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.
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