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Prologue

My name is Cult the Unfortunate. No, that is not my last name; yes, people do call me that. You will hear that tale, too, but first let me tell you about our town ...

Once upon a time Grimscar was a prosperous town established as a mining settlement. As the copper vein diminished, so did the trade that made our town so prosperous. Grimscar lies within a thick forest we call The Dark Weald. Once a lush, lively forest full of animal life.

A darkness descended on the forest this winter. The freezing cold biting harsher than ever. The forest turned eerily silent and gloomy. A black tar-like goo seeping from trees and infecting creatures. Reports of strange beasts lurking in the woods. Some townsfolk call it a curse.

The Alderman called for volunteers to help scavenge the forest for supplies. I offered, and received a blunt sword and an old wooden buckler. I now prepare myself to venture into The Dark Weald.

DAY 1

Growing up in Grimscar, I spent a lot of time in the forest, even during winters. I remember it well. The paths, the landmarks, even the hidden trails through the under-brush we knew as short-cuts.

Since the Undying Winter descended on us I stopped visiting in the forest. It's just too ominous. All paths have grown over, landmarks seem to have moved or vanished. Every day the forest looks different, an ever-changing landscape of despair.

Gripping my tired wooden buckler tight, my blunt sword hanging through my belt, hand on hilt, I stepped into the despair.

I. After a few minutes I came upon a tightly grouped herd of trees. The howling wind knocking their bare branches together, eerie creaking and clacking sounds sent chills down my spine. I made my way through, carefully. I heard a loud crack and felt immediate pain as I was hit in the head. A large branch came down right on top of me! Not a good start, but I must press on. [ Clacking Boughs: rolls 2 & 11 ]

II. The air was thick here, almost suffocating, with a strange acrid smell. A man was tied to a tree, I moved closer to see if they were alive and noticed a black ooze seeping from the bark, it dripped over their shoulders and down their arms. [ Tied Up Man: roll 6 ]

I approached, "Hello?"

His eyes fluttered open then his eyeballs burst! Black ooze sprayed forth and his body slumped. He was dead. What a pitiful way to die!

I found 4 copper coins in his pouch. He won't be needing those.

III. A large ancient oak tree is here, the branches twisted in the air. Looking closer I saw a Heart Chamber in the tree. I reached my hand inside, felt some kind of parcel, pulling it out I was pleasantly surprised! It was a parcel of food! The Alderman will be pleased.

As I turned away I saw the visage of a face embedded in the gnarly bark, it felt eerie, and I left in a hurry. [ Twisted Oak: roll 6 ]

IV. This is a peculiar sight, no doubt. All manner of items hanging off the branches from twine. At first I thought them tokens of fortune or wind-chimes, the reality is much more grim.

Human parts swaying in the wind, ears, fingers and noses. Some parts I didn't recognise, and I hesitated to take a closer look. The ground beneath them bloody. These were hung shortly after they were removed from the ... poor souls.

As horrific a sight it was, I cut them down while trying to avert my gaze, and burned them. I couldn't leave them be. This act gained me some pity. [ Hanging Trees: roll 4 ]

V. I found some kind of trap strung between a dense cluster of trees, made of rope and thorns covered in sticky black tar. I'm reminded of the incident earlier today with the bursting eyes. My vision blurred and my head spun, and an unfamiliar rage boiled up inside me.

I swallowed hard and turned away from this place. [ Trap Trees: rolls 6 & 3 ]

VI. A large overgrown hedge is here, walked around and within this enclosure, inside were piles of sticks constructed as tiny hovels, and hanging from the branches above, stick dolls. Black ooze dripping down them, dripping onto the ground.

Then I saw it, a small hole beneath this hanging shrine, and something inside it. I stood there for a good ten breaths, making sure it was safe, and reached in. I found another parcel of food to feed the children of the town. [ Hedge Enclosure: roll 6 ]

VII. I was in the forest for nearly seven hours at this point, and decided to head back to town. I decided to take a different path back with the hope of perhaps finding one more food parcel. Nothing could prepare me for what I found next.

I approached a woman kneeling by a felled tree stump. I did not register at first, but as I reached her lifeless body I saw it. The palms of her hands were placed on top of the stump, they were nailed into the wood . She died like this, unable to free herself. I released her body and buried her, piled rocks on the site. I lost hope after I did this. [ Torture Scene: roll 4 ]

Town. I handed the food parcels over to the Alderman, who was grateful that the children will be able to eat. I just was grateful to be back.

DAY 2

I had a good rest. I wish I could say that I was looking forward to today, but I can't let the Alderman down. The truth is that despite the awful things I saw in the forest yesterday, I suspect there are worse things to encounter. I hope that today is not that day. I finish breakfast and ready my equipment, setting out from the town gate.

I. It was not long before I made a horrible discovery: the bodies of two of our own. Scouts from Grimscar, their skin covered in burns made by a searing hot branding iron. I stayed alert and very quiet in case whomever (or whatever!) did this was still near.

After searching the area I found some berries in the brambles, and a hidden stash that contained healing balm. [ Fallen Scouts: roll 5, +ration +healing balm x2 ]

II. I found the large, twisting oak tree again, the one with the Heart Chamber. I had reached in and felt a prickly object, pulling it out the object caught on the tree bark and pierced my hand in several places. I dropped the crown of thorns where it lay. What a dismal thing. [ Twisted Oak, Heart Chamber: rolls 3 & 2 ]

III. Investigating the overgrown hedge again, I see that someone had been here and left an offering amongst the stacks of sticks - a piece of cloth with a single bloody eyeball on it. I don't know what sort of offering this is supposed to be, but I do know I felt rage seeing it. [ Hedge Enclosure: rolls 3 & 2 ]

IV. I came upon a new area with an overgrowth of black vines that have long, sharp spines . Things tend to get caught in them. A black crow was caught here, it was dead but still fresh. I picked it off the spines, it's still good for a meal. [ Spiney Vines: roll 4, +crow meat +feathers ]

V. I revisited the old trap made of rope and thorns, to see what has been caught today. This turned out to be a mistake.

A body was caught in the trap, but it was all a feint!

This creature looks like a man, its lifeless eyes are pitch black, with black ooze seeping from its eyes and nose. This was a Mucil Thrall and it attacked me!

I fended it off with my buckler, and struck back with my blunt sword. It was a hair-raising ordeal. Eventually I struck it down and it did not get back up. It lay there, lifeless (but strangely, no more so than while it was moving).

I dressed my wounds and moved on. [ Trap Trees: rolls 4 & 2, use ration after fight to -1 minor wound ] [ Note — When I started playing Grimscar I did not plan to write this journal, and I didn't save my combat records; I erased them to re-use the combat sheet. I did start keeping them a little later on, and you will see more details in combat descriptions appear when we get to those days. ]

VI. This space had a lonesome tree. Circling around, I was surprised to see a door in the tree's trunk - a place where forest folk store various kinds of nuts for drying. I reached to open it, noticing the carved runes upon it. Suddenly a gas surged out from the door, I moved back quickly and just in time, narrowly avoiding the trap. I did not want to tempt fate again, and left the door behind me. [ Trunk Hold: rolls 3 & 1 ]

VII. I came upon a petrified forest of ferns, their fronds once razor-sharp, now were blackened and brittle. They crumbled as I pushed through. Beyond the ferns I found a body on the ground, moving closer to get a better look: it was frozen, and strangely, it bled blue. Suddenly it got up, death in it's dark, bruised eyes. The Frozen Acolyte attacked!

I fought the Acolyte until it fell and lay motionless on the ground. I was injured, and felt I spent enough time in the forest today, it was best that I return to town. I needed to tend to my wounds and get my rest for the night. I was disappointed that I did not find any food parcels today. I will try again tomorrow. [ Sharp Ferns: roll 4+1, Found Body roll 1 ]

DAY 3

I spoke with Farnham Ravencloud this morning, he runs the town armoury. Farnham was looking for help to find his stolen forging hammer, he needs it to make an armour breast plate for Finnian, who is training to be a town guard. [ New Quest: Breast Plate for Finnian ]

I prepared my gear and left town.

Within the first hour I found and old shack, I did not expect there were any buildings left in the forest. The windows, smashed, a body lay beneath a twisted pile of wood, in front of the bashed-in door.

I got closer, then I saw it: The pile of wood moved! This creature was feasting on the corpse! It turned towards me, viscera dangling from its mouth. It had the shape of a man - arms, legs, head ... covered in bark and wood. For one second we both froze, then it lunged to attack!

I brought my shield up against the Bark Fiend, shoving it back. I swung my blunt sword back and arced it overhead, a dull *thud* as wood-chips splinter off the creature.

Then a misstep — I left myself exposed for one moment, the fiend pierced me with its hard wooden appendage, a deep cut on my arm started gushing blood! I couldn't swing my sword very well with such an injury, and knew I had to return to town immediately before I bled out.

I grit my teeth and with determination, I slew the devilish fiend. I held my wound tight, trying to stop the bleeding as best I could, and ran to town.

Martha Shaw, proprietor of the Herb Den and local healer, called my wound "grim" while she stitched it closed. I paid her for the help, and went to see Neville Hawthorne to buy a small pot of healing balm. Later that week Martha asked me to come show her apprentice my scar. Apparently it was a good teaching moment, for both the apprentice and myself.

[ Old Shack: roll 2 ]