It is the year 247 in the 2nd Age. The human kingdoms of Arkelos are still recovering after a disaster nearly a century ago. Magic was the root of the catastrophe. The citizens of Arkelos suffered at the hands of terrible specters and a traitorous deity once sworn to protect them. Since then, magic of any kind was forbidden and anyone caught using it was sentenced to trial and often death.
The destruction caused by magic left millions exiled from their homes, fear in the hearts of the innocent, and unexplainable terrors in the wilds. With no one left who understood the ways of the arcane, the people of Arkelos were left to defend themselves with nothing but swords and hope. While far from the epicenter of disaster that befell the kingdoms, the people of Edgemere were not spared the terrors lurking in the shadows.
The moon hung low, casting long, eerie shadows that danced among the trees. A lone traveler, clad in worn leather and carrying a flickering lantern, trudged along a narrow forest path. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the only sound was the rhythmic songs of crickets.
A sudden rustle in the undergrowth startled the man. He tightened his grip on his lantern and quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest. As he rounded a bend, his blood ran cold. Two monstrous creatures emerged from the darkness, their forms distorted by the moonlight. They were wolves, but not as he had ever seen them. Their fur was patchy and matted, revealing jagged, bone-like protrusions beneath. Two pairs of glowing green eyes burned with unnatural intensity, and their mouths were filled with elongated, razor-sharp teeth. Their bodies were scarred by glowing magical fissures that leaked a luminescent green smoke.
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Panic surged through the man as the creatures lunged at him. He turned and fled, his legs burning with exertion. The wolves were close, their howls distorted and unnatural, echoing in his mind rather than the night air. Desperation fueled his flight until he collided with something solid.
He looked up, his breath coming in ragged gasps, and saw a vague humanoid silhouette against the dim moonlight. The figure stared down at him with glowing teal eyes.
The man froze in fear until he heard the growling of the wolves. Once ruthless on the hunt, the wolves hesitated upon seeing the mysterious figure, who only stared back at them with equal ferocity. With a chilling calm, the figure stepped forward, its eyes burning with a fierce determination. Then, with a roar that shook the forest, the figure charged.
