The Unending Shadow

The sun has not shone on Ravenwood for over a month.

Initially, the town faced the sudden darkness with dread. Uncertainty and fear paralyzed the people and creatures of the wood. The light died, like an encroaching, sunless twilight. Even Meldryn did not know just what was to become of them. Whether the forest would die, taking the town and all of its inhabitants with it. There was a stony, cold stillness over everything within the forest for a time. No one spoke, and there was no light to number the days that passed. Still, the darkened Heart of Ravenwood lay where it burned.

When it became apparent that the darkness was not to abate, those within the town began to make attempts go on in this now-changed world. Ilyn the Wanderer and his companions attempted to clear off the goblins that have swelled in numbers in the darkness of the wood. Perhaps as a penance for what their presence has brought upon Ravenwood. Some townsfolk have maintained fires, some have shared meals. With no sun to guide expeditions or grow crops, grain stores have run piteously low.

However desperately these townsfolk cling to life in the darkness, there has been no relief to their troubles. While many of us have been taught to never count tomorrow as a given, now there is no tomorrow for any of us. No tomorrow, and no today. Some question what reason there is to stay, while others try not to think of what the future holds. Or whether there is a future.

The people of Ravenwood have remained staunch in their decision to stay put, however. Strangely enough, the wood’s darkness appears to have attracted more newcomers than it has frightened away. Like flies to a carcass, warriors and mercenaries draw near, seeking glory and gore in the perilous, blackened wood.

In the past days, there has been little to celebrate or take note of. The dark continues, the day never comes, and supplies to sustain the tenuous life in the forest dwindle. Frightening occurrences proceed with increasing regularity. Strange noises can be heard in the dark, though forest creatures are scarce. Ada, Thokk, and Ivan recently disappeared without a trace.

For Meldryn, the weeks have comprised of reading by firelight and communing with Aramis the owl. For all of his study and all of his poring over old texts and lost writings, he has shown no sign of optimism. For all of his wisdom, he has not yet given us an answer to any of our many questions. In fact, knowledge of what has transpired within Ravenwood has made the wizard more grim with each passing day.