The setting sun cast a
warm glow over the fields of wheat, giving the land a golden hue for
miles around. Lying on the border of Westfall and Duskwood, the farm
stretched for several miles, the entirety of the place looking like a
glimmering pile of treasure in the lgiht. Seluna paused on a small hill
overlooking the fields, her eyes counting the farmhands and helpers
working or idly chatting as their day drew to a close. Her count ended
at over a dozen of the humans, and she nodded to herself, as if
confirming something she had already figured on.
Slowly, she made her way down the small hill, taking care not to allow her movements to be picked out against the backdrop of the terrain behind her. She wanted to move closer without being observed for a time. As she reached the edge of the fields, she paused and looked upon a scarecrow standing nearby to ward away birds and other things that might make their way into the field and destroy the crops. She smirked and took a step on the borders of the field.
Power slammed into her and made her tremble with agony. She quickly reeled back, her feet taking her away from the edge of the ripe wheat and immediately the pain dimmed. Seluna almost laughed aloud as she looked at the scarecrow with new respect; apparently a wandering priest had blessed it to prevent OTHER pests from entering the fields, pests such as the undead that lurked in the nearby forests of Duskwood. The holy energy in the little straw figure was enough to repel her, and she was forced to walk the long way around the field. Her amusement waned with the wasted time and effort it took to walk so far,and by the time she'd reached a small path between the fields, shadows played on her skin and in the air around her. Her smile had become an expressionless mask as she set about the task she was to perform.
**************
John Lightforge had worked on the farm for most of his adult life, and in that time he'd seen many creatures both fair and foul roam across the fields. Usually things crept from Duskwood, and had to be hunted lest they hunt the men at night, so he was vigillant when outdoors to keep an eye on his surroundings. Even so, despite all his experience, the last thing he expected to see stepping from between the rows of wheat was a dark haired, pale skinned Quel'dorei elf. Her eyes glowed blue and there was an almost alluring beauty about her as deep violet shadows played over her body and twisted in achingly beautiful paterns in the air about her.
Her gaze locked with his, and he could feel her presence as if she were standing beside him whispering in his ear. He longed to hear her voice and the shadows playfully slid through the air, surrounding him.
As Seluna's power took his mind, he mentally screamed, but no sound was heard other than that of the farmhand sinking to his knees. After she had concentrated for a few moments, reaming his mind of free will, he rose silently. "What do you require mistress?"
Seluna smirked, stepping past him and beckoning for him to follow. There were many more farmhands amongst the humans on the farm.
*****************
Mary Lightforge looked up as the door to the house opened and she heard footsteps in the adjoining room. It was odd for any of the farmhands to come in before the dinnerbell, and it sounded like the entire lot of them had arrived early! The stew wasn't even fully cooked yet, and it would be another half hour at least before she rang for them. She wiped her hands on her apron and stepped away from the cauldron that contained her stew, turning towards the door and stopping with a gasp.
There in the doorway stood what looked to be a Quel'dorei elf. Behind her, all of the farmhands from the fields stood, their eyes blank and vacant. The elf smirked at her and her knees buckled as shadowy magic assaulted her mind. After a few moments of pressure, she knew no more.
**********************
Seluna smiled to herself as the farmwife fell to her power. She was the last of the adults on the farm, and the priestess had collected over a dozen human followers with her powers. They were easily subdued to her eyes, weak and inferior to her own race in every way.
Perfect for her plans.
As the woman rose, she snapped her fingers and one of the farmhands brought forth a pack she had made him carry. Seluna smiled, reaching in and pulling out black garments, tossing them to the enthralled humans.
"You are now members of the Cult of the Shadowed Eye," she purred. "You should feel honored, for your god has called to you personally, and you will herald the coming of his divine form on this world."
The humans-turned-cultists all broke into grins and bowed their heads before donning the ceremonial garb Seluna had brought. Everything she'd said was a farce of course, but that too was part of the plan. Everything was coming together perfectly. Her long ears detected a sound in the next room and she frowned in irritation. There were children playing.
"The young are too little to be initiated in the cult, and not favored by the Eye," she said softly. "Eliminate them."
Several of the humans picked up knives from the nearby counters, their minds so damaged by her spells that they didn't think to question. The female paused though, trembling and fighting Seluna's spell. She pouted in irritation. "You will do as you are told. Eliminate them now."
The woman continue to shake, defying her. Seluna's eyes blazed blue as her anger grew. Her magic lashed out.
******************************
In the end, the young and even the female had to be killed in order to get the others to obey her. Seluna shrugged and walked from the fields, the humans she had taken walking behind her silently. The farmhouse looked like the scene of a demonic ritual gone bad, with blood sacrifices and ritualistic markings adorning the floors and walls. It would take the humans of Westfall weeks to determine what had happened, and it was hardly a concern of hers anyway what conclusions they came to.
Seluna smiled as the humans carried her things for her, leading them towards their future. A future spent giving their lives to her designs. She laughed aloud as the darkness of Duskwood folded around her and her thralls.
Slowly, she made her way down the small hill, taking care not to allow her movements to be picked out against the backdrop of the terrain behind her. She wanted to move closer without being observed for a time. As she reached the edge of the fields, she paused and looked upon a scarecrow standing nearby to ward away birds and other things that might make their way into the field and destroy the crops. She smirked and took a step on the borders of the field.
Power slammed into her and made her tremble with agony. She quickly reeled back, her feet taking her away from the edge of the ripe wheat and immediately the pain dimmed. Seluna almost laughed aloud as she looked at the scarecrow with new respect; apparently a wandering priest had blessed it to prevent OTHER pests from entering the fields, pests such as the undead that lurked in the nearby forests of Duskwood. The holy energy in the little straw figure was enough to repel her, and she was forced to walk the long way around the field. Her amusement waned with the wasted time and effort it took to walk so far,and by the time she'd reached a small path between the fields, shadows played on her skin and in the air around her. Her smile had become an expressionless mask as she set about the task she was to perform.
**************
John Lightforge had worked on the farm for most of his adult life, and in that time he'd seen many creatures both fair and foul roam across the fields. Usually things crept from Duskwood, and had to be hunted lest they hunt the men at night, so he was vigillant when outdoors to keep an eye on his surroundings. Even so, despite all his experience, the last thing he expected to see stepping from between the rows of wheat was a dark haired, pale skinned Quel'dorei elf. Her eyes glowed blue and there was an almost alluring beauty about her as deep violet shadows played over her body and twisted in achingly beautiful paterns in the air about her.
Her gaze locked with his, and he could feel her presence as if she were standing beside him whispering in his ear. He longed to hear her voice and the shadows playfully slid through the air, surrounding him.
As Seluna's power took his mind, he mentally screamed, but no sound was heard other than that of the farmhand sinking to his knees. After she had concentrated for a few moments, reaming his mind of free will, he rose silently. "What do you require mistress?"
Seluna smirked, stepping past him and beckoning for him to follow. There were many more farmhands amongst the humans on the farm.
*****************
Mary Lightforge looked up as the door to the house opened and she heard footsteps in the adjoining room. It was odd for any of the farmhands to come in before the dinnerbell, and it sounded like the entire lot of them had arrived early! The stew wasn't even fully cooked yet, and it would be another half hour at least before she rang for them. She wiped her hands on her apron and stepped away from the cauldron that contained her stew, turning towards the door and stopping with a gasp.
There in the doorway stood what looked to be a Quel'dorei elf. Behind her, all of the farmhands from the fields stood, their eyes blank and vacant. The elf smirked at her and her knees buckled as shadowy magic assaulted her mind. After a few moments of pressure, she knew no more.
**********************
Seluna smiled to herself as the farmwife fell to her power. She was the last of the adults on the farm, and the priestess had collected over a dozen human followers with her powers. They were easily subdued to her eyes, weak and inferior to her own race in every way.
Perfect for her plans.
As the woman rose, she snapped her fingers and one of the farmhands brought forth a pack she had made him carry. Seluna smiled, reaching in and pulling out black garments, tossing them to the enthralled humans.
"You are now members of the Cult of the Shadowed Eye," she purred. "You should feel honored, for your god has called to you personally, and you will herald the coming of his divine form on this world."
The humans-turned-cultists all broke into grins and bowed their heads before donning the ceremonial garb Seluna had brought. Everything she'd said was a farce of course, but that too was part of the plan. Everything was coming together perfectly. Her long ears detected a sound in the next room and she frowned in irritation. There were children playing.
"The young are too little to be initiated in the cult, and not favored by the Eye," she said softly. "Eliminate them."
Several of the humans picked up knives from the nearby counters, their minds so damaged by her spells that they didn't think to question. The female paused though, trembling and fighting Seluna's spell. She pouted in irritation. "You will do as you are told. Eliminate them now."
The woman continue to shake, defying her. Seluna's eyes blazed blue as her anger grew. Her magic lashed out.
******************************
In the end, the young and even the female had to be killed in order to get the others to obey her. Seluna shrugged and walked from the fields, the humans she had taken walking behind her silently. The farmhouse looked like the scene of a demonic ritual gone bad, with blood sacrifices and ritualistic markings adorning the floors and walls. It would take the humans of Westfall weeks to determine what had happened, and it was hardly a concern of hers anyway what conclusions they came to.
Seluna smiled as the humans carried her things for her, leading them towards their future. A future spent giving their lives to her designs. She laughed aloud as the darkness of Duskwood folded around her and her thralls.
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