Rolivish was walking through the centre of Erend. A large gathering of people were watching some sort of magic performance. It seemed like most of Erend was out to watch this show. Citizens cheering, guards watching, even nobles were observing the festivities.

Large groups of people always made the gnomish sorcerer nervous. He tried to pass by without alerting anyone to his presence. The older gnome could exactly remember where he was going but he knew he had to pass the crowd.

“Kill them,” an ominous voice whispered to him.

Rolivish stopped in his tracks. The world around him froze in time. People were as still as statutes. They seemed oblivious to the sudden darkening sky. Footsteps echoed from behind the gnome. Fear had trapped him and he was unable to run or turn to face the unknown invader.

The sorcerer felt a hand gently grip his right shoulder. The stranger crouched behind him and their long straight silver hair dropped on top of Rolivish’s left shoulder. “Kill them all,” spoke the man in a soft and stoic voice. “Seize the greater power that dwells within you.”

Pain shot through Rolivish’s mind. It was like a hand was inside his skull and squeezing his brain. “I won’t do it,” yelled the gnome.

“Hush child,” said the taller man. “You don’t have to fear greatness. Allow me to comfort you.”

A giant angelic black wing wrapped around Rolivish. Twisted dark energy spread throughout the gnome’s body. His mind was attacked and he lost control of his body. He felt helpless in his own skin and was being moved against his will like a marionette pulled by its strings.

The wing moved away and the crowd of people were no longer watching the performance but were all staring at him. Their faces were twisted and deformed like knots on a tree. Hundreds of menacing eyes gazed the gnome as their bodies inched closer.

The poor shopkeeper wanted them to disappear. He was so scared that he felt like his heart would explode from his chest at any second. A moment later a sharp pain did erupt from his chest, followed by the sensation of thousands of insects crawling through his body. The pain in his head was so intense he was on the verge of blacking out. Then he heard an audible click.

He could feel something forcing its way through the circles of magic locked within his mind and body. Rolivish could only witness himself casting a spell from his seventh circle of magic. A beautiful but destructive rainbow-colored magic.

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The gnome’s hands clasped together and a swell of arcane power was locked between them. He slowly began parting them and a wonderful rainbow appeared as he arced his palms the give the rainbow its perfect arch. Colours sprayed out over the crowd of people before the screams of the dying resounded throughout Erend.

People were burning in flames, melting in acid, frying in lightning, choking on toxic poisons, freezing in ice, being turned to stone, vanishing existence, or a bizarre mix of all of them.

“Well done,” whispered the winged figure behind Rolivish. Tears streamed down the shopkeeper’s eyes before the world went dark.

Rolivish awoke in his room, it was the second time he had that nightmare after looking at that cursed pendant that group of people had brought in. Only this time, he wasn’t able to fight off the influence of the winged being like he could the first night.

His bed was drenched in sweat. Rolivish got up and scurried out of his bedroom and into his shop. “One of these tomes must have information about an artifact that can strengthen the mind,” he muttered to himself.

After a few hours of flipping through multiple books, he found what he was looking for. There was rumoured to be a diamond, that was the size of a fist, that had the ability to increase one’s mental fortitude.

It was hidden in a cave in the Frosted Mountains a few days north of Erend. The mountains were covered by unnatural clouds and freezing temperatures surrounding the area. Not to mention, there were serval creatures and monsters around there.

Scanning the pages about the gem, Rolivish noticed an important detail. The magic of the gem could only be used if it was placed inside a necklace or a crown. Otherwise, its magic is inert and this can’t be used. That gave the gnome piece of mind because that meant adventures that he’d have to hire to retrieve the diamond couldn’t use it. And even if they sold it, he could easily acquire it since it wouldn’t be in a frozen monster riddled lair.

When morning came, the sorcerer made a quick poster offering valuable information or a gold reward to whoever could retrieve the diamond.

Rolivish started to walk to the centre of the town. It was still early enough that only the vendors and the customers who bought things very early were around.

The closer the gnome got to the mainboard by the fountain, the more he began to panic. What if that being in his nightmares took control of him right now? What if he couldn’t fight it off?

Even though the thoughts kept playing in his mind, Rolivish progressed forward. He had come out here for a reason and it was too late to turn back.

The gnomish sorcerer arrived at his destination without incident. He then used magic to stick the notice to the board. Rolivish peered around the around one last time before leaving.

Three members of the team that cursed him with these horrific dreams were making their way across the plaza. There was the nice man with the weird animal fur around his neck that bought his experimental explosive potion. Behind him were the two tall women of their team as well. An extremely beautiful elf is a purple and black outfit that accented her body nicely and the slightly shorter half that wore dark green clothes under her leather armour.

The trio seemed to be discussing something excitedly while heading towards the north gate. For a moment, Rolivish considered asking them to help him since they caused his problem but deep down he knew it wasn’t their fault. They were just curious adventurers that wanted to know information about an item they had found. They probably had no idea the item was a cursed artifact.

Rolivish muttered some words and then clapped his hands after closing his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he was back in his shop. Teleportation magic was rare but extremely convenient. Most people who couldn’t teleport at will were confined to using magical circles with fixed locations they could move between.

He decided he would do more research on other things that could protect his mind while he waited for help.