The Woodwalker

Written by R. R. LoreCastle

One of the most popular stories to tell during the fall and the winter are tales of the Woodwalker. He is said to be a huge beast that preys on anyone that crosses his path. These tales are more popular in large cities. Smaller villages tend to avoid saying his name or even mentioning him, for the very mention of his name is enough to summon him. But everyone knows of him. Parents tell their children to go to bed and behave, or the Woodwalker will come for them. Kings and nobles boast that their country hasn't had a new tale of him in years. Youth dare each other to walk the streets at night, chanting his name. Shops, especially apothecaries, sell herbs and spices that supposedly repel him. He is said to bring nightmares and to poison crops, and can make someone go mad with a single look. He is the subject of fear and terror, and any good storyteller or Fabler knows at least five good stories of him.

Historical Basis

Tales of the Woodwalker started up towards the end of the second Gloaming, when several different kingdoms and nations sent cartographers into the region once known as the Northern Thicket. They did not return, and if they did, they would be ragged, with clothes torn and hair a mess, clutching their leaflets close and muttering about a monster. None would recover from their madness and all would eventually succumb to illness. It was upon reading their notebooks that stories of the Woodwalker started up. It is the only piece of folklore that is still believed to this day. It is a very common myth that many people host a certain superstition of.

Variations

In some cultures, the Woodwalker is replaced by a pack of wolves with similar charicteristics. The dwarves say that the Woodwalker is simply a tree that got up and decided to walk around. They refrain from keeping plants in their dwellings to avoid summoning the Woodwalker, who, in their culture, is said to be especially bitter towards dwarves, as they have no love for trees and forests. In elven lore, the Woodwalker is the creation of an elf who sang dark songs and created a terrible monster. It's impossible to say if the Woodwalker is real or not, but it does seem to stem from the common belief in something that roams in the dark places and comes out at night, encouraging most people to carry a Ward after dark or to lock their doors.

Cultural Perception

Men: The men of Candesca value the tales of the Woodwalker for their theatrical elements. They love a good story, and the Woodwalker provides many possibilities: a story to tell, to listen to, a way to motivate your children, a fable to study, or a way to have fun with your friends. Whether or not they believe in him, they still value the myth.
Elves: To the elves, the Woodwalker represents the consequence for pride and greed. One of their own committed a terrible deed, and they now must pay the price for creating a monster. Most view the Woodwalker as a real being and they have composed several songs to keep their villages and cities safe.
Dwarves: The dwarves fear the Woodwalker. Most regard the tale as superstition, but most of them secretly fear the creature.
Fae: The Fae needn't bother with silly stories such as these.

Art & Literature

Only the bravest of artists feature the Woodwalker in their creations. He is said to be very touchy on the subject. As a result, few paintings of him exist. However, a few short stories featuring him have been written, and of course there are the tales. Several anthologies of Woodwalker stories can be found. There are also fourteen different songs about the Woodwalker, possibly more from the elves that haven't yet been documented.

Summary

The Woodwalker is a widely popular myth that spans the entirety of the Mainland. There are many different variations of the myth, especially about his purpose and his origins, but the heart of the stories are the same: there is a creature out there who is terrifying, fiercer and more powerful than any goblin or scor. A creature who stalks the wild places of the earth, who brings death and decay with him. Some of the more superstitious folk even go so far to say that he is the cause of the changing of the seasons. If anyone knows, it would be a Fabler.

As the leaves fall from the trees, it is said that some of these leaves bear warnings, or Omens. These leaves will fall on someone's head or float through their window. The leaf will bear a quote from someone who has gone mad at the hand of the Woodwalker. Ocassionally the quote will be from the journals of those who have seen his effects during their travels. It is rumored that if anyone receives an Omen, they will become a victim of the Woodwalker.

"Sounds haunt me. In the silence of the night, I think I hear footsteps. A twig snaps, a branch cracks, leaves rustle. I whip around to see who it is...nothing."
"The animals are dying...dead rats, dead birds, dead foxes, dead fawns. I see them all in my path. The trees, too, grow blackened and withered."
"The shadows play tricks on me. I see people dancing - elves. Elven children chasing each other, but then...running from something else. The moonbeams dance as well, taking the shape of leering Fae that fill me with a sense of dread."
"I can hear owls calling, day and night. Crows cawing, vultures shrieking. The sounds of death are a whirlwind in my ears."
"The days grow shorter, and the nights longer."
"The wind pushes my papers into water, roots trip me and I fall right into thorn thickets. No fire that I light will last even half an hour."
"I hear it! It stalks me when I am sleeping. I hear footsteps approaching, and heavy breathing. I feel the heat from a fire and awake, but there is nothing - only blackness."
"I saw it! It was tall, a giant! With eyes that glow pale green and fluctuate to a deep red. Its footsteps were loud, as if they were behind me, then suddenly silent. As it passed the trees, they grew taller and blacker. It has claws of thorns and a hide of shadow. Fungus grows from it. It breathes smoke that feels like hot breath on the back of my neck. I am doomed, so I write this last account. Beware the Woodwalker! It stalks ever closer....."