The hummingbirds felt it first.

It started as any other day in the Great Forest. Growing herbs, mixing potions, helping the Glade Runners clear some new pathways while keeping intact the forest around it. All the denizens working together to keep the Forest in harmony like one great organism.

Up until that point, I had spent my whole life in the Great Forest. It was peaceful, and I felt useful. Ancient, powerful magics flowed through my bloodline, which was only enhanced with the bonds I had made with the creatures and spirits of the Forest. Symbiotic relationships which both enhanced my own power and brought a greater good to the communities around me. Healing, magic, knowledge, construction. Whatever was needed I was ready to help. Misriki had grown to rely on me and I, on it. Maybe too much, in light of recent circumstances.

The shift was subtle at first. Flowers didn’t smell quite as nice, butterflies took longer to hatch from their cocoons. How could they tell? But the hummingbirds, they were the first to truly grasp the magnitude of the situation. Swarming, panicking, fleeing. The rest of the forest soon followed. The giant spiders, the shambling mounds, the forvalaka. Corruption and panic soon took its hold, and took my power with it.

I quickly sought the guidance of the Three Great Spirits. The Wise One I Do Know. The Hidden One I Don’t Know. The Mischievous One I Might Know. Yet without the aid of the lesser spirits my cries could not reach their ears. I was cut off. I was, for the first time, truly alone.

I had to get out of the forest. But where. I heard tale of an outpost held by the Moon Blade elves. Cailenstadt. Weird ones, those Moon Blades. Always leaving the Great Forest. I had never understood what drove them to do so, but now, I was beginning to grasp the wisdom of such endeavors. So I set out, with no magic at my disposal, just my walking stick and the packs I could carry.

Upon my arrival I had found the elves had already been corrupted, but they were not alone. A whole host of adventurers, warriors, stood ready to seize the fort. They quickly welcomed me with open arms. Weirdly trusting. They informed me they were from a continent to the east they called Nova Regnus, and they called this land Vetus Mundi. They were hunting a demon called Ferdinand, who was spreading demonic corruption everywhere in his wake. He must be the one who is breaking Misriki as well. So I helped them take Cailenstadt, and their top mages and healers freed the elves of Ferdinand’s corruption. Back to the Great Forest we went. Finally.

Once back to the Great Forest, things were even worse than when I left. I split from the group to return home, to see if I could grant some semblance of order and harmony to those I care most about. It was a hard fought battle, but several days later, things finally started to calm down. Then I received the news: the Elven Council had found the adventurers worthy, and the Elder Tree had granted them the Celestial Key. By the Three. I decided to rejoin with the adventurers from their strange new world, to help them hunt down the demon. The weaker he gets, the stronger my magic with the Forest grows back. He is a blight that must be purged, a diseased branch that must be pruned.

I find myself joining up with the group of adventurers who had been entrusted with the Celestial Key, the Grove. They say they are there to protect the weak, and worship the Green Goddess. Could it be she…? I shall keep close watch over them, both to protect our Key and see if they can uphold such virtues.

As we depart the Great Forest I hear a familiar cackling in my ear. “Good luck with Ferdy”, it says. I smile. I had received the blessing I needed, and will help end the corruption taking hold of the land. I am no longer resting.