The Red Conservators

The Red Forest was created in the northeast region of present-day United States, specifically appearing near Sturbridge Village in the late 1800s, and later near present-day Boston. For centuries, it was protected by Elisa, the first Red Conservator.

During the height of the American Revolution in 1775, a minuteman named Nicholas Tucker narrowly escaped death after a battle with the British army. While on the run from a Recoat, Nicholas met Gabriel Cainewood, a fellow freedom fighter who was raised in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Their lives were saved when Elisa appeared and attacked the Redcoat, but she was fatally wounded in the process. Stranded in the Red Forest with no way to leave, Nicholas and Gabriel were on the brink of starvation and freezing to death. Their lives were saved when Elisa appeared to Nicholas as a vision. She convinced him to take her place as the Red Conservator. Nicholas’ first act as the Red Conservator was to bind Gabriel’s fading spirit with that of Edward, Elisa’s dog and spiritual companion. Upon Nicholas’ instruction, Gabriel brought his older brother, Amos Cainewood, to the Red Forest, and the three protected it from the outside world for over a century.

In the early 1800s, Nicholas fell in love with a woman named Margaret Evergreen, and the two had a child named Peter Tucker. As an adult and prominent civilian in Sturbridge Village, most were surprised when Peter married Susan Potts, a young woman from a poor family. The two raised a girl named Heather Tucker. Nicholas would visit from time to time, assuming his adult form as he left the Forest and removed his medallion.

In the year 1870, after killing Angelos (the Green Conservator) and taking the form of his body, Mortalitus , the King of the Dark Spirits, escaped from Sanctus Hortus to the Red Forest. There he possessed Amos and killed Nicholas. Before his death, Nicholas instructed Gabriel to bring the Red Medallion to his son, Peter, in Sturbridge. The Medallion became a family heirloom, passed on from generation to generation.

After her husband Vincent Rafferty abandoned them, Heather Tucker assumed her maiden name and was left to raise their daughter, Elizabeth Tucker, on her own. The family grew into poverty, but hope for a better future surfaced with plans for an arranged marriage between Elizabeth and Jonathan Walker, a member of an affluent family in Sturbridge. Elizabeth, however, had other plans, as she had fallen in love with Jacob Florentine, a notable troublemaker in Sturbridge’s community.

In the year 1884, after an argument with her mother, Elizabeth found her way to the Red Forest in a red dress with her great-grandfather’s medallion around her neck, where she and Gabriel were instructed by Nicholas’ spirit to move toward the Heart of the Forest. There, Nicholas swore Elizabeth in as his successor and the new Red Conservator.

Meanwhile, Jacob Florentine entered the Forest while on the run from Sturbridge law enforcement. Mortalitus deceived him, possessed him, and Jacob joined Amos along the King of Darkness’ ranks.

After meeting the other Conservators in Sanctus Hortus, Elizabeth trained for the Second Dark War. After several violent encounters with the Dark Spirits, the dark magic placed upon Amos and Jacob was broken, and the two returned to the side of the Light. Elizabeth and Jacob were reunited, and Jacob even filled the void Angelos left as the Green Conservator. Gabriel, however, was killed in battle.

Made aware of the unique connection between Mortalitus and the Red Conservator, Elizabeth decided to sacrifice herself for the fate of the world and those she loved. By forcing all her Light energy into Mortalitus, she banished the Darkness from the world. Her spirit fading, Elizabeth was saved by Daemon Holloway, the Yellow Conservator, who chose to take her place.

Having reunited with her mother and Jacob, Elizabeth looked to the future -- a future where the Conservators could share the Light with the rest of the world. In the years to come, Elizabeth assisted Merryweather Industries, a group of scientists researching the Forests, with locating the Forests and preserving them. Years later, she and Jacob married and started a family together. Elizabeth and Jacob spent a majority of their lives balancing their duty to their Forests with their lives together. It was a challenging life, but it was a good life. In the year 2010, hoping to spend more time with Jacob, Elizabeth decided to pass on the title of Conservator to her great-grandson, Owen Florentine. Donning the red dress she wore the first time she set foot in the Forest, Elizabeth introduced Owen to the Conservator’s way of life, before passing the torch. Soon to leave, Elizabeth asked Valentina Amante, the Blue Conservator, to watch over Owen. Their debts settled, Elizabeth and Jacob began a journey around the world, spending their last months together.