Chapter 1: The Wild Night
----- It is the First of Dawningtide, Divine Year 500. In the Town of Hearthorn, the Spring Festival is being celebrated. Many people have arrived in the town to celebrate the beginning of a new year and the return of warmer weather. For many, noblemen and commoners alike, the day promises the beginning of a better life.
-----On this night, however, all is not well. Under the light of a full moon, three men ride to the northwest from the town on a mission. Rand al'Thor, Thalog, and Arliss Vanderbrook, all strangers to each other before this day, venture together, hoping that all is not too late to stop the madness they have seen.
-----Only three and a half-hours after leaving Hearthorn, they see a light about a mile and a half away. It appears to be coming from some kind of structure. To the north is a dark, small woodland. Suddenly, from within the trees there, comes an animalistic sound that almost unnerves Rand's horse. A long shuddering howl breaks through the air and threatens to send a shiver down the men's spines. Quickly, they urge the horses on to the light. Off now only less than a mile, more screeches and cries come forth with a rabid fury.
-----After more minutes have passed with increasing strange noises emerging from the woods behind them, they can see they are approaching a large structure with a small bonfire out front. The structure appears to be a small shell keep, thirty feet by thirty feet and two stories high. Human-sized figures can be seen around the fire.
-----As they pull up in front of the keep, they see about a half dozen people staring at them. One man appears to have an arrow notched in his bow and another hefts a battle-axe. Beyond the bonfire, an assortment of meat and grain food is laid out on a large stone table. Suddenly, they see a figure leap up on top of the table. They see the figure to be a medium-sized man wearing leather, buckskin, and fur. Atop his head is a wolf head cowl. His stance and manner hint at a strong strength, though not exceptionally so. In his right hand is a great oaken club carved through with runes that he points in the direction of the riders. The man quickly crouches with an almost predatory look and with a thundering voice says, "WHO DARES DARKEN THE DOMAIN OF WILDERHAVEN?!" His shout is echoed with a angry feline cry from the woods to the east.
-----Arliss reigns in his mount hastily, a look of concern and confusion on his face. He quickly lifts his left hand, palm open, in a gesture of peace and friendship. His right hand remains close to his sword hilt. In a strong, commanding voice, he says, "Fear not, good sir, there is no reason for confrontation, here! We are but three sojourners, come from Hearthorn on an errand of the utmost importance! I am Arliss Vanderbrook, a knight of His Most High Guardian, Joren! These with me are called Thalog and Rand! We seek a man named Brocaster, we have no business with you or your ceremonies here,
whatever they may be!" He pauses his speech, then, awaiting either a retort from the savage-looking man, or a further word from one of his companions.
-----The savage-looking man extends his arms toward the heavens and shouts, "IF YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH ME, THEN YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH BROACTOR, PRIEST OF THE HUNT!" He lowers his arms and the light from the great fire shines in his eyes. He again points his great club at Arliss, Thalog, and Rand. "WHAT WOULD YOU, WHO DWELL SAFELY IN THE TOWN, KNOW OF IMPORTANCE?!" Raising his clenched right fist, he continues, "DO YOU NOT KNOW THE DANGER YOU FACE BY WANDERING HERE?!" Quickly, he sweeps his right arm to point to the east. "DO YOU NOT HEAR THE ANGER AND ANGUISH OF THALES'S CHILDREN?!" A high-pitched screech rises among the savage noises in the eastern woods a half-mile away.
-----One of the men by the fire unloads and puts away the bow. He then walks toward Vanderbrook and says, "It's true what he is saying, it is not safe to ride through the woods at night. There is something vile that is turning the woods into the dark and evil place." This man stops and looks at each of the three men, "Why do you seek the Priest of the Hunt?" His face looks weathered and he has a very powerful build. He has a very heavy brow and his features almost seem primitive. He is wearing studded leather.
-----Thalog speaks to the man wearing the wolf cowl standing on the stone table. "Are you Brocaster? Do you know of him or have you seen him perhaps fine sir?" he says coldly. His hands hold the reins of his horse; fore he seems to have no weapon.
-----After a few seconds, while everyone is distracted by a furious roaring from the woods, the savage-looking man narrows his eyes, crosses his arms, and replies, "I KNOW OF MANY MEN! I KNOW OF MEN WHO ARE WORTHY OF THE HUNT! I KNOW OF MEN WHO DO EVIL! THIS IS THE LAND I PROTECT! I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF MEN ARE YOU?!"