The first leg of the journey seems quieter than the days previous, but as the sun reaches its zenith, the fetid woods become increasingly unsettled. Reports of small skirmishes break out as squads put down packs of creatures in increasing frequency and a change seems to be coming over the woods. You begin to notice it yourself. At first it was just the occasional skittering of smaller creatures through the underbrush, but that rustling has now grown into a distant symphony of growls and snapping tree limbs. You feel the anxiety rising in the troops, when suddenly the welcome sight of gray stone walls breaks through the gloom. A great gate rises above you and you realize you are looking upon a vast city.

The soldiers are relieved at this sign of civilization but the warning of the Watcher ends any hopes of you experiencing the same. This must be the forbidden city. No safety would be found within and he had warned you to give the dead city a wide berth as none had ever entered and lived to tell about it. You could head North or South around the city, both are similar distances and with the Deepwood as it is, one may not present a safer journey than the other. You call the squad leaders together to deliberate the best course of action knowing your destination, Raven's Reach, lies just beyond.

As though sensing your distraction, the Deepwood uses this moment to strike. A frenzied tide of fanged creatures and clawed nightmares burst from the treeline. Squad leaders immediately begin barking out commands as the soldiers' instincts quickly take over, forming a defensive line. Drawing your weapons, you join the battle where the fighting is fiercest.

Despite making short work of the first wave, more and more monsters continue to pour in. You have never seen the Deepwood throw its abominations in coordinated legions like this. They usually gnaw at each other, as much as intruders, yet this army of death appears united in a singular purpose - to kill you.