The Untamed Wilds

By: Devin Vazques

Dear Johgulim Falance,

I am currently writing to you in hopes of having my request for royal reinforcements reconsidered, as their aid is now all but necessary. I’m positive that news of the dreadful wood is all that sits on your desk, but I insist nowhere is this threat more real than here in Linbussburg! As I have already informed you, the residents of Cronxex, to the west, have left their city, and thus left this curse to encroach upon our land, and since we are the closest town to the western border, much destruction has already been levied against our fair town. In the past two cycles, we have been forced to surrender over nine acres of land to the wilds, and only more destruction is guaranteed. This, as I stated, is not news to you, and your suggestion to “burn the wood” has proven completely useless, as the forest is obviously cursed in some way… No, the reason I write you again is because the forest is now proving to be a danger to the very lives of our citizens! In the past week, we have experienced a total of nine disappearances as I’ve labeled them, but I’m afraid the truth is much more horrid and unbelievable. It was around 8:30 when I had awoken to the sound of pounding fists on my doorway, rushing over I opened ______ to find my guard, Captain Jodius Lodius, standing in front of me exhausted. I was informed that they had made a discovery while patrolling the previous night, that of a body, along the edge of the forest. Apparently, I needed to see it personally before they recover it. “In case of a panic.” Lord, even now the thought keeps me away from any form of sheep…

I’m afraid I can not tell of what I saw before first describing its stench. Oh, it’s stench! Before even making it to the woods’ boundary, my stomach was turned and nose curled. It was rot, thick, pungent rot. That smell that follows the footsteps of death and reminds us that there can be no peace, no salvation found in the loss of life. Slowly, the captain led me into the woods, careful not to lose sight of the outside world.

The smell became thicker as the light of the morning sun was swiftly blocked out, leaving us in an almost vitriolic darkness. All around, the trees seemed to shift and twist, monitoring our persons as we continued forth. Hostility emanated from every root and leaf. Sometimes, I would find myself tripping over debris that I knew hadn’t been there before. As for the actual layout of the forest, I must say that it is truly alien to anything I know! Tall, thick trees create a canopy that seems, from underneath, almost as flat as a ceiling. Vines and ferns and flowers larger than homes filled our path, looming over us with their size. It was almost beautiful. Finally, the stench became overpowering; I turned to Jodius and said, "Are we any closer? I can't bear this place for another moment.” He did not reply, instead stopping a few feet ahead of me and pointing to a small thicket.

“Through there, sir.” He said, directing me into the tangle of thorns and branches where I came upon the most grizzly and heinous sight I have seen in my life… My only thought is of the poor soul who discovered this scene alone a few nights back, his name, Louis Vern. At the time Louis was bedridden, seemingly suffering from a form of hysteria. Most in town, including myself, had desired Louis’ welts were the result of consuming bad grain and figured that it would clear up. It was Louis’ wife, one Catarina Vern, however, who was convinced otherwise, ranting and raving about how “The woods had him!” and other such nonsense. The behavior made sense however; it’s only logical that she bought into her husband’s lunacy, given that their young daughter had been missing for some weeks now, and in my experience, in times of crisis, people tend to flock towards stories and superstition, rather than to the horrid mundanity of reality.

See, the reason that this sight was even discovered, I’m afraid, is me, because I commanded my men to search the boundaries of the accursed wood due to a conversation I had with Mrs. Vern early on the previous day.

She had walked into town hall around 6:20, catching me just as I was about to leave! “Good evening, Mr. Mayor,” she said.

“Oh! Mrs. Vern, shouldn’t you be caring for your husband?” I replied, hoping to end the conversation and head home. She was insistent, however, that I hear her out, thinking that somehow I could relieve her troubles.

“Mr. Mayor, you must send more men to search for my daughter! My husband tells me he’s found her in the wilds. Please, you mu—” I cut her off quickly.

“Are you mad, woman?! I have enough trouble with that forest as it is! And you expect me to put the lives of soldiers on the line to look for your child, whose whereabouts you only know on account of your mad husband? Madam, I understand your desperation, but I swear that your daughter wouldn’t walk into those woods.” 

She was quick to reply, “You’re right, sir, but my husband says she was taken. I know that you’ve seen the wooded figures stalking the town's borders. Why is it so hard to believe that they might’ve had a hand in my baby’s disappearance?”

Oh, sir, as I write to you, how I wish I could tell you that I turned her away, but I am weak in the heart I’m afraid, and so I dispatched out my guards who then found the horrendous visage that now lay before me.

It was, at one point, I’m sure, a little girl. Though you’d be forgiven to think it something alien on first glance. The mass in front of me more resembled a large moss than a living humanoid of any kind. Its mass pulsed and seethed, letting out what seemed like spores from ungodly orifices, all the while a low, drowning moan of anguish came out. It wasn’t until I saw the face of the young girl that I understood, somewhat, what had happened. She was curled into the side of the thing, held to it like a fly to wax paper. Encased by a thin film of this fleshy abomination, she was mutilated! Skin dried, lips chapped, and mostly bare, covered by tightly pulled skin, the only thing that pointed to the idea of life was her eyes…

Forgive me, but I dare not discuss anymore, not just for my sake, but for yours, and because this story only gets more hideous. I don't remember much of what happened after this affair. I believe I fainted and was carried back to my home by the captain, as I awoke by my lit hearth late in the night.

The first thing next morning, I left to the town square, my mind was in pieces, and I doubt that sleep had visited me that night. Though my memories past that day are all foggy, what happened next is locked into my soul. The forest had advanced an abnormal amount, engulfing a quarter of our remaining town in just a night!

The forest continues to spread, and as I said, people keep disappearing. I doubt we’ll last another month on our own. Please, sir, this is dire.

Sincerely,

Franklin Shilburt

Official Mayor or Linbussburg

The sound of the tape recorder is heard, and after a few moments, a thin and exhausted voice begins to speak.

“Date…7th of Postnox, Time…is…8:20 P.M. This is Officer Tustin Lipp documenting the official event report of case 2-13.”

A long sigh fills the recording, and after a moment the voice begins talking again.

“Examination of object 2-13-B proves to reveal no trace of arcane entanglement nor any evidence of extra planer activity. The object seems to be a standard letter written on official Gramwood Government Parchment using standard ink. The letter is written by a Franklin Shilburt, the supposed mayor of Linbussburg. Please note, that no record of this town or this man exists in government files.”

His voice is melancholy, almost bored sounding, as he continues to rattle off small details about this letter.

“The letter details how the untamed wilds have breached our western border and, supposedly, have begun destroying towns. Note that the cursed woods have not yet begun to pass the Coltar Mountain Range. The note is addressed to General Falance. Note that officer tried to question General Falance but was forcibly removed from premises. The note itself seems to be harmless but indicative of the growing frequency of unusual artifacts documenting events that haven’t happened. Officer will be continuing investigation by traveling to the supposed area of this Linbussburg in search of any anomalies. Please note: this audio log is property of the Gramanian Detective Buero, Arcane Anomalies Division, and listening to this without express permission is a federal offense. End log.”