The town of Mossmere was not what Kaelron had expected. Nestled at the edge of the jungle, it should have been a lively outpost filled with traders and adventurers eager to explore the wilds. Instead, the streets were unnaturally quiet, and the few people who moved about kept their heads low and their conversations hushed.
Kaelron dismounted Ignis just outside the gates, her golden feathers ruffling as she let out a low trill. "This place feels... wrong," Kaelron muttered, scanning the surroundings.
Eryk grunted in agreement as he dismounted Frostfang. The wolf sniffed the air, its hackles rising as a low growl rumbled in its throat. "Even the animals can feel it," Eryk said, gripping his sword tightly.
Three Guild enforcers—Gryss, Maren, and Talis—moved cautiously behind them, their hands resting on their weapons. Maren, a young woman with a bow slung across her back, looked around nervously. "This doesn't seem like the kind of town where people go missing without anyone noticing," she whispered.
"They notice," Eryk said darkly, "but they're too scared to say anything."
As the group entered Mossmere, the few villagers they passed avoided their gaze, some even retreating into their homes. The sound of shutters closing echoed faintly in the still air. Kaelron felt the fragment in his satchel pulse faintly, its energy thrumming like a distant heartbeat.
"We should find an inn and start asking questions," Kaelron said, his voice low. "The jungle shrine is close, and if the cult has already started their ritual, we're running out of time."
Eryk nodded but kept his hand on his sword. "Let's hope the locals are willing to talk."
They found the inn near the center of town, its sign—depicting a weathered stag—swinging in the faint breeze. Inside, the atmosphere was just as oppressive as the streets. A handful of patrons sat at tables, speaking in hushed tones, while the innkeeper—a grizzled man with a scar across his cheek—watched them warily.
Kaelron approached the counter, pulling back his hood. "We need rooms and information."
The innkeeper's eyes narrowed. "Information costs extra."
Kaelron placed a coin pouch on the counter, the weight of it drawing the man's attention. "Then let's make this quick."
The innkeeper pocketed the pouch, leaning forward. "What do you want to know?"
"We're looking for signs of shadow beasts or strange activity near the jungle," Kaelron said. "Anything unusual happening in the past few weeks?"
The man hesitated, glancing around the room before answering. "People have been disappearing," he said quietly. "Mostly those who wander too close to the jungle. But that's not the worst of it."
"What is?" Eryk asked, his tone sharp.
The innkeeper leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "At night, you can hear chanting coming from the trees. Like a... ceremony of some kind. And the animals—they don't act right anymore. Predators that should stay deep in the jungle are coming closer, and they're... different."
Kaelron exchanged a grim look with Eryk. The cult was already here.
---
The innkeeper gave them directions to an old hermit who lived on the outskirts of town. "He's the only one crazy enough to wander the jungle these days," the man said. "If anyone knows what's going on, it's him."
The group set out immediately, following a narrow path that led to a small hut half-hidden by thick foliage. The air grew heavier as they approached, the sounds of the jungle unnervingly quiet.
The hermit was outside, tending to a small fire. He was an older man with a wiry frame, his hair wild and his eyes sharp. As the group approached, he glanced up, his expression wary but not surprised.
"I was wondering when someone would come poking around," he said, his voice gravelly.
Kaelron stepped forward. "We need your help. The jungle shrine is in danger, and we're trying to stop the cult that's targeting it."
The hermit snorted. "The cult. Always lurking, always whispering. I've seen their handiwork." He motioned for them to sit around the fire. "What do you want to know?"
"Have you seen the shrine's guardian?" Kaelron asked.
The hermit's expression darkened. "The guardian is fighting, but it's losing. The cult's corruption has spread deep into the jungle. They've bound creatures to their will—beasts that act as their eyes and ears. The shrine's defenses are crumbling."
Kaelron felt the fragment pulse more insistently, and a sudden vision flashed before his eyes: the jungle shrine, surrounded by shadowy figures, its once-bright energy dim and flickering. He staggered, grabbing Ignis for support.
"You alright?" Eryk asked, his tone concerned.
Kaelron nodded, though his heart was racing. "We need to move fast."
The group returned to the inn, planning to rest before venturing into the jungle. But the night brought no peace.
Kaelron woke to the sound of distant chanting, faint but unmistakable. He threw on his cloak and stepped outside, finding Eryk already there, his sword drawn.
"You heard it too," Eryk said.
Kaelron nodded. "It's coming from the jungle."
The two stood in silence for a moment, listening. The chanting grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural growl that sent chills down Kaelron's spine.
"They're summoning something," Eryk said grimly.
Kaelron tightened his grip on his staff. "We can't wait until morning. Gather the others. We're going in."
---
The group moved quickly, their path lit by the faint glow of the fragment in Kaelron's satchel. The jungle was alive with unnatural sounds: rustling leaves, distant roars, and the faint echo of chanting.
As they pushed deeper, the air grew colder, and the vegetation seemed to twist unnaturally, as if warped by the Maw's influence.
"Stay alert," Kaelron said, his voice low.
Suddenly, Frostfang growled, and Ignis let out a warning screech. The group froze as shadowy shapes emerged from the underbrush—twisted animals with glowing violet eyes and jagged, unnatural forms.
"Corrupted scouts," Eryk muttered, drawing his sword.
The creatures attacked without warning, their movements erratic but deadly. Kaelron merged partially with Ignis, flames swirling around him as he struck at the beasts. Eryk and Frostfang fought side by side, their strikes precise and brutal.
Despite their strength, the creatures were relentless, their wounds knitting together almost as quickly as they were inflicted.
"They're stalling us," Kaelron realized. "We have to push through!"
After a fierce battle, the group managed to drive off the creatures, though they were battered and exhausted. As they caught their breath, Kaelron felt the fragment pulse again, stronger than before.
A new vision overtook him: the jungle shrine, its guardian—a massive serpent-like creature—locked in battle with shadow beasts. The shrine's energy flickered like a dying flame, and the cultists' chanting grew louder, their ritual nearly complete.
Kaelron staggered, his breathing heavy. "The shrine's guardian is barely holding on. We don't have much time."
Eryk wiped blood from his blade, his expression grim. "Then let's not waste any more of it."
The group pressed on, the jungle growing darker and more foreboding with each step. The shrine was close, and so was the battle that awaited them.