A Forest Shrouded in Mist

En ... Endmin! I'm not dreaming, am I? I-Is it really you?!

I knew Endfield wouldn't leave this big owl behind... Can I get one more hug? I'm so excited right now.

I still feel like I'm in a dream.

Let's not do that. I suffered enough in the forest.

I was close to Wuling when my positioning device broke. I tried calling you, but I just couldn't find my handyterm.

I was trapped. I had been going round and round in circles ... until you finally found me.

After bumbling around in the forest, our hero finally finds the missing friend.

After a crushing hug, Andre finally relaxes his grip and stares at our hero with disbelief.

Oh, did you come across my baggage? I lost it all, and I must get it back.

Endmin, I'm not puffing up my feathers but I am an Endfield engineer. My memory is impeccable.

I never lose my way.

The strange fog? Ahh. You have experienced the anomalous powers of this forest.

I knew it... My mental faculties are fine. It's the forest itself.

Someone also gave me questionable directions, which I followed. And that's how I ended up in this forest.

Well... Since you're here, we'll put our minds together and find the exit.

Let's explore the forest. Together.

What I heard might be sketchy, but I can share everything I know if you're curious, Endmin.

Since I left Rhodes Island, I've been looking for legends about <entry=narrativeNote_22>Beast Lord <entry=narrativeNote_23>Amma. Many stories about Her were lost during the First Aggeloi War.

There's a <entry=narrativeNote_26>Sami <entry=narrativeNote_24>Snowpriestess who lives in this forest. They say she's the only person alive who still knows the stories of Amma.

The fog that makes visitors go around in circles... It's probably a trap set by the Snowpriestess. She doesn't want to be disturbed.

I am here to seek those tales of hers.

I don't know, but it is beautiful and reminds people of Sami.

Perhaps the Snowpriestess really misses her home...

Yeah... The Wintertooth Mountains have always been so serene and graceful.

He looks fine. I fed him something that wakes people up. He should come around in a bit.

It's not just the protective array. There's something more troubling.

Wha ... what's going on...? Hngh. *PTUI* Blegh! Argh! What's this bitter taste in my mouth?

Mister Andre, don't spit it out! It's a herbal remedy that keeps you awake.

Endmin, who is this young miss...?

I'm Typhoeus. Typh also works, Mister Andre.

I was about to demonstrate fog-dispelling to the Endmin. You woke up at the perfect time.

Fog dispelling?! You can do that, young miss?!

Endmin, give me your hand.

There. You've got my abilities. You can see them now.

We just need to break the trapping runes. That will lift the fog.

Easy. Help align my shot. I'll nock three arrows, and *SWOOSH*, hit them all.

I know how to break the spell, but the forest is keeping me here. I can scatter the fog, but it quickly spreads once more...

I actually wanted to visit the forest cabin, and see if there's a way to fully dispel the fog.

But I ended up bumbling around, and then I ran into you two.

Alright. Let me draw you —

Yes. We can —

Hngh...

Yeah, just a small patch around us, though. But that should be enough to help us find a path to the forest cabin.

The cabin may offer us a way to leave.

Got them.

*HOOT*! So this is why we kept running around in circles! Supernaturals don't exist, after all!

You must have seen more amazing stuff in the past. You just don't remember them.

And with Typhoeus' help, a path has been revealed to our hero and her friends. / And with Typhoeus' help, a path has been revealed to our hero and his friends.

The fire in the hearth crackled, the sounds giving the travelers peace. They huddle around the fireplace for the oddly comforting warmth.

One day came when the Endministrator came to Valley IV, with gigantic arms with rippling muscles, gripped two Breaker thugs and roared at them like an angry storm:

Hm? No. I wasn't.

*Sigh* Okay, I guess ... I am ... a little sad.

The Snowpriestess left valuable notes, but I hope I can still meet her and hear the stories from her own lips.

Whether they are the stories about this forest, or Amma...

The Snowpriestess left tons of notes. I didn't have time to read them all.

I guessed this might happen. So even though I didn't get to meet her, I'm not too disappointed.

When we opened the cabin door, I was hoping to find the Snowpriestess sitting in this room.

I have questions about Amma. I wish I could hear her give me the answers instead of deciphering them from the notes.

But I'm really glad to have met you in the forest. As I was traveling down from the North, I heard so many stories about you along the way.

Hold on. Let me dig through my notes...

"BLIGHT SCUM! TELL YOUR LOUSY BAWS NEFARITH THAT I DEMAND A DUEL TO THE DEATH!"

A little inn by the road. They have a storyteller.

I know. I've seen your arms. The muscles do not ripple.

Me? You want tales ... of my travels?

Hmm. Let me think... Got it.

There was one winter at an Oathkeepers' fort. Three beautiful snowflakes fell on my shoulders.

But I refused since I wanted to keep them around. And so I froze them permanently with Originium Arts.

Later, I walked through a battlefield ... There, I helped collect the bodies of the fallen and raised a headstone for them.

The headstone was bare and I didn't know what to write. I remembered the three snowflakes — the ice blossoms of their home.

So I embedded them there. They glittered like three stars. I was pleased, and then fell asleep leaning next to the headstone.

I woke the following day and prepared to leave, but three branches snagged my clothes...

And thus, I shaped them into arrows and treasured them ever since.

Amma guided me for all that I have gained or lost in the journey. The winds and branches I followed, and it was fate I found.

Endmin, wake up. It's time to go.

The girl looks at the dancing fire and ponders. She slowly releases a sigh.

Oh...?

Shhh... Listen close...

That was the night when I dreamed of Amma.

What a wonderful child.

Haha...

They were so beautiful that a merchant offered an astonishing price for them.

I thought ... they were gifts from Amma.

A — ACHOOO!

So much dust... *Hakk-kaff*... I don't think anyone lived here for a while.

There's leftover porridge in the house. It doesn't seem like the resident planned to take a trip.

What are those...?

Mmm. Hmm...

Oh? Hmm...

Unfortunately, the girl's hopes have been dashed. The Snowpriestess is not there.

She looks around and sees crossbeams overgrown with cobwebs, stacks of notes covered in dust, and a table with decayed food...

She sees an entire wall covered in Sami runes. They translate into a puzzle that waits to be solved.

Let's go, Endmin. Typh needs some time to study this.

Look at her. All focused and absorbed. Let's not distract her for a while.

Shh. Our hero is taking the stage.

No, oh dear. My bones and joints are breaking apart. I can't go on any further. I gotta stop and take a break.

Hooo... Something's really wrong. We ... we can't get out.

Endmin, your joke isn't doing much about my fears...

My mind is a mess right now. I keep thinking about stories of ghosts and spirits.

Are we gonna ... get trapped here for ... ever...?

It's ... it's here...

A GHOST!!!

Endmin?

The two find themselves going around in circles. Helplessness and defeat loom over them.

Hngh...

Oh ... poor Andre.

Did I?

What happened to this one?

It seems the forest has caught another friend of our hero.

I heard a lot about you from Warfarin before and have always wanted to meet you. But I never expected to run into you here.

I saw you in the fog just now and sent you a few messages, but you didn't reply.

You thought...?

I wonder if I can still find those parts...

I just can't help it. Oh, by Talos ... even if I found them, we still have no way of leaving this forest.

And delivering the parts would take time too. I hope I'm not delaying the Tianshi's work.

It sure is. I haven't rested my eyes for days. Luckily I have fluffy feathers that kept me warm in the woods.

But I really shouldn't have lost the baggage... The Wuling Tianshi's work might be delayed by me...

Our hero finds themselves rather moved by the friend's professional commitment.

"Once we're back in Wuling, let's do some overtime together," our hero planned with excitement.

I've read the notes and studied the map. I know what happened.

Yes. The Snowpriestess placed three ritual shrines in the forest that provide links to the dreamscape.

But the shrines are also connected to the protective arrays, forming a "web" that sealed the forest.

Yes... It might sound simple but the ritual is super complicated. I wish I had notes on it to come up with another way.

It's a shame we couldn't meet that Snowpriestess. She's really powerful.

You're incredible too. If you weren't around, we would not be here to read these notes.

We still have time before daybreak. I'll take a closer look ... and hopefully find something I missed.

No worries. You need your sleep, Typh, or you won't grow any taller.

The forest is acting weird, because the Snowpriestess wants to wake <entry=narrativeNote_28>Feranmut Sami from slumber!

Feranmut Sami is special to the Samifjod. During the First Aggeloi War, the Feranmut sacrificed Himself to protect us...

But many of my people believe that He is not dead, but slumbering, His soul trapped in dreamscape.

Later, a few Snowpriests left Myrkwood. They ran tests across Talos-II and tried to wake Him with the Originium Arts.

A ritual to link to the dreamscape... Will it be pleasant, or will it be a nightmare?

Feranmut Sami is still alive?

Hmm. Links to the dreamscape... Interesting.

Maybe the ritual failed and the Snowpriestess decided to leave, leaving only the cabin and her setup ... to slowly fall apart on its own.

But even the bits of power left in the rituals are enough to keep us trapped.

We finally got close enough to the cabin.

The party finally has the cabin within sight, and feels as though a weight has been removed from their chests. They don't have to spend this night exposed to the elements.

Hooo. So many years have passed since I last stayed at a Sami tree house.

Mister Andre, did you actually visit a Sami village in Myrkwood?

Oh yes I did, with the Endmin too.

I tried riding their special snow sled too. I ended up crashing head first into the snow. The Endmin had to dig me out.

Really?

I can't help it. I remember things too well.

Plus, I had the same face the Endmin just made. I was all embarrassed and kept scratching my head.

This isn't natural. Every path is foggy.

Looks like we have to choose a path and keep going.

Ah, it's alright. I can actually rest while standing.

Endmin, can you light the fireplace? My flint got wet.

That was real close! I almost got blown to bits.

Breath of Hoarfrost... Fearsome runes of deterrence. Can't believe the Snowpriestess placed them in the forest.

What's in this forest? Why is she so protective of it?

Yes. Just like before. A shot will dispel them.

We just need to be careful as we approach the cabin. These runes can really hurt.

Of course. Don't be scared. A good shot will dispel them for good.

We must watch our steps and deal with the runes quickly. They can really hurt.