As told by Portia Kentsdaughter
Several years ago, the people of the Vale visited a small town known as Quilldale. They had journeyed there to examine and investigate odd alchemy in the area.
Marentha had had a hard night and thought it best to retire back to their lodging to unwind over drink and talk. They went to their weekend home knowing that if they were needed, the townspeople would be able to find them without much trouble.
As the night wore on the sounds of battle echoed into the room in which the members of the barony rested. A ferocious battle was taking place and the shouts of Thornebriar indicated that they were in a heated battle indeed. The panicked cries of Thornebriar seemed to be pleading for Marentha to open their ward.
And so, fortifying themselves, those adorned in the red and black of Marentha prepared to open the door and rush into the battle with their comrades. Unfortunately, as the cries of Thornebriar were overlapping, no one could tell they were warning not to open the door.
Dame Amaris dropped the ward and opened the door, only to be struck by the very beast Thornebriar had be fighting so bravely. The Marenthans watched in horror as he spilled into the room… it was a Wookilar. It was huge, a massive hulk of a creature with a wicked grin. In the Wookilar's revolting maw, the thing had razor sharp teeth of bloodied silver. Its hide was dense, so much so that only three blades in the room could pierce it, all the others brave fighters swung only in vane. From his tremendous claws dripped a foul substance: which once in a person's blood, would render them too ill to continue the fight.
Marentha, not knowing what this appalling brute was joined into the fray, only knowing that it did not look friendly and Thornebriar was reaching exhaustion from the conflict. They fought together, pressing so close to the beast, that he could not raise his claws to strike.
From the back of the room, Jauntarius Darkstrider began a fury of spell casting. From "Fire Storm" to "Dragon's Breaths" he cast every offensive spell he had into the Wookilar's back. From the front of the thing Dame Amaris continues the fight, watching in exasperation as the mystical energies thundered into his back and had little effect. Even as Jauntarius's only "Doom" spell exploded into his back the Wookilar gave little show of concern.
With a mighty yell Dame Amaris swung her blade as hard as her weary form could muster, and followed it with two more of her most powerful swings. At last the warriors saw their blades open the creature's flesh. As the battle showed signs of turning the beast gave a cry, which sent several of the people fleeing in terror. With two more bloodcurdling howls he scattered more of the hardened fighters, leaving only the gallant Dame Amaris standing before him. Bravely she set her jaw and battled him in single combat until more townspeople arrived to aid her.
It was impossible to know how long it took, but finally, the thing collapsed in a great bloody heap, dead. All those involved stood and looked in wonder at the thing that had taken on both Thornebriar and Marentha, seemingly without too much effort. The exhausted people shuddered to realize how long the beast had withstood their combined attacks without being able to move enough to fight back.
After all people were healed, Marentha settled back into the relaxation they had been attempting before the attack. But not before the lesson was stressed: "When Thornebriar asks for you to open the ward, make sure there is not a Wookilar there first."
