The Hollowood Falls

By 4250 BGW, the Naerdrith—twisted creations of the Duskborn—had become more than mere extensions of their will. Born from shadow magic and corrupted leystone energy, the Naerdrith were originally intended to serve as guardians and hunters along the Shadowfront. Yet, as their numbers grew and their connection to the leylines deepened, the Drith began to slip beyond the control of their creators.

The Duskborn, confident in their ability to bind and command shadow, failed to recognize the danger until it was too late. The Naerdrith, drawn to the raw power emanating from the heart of the Hollowwood, turned on their makers.

The Devouring of the Hollowwood

The Hollowwood, a vast forest that once marked the southern edge of Lumispire’s influence, stood as one of the oldest groves in the region. Its silver trees, imbued with ancient magic, were believed to be planted by Leyara herself, their roots intertwined with the leylines.

Seeking to siphon the Hollowwood’s energy in secret, the Duskborn infiltrated the forest, intending to drain its power slowly through hidden rituals. However, the Naerdrith were not discreet. The Drith descended upon the Hollowwood in force, consuming everything in their path.

High Elven settlements, villages, and sacred groves were wiped from existence, with no distinction made between soldier or child. Men, women, and elders alike were swallowed by the creeping shadows. The High Elves who did not fall fled north toward Lumispire, leaving behind the screams of those who could not escape.

"The trees wept silver as they fell, but the Drith took more than roots and branches. They feasted on the very essence of our people." – Flodorian Starflare, survivor of the Hollowwood Fall.

The Fall of the Duskborn Wardens

Initially, the Duskborn stood apart, watching in silence as the Naerdrith devoured the High Elves. The plan had been to drain the forest quietly, with no direct confrontation. Yet as the Hollowwood withered, the Naerdrith turned on their creators, ignoring the spells and sigils meant to bind them.

In horror, the Duskborn realized the Drith had grown beyond control, driven by a hunger that no longer recognized allegiance. The forest became a feeding ground, and the Duskborn wardens stationed within the Hollowwood were devoured alongside the High Elves.

The surviving Duskborn fled south, abandoning the Hollowwood entirely. Those who escaped carried with them a grim realization—the Naerdrith were no longer bound to the will of Draidiff.

"We summoned wolves, but in the end, they saw no difference between master and prey." – Vaeril Dusktide, reflecting on the Hollowwood Fall.

The Shadowfront Shifts

With the Hollowwood consumed, the Shadowfront expanded north, creeping dangerously close to Lumispire’s borders. The High Elves who survived the massacre brought word of the Drith’s strength, urging the High Council of Lumispire to take action.

For the Duskborn, the Hollowwood became a mark of shame, an event whispered about in the halls of Draidiff for generations. The once-proud arcanists who sought to harness the leylines had inadvertently birthed a force of destruction beyond their comprehension.

The Unchecked Threat

In the aftermath, the High Elves stationed Moonwardens along the Shadowfront, but no force dared venture into the Hollowwood’s remains. The land was declared cursed, and both High Elves and Duskborn recognized that any attempt to reclaim it would only awaken the Naerdrith once more.

For the High Elves, the Hollowwood stood as proof of the Duskborn’s arrogance and folly—a reminder that shadow magic came at a price no mortal could bear.

For the Duskborn, it served as a lesson that not all chains can hold the dark.

"In our hunger, we fed a fire that burns without end. And now, we guard the ashes it left behind." – Vaeril Dusktide

The Hollowwood’s remains still linger to this day, a twisted and barren expanse where the roots whisper of the shadows that consumed them.