Chronicles of Espiria Season 3

Episode 31 Mid-Credits Scene

Written by the Dude

Arden and Lyca walked through the forest in silence as Arden contemplated his next move. At last, the warring factions of Espiria were united against a common foe. That being said, there was one potential ally left who had yet to be summoned, and if the Lightbearers, Maulers, and Graveborn could set their differences aside, then Arden must be prepared to do the same with this creature. Of course, the necessity of the task made it no less odious to Arden.

"Where are we going?" Lyca asked.

"The Forbidden Zone." Arden answered bitterly.

"The Forbidden...But Arden..."

"Lyca, you trust me, do you not?"

"With my life."

"Then wait at the border of the Forbidden Zone and do not let anyone follow me. What I must do, must be done alone."

They soon arrived at the border of the Forbidden Zone.

"What must you do in there?" Lyca asked, fearful for Arden's safety.

"You will find out if I succeed."

Lyca took up a defensive position with an arrow notched to the string of her bow, while Arden continued into the Forbidden Zone alone.

Arden and Ulmus were the only beings left in the Dark Forest who could remember why this part of the forest was forbidden, though one could make a fair guess within a few minutes of entering. Lyca had just vanished from Arden's field of vision when two dreafs scampered across his path. Most of Espiria viewed these bizarre creatures as mere pests to be kept at bay, but Wilders found them especially unsettling, sensing an unnatural energy mixed with their perfectly natural aura.

As Arden ventured further into the Forbidden Zone, the dreafs became a more common sight, some playing tag with each other, others resting in a rare sunny spot, a few even trying to attract the attention of a mate. These seemingly common behaviors from a singularly unnatural creature only served to unnerve Arden even more. He resolved to just face forward and try to ignore the dreafs; this task was made easier by the generally docile nature of the dreafs, but also more difficult by the singularly eldritch noises they made.

Finally, Arden came to the mouth of a cave surrounded by dreafs, all of which appeared more hostile than the dreafs Arden had encountered before. He squared his shoulders and steeled his nerves to call out to the master of the cave.

"Dreyfuss!"

A low rumble emanated from the cave. The dreafs surrounding the entrance nervously parted as the rumble slowly morphed into a sinister laugh.

"Arden...How long has it been since we last spoke?"

"Not long enough." Arden thought to himself.

"We were once friends, Arden; and yet you have never attempted to visit me in my new home."

"How could I?" Arden said, pained by the memory of what Dreyfuss had done. "You nearly shattered the natural order of the forest by mixing Wilder magic with necromancy! Much of the forest is still cursed by your calamitous experiments! If I thought for a moment that you had repented..."

"Repented?!" Dreyfuss shouted, almost offended. "You think yourself a Lightbearer priest now?! Look at my children, the dreafs! They mean no harm to anyone! They fight in self defense, but they prefer to live in peace with their surroundings! How can these creatures be calamitous?!"

"You still cannot see how your experiments nearly destroyed the forest. I see that coming here was, as I feared, a mistake."

"If it was a mistake, then why did you come here?! If the mere sight of me churns your stomach, then why enter my presence at all?!"

Arden was conspicuously silent.

"They've returned, haven't they?" Dreyfuss asked.

"They have." Arden confirmed.

"What is still left?"

"Most of the Lightbearers huddle under a divine shield in Ranhorn. The Maulers, too, are trapped in their greatest temple. Even the Dark Forest finds itself besieged by these demons."

"What of the Graveborn and Celestials?"

"Most of the Graveborn serve the Hypogean Hoard; the rest have found sanctuary here in the forest. As for the Celestials, they fight on our side, but their numbers were decimated in the last war; they can only do so much with so few."

Dreyfuss was silent for a time.

"Very well, I shall help you. But I have a condition."

"And that is?" Arden asked, concerned about where this might be going.

"You will call me by my name."

"But I have, Dreyfuss."

"No! You call me by the name given me by my father! Dreyfuss died when we were young men; I have risen from the dead in his place! If you seek my aid, then ask for it using my true name!"

Arden sighed in resignation.

"Lord Dreaf, we need your help."