A Calculated Risk

What was far more disturbing were the hooded figures that stood, like sentinels, along the aisle leading to that throne. Astra stood, frozen to the spot, tugging on Lord Fred's arm. She pointed to the horrifying fact that each of the figures had skeletal hands, dimly visible in the orb's wan glow.

Lord Fred and Astra found themselves approaching the throne, quite against their will. Their screams died in their throats, as they found themselves quite unable to speak. As they reached the throne, the two hooded figures closest to it pulled off their hoods, revealing images out of pure nightmare.

Both creatures had horrifying skulls for heads, with a blue eldritch fire visible in their eyes. They went to take places on either side of the throne, staring at our terrorized twosome. "Do you see them now?" asked Reaibn, sadly. "I felt I had to show them to you. So that you would understand. The Dark Ones must be amused, you see, they must be continually amused. If not, first Allaria then the world will fall under their madness. I bear the weight of all of this, for our people."

>>WE ARE NOT AMUSED<< came a skin crawling voice, not audible by ears but echoing in the heads of all present. >>THIS ONE MUST DO BETTER<<

Lord Fred and Astra were not prepared for this. No sane person would be. This was something out of the darkest fairy tale, scary hidden monsters that take away the bad children. The longer they stayed around these creatures, the more their panic rose. Rational thought was leaving quickly, replaced by self-preservation instinct.

Lord Fred steeled himself, mastered his fear, and Astra did the same. It would not hold, but it was enough for now. "What is this, Reaibn? Explain yourself."

Reaibn waved his hand, causing the vision of the creatures to fade from our heroes eyes. They immediately began to breath easier. "They are still here, " Reaibn said. "They are always here. But you want to know what happened? I will tell you."

Reaibn had found 'The Eye Of Hayzus', and with it, great power. However, what he did not know, could not have known, was that Hayzus was an ancient evil. The magical artifact that Reaibn found had been hidden behind many traps in time long ago, to lock away its evil. Since Reaibn was a good man, it was unable to turn him evil but it did open a door.

The Dark Ones had come to Reaibn on the third day after he obtained the Eye. It was they who whispered to him in the darkness, giving him crazy ideas to use his power on. It was some time before Reaibn realized their true nature, and came to understand the price of his newfound Power. He had unleashed a scourge upon the world, and it was only restrained by a thread.

As long as he amused them, they would be trapped in the castle. However, if he defied them then they would drive him fully mad and make him use his power to bring them fully into our world, where they could feed on the sanity of all creatures until our world became an asylum of the damned.

"So now you know," said Reaibn with a sigh. "So, what will you do?"

1. Lord Fred and Astra agree to help Reaibn however they can. There must be a way out of this.
2. Lord Fred and Astra get the hell out of there.
3. More lore on the Dark Ones.

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