In the Third Age of Embergrave, a period already beleaguered by the relentless encroachment of the Viridian Creep and the transformation of nature into the Wildwood, an additional, insidious threat loomed in the shadows: the carrion gods. These entities, the weakest of the Inevitables, were more akin to demons than deities. In the initial half of the Third Age, they existed as mere whispers in the darkness, haunting the expansive and eerie forests, reminiscent of "old gods" shrouded in mystery and fear.

The carrion gods, born from a singular vile act, were siblings bound by a dark fate. Possessing the ability to consume one another and absorb their power, they embarked on a sinister hunt through the ages. This internal struggle among them, a macabre game of survival and empowerment, gradually intensified as the age progressed. By the latter half of the Third Age, when only a handful of havens stood resilient against the Viridian Creep's onslaught, these carrion gods had evolved into formidable beings, posing a significant threat to the already precarious balance of power.

During this tumultuous period, the Daughtermen, who had emerged millennia after the destruction of the Daughter of Dahmra and their liberation from magical shackles, played a pivotal role. They confronted the remaining carrion gods, wielding the power of the Luminarcanum in a decisive battle. Their victory over these malevolent beings revealed a startling truth: the Viridian Creep, which had so ruthlessly transformed the land, was in fact pursuing the carrion gods. With the demise of these vile creatures, the Viridian Creep receded, leaving behind a scarred world, but also a glimmer of hope.

The Daughtermen, recognizing the devastating consequences wrought by unchecked magic, advocated a radical solution for the survival of humanity. They spread the word across the lands, decreeing that magic must be forsaken. This proclamation marked the end of the Third Age and heralded the dawn of the Fourth Age, a new dark era defined by the rejection of magical practices. This age was born from the ashes of the past, with the Daughtermen's actions not only reshaping the immediate landscape but also setting a profound precedent for the future of Embergrave.

Thus, the Third Age of Embergrave, an era characterized by its battle against nature's malevolent transformation and the shadowy carrion gods, transitioned into a Fourth Age of austerity and restraint. The legacy of the Third Age, with its tales of heroism, struggle, and the ultimate triumph over otherworldly horrors, would serve as a cautionary tale for future generations, forever altering the course of Embergrave's history.

Veridian Creep

Like an aggressive virus monstrous roots grew from the rift within the earth and began to spread at a rapid pace. Anything natural they touched began enraged, and began to change. The more inert the subject, the quicker the growth. Humans, animals, complex creatures, would get sick slowly, and transform over months, sometimes years, into a shape far more wick as the root intended. While otherwise stoic trees, and even lumber touched by the root began to visibly grow, creak and groan, and creep forth pulled by their roots beneath the earth, now a part of the invasive otherworldly root system.