Lore and offer

*A long time ago, us five were only saplings in the king's palace. This very river here, filled to the brim with magic energy, gave us strenght and sentience. We could not only communicate through our roots, but move around as well. It was truly joyous times. Successive kings of the Embersight family spent time with us, showing us various forms of magic and speaking to us. During these peaceful times, many different races of the forest gained the kings' recognition and the Emberlight city was connected to various parts to the magic River, fully integrating us tress with their homes and way of life. We were a magic city that only a few could ever hope to emulate. The Emberlight kingdom was quite peaceful and tolerant, preserving itself through its might. It's magic, especially nature magic was famous all over the continent, it's panther cavalry only spoken in hushed voices and hypoogriffe riders were lighted the sky ablaze. It was now 600 years ago, the kingdom faced continuous attacks from the very large Human Empire of light. Their doctrine was to create a place for human beings to live, where they were above all else and all else was treated like garbage when they were not outright killed. They engaged into several war for conquest and managed to go deep into the Southern parts of our continent. The Emberlight kingdom proved to be a foe that was very difficult to conquer. Eventually, the war continued, while the Empire was facing several other nations and stretched quite thin.

Eventually, mercenary bands, started to sprout and were engaged in both side to wage war against the enemy. The Emberlight kingdom hired the renowned Blacksaber clan, known for their powerful saber users. While many squirmishes evolved into battle involving hundred of thousand of troops, the Blacksaber clan became famous for their intricate strategies and good commanding capabilities.

Decades after, the Human Empire of light reached ceasefire agreements with several kingdoms, where these kingdoms would eventually become their vassals and pay tribute every 5 years. Not accepting such sorts of hegemony and being controlled by a racist Empire, the Emberlight kingdom continued to wage war against the Empire and most of their previously diverted troops were now focused on destroying the Emberlight kingdom. Us Ents, Diamondback Gorilla bands, Sylphs archers, Elves of Darkness and many other races fought against the tyranny of the Empire. Before a very important battle at the plains of light, that marked the entrance to our kingdom, the Archwizard and king Embersight Kyron, looked for Blacksaber Motto, his trusted advisor. When they eventually found a plan that had about 30 percent chances of winning, Motto decapitated the clueless Kyron.

Sick and tired of continuous wars, the Empire decided to reach an agreement with the Blacksaber clan. They had to kill the Embersight king and family. The Empire would destroy any traces of their reign and take out every brick of the Emberlight city. The Emberlight kingdom would forfeit various territories. In exchange, the Blacksaber clan would become the rulers of the kingdom.

When these news reached various races, many tried to rise against the Blacksaber clan, however most were quickly and thoroughly eliminated.

Many beasts and monster escaped and went in Northern parts of the continents, going through the Eternal Mountains.

The Blacksaber clan became a household and many mercenary bands were welcomed from all races and origins. Making of Blacksaber what it is today, a mercenary kingdom. A heaven for warmongers.

Some of us stayed here, to pass on the memory of our long foregone Emberlight kingdom. It's is under this very place that lie the last fragments of our history. We reached a deal with Motto and the following successors of the Blacksaber line. We could stay here, replenishing in the rich Mana river, guarding ancient history, but were forbidden to move away from the Emberwood forest. Worst, us council members, were forbidden to move away from the center of the forest, and when they reached rank 4, our brethren had to stay with us. We were allowed to reminisce in our history, but forbidden to tell tales.

The Blacksaber line has always produced outstanding swordmen, and every single ruler was a legendary class at legendary rank. Their perception was such that when some of us rank 4 and 5 attempted to move to amass forces and migrate from here, we were all cut down. Eventually, only us 5 still survived from this old Era and we are trapped. Sometimes, powerful beasts try to monopolize the Mana river that we shared equally within the forest, but then never managed to threaten us. Also, a handful of us reached rank 5. Still our history persisted.

The problem is that us Ent are a very powerful race. We are capable of destroying walls, can face battalions and even ogres. The problem is that we are very slow. At all ranks before rank 4, it is very hard for us to catch nimble preys. The tarasiers quickly became our bane. They ate or plucked our fruits, killing our saplings. They nested on our shoulders and quickly became to harass us all to create puny equipments and projectiles. We were starting to face extinction and only those protected within these walls were truly safe. We asked other races for helped, who turned a blind eye to our pleas or asking us in exchange to move away from the magic River. These violent tarasiers exist mainly in outer parts of the forest, however traveled through many trees to take our fruits! Now that a sensible number of them have been killed, we are sure that a power struggle between the various monkey clans will happen. We need to make sure that all tarasiers are annihilated; no other clan can threaten us as much as these dammed creatures.*

He launched pine arrows in an anger fit.

*We must thus thank you, warriors, for what you started. We must reward you first.*

---

Roots sprung from Veznir's head a quite small brown torso armor attached to them. He gave it to Ezyze.

Haldur, the living armor - Unique

+100 strenght

+100 dexterity

+100 endurance

+100 Stamina

+ 150 physical defense

+150 magical defense

- Increases tremendously regeneration rate through photosynthesis of energy. Stamina regeneration x5. Endurance regeneration x5.

-living object. As long as it is not totally destroyed, Haldur regenerates itself, regaining its former shape by absorbing ambient Mana.

*Alive, this unique armor grows alongside its wearer. Fabricated from the the bark of elder Ents, it is almost unbreakable. Soaked in the magic River for 5 decades, it gained sentience.*

All were shocked. The value of this weaponry was tremendous. Moreover, if given to the right wearer, its capabilities would skyrocket, making the wearer a formidable warrior.

I must thank you Veznir. This is the first time that we were shown generosity here.

*All good deeds should be rewarded. We will fix the broken armors as well, it is possible to make them more durable. It is the least that we can do.*

Ezyze bowed.

Thank you very much.

*This is good to do something meaningful while trapped here. Also, us Ent are very attuned to nature and thus monster energies. It seems that members of your clan increased their level enough to be able to evolve. We have a deal to offer you.*

I am listening.

*While we brought you here, we reached a deal with the thunder gorillas. These monkeys are territorial by nature and have been fighting for supremacy for decades. While they are quite violent, they never eat our fruits and never abuse us. We agreed to hunt together tarsiers, having the scattered Ents and thunder gorillas collaborate to attack them. While the gorillas are stronger by nature, tarsiers have higher infantility and a larger population. The gorillas have 2 rank 4 and several rank 3 among them. We Ents have several rank 3 and as you know, we, higher ranked, can't leave this sanctuary without risking to face the whole mercenary kingdom. We would appreciate if you can join us in exterminating these pests. I will not lie to you, you may die. However, I saw that despite differences in rank and number you managed to overcome adversity and killed tarasiers. Since they are a common enemy, it made sense for us to fight alongside each others.*

And what will we gain by doing so?

*That's simple. We will provide armor to your legion, which is currently lacking of. Not quite at the level of Haldur, they will still be living Armour and rare rank at that. Spears and shields of rare and epic ranks will be included. We discussed and agreed to give you some 5 of our fruits, to help the goblins in evolving. They will gain some of our special traits, making then at least epic monsters at rank 2. Trust me, we really are powerful.*

That is for us to be on similar footing with those tarsiers. What do we gain after the battle, if we do survive?

*You are quite greedy small one. We have much to offer but very few to give to. We can provide you with the beast corpse of a monster of your choosing, as well as a fruit that will boost the reproductive and production rate of your Queen tremendously.*

What if we refuse, do you kill us?

*Of course not, you can leave whenever.*

And our broken armors?

*We will still repair them. Ents never break promises!*

How long do we have to think it over?

*Not so much I am afraid. We must strike then while they are weakened and lost a district. Squirmished between the gorillas and tarasiers are already on the way in the Western outer ring of the forest, that you recently destroyed. In a week, we will have a decisive battle.*

--

On the ground, the faction grouped together and voiced their concerns.