The Nightmare Children
(Lu4 pink server)
The swamp fog stuck to my armor as I hunted through the dark. I am Dassem, a Light Elf knight, hired reluctantly by the Dark Elven sorcerer Vlasty to collect skulls from creatures called "dark horrors."
"Bring me their skulls," he'd whispered. "I need at least one perfect specimen."
The first dark horror rose from the swamp like living shadow, wielding an enormous scythe. Something about its skull seemed... familiar. Each battle left me more disturbed. The way they moved—too graceful for undead. The sounds they made—almost like words.
When I finally held a perfect skull under the pale moon, my blood ran cold. The elongated shape, the delicate bone structure— I knew something was wrong.
These were elven skulls. Dark Elven...
Vlasty's scholarly interest turned to horror as he examined my trophy. His fingers traced the familiar features.
"It looks similar to Elven skulls..." His hands shook. "Wait... It can't be..."
He shoved coins at me desperately. "Take your payment. Never speak of this again!"
"What are they?" I demanded.
His face went ashen. "You are still young and probably do not know, but fifty years ago, Dark Elves who opposed Tetrarch Thifiell disappeared overnight. The investigation said Light Elves killed them..."
He glanced nervously at the door. "But my brothers and I questioned that investigation."
"Then what happened to them?"
"Do not ask any more!" His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "You might also be put into danger. I plan to not get myself involved deeply in this matter either."
He pressed more coins into my hands, his own trembling. "Here, take your reward and forget about this incident. The Tetrarch still rules. Those who ask questions about the disappeared... sometimes disappear themselves."
I left with heavy pockets and a heavier heart. As I passed through the swamp again, the dark horrors' moaning sounded different now. Almost like voices.... and they were now calling my name..
