Traitor's Grove

Lore & Background

Many of the spirits found wandering the halls are remnants of those who died defending this place. They manifest as Vengeful Spirits, clinging to the shadows and attacking intruders. The atmosphere is heavy with betrayal and decay, reflecting the tragic choice made by these beetles to abandon their oaths rather than sacrifice their families to the war.

In Their Own Story

The air here tastes of damp earth and old sorrow. As I step past the archway from the city, the light fades into a greenish gloom illuminated only by glowing spores. A low hum vibrates through the stone floor, the sound of beetles skittering in the dark above. They watch me with hollow eyes, remembering the day they were cast out, waiting for anyone foolish enough to walk where kings fear to tread.

Reader's Guide

Traitor's Grove lies beneath the City of Tears, accessible through a broken archway leading into a dark, fungal cavern system. The path is winding and often obscured by thick spores that drift through the air, reducing visibility for careless travelers. Massive mushroom caps form natural ceilings over the tunnels, while twisted roots create platforms for climbing. The area serves as a bridge between the civilized ruins of the City and the wild depths of the Hive. Players must navigate past enemies known as Vengeful Spirits, spectral beetles that patrol the halls. These spirits can be purified with light to grant additional Soul, or defeated in combat if left unchecked. Large fungal growths often block paths until burned away by fire-based abilities. The central chamber houses the Traitor Lord, a massive beetle knight guarding the exit toward the Hive. This boss fight takes place on a raised dais surrounded by rotting vegetation. Careful platforming is required throughout the grove due to the uneven terrain and sudden enemy ambushes from above.

Did You Know?

• Vengeful Spirits found here can be purified using light abilities for extra Soul.
• The Traitor Lord guards the only direct path from the City of Tears into The Hive.
• Fungal growths in this area often require fire to clear blocked pathways.