A Vinekin's Revenge (pt.1): Welcome to Everveil

3 Years Ago...

We need to leave and get out of here, Morgwen (main PC of the story) thought sitting on the edge of her bed, her head buried in her hands, our stupid family is in all this debt because of Father... They're going to kill him, and then come after us. Her twin sister, Selene, noticed Morgwen's overwhelmed demeanor. The weight of this debt started to press down on her too.  

Selene sat next to her and said, "Morgwen, I'm worried that they're going to come after us... it's all Father's fault. He's the one that got us into this shit; Grandfather is going to kill him. I'm sure he already hired people to..." 

Morgwen interrupted, "Selene, we need to do something. We can't stay here, everyone knows our family, everyone literally wants our money and wants us dead, there are 'wanted' posters that have our names, we need to leave."

She asked, "And, go where?"

Morgwen answered, "Anywhere but here... tonight, we will leave."

In the middle of the night, Selene and Morgwen packed and snuck out of their family's grand mansion and climbed over the stone walls protecting this grand estate. 

Morgwen pulled her sister into an embrace and said, "Please understand, we need to split up. We can't be seen together or else they will know. I'm sorry."

Selene cups her twin's face and started to tear up, "I get it. Please be safe out there. Our paths will cross when the time is right, my sister."

They hold each other one last time and let go. They run off into the night, each determined to shape their own fate...

Present Day...

Ugh, I need to loose these bandits... 

Morgwen has encountered some bandits along her travels, and she's been running for what feels like forever, through this long mudded trail. She spots an old wooden post with a sign that says, "THORNMERE - 25 MILES NORTH." Finally, she thought to herself, she's entering Everveil. 

The cold rain stung her face, each drop sharp like a needle. Her boots are pounding against the wet earth and the sound of her 3 pursuers grow louder and louder behind her. She hears one of them yell, "Come on, guys. We got her!"

It's getting dark now, I need to get on higher ground...

With the last bit of energy she has, she sprints and climbs up a tree, hoping to hide and confuse the bandits. They run past her and one of them asks, "Damn it, where did she go?" The tall man who seems to be the leader answers, "Eh. Fuck it, let's just go. She's not worth our time. Plus, I hate going into Everveil at night... I feel like the forests here are haunted..."

Morgwen lets out a sigh of relief as she sees from above the bandits walking in the opposite direction of where she's heading to. She leans back on the trunk of the tree and closes her eyes for a few minutes of peace. It finally stops raining and she decides to continue her journey. 

Ok, Thornmere isn't too far away, I can make it... 

She climbs down the tree, lights her torch and continues to walk, heading north. She hears a rustle of movement behind the trees, but turns around and doesn't see anything. She suddenly feels something grab her ankle, it's a living vine! She looses her balance and drops her torch, frantically trying to grab her sword to cut off this vine. 

Luckily, a traveling merchant spots her and runs over to help Morgwen. He drops his pack and starts to wave his torch, desperate to burn the living tendril off of her ankle. It starts to writhe and releases Morgwen, slowly retracting back into the earth. 

"You have to be careful around here," he says as she's standing back up, "we're literally walking through a living forest; keep your torch close to you." He picks up her torch and hands it to her. 

She thanks him saying, "Well, thanks for the warning. I'm just trying to get to Thornmere. I'm Morgwen."

He smiles at her, "I'm Salo, I'm heading there too. It's such a nice big grand town! But, it's starting to get really late and the trails are getting more dangerous. It's best to just continue in the morning. There's a big abandoned shack up the road. A lot of travelers just rest there over night, make a fire and even share meals and stories together."

"I guess we have no choice, let's go. I'll follow you." 

Salo leads the way, and they spot a couple of travelers and Thornmere town guards around a big bonfire singing songs and enjoying some hot stew. 

"Salo!" A man yells waving towards him and Morgwen. 
Salo smiles and shakes his hand. "Martin! It's been so long, how's the family business going?" 

Martin answers, "Oh you know, it's rough. It's very hard to sell antiques back home, no one seems to care about these rare finds! So, I'm hoping to make some sales in Thornmere." 

As Martin and Salo are catching up, Morgwen finds a bench and sits down by the fire trying to just keep to herself. A town guard holding a bowl of stew in each of her hands notices Morgwen and sits next to her.

The guard smiles at her and asks, "Want some stew? It's for everyone!"
Morgwen looks at her and accepts the kind gesture, "Thank you. Just wondering, what is up with the forests here in Everveil?"

The guard answers her, "Honestly, I don't even know. Folks say an evil Forest Spirit lives and moves through the roots and vines of Everveil, trying to just protect its home. Vines and roots will probably snap at you, but nothing more. Have you heard of Wildebourne Chapel?"

Morgwen takes a bite of her stew and shakes her head.

The guard continues, "I guess this church are actually worshippers of the evil Forest Spirit. But I think they're crazy... they're worshipping something they don't even know much about. If you're really interested, you could check it out in Thornmere. It's a gorgeous chapel and they even have a service..."

Morgwen interrupts the guard saying, "I think I'm good. I was just curious. I'm not a religious person."

Morgwen looks around to see what Salo and Martin are up to. Martin and Salo sit on a separate bench to the left of Morgwen, and Martin opens a case to take out his lyre. Salo starts to clap his hands, "Yes, sing for us Martin!" The other travelers gather around listening to Martin's song...

Kevin stirs in the night,

We bow in fear, for none dare fight,

Your roots your vines, your tendrils bind,

In your embrace, we lose our mind.

Morgwen listening intently starts to find the song odd and strange. 

She interrupts Martin's performance asking, "What is this? Who is Kevin?"

Martin looks at Morgwen shaking his head, "Well, it's Kevin, the evil Vinekin of course!"