Origins & history

Naralex discovered a network of springs beneath the Barrens and believed the Emerald Dream could turn the dry land green again. With his disciples, he descended into the caverns and entered a magical sleep. Their name comes from the mournful sounds of wind and steam in the passages.

Instead of safely channeling the Dream, Naralex became trapped in its Nightmare. His sleeping mind became a conduit for corruption. Wildlife changed into deviate forms, the waters grew dangerous, and most of his followers became the hostile Druids of the Fang.

Why we enter

Adventurers enter to break that corruption and help the disciple who still hopes to wake Naralex. The objective is a rescue as much as a battle. The dreamer at the heart of the cavern is not a villain directing the creatures willingly; his failed act of healing has imprisoned him.

The story inside

Lady Anacondra and Lords Cobrahn, Pythas and Serpentis represent the fallen druidic circle. Other creatures, including Kresh, Skum and Verdan the Everliving, inhabit the altered ecosystem. Defeating the Fang leaders makes the attempt to reach Naralex possible.

The final escort follows the Disciple of Naralex to the sleeper. While he performs the awakening ritual, attackers emerge from the nightmare, culminating in Mutanus the Devourer. Protecting the ritual allows Naralex to awaken and brings the expedition to its true conclusion.

Aftermath & legacy

The awakening does not instantly restore every corrupted creature or turn the Barrens into a forest. The dungeon’s story is the recovery of a person and a chance to begin healing, rather than the immediate fulfillment of his original ambition.