The Posthumous Life of Victor Crux

Faerûn is an intriguing world to say the least, full of magic, breathtaking sceneries and unbelievable tales. Most are told by bards through the day, as they play to entertain the folk with the heroic deeds of warriors past, and all of them always filled with love and happy endings. But the story of Victor Crux is not one that is going to be told by the bards, it'll most certainly be forgotten by history... and yet it will live on forever.

 Before receiving this name he was member of a small clan of wood elves that resided in the High Forest, a sacred place that was home to many elven clans. The Sylward clan lived there to protect the ancient ruins of legendary elven realms that existed there eons ago. Rael Sylward, how Victor used to be called, was a Ranger that excelled in tracking all kinds of prey, either seeking food or enemies, there was nothing he couldn't find.

Friends with the sylvan (plant-like creatures of the forest), the clan never had a tough time with its duty, there was no place to hide inside the High Forest's woods, for it is one huge living being, and would alert the druids of the clan whenever someone crossed its bounds with malicious intent; that is, when the forest itself didn't take care of the problem. The clan had a leader, of course, his name was Jasil, skilled and fearless in battle, fair and kind to his people; married to Gisa Whitewood, a woman who was the last descendant of one of the oldest elven clans of the High Forest. From this marriage Kiri Sylward Whitewood was born, she was the 4th female to carry the blood of the Whitewood, and this bloodline is very, very old. Females with this blood are very rare, so they took her birth as a blessing from the gods, and celebrated the event for days. The clan kindly referred to her as "princess".

Jasil admired Rael above any other ranger in the clan, for his hunting skills were even sharper than his own, and for that the day Kiri was born he asked Rael to protect her with his life, whenever he himself could not – he accepted it, and was honored to receive this task. Naturally, that made the princess and Rael spend a lot of time together throughout the years, and a strong bond was created between the two.

One day the clan sheltered a witchdoctor that got lost amidst the immensity of this virgin forest, an odd and old looking, dark copper scaled Dragonborn. Some say his look was frightening, but the ancient sylvans felt no evil in him, and judged him good-intended. He knew a good share of tales of old, and even some comical experiences from his past adventures that he told to the elves in a sign of gratitude, and the elves glady listened to it, they liked him. Alas, he was a wanderer, and eventually had to leave, but not before sharing with Jasil a vision of his, he foresaw that one day a very powerful evil force would spread through the forest like corruption, reaping away all the life in its path. Jasil chose to believe him, taking as that event could be the very reason for his clan to exist. The leader then tasked his own daughter to warn all of the other clans among the forest, for he had to work on strategies and prepare all the warriors for the battle about to come. Although his daughter was a skilled combatant, he would not send her alone, for it was not known when the evil would strike. Rael were sent as her companion, alongside two other warriors, Juley and Bior .

They wandered amidst the forest for several days, warned all the known clans, and even some adventurers that they found occasionally in their way were willing to fight to protect the legendary forest. And so the four went on their way back to the Sylward, joyfully, as they have completed their task with ease. From the seriousness expressed in Jasil's face they all had in their minds that the danger was real, although, after days wandering in the peacefulness and beauty of the High Forest, they could not imagine how could there possibly be evil inside such heavenly place. Yet, was at that moment, at the pinnacle of their illusion... that's when chaos arrived. Even Rael could not see it coming, as if it came out of thin air a single, tortuous blade pierced both Juley and Bior through the chest, the forest went dark, all the vegetation around them began to dry – as if it's life force was being drained bit by bit – and a cold breeze rushed in and embraced them, sending a chill up their spine in such a way that it seemed to be penetrating their skins. In an instant, that paradise became barren. The chill grew colder as they saw their enemy; countless spirits surrounded them, all holding twisted blades that appeared to have a will of its own, and it could be felt that they thirsted for life. The spirits were wraiths, beings made purely of vengeance that had no intention of showing mercy. Kiri and Rael stood strong, and did their best to avoid the attacks, but they were overwhelmed and there was nothing they could do to harm these incorporeal creatures. Attacks came from all directions, and a blade eventually found its way through Kiri's shoulder, and as the blood flowed out of her body all her stamina seemed to be leaking as well, and she fell unconscious shortly. Rael fought until he could no more, and his own efforts bested him; tired, the wraiths sucked what was left of endurance in him, and as he fell, he saw Kiri being taken away by an invisible force, dragging through the now completely dry leaves that swiftly rained down from the dead trees. He sincerely thought that scene would be his last memory – but as swift as the evil that surprised then, he saw a volley of shining bolts piercing through the wraith's immaterial body, like fangs of a leaping predator digging viciously into its helpless prey. It happened in seconds, but to Rael this moment appeared to be happening in slow motion as he was fighting to remain awake – it was like a rain of mercy sent straight from the heavens – yet he could not resist the strain no more, and lost his consciousness.