After arriving in Crossing and stocking up on potions and other equipment, Krynn's Vanguard along with the main assaulting force of the Imperial Army made their way to North Keep. In North Keep, Krynn's Vanguard looked for more information on Qualinost and the Darken Wood that laid ahead as they were making their way to Qualinost for the final showdown with the Alliance.
After debating whether or not to send a correspondence to Claude, Edelgard advised against it as they'd have the opportunity to talk with Claude before their conflict, as is customary.
Finding out that the Darken Wood was ruled by a Forestmaster and that the Forestmaster's followers fiercely defend the wood from outsiders, Krynn's Vanguard decided to venture in anyways and try to talk to the Forestmaster. After a while of traveling through the wood, a fog started to settle and they ran into a familiar face, Marianne of the Golden Deer. She explained that she'd been watching them since they entered the wood and that she'd been in service of the Forestmaster for quite some time even though she is of the Alliance. She explained that some monsters had recently been causing trouble in the wood and that if Krynn's Vanguard helped expel the monsters, the Forestmaster would ensure that they could pass through unimpeded.
Agreeing to help, Krynn's Vanguard fought a number of demonic beasts, giant wolves, and a wandering beast as well. The origins of these monsters are unknown but they have seen a couple of these monsters before. Standing about 20 feet tall the demonic beasts were also seen within the Holy Tomb when the Imperial Army first struck. The giant wolves appeared to be basic monstrosities, and the wandering beast appeared to have a decent level of intelligence, but never spoke. Defeating the beasts and coming out relatively unscathed, Marianne thanked them and sent them on their way as she walked into a thicker part of the wood and disappeared from sight.