in this chapter. She's learning to appreciate her own self and she's not blindly following orders as much. She is willing to stand up for herself, and she's not at all impressed with the people of Gloamwood and how they are treating her like she has the plague, especially at the beginning. She's become quite sarcastic, but I like her this way. She's still loyal to the Guardians and to the Vigil of course, but she's also started to question things and to think for herself instead of blindly rushing off. Where will Rae go next and what will she encounter? Well, I haven't figured that out, but here's the results of her foray into Gloamwood!

Chapter Three Archives:                                                            Chapter Three Story List:

Archive I: Borrin Gamult                                                         3.0: Welcome to Gloamwood

Archive II: Riftwalker Soul                                                     3.1: Of Wings and Fangs

Archive III: Artifacts of Gloamwood                                        3.2: Ghost Story

Archive IV: Zone Events                                                         3.3: Skittering in the Dark

Archive V: Thedeor                                                                 3.4: Broodmother's Lair

Archive VI: Scotty Malm                                                        3.5: Your Solemn Outlook

Archive VII: Roleplay 101                                                      3.6: The Light in the Gloom

Archive VIII: Nightblade Soul                                                3.7: Beast of Greybriar Hollow

Archive IX: The Mathosians                                                   3.8: Death's Defense

Archive X: Dimensions                                                           3.9: Secrets in the Pines

Archive XI: Kitchen Introduction                                           3.10: Family Matters

Archive XII: Gloamwood                                                       3.11: She's Lived Long Enough

Extra Posts:                                                                                Side Stories:

Patch 2.5: Song of Dreams                                                      1.0: Down Where It's Dark

BlizzCon 2013                                                                         Guide: Darkening Deeps

Patch 2.7: Bindings of Blood

Beta Invite WoD (Warcraft)

Patch 2.8: Madness Wakes

The Story Thus Far:

     Raeslyn entered Gloamwood with the intent of easily discovering the reason behind the goblin intrusion into Silverwood, reporting the incident back to Sanctum, and possibly eradicating the vermin before the problem escalates. Instead, she is shocked to find all manner of troublesome happenings in the dark wood of Gloamwood. For one thing, the citizens are far from welcoming to a famous Ascended, chosen of the gods to protect the people of Telara. In fact, they tell her in no uncertain terms that she is not welcome here, and she should leave as soon as possible. The longer Rae investigates the mysterious problems in Gloamwood, the more frustrated she grows. The wood is dark and twisted, full of evil creatures and dark curses, and the people of Gloamwood Pines, the lone town in the heart of the forest, seem strange and shifty, sticking to their houses and flinching away from any aid she would offer. There are military present, the Sanctuary Guard sent to deal with the pesky goblin hordes, but they too have been rebuffed by the townsfolk, relegated to setting up camp outside the town and being stalled at every turn. The town mayor, Furtho Dragomir, seems to hide a dark secret of his own. It soon becomes apparent that there is a darkness brewing in Deepwood Cottage, which was once the home of the legendary Druid sisters Delilah and Laria, who proudly protected the wood in days gone by. Rae learns that Laria, the light and brave sister, had fallen in combat against the rifts and in her grief, Delilah blamed the people of Gloamwood for not coming to their aid. She placed several powerful curses on the prominent noble families of Gloamwood, afflicting them with lycanthropy, vampirism, and undeath.

     Rae wastes several days trying to gain information on what beast is stalking unwary travelers and townsfolk alike, only to find that the mayor himself knew the secret and had kept it from her. The wood is crawling with werewolves. And these werewolves are the townsfolk themselves, cursed by the Hag in her bitter hatred of them. She finds to her horror that the Hag wishes to rule Gloamwood for herself and turn the entire forest into her personal death touched domain, ruling over it in the name of Regulos the Destroyer, her new dark master. She had fallen so far into corruption that Alsbeth, the leader of the Endless Court, was able to twist the Hag to her own dark purposes. On top of all this, Rae has to deal with the growing goblin problem by venturing deep into the underground city of the Gedlo goblin priests to kill their leaders and find out what sinister plots they are hatching in the name of Maelforge. Finally, she is successful in defeating both the goblins and the Hag. Raeslyn puts a stop to the Hag's plot to turn Gloamwood into a new death plane. Laria, the Hag's devoted sister, finally finds peace and is able to begin her journey to the afterlife. Raeslyn discovers that the mayors own brother was a werewolf and he had wanted to keep it secret until he find hope of a cure. Alas, his brother was too far gone and had to be slain, along with many other of the noble houses. Raeslyn is able to break the dark curses that choked Gloamwood and is hailed a hero by the people of Gloamwood Pines, who finally recognize her as someone who wishes to aid them. The Waykeepers of Gloamwood give her the title of "Wolfbane" for her heroic efforts.

Quests with a **(star) at the end are CARNAGE quests!

Zone Details:

• Mob Types:
• Beast
• Demi-human
• Humanoid
• Undead
• Critters:
• Coyote
• Snake
• Rat
• Total Time Spent in Zone:
• 3 days approximately. Although I did spend an extra few days off and on running around collecting all the artifact sets.
• Level Upon Leaving Zone:
• 32-This includes doing all the zone events, as well as several other tasks I completed in between leveling. Also noted, I used an "Experience Suppression" potion the entire time.
• List of Quests (In questing order):
• Gloamwood Beasts- Ralph Bonser in Argent Glade
• An Age of Darkness- Brougan Grote in Argent Glade
• Bleeding Green**
• No Ghost Story- Sherriff Thalia Cosmin-Daily rift quest
• Blood on the Roots**
• Reclaim Silkwood Pass**
• Kill for a Cure- Gwyddon Duskenleaf
• Field Tested, Goblin Approved- Laenaya Niro
• Volunteer Duty- Captain Rotherdan- Daily rift quest
• Grove Walker**
• Fire and Venom-Waykeeper Sharla
• Riches of Sanctum-Silk Webbed Crate-clickable item (5476, 3284)
• Into the Nest-Caleb Matson
• Creeping Paralysis-Wrapped Cocoon-clickable item (5762, 3496)
• Good Luck Charms-John Tintan
• Marching Onward-Sherriff Thalia Cosmin
• The Seed of History-Gwyddon Duskenleaf
• Green-Eyed Monster-Marshal Oakheart
• Janina's Revenge-Janina Solemn
• May It Serve You Better-Nigel Solemn
• Answers of the Dead-Alistair Solemn
• Goin Gobbo Huntin-Waykeeper Ienja-Daily
• A Dangerous Harvest-Laria<Spirit of the Wood>
• Shade of the Family-Laria
• Heirlooms of the Dead-Recent Corpse-clickable item (5102, 2342)
• A Prized Necklace-Goblin Necklace-drop item (Fungustoe) (4992, 2402)
• Venom-Stained Key-drop item (Nizak Gedlo) (5007, 2413)
• Out of Harm's Way-Captured Civilian-Escort quest
• Blood Flows Downhill**
• The Goblin Bane-Furtho Dragomir
• In Recognition of Valor-Furtho Dragomir
• Planting Hope-Gwyddon Duskenleaf
• Beast of Greybriar Hollow-Drusk Nightclaw
• A Dangerous Bite-Drop item-Venomous Fang (drops off spiders, not sure which!)
• Where the Moon Blossoms-Moon Blossom-clickable item
• Ol' Ness**
• Deep Winter-Laria
• Finishing Touches**
• Trouble in the Wood-Marshal Oakheart
• It Knows No Depths-Fiona Leone
• Mill Infestation-Brother Jebiah
• Mathosian Manifestations**
• Slim Pickings-Drop item-Fractured Rib-from Shademarked Soulweaver
• Bloody Jack**-top of mill (4360, 2584)
• Millrush Reclaimation**
• Black Sap Ancient**-elite mob- (4222, 2723)-(4153, 2730)
• Looting the Mist-Drop item-Translucent Aether-from Tormented Spirits
• Death's Defense-Fiona Leone
• Bite Marks-Brother Jebiah
• A Burgher With Lies-Doctor Oswell
• Secret of the Pines-Gwyddon Duskenleaf
• Camping By the Creek-Ral Teralas
• Final Rest-Ral Teralas
• A Family Heirloom-Ral Teralas
• The Light of Jebiah-Brother Jebiah
• She's Lived Long Enough-Laria
• Infectious Hosts**
• Kill Nuha the Wolf**-Cave under the cottage
• A Woman Scorned-Laria
• Purification Ritual-Fiona Leone
• Taking the Shadows**
• Slaying the Shadebent**
• Flickering Shadows**
• And End to the Court**
• Etail Corpsekiller**
• The Iron Pine Butcher**
• Spreading the Word-Fiona Leone
• Aiding the Waykeeers-Marshal Oakheart
• Scavenger Hunt-Daily-Waykeeper Valin (5675, 3425)
• Cleansing Fire-Marshal Oakheart
• Savior of Gloamwood-Furtho Dragomir
• Stemming the Darkness-Brother Jebiah
• Ending A Legend**-Elite lvl 24 Treant
• Making the Dead Stay Dead-Daily
• Goremouth** (4803, 2553)
• The Source of Spiders-This quest starts with a woman named Noreen Adler in Silverwood by Silver Landing, and asks you to venture up the Gloamwood Trail to speak to Varian Lofte.
• Extra Bits and Locations:
• Haligan the Pyretouched (4412, 2542)-Undead mob-drops a green quality staff
• Morticus the Unholy (Around the Mill somewhere)-Undead mob-drops Air wand
• Gedlo Venom Samples-drops from Goblins-Gives 50 Waykeepers Rep
• Skull Biter<Barkeeper Goblins> (5244, 2524)
• Drix Marrow <Nightrock Goblins> (5064, 2679)
• The Waykeepers in Gloamwood Pines are all named after types of beer! Go look! (This information is compliments of Raelsky) I've found Kors, Boosh, Ginnis, etc!
• Also found 2 Waykeepers at Silkweb Pass named Siaruh and Nivadda. (Sierra Nevada)
• The Waykeepers Rep Vendor in the Inn sells werewolf pets! Go get yours. (5135, 3122)
• Goblin Victim-Woman being terrorized by 2 goblins. If you kill them, you can talk to her for a brief description of what the goblins are doing in Gloamwood. She will also reward you with "Token of Gratitude" a sack of items. (5358, 2642)
• Rare Creatures List:
• Stalker of Tears-Werewolf (4678, 1107)
• Xaksha-Insect (4658, 2627)
• Scald-Dragon (4933, 2249)
• Dozer-Mech (4426, 2641)
• Lunar Shadestalker-Werewolf (4707, 2527)
• Scarbite-Beast (4218, 2615)
• Gnarl Nighthunter
• Ugly Horn
• Tweedle Dip
• Stalker of the Grove (5364, 2634)
• Zatzak Browncap
• Millrush Moonstalker
• Caves List (Achievement):
• Broodmother's Lair (5809, 3588)
• Darkrock Caverns (5130, 2660)
• Deeproot Fissure (5096, 3012)
• Darkrock Spider Cave (5215, 2720)
• Deepwood Cottage (4235, 2915)
• Greybriar Hollow (4730, 2900)
• Millrush Troll Cave (4491, 2830)
• Millrush Pond (4330, 2770)
• Shadefallen Keep (4557, 2504)
• Tearfall Catacombs (4762, 2560)
• Tearfall Creek (4735, 2730)
• Cave of the Shrine (4269, 2409)
• Achievement List:
• Are You Nuts- Jump from the top of the big tree (5270, 3083)
• Family Matters-Complete Ral Teralas's Quests (4849, 2750)
• Trophy Hunter- Collect Trophies for Wrangler Dein (drop items off beasts)
• Grizzly Business-Kill 7 Rare creatures
• Silent Vigil- Pray at the Shrine of the Vigil (4221, 2423)
• In Dark Places- Explore all of Gloamwood's Caves
• Wanton Destruction- Kill 200 Goblins (It was easiest for me to do it by the standing stones in Grove of the Ancients)
• Keeper of the Ways- Explore all of Gloamwood
• Lifting the Gloam Curse- Defeat the Hag (Just do Gloamwood's main quests)
• Gloamwood Samaritan-Complete 57 Quests
• The Curse of Gloamwood- Collect the 6 Gloamwood Artifact Sets
• The Glory of Gloamwood- Complete all Achievements-Title reward: Wolfbane. Item Reward: Form of the Howler (turns you into a werewolf)
• Gloamwood Puzzle:
• Shield Wall Puzzle (4539, 2382)-Click the Plaque on the wall, it will take you to the top of the tower. Go down the stairs and face the wall, you will see an example of what the finished product should look like. Go down one more level and you are at the puzzle. I drew a diagram of how to complete it. Follow the sequence of numbers, by clicking the knob that I numbered #1, and continue until you finish with #6, and you should succeed! Sometimes the puzzle is arranged different then the answers I give, so just go to a different Shard and try again until you get it! Good luck.

• Gloamwood Cairn:
• Located in the mountains between Gloamwood and Silverwood. There are several places to climb up onto the top of the ridge and run along the mountain spine until you come across the Cairn of Nylaan Starhearth (an ancestor of Shyla)
• Co-ordinates are approx. 5607, 3205)
• Link to my discovery video: Gloamwood Cairn
• List of Profession Materials:
• Razorbrush
• Ashwood Log
• Cotton Cloth
• Tin Node
• Iron Vein
• Krakenweed
• Oak Log
• Golden Nettle
• Duskglory
• Copper Vein
• Map of the Zone:

My Opinion of the Zone:

     I wasn't really as much a fan of Gloamwood as I was of Silverwood. The air was darker and more gloomy, which of course it was supposed to be, considering it's a dark cursed wood full of werewolves and vampires. But it was still depressing and my poor little Ascended didn't care much for the wood or its people. She did her duty like a good Guardian, and I'm happy I got to experience the story as well as complete the achievements, but it was definitely not a zone I'd enjoy doing multiple times. It was quite the journey, this one, since I also had to balance "real life" issues and I ended up getting behind. I also skipped several quests out of Rae's story since I didn't think they actually added anything meaningful to her story. The story itself also bugs me slightly. There are a few things I found were inconsistent. For instance, the two sisters Laria and Delilah. It says that they protected and looked after Gloamwood for years until troubles hit Gloamwood and then Laria died and Delilah turned into the Hag. Did this happen when the Shade hit, or did it happen during the Age of Dragons, or maybe it happened sometime in between? I guess its open to interpretation, but I hate it when lore is ambiguous like that! Oh well, I'm finished with the zone, time to find another one! All in all, I'd give this one a 5/10. It was ok, and it was fun to be a werewolf for a time, and to learn a bit more about the Sanctuary Guards and Kain in that brief little clip they showed between Kain and Oakheart. Just hang around by the Porticulum and you'll see it eventually.

Back to the Prologue

Chapter One Summary

Chapter Two Summary

Chapter Four Summary

[Special Feature] VIII: Alsbeth Rothmann

     After doing some research into the notorious villain Alsbeth, I realized that she didn't exactly have the best childhood ever. But does that justify her treachery and betrayal of Telara and all living beings on it? I hardly think so!

     Alsbeth Rothmann was born to a fairly minor nobles' family and lived in the countryside of the Mathosian Kingdom. Her ancient ancestor, Phynnious Rothmann, was the first pyromancer mage and helped bring down the Age of Dragons. The family line went steadily downhill since that glorious time, ending in shame and dishonor when Alsbeth's father murdered her mother in front of her for adultery. Her father was then executed for murder and young Alsbeth, little more than a child, was left without a home or family when her uncle inherited the estate and promptly kicked her out of the household.
     When Queen Lenia Mathos, husband of Jostir Mathos, learned of the girl's fate, she took Alsbeth in out of pity, ensuring she was cared for and received the best education at court as a state ward. Alsbeth was quiet at court, pale-skinned, dark haired, and shy. She spent her time reading books of magic and enchantment in the library or walking through the castle gardens. After the queen died of an incurable disease, Alsbeth lost her only advocate in court and fell into the shadows, since the king hardly had time for a homeless orphan.

     When she was old enough, Alsbeth and the other children at court were sent to the esteemed Quicksilver College in Silverwood, home of the Elves. There, she quickly won popularity with the professors and other students with her skill at magic and her ability to learn anything put to her. Her accomplishments at school earned her as much a place in everyone's eyes as Asha's behavior, albeit for different reasons. Alsbeth grew slightly resentful of Asha, who never took her studies seriously despite her intelligence and quick mind. Asha rebelled against the rules constantly. Once Asha was expelled, Alsbeth took full reign over the school, rising to the top of the ranks as best student. She returned to the court of Mathos a powerful and skillful mage.
    After conflict arose between Jostir's two sons over the throne, Alsbeth found herself having to choose a side. Everyone was certain she would side with King Aedraxis since Asha immediately sided with her secret crush, Zareph, but Zareph appeared to have won her over and she rode to Thedeor Field in his honor guard. Alsbeth fought bravely and valiantly in Zareph's army and her name, along with Shyla, Borrin, Carwin and Cyril, became songs and legend among the rebel forces. When the rifts swallowed the battlefield, Alsbeth died with everyone else. None were surprised when the Messengers of the Vigil raised her as Ascended with the rest of the heroes of Thedeor Field. Along with other Ascended, Alsbeth helped Zareph lead refugees to Port Scion for safety. There she spent years as a seemingly loyal and steadfast friend and advocate of Zareph's rule, and a defender of the city.

     So it came as the greatest shock when she betrayed them all to Regulos. The stories of Alsbeth Rothmann as the greatest and bravest mage of this age stopped. Instead, she gained the reputation and title of Alsbeth the Discordant. She tricked both the Guardians and the Defiant, setting up such a masterful turn of events that the city fell in but one day. To this day, her treacherous taking of the city is one of the most horrendous deeds done by a Telaran. If not for the heroic sacrifice of Zareph Mathos, the taint of the largest death rift seen yet would have consumed the entirety Silverwood and Freemarch both in a matter of days. After the city fell, the Guardians blamed the Defiants' magitech abominations for the loss of their beloved prince and the Defiant blamed the Guardians for ignorantly or perhaps even purposely harboring such a treacherous snake as Alsbeth. What use were the gods to them if they couldn't even tell the difference between a loyal follower and a hidden cultist? If not for Alsbeth's horrendous betrayal, the two factions could have found common ground and launched an effective joint assault on the planar threat.

     Now Alsbeth is a formidable necromancer of untold power, allied with Regulos and leading his forces on Telara. She is still Ascended and manipulates events from the shadows, making multiple attempts across Mathosia to disrupt the Defiant and Guardian forces and bring her dark master back to the material plane.
     Alsbeth is seen multiple times throughout the Ascended's journey to protect Telara, unleashing death rifts, horrifying hoards of undead and planar monster monsters, as well as powerful and sinister demons from the Plane of Death.

     Alsbeth was finally dealt with by the Ascended when Regulos tasked her with creating a device that would locate and take souls with untold power out of the Soulstream to serve him on Telara. Specifically, he was looking for strong, powerful souls to head his army of undead invaders. After his physical form was shattered, he lost the ability to do it himself and so enlisted Alsbeth's aid, although it's implied by him that her near success at this task surprised even Regulos. Working with Plutonus, the architect of the device, Alsbeth was able to summon a powerful being called Gaurath. Seeking petty revenge against her nemesis Asha, she also summoned Zareph Mathos's soul, binding his will to her. To her surprise though, Zareph's love and loyalty allowed him to fight off her control. Alsbeth then begged her master to grant her the power to destroy the Ascended that had journeyed to the River of Souls themselves to stop her, but he denied her, having grown tired of her failures on Telara and empty promises. After her ultimate defeat at the hands of the Ascended and Zareph, Regulos snatched up her soul before it could enter the Soulstream, promising eternal torment as her "reward".

     Why did she suddenly betray the Guardians in the first place, you wonder? Alsbeth is ambitious, selfish, and narcissistic. She thinks only of herself and her own benefit, believing she deserves what she can get her hands on because of her incredible magical abilities. She enjoys causing trouble for others and winning competitions and it drove her mad that Asha was more skilled and advanced at college although Asha didn't even need to apply herself to study-her abilities came naturally to her. Anytime the two of them teamed up in college, Alsbeth would set the blame for any wrongdoing on Asha. It frustrated her no end that Asha didn't even seem to mind. When it had become known that Asha had been plucked from the Soulstream by their old court tutor Orphiel Farwind, the hatred grew uncontrollable. Seeking plans to topple Asha's new perch, Alsbeth unknowingly opened herself up to the lure of power that Regulos offered and embraced him wholeheartedly. Later, she saw her chance to strike and toppled two birds with the price of one stone, forever causing a rift between the two factions and denying Asha her love of Zareph as the summoning of the rift in Port Scion ended with his death.


References: So, Alsbeth is a rather interesting character, and while it's hard to pin down her true motives, I'm pretty confident I've got her pegged. I was able to gain clues of her early history by reading the books in game on both her and Asha, as well as completing quests in the early zones and by doing a run through of the River of Souls Chronicle. In a way, I kind of feel bad for her. She had a rough life, and it made her into a sour and bitter person. It didn't help that Asha seemed so perfect and yet blew off every effort to actually learn anything. I can't help but wonder what would be different if Alsbeth had actually had a real friend while in court and later in college, instead of just underlings who she impressed with her magical ability. Maybe if she had someone to talk to...? Oh well I guess it's too late now. I think at some point I'd like to write a fanfiction story about that what if though. Could be fun!
     Anyway, you can find information on Alsbeth by reading the Alsbeth book and Asha Catari book, as well as talking to NPC's relevant to her storyline, and of course the raid and the chronicle River of Souls.

[Karazhan's Story] 2.16: The Burning City

      "Hey there pretty lady. Name's Tremaine and I'm a Knight Marshal. Anything I can...help you with?" The man who stepped in front of me when I made to enter the command tent was powerfully built and had a voice that demanded you pay attention. I stared at him levelly as he gave me a flirtatious grin. It was flattering to be called pretty in a way, but I also knew he'd deliberately prevented my forward progress. I suppose it was smart to make sure that not just anyone could walk in and kill their leader if they had a mind to it. I stepped back a pace so that I wasn't so close to "Tremaine". He was actually pretty big for an Eth, tall and heavily muscled, wearing heavy armor that was the norm for warriors and paladins. I put on my best "I'm in this war too and I mean business" expression.

     "Hello yourself. I've news for your leader, as well as an offering of aid and I heard he resides in this tent. I wish no one harm and I'm a member of the Defiants." I tilted my head slightly and made a casual motion toward the Defiants insignia on the lapel of my new robes. The red and gold rising phoenix glimmered in the afternoon sun. Tremaine raised one eyebrow and looked me over with a new eye, as if appraising whether I was telling the truth or not. Not that he'd actually be able to, since he wasn't a caster or someone who'd spent years studying the arts like I had. He grunted.
     "As you wish then." He finally said, drawing the words out. He swept aside the tent flap and called out a warning ahead of me before grandly bowing with one hand. "After you, pretty lady." He finished with a grin, waggling his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes. Warriors.
    
     Inside the tent, the air was slightly cooler and seemed free of smoke. A tiny glowing talisman on a central table was the answer for that. I could sense the magical power emanating from the device and had to stop myself from picking it up and poking at it magically. I was here for something more pressing. The man perusing a scroll to the left of the table had to be March Warden Denegar. He wore several medals and insignias of office and station and his clothing was more ceremonial. He carried a large two-handed sword across his back and looked exhausted. I felt a surge of sympathy for the March Wardens, who were desperately trying to protect their home and who were still conflicted on whether it was a good decision to turn their backs on the Vigil they'd long worshiped in favor of the more heretical and scientifically minded Defiants. He placed the scroll on the table with a grimace as I walked up.

     "Ah, a Defiant." He said. He glanced briefly at Tremaine, who gave a short nod. "I'm March Warden Denegar, but than you probably already know that. If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself my lady?" He smiled politely and distantly at me.
     "Oh yes. My name is Karazhan. I was resurrected by Sylver Valis as one of his engineered Ascended and have been helping with the troubles in Freemarch." I paused a moment as Denegar blinked in surprise at the word Ascended. His face went through several emotions; fear, awe, worry, disappointment. I could understand how he felt. It seemed that suddenly history was being made right here and no matter what happened, we, Sylver's creations, would always be remembered, even if our Guardian counterparts would rather we didn't exist. It made me feel giddy and elated and scared all at once to be part of such an important event in history.

     "Karazhan. A Defiant Ascended." The March Warden said slowly, as if he wasn't sure if he liked the sound of that. I gave a slight shrug, trying to appear casual. "I never thought I'd ever see an Ascended." He continued, and stared me in the eyes for several seconds before looking away. I dropped my own eyes to the magical air clearing device, feeling the sudden awkwardness. I stubbornly refused to let myself feel ashamed for existing. For being an affront to the gods. If they hadn't been so unrelenting and unbending in their views of mortal circumstances, we Kelari would never have broken from them. We wouldn't have gone to the Isles. I would never have been reborn as a constructed being made entirely out of magitech and sourcestone. An abomination in the eyes of the Vigil and the Guardians who followed them. But then, I wonder how different the world would have been if that hadn't happened. If Sylver hadn't made his own engineered Ascended replicated from the Vigil's chosen warriors. Well actually I didn't need to wonder, I already knew. The apocalypse I'd avoided by traveling through time was not something I'd ever forget.
     So I lifted my chin higher and steeled my jaw.

     "You know, when the Defiants arrived in Freemarch, they offered their help against the cult." Denegar spoke, filling the strained silence that followed. I quirked an eyebrow. He grimaced and looked older and more exhausted than before and I felt another surge of sympathy despite his almost unfriendly comment. "But I dismissed them. Why would we need help? We rose up against Jakub the Tyrant in the olden times and we retook our lands then. We were strong and we ruled ourselves justly. I was aghast at the Defiant's talk of the gods' failure. Such heresy I thought! And now..." He trailed off and gestured helplessly around him. He didn't have to say anything more. I knew what Freemarch faced. Of course, how was he to know all this would happen? And how to react to the ever changing circumstances of the world's politics.
     "Freemarch isn't alone anymore." I said in reply when he didn't say anything more. "The Defiant are your allies, and I'm here to help you take back Smith's Haven. So what can I do?" I put the offer out there bluntly, willing him to see the deadly sincerity in my voice and in my eyes. I wanted to protect the people of Freemarch just as much as he did. I couldn't bear to just watch the suffering of so many innocent people when I could do something to help. March Warden Denegar chuckled with grim amusement.
     "What an age this is. The Age of the Ascended." He mused, speaking barely loud enough to be heard. My greater sense of hearing picked out the words clearly though and I rolled the words around in my mind. The Age of Ascended, huh? I liked the sound of that. Indeed it was our age. And we'd show those crazed Blood Storm gods that we wouldn't tolerate their manipulation and wickedness anymore.

     "I thank you for coming to help Smith's Haven, Karazhan. You may not be the Ascended we were foretold would come, but you have stepped in to aid us, where the Guardians and the Vigil did not. While we managed to get many of the city's civilians to safety, others are still trapped inside. My second in command is also in there. We haven't been able to keep in touch with those still trapped behind the enemy lines, but if I know Ted Powell, he'll have holed up in the supply cave we carved into the side of the hill a long time ago. If you could help him get the remaining people back here to safety, we can attack the enemy in the city without concern of hurting our own." I frowned thoughtfully. Denegar stooped down over the map and began pointing out positions on the city map, letting me know where his scouts had reported the heaviest concentration of cultists, where the supply cave was, and what buildings were so damaged that to venture near them was too dangerous. I mapped out a route that would take me to the cave, and a possible escape route back out, but it was hard to predict an accurate escape route when I didn't know how many people were trapped inside and in what condition they were in. Denegar also didn't know if any were injured, or elderly. Apparently the takeover of Smith's Haven was so brutal and fast that the wardens were left scrambling to retreat.

     "Alright. It seems straight forward, and I know what to do. If I see any of those cultists or any undead I'll make sure to say hi for you." I said neutrally. Denegar grinned in approval. "You're alright, for a Defiant." He said finally. I felt my lips stretch into a wide smile. "I'm so glad you approve." I quipped back. I straightened up and stretched, feeling sore muscles loosen up a bit. Even Ascended needed rest now and again apparently, I thought ruefully. Denegar saw my wince. "Rest up a bit first and get something to eat. It wouldn't do to wander into that death trap without being on full alert." I agreed gratefully and wandered back outside. Knight Marshal Tremaine followed me out and took up a stance outside the tent flap again, giving me a jaunty wave as I moved over to a communal soup cauldron in the center of the camp. Since it was mainly a military camp, I wasn't expecting much in the way of nourishment but I vowed I wouldn't be fussy as long as it was hot. After all, they had to feed all these poor refugees from the city as well, and who knows what kind of state their supplies were in and when they would get any relief or aid from neighboring towns or Meridian. I remember vaguely that one of the Unseen had made mention that there were reports of Smith's Haven burning, so they had gotten the news before I left, but it was still a day's travel at least to way out here. I know they have those portal ways that allowed travel in the blink of an eye but I would imagine arriving in the middle of a burning city wasn't ideal so they had to travel the mundane way to reach the city.

     "A bowl of the soup please." I requested of the middle aged woman pouring bowls of soup for people. There were black smudges on her face and her skirt was half burnt away, but her eyes were fierce and determined. The people of Freemarch were brave and hardy. She handed me a crudely made wooden bowl of some type of vegetable soup. It didn't look like the best meal I'd ever eaten, but it was hot and it smelled good, so I settled down under a patch of shade, resting my staff at my side.

     After I'd eaten my fill--downed too quickly to truly enjoy it since the sight of the burning city instilled haste in my actions--I washed off my utensils with water from my flask and handed it back to the woman at the cauldron with a murmur of thanks. I walked toward the little bridge and destroyed gate that led to Smith's Haven and studied it, considering if it was best to try and dash through the flames licking at the gate, or if I should just climb up the wall. Both prospects seemed like a great deal of effort. The Endless Court sure knew what they were doing by starting the fires closest to the gate to make it nearly impossible for anyone to get in or out.

     "You're not thinking of going in there, are you?" Asked a somewhat disbelieving voice behind me. I turned around and spotted a fairly young Kelari maiden standing a little to my left. She was wearing long red robes like the Meridian scientists but hers had no markings or badges of rank. An apprentice perhaps? I smiled at her.
     "Maybe I am. Someone needs to show the Endless that we're not just going to sit down and take this." I replied. The girl looked gleeful and worried all at once and I felt touched that she was concerned for me.
     "Just don't get in trouble cause we won't even be able to hear you scream for help, k?" The girl said, and a corner of her mouth quirked up. I smiled back. "Oh hey, here take this!" She added on suddenly, and stepped up to me, pressing a large cold canister into my hands. I stared down at it. It was a strangely shaped jar, ice cold to the touch and seemed to be fogged up with condensation.
     "What is it?" I asked the girl after studying the object a moment. She was shorter than me by quite a bit and I ended up looking down at her, which made me uncomfortable. I stepped back a pace.
     "It's a holding canister for water elementals. It's my research project for Meridian. If we could capture the weaker elemental creatures and keep them contained until required for something specific, it would be very beneficial to the war effort." The girl said this in a straight, earnest voice, rattling off the sentence as if she'd practiced it. I studied the jar again. An elemental? "This one is a water elemental. I captured it on the way here when a rift into the plane of water exploded around us. The Wardens are pretty good at fighting off planar foes and while they were busy I scooped this one up and sealed it in that canister. It might be mad when it gets out though, but the opposing elements seem attracted to each other like magnets so if you release it inside the city, the elemental will be drawn to the fires and you can use it to maybe put out some fires if your in trouble, or to help someone who might be trapped by burning debris."
     "Wow. Color me impressed!" I exclaimed after her little explanation. "This'll be very helpful, thank you." I added sincerely. The girl beamed.
     "Good luck! You're going to need it. I hope you can get the rest of them out to safety." She waved at me and walked away from the searing heat coming from the gate.

     I tucked the elemental vial into my belt and scowled at the blazing doors. Being from the hot tropical isles inured me to heat and high temperatures, but this was on another level and already I felt uncomfortable.

    Once I'd gingerly picked my way past the burning wreckage of the town gate, I recalled the map to mind and stayed left, following the main streets as much as possible. The visibility was low due to smoke and flames and there was debris and burning buildings on either side. Every so often I forced myself to stop and stand still despite the oppressive heat and listen for any cries of help or anything suspicious. I dreaded the possibility that there were poor victims still trapped inside any of those buildings, helplessly burning alive when I could have done something. It made me very cold inside down to my toes despite the incredible heat bearing down on me. Despite the heavy smoke, I found that breathing wasn't too difficult as long as I took slow breaths. It must have been something to do with the nature of my new sourcestone body. I didn't complain. Having smoke inhalation problems on top of everything else seemed like a recipe for disaster. And a horrible way to die.

     I passed several tall buildings, one of them looked to be an Inn. The stables for the horses and other mounts was nothing but a towering inferno of yellow hot flames. I really hoped there were no animals inside. Finally I stopped in a relatively clear area, when the main road had gotten smaller and seemed to weave between houses instead of holding a firm straight line. I called up my magic and attuned my senses to my surroundings. Using just the raw essence of the magic, I quested out, searching for signs of life. To my dismay I found plenty of dark dots around the town. They were dark violet at the core, denoting that their souls were tainted by evil. Those must be the damn cultists. Searching further, I widened my inner gaze and brushed up against the rocky mountains that bisected Freemarch here. Aha, Denegar had said the refugees were trapped within a supply cave carved into the side of the hill. I "felt" along the hill with my magic until I finally found a whole mess of life signatures. Most of the dots were in hues of gold and white, denoting good, honest souls. Found them.

     I recalled my magic back to myself and felt a slight twinge in my temples. Using raw magic that way always took a lot out of the caster. I'd learned the trick a long time ago by accident when I'd been part of a search for a lost child in the jungle outside Atia. Since than I'd learned to hone the skill. It made it very handy in finding signs of life in areas, but it was also very strenuous on the mind so I didn't like to use it often. Apparently even being Ascended didn't make me immune to the rigors of magic use. I rubbed my temples to help relieve the ache. At least I knew that the townsfolk still seemed to be alive and ok. Just trapped in the cave since the town was crawling with cultists and ordinary townspeople were trained to fight, let alone fight a bunch of insane Regulos worshippers and their undead pets.

     I don't know how long it actually took me to reach the little cave where the trapped citizens were hiding out. A few times I ran into cultists and had to quickly end them before they could call out and warn others that I was here. It wasn't exactly a pleasant task. They were still people after all, but they had sided with the Destroyer so their fate was sealed. I also quickly threw nets of power and electric magic at the many undead I came across, disabling them and ending their miserable caricature of living. I think of all the vast and evil threats to the world, the undead bothered me the most. They truly were abominations on Telara. Not alive, not truly dead, they had no right to even exist. That the cultists used them like well trained hounds bothered me even more, and I had to hope that their souls weren't somehow buried deep in their rotting flesh, yoked to mindless slavery for their dark cause.

    When I climbed over the makeshift barricade barring entrance into the cave, I found myself face to face with a whole lot of spears and pitchforks. Immediately I put both hands in the air and froze.

    "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Demanded their leader, a tall dark skinned man in warden colors.

    "Hi, I'm Karazhan, a Defiant. Are you Ted Powell? I was sent in here by March Warden Denegar to help get the rest of the civilians out of Smith's Haven so they can commence their attack. I'm on your side, I swear." I said by way of greeting. I kept my expression open and earnest. The warden peered at me with narrowed eyes, before slowly lowering his beautifully carved spear. Everyone else had rather crude weapons that looked to have been hastily strung together from whatever supplies they could scavenge.

     "The March Warden sent you? Than he got out ok?" Ted exclaimed. His face looked ten times younger when he suddenly grinned in relief. "Boy am I glad to hear that! And thank you for coming to our aid. I was beginning to think we'd been forgotten about. But..." he trailed off and peered behind me a moment, looking perplexed. I chuckled at his confusion.
     "Don't worry, I'm all you need. I can protect us while we escape." I said in a neutral tone of voice. It wasn't boasting after all if it was true. Ted peered at me again, looking wary and suspicious. Then his eyes widened.
     "Oh! You're one of those engineered Ascended?! We'd just gotten word from Meridian of Sylver's success when we were attacked by the Endless Court. Wow, a real life Ascended." He tried to casually dust off his torn and burnt clothes, as if trying to make a good impression on me.
     "Trust me, it's not as glamorous as it seems." I offered wryly. "Now how many people do you have here, and when do you want to leave, cause frankly, I'm sick of this place already." I asked, lifting one eyebrow and gesturing behind me. Ted considered the cave entrance a moment as he mentally counted.
     "We have about fifteen of us. There's a few kids and elderly though and everyone's been effected by the smoke. We need to get them out of here before it gets worse." Ted replied grimly, down to business. I nodded gravely in understanding. He led me to the back of the cave where the rest of them were and I glanced among them. All the civilians seemed to perk up upon spotting me, most of them scrambling to their feet with hope on their dirty faces. I put on a confident smile for them.

     "Hello everyone. I know you've had a hard couple of days, but it isn't over yet. We're going to be leaving now and going to a camp that March Warden Denegar has set up outside Smith's Haven. There you can get fresh food and water as well as have medics tend to your injuries. We just need to get there first. I won't lie, it's going to be risky. There's a lot of cultists between there and here, but if we stick together and protect each other, we should be fine. This is our only chance, so are you ready?" I meant the question rhetorically, because whether they were ready or not, we were leaving, but the roar of approval that greeted me was a bit startling. I felt a tight feeling inside, kind of like pride, and my smile grew wider. I nodded at Ted and went to stand by their little barricade as he organized the group for travel. He knew them better then I did and would be able to better equip them and prepare them for the run through the burning city.

     After some time Ted came up beside me and informed me they were ready. I took a deep breath.
     "Stay close everyone, and look out for each other. Keep an eye on those nearby and make sure they don't get into trouble. If something happens, keep your voice low but try to alert the rest of us as soon as possible. It's going to be dangerous, but you are people of Freemarch and I know you're brave souls. Your ancestors beat Jakub the Tyrant after all. Don't hesitate to use your weapons to defend your friends." I glanced among them, memorizing their dirty uplifted faces, than turned and slipped between the barricade with ease. My strength and agility had definitely increased since being placed in this new body. A lot of it was in fact the body itself, but the addition of the sourcestone matrix and the power of the other souls lent me increased physical attributes that I'd never had before, being a scholarly, indoor mage type.

     The run back through the city became a blur to my memory. It was just one jumbled haze of fire and smoke and worry. At one point, the young Kelari scientists elemental canister saved us when a burning building exploded next to us, showing flames and burning wood down among the group. A young child and a man ended up pinned by flaming beams and half the group was trapped behind a wall of fire. The water elemental, when released, almost attacked me but the pull of fire, it's direct opposite in elemental power, lured it toward the flames and the water elemental smothered the flames, allowing myself and Ted and two others to pull the beam off the injured townsfolk and gather up our scattered group. We couldn't treat the injuries there, not with no supplies and in the open in what was now enemy territory, but none were life threatening so we just continued on. To my great regret, we did lose someone. A young boy who had been struggling to the side of the group, coughing from black smoke. An undead fiend with red eyes leapt out of a shadowy alcove and snatched up the boy, impaling him on a rusted sword before anyone could even realize the attack had happened. Of course all the townsfolk descended upon the fiend, stabbing and slashing, before my pure weather magic ended its abominable existence. We spent a few moments in hushed mourning before the risk of staying grew too great and we were forced to press onward, leaving the tiny mangled body behind. Even though he was the only life lost, I felt such bitter regret when we finally reached the town gate and I could smell the fresh air. Tears prickled my eyelids. That poor innocent little soul. I've never hated anything so much in life as I did the Endless Court right than. Them, Regulos, and that horrid snake Alsbeth. If she had appeared right then in front of me, I would have done my best to rent her limb from limb, no matter what anyone thought or her pleas for mercy.

    "I'm so sorry." I said to Ted as I led him toward Denegar's tent. We'd deposited the citizens in the capable hands of the warden's military healers and they were now being treated for their various injuries. Smoke inhalation seemed to be the most serious, although the man who'd been pinned by the beam ended up with a pretty bad concussion and a broken arm as well as bruised ribs. He was lucky. Again I felt grief well up as I saw the boy in my mind's eye. Ted clapped me on the arm and his face grew serious and grave.
     "Karazhan, don't be. You saved us. If you hadn't gone in there and led us back out, who even knows if any of us would have survived. It wasn't your fault, what happened, and I'm just grateful the rest of us are safe. Thank you." He peered into my dark eyes and I took a deep breath of the clean air. The nearby river, fed by the sea, brought the smell of brine and salt with the breeze, clearing my lungs of the heavy smoke-filled air.
    "Still..." I shook my head. No matter I knew Ted's words were true, I couldn't help the self-disgust I felt. I'd had a job and I felt like I'd failed it, failed them, failed myself. Just the very idea of losing even one person to those accursed cults made hot anger and bitter sorrow well up within me. Warm and comforting touches seemed to press upon my mind and I dropped my mental shields slightly to allow the other souls to comfort me as best they could.

     "March Warden, I've returned." I announced when I entered the tent after winking at Knight Marshal Tremaine outside. He'd gawked at me and Ted, as if shocked to even see me alive, let alone that I'd succeeded. Denegar's head jerked up at my voice and he immediately rounded the table, hugging Ted like they were old comrades. And maybe they were. This town, in fact all of Freemarch, had a history that I hadn't been part of. I shook the thought away before it made me feel even more depressed. Did Ascended have issues with mental health? I wonder if the medics had experience with dealing with mentally scarred, depressed Ascended beings.
    I shook my head again and brought myself firmly back to the present, in time to hear the last of Ted's explanation of what had happened in Smith's Haven. Denegar looked saddened at the loss of the boy, but turned a grateful smile on me.

    "Thank you so very much, Lady Karazhan." March Warden Denegar praised me. He came forward and stuck out his hand in the southern custom. I awkwardly shook it, before inclining my head politely.
     "You're welcome. You're people are very brave, March Warden. You should be proud of them." I offered, surprised that I actually meant it. They had been brave. And loyal. None had run or hid when the building had exploded, or when the fiend had attacked. "But I'm sick of just reacting. I'm sick of those cultists thinking they can just do whatever the hells they please with our land. I won't allow Freemarch to fall to Regulos. It's time I take this fight directly to them. And I know now where they are." I turned my eyes outside the tent flap, where the towering dark spires of the Iron Fortress seemed to loom in sinister silence over the fallen city.

[Lore] XXX: Gloamwood

     Gloamwood is the sister forest to Silverwood, and once was jus as sacred and shining a wonder of Telara as Silverwood still is. Unfortunately, it had fallen to darkness and evil over time, like a simmering surface beneath the crust waiting for the opportune moment to explode. That opportunity was the weakening of the Ward and the release of the death rifts at Thedeor and Port Scion. After that fateful day, death rifts sprang up all over the old country and the newly created Guardians were hard pressed to defend their own lands, let alone send out reinforcements for the other various regions of Telara. It wasn't until they were able to bring some semblance of order and victory to Silverwood and others that they turned their eyes to the farther reaches of the Mathosian continent. By then it was too late, Gloamwood had already succumbed to the evils of the rifts. The protectors of the wood, Laria and her sister Delilah-daughters of Athana, and from a long line of Druids-stood against the planar abominations for as long as they could until, tragically, Laria was killed by riftspawn. In fury and grief, Delilah struck out at any she thought were to blame for her beloved sister's death. This included the people of Gloamwood, who she felt did nothing to aid the sisters in their quest to protect the wood. She was a mage who dealt in dark magic herself and swore revenge upon the people of Gloamwood in retaliation for her sister's death, not knowing that she herself was falling further into the grasp of Regulos, master of the plane of death. At one point, Delilah fell so far into the clutches of death magic that it twisted her features into that of an old crone to reflect the evil of her spirit. And thus she became known as the Hag to the people of the wood, and her curses and hexes became well known afflictions. The people of Gloamwood Pines, fearing further retribution from the powerful sorceress, refused aid from the Guardians and the Sanctuary Guard sent from Sanctum to secure the forest. They believed that outside interference would only make their own situation worse, and they refused to co operate. As well, they hid the dark secret of one curse in particular, the curse of lycanthropy, which turned the innocent citizens of Gloamwood into mindless, ravening werewolves if triggered.
     Another such curse is the one that haunts the Solemn family and their estate. Their once proud line can be easily traced back to the founding fathers of Gloamwood Pines. Yet what is not clear is how their family became cursed with undeath. Whenever one of the Solemn family dies, their spirit does not pass into the Soulstream like all other souls in Telara, but instead becomes bound to the Solemn family estate. As time passes, they degenerate into mindless spirits that wander those hills for eternity. Yet others of the clan have returned as vengeful specters, exacting their hatred on any who trespass on family land.

      Furtho Dragomir warns any Ascended who venture into Gloamwood "Lately I've had my hands full trying to quell disturbances that outsiders such as you have brought to my fair town. So this is a fair warning: Tread carefully in these woods, for they have a way of dealing with troublesome folk."
     Gloamwood Pines was once the jewel of the wood, but now it serves as a lone refuge from the horrors that assault it each day. The small military presense in Gloamwood has been relegated to a spot far outside of town, as the townfolk refuse to allow Sanctum so much sway over their home. They believe it will incite the goblins into a full scale attack on the town.

     Sun dappled Silverwood can lure newly returned Ascended into a false confidence that while creatures of the rifts are fearsome, they can be stopped before they wreak havoc on Telara. But naïve heroes see the havoc first hand when their quests lead them deep into Gloamwood. For this is a deeper, darker forest, where corruption from the planes rises from deep underground to poison trees and communities at the root. Guardians traveling to Gloamwood find themselves surrounded by lank trees, white of root with pale green trunks and mostly bare of leaves. The Shade still lingers here and the sun rarely peeks into the misted sky which is jaundiced yellow by day and bruised red by night, an endless twilight that gives Gloamwood its name. The soil here is wet and black, and sometimes bears the footprints of sinister creatures that creep beneath the foliage. The proud and ancient forest that stood against the ravages of time with its loving protectors has at last fallen to the evils of the planes and their ilk.
     The Grove of the Ancients was once a beautiful section of the forest, old and forgiving. Now it is a place of great evil, filled with goblins that rend flesh from bone and treants that choke the very essence out of unsuspecting victims. The treants no longer come to the grove to die peacefully, they come to deal out vengeance for the wrongs they feel have been struck against their forest.
  
     Gnarlwood Post is the first small camp one will encounter when entering past the gates that lead into the dark wood. Waykeeper Rastin stands by the road in the darkness of the path, dealing out warnings to unwary travelers trying to prove themselves brave adventurers. The post is a small trader's camp constructed by what scraps of canvas and supplies they can scavenge.

     If one can make it through the trials of this part of the forest and wishes to go deeper, they must first contend with the spiders of Silkweb Pass, where limbs can become tangled in sticky webbing faster than you could say "Ascended". Giant spiders skitter along the webbing, pouncing on travelers in venomous packs. Tales tell the story of the legendary broodmother, an old, hideously bloated spider matriarch who has been so twisted by the energies of the Shade that she has grown to twice the size of any spider in Gloamwood. A traveler might catch a glimpse of shine off her enormous carapace before a stinger as long as a sword spears through his back.

     Perhaps the most unfriendly of all the places in Gloamwood is its only town, Gloamwood Pines, slouched in the heart of the wood and full of several generations of Mathosian peoples who settled in the wood long ago. They are so terrified of what lies outside the edges of the town that they are immediately suspicious of any newcomers to the village and will gladly try to run any unwary adventurer out of town. Grisly murders have long plagued Gloamwood Pines, and though all evidence points to some huge and powerful beast in the gloom, no amount of culling of the local predators has stopped the killer. Villagers also spread horrified whispers of a Hag who lives in Deepwood Cottage. She was old when the toothless grandfathers were but boys, toiling over her curses or peering out at the woods with milky eyes visible through a slit in the curtains. Some say the Hag and Gloamwood are one and you might be tempted to believe it when you see the knotted shadows grasp at the trees. Granitewood Crossing holds only a few tattered remains as evidence that it was once home to a once vibrant and lively community.

     Civilized folk work hard to keep the goblins in check but the vicious little creatures have recently grown bold, spreading through the wood and attacking even armed patrols. The goblins are sometimes bigger and stronger then usual and mad with bloodlust, goaded by their Gedlo leaders into greater ferocity.

     Unmarked gray stones as high as men stand in the forest, arranged into impossible formation. They have lurked in their clearing for centuries, radiating a forgotten, sinister purpose. The goblins have infested these standing stones, lashing out at anyone who comes to close. The goblins built their city in the drainage system of Shadefallen Keep, expanding it with their own crude tunnels and gauging ever deeper into the ground. Adventurers bold and foolish enough to invade these Darkening Deeps might find the source of the goblins' newfound aggression, rescue villagers from Gloamwood Pines, or meet their end in a storm of fire and claw. A stately mill once funneled resources from Gloamwood to Mathosian markets in Port Scion long ago, until it too fell to the corruption of the Shade. Arisen from their graves or shambling from death rifts, the undead horrors overrun the mill and slaughtered its workers. Brave entrepreneurs talk about mounting an expedition to reclaim the precious mill but until then, only the rattle of bone and the creak of a disused millwheel can be heard from the old Mathosian Mill. Shadefallen Keep has changed hands repeatedly during the Shade War.

Some Quotes from the people of Gloamwood:

1. Waykeeper Freden says "I am one of the watchers of the road in Gloamwood. The Waykeepers must make sure the horrors of the gloam stay in the shadows. It is my honor to defend the people of Gloamwood Pines, but I'm not about to go running off the path into the forest to save some inept foolish outsider who steps into a barghest den."
2. Marshal Oakheart of the Sanctuary Guard says "I am Johan Oakheart, paladin of the Vigil, reborn to serve their will just as you were. I command the Sanctum's military force in this region, the 8th Sanctuary Guards. One does not need to be reborn by the gods to serve the glory of their will. The Sanctuary Guards are ordinary men and women who have chosen to defend the will of the gods with force of arms, placing their mortal lives on the line.
3. Sergeant Faid says" Are you here to talk or help? Gloamwood is in need of order. We've established our main camp here in Silkwood Pass because the Burgher of Gloamwood Pines, Furtho Dragomir, doesn't want a military presense close to his town. You'll find the people of the wood superstitious lot, untrusting of outsiders. It's made it difficult to render them aid. Right now, the war with the goblins to the north is hindered by the lack of support from the Gloamwood Pines council. The sooner people realize we're here to help, the sooner we can win this fight."

References: Well some parts of this post were taken directly from Trion's lore page on Gloamwood that they used to have set up on their website. I have no idea where it is now. Much more of this information was gleaned from doing quests. I just wrote down notes as I went along to later re-write into an actual summary. Some questions I have about the lore though are: How long ago did Laria and Delilah live before Laria's death? Was it recent, during the Shade War 20 years ago, or did it happen long ago during the Bloodstorm War? It says that Gwyddon Duskenleaf is Laria's descendant. That implies that she is indeed ancient. It also hints at her having had a child. Interesting! I would also love to learn more about Shadefallen Keep and who built it.

[Off Topic] Patch 2.8: Madness Wakes

     The exciting new chapter in the sprawling saga that is Rift! I'm so excited! There's some new content coming this patch, which seems to be the prelude to the new Nightmare Tide Expansion! I always love the new content that comes right before the expansion as well as the lead in pre launch events! I think I enjoy it because this is the point where lore takes a leap forward past the stagnant ever present state of just existing in limbo once you read the end point. It's so awesome seeing it move forward! Here's some stuff to look forward to this patch!

• Nightmare Tide (3.0) Pre-launch Story Quests and Event
• "Cyril Kalmar and Kira Thanos have been dreaming darkly in the city of Tempest Bay. Help them put the dark nightmares to rest.
• "Dreaming Darkly"(Guardian) and "The Dark Dream" (Defiant) start off this awesome quest chain in Tempest bay by talking to your respective faction representative. After that, continue with the questline.
• New Dungeon: Nightmare Coast
• The lore of this dungeon starts off right after you complete the prelude quests mentioned above. The last of those quests takes you to talk to the Faceless Man in Shimmersand and from there, it's a hop and a skip to the Nightmare Coast dungeon entrance.
• 5 man dungeon for lvl 60 players
• It resolves the mystery of the Sinister Presence and details the story of how and why the Infinity Gate has wandered around the world to rest over Fortune's Shore. You battle a new group of fanatics calling themselves the Dream Coven as they work to open a new portal into the world and unleash a whole new mess of bad guys. Telara just can't catch a break eh?
• Soul Updates
• The Pyromancer soul received huge changes to abilities and how they work. Like, huge.
• Sentinals also got some pretty big changes.
• Stormcaller has a depressingly long list of changes (Kara is a Stormcaller)
• Updates to the Ah-This doesn't impact me since I don't use it.
• New Inspect Character changes-cool!
• Now we have the ability to dive underwater. Just hit X.
• Other changes
• Summoning a friend will now let them know who's summoning them.
• Rift store changes
• UI and settings changes
• Changes to older boss encounters for a more streamlined and sensible fight.
• Fixed some pvp issues (personally, pvp needs a loooooot of work.)

     And that's all folks! Now get out there and enjoy the new story, the new dungeon, and get ready for the next expansion cause it looks like it's going to be EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

   ~Dark out