The
Black Forest, located on the Eastern Mountains of Ouros, was always known for it's dangers; the woods themselves were thick and difficult to move through, teaming with unsavory creatures and an unusually high concentration of Fey. Unfortunatley for most travelers the forest stretched for many miles wide, and just as thick, leaving little ability to get past without going through the expanse itself. In traversing the road through the Black Forest it is important to never stray from the path, lest the unwary travlers be caught in by the illusions of the Fey that populate it. Once a traveler has lost their way it is likley that they will never be able to find their way out again; most lost in this manner are doomed to wander the forest for a lifetime, endlessly searching for a way out. Some claim that the Lost have been changed by the forest, slowly being tainted by the thick magics that permeate the Black Forest, and turning to Fey-like creatures themselves; others say that this is all but myth, and the disapperances in the wood can only be attributed to the local wildlife and other natural dangers.
It is in the Black Forest that Stalkid grew, raised by the Fey of the forest. When Stalkid, who was then called Thomas, was too young to rememebr his family had been traversing the forest - careful to never stray from the path. It was in the night that he saw a bright light dancing between the trees. Interested, the child carefully stood up and started to move into the deeper woods, looking back every once and a while to make sure the campsite was still within his sight. Soon Stalkid had reached the dancing light, seeing it was coming from a small lantern handing on a stick and planted firmly in the ground. He turned around to head back to the campsite, but all he could see were thick walls of trees on every side of him. Then the laughter began - high pitched tittering, low and rough guffaws, snide snickering, and sharp giggling all around him. Suddenly lights sprang to life in the trees, everywhere faces of strange creatures became illuminated by the lanterns, all with crooked smiles stretched across their faces. Stalkid tried to run, but was met only with ever thicker trees until he suddenly burst into a small clearing. In the center of the clearing was small stump, upon which was sat a man wearing hide clothing, a large straw hat, and a mask of bark and crushed berries. He was whistling a soft tune, but the rest of the forest was silent, as though listening intently to the tune. Stalkid moved closter to the man, who cocked his head slightly - his whistling having stopped. THe man put out his hand and took Stalkid's, in his other hand he held out a small mask, made much the same as the man's. Stalkid quitely took the mask and set it upon his head, which was met with a cacophony of joyous laughter.
In time, the Black Forest started to be encroached upon for the purposes of industry. The lumber that could be gained from the wood there is of a high quality. As it began to be clear cut, the Fey revolted. It came to be that the Fey were not powerful enough to stop the greed of men, and so they had to retreat deeper into the forest, towards it's heart. Stalkid was not allowed to go to such a sacred place, even though he had been raised by Fey. He did not know much of the world beyond the wood, but none the less was forced into it. He brought with him a friend, the young Roc Tael, who has kept him safe for most of his life. It was in his wanderings that he happened, by mostly pure luck, upon this Caravan to Bastion. Even though Stalkid truly wishes to return to the forest, he knows he can't, and anywhere was better than staying, so he hopped on.
