Enlightened Empire

East of the Sallqata Mountains most days were sunny, as the mountain range formed a natural barrier for the rain. Today was no different and the sun stood high in the sky. However, a darkness loomed before a large donkey carriage's path. Like fingers from an ancient evil, the shadows of the primeval trees loomed ahead, ready to swallow the wagon whole, and all of its passengers with it. Without a care in the world, the donkeys shook their necks and trotted on, their eyes focused on the narrowing path ahead.

"Sire, should we continue on like this?" the wagon's cloaked driver said in a shaky voice.

"This road is the fastest path from Porcero to the mountain pass," the wagon's owner replied. "We need to cross the forest, not only because the people in Arguna are waiting for our goods."

Accompanied by the rustling of his cloak, the owner looked over his shoulder, towards the blanket which covered the wagon's body.

"Still, we should be watchful." The driver tightened his grasp on the leash as the donkeys pushed ahead, to leave the light of day behind.

Although the Ancash Forest sat at the foot of the Sallqata mountains, right in the middle of the old centers of Medalan power, the region itself was hardly developed. Of course, the biggest reason for its backward nature would be the jungle before them, stretched from halfway up the mountainside all the way into the valleys of eastern Medala. If they wanted to reach the mountain pass towards the west, they only had to cross through a small side branch of the massive forest, it was impossible to tell from inside.

Tall, ancient trees stretched towards the sun, in a race that had lasted centuries. Over time, the branches had formed a wooden chain mail above their heads to block out sun and rain even without their leaves. Despite the hostile environment, the ground was covered in shrubs, many of them more thorn than leaf. They sat on a bed of decayed leaves, soft ground one would have to wade through. Their only reliance through this hostile environment was a narrow dirt path, trampled into the woods over centuries of sporadic use, no different from the animal trails the forest's inhabitants had cut through the trees.

Even worse, by now it had started to snow, and the white flaked began to suck away the last signs of life. All around them, all they could see was black, brown and gray.

A sudden howl in the distance made the driver jump. With a shudder, he turned to his master.

"Sire, are you sure that we will be safe? I heard rumors that these woods contain demons."

"Ahaha, no worries my good man, those are just stories."

"But sire... I have talked with the locals."

"You mean you've drunk with the locals?" the owner asked and slapped the driver's back. Embarrassed, the servant lowered his head.

"There is no need for shame, Zoldamyr. Your sociable nature has helped us a great deal so far. So what did the locals say about the forest?"

"They say... since long ago, an ancient demon called Ancash Lupu has lived in these woods. It was a powerful beast indeed, a Divine who had been born from an earthly rift on Sallqata's highest mountains. Out of the rift sprang a wolf, blue like water. And down it marched, through the valleys and into the plains, and wherever it went, giant trees sprang up to swallow the lands."

"Well, that's a fun story. So that's how the forest came to be?" the owner said with a bemused voice.

"Yes, sire. However, once the fox reached the limits of the current forest, it met with the humans for the first time. As one of the great divines, the people respected the wolf, but even so the humans didn't want the greedy fox to swallow all of their lands. After all, people can't live in forests."

"I doubt that," the owner mumbled under his breath as he remembered his time on the run, many years ago.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Please continue."

"So the people came together, and to appease the wolf spirit, they sang and danced for three days straight, to attract the demon's attention. Finally, they offered one lamb and one jug of wine from every house, as a token of respect. The night that came to be known as Ancalupu and is still a local tradition celebrated every year in this region."

"Okay, so the wolf took the offers, got drunk and left? The moral of the story would be 'if someone makes you trouble, bribe them'. A good lesson, very true to life."

"...So anyways, the people and the fox had an agreement: The people do their festival once a year and stay out of the forest depths, and in return the fox would no longer spread the forest on his own accord."

"That's idiotic," the owner cursed, far more annoyed than a random stranger had any right to be."It really, really is. These sort of rumors are the only reason this forest is in such a shabby condition. If the surrounding villages made good use of this forest, it could be an invaluable source of wealth for them. I mean, if nothing else, at least they wouldn't be the poorest region in the east anymore."

"But sire, I have also heard that many people have braved the way into the woods in recent years, even more so after this year's drought. Many of them have never returned!"

"Of course people disappear in these woods," the owner shot back. "What about the rumors about the Latrus bandits who stalk these parts? And why wouldn't they? The trees are perfect cover for their operations and there is an important trade route going right through the area."

"In that case, I will rely on sire's grace if we ever come across the wolf," the driver joked.

"Not to worry, if anything happens to you, you can depend on-"

Out of nowhere, a the underbrush to their right rattled. Even the owner jumped up in fright, and both men almost fell out of their seats as they forced their bodies back upright before they could slide off the wagon. However, throughout their journey the donkeys hadn't changed face at all, the only ones among them who remained unfazed by the driver's tale. Even now, when both of their owners were incapacitated, they still fulfilled their duties and marched ahead. Only when a figure stepped out of the shrubs and onto their pathway did they decide to take a short break, and let their masters handle the rest.

"Halt! No one enters my forest without compensation!" the figure shouted.

Besides him, the owner could hear his driver's dice rattle in his pockets, as the man shock like the leaves on the ground. However, now that he had recovered from his shock, the owner himself stood to face the figure. After all, the one who had obstructed their path wasn't some mythical wolf creature, but an ordinary man, nothing more.

"I must apologize for the intrusion, but I would like to ask you to step off that carriage of yours, kind masters," the ordinary man continued. Although his face looked haggard, his long, green robes couldn't hide his tall stature. At the very least, he would be a serious threat to the much smaller owner of the wagon in a fight. Still, the owner remained calm.

"Good sir, can we assume that this is a robbery?" he asked.

"I would rather not call it that, but will if I must."

"Ah, that is a shame. You see, we have to get these wares delivered to the capital as soon as possible. Me and my cousin here are simple merchants, derided everywhere. Last month, a greedy noble took a liking to my own wife, and has since made life in Arguna impossible for us. However, we have heard of a noble shop in Porcero, one which will sell goods highly sought by the nobility to common men like us. If only I could bring these wares back, I could gain enough favor to find protection amongst the nobility. I hope good sire can find it in his heart to help a poor traveler out. If he will, I promise to return within the season, and let sire rob me as much as he wishes."

"That is quite the story, and you have told it well, with a sincere and honest voice. I wish to let you leave, I really do. However, in my line of business, you hear all sorts of stories from all manner of liars, so I am not inclined to believe one, even if it was as well delivered as yours. You see, I have a family to feed as well. Thus, I would like for you to move off the wagon, if you please."

"In that case, I would like to refute that we are two men, while you are all on your own." Rather than move down from his seat, the owner remained stubborn. "We can defeat you without trouble. Why would we give up all of our possessions?"

"I understand," the bandit said, and put his fingers to his mouth. An earsplitting whistle ran through the woods and flushed a murder of crows out of the underbrush. While the owner watched the birds flap away, three other robed bandits had made their way through the brushwork and surrounded the carriage on all sides. Already the bandit's strong facade began to crack. After all, his 'men' were tiny in comparison to their leader. At least one of them was very clearly a boy, rather than a man.

"That's it?" the owner asked.

"Are four still not enough for you, lord? That is all I can offer, I'm afraid."

"In that case, I would consider it my win." With the owner's words, the driver pulled the cover off his wagon and revealed the rest of their troop. Another four warriors stood, matchlocks in hand and swords to the side, ready to fight to the death. While his three companions disappeared into the woods under screams of terror, the bandit at the helm had the good sense to remain still. He didn't have much of a choice, since all the weapons were trained on him.

"I thought you said there were only two of you?" the bandit asked with a frown.

"Ah, it turns out you were right, sire. I am indeed a liar."

"May I introduce myself," the owner said, as he pulled back his hood to reveal his fair-skinned, chubby features. "My name is Brymstock Fastgrade di Pluritac, official under Corcopaca, King of the South. I come with an offer, from the great king to the Latrus bandits."

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