The First Expedition

The First Expedition was the first time that adventurers from multiple guilds travelled on an expedition to explore the Radiant Wilds, long since thought of as dangerous and unexplorable even from the best.

## Prelude and Formation

Ever since the discovery of the Radiant Wilds, they had been seen as a dangerous place, called the birthplace of monsters by some. While explorers had managed to go through the outskirts of the forest, they failed to enter any further, running into too much danger for their liking.

Kelly Ulan began truly investigating and researching the ruins in **326PR**, keeping an armed group of Awakened mercenaries by her side at all time. Inside, she was able to discover that the Wilds were brimming with life and seemed much larger and denser on the inside. One of her more notable discoveries was the fact that the forest seemed to have its own ecosystem and climate, different from South-East Arlec. As you got further in, you could experience all types of weather changes, from freezing and snow to hot and humid.

After Aaron’s Meteor was defeated by Tasos, the number of adventurers soared, causing the creation of many guilds, including the growth of already established guilds such as the Blue Heroes and the Reapers. Looking for tasks, some parties began exploring the Radiant Wilds.

In **398PR** a meeting was called by Cassius Firmin of the Helicules Aliquam Guild Chapter that required representatives of every guild in the region to attend. There, he discussed the idea of mounting a huge expedition with their members to explore the Radiant Wilds. Since many of the guilds had already been interested in the Radiant Wilds but fearful of the danger, the idea of gathering all the guilds was too good to turn down.

The date was set to enter the forest in mid-Asunak, though it was expected for many to come early and join in the celebrations. A large group of scholars were allowed to join in the expedition for research purposes, each assigned a different party.

## Participants

Some of the notable guilds and participants that arrived in mid-Asunak include:

### Guilds

* Aliquam Guild
* Blue Heroes
* Grayforge
* Lucent
* Moon Stalkers
* Reapers

### Parties/Individuals

* Anasch
* Chun Ji-Hae
* Davian and the Caesan Bears
* Embrace
* Kelly Ulan
* Nudist Fury
* Redtember
* Stormhawks
* Tsukushi Ariyasu
* Venom Strike
* Zagreus

## Festivities

Before the expedition began there was a large festival that most of the adventurers chose to attend. There, drinking was to be had.

In the festival, many people sat and listened to various bards telling stories of the lands, along with a briefing about what each guild/party was expected to conform to and what tasks they were required to undertake.

Some competitions were also held. Letting adventurers compete for bragging rights. The competitions included tests of agility, bravery, constitution (drinking), magic, mapping, speed and strength.

## Expedition

On mid-Asunak, the 4000 adventurers finally made their way into the forest, each with their own objective to fulfill and a scholar to protect. As it was Cassius who called together the expedition, he was first to enter the forest.

Through the initial part of the forest, the adventurers found it quite easy, their large numbers and general aura of power scaring off any monsters smart enough not to attack. Still, they did run into some minor troubles, the occasional Owlbear stepping out and attacking a party, only to be defeated by the sheer number. Anyone injured returned to the various nursing stations set up along the way.

When they continued to push in, that’s when the trouble came.

### Troll War

Despite their best efforts to scout out their paths, they had not seen the Trolls that were waiting in ambush. Slowly, the adventurers got further and further into the forest, camping each night and marching the next day. By a week, they had already lost their nursing stations, setting up make-shift ones whenever they could.

Then, came the attacks. Reports of trolls coming out of the forest everywhere and killing adventurers. At first it was reported that the trolls seemed to be mindless beasts but later it was said they were like soldiers, using beasts to bait the adventurers before ambushing and slaughtering them.

While the adventurers tried to protect the scholars, many died, making the official story very hard to gather, getting only fragments from each party or individual.

On the first day of the fights, Cassius called for all the parties and adventurers to come together for a big camp to assess the situation. Their losses had already reached 1,000.

The next few days are lost, but the adventurers decided to travel the way they came, fighting the trolls when they ran into them and keeping an extensive scouting system to avoid ambushes. Even though they were losing heavy numbers, the adventurers were able to remain in good spirits, finding very good loot in the horrific time.

Figures such as Davian and the parties/individuals listed above are known as heroes, fighting back against the trolls and winning many battles. Venom Strike actually died, sacrificing themselves at the back of the line as the rest retreated.

Davian is credited for inspiring the remaining 800 adventurers into a final charge, defeating the Troll leader and letting the adventurers escape.

## Aftermath

The First Expedition was seen as a failure, though around 600 adventurers made it out after the final battle, they had lost over three quarters of their original number. With the abundance of loot, the survivors decided to share some of it with the dead's families, including the scholars that tried to help. Still, the survivors came out very wealthy in the end.

Some of the books were eventually translated and it was discovered that the Trolls planned to leave the forest and invade elsewhere, meaning the First Expedition unintentionally stopped a larger war, making them heroes.

After seeing the horrors, many adventurers decided against telling their stories, only warning others not to take the same path. This is mainly the reason for the lack of information on such an important event.