Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of the gods...

Such a pleasant dream. Drinks with me cousins, a fine lass eyein' me from across the pub. The lad she's with doin' the same. Looked like the beginnings of a good time...

...

Throbbing pain goin' through me head, I find meself comin' to ass-up in a makeshift bed. Shiftin' onto me side, the pain starts poundin' harder. I'll survive, but me bloody head's not gonna be o' much use for a bit.

...

The room's quaint. Well... the "room" I'm in is clean enough. Through the holes in the wall I can see of webs and molds spread across the once smooth stone. I seems to be some decrepit ruin.

...

There be a small table nearby, on which lies a set of simple linens: trousers 'n a vest. They're not gonna reel in any tail, but they offer plenty of protection against the elements, and, more importantly, preserve me modesty.

...

I take my time standing up, not wanting a head rush to throw me back on me arse, before sidling up to the table. Listening for a moment, gaze drifting round, I speak aloud:

"I s'pose these be fer me...? ...I do hope this be as friendly as it seems..."

A long pause goes by before I turn back to the simple threads.

"I s'pose if'n they wanted me dead, I'd be so by now..."

I take them in hand, and go to get dressed. A moment in, there be a knock from the other side of the empty doorframe.

"I heard you wake up, are you willing to talk?" A hoarse voice calls out.

The surprise sends a small jolt goes through me shoulders before I speak:

"Ju- Just one minute! In the nip at the moment!"

While clumsily donning the linens, I shuffle towards the frame. Finishin' just shy of it before letting out:

"C'mere to me, then... Thank ye fer the trousers. Was mighty blush, I was, waltzin' through the wood, me lad floatin' on the breeze!"

A figure just shy o'my height, roughly man-shaped, walks in. I canny make out a thing of their visage given their loose clothin' and a full mask coverin' their face.

He speaks:

"Hello sir, you may call me Angau. I am sorry for the less than friendly introduction you had with my companion, he is a bit overprotective of me. Luckily for us, the barrier of language does not exist here, making sure we can communicate without issue. As for why I am in these lands to begin with, it is a mere academic curiosity. The laws regarding live and **** are distorted here to a degree not even the greatest maguses in the realms can hope to accomplish. You are one who woke up here missing memories, correct? The magic of the forest is incredible and will not let you go easily. I have met several like you during my travels, and many have described just how hostile this place can be. I can tell you right now that the majority of them will never leave this place, though I know of a single one who did. After all, she is the reason I came here to begin with."

Perhaps instinctually, I extend me hand to the figure while saying:

"Cormac be what they call be back home. I must've been mad mullered, wakin' in the wood, bollock naked as I was. Easy fer one ta assume I was some hallion up ta no good or some such."

There's a long pause, as me brow scrunches for a moment.

I speak up:

"When you say companion... Do ya mean tha manky man tha' whopped me?"

They speak:

"Yes. Sadly, Louie was reduced to a more instinctual creature upon his undeath. It's a shame, he used to be quite the wordsmith when he was alive. I can only assume the reason he is so protective of me is because I was one of the few people close to him. Don't worry, he shouldn't attack you now, and even so we'll be leaving soon enough anyway."

I reply:

"Fergive me bein' slow on the uptake, but ye spoke about tha wood like it wasn't just that: a bunch o' trees. If not, what be it?"

Them:

"I am wondering the same thing you are. All I can tell you now is that the forest has some primal urge, one that wants to spread and proliferate. I have a lot of papers documenting the year I've spent here, but I haven't had time to organize them yet. Perhaps... no, I shouldn't make any assuptions."

Angau pauses, putting their gloved hand to their chin as if thinking something through.

I speak up:

"I don't mean ta pry, but sometimes just sayin' it can 'elp ye know whether it be a silly notion or not. Not like I'll be slagging ya as a scholarly peer or nothin'"

They reply:

"No, it's not that, I was just thinking... If the forest wants to create life, why would it actively stop one who cannot from leaving? In other words, would the forest let you go if you were an undead?"

I stroke my chin now...

"If'n the forest be wantin' life ta flourish, perhaps it wants Louie 'ere so that it can keep 'im from taking life elsewhere... Mayhaps it wants 'im where it can keep an eye on 'im?"

There's moment before they reply:

"That makes sense for the many feral undead that roam the forest, but being undead does not mean you must take life from elsewhere in an unnatural way. The stigma mainly exists because of how hard it is for one to retain their sense of self upon undeath, with the vast majority turning into mindless beings who only hunger for eternity... The near endless supply of young necromancers attempting to control powers far beyond their own is a close second."

Taken aback, I sheepishly reply:

"Fergive me. I hadn't tha slightest idea tha' Louie might still 'ave some of... Well... Louie in there..."

They reassure me:

"You weren't the first to assume that, and you won't be the last. I have a bag prepared for you with a week's worth of hardtack and several containers for water. I also want to give you this."

They hand you a slip of paper.

"This talisman is imbued with the ability to turn it's user undead. While it would be a terrible idea to use it as you are now, the forest wants its inhabitants to be strong. You can use that to your advantage but remember there are fates much worse than **** awaiting foolish travelers. I hope we will meet again."

And with that, Angau walks off.

[Added Simple Linen Clothes, Satchel, Hardtack x 7days, Water Containers, Undeath Talisman]

...

With me things gathered, I decided not to waste a seemingly safe place, and set into the ruin to look around, perhaps for something sturdy to use as a makeshift walking stick and shillelagh if possible.

[1d100 encounter roll result: 20]

Walking through the dank halls for a few minutes, I peak through a broken door, only to catch sight of a massive serpent tail turn around a corner. I freeze.

...

...

So I left the ruins.

...

...

[Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Gained 20 EXP]

...

Gods know how long i wandered the woods that day. The hardtack was bland, but food is food, so I shoved it down.

[Like two burglars wandering in the dark, the NPC and I just missed each other. Gained 15 EXP. -1 days hardtack]

...

As evening falls, I come across an incredibly clear spring. Fresh water... I go into my bag to get the water containers that I received from the friendly fellow. Drinking as much from them as I can stomach, I walk up to the water and begin fillin'. I take a sipfrom the spring, the water seems to have a refreshing effect, leaving me with plenty of energy, so I make camp. Sleep takes me...