Into the Unknown. (Horsemen)

"How soon can our horsemen be ready?" you ask, glancing briefly at the location of the forest on the map. It borders the province of Niferat to the East, whose ruler you had heard was a very comely beauty, a jewel of the east.

"At once my lord."

"then make it so. Soran, you are to accompany us. You want to see one of these creatures? then do so up-close."

The old wizard looked a little sick at the suggestion, if not to leave the comfort of the tower, then to charge into what could be a trap.

At the edge of the forest, your forces assembled. 100 horsemen, those same men who had helped fight the barbarian king, now stood ready to enter into the dark brush of the eastern woods. Lances had been exchanged for hand maces and axes, or broad swords. Never the less, your men where ready and keen to defend their lands.

You took position off from the front, with five horsemen on point before you. Donning your steel arms and armour, you cut an imposing figure as the column began to enter the woodland. Banners waving in the breeze, all that could be heard was the gentle whiny of horses and the stamping of hoofs on the hard earth below. Winter was already hitting this area it seemed, with many trees bereft of leaves, and bark hardening and blackening on the trunks.

After a half hour of patrolling through the woods, you gave the order for your men to spread out. A narrow gully appeared before the horses, and your men formed on its precipice. Looking out around the forest, it seemed endless. and although you knew it didn't go on forever, at times it felt like you had seen the same trees, the same shrubs and moss, over and over again. After a while you could have sworn you heard flute-music, or at least the sounds of singing, but you quickly put it down to the birds in the trees.

And then the forest attacked.

Or rather, not the forest itself, but beings made from wood, stone, earth, roots and dirt seemed to lash out and grapple at your men. Beings made from old moss and rock, standing as tall as a stout tree, but covered in rot and fungi, grew out from the ground and collided with mounted horseman alike.

Vine Ogres.