Arkados, the Warrior of Nightshade

I had walked these roads a thousand times now, and every time I walked them again it felt fresh. You may not know who I am and it’s understandable. Before dying, I had never even heard the word, Einherjar. Now it’s part of my daily life.

Not even I knew who I was, and I still don’t. Memories come in small unclear packages but after a year of being dead and slowly regaining my memories and thoughts, it’s piecing together the story of my life.

I was Arkados of the Pale. A warrior bound to the King of Caernum. I haven’t recovered my childhood memories or who my parents were, so I’ll skip over that. When I was just a teen I worked as a stable hand in the capital of Caemum. One of the Nobles saw untapped skill within me so they had me trained as a spearman.  I dominated the battlefield with spear in hand and vigor in my soul. In this way I quickly became one of the great warriors of Caernum, and was named to the elite Order of the Pale.

The day came when I was ordered to command a siege on an enemy fortress. I made the unfortunate mistake of underestimating their manpower. Though by the end of it, we were getting the job done.

The commander of the fortress, Regulus of Baltraig, had joined the fray and he made quick work of my soldiers. In the midst of battle, he had slaughtered my friends and with a struggle he finally put me to rest.

My goddess, Lyor’ra, the Lady of Nightshade, prevented me from entering her halls and told me I was destined for something greater and the next thing I knew was nothing as my memories vanished.

When I ended up here, I had no idea who or where I was. I wandered until I met up with two men named Faolin and Gadaren. Faolin is the Jarl of Hammer’s Hold. They recognized my situation and kindly took me with them. Though I was in a new realm my warrior senses were as strong as ever. I knew I sensed danger here, but I didn’t know exactly why. Then the Blighted came as did the Four Devils, and it became clear to me the threat was serious.

In my battles against the Blighted and the Four Devils I started to make a name for myself.  Soon I had my new life together… then the memories started returning and I was confused. People, places, all these things I couldn’t put a name to. After a long while the memories started making sense but at this point, I really didn’t care because I am a different person altogether.

That was who I was, a warrior of the king, a dog of the military. I believe after entering the Myth Wood, I am a different person. Now, I am a man of the wet work and paid duties, I am a stalker of the shadows, the agent of the night. A warrior of my goddess, Lyor’ra.

I was Arkados of the Pale… Now, I am…

Arkados, the Warrior of Nightshade.

        Her first memories of the Myth Wood
were of waking up in the Graveyard of the Fallen as a succubus. Waking to an overwhelming need to feed on
the souls of Einherjar to survive. She thought of this as her birth, because she had no memories before that
day, and chose the name Mara. Then Sam’El, the Daemon Lord, called to her from his prison within the
Black Sword. Mara and the other succubi answered his call, and in this way discovered they were not alone.
All the succubi of the Wood served him in all his many incarnations. They aided in all his many battles to
spread chaos and destruction.

        This continued until Mara was given
the opportunity to restore a soul to her form and become an Einherjar herself. She was reborn, again, as
Marta the Mage. She joined with Balin on his quest to become king, to begin to right the wrongs she had
committed as a succubus. With the crown on Balin’s head he made her a Thane, and put the Mage Tower
into her care. It was the greatest day of her life in the Myth Wood.

        This was followed by the worst time
of her remembered life. When Lady Myth took control of her body, and left her as a powerless observer of the
violence her hands inflicted. The war of the Skulls raged through the Myth Wood. Lady Myth in Marta’s
body commanded her forces to lay waste to her brothers and those they controlled.

        The war ended with Rokai’s
rebellion against the skulls. He freed Jarl Elric from their hold, and then Jarl Elric freed Marta from the
Lady’s control over her. When the war of the skulls was ended, King Balin once again entrusted Marta
with the Mage tower and now the conclave of magic users as well. It was at this point that she became a
Sage, and began the long road to mastering those magical arts. She was also given charge of her nephew, and
the joys of raising him to be a man. She enjoyed this time of her life immensely. The 11 years went by far
to quickly.

        Then King Balin went missing. The
Plague arrived in the form of a meteorite. Einherjar of the Myth Wood began changing into Trolls, and
Werewolves. Marta helped the Jarls as much as she could, but as soon as one problem was dealt with another
emerged. Then the Blighted arrived, with their Lich leader. The Four Devils manifested and spread terror.

        As the Lich’s power grew,
others realized that the only cure for the problems that could be found was to Seal away the Mage Tower, her
home.  Marta was not given a choice. Jarl Faolin and the Blacksmiths did the deed. She eventually came
to learn that the Green Skull, that was the prison of Lady Myth, had been placed in the Tower before it was
sealed. The ramifications of this act was not clear to her, but shortly after the Tower was sealed away the
Lich disappeared. Then the Blighted entered into a agreement with Hela of Helheim, thus becoming the
Helions.

        It seemed losing her home and title
had served the greater good of the Myth Wood. It was for this reason that the once powerful and revered
Thane Marta of the Mage Tower, now found herself homeless and sleeping in the graveyard of the fallen once
again.

        In past years the arrival of the snow
and short days would not have worried her. She could have made a fire easy enough with her magic. This too
had been taken away from her. The Helions had joined up with the Jarls and vanquished the Four Devils. As
she understood it, Jarl Faolin devised a way to cover the cube of the four and in doing so severed the magic
that made the four devils. Unfortunately, that magic was also the source of all Arcane spells in the Myth
Wood. Jarl Elric had taken the cube and set sail for Folkvangr. In this way magic had been changed forever
in the Wood. For Marta, at the moment, it meant she could not create fire to keep her warm throughout the
winter.

        It was on a cold night in the middle
of the month Yuwn-Ko, after the days had begun to lengthen that Marta received a vision in the form of a
dream. The vision was sent to her from the Higher Plane of the Myth Wood, while she was sleeping in the
Graveyard of the Fallen.

        At first she thought she was in
King’s Rest, standing before the tree in the center of town. The buildings however were misty and
transparent. The wooden platform at the base of the tree was bigger as well. Six thrones were on the
platform. Three of them were filled.

        One Throne in the middle of the six
had a majestic looking man with a crown on his head. He spoke to Marta. “Hello Marta. I am the
Monarch, the Higher Powers have need of your services. We need you to spread information to the rest of the
Wood.” He paused and looked at the other two.

        The one she knew was Agamemnon, but
now he looked like a old wizard with a beat up pointed hat. The amber crystal around his neck was what gave
him away, she knew Agamemnon wore that crystal. The other was a mystery to her. He had long flowing hair and
a goatee, and was dressed in green. Both sat in thrones equal to the one the Monarch sat in.

        “My apologies Marta. This is
the Mystic and the Recarnit. The three of us make up half of the Six Higher Power that govern the Myth Wood.
As long as I sit on a Throne in the Higher Plane, there is governed Order in the Wood. As long as the Mystic
sits on a Throne in the Higher Plane, governed Magic may exist in the Myth Wood. As long as the Recarnit
sits on a Throne in the Higher Plane, governed rebirth of all living things in the Myth Wood can
happen.” He stopped again, looking to see if the other two had anything to add. They did not.

        “As you can see we are missing
three of our number. That however is not the most distressing part. We find ourselves in a weakened
condition. We need to sit on the Thrones to connect with our province of power in the Myth Wood.” The
Monarch then looked over Marta’s shoulder and to the right. She followed his line of sight. She saw
what in King’s Rest would have been Waylander’s Smithy. It was not translucent, and the sounds
of hammering metal could be heard from within. “We needed the skill of a great smith, and use of a
hammer of Unmaking. So we invited Vandergrah to the Higher Plane to work the EverMist Forge. He made the
Thrones. He has also made these.” The Monarch held out to Marta a strange little device. It looked
like a counter of some sort. Numbers could be moved on one of its surfaces.

        “This is an Honor counter.
Those who chose to wear one will have their names recorded in the Honor Scroll, this will link their deeds
to the thrones. Their actions, honorable or otherwise, will strengthen the Myth Wood. We hope it will also
aid us in finding those worthy of a seat on one of the vacant Thrones.” He pulled his hand away.
“We cannot directly interfere with the Lower Plane, so we ask you to spread this knowledge to the
people of the Myth Wood. We would also ask that when it comes to you, you will accept the burden of managing
the Honor Scroll.”

        “Do not answer now. This is a
dream and promises made in dreams are meaningless. When you wake, your memory of this discussion will be
vague. However, when the Honor Scroll is placed in your hands all will be made clear to you.”

        “Good by Marta, and good
luck.”

        Marta awoke in the Graveyard of the
Fallen. Her head fuzzy, and her body cold. The dream she had quickly fading as physical reality set in. She
made her way to King’s Rest, to warm herself at the forge. When she arrived in King’s Rest the
forge was silent. She asked Mike, the proprietor of the Brotherhood tavern, where Vandergrah was.

        His reply was that several weeks ago
the sound of forging could be heard coming from Waylander’s Smithy both day and night. It had gone on
for six days and then on the seventh day the forge had gone silent. When people stopped in to check on
Vandergrah, he and everything he had been working on was gone. Not wanting an empty forge, the people of
King’s Rest had contacted Hammer’s Hold and asked Arthur Anymoredonuts if he would move his
operation to King’s Rest. He had agreed, and should be arriving soon.

        Marta was not sure how she felt about
it. Something was changing in the Myth Wood, she could feel it. She purchased a drink and meal from Mike,
and then headed back to the Graveyard.

The War for the Higher Plane

A Synopsis

The War for the Higher Plane started with Vigo and Abyssal’s attack on the Six Higher Powers of the Myth Wood. The first battle in the war went in Vigo’s favor, with Abyssal outright defeating or scattering the various Six Higher Powers. The Monarch was turned to stone. The Chaos Beast chained. The Mystic was beaten by Abyssal but managed to use some of the power he had stolen from the Realm’s Rover to freeze his attackers in time for a short period. The Arbiter, Sentinel, and the Recarnit retreated with the Valkyrie Eir, to Eir’s Garden.

        In the Garden, the three of the Six Higher Powers that were still free to move about, with their allies, regrouped and planned their defense. The Arbiter, Sentinel, and Plutus of the World’s Tree investment group, merged their powers into a barrier that surrounded the Myth Wood. It prevented Vigo and Abyssal from leaving the Higher Plane. The cost for the barrier was not just the power the three put into the barrier, but the life essence of the Sentinel and Plutus. The Arbiter returned to his previous form of Grimner Harbard.

At this time, before Vigo and Abyssal unfroze, the Monarch and the Chaos Beast released their power back into the Myth Wood. Though chained or turned to stone, they were still able to relinquish their power and put it outside of Abyssal’s reach. The relinquishing of their power returned them to their previous forms of Dirk McCormick and Sam’El.

The Recarnit, safely behind the barrier, released his power into Eir’s Garden. Now that the garden was part of the Myth Wood this power traveled through the link shared between the two realms into the Wood proper. He returned to his previous form of Luis MorningStar when the power transfer was complete.

The Mystic’s power was put into a clear crystal with a golden miniature figure of a wizard in it. This crystal was given to Burnheart, the Wizard of Brannheim. The Mystic returned to his previous form of Agamemnon but found that the power of the Rover forced him to travel between realms. The end result was that all of the Higher Powers were either dead or Einherjar again.

When Vigo and Abyssal came back into the flow of time, they quickly learned what the Six had done. Abyssal turned Sam’El, the former Chaos Beast, into D’Eir, the keeper of the dead. Then Abyssal created the Blighted by fusing Shadows of the Void with the soulless forms of Einherjar of the Myth Wood. The Blighted were sent to the Lower Plane of the Myth Wood to conquer it for Vigo. A Lich was created and sent down from the Higher Plane to lead the Blighted against the people of the Wood. His primary focus was finding the Blue and Green skull prisons of Ordo and Lady Myth.

The Blighted, under the direction of the Lich, engaged in battling the Jarls of the Myth Wood and their people time and time again. The Blighted won many victories for their Lord and Master, the Lich. They were able to take Champion’s Hall, King’s Rest, Old Tickle town, the Arena of Valor, as well as many of the Gnome Mines. However, they never dug in and defended any of the places they conquered. The result was an ever-changing battlefront. The Lich used this changing battlefront to scour the Myth Wood for either of the two remaining Skull prisons. Though the Jarls of the Myth Wood faltered in defending their lands, they excelled at keeping the Skulls out of the reach of the Lich.

Burnheart who had been given the crystal containing the power of the Mystic, developed a plan to use that power to defend the Myth Wood. Burnheart, with the aid of Jarl Elric and Morgan Daniels, used the magic of the crystal in conjunction with the blacksmiths of the Wood to reforge the Blue Skull prison, of Ordo, into a cube. The plan had been to use the cube to control the monstrous Revenant that roamed the Wood. With the aid of the Revenant they could beat back the Blighted. Ordo, still imprisoned within the cube, had other ideas. He chained Elric, Morgan, Burnheart, and the Revenant to his prison. This transformed the four into Devils. The four Devils then began terrorizing the people of the Myth Wood.

        With the Blue Skull now a cube that was death for anyone to touch besides the four who were chained to it, the Lich put all his attention on the Green Skull. It became harder and harder for the Jarls to keep the Green Skull from falling into the Lich’s hands. In a desperate bid to prevent the Lich and his Blighted army from getting their hands on the skull, Jarl Faolin locked the Green Skull in the Mage’s Tower. He then had the Blacksmiths of the Wood, with the three hammers of Unmaking, seal the Mage’s Tower away from the lower plane of the Myth Wood. In this way removing the skull from their reach.

        While the war raged on in the lower plane of the Myth Wood, Grimner now with his memories returned to him, decided his time in the Myth Wood was at an end. He felt he owed the realm a debt however, so he concocted a plan to thwart Abyssal. He convinced D’Eir to leave the realm with him.  So Abyssal would not notice his absence, D’Eir disguised BroDar as D’Eir. Then he and Grimner left the Myth Wood. It is unknown where they went and what they did on that journey…

At the moment that the Tower was sealed away, D’Eir returned to the Myth Wood. With him was Hela of Helheim. They entered the Higher Plane of the Myth Wood through a gate that D’Eir knew of from his time as the Chaos Beast. Hela, with very little effort, subdued Abyssal and bound him in his skull prison once more. D’Eir chained and cast Vigo into the black chest known as Shadow’s Hold. D’Eir with objects and energies he took from other realms modified the chest, with the aid of the Blacksmith Vandergrah and his hammer of Unmaking. It’s nature somewhat changed, however it was still filled with Shadows of the Void.

So ended the War for the Higher Planes

The price of victory was high. Hela required the Blighted be given the option of tying themselves to her, for their continued existence. They accepted her offer, becoming the Helions. This anchored a portion of the Myth Wood in the Realm of Helheim. Also, at the end of the war, a ship from Folkvangr arrived. In the ship was a chest, that if opened by nobility of the Myth Wood, in the Myth Wood, would anchor a part of the Myth Wood in the Realm of Folkvangr. Ambassador Riven and the Hunter opened the chest in the Myth Wood. After the anchoring took effect, the ship left the Myth Wood and returned to Folkvangr. On board was Jarl Elric, Ambassador Riven, the Hunter, Burnheart, Morgan Daniels, and the now covered cube of Ordo.  

Eir’s garden, having recently separated from Valhalla, was now completely bonded with the Myth Wood. While the war for the higher plane had been progressing, the Realm of Valhalla had come to consciousness. With this new found consciousness, the Realm desired the return of the part of itself that was Eir’s Garden. In this way Eir’s Garden now acts as an anchor for part of both Realms to exist in the other.

If this was not enough, the power of the Myth Wood returned to the Monarch, the Mystic, and the Recarnit. However, Grimner was not in the Myth Wood to receive the power of the Arbiter. Likewise, D’Eir was torn between Helheim and the Myth Wood, so the power of the Chaos Beast did not return to him. The soul of Gadin was missing from the Myth Wood. The power of the Sentinel remained in the barrier that surrounds the Myth Wood.

Only three of the Six Higher Powers are represented in the Higher Plane of the Myth Wood. It has fallen on those three to find replacement souls for those missing positions. Only those found honorable enough will be considered worthy to ascend to the Higher Plane.

Riven, battling the werewolf inside of him, was unsure of what to do next. He had no desire to join Vigo in his plot to conquer the Myth Wood. Yet at any time he could change into a wolf and attack the very people he felt responsible for. He was also searching for a cure for the plague that was affecting all of the Myth Wood. He decided that his best bet for finding a cure for himself as well as the plague, was to look for help in other realms. It had worked for Agamemnon in the past. As an Ambassador of the Wood he was one of the few people who was able to do it.

When he had first traveled the roads between realms to Tir na nOg, he had been a newly appointed emissary of King Balin. That time, a fairy had shown him the way. In that visit he had learned that Tir na nOg is the current seat of power of King Oberon Alberich of the Ljos’Alfar. Oberon had, at that time, recognized Riven as an ambassador of the Myth Wood. His hope was that he would do so again.

He found that the road between Realms had changed very little, at least the part between the Myth Wood and Tir na nOg. On arrival to the court of King Oberon Alberich, Riven was brought before the King. King Oberon once again recognized Riven as a duly appointed Ambassador of the Myth Wood to Tir na nOg.

When Riven enquired of the King, for aid with the plague that afflicted the Myth Wood, Oberon informed Riven that the Ljos’Alfar would give not aid. For the safety of his people Oberon would not interfere in a dispute between the forces of Chaos and Order. The Ljos’Alfar had chosen neutrality in this matter. With that said, Oberon had no intention of helping the Myth Wood with its plague problem. However, Riven could stay in Tir na nOg as long as he wished under the protection of the crown.

Although he was disappointed in the decision, Riven understood that the King felt he was making the best choice for his people. While Riven took his ease in the court of Oberon he made friends with Oberon’s court jester, Robin Goodfellow. Robin, a merry hobgoblin who enjoyed nothing so much as spreading mischief and rumors, filled Riven in on the history of the Alfar Elves and the Myth Wood. He told of how Oberon’s Ljos’Alfar and Titania’s Dokk’Alfar once had called the Myth Wood home. In fact, they had ruled the Myth Wood for several thousand years. They were exiled from the Myth Wood when they lost a war with the Humans and Fen’Alfar.

In return Riven told Robin the stories of the ArchWizard Agamemnon, King Dirk McCormick, and the Clan Blackhammer. The battle they had with the Daemons and Shadows of the Void. As well as about the powerful undying Einherjar who now called the Myth Wood home. His plan was to make the Myth Wood an undesirable target for invasion. However, Robin became obsessed with the mention of Grimner. An individual who had played a minor role in the story Riven was telling. In the story Grimner had only been Agamemnon’s manservant. Robin asked so many questions that Riven wisely decided to keep quiet.

To keep the conversation going Robin told Riven the tale of the Mad Queen of the Dokk’Alfar, Titania Alphane. How in the beginning of the fourth age of the Myth Wood when the Alfar ruled it, she had her arm cut off by a Demi-God while he was trying to have his way with her. That act had driven her mad. It had also started a war between the Demi-Gods and Alfar Elves that would last several hundred years. To get her revenge she had forged a dagger powerful enough to kill a God. As it turned out Riven was very aware of the dagger. It was the very same one that was being used to make sacrifices to power the traps that were keeping the Skulls imprisoned.

As a wicked afterthought, Robin informed Riven that Queen Titania had put a bounty out on Riven. She hated anyone who came from the Myth Wood. She had also enjoyed hunting werewolves as a child in the Myth Wood. With this in mind she hoped to capture Riven, force his change, and then hunt him in the underground caverns of Tir na nOg. As far as King Oberon’s protection went, Robin did not believe the Mad Queen would honor it.

Riven’s logical conclusion was that he had overstayed his welcome. Robin informed Riven of a gate that would take him to a realm called Folkvangr. It was a realm of Einherjar like Riven’s home, and Robin was sure they would want to help him. Robin would be willing to show the gate to Riven, if Riven would simply carry a sealed message to the Queen of that realm. Riven agreed and Robin showed him the gate. With the sealed message in hand Riven walked through.

*****

He was the Hunter. That is as long as he kept the Ljos’Alfar mask on, he was. The first time he had placed the mask on, he had felt empowered. The magic of the mask made it so no one knew or could remember who he was. No responsibilities were put before him. No demands were made of him. He could spend every day doing what he loved, hunting, and battle. Then, when he had his fill of those things, he would take the mask off and return to his normal life with no one the wiser.

Then had come the false hunt. He had been stalking a giant wolf. From all signs it was the largest wolf he had ever come across. When he finally saw it, his breath was taken away. It was a monster. Easily fourteen feet long and six feet tall on all fours. As it moved through the Wood the Hunter took note of its human-like intelligence. Even with all that intelligence it still seemed to take no notice of him, but it moved with a speed unlike anything the Hunter had ever witnessed.

What would have put fear in the heart of any other man only filled the Hunter with a need to bring the beast down. Such a monster left unchecked would bring unfathomable destruction to the Myth Wood. So the Hunter quietly followed the giant wolf. In short order he knew where it was headed and also knew that he was forbidden to go there.

The beast traveled to the Shrine of the Six. A place that all people in the Myth Wood for the last eleven years knew, on an instinctive level, they were forbidden to go to. The Hunter knew that with the mask on no one would know he had broken the taboo, so he followed. The wolf came to the holy shrine and circled it several times sniffing it. While he did this the Hunter readied his bow. The wolf stopped. Turned to look directly at the Hunter, and then stood upright like a man. The Hunter let fly his arrow. It bounced harmlessly off the Wolf.

In a growl of a voice the wolf spoke. “I know you, I know who you are.” The Hunter knew this was impossible. With the mask on, no one of the Wood could discern who he was. “I did not come here for you. I seek an audience with the Six Higher Powers of the Myth Wood. You however, In your misguided belief that you could bring Fenris down, have broken a rule of this realm. The Powers of the Wood will judge you. Pray they are kind to you.” The wolf seemed to be smiling as its front paw touched the shrine, and he disappeared.

The Hunter was shaken. He traveled back to King’s Rest. Once there he tried to remove his mask. It would not come off! Try as he might, it would not move. He was confronted by the guards as to his actions and presence in King’s Rest. His responses made no sense to them. As they moved to restrain him he fled King’s Rest into the woods.

Time passed. With nothing else to do he did what he always did, he hunted and fought. It was in this way that Jarl Elric and his questing band of Steward Riven and Audreena, found and confronted him. The quest they were on required them to open the wolfhead box they had acquired in the Hunter’s presence. They opened the box in front of him. A curse took hold of them immediately and then the three turned into werewolves right before the Hunter’s eyes. They seemed just as surprised by the transformation as the Hunter was. They took flight as a pack.

Vigo, the necromancer, was there as well. He had helped Elric’s group find the box and had given them the information about opening it in front of the Hunter. With the pack gone and terrorizing the Myth Wood, it was not difficult for Vigo to convince the Hunter that the wolves needed to be stopped. Vigo explained that they could be tamed if the Hunter proved himself the more dominant. So the Hunter hunted the wolves and through beating them in battle was able to tame them. Once tamed the three returned to human form, but would change back to wolves whenever their blood quickened. Riven, now as a man, chose to leave the Myth Wood to find a cure.

Seeing the werewolves trying to cure themselves, Vigo was not pleased. Vigo turned Mathis into a werewolf under his direct control. In this way Mathis could interrupt any cure they came up with. Vigo had a grand plan. With this great army of monsters, and the Hunter under his control Vigo was sure he could conquer the Myth Wood. For it to work, Vigo had to find a way to manipulate the Hunter.

The Hunter had no use for Vigo or his plans, so he quietly left their company while they were looking for a cure. The Hunter’s only desire then was to figure out how to remove the mask. While Vigo worked to conquer the people of the Wood the Hunter searched every corner of the Myth Wood. Search as he did, still no way to remove the mask presented itself.

Knowing the Myth Wood did not contain means to remove his cursed mask, the Hunter decided to leave the realm. Memories of a gate Riven had used to leave the realm came back to the Hunter. He remembered where it was hidden but not where it went. However, at this point anywhere was better than the Myth Wood. So the Hunter went to the gate and passed through it.

The gate opened up to a strange road. With no guide and no direction in mind the Hunter traveled the Roads between Realms aimlessly. When he came upon another gate similar to the Myth Wood one, he decided to give it a try.

*****

The Realm of Folkvangr is a wide-open field that stretches beyond the sight of man. It has a few trees in it but they are sparse. Those trees are immense oaks, and ash. Each tree has a giant stone ship moored to it. The ships are filled with Einherjar, picked and escorted to the ships by Valkyries of Folkvangr.

As the sun crests the horizon each morning the Einherjar charge from their ships into the field to do battle with Einherjar from other ships. They do not battle with strategy or thought. Just brute force. When only one is left living in the field a horn sounds. The survivor is then escorted to the largest stone ship, Sessrúmnir.

While he travels to the ship, the bodies on the ground disappear and reform on the moored ships. Soon by some unknown cue they run from the ships again and the scene repeats itself.

*****

Riven arrived in Folkvangr and stopped to witness the battles on the field before him. After a brief wait an Einherjar with no weapons exited a ship, not of stone, that was beached close to the gate. The Einherjar came and escorted Riven to the largest stone ship. The ship he was told is called Sessrúmnir, and is the hall of Freyja.

The ship hall of Freyja is the largest of the Stone Ships, dwarfing all others. The top deck is filled with row upon row of benches all facing the stern of the ship. At the stern of the ship is an ornate chair turned to face the benches. This is the seat of Lady Freyja of the Vanir. Below deck is a system of rooms for various needs: lodgings, cooking, etc.

As night came on in the realm of Folkvangr, Riven was brought before Freyja . Freyja’s custom was to hold audience with the victors of the day before, enjoying the feast and merriment that would carry on into the small hours of the night. She was surprised that an Einherjar had come to Folkvangr by a means other than Valkyries. When she learned that his realm of origin was the Myth Wood she became even more interested. She quickly acknowledged him as a duly appointed Ambassador of the Myth Wood and extended the realm’s protection to him. For his part Riven delivered Robin’s sealed message.

Freyja read the letter and a wicked smile came to her face. She quickly suppressed her emotions, but not before Riven had caught a glimpse of them. When she asked if he had other business with her, he asked for any aid she might be able to give the Myth Wood with the plague that was affecting it.

“First you must understand some of the history of both this realm and myself. Many thousands of years ago there was a war in the realm of Asgard. It was a war between two mighty tribes, the Vanir, and the Aesir. The Aesir were led by a frightful warlord named Tyr. He had come to them from beyond the realm and showed them new ways to bring war and death to the people they wished to conquer….” The story she shared with Riven and the rest of the warriors on the ship that night was so enthralling and informative that no one realized it had taken the entire night to tell. As the sun came up over the horizon the Einherjar vanished from the benches, and the sounds of battle could again be heard in the field beyond.

Freyja put Riven in rooms of the highest honor aboard her ship. She also offered him a place at her high table for the evening feast, so they could continue their talk. He came to realize that all the warriors who were at the benches last night had been the victors of the battles in the field. In this way it would take the entirety of the day to fill the benches again. He decided his best course of action was to rest and wait for the evening to come.

*****

The Hunter found himself in Folkvangr. The gate had put him on the downward side of a large hill. When he climbed to the top, he saw an immense green field. Random growing trees on the outskirts of the field had stone ships moored to them. In the center of the field were thousands of battling Einherjar. His heart soared. He was not sure if he was finally dead and in heaven, or if this was one more strange twist of fate. No weapons had come through the gate with him, but he saw plenty of them lying on the ground next to fallen Einherjar. His plan was simple. Grab a weapon, fight until he fell.

A powerful hand grabbed his shoulder. “You were not picked by the Valkyries. You don’t get to fight until a ship claims you.” He was a giant of a man. Dressed in furs with a large ax strapped to his back. “Don’t look so disappointed, prove yourself worthy and a ship will pick you. The names Sedrick. Follow me.” The man did not seem to the Hunter to be a threat, so he followed.

Sedrick took him to a wood ship that was beached on the ground. “Fy’eir, I think I found one of yours. He was trying to get in on the fighting. Best keep your people in line or you will never be named caption of a Stone Ship.”

In response, a hand ax came flying out of the shadows of the beached ship and planted itself squarely in Sedrick’s chest. “Well that was rude.” Was Sedrick’s only response before he fell dead.

From the shadows of the ship came a heavily armored woman with fierce eyes. “You, masked man, come here… I’m not going to kill you as you are not armed. I may not be a Valkyrian anymore, but I still abide by the code of honor.” The Hunter took note again that Sedrick had been armed, also it looked as if his body was vaporizing into the air.

“Ok, here is the deal, I was given permission by Freyja herself to field one warrior today. If that warrior proves himself to be worthy of her high table then those I have chosen may be seen as worthy to battle in the field. The best I have is Corl over there.” She pointed to a strong but soft eyed looking man standing in the shadows of the ship. “To be honest I don’t think he has the heart of a true warrior of Valhalla. You on the other hand…. Well you have the look of a true warrior at any rate. Take this.” She tossed the Hunter a double headed spear. “Go, do what your heart tells you to do and by Woden’s eye you will find yourself seated in Sessrúmnir tonight.” She turned and walked back into the shade of her ship.

The Hunter took the spear and headed to the field. He saw the battling Einherjar and felt the battle blood stirring inside him once again. He lifted the spear and judged its weight. Today would be a good day. That night he was seated in Sessrúmnir. That was how the Einherjar of Fy’eir’s Ship became the first Einherjar of a non-Stone Ship to fight in the field of Folkvangr.

Twenty-five years later the Hunter had only missed being seated in Sessrúmnir twice. These thoughts went through his head as his eyes came to rest on a once familiar face. There, standing before Freyja asking for aid against the plague that threatened the Myth Wood was Ambassador Riven Shadowstalker. The Hunter wondered if Riven had seen or recognized him. Then Freyja began her telling and all thoughts left the Hunter as he became enthralled by the telling.

*****

As it turned out Freya was not in attendance the following night, or many nights after that. Riven was to learn that Freyja spent half of the year in Folkvangr and half of the year in Asgard. However. as time moved differently in Folkvangr, six months in Asgard was 5 years in Folkvangr, Freyja would be back then and Riven was encouraged to relax and enjoy his stay.

On his second night in Folkvangr Riven noticed the Hunter. It had only been a few months since he had seen him last, and in truth they had shared many adventures together so it was unlikely he would forget the man. Who the Hunter truly was however, was a mystery even Riven had been unable to solve. Riven seated himself next to the Hunter and they shared stories of their time in the Myth Wood. Riven was shocked to learn the Hunter had been in Folkvangr so much longer then he had. While Riven was anxious to get back to the Myth Wood, the Hunter seemed content to stay on in Folkvangr.

Riven finding that his hands were tied on the matter, for the time being, without Freyja’s response of ya or nay he was not sure if aid could be found in Folkvangr or not. So he prepared himself for a wait. During his wait he not only took the time to learn as much about the locals as he could, but he also ventured onto the field. It did not happen on his first try, or his second, but Riven was eventually able to earn his seat in Sessrúmnir. This not only gave him a great sense of pride but also legitimized his presence on the ship to the rest of the Einherjar.

Five years after Riven had arrived Freyja was in attendance at the evenings feast again. She summoned Riven before her. “Ambassador Riven. First let me give news of the Myth Wood. A little better than a year has passed in the Myth Wood since you last walked its trails. The Titan’s Plague runs rampant in a new race called the Blighted. They are led by a Lich. It also seems that devils have been summoned and run afoul of the people of the Wood. The people, for all of this, seem to be holding strong. You may also have taken note that the power of the wolf that was put upon you is no more. Jarl Elric cured that curse.” It was not until that point that Riven had even thought of the curse. Still she was right. He knew that the he was a werewolf no longer. “That is the current standing of the Myth Wood.” She paused then. Finally, she looked Riven in the eyes and spoke. “My desire is to aid you in removing the plague from the Myth Wood.”

Freyja turned to her side and lifted a small wood chest from a table. “This chest contains magic of Folkvangr. When opened within the Myth Wood it will create an anchorage between the Myth Wood and Folkvangr. This will allow me to enter the Wood, and deal with the plague. But I must warn you, only open the box if you judge that the people of the Myth Wood cannot defeat the plague on their own or are not worthy of being Einherjar.” She handed the chest to Riven and he accepted it.

“While I cannot send a Stone Ship to the Myth Wood, I believe Fy’eir’s ship can still sail the Seas of Possibilities. You will find she and her crew more than capable of protecting you against the pirates that sail the Realm Seas, and aiding you in your judgement of the Myth Wood.” With that said Riven returned to his seat.

He was not surprised that it was Fy’eir’s ship that was chosen, or that the Hunter was part of that crew. He was beginning to believe that Freyja was playing him. Still the chance to bring the cure for the plague back to his home overrode most of the warning signals going off inside his head.

The next day as the Einherjar battled in the field of Folkvangr, Fy’eir’s ship rose from the ground with all crew aboard. It was a Dragon longship named Honor’s Choice. Riven and the Hunter were mystified by how the ship seemed to float. Fy’eir pulled a blue crystal compass from a box by the wheel of the ship. As she held it, it began to glow. Mist surrounded the ship and when it cleared, they were on the open sea. The captain yelled orders and the ship tacked East.

Riven was not sure if he was on the right course or not but he was headed home, and he brought some hope with him.

        In the 3rd and 4th age when the Elves ruled the Myth Wood, governance was a matter of strict adherence. The Elves being a long-lived race were not quick to change and believed in a sovereign head of state. However, they also understood the need for redundancy and empowered local governance.

        When the original Elven races of the Myth Wood, Ljos’Alfar and Dokk’Alfar, joined forces in the middle of the Second Age, rules were put in place over sovereignty. It was decided that the stronger ruler of the two races would be elevated to High King/Queen. This High King/Queen would then have the authority to guide and make sweeping laws over the two races. The High King/Queen was not empowered to rule the individual races but guide them as a whole. The first High King was Volund of the Dokk’Alfar. He was victorious over Dain of the Ljos’Alfar.

        At the height of the Elven Kingdom, two Kings and one Queen ruled the Myth Wood. King Oberon Alberich of the Ljos’Alfar, ruled all of the Light Elves. He was also recognized as the High King over all the Elvish races. Queen Titania Alphane of the Dokk’Alfar, ruled all of the Dark Elves. King Gadin Fistarada of the Fen’Alfar, ruled all of the Gray Elves. Each of these Kings and Queen ruled in a somewhat different manner, but their rule over their individual people was absolute.  

Oberon ruled from his capital of High Guard which he had built over the ruins of Shadow’s Hold. High King Oberon ruled with the aid of advisers. Each adviser was a Duke over a piece of land in the Ljos’Alfar lands in the north Myth Wood. Second to Oberon amongst the Ljos’Alfar was the Archduke. If Oberon were to perish the Archduke would become King of the Ljos’Alfar, but not necessarily High King of the Elves.

        Queen Titania ruled from her home of Dhghhiem which was built within a cave structure in the west Myth Wood. She ruled as a tyrant. Her people were fanatically loyal to her and obeyed her every command. She did place chieftains in charge of areas of her lands to run the day to day operations of those areas. To the best of historical knowledge, no line of succession was in place for the Dokk’Alfar.

        King Gadin ruled from Gray Arrow Keep in the south Myth Wood. While his rule was absolute, he only exercised his command over the Gray Elves in times of war. In times of peace each Gray Elf clan had its own Elder and internal workings. The Elders would meet once a year at a great feast at Gray Arrow Keep. Here they would vote on different matters as well as hold a tournament to see who would carry Farin’Gar for the next year. In the event that Gadin perished, the current holder of Farin’Gar became King of the Fen’Alfar.

        All three Elven races ruled themselves, yet bowed to a High King/Queen. The role of High King/Queen was determined by which one of the ruling monarchs was the most powerful. This was decided by full-out war between the three Elven races. However, in the case of High King Oberon, both Titania and Gadin surrendered to him before bloodshed occurred.

        In the event that the High King was not in attendance but had not perished, then the other two rules would step up as joint kings or queens in the interim. They would continue to enjoy joint power until such time as the High King/Queen returned. If, however, it was discovered that the High King/Queen was dead then war to establish a new High King/Queen would commence. If it was discovered that one of or both of the interim Kings/Queens were responsible for the death of the High King/Queen, then those responsible were disqualified from the High King/Queen selection process.

        In this way the Elves ruled over themselves and were able to present a strong unified front against their many enemies. They were the undisputed rulers of the Myth Wood from the start of the Third Age to the beginning of the Fifth Age. They subjugated the Gnomes, and Humans. Eliminated or exiled the Aes Sidhe, and Demi-Gods. It was not until the Gray Elves sided with the Humans, after the Culling of the Three Cities, that the Elven rule was overthrown.

Paper on the Histories of the Myth Wood Elves

Information gathered from the library of Gray Arrow Keep

Brother Arcadia

To:         Jarl T. Riddick

Brannhiem Penitentiary

Brannhiem JR

Myth Wood

From:        Gnome Council

453 Gnominton Street

 Old Tickle JE

Myth Wood

Greetings Jarl,

        As you requested, we put our best Sigh-N-Tests on the research and discovery of the history as well as past uses of the substance your people call Mythrainum. The following is the paper that will be published in the Journal Mystica later this year by Realms Tree press.

Regards

Gnome Council

The Lady’s Tree

Here on this spot five thousand years ago,

A Lady knelt and wept,

Tears soaked the barren ground

Before it started to grow

Wider and taller, twisting and turning

The lady knelt aghast,

Before her stood a regal tree

Deep presence burning.

The tree sighed, shook, then spoke

With a voice akin to hers,

“I know what troubles haunt you so,”

“For I am more than pine, maple, or oak.”

The Lady arose and touched the tree

With a soft and gentle hand,

She found her voice and asked it then

“What are you, bright tree, if more than those you be?”

The tree was warm and answered, voice devoid of scorn

“I am Myth, Weeping One,”

“I feel your want, courage, and despair,”

“But most of all, I feel your grief, by which your heart is torn.”

The lady lowered her head, and nodded to the earth

“You are right, my grief is strong,”

“Although I can’t bear it, I am Alone.”

“I am afraid I will forever be and have been since my Birth.”

The tree was touched by the lady’s words

A decision it had made

To bind themselves together

To free the Lady from her loneliness, to forever live with the tree.

The Lady agreed, stepping closer still

And put her arms around it,

As the bark closed around her.

They grew to a forest, with river and hill.

The earth became rich and pure

The water shone with glee

The birds chirped and sang

The air was filled with magic, strong and sure.

The Myth Wood rose, became a land

Blessed with beauty

Devoid of death

Woe it did not remain, as the sands of time flows by.

Though not as pure, Myth remains Myth,

Now our home, beloved and sacred.

Though like the wood, war torn and scarred.

The people are firm, strong, and brave

This is the tale of the birth of the Myth Wood

Let us not forget its roots.

For through a Maiden’s sorrow

The Lady Tree has stood.

Fen’ Alfar poem

Middle 3rd age