Out of Light, Into the Dark

[Proto Man]

The words of the paladin were true, and within an hour, Proto Man found himself reunited with his two companions. When they were initially attacked, they had both sprinted off and wound up lost in the forest. By the time they found one another, through a mixture of Search Snakes and Mireya’s natural ability to track, Proto Man had already stumbled upon the encamped group and left with them. The two trackers had trailed the group and were about to set out to find out the fate of their third member when Proto Man was made aware of their presence by the paladin’s scout.

“We’re fortunate to have found one another,” Mireya muttered as she wiped the still damp ichor from the point of her glaive. “This forest isn’t getting any nicer.”

“We’re close to the forests that surrounding Silent Hill,” Proto Man responded as the pair forged a path to the northeast, taking them on a path that would lead them away from what would eventually become Raccoon Forest proper. This was the route toward what had once been the village of Durnhill. From what he’d read, the village had the misfortune of being very close to the source of Diablo’s armies, and because of that, it became one of the first contested landmarks when the demonic forces poured forth from the Black Gate. While it thrived, the village never stopped smelting weapons, which was why the dagger held the villa’s insignia.

“So you believe that this old village will have some secret?” Snake Man asked as the group paused at a spot where the river forked apart in three directions.

“The Blighted mage we fought may have been a resident of the place.”

“You think it’s the source of the Blight?” After asking her question, Mireya stooped down on the river bank and ran her fingers through the dark water.

“Maybe not, but I think it’s our best lead so far.”