As the gathering approached word was spreading that King Nashik was dead. Some Mistwood citizens were upset about his passing and others were more worried for their queen. Other reports were pouring in that Shaun Vicks was being spotted talking to elves and luring them away with a promise that the Handmaiden could fix things. 

Despite the ritual from the previous moon being successful with lifting the Darkwood corruption, it did not fulfill the prophecy. As a result the Mistwood was actively dying all around them. The trees that once glowed with magic were dimming into the darkness. Was there a way to fix it if the King was dead?

The blessed followers of the Light, the Mother and even the Spellsingers felt a presence cross into the plain that wasn’t supposed to be there. The running theory was Shaun Vicks as he is an unseated hierarch. No sooner was this announced to the masses that a fight broke out near the Mistwoods House of the Sun that was being guarded by Slayers. Avalon sprang into action and then another screech was heard in the opposite direction. Slitting the force, one half went to the sacred building while the other half dealt with the Darkwood that launched an assault. 

Turns out that Shaun Vicks made a move of the sacred building and with his powers of Hell temporarily disabled the ward protecting the building. As it happens the stone statue body of Nashik was held inside. As the building was rushed by some of the heroes and the queen’s guard the evil being was speaking with Logan and as he got cornered he grabbed the statue and Hellgated out of the building. 

Now stakes were high, the hierarch now had the King who was apparently statued, so was he truly even dead? The other half of the heroes returned to the main keep, successful in staving off the Darkwood. Then the Hierarch appeared again to “finish his conversation” with Logan. According to Shaun Vicks, he does have Nashik and wants to make him suffer for going back on a deal. He also confirmed that he was working with the Handmaiden. Both pieces of information did not sit well with the heroes. Then he was gone. 

The next day rumors were being said that Nashik was alive and in Hell. It was said that the Queen had resurrected him, which was in fact not true. The Wood was still dying and the citizens were feeling some strange effects. Some were aging rapidly and feeling ill. The magic was dying faster than anticipated. The nobility knew that they needed to get Nashik back because he was the key to everything. He was the only one that would be able to fix himself, his people, and his home. So the noble body of Avalon did something that they would never normally consider. They reached out to the Fae Lord Autumn who had just returned heroes from a three month journey. They struck a deal with the Fae, they would do them a favor if Autumn retrieved Nashik from Shaun Vicks. The Lord agreed, snapped their fingers and Nashik, still a statue, was returned. 

As the day went on Nashik was returned to flesh when the stone effect wore off but he and the queen were not out of the woods yet. They themselves were starting to fill the ill effects of their home losing their magic and life. These effects got worse as night fell and they started crying out in pain. Acting quickly the heroes escorted them to the House of the Sun, maybe they could be cleansed or at least have the effects lessened. As they had entered Nashik got significantly worse, since he was still a vampire, being on consecrated ground as making everything worse for him. The grounds didn’t seem to be helping either of them. Someone recalled that Nashik needed to get to the Unicorn Pool so they gathered the King and made very swift plans to get him to the pool. Just as they were about to move out a swirl of glittering magic surrounded Yana Ne’Fey, the signature of the Handmaiden. The magic dissipated and the queen was gone. No doubt in the clutches of the Fey God. 

The heroes take the ill ancient elf back to the main keep and as time passed a drake appeared to the heroes. A drake is to a Dragon like an unseated hierarch is to a Hierarch. And the reason he showed up is due to Shaun Vicks’ actions on the plane. He was there to reset the balance of cosmic manipulation. He was there to help the heroes in their upcoming fight and he was there for Nashik. The Elven King faced this drake and asked to be cleansed. It seemed now he understood what he had to do to save his wife, people, and home. He needed to be willing to fix himself in order to save the rest. 

Avalon prepared for battle and headed out for the Unicorn Pool. Along the way they dealt with darkwood and a variety of fey creatures. They came upon a field filled with all kinds of elves, fey and a balrog. Yana, was in a circle of protection just sitting, unmoving, but alive. There was also the Unicorn Pool near her where the unicorn was pacing. Among them was a woman in a purple and blue dress wearing the queen’s crown upon her head. Could this be the Handmaiden?

“Welcome Avalon…to our reunion.” She said in a sweet tone. The elves with her repeated those words in a monotone chorus. That answered that, this must be the Handmaiden. She alone wanted elves under her rule, she believed they were her children. All of them.

With their goal in mind and in sight Avalon engaged. This fight was not as difficult, despite the Hellbeast. They worked their way through the enemy forces to get to Yana before making it to the Unicorn Pool. Nashik fell into the cleansing waters willingly. The moment he did the unicorn himself died and decayed into the waters in the matter of seconds. This sacrifice cascaded into the biggest burst of magic power they had seen. Even more powerful than what they witnessed with the Queen. This was akin to a Ritual of Absolute Healing but was far more than that. This magic restored the magic to all of the Mistwood, the trees started to glow once again and more brightly. The Queen and the elves were revitalized and mages received power from this wave of magic. It was the best feeling any of them have felt. 

A raging screech ripped through the air. “How dare you! Fine! I guess you really don’t need me anymore! All I wanted to do was help.” The Fey God cried and then disappeared off of the field. 

The night was spent mourning the loss of Nashik. Citizens poured in to offer condolences to their fallen King, and even some fey beings came in to give offerings. 

After a long visit to the Mistwood and helping with a civil war, the Heroes of  Avalon were ready to go home. 

They deserved a rest, maybe nothing major will rear its ugly head towards them this next gathering.