An Elven Scouting Party

The forests of Ardum have always been the haven of Elven civilisation, home to some of the greatest scientific and arcane works of the Ardi - the Wood Elves of N'mar, and the famed Fairies of great mystical might. In times past, it enjoyed flourishing trade with the nearby Human Kingdom of Legianiel, often famed for its strong mercantile tradition and overflowing markets of goods.

When the darkness began to seep into the land itself, they were among the first to retreat into splendid isolation, believing themselves the only ones able to weather the coming storm with the protection of their forests, blessed by the Goddess of Nature A'mel herself.

Little did they know, however, that the darkness need not forcibly invade the sanctuaries of others; it would always find the smallest of cracks to seep through, then nab the unsuspecting victims. The blessing of A'mel was potent, but not omnipotent, and the darkness exploited this.

And it would find its first victims in the form of a small scout party.

Chaenath Naevyre, Ranger-Captain of Aitalos, was a woman of three hundred years, a fair veteran of many scouting missions and hunts against overcurious intruders who delved too deep into their forests of Ardum. Known as one of the best bows of Aitalos - her home city, few Elves were capable of matching her talent.

As of now, she was leading a ranging party of a hundred, accompanied by a few magi and Fairies to determine the source and strange nature of the scent of magic that recently manifested in the edges of the forest.

"How much farther to the source?" She asked.

Vulmer Darieth, a veteran mage of the Feldan Academy, said to her, "Not much farther now, Ranger-Captain. Just beyond this cluster of flora here."

Passing clusters of bushes and overgrown grass, the source of the strange taint pervading this part of the forest soon came into view. A small tome lay on the grassy ground, a plain and unadorned tome save for the depiction of a heart. The mages could sense an evil taint from it, but nothing overpowering or overtly threatening.

"I must admit, this is rather underwhelming," Said Vulmer, "I was expecting something more.

"Regardless, we cannot leave it lying around," Said Chaenath, "Take it back and secure it under lock and key. We will let the Queen decide how to deal with this tome."

"By your orders, Ranger-Captain," Said Vulmer.