The Forever Forest

Welcome to The Forever Forest

The day started as any other. I arose from my sleep at the first sign of the sun and got to work. Out here, everything is against you, so it's best to not let a second go to waste. My cave is a humble home, but one I am proud to call my own. A simple underground bunker, an impenetrable fortress. Grey stones surround me, jagged in some places, smooth as silk in others. A modest table of stone in the centre, with a few amount of boulders to sit upon. Enough space to run around in, or alternatively host approximately 30 sleeping people, with enough wiggle room to walk in-between them all. 

To the west, a small opening for us humans to pass through, but small enough that no monsters, not even the 5 legged Klasuhug (which is no bigger than 2.5 cubits, or 54 inches, whatever an inch is) can pass through. To the east, a smaller passageway of 2 cubits goes deeper into my cave, which after a short walk of 30 seconds, leads to my armoury. It's always good to stock up on weapons and armour, especially here. Although most armour here proves to be inefficient and lesser in durability when compared with Vaxugal hide. However, most standard weapons are an excellent match. However, even further west, deeper into my dimly light armour, with only candlelight to provide lighting, is my treasury.

I find no need to collect the treasures most assume - gold, silver, diamonds, means nothing to me if it cannot be forged or mutated into armour or weapons. No, my treasury contains something much more significant to me, something much more sentimental: the relics of my past.

As dawn broke, I went outside. It is important to soak up as much of the sunlight as possible, so that one may stay healthy and alive. I could reside in my home for eternity, only leaving to retrieve food and water, but then I would not be living up to the vow I made. And my clan always took vow's as the most significant thing a person could do. So instead, every day, I venture outwards to assist those in need. This land is a very tricky domain, so I try my upmost to assist others when I can.

I spend as little time in the mornings doing things of less importance. I leave my home, sit outside my cave's entrance and eat my food. I have a small fire pit I use to cook on and purifying water. After the minimal time it takes for me to finish this - roughly an hour (although time is difficult to comprehend after you've been here as long as I have) - then I set out As usual, I felt that familiar tug in my stomach which told me that someone new has unfortunately ventured into these lands. And so, as to live up to my vow, I set out to find them and help them leave.

There are many hundreds of entrances into these parts. Most travellers I have found call it The Forever Forest, which I think is a suitable name. I've spent decades searching for an end. But from my travels I have found 4 truths. Truth 1: There is no edge. It goes on for myriads of acres, before eventually looping back to the opposite end. Truth 2: There are hundreds upon hundreds of entrance points. Some from other planets, other dimensions, other planes of existence, but each containing hundreds within itself. Truth 3: There is only 1 exit. The Stone Door. And it constantly shifts position. Truth 4: The forest is always changing. Not randomly though. As each day passes, the forest changes to form paths for that day. And every season, the forest takes a drastic change. Like a moving maze. However, all pathways of everyday eventually lead to the Stone Door.

So, I set out as the sun was around 40 degrees in the sky. Or 4th position, as I've begun calling it. Each degree, rounded to the nearest tenth, a different position. 30 degrees makes 3rd position. 120 degrees makes 12th position. A simple system. So with the sun in 4th position, I trusted my gut and set off north to find the unfortunate soul(s) who entered this land.

Along the way, I encountered not too many monsters, as it was early spring, the time when most of the demon spawn are still awakening from hibernation. A couple of Ashrulod (hellish beasts that have a tendency to spontaneously erupt in flames, although fire does them no damage. It's best to avoid them, or throw water at their necks, the only weak spot). One Vaxugal (a big, strong beast. Covered in scales that are impenetrable, but a weak skinned stomach. Unfortunately, they roam with all 6 legs outwards, so there stomach is always close to the ground and difficult to reach. They have a nasty tail too, flexible as if boneless, and a mighty spiked ball as big as their head). And I had the most unfortunate pleasure of passing a very grumpy Tihas (a light sleeping, always hungry, winged monstrosity. 40 cubits tall, twice as long, as 30 cubits wide. Direct eye sight with this beast freezes anything in place, with no way of unfreezing other than the passage of time. Heavily armoured all around with impenetrable scales. With the only weak spot being in their stomach, and a razer sharp mouth that disintegrates anything in it, its best to just avoid these beasts).

As the sun crept past 9th position, or "noon" as I've heard some travellers call it, I found the unfortunate souls. A small company of 5, clearly exhausted and in dire need of a rest. They spotted me first. Something I'm not entirely proud of, especially considering I've been known as the runt of my clan, standing at just 5 feet tall. Small and skinny, but nimble and wise. However, my size didn't assist me this time, as in a matter of seconds, I was in their clutches with a sword to my throat and back.