Forest of Death
---Some time earlier north of James's camp---
"Who told you all to stop walking I'm the one to become a God you must listen to me" shouted a fat sweaty man laying on a make shift palanquin being hefted by four strong men sweating profusely. "Lord night is about to set we need to make camp" a man with wild midnight black hair replied to the fat man. "I dont want to hear you excuse Wilder" yelled the fat man while spitting. Gritting his teeth the man called Wilder voiced a yes sir as he turned back to the other men behind him.
"Did you tell that fat oaf we need to to stop and make camp Wilder" a man from the group asked. "I did the idiot thinks nothing but of himself" Wilder replied. "We need to leave him thats no God only a pig in human clothing" another man whispered. All the men where shaking their heads in agreeance as a scream came from one of the men carrying the palanquin. Turning there heads they see a spider latched to the poor man's back ripping the back of his neck open.
As the fat man tumbles to the ground he shrieks "Save me I am your lord your God SAVE ME" seeing the big man's head fall from his shoulders the men flee as fast as they can. Wilder seeing the men panic shouts to them as they run away "Stay together cover each other's back, if we panic we die ON ME. The group following Wilder retreat in a semi coherent manner after being shouted at, killing a few spiders as they flee through the forest.
Retreating through the forest Wilder's group of men were being cut down by the spiders chasing them. Running through the forest all night the group of almost twenty men was cut down to only nine. Panicking as they started to get surrounded, Wilder shouted for his group to form up for a last stand. Standing shoulder to shoulder the remaining nine men prepared for death at the jaws of the spiders. As they prepared for the final strike from the spiders the first Ray's of the morning sun peaked through the trees. like a switch was flipped the spiders started to shriek out and retreated back to the deeper part of the forest.
Seeing the monsters retreat Wilder fell to his knees, as the rest collapsed to the ground in utter exhaustion. Looking around at the pale and sweating faces of the remaing men, Wilder told then to get some rest. "Sleep first I will keep watch" was all Wilder said as he forced himself up off the ground and started to look around. See the group not even worry about their surroundings as they passed out Willder started to walk around the area they were in. Noticing the forest getting thinner and signs of tree's being felled, Wilder continued to move forward till the already thinning thicket opened up to a cleared area with no trees and clear lines of sight to what looked like a small encampment with a rushed wooden palisade.
In a daze wilder walked slowly to the wooden wall muttering gibberish to himself. Only comming to when he noticed three people walking towards him with their weapons at the ready. Seeing this Wilder yelled out "I'm Wilder me and my men have been running for our live al night any help will be much appreciated". Seeing Wilder the three men stopped and started whispering to each other.
"Keep your hands up and follow us, you need to speak to our lord first" said the man in the lead.
"That's fine, may I gather my men there's only a handful left and I don't want to lose anymore" Wilder yelled back. Recieving a nod from the lead soldier Wilder walked slowly back to his group of sleeping men as the three soldiers followed him through the thicket. Walking through the thicket and seeing the battered and bloody group sleeping haphazardly on the ground the three soldiers couldn't help but shiver a little seeing the misfortunes this group of people went through.
"My name is Erick" said the lead soldier to Wilder, reaching out for a hand shake. "Wilder" replied Wilder accepting the hand shake. Turning around to start waking up his men, Wilder gently helped his men up. Seeing the conditions this group of men were in Erick ordered his two soldier's to help with the wounded and set about bandaging and helping them to the camp. Taking roughly a hour to get everyone to the camp Erick led Wilder to the command tent in the center of camp. looking around as they walked through the camp Wilder was amazed how neat and professional this group was and couldn't help but ask "Does the lord here not abuse you". Erick broke out in laughter at this comment and replied "The lord is wise and kind, fight on the front lines with us".
Stepping forward Erick gestured for Wilder to go in first. Walking through the tent flaps the first thing Wilder noticed was two men in heavy leather bent over a hand drawn map in deep conversation. Following behind Wilder, Erick coughed twice before the two men looked up. Looking at the young man still leaning on the table and the burlier man stand at attention, Wilder knew that the young man was this group's lord. As if confirming Wilder thought Erick knelt down and and started talking. "Lord James I found his man walking around the south side gate, he says his name is Wilder and has come with a badly wounded group of about 9 men". After saying this Erick stood up and stood at attention to the side.
Finally straightening up James stood straight as a arrow with his hands behind his back. Seeing this Wilder was given the impression of a valiant hero and had to prevent himself from kneeling. Looking at Wilder, James asked him to recount what had happened. Starting from when they first woke up Wilder told his tale of how their groups lord was a pig if a man that failed to think of the danger of this forest and how he was killed along with over half his men when the spiders descended upon them. Sighing deeply James walked over to Wilder and clasped his shoulder "It's been hard on you brother, come sit have some food" James said while pulling up a chair for Wilder.
Seeing the bowl of stew Erick brought him, Wilder ate like a man possessed only stopping after his third bowl. Finally controlling himself Wilder kneeled down and begged for his men to get food and medicine but was stopped half way through his sentence. "Your soldiers have already been feed and wounds cleaned and dressed" James replied with a slight smirk on his face. Not knowing what to do next Wilder was at a loss "Why are you doing this" was the only thing he could say. "This Forest of Death as we call it will eat us and not even leave bones, We are only 18 now as we lost 2 people our first night here" James replied to Wilder. "What do you mean first night, it's only been one day" confusingly replied Wilder. Hearing this James knitted his eyebrows "We've been here for almost 4 days now" looking to Rolf, James went back to the table map. Wilder stood there with his mouth a gaped "Lord James we clearly woke up early yesterday morning, how have you been here for 4 days" Wilder asked still highly confused.
"That I don't know but I think is has something to do with the situation that the so called elder gods put us in, the real question is what are you and your men's next move" James not looking up from the map replied to Wilder. Stuck in thought Wilder started to rub his temple's. "I don't have that power to say I must ask my men" Wilder said as he sighed deeply. Looking up and staring Wilder in the eyes James nodded his head lightly. "Good, go back to your men and converse let me know before night fall and Wilder welcome to The Forest of Death you did well to survive till now" James said as he waved Wilder out of the command tent and started a new round of arguments with Rolf.