Role

Chapter 3

Enemies remain Enemies
Added Sun Jul 17 21:03:55 2022 at level 51:

Arendyl seemed to be at peace. New horizons emerged as alliances were
cemented with the dwarves and the humans, much to the Wardancers' chagrine.
A council of elders werecreated in Arendyl, formed solely by those elves
who negotiated the alliances and treaties and were now viewed as the heroes
of Arendyl. To many, peace was the ultimate victory. To the Wardancers, this
peace was a betrayal of Arendyl, yet they could not leave their home and
their voices were unheard within the crowds yearning to learn magic and
build wealth. This peace appeared to have been endemic as the voice of the
Forest drowned in the new frontier.

Then it started. Peace comes at a price. Slowly, and ever surely, the
Forest changed. New creatures emerged from the dark - creatures of unknown
origin, not of the Forest. Darkness was always a hunting ground for beasts,
but even the beasts themselves were no longer the apex predators. Long howls
emerged from the Forest, howls that reverberated into the souls of the
Wardancers and others still attuned with Arendyl but unfelt by those
embracing the new frontier. Beasts within Arendyl mutated by dark magic
emerged to steal the children of Arendyl and cause havoc within its lands.

The Wardancers were deployed away from their "peaceful" homes to track and
confront these creatures. Whereas they were once considered a feared
representative of Arendyl, they were now considered simply a nuisance,
warriors unseen and ridiculed as magic was thought to triumph over antiquated
culture. To prove the worth of magic and instill a greater sense that
Arendyl was on the best path, the council of elders enchanted the Wardancers
with magical enchantments to hone their senses and skills and sent them on
their hunt. The council knew that the Wardancers would be successful, and
sought to attach their glory to magic.

Hypocrisy. For the magic that brought about "peace" also brought alongside
misfortunes.