In the silvery glow of Moon Wood, east of the Wizards Camp and near Moon Temple, Battle Mage Dutorn of the Hills, runs Moon Wood Craftworks, a bustling workshop along the main road.

Moon Wood Craftworks

Wizards traveling from Carnival Pass to the east or the Thicket to the west stop for his solar-infused staff repairs and enchanted horseshoes, crafted with the precision of his Rune of Sun glowing through his Ruby Staff.

His Vest Green and Brownish affinity keep him grounded, while his Woodland Shapeshifter head shifting between bear's strength and wisdom adapts to each customer's needs.

Rattus Attentus, his scrappy ratty familiar, ensures the wood is free of rot, gnawing at anything soft ensuring only the hardest grains make it out of the workshop. Though Rattus' eerie presence fuels rumours spread by his rival.

Rivalry with Druid Cromwell of the Wood

That rival, Druid Cromwell of the Wood, operates Thornforge Creations from the Thorn, just East of Moon Wood. Cromwell's Green Caped Traveller cloak billows as he works, his Wildman head a tangle of untamed hair and fierce eyes, his Dirt Rabbit familiar unearthing rare roots for his craft. His Dumb Stick, channeling the Rune of Mars, imbues his woodworking with martial strength, staffs that strike like hammers, horseshoes that endure the roughest terrains. Like Dutorn, his Brownish affinity roots him in practicality.

Their rivalry over customers and fame has become the talk among fine craft aficionados of the Runiverse, with wizards placing bets in Carnival Pass on whose creations will reign supreme whenever they are able to compete in combat.

Their enmity traces back to a fateful journey in Frog Master Marsh, a vibrant and mysterious region nestled between the Thicket and the Thorn, east of Moon Wood.

The marsh teems with life, its dark waters alive with the croaking chorus of amphibians, dragonflies weaving patterns through dense fog, and will-o'-the-wisps casting an ethereal glow.

Here, magic hums in the air, a testament to the marsh's ancient power. Long ago, a group of frogs gained sentience through this magic, birthing the Anuran race, a people of amphibian grace and wisdom, their reed-constructed manor homes floating atop the water. At dawn, the marsh awakens with croaks and chirps, a symphony of nature and enchantment.

Among the marsh's notable figures is Sorcerer Remus, destined to become the Frog Lord. The will-o'-the-wisps whisper "Ribbit" in his presence, a sign of his deep bond with the Anuran people and his impending kingship.

Remus, with his commanding presence, oversees the marsh's balance, ensuring its magic nurtures rather than destroys.

A softer sided, Druid Jerret seeks the marsh's tranquility, retreating to its silent corners to commune with nature, his presence a quiet counterpoint to the marsh's more volatile forces.

It was here, amidst the marsh's fog and croaking chorus, that Dutorn and Cromwell's friendship unraveled.

The Incident

Years ago, the two then young craftsmen sharing dreams of woodworking greatness, ventured to Frog Master Marsh to harvest a rare reed for a joint project, a staff meant to honor the Runiverse's unity.

They navigated the marsh's dark waters, guided by Plague Rat's keen senses and Dirt Rabbit's burrowing instincts, marvelling at the Anuran manors and the will-o'-the-wisps' glow. But their harmony shattered when they reached a sacred grove near Archmagus Eden's domain.

Cromwell, impatient and fueled by his Rune of Mars, unleashed a fiery spell to clear a path through the reeds, heedless of the marsh's delicate balance. The blaze scorched the grove, sending the Anuran people into a frenzy and drawing the wrath of Sorcerer Remus, who appeared with a booming "Ribbit," his eyes blazing with fury.

Dutorn, horrified by the destruction, tried to control the flames, but the damage was done. The sacred grove lay in ashes, and Remus banished them, cursing their names and vowing the marsh would never welcome them again.

Dutorn blamed Cromwell's recklessness, accusing him of endangering their craft's reputation and disrespecting the marsh's magic. Cromwell, defiant, called Dutorn a coward for bowing to tradition, arguing that Mars' fire was a necessary force to shape the Runiverse. Their shouts echoed through the fog, and they parted ways, Dutorn returning to the hills, Cromwell retreating to the Thorn, their friendship as charred as the grove they destroyed.

Now, in Moon Wood, their rivalry burns hotter than ever.

Cromwell's Thornforge Creations churns out rugged, Mars-infused wares, drawing wizards who crave durability for battles in the Great Canyon Valley. Dutorn's Moon Wood Craftworks, with its precision, attracts those seeking elegance and harmony, like the student mages of Hedge Wizard Wood in The Wild to the north.

Dutorn still seeks the Crescent Hammer to fuse solar and lunar magic, hoping to craft items that outshine Cromwell. Cromwell, meanwhile, hunts for the Thornheart Core, aiming to make his creations unbreakable and claim the Runiverse's craftsman's crown.

Redemption?

Yet whispers from Frog Master Marsh linger in their feud. Druid Jerret, having witnessed their falling out, and still needing high quality carpentry, sends word through travellers that the marsh's wounds are healing, and Sorcerer Remus may offer forgiveness, if they can prove their craft honours the Runiverse's balance.

As wizards pass through Moon Wood, some returning from the Fey with tales of the Fey Procession, Dutorn and Cromwell face a choice: continue their bitter rivalry or seek redemption in the marsh that broke them, where the croaking chorus and will-o'-the-wisps still hum with the promise of renewal.

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