[MelancholyFae]

So far, this is from the village (almost-bottom left) to the Monestary (top right.)
-3150, +840 is about the village coords.
-2270, +560 is abotu the front of the monestary.

I'll put up another one or two later, to show more progress.

[SentaiPink]

THE PILGRIMAGE

The survivors and refugees from the Auria disaster, saved from the ash covered ruin's of their home by a kindly sea captain, arrived to long forgotten village... The simple and unassuming fishing village was only the start of what would turn into years worth of journeying for them.

Besieged by dusk spawn their first night ashore, the refugees knew they couldn't afford to linger long. Gathering what supplies they could, and building a wagon to carry them in, the group prepared to find someplace suitable to build their home. The scouts however, found something very unexpected...

The alien glowing sigil was a bizarre and unexpected sight to say the least. Farther exploration revealed a huge tree and an ancient chamber. Both with inscriptions. The tree promised a new land, and the chamber had a strange and foreign language carved on the wall along with poems, the sigils to come would offer the key to unlocking the strange language.

Deciding to follow the trail of lights, the group set out, camping a few times before they came to a dark and disturbing cave, filled with filth, rot and death, and of course a madman in the center of it all.

Eager to continue their journey some of the group went to investigate the putrid tunnel and its inhabitant, the resulting conflict between them ended with the elderly madman's death. Weighing heavily on those involved, they continued though the cave of horrors into the lands beyond.

The forest they traveled was thick, following the winding river, camping along the way, and hunting what food they could manage. It was a long while before they came to the next sign of life, and it was a thankfully warm one.

The old farmer that ran the place welcomed the weary group into his home, he let them eat of his table and when it came time for them to continue, he gave them his crop. Grateful for his help, and as nice as the farmer was, the travelers knew something better must await them farther down the trail.

What they found was an ancient hostel, the monk that lived within would not utter a word except to chant to the glory of the sun god of wisdom, Isohel.

The temple was dotted with the strange glowing lights that lit the pilgrims trail. By this point, those upon the journey had been joined by others, lost in the woods or simply following the trail they cut into the country side. The old monk gave the pilgrims the clear idea this journey was for more then a home, but a spiritual journey of growth as well. Not all of the pilgrims embraced their journey though, some questioned their course and willfully disregarding the kindness shown to them by the quiet man who let them stay in the old temple by plundering what supplies they could carry before setting out once more.

As they traveled it became increasingly clear the duskspawn would never be far from them. Attacking their camps and stalking any in the group that wondered too far. Finally though, they cam across what appeared to be a sturdy fortified structure to try to rest from their undead attackers.

Little did they know that the walls of the old keep would not protect them. When night fell, the duskspawn descended in such numbers that the group had to barricade themselves deep within the keep just to survive the night. While able to secure the keep to some measure, hunting or gathering became too much of a risk.

They did learn a great deal while here, they learned that long ago the lights they now followed were called 'Isoheacons' and that the fort they had found was abandoned when one had gone out. Not wanting to linger they quickly sought a safer location to camp while attempting to hunt and forage for the supplies needed for their Journey. Shockingly enough, they found safety under the largest sigil they'd found, in a small valley dubbed the pilgrim's retreat.

Perhaps it was the massive Isoheacon that warded the area form the duskspawn...Or maybe just the shape of the valley walls. Some thought maybe it was simply the will of the gods this place be left largely untouched by the monsters that wondered the wood.

The pilgrims settled in a little here, the refuge from the woes of their journey was welcomed. With the peace brought a little more civility to the raw nerves that the long and dangerous trek had cultivated. The valley, peaceful as it was, was not large enough to support the groups continued presence, and with no other trail but the Isoheacons, they once more set out.

The duskspawn awaited them in the woods no sooner did they clear the safety of the valley. They were assaulted again as they scrambled to a cave to camp in for the night, it offered the group the only safety they could find, as the woods now too thick with the undead for camping. They stayed in the cave long enough to lick their wounds just from getting in there and securing it before once more having to make a made dash, unable to even spare the manpower to scout ahead they were forced to charge onwards along the trail, hopeful for some respite from the duskspawn.

What they found was a trap. Left long forgotten in ages past by slavers. Many of the group fell victim to the coy plot. Below the sandy beach were tunnels, dark, and stained with blood long dried into the stone.

Once freed, they pressed on, desperate for anywhere less haunting to take refuge. The pilgrims were lucky in that they found the last outpost before what appeared to be an endless desert the Isoheacon's continued through.

[SentaiPink]

[ also reserved, you'll see.]