Author's Odyssey

Before this mysterious night, Virgil, a newcomer to the continent, begins his journey with a blend of curiosity and resolve to explore the unknown lands. After reuniting and shortly afterwards parting ways with an old friend, Faraday, who warned him of strange disturbances and villages disappearing, Virgil finds himself in the quaint town of Greenhaven. Here, he quickly becomes entangled in the daily life of the locals, including an encounter with a group of robed figures from the capital preaching doom and salvation through their pontiff, Y’Darb Mot. Despite the town’s initial resistance to these cultists, a peculiar change overtakes its residents overnight. Virgil awakens to a silent, almost spectral procession of townsfolk, drawn towards an unseen force, setting the stage for his stealthy investigation into this eldritch transformation…

“It started with a thud and the sound of feet moving in unison from the other rooms. Virgil woke up from his slumber, feeling an odd mix of energized alertness and creeping anxiety. The moonlight spilled through the window, bathing his second-floor room in a cool, ethereal glow, yet the scene outside was eerily quiet. Despite the sounds of people moving about, there were no voices, no murmurs of conversation – as if the guests had all been struck by a sudden, collective mutism.

Virgil lay still for a moment, trying to make sense of the situation. The absence of voices, coupled with the steady, coordinated movements, was unsettling. It was as though the inn had transformed into a silent world of shadows and whispers, a stark contrast to the warmth and liveliness of the evening before.

Mimicking the somnambulistic gait of those around him, Virgil subtly weaved his way through the crowd, aiming to get a closer look at the figures exuding an air of ominous pride. Among the robed figures, a woman on horseback commanded attention, her presence underscored by a peculiar apparatus strapped over her lower face, leaving only her eyes visible. This device emitted a strange, otherworldly whistle, casting a hypnotic spell over the onlookers.

Virgil felt a flicker of curiosity mixed with unease. Why wasn’t this eerie siren song affecting him as it did the others? He watched, intrigued yet wary, as the townspeople stood entranced, their eyes locked on the robed figures. The woman’s eyes, visible above the enigmatic device, scanned the crowd with a cold, methodical precision, adding to the eerie atmosphere that had enveloped the town.”

I hope this teaser whetted any appetites! There will be more to come as we experience the passage of time. Let me know what you think in the comments and please share with whoever might be interested in what is to come.