Nedric lived just a few miles outside of Solace. He was a simple, young man. With coarse, brown hair, a confident pose, and a respectable height, it was no wonder his parents already had plans for his future.

From a young age, he was trained to be a knight. His skill was most impressive. He was a natural with many weapons, war hammers being his most preferred. It was no surprise that he quickly ranked up from a simple City Guard to near top ranks. He was offered Captain of the Guard on more than a few occasions but preferred being out in the field. It also gave him time to take an apprenticeship at a local stave shop owned by an old wizard.

Ned was terrible with magic. He was capable of failing even the simplest of spells, nearly singeing his own eyebrows off trying to light a candle one day. But he was a peculiarity to the shop owner. Though his skill was pitiful, his mana was flowing and alive. The magician could not match the quantity and any attempts to leech it would be thwarted by the mana itself. So he trained him in advanced arts of mana control, which is to say not much.

Mana itself is not ideal for spells, it must be combined with elements to create a spell. Though there are things that raw mana can do that spells cannot. Many wards require raw mana to create and mana leeching as well. His skill was still pitiful but he showed much potential.

Unfortunately, the magician took ill and before passing warned Ned the danger of toying around with raw mana. It was unknown all what it could do and that many have perished trying to find out even what is known today. He acknowledged the warning yet he vowed to continue exploring. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted into the King's Guard.

Rank up! Now Apprentice level, Sir Nedric.

Many years had passed since he first joined. Many things have passed. Nedric eventually found a wife and had a very lovely baby girl. Ned's curiosity was never quenched though.

Sir Nedric continued his mana training. He discovered one day that compressing it would create a powerful explosion when it was released. Combining this discovery with his melee training, Ned created a powerful technique that surpassed even the more brutish of the Knights. One normally would be wary of a dangerous technique but Ned was a gentle soul and trusted among the kingdom. Nedric was even highly revered by the kindly, old king.

But not all was well forever. As is nature, the old must be replaced. The kindly king was succeeded by a paranoid, and cruel one. Many of the Knights were replaced, Nedric was faced with an ultimatum. Either be exiled forever, never to return, or lose his family. The choice was obvious, but the king feared Nedric would return for his family one day.

On his way out of town, Nedric spotted smoke rising from the general area of his house. He rushed over and witnessed a horrific scene. A couple of the new Knights had started his home on fire, screams were coming from inside. Enraged, Ned threw himself on the criminals. He was quickly overpowered and knocked unconscious. They dumped him off deep in the forest, left for dead.

He awoke the next day, nearly fully insane. He relied on instinct, adapting his clothing and even painting his skin to hide among the foliage. He lived among many of the forest creatures, hunting and foraging with them all. He knew he was not built for hunting like the bears and wolves so he adapted his own weapon, a discarded moose antler from a previous shedding.

Rank up! Veteran Form: Nedric the Exiled

As time passed, the trauma went too. He eventually regained sanity and accepted his place among the creatures. He kept his garb, but discarded the antler. He ventured back in town, carefully disguised to avoid detection. He brought his Knight's Hammer to a close friend and blacksmith to make improvements to. He left that night with a custom Moose emblazoned hammer, after the mighty beasts of the forest.

He decided to continue his mana training and eventually honed his mana attack, dubbing it the Moose Mash, with no other name springing to mind. He also discovered that mana can make you move faster and hit harder.

It was then that Nedric decided his fate. No longer a Knight of the people, but of the forest. He had become, Nedric the Forest Guardian!

Rank up! Master form: Forest Knight

Nedric guarded the forest with his life. He squashed hunter and took down any and all logging operations. He was a master of stealth and speed. Many stories arose of the Spirit of the Forest, protecting the woodland creatures and banishing all those who dare harm them. He was never found and no one ever managed to avoid his detection.

But as always, his life was about to take a turn. Everything was perfect until "he" came to town.

He corrupted the people and let loose "fiends" to do his bidding. This evil Archfiend had no mercy for anything. Many were left helpless and eventually perished to this monster.

Ned could only watch in horror, refusing to leave the forest for even an instant, fearing they would strike their next. As was expected, they did. He managed to fight off most of them until Nulgath himself came to show his minions just how it was done.

Ned fought valiantly yet he was no match for the Archfiend. He tossed the battered and defeated Ned to the ground and slaughtered his woodland friends in front of his own eyes.

Rank up! Legendary form: Mana Master Mallet

He snapped. Complete rage filled him from allowing this to happen again. That, combined with a better knowledge of his powers allowed him to unlock full potential. He flew at subsonic speeds towards him but a quick dodge moved him safely out of harm's way. The mighty redwood he struck was split straight down the middle though.

Ned started floating and threw his hammer. The mighty Nulgath caught it between his two hands by the head and skidded several yards backwards from the force. He tossed it to the ground and braced himself for the incoming Double Moose Mash. They both connected.

Explosion after explosion shook the forest as Ned unleashed a savage flurry of blows. After the dust settled, there was only Ned in a neck deep crater. He looked around for the fiend, and, not finding him, assumed him vaporized although he had managed to escape.

The rage continued to burn inside him and it still burns. There is little hope for him to ever return to a peaceful life. He has once again lost those he loved and the final straw had broke. Hardly human now, Ned floats about the forest actively hunting out any and all fiends. Scouts report that he has even targeted non-hostile and unarmed travelers.

No one and nothing is safe from his rage, and there seems to be no end in sight.

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