One: Rise of the Golden Forrest

In a land far to the north lies a kingdom and a wall, protecting northern creation from the monsters and savages that lie beyond. In theory, the King lords over the lands, engaged in constant warfare. He is the greatest warrior, always at war with his sons for the throne; for in the north you are judged by strength alone. Of course, the true lord of the lands is much greater than any king; for she is known only as, Nightfury.

Within the lands, a child is born; a handsome boy with hair the color of wine. With but pennies to her name and no father to support her, the mother sought work as a servant to the King’s son in a smaller town, and in his manor raised her child.

He was a rowdy boy with a love of heroes, a distrust of men, and a habit for trouble. After a day of being out and about, he was brought home by a girl his age. He was covered in bruises and bloodied scrapes, but he smiled all the same.
“Look mother! I’ve saved this girl today!”
The girl bore not a scratch and simply shook her head. That was the beginning of a great friendship.

Once he was old enough, with some training in archery to keep safe in the warring lands, he left home with the girl. He promised his mother he would make enough money to support her, to get her out of the Prince’s manor. He promised his friend’s parents he would bring her home safe. Together they headed south, in search of opportunity; Sherwood P. Forrest and Asherah Felin.

Weeks in, they were stopped by bandits on the road. Outnumbered and outgunned, they faced impossible odds yet Sherwood would not back down. He took cover in the woods, within the branches of the trees, and fired down upon them. When he ran out of arrows, he pulled sticks from the trees and fired those. Slowly, he was driving them away, when one made a move for Ashe. Sherwood leaped from the tree, but the man was too quick, and Sherwood was left to crash to the ground. Another man joined the rabble, the two disarming Ashe and taking a hold of her. Sherwood was certain he had broken something in the fall, but he made a promise. From the corner of his eye he could see the sunlight glinting from a missed arrow. In one swift motion, Sherwood rolled over and grabbed it, knocking it into his bow, and whispering a prayer to anyone that would listen.

Sherwood loosed the arrow and the sun shone down on him like a beacon. The road was bathed in golden light, and from the ground raced a dense forest of golden trees. With the two men stunned, Ashe ducked out of their grasp and pulled them together. The arrow struck true, and both men fell to the earth at her feet. Ashe looked up at the golden trees that reached into the sky, then down at their base. Hidden between them she could almost make out a figure lying in the dirt. Sherwood willed himself to stand and stepped forward, the forest growing around him. Ashe stared in awe before slowly tracing the golden circle on Sherwood’s forehead. Sherwood smiled.

He could feel the power inside of him. This was only the beginning…