Ages ago, the forests of Sapience found themselves threatened beyond
measure. At the behest of Sartan, the Malevolent, followers of Evil made
it their goal to exterminate every inch of forest. And as their
blighting touch spread, Nature's children began to despair.

Beneath the leaves of the Northreach, a desperate and controversial
ritual was begun to bind the essence of Twilight, God of Darkness, to
the forests, in hopes of furthering protection against a greater threat.
Its success was dubious; the forests ailed for years as a result, and
the attacks against Nature did not cease with its conclusion, but some
purpose was achieved, if known only to Twilight. Thus was born the
Darkenwood.

~ ~ ~

Centuries later, northern shadows rose once again to prominence in the
eyes of all, and the Darkenwood was touched once more by the hand of
Darkness. The forest appeared to be thriving: dusky stags now roamed
beneath its boughs, and a newcomer called Ilundien was often seen among
the trees. Still, the wise remained wary of what was still to come.

Much more was stirring within those shadowed leaves besides new life.
Twisting and shaping the rising strength of the Darkenwood for their own
use, the Order of Darkness had found a way to direct this latent energy
toward their enemies. And so a nefarious miasma slithered across the
planes, placing itself between the plane of angels and the devoted
priests to whom they are loyal.

~ ~ ~

More than fifteen years passed... until the forces of Good would suffer
no more beneath the weight of Twilight's plotting.

For many years a great obelisk stood within the Mhojave Desert, a beacon
of Darkness among shattered sands. There the Order of Justice gathered
in defiance to the meddlesome God, raising an altar to Miramar, the
Even-handed. As the red eyes upon the obsidian structure glared outward,
the Astraeans joined their voices in chanting, drawing upon the power of
the Scales of Justice. Within the skies the very stars of the
constellation shifted, only coming into balance as the altar's power was
unleashed and the obelisk was destroyed, a just reward for previous
aggressions against Miramar.

An angel appeared in Shallam, rallying enemies of Darkness to purge the
Darkenwood of Twilight's touch while His eyes were distracted by the
Astraeans' works. Urging mages to use their elemental powers to purify
and cleanse the forest of Darkness, the angel was joined in his call by
Mithraea, Goddess of the Sun. Darkenwood was soon aflame, provoking the
ire of Nature's defenders. Those who dwelt within cried out in anguish,
suffering at the hands of the Light.

Priests are once again able to call upon their guardian angels without
hindrance. Was it the actions of mortals, angels, or Divine that caused
Twilight to relent and withdraw the barrier to the plane of angels? Was
Darkness truly purged? For the Darkenwood lies in shadow still, changed
little by such happenings.

Penned by My hand on the 13th of Aeguary, in the year 566 AF.