Dark Forest

an overlook of the dark forest section 2

Dark Forest is the fourth episode of The Humans and the tenth episode of The Tree of Life in general. It is the fourth dungeon of the map, where Dabsar, Chappal and Zian venture with Sven and Guard into the Dark Forest to defeat the tyrannical spider queen Arachne and free the Woods of Woe from her reign and to find the fourth tree of life piece. Meanwhile, Ezen draws ever closer and makes a few new friends.

## Plot

Dabsar, Chappal and Zian arrive in the Dark Forest with Sven and Guard. Sven voices his skepticism in the fact that they're going after Arachne considering that the Legion of Life has consistently failed to get her away from the Woods of Woe, but they insist, saying that they're there for the Tree of Life piece too. Sven warns them that they'll be responsible for anything that happens, including if Arachne kills them. They continue advancing into the forest.

After going through the enormous forest, Sven and Guard confess that they're afraid they can't find Arachne. Chappal suggests simply letting Arachne find them, which Dabsar and Zian quickly debunk while Sven and Guard very easily agree with. This prompts an argument between them, until suddenly Sid comes across them, with Ezen and Bob. Ezen is delighted to see his friends, and the four embrace. They then inform Sid and Bob about their plan to take down Arachne and finish her reign of terror. Sid argues that it's stupid for them to do that, as Arachne couldn't even be stopped by the Legion of Life. Before more can happen, Arachne herself appears and attacks them. There is a large battle between them afterwards.

Eventually however, Arachne is weakened enough so that she loses complete control over her forest. After this, Sven and Guard arrest Arachne and take her prisoner. She scorns Bob for betraying her, with Bob responding that she was wrong to terrorize the Woods of Woe, and that she was the one wrong. Sven and Guard take Arachne away and Bob leaves to serve dinner to the monsters. In that time, Sid reveals he knows that they were spying on him. Chappal demands an explanation for how he was once part of the Order of Magma. An argument between her and Sid erupts until Ezen defends Sid, saying that he experienced the same things that Ezen did, that he had to leave behind his family based on the fact that its members wanted to join a fascist cult. He claims "I see myself in him". Though Chappal is still skeptical, she and her brother and cousin agree it's not worth getting worked up on, and decide to return to the Land of Xora with the Tree of Life piece. Ezen gives it to them and they return to the Woods of Woe.

Once they arrive back at the Woods of Woe, the Elder appears and thanks them for their help, and tells them that Arachne has been taken to prison in the Village of Life for her crimes. He gives them their reward and sends them off to the Land of Xora. Once they reach, Ezen is already there with Zoe, Mmea and Cutie. Mmea and Cutie congratulate them for their efforts to help free the Woods of Woe. Chappal apologizes for keeping the fact that she was once a proxy of Coo Coo a secret, and her friends forgive her, understanding why. Zian also brings up that Coo Coo isn't entirely wrong in her ideology, that animals are mistreated the most out of all three of the races, as they are less capable of fighting back, except for a select few with magic abilities. They decide to talk about that later, and talk about the Tree of Life pieces now. Cutie informs them where the next few pieces are, in an isolated plain called the Tree of Topsies. The new Bringers of Life then embark to travel there.

## Treasures

* In a hill covered in glowstone near the start of the area. Inside it, there is the first epic item
* In the cave that leads the first part of the forest to the second, there is the first uncommon item
* In a very large hill in the second part of the forest, the top has the second epic item
* In the cave that leads the second part of the forest to the third, there is a tunnel and in one of its twists, there is the first rare item
* After going through the tunnel, there is a way to enter a very large cave. At the end, there is the third epic item

## NPCs

Sven

Guard

Ezen

Sid

Bob

Elder

Mmea

Cutie

Zoe

## Bosses

### Arachne the Spider Queen

*Main article: Arachne*

Arachne is a tyrannical spider queen who ruled over the Woods of Woe for many years, at least sixty years since the Elder mentioned to have been merely a boy when she took over. She ruled it from the dark forest with an iron fist, offering peace to the town in exchange for sacrifices. Though she was offered fake sacrifices, she was unaware of this. Eventually, the Elder begs the players to defeat Arachne and free the forest, prompting a battle.

## Music

Area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqylDwL7oI4

Boss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvZ3afKJlEc