The forest wanted our souls, for whatever purposes. To eat, to keep and torment, we don't know. And Aldric- who it had been manipulating- finally broke free of it's cruelty, tried leading an escape. But the fog would not let us pass. My brother's children took refuge in the manor, while others the town hall.

( there is not a town hall. )
...

Someone enacted a ritual. To keep the souls free, unable to be grasped by the forest ever again. Even in death. When the massacre occurred- and it was a massacre, no matter how valiantly we tried to fight back- the forest could not claim the dead anymore. Not their bodies, nor their souls. It was furious.

Only my brother, Rusty and I remain. The Claimed, Gods help her soul, we do not know. And Rusty... Rusty waits. Always.