How can you fight a foe the very memory of which could end the world? Of all the plagues to have befallen Elstren in the wake of the Sunless Winter, it is this one that has your boss most worried. You're in agreement, as though you don't remember yesterday's trip into the quarantine zone, the hole where those memories used to be burns in such a way that makes you anxious. In the nearly twenty years you've been in the Flock, you've never once seen your compatriots so heavily armed. Wren herself is in full armor astride her horse, Rampart. A fitting name for the beast of burden, a tall, strong and agile dark horse cloaked in armor much like Wren's. Supposedly it was of some royal lineage, among the finest of breeds to be found in this part of Elstren; his lineage certainly reflected in his upturned snout and confident gait, and its regal, flowing ombre mane.

The city of Hanish used to be a major port for the Grasp, some ten-thousand strong and a bleeding-edge center for science and research in the area. The very inventor of electricity lived right here in Hanish, and so too did many of the mages responsible for designing the barrier intended to hold back the Briar. As you'd imagine, it was a wealthy city, at least as far as such a thing could exist in Woodveil; the people of Hanish lived well and the Grasp maintained a strong presence here to protect them. So... how was this allowed to happen? Is the Tree truly so virulent that the Grasp couldn't stamp out a new outbreak here of all places? You knew the truth, though.

The Tree cloaks its roots in the minds of the guilty. The process of containing an outbreak is simple, all one has to do is round up everyone who witnessed any sign of the Tree and wipe their memory of it before the next time they go to sleep. Even if you don't get them right away, you've usually got a few nights as the nightmare doesn't always come right away. But the problem is that folks must voluntarily admit to having seen it, and worse, submit their minds to the authorities for tampering. If even just one of these witnesses values the sanctity of their mind over the safety of their body, well...

The Grasp did their absolute best, and the remains of that effort are all around you. Abandoned military encampments from their first wave of responders dot the perimeter, left empty as their inhabitants now wander the city streets among the infected. Another immense wave of reinforcements is on the way, but something about the magic radiating from the infected this time is interfering with their teleportation magic. This is perhaps what has you all most concerned: that the Tree's blight seems to be evolving.

She kept her eyes fixed forward, watching the wall of the city like a hawk just as her birds did, crows crowning it in great numbers to watch for any sign of an attempted breach. So far, the Blight showed no signs of spilling over, the wards holding up well enough... for now. Wren draws her naginata, Flow, from her back, and the others begin to arm up as well, so you follow suit. You clutch your halberd at the ready as your squad marches toward the makeshift gate. Across the city, towards the northern gate, you can see pillars of smoke as your comrades cut their way into the heart of the city.

"Be ready for anything. These... beasts seem to change chaotically from day to day." Wren says, her voice low and serious. "This is the most dangerous work I pray you will ever see. Alexander--torch everything, we walk in the flames today. It's the only way we stand a chance with our numbers. The rest of you, kill anything that emerges from the flame without delay. Whatever they say, they are gone. The malevolent voice of the Tree screams pleas of mercy, in hopes they will echo into your nightmares."

Wren holds her naginata aside, reaching a hand out and pushing the gates open by force magic. Immediately, the memories come rushing back in--the veil can only hold up to