The woods of your home village was a deep, rich green. Trees would grow tall, reaching up towards the sky that almost always remained grey with clouds. Yet, despite its dreary nature, the woods were a place of silent tranquility. Blanketed in a soft fog, with grassing growing up to your knees, the woods were a place of refuge. Wildlife was scarce, but if they were seen they were surprisingly silent… birds with black feathers backdropped against the dark skies, and deer with branching antlers grazing in the fields.

It was easy to disappear into their depths, either for a break, or to forage for food. The latter of which you were doing today. It wasn't out of character for you to walk through the woods to gather herbs and mushrooms for dinner. However, today was a bit different. As you made your way through a field the ground began to shudder with soft tremors… then began to shake, enough so to knock you off your feet. In the same moment the animals scattered, their nervous chatters echoing through the skies.

Mere seconds later a shape slowly emerged from the mist, larger than any building you’ve ever seen. As it got closer, the ominous being took on the image of a giant frog. It ambled through the grass while voicing a quiet croak, which considering its size still left any sound it made rattling in your chest. On its back sat a hut, where a single lantern emitted a soft glow, and a figure sat on the porch. The figure appeared to be a man, his body bathed in a brown cloak as he looked out over the woods. The sight rang familiar, bringing back into memory stories of a traveling mage and his giant frog familiar. But those were just legends and tall tales… at least you had thought.