Burning Forest

Burning Forest is a quest in Second Human Book.

## Background

After taking the crowns and lands of Pyrru and Toran, Gardon needs the Elves to assist him in defeating the Demon Legion, instead of evacuating them to the Imperial continent and using the Elven Kingdom as a stepping stone against his uncle Renald Van Durce. After recuperating and repairing their forces and sending riders to ensure loyalty and recruit new soldiers for the Ironfist, the new King wants the Elven Kingdom's Queen Renova removed and install another who is loyal to him alone.

While all of this happens, the Golden Guard sent legions of men to guard the Elves for evacuation. That legions however, "mysteriously" disappeared, and the Dark Elves, known to worship Undead god, reappeared.

## Opening

Merlon Seabright and Larine the Exile was on the Elven coast waiting for instructions from the new King, when Claire arrived and briefed him of what to do, that is eliminating Elven Army's Lord Arganus Teran alongside Golden Guard units and his own personal army, also keeping watch on

the Undead army who was attacking the Elves at the same time, while securing the area for King Gardon to arrive.

After the lieutenant left, he wondered what to give to the female elite, a powerless diamond somewhere in the forest.

Queen Keera greeted Krom the Immortal, the latter joined the push to keep up with the "schedule". And he warned her of Ironfist presence in the area, which she assured that she can deal with them, but the Hunter tells her someting.

## Quest

### Main Quest:

* Destroy the base of Lord Teran (Purple).

Description: The Ironfist has managed to burn down parts of the forest with both magic and war machines to circumvent and destroy the defenses of the Elven Kingdom, but now that they are drawing closer to the palace of the Queen, they cannot prevent a direct confrontation with their enemies. Lord Arganus Teran, the highest ranking officer in the military of the Elves guards the path that leads to the Queen. He and his force must be eliminated.

### Side Quest:

* Destroy the Golden Guard base in the western island.

Description: The Golden Guard has built a base on an island to the west of Merlon's base. They are building Destructors to destroy their enemies. Defeating Teran would be much easier without these damnable airships.

* Destroy the base of the Dark Elves (Violet).

Description: The "Dark Elves" - as the Undead seem to call their pale, living allies - are once again assisting the Undead in battle. This time, by attacking the Elves. While their motives, origins and actually everything related to them is unknown, Gardon has ordered that every single one of them is to be eliminated if they pose any threat.

* Find the diamond and defeat their guardians.

Description: Many centuries ago, the Elven forest had been guarded by powerful gemstones that created magic fields eliminating all intruders. However, those gemstones lost their power a few decades ago and are now nothing more than valuable diamonds. Apparently, Merlon is interested in getting a diamond that happens to be in the area after he met the lieutenant who liberated Gardon.

## The Battle

Merlon built up defenses along the land base, and built some Frigates and Battleships to defend the sea area. Then, he built enough Terrors, but he needs to have sight on the target, as the Terror's range is extremely long, but short on sight range. So he built several Arcane Towers as compensation. Then he chose whatever ability suits his force in the Leadership Boni.

Then, he initially repelled the Golden Guard Destructor attack on the sea, then rebuilt enough sea defenses, and focused first on the Wave Towers that was guarding the Golden Guard base that was on an island coast. He used Terrors and Arcane Tower Reveal ability to make short of the defenses, then they sailed, destroying any fleet they encounter, up to the base. The Terrors were too overpowering, the Golden Guard base is eliminated and Merlon landed to take the spoils.

Then, after repelling both Golden Guard and Elven Army attacks, Merlon focused on the fight inland. He built a sizable force, including a handful of Destructors to deal with the enemy. With the Arcane Towers, Terrors fires barrage after barrage upon the defenses and structures of the Elven Army. Then, with the threats are out, Merlon then charges with his force, mopping up the first Elven base, then built a forward base on the Gold Mine.

Then, after refurbishing their forces, they attack the Golden Guard base on the foothills. Using the Terrors and Arcane Towers once again, they softened the defenses and attacked, razing them. Then, after building a defense on the foothills and built enough Destructors, Merlon then commands his air fleet to take out the Dark Elven Expedition Force base. The Destructors with their range, easily destroyed structures one by one and flees before anti-air infantry can react. Then the last structure is in Rohir Nexus base, so they focused on the last structure, ignoring the Undead force. Then they flee, before the Undead crashes the fleet.

Merlon then wants to acquire the Diamond. He built a strong force to do it. Despite heavy defense and Arcanists doing Starfalls, they obtained it.

Then finally, Merlon has to deal with Lord Arganus Teran himself. With the Undead focusing on the Elves and Humans, Merlon fights through them, and with air support, kills Arganus and destroyed all structures, and flees before an Undead attack arrives.

## Aftermath

After killing Arganus Teran, Merlon expected Claire to arrive, but Thanok instead arrived and scolded him for trying to make a move on Claire.

Thanok was approached by Krom, the latter offering audience to his master. Moments later, Gardon met with Saphira Whisperwind, the latter offering alliance after Aridon the Watcher "died" and she wants to consolidate all Undead under her wing. Gardon hesitatingly accepted, after she promised that she and her forces disappear afterwards, but betrayal on both sides will be dealt severingly.

## Outcome

Should you kill the Dark Elves, they will not appear in the battle against Genethas. But if you ignore them, they will attack and destroy the Golden Guard Vanguard base and build a base of their own in the ruins, making the battle against the traitor harder.

Should you ignore the diamond, Merlon was regretful not getting the diamond. And he was still was killed in the final battle even he gets it if Aedale Redfist was corrupted. But if Aedale was not corrupted and he gets the diamond, both Claire and Aedale saved him from Krom the Immortal.

## True Story

* The fate of Lera is sealed here, killed offscreen by Demon Slaves if her base wasn't destroyed in Defense of Home. She was also known as one of Larine's best friends.
* A waygate is added for the convenience of transportation.
* Pentiss and Mirazeyl the Ascendant were added in this mission, as part of Lenira Nexus.
* The Ironfist gets Shadow Mages from Brian, that can cast Curse, Shadow Wave and Shadow's Embrace (that only heals the caster).
* The Golden Guard is separated into Holy Battalion and Skyguard Battalion (for the sidequest).
* In the opening cutscene, Pentiss considers the Elves to be weak because of their "not intriguing enough", doubts Brian's "assistance" just because he's a *male*.

Also in the opening scene, Larine intends to overthrow Queen Renova, compared to just assisting Admiral Merlon in securing the forest.

* In the ending cutscene: Aridon lied to the Dark Elves about Brian being his servant. Krom approach Brian after the meeting on his "view" of Aridon, he told the Shadow Lord that he suspects Aridon of weakness, his waning control over the Undead, Rahandir Drakeskull rebelling as proof. Also, he reveals to the Shadow master that his unlife was getting shorter. The Shadow Master questions the appearance of the Leniras, and Krom being the most loyal of Aridon's servants joining the rebellion freely, and the main reason and objectives of the Undead rebellion.
* The Undead on the area consists of Rohir Nexus and the Dark Elves, compared to the Skeleton Legion in the original.