A Debt Paid...

In the waning hours of sunlight, when the days work had been done and the Sun painted the sky with the pastel banner that signaled night would soon be there. Most common folk has retreated to their homes, to enjoy a hearty meal and the company of family and friends. However as the shadows began to stretch their tenebrous fingers across the land, and battle between shadow and light had tilted in the favor of the dark, was the precise time that the collector had come to Elwynn Forest. Sandled feet drifted across fallen leaves leaving barely a whisper of sound, moving between the shadows of the trees like a ghost, let the soft wind of the evening mask the gentle rattle that followed in it's wake.

Inside the tower three men sat arranged around a fire, their expressions grim as the fire crackled before them illuminating faces worn with age and hard life. One dressed in simple leathers, a rifle settled down at his left, his hand gently stroking the flank of a large dog, his companion arrayed in polished, gleaming armor of faith left little question to his profession, his brows were knit in consternation as something weighed heavy on those gleaming shoulders. The third dressed in fine robes paced back and forth before the fire, fiddling with a golden and jade necklace between fingers accustomed to spellbooks and a soft life. Looking over at the man in armor the robed man frowned as he spoke, his voice dripping with derision "You sit there pouting like a petulant child, you were informed what our goal was, and you came anyway". The Paladin sighed and lifted his gaze to the mage and nodded "Aye I came along to help..but you failed to mention the part about disturbing a burial ground" snorting the mage snapped back"A Troll tomb, they are mindless savages..besides we need this amulet, it's power can be harnessed to assist us in Warsong". Looking away a moment the Paladin nodded slowly, but his expression betrayed his misgivings in their actions..desecration was desecration and the shame painted itself clearly on his face.

Lifting it's head the large dog stared out into the night past the crumbling walls of the tower, growling
the beast rose up and charged off into the night, prompting his handler to rise shouting "Chomp wait!" and rushing off into the dark to find his dog. Looking about frantically amid the now rather sinister looking trees he shouted again "CHOMP!" and in response heard renewed barking to his left. Turning he ran in that direction only to hear a pained yelp followed by strangled whining coming from the copse of trees before him "CHOMP! NO!" he shouted and rushed into the cluster of trees, his fingers fiddling for the gun he only now realized he left inside. Finding neither his dog nor the source of its pain he whirled around in a circle as he could hear the rattling of something in the shadows. Once...twice he saw something move in the shadows, the face of a skull looked back at him and was gone, wiping the sweat from his brow he slowly stepped backwards as the terror of the situation poured in on him. His fingers drew the small dagger at his waist clutching it desperately as he could hear the shouts of his companions in the distance calling for him. Whirling around again he tries to speak, tried to call out to them but his voice failed him, as the sound of distant drums beating drew closer and closer he could feel his limbs growing cold, sluggish, reaching a hand for his neck he clutched at his throat finding the air growing thicker to the point he gasped for each breath. Still the drums beat ever faster, the sound growing to a dizzying cacophony that threatened to rob him of his sanity, dropping the dagger from his hand he clutched his ears, desperate to muffle the sound that pulsed and thumped through his skull. Turning to try and stumble away he saw the shadow rise from the trees around him, enveloping his body, freezing him in place as a shadowy skull formed from the abyss of shadow that drew up about him like a blanket. Opening his mouth to shriek in terror he felt tendrils of shadow wrap about his limbs, his neck, tilting his head back to witness the skull grow, tusks sticking out of the darkness and a great mouth of darkness opening and vomiting a hideous shadowy stream of nettles, wasps and spiders onto his face and body. Biting, stinging and racing along his flesh, turning it to a pulpy swollen mass of pain, the man shook violently opening his mouth one more time to shout, beg plead for someone to help him but it was too late, his only response came from the shadowy skull that engulfed his body in a single gulp.

Rushing into the clearing the Paladin skidded to a halt his eyes widened as he saw what appeared to be a wave of shadow sinking into the night, in it's wake he found his companion's body laying in the soft grass. His skin pale white, eyes torn from their sockets, it's mouth hung open in an eternal scream. Nearly dropping his weapon he clutched the symbol about his neck and hissed "By the Light...we are damned", and quickly stepped back from the view before him. The mage ran past him shouting "You fool it's getting away, help me!" and disappeared through the other side of the copse of trees. Shaking himself from his revulsion the Paladin gripped his weapon and turned to follow. Charging headlong in the darkness his eyes locked on the distant form of the mage in front of him he stumbled over root and fell to the ground. Rolling to his back he had but a moment to react to the howling hissing shadowy skull that lept from the shadows onto his body. Raising an armored fist to swing at his assailant his hands passed through empty air as the shadow disappeared as quickly as it arrived. Stumbling to his feet he turned and started back in the direction he last saw his companion to see if he could find him, and find he most certainly did. In the distance he saw the mage on his knees, his hands at his sides as a great shadowy form slowly began to coalesce into a form,  before him, as he drew near he began to hear a steady beating of drums that appeared to come from all around him. Slowing in his approach he saw the form of a tall slender Troll rise from the shadows, dressed in tribal vestments and adorned with skulls, raising it's hand to the Mage he noticed a skull with feathers affixed to a stick, which he rattled violently in front of the mage and muttered some kind of language that was part hiss, and part growl. Sensing the growing urgency of the moment the Paladin began to run faster towards them, his heavy booted feet pounding on the ground as he came. The mage looked up at the Priest as tears streamed down his face and slowly drew his own blade lifting it up. Chanting the Troll's lips curled up into a wicked grin as he lifted the rattling fetish higher, moving his fingers as if a puppeteer working a marionette. The Paladin opened his mouth and screamed in horror as he watched the mage drive the dagger into his own eye sockets cutting one then the other eye from their sockets. Howling in pain the mage lifted the eyes to the Troll who took them and turned to look directly at the approaching Paladin. Like some kind of grisly puppet show the Mage turned it's gory eyeless stare at the Paladin and opened his mouth, the Troll's lips moved but the Mage spoke clearly...his voice hollow and whispery "Eyes have seen the darkness beyond...eternity of shadow...The Dead shall have their Due...my debt is paid" and with that he drew the dagger across his throat opening it to the night air, steaming blood pouring down his chest before he fell to the earth.

His eyes stinging with tears the Paladin ran as fast as he could, but the harder he ran the further away the Troll and his dead companion were, his voice hoarse from shouting he rasped out again and again
"By the Light...i'm sorry...i'm sorry...forgive me". He ran and ran till his muscles pumped acid and he fell to his knees sliding in the soil and dropping his weapon before him, he wept, wept for his companions but also for his loss of grace, a man of faith despoiling the grave of another...for what, profit? Tearing off his holy symbol he clutched it in his hands before throwing it to the ground, and doubling over. Opening his eyes they settled on the sandled toes of the Troll that stood before him, the sweet scent of incense hung about his nostrils, stinging them with almost offensive scent of sanctity, as he turned his eyes up to face the Troll. Dark eyes behind a skull painted face stared down at him...through him, the rage that burned in those eyeswould sear into his mind for all time. Lifting his chin with the skull fetish the Troll leaned in and whispered to the Paladin "De Bwon find ju guilty 'Pah-Lah-Deen'..jur life be spared fo now...jur punishment...be shame..leeve jur life with'chur Shame" and he turned to slowly walk off. Raising his head the Paladin whispered "My punishment...I...Will...I see you again Troll?" and rested on his hands. The Troll slowly stepped into the shadow fading from view, except for the Ghostly form of the Skull on his face that seemed to taunt the Paladin with it's hideous grin "Dun ju worry...ju see me again...dat be a promise" and erupted intolaughter, a deep mocking sound that echoed through that darkened wood like a fading memory.