It has recently been brought to my attention the (rampant) extent to which the shadowpack pest has been spreading across the Yew hinterland. In spite of our best efforts to keep their advance in check, the shadowpacks seem to be mutiplying by the dozens, daily.
These brutish beasts have already exacted a heavy toll on the financial stability of my hometown's markets and industries (except perhaps leatherworking), and the livelihood of Yew's farmers and peasantfolk is being seriously compromised by their inability to work their lands in relative peace and tranquility.
Granted, the forests of Yew have always been a dangerous area in any event, but recent developments have made it near impossible (even to the skilled fighter or adventurer) to get close to the town. If not even warriors can roam her forests safely, what hope do the common folk of Yew have of acquiring their much needed subsistence from the town's woodlands. Yew has been placed--in essence--under siege by these shadowpacks, and lest we take drastic measures soon, we may very well witness the end of "the city of Justice" as we know it.
Lt. Malark and I have been discussing the possible options available to us, but none seem to offer a satisfactory outcome. It is obvious continuing to fight these beasts head on is not going to stop their advance, let alone their endemic growth rate. Their numbers have already grown too large to forcibly try to push them off the land (or hunt them down into extinction). Wherever they are coming from, we appear powerless to stop them.
That is, until last night. Last night I was informed of a certain "undead invasion" taking place near the moonglow graveyard. For reasons now clear to me, the undead spawns of the graveyard had grown out of control. Whatever rift there is between this world and the next must have temporarily widened because the moonglow graveyard was (literally) overflowing with these abominations.
Kasia Stydoran, Strade Silverbow, my brother-in-arms Guavir, and I (just to name a few), traveled to the city of wizards to assess the situation. As soon as we arrived there the Town crier's rumors turned to fact when we were attacked by "ghostly warriors" and "undead lords." We proceeded to push the undead back into their graveyard and vanquished all those that we could find. Interestingly enough, in the cemetary, we found an old foe the kind of which has not roamed the land in many years. A Lord of The Abyss was waiting inside the graveyard to have "a talk" with us. At this point my suspicions about this minor "invasion" quickly hightened and I became very anxious to hear what they Lord of the Abyss had to say to us.
After a short and uneventful skirmish, the Lord of the Abyss quietly went down, and I found a book among the possessions he was carrying. After short reading, I immediately understood the necessity of communicating its contents to the larger Brittania populous. Therefore, allow me to cite for you the words of Vernon, Master Druid, "To the Sudents of Nature"
Vernon, Master Druid wrote:Greetings, to whoever finds this note. I hope you will share the contents with others, for this concerns all who live in the world of Brittania.
I am Vernon, formerly a druid, once the last of my kind. I am now passed beyond [sic], but I still keep an eye upon the world, and recent events have troubled me. I speak of the Shadowpack who are an unnatural blight upon the world.
The time has come that something must be done about them, and to do so I must speak with the druids who have followed me. Passing through the great veils between worlds is not something done easily [sic], not something that I can do alone [sic].
Just to send this note, I had to 'borrow' the strength of the undead upon whom you found this note (I apologize for any problems they may have caused, though they would most likely have crossed over themselves in any case. It was necessary to give them a push, so to speak, to push the matter up . . .)
Getting back to the subject: I shall need help in crossing back to this world. I shall make the attempt this Friday [April 23, 2004, 7PM Eastern] at the Druid circle. For the attempt to be successful I fear both the power of a necromancer and druid will be needed. The raw form of garlic and ginseng will be necessary, along with other, more common reagents.
I hope that this note will be found in time by heroes willing to help, for if the Shadowpack [threat?] goes unchecked, the consequences will be grave.
- Vernon, Master Druid
Master Vernon seems to hold the answer to our shadowpack predicament. It is up to us now--citizens of Brittania--to ensure Vernon is supplied with the necessary help and materials to allow him to cross over our world once again, so that he can instruct us in the way we shall follow concerning this shadowpest.
The future of Yew and the realm rests on our shoulders.
- Lord Lionheart, Order Guard
), but when his spectre appeared, it was with a warning .. "He is Coming". The 'He' referred to turned out to be a Lord of the Abyss, which appeared a matter of seconds later, and who was killed almost as fast as he appeared.
. I'll have to go to a concert.