“Well, what do you think?” I asked Inkler after we had eaten. “It’s almost midnight, do we head to the tree or to the chapel?” I looked over at the cat, who had flopped over on his side and was content to simply flick his tail about. “You’re right, nothing good happens at midnight in a chapel. There’s probably some tiny critters you can stalk in the tree.” That got him to crack an eye, followed quickly by the elevator butt stretch. He started smacking his lips, excited to be chasing something.

As we walked toward the tree, there was a deep thrumming sound that vibrated through my chest. Inkler’s whine let me know that he felt it too, though what it signaled I had no idea. Shrugging, I turned back to the tree to see parts of it igniting with small green and blue flames. Curious, we got closer. There at the base was a wooden cart, with a man in the back. He was glowing the same light green as the flames in the tree, and a robed figure was tying a noose around his neck.

“Hello there!” I called out.

“Huh? Oh witnesses, how wonderful. It’s been far too long since we’ve had proper witnesses.” The robed figure replied cheerily. Flipping off his hood revealed a bald headed man that had a slightly blue glow about him.

“Witnesses to what, exactly?” I asked.

“Why the hanging of course!”

“Hanging? Of who?” I was getting more and more confused.

“The right bastard next to me of course. He killed three people. Murdered.”

“I did no such oof!” The man’s protestations were cut off with a savage punch to the stomach.

“Now now, we’ll have none o’ that.” The executioner said. “You’ll go and scare off the witnesses again.”

“Do you mind if I talked a bit with the, um, condemned?” I asked, distaste coating the final word.

“Oh I suppose, just know that he’s a liar along with a murd’rer.” The executioner shrugged his shoulders and went about his business, making sure that the noose was properly secured to the tree.

“So, what’s your side of the story?” I asked, climbing into the back of the wagon.

“Please, you have to help me. Please!” Desperate, he tried to grab at me, but his hands were bound behind his back.

“Calm down, and talk. I can at least promise to listen.”

“O. Ok.” He said, taking a few moments to settle himself. “I started life as an adventurer, long ago. Our party was rather famous at the time, though I’m sure our feats have been lost to time in the centuries that have passed. We were close, brothers and sisters in arms. I was our front line, and I fell in love with our cleric and she with me. As we grew older, we realized that we couldn’t continue life as our skills were waning. Rather than go out in a blaze of glory, we decided to retire. We wandered into the Underdark, hoping for a place where we weren’t as famous. We craved the simple life, you see?” I nodded, and he kept going with a sigh. “We found this manor, and I hired on as a guard. Lord Lucifer was impressed with my strength, even if I was weakening with age. And we were happy, for the longest time. We thought we were working with a drow. How wrong we were.”

“I know what Lucifer is, you don’t have to say it if you don’t want to be heard.” I whispered as the man took a few seconds to compose himself. I saw his lip quiver a few times, but didn’t mention it.

“Had we known, well. It doesn’t matter now. He set me up somehow. Three guests were murdered, a family just passing through. A man and wife, and their small child. They used my sword and dagger, brutally hacking through the bodies. Even that small child. It was. Brutal. Such brutality. They found me guilty of course, and sentenced me to death. That night, I saw Lord Lucifer for what he truly was. And I cried out to my love, to have her flee. Run. Escape. The priestesses from the chapel swiftly caught her, and forced her within. And so I am forced to relive my death, in this cursed Hanging Tree every midnight. My soul will rise up to be caught in the branches, and from there I can hear the screams of my love as she is forced to do things. They keep her alive somehow, someway. Will you help us?”

New Quest Alert!

Last request

An adventurer, framed and killed before his lover, has asked for your help. Will you free them? Or choose not to believe his story?

“You said they took her to the chapel?”

“Yes. Are you?”

“Yes. I needed to head there anyway, and I will put an end to whatever is happening in there.” I said, hopping down out of the back of the wagon. I started walking down a well-traveled path, heading straight for the chapel, Inkler by my side. “I’m not sure what we’re going to find in there, but most likely a bunch of enemies capable of healing themselves. I want you to go for decapitations with your reality slash.” He chuffed his agreement, and I pulled out my arbalest and loaded one of the decapitator bolts. Walking up to the doors, I noticed that whatever holy signs that used to be on the doors had been obliterated. The stone bowl that usually held blessed water was filled with dirt and chunks of stone.

I opened the doors and strode in like I owned the place, noticing that Inkler had disappeared from my side. Inside was surprisingly well lit. The pews had been removed, and in the center was a massive summoning circle. Tending to a form wrapped in a shroud on the altar were five women.

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Enthralled Priestess

Level 85

Once priestesses of the gods and goddesses of the light pantheon, they have now sworn service to Lucifer. With their powers, they hold in chains one who has not forsaken their vows, forcing them to live on and summon beings of light for their master to feed upon.

Bridgette

Fallen Mother Superior

Level 90

The leader of the cult that worships Lucifer, she maintains the thralls and their prisoner.

“Good evening ladies!” I called out, causing all of them to jump and spin to face me. “Nice night for a stroll, isn’t it?”

“Who dares to invade this sanctum?” The mother superior hissed.

“Sanctum? And what god or goddess do you worship in this sanctum, pray tell?” I asked with a sardonic grin on my face.

“Insolent. You are in the chapel of Lord Lucifer, Master of the Night and Ruler of the Beasts that Dwell Within!”

“That’s a right fancy way of saying he’s a vampire.” I chuckled, getting hisses from all the women.

“You will serve the master for eternity!”

“Or. Orrrrr. I have a better idea.” I interrupted what was sure to be an epic rant about the wonders of my soon to be new master to be a cheeky bastard. “I could kill the lot of you, slay your master, and drag his soul before Thanatos himself. How’s that sound?” I asked with arms spread and palms facing up.

“HAHAHAHA!” The ladies all cackled. “And what makes you think that you have the power to do such a thing?”

“Well, there is that.” I said, pointing over one of the priestesses’ shoulder. To my utter delight, all of them turned and gave me the perfect amount of time to line up a shot and take out one of the priestesses as they all turned back in confusion.

“Agatha!” The priestess on the far left shrieked, falling to her knees to cradle the head of her fellow. “nonononoNONONONONOOOOOO!”

“Janice dear, pull yourself together. Death is a part of life.” The mother superior scolded.

“No, Lord Lucifer promised us life eternal! We aren’t supposed to die!” She screeched, turning to glare at their leader. Just in time to see several lines of darkness take the head of the priestess to the far right.

“[Dancing shadow steps][Keen edge].” Before she could call out a warning, I closed the gap and took of the head of the last remaining priestess to the right, utter shock crossing her features as my blade separated her head from her shoulders.

“Jaimie! Johanna!”

“Calm yourself child, this is ridiculous. We will perform the dark rite later to bring them back. We can even use this one as a sacrifice. I think that will be fitting. [Corrupted light].” With a flick of her wrist she sent a beam of brownish grey light straight into my chest, knocking me back across the room.

“Gyaaaah!” I screamed, as the light kept burning despite its relatively short life.

“Ah, such a sweet sound.” She said, taking in a deep breath. “Do sing some more for me, I wish to hear your final melody. [Corrupted lance of light].” She fired one of my own spells at me, piercing my thigh this time. I crumpled to the ground in agony, forcing myself to burn my palms as I removed the spell from my leg. Her skill level with that spell must be grandmaster to get it to remain like that. Looking at my health, it had already dropped by a quarter.

“[Shadow dragon bolt].” I snarled, sending a spell her way. She took the attack straight to the chest, laughing the whole time.

“Ooooh, tingles.” She giggled. “Not nearly as strong as our lord’s. You should thank us for this. Our master is so far above you, it’s like a worm fighting a giant. Now, scream for me. [Corrupted light].” As the bolt of light shot towards me, a shimmer in the air in front of me let me know Inkler was helping. He had to drop his invisibility to properly angle his reflective plates, but it was worth it to see that bitch’s spell pierce her thigh.

“AAAAAAHHHH!” She screamed in pain, clutching her leg.

“[Light dragon bolt].” If shadow wouldn’t hurt her, perhaps light would. The dragon latched onto her shoulder, biting down hard before exploding in a burst of light.

“Youuuuuuu. You and your beast will pay for this.” She spat at us, clutching her ruined shoulder. “Janice.” The wailing priestess looked up to the mother superior as she flung blood from her ruined shoulder into the priestess’ face and mouth. “Thank you dear. I’ll be sure to resurrect you in time. [Dark healing].” To my horror, splits opened up in the priestess’ skin, and her blood flew out in streams to swirl around and be absorbed by the mother superior. Within seconds, the desiccated remains of the priestess slumped to the ground and the mother superior’s wounds were healed.

“Ah, that’s much better, thank you dear.” She said, patting the side of the mummified face. “Now. What am I going to do with you two?”

“[Binding shadow chains].”

“[Dark mirror].” To my surprise, a mirror of shadow coalesced in front of the mother superior, only it showed me bound in my own chains. I heard the snap of fingers, and what the mirror showed became reality!

“Inkler, slash at me quick.” Bastard of a cat didn’t hesitate for a second, slashing my thigh. The damage caused the binding spell to shatter, much to the amusement of Bridgette.

“Such a terrible weakness for such a strong binding spell. No matter, you won’t be alive much longer. Come to me, my children.” Several summoning circles appeared, on every flat place near the mother superior. From the small circles came terrible horrors.

Dolls. Porcelain dolls of all shapes and sizes. Some in Victorian era dresses, some with shaved heads and cracked faces, and a few clowns scattered here and there. Faceless dolls for those of the Amish faith, and intricate dolls that could be used by a ventriloquist. They all focused on me, as Inkler had immediately disappeared. Creepy giggles from mouths that didn’t move were not helping my nerves.

“Oh my darlings, thank you for coming to help mommy. That bad man over there wants to hurt mommy.” She pointed at me, and got a chorus of hisses. The eyes of all the dolls immediately locked on me, and glowed a vibrant red. Each doll was suddenly carrying some form of weapon, as varied as the dolls themselves. The oddest were the clowns with balloon weapons, though I had a feeling they would do just as much damage as the farmer’s sickles carried by the Amish dolls.

“Oh fuck this.” I muttered, desperate plan forming in my head. “[Shadowgheist][Dancing shadow steps].” I timed the moves so that the shadowgheist appeared near Bridgette, but I shifted to behind the altar, hidden from sight. A wave of dolls immediately started hacking and slashing at the clone, rapidly draining its life. As it desperately tried to retaliate against the dolls, it moved closer and closer to the inevitable death by a thousand cuts. Now was my chance.

“[Binding shadow chains].” I whispered the activation of the skill, leaping over the altar and pushing the head of the mother superior forward. “Heal this. [Keen edge].” The dolls all screamed as they realized the danger to their owner, but it was too late. With one stroke, I decapitated Bridgette and all of the dolls fell like puppets with their strings cut.

“That takes care of that.” I said, panting. I decided to hold off on looting for just a moment, instead turning to see what was on the altar.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” Shrugging, I realized I would probably scream too if the first thing I saw when I woke up was someone holding a severed head.