Dark Moon: Rise of The Dark King

Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 308. Blurry Image II

The Erebus Mountains were also often referred to as a haven for bandits and a refuge for criminals, it was a place where lawbreakers sought to escape the reach of justice. Yet, the mountains held more than just human threats. Over the years, many who fled into its depths were found dead without any discernible cause, their bodies eerily preserved, as if mummified by some unseen force.

The most infamous incident occurred about twenty-five years ago, long before Angel was born. A notorious group of bandits and criminals, who had terrorized the neighboring villages, sought refuge in the Erebus Mountains. They were pursued by the royal guard, but the treacherous terrain and the bandits' intimate knowledge of the area gave them the advantage. They vanished into the mountains, seemingly beyond the reach of the law.

Weeks later, a search party ventured into the mountains, determined to capture the criminals and bring them to justice. What they found instead was a scene out of a nightmare. The bandits were discovered deep within the mountains, their bodies perfectly preserved as mummies. The sight was horrifying, their skin shriveled, eyes hollow, and mouths agape in eternal screams. There were no signs of a struggle, no wounds or injuries that could explain their deaths. It was as if they had been drained of life by some malevolent force.

The discovery sent shockwaves through the continent. Rumors and superstitions spread like wildfire. Some believed the mountains were cursed, haunted by the spirits of the damned. Others whispered of dark magic, ancient and powerful, that consumed the souls of those who dared to trespass.

Several kingdoms banded together, determined to uncover the truth behind the chilling phenomenon. A joint investigation was launched, composed of the finest soldiers, scholars, and magic users from each realm. They ventured into the mountains with trepidation, armed with knowledge, weapons, and spells intended to protect them from whatever dark force might be lurking there.

Despite their precautions, none of the investigators returned safely. The mountains seemed to swallow them whole, leaving behind no trace of their efforts. The few who did manage to return were driven mad, their minds shattered by whatever horrors they had witnessed. They spoke in gibberish, their eyes wide with terror, unable to provide any coherent account of what had happened. The investigation, despite its initial promise, yielded no fruitful results. The mountains remained an enigma.

Strangely, after a few months, the furor surrounding the incident faded away, as if the collective memory of the event had been swept aside like dust blown by the wind. The stories of the mummified bandits and the failed investigations became little more than hushed whispers and folklore. No definitive cause or explanation was ever found.

Speculations ran rampant, but none were conclusive. Some believed it was the work of dark magic users who might still reside in the area. Yet, no evidence of such practitioners was ever discovered, casting doubt on this theory. Others suggested that poisonous smoke, perhaps remnants of some ancient, corrupted power, might be responsible. The idea of toxic fumes seemed plausible, but again, there were no signs to support this hypothesis.

Another theory posited that the dark king's influence still lingered in the mountains. The late dark king's reign had left deep scars, and it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility that his power had tainted the Erebus Mountains. But this, too, remained unproven. No tangible traces of his magic were detected, and no clues were found that could link the mummifications directly to him.

Some suggested that the victims had inadvertently stumbled upon ancient traps left over from long-forgotten wars. The Erebus Mountains had been a battleground in numerous conflicts, and it was conceivable that hidden dangers still lurked there. Yet, the thorough searches yielded no such traps, only more mummified corpses, adding to the mounting pile of unanswered questions.

Despite the multitude of guesses and analyses, nothing was proven. The mountains held their secrets close, revealing nothing to the investigators who had dared to intrude.

What was certain from the eerie events was the impact they had on the region's criminal underworld. The chilling tales of mummified bodies and mysterious deaths spread like wildfire, deterring even the most daring bandits and criminals from venturing into the area. The mountains, once a refuge for those fleeing justice, had become a place where lives were at stake, a cursed land that no one entered willingly.

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