The Corruption of Mahia Forest
"As you move through the forest, you observe small, black mushrooms beginning to grow near some trees. They are small in size, but great in number. And the numbers themselves seem to be expanding every few feet. Each one lets off a small puff of necrotic energy.
Off in the distance, a sinister transformation unfolds. The forest floor, once alive, now bows to the dominance of black, necrotic mushrooms. These malignant growths cluster around trees, their shadow-like caps oozing an iridescent, sickly substance. The landscape exudes an unsettling stillness, disturbed only by the sounds of creatures moving around in the distance."
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Scattered throughout the Mahia Forest, patches of black ichor have started to take over. This dark force consumes the land around it - killing trees and animals alike. This corruption continues to spread, posing a series danger to the inhabitants of the forest.
Known Facts
- Nearly all creatures of the Mahia Forest are aware of this corruption, from the Triple Fang all the way to the Severed Oak Orcs. In all cases, it is referred to as "The Corruption".
- The Weaver heavily mentions this corruption, believing that it is directly connected to another diety or powerful creature.
- There is an direct connection between the Corruption and the death of Jonas Papaya.
- Grendira's spores have a strong reaction to the corruption. They actively push back against it and in the case of the encounter with the injured Fey Wolf, cleansed a small patch of the corruption.
- The corruption eventually makes its way directly into Hygrim, but only after another murder has taken place. While investigating the scene of the crime, Grendira has a direct communication with a mysterious entity. This entity appears to either be responsible for the corruption, or is someone who helps spread it.
Encounters
- The party first encountered a hostile creature emerging from this corruption. It had limited intelligence, insisting that they deliver a message that the humans have 'seven more cycles' or the 'contract is broken'. Once this creature was defeated, the corruption immediately dispersed.
- This corruption was encountered the following day, having consumed a tree near a Fey wolf cave. The party was able to defeat a horrific creature that lived inside of the tree, cleansing the area afterward.
- Jade's friends have warned her that the territory near the Wood Elves is specficially under threat from this corruption. Due to the Elves been dispersed, they fear that no one is there to protect the town.
- The party frees Jade's friends, allowing them to head to the Wood Elves territory.
- The following day, Meredith is found murdered within Hygrim. This causes the corruption to seep into the town, particularly at the site of the killing.
- Grendira finds herself speaking with an unknown entity shortly after, who promises her knowledge of "the deliverer", the one who has been committing the murders. It offers her a chance to win this knowledge through a game.
- While breaking down the rules of the game, Grendira learns that she has spoken to this entity before - during a period of time after she had died at the monastery. Apparently she has played a game with it before, one that had an impact on Pepperwell's safety. Grendira has no memory of this game and eventually turns down the offer to play a new one with the entity.
- The party travels to the Twilight Grove, where they find the corruption has nearly consumed the entire forest. It is here the entity appears more powerful.
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