CHAPTER 2.06 - DARKENWILDE

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Wulfram travels with Erik and Gunthar Arranbergh (rangers) from Haastenmoord to the old mine and then beyond. They depart company when they reach the edge of the "Violethaven" which is a field that is said to bloom with brilliant violet flowers in brilliant sunlight. But those flowers are harmful, possessing the power to send any man into the deepest slumber from which they may never awaken. Fortunately Haastenmoord and the wider region has only known perpetual light and misty gloom for the mostpart with none of the current locals having been exposed to the effect of these flowers.

Wulfram walks around the boundary of the field and enters into the Darkenwilde proper. It is an eerie gloomy place with few animal sounds other than the occasional snarl or growl of hunting predators. There are murderous patches of carnivorous vines and other plants. After half a day Wulfram finds his feet sinking into mushy ground and he realises he has reaches the Darkbrier Fen that is marked on a small map he is following.

Not wishing to slow his travel and trek through deep stangnant pools of water amongst unknown watery hazards, Wulfram elects to follow the edge of the deadly swampland. He moves southwest and stays on reasonably solid ground. He encounters two massive trolls and bests them, burning the bodies when he realises they regenerate.

Later, after resting briefly, he identifies clawed tracks crossing the path he follows and he bypasses them. Whistles and hoots could be heard. Presumably hunting calls by some kind of intelligent creatures. He ignores them.

Later Wulfram almost falls foul of carnivorous vines but escapes them and then he finds himself at a large overgrown earthy mound which is surrounded by shallow muddy water. He considers resting on the mound as dusk approaches but elects instead to move a bit further in case it proves to be the lair of something dangerous.

He continues into the forest. After a short time he sees hundreds ofleaves falling and they quickly merge and form the familiar shape of a bearded man. Intrigued, Wulfram follows this figure believeing it be an avatar of Cernunnos guiding him to a safe part of the forest. This does indeed seem to be the case ebacuse it leads him past a shadowy cave and down a side path to a small overgrown stone circle where he rests the night. Wulfram takes care not to light any fire and eats cold rations, wrapping himself in a blanket to stay warm.

The following morning he searches the site and discovers the remains of an old campfire. Searching that reveals a broken piece of an old stone tablet that looks very similar to those that Lord Crossenmarch has been collecting. He studies it briefly and can clearly see the depiction of a winged fiigure with clawed hands drawn on there. Wulfram pockets it and moves on.

The path forks and Wulfram proceeds down the left branch to follow his map. This leads him to the remains of a damaged stone bridge that leads across a small river. Wulfram explores further, finding an abandoned overgrown town that is contained within a low overgrown stone wall and further west he finds an old collapsed earth dam and a mill with a waterwheel. He uncovers an old buried wooden sign that reveals the place name "Rosenrot." Then, as dusk falls, he hears wolves and goblinoid voices. He realises that the Sons of Fenris are also here and are searching/scouting the old village for something. Are they looking for him, he wonders?