Duskvale Hunts: The Red Eyes

The bright days of Ebonleigh always bring joy to the people. Every day pilgrims and the people intermix at the large cathedral in the northern part of the city. The tall spires reach to the sky as if to give the people the hope they can reach the gods.

Beautiful stones of white marble make up the body of the cathedral and stained glass for all the windows. On the large wooden doors at the entrance are carved the symbols of the gods they worship. The doors stand wide open from sun up to sun down to allow people to come and go as they please.

Several priests and nuns work here under a single bishop. Bishop Samuel is loved by the city as a whole. He is strict and caring with the people’s faith. Always questioning the health of the souls that come and go. He is often at odds with the way things have been run for some time. Parties, the nobles and royal visitors can get out of hand at times and cause Samuel much concern over the health of the leaders of this country.

One of the younger priests, Peter, is often found at the door greeting the people as they come in. offering them a quick prayer to the gods for their love and protection. He always has a large smile on his face full of love for others. After each rush of people, twice a day, he attends other duties that help the senior priest prepare for the day's worship.

Peter often helps the elder priest with their duties. They have ages far enough that some of the tasks can be tougher on them. One day while he is working with them he overhears two of them talking about the bishop.

“Brother, I'm worried about the bishop. He's been more distant lately,” one of the older priests says.

“I understand your concern. I noticed the same. He’s always off somewhere else it seems,” the other priest says.

“I heard he won't even take counsel with any of the priests or nuns anymore,” the first priest adds.

“He’s always up at strange hours too,” the second priest continues.

Peter knows he shouldn’t be listening so he presses it from his mind and continues to help with the duties. Though he can’t help but notice the bishop is more absent than usual. Leaving the mass and main duties to the high ranked priests. He knows being the bishop is a very demanding position and it's very possible those higher than himself have put more on him to do.

That night Peter is taking care of closing up the cathedrals inner areas. Back where the dorms are at. Making sure no one got lost and ended up here and everything is locked up tight. He hears nuns worried about the weeping coming from the bishop’s chambers. Peter acts like he isn’t listening as he walks by checking doors and snuffing out candles. As he reaches the candles outside the bishop's room he leans into the door to listen. Everything is silent and seems to be ok but that doesn’t stop the rising worry in his soul. Looking to place the metal cap on the candles he notices some ash just at the base of the candlestick. Someone burned paper here and one small piece with a little writing was left behind. The edges burnt but a little ink can still be seen. Peter strains his eyes but cannot tell what it was supposed to say. An odd smell not like anything he’s even smelt before is coming from the paper. Putting it up to his nose it smells of a mix of ink and rotten flesh.

Back in his own chambers Peter sits with the piece of paper. Looking at it for a moment before putting it in the drawer next to his bed. He kneels next to it and prays to the gods. Each one he adresses in hopes that he can find some answers in his sleep tonight. Snuffing out his own candle he lays his head down to sleep.

Late in the middle of the night Peter wakes to hear someone walking past his door. Quietly he gets up rubbing his eyes to check who it could be. Poking his head out the door he notices a person walking in the direction of the crypt that rests below the chapel. The crypt hasn’t been used in over 100 years, so no one has business down there. The person he sees has beautiful elaborate robes which means the only person that could be is Bishop Samuel. Peter steps out quietly in his sleeping gown and slowly follows.

Deep in the crypt far below the cathedral Peter follows the bishop in silence. Keeping low and hiding behind pillars to avoid detection. At the far end of the crypt the bishop enters a room. Peter can hear a lock being activated from the inside. He creeps up to the door and looks through the keyhole only to see the bishop writing by a single candle light. He tries to look around the room for sometime but can’t see much through the keyhole. He moves off to the side where he can’t be seen so he can investigate more.

What seemed to be hours passed before Bishop Samuel left. Locking the door behind him he stashes the key inside his robes. His boots click against the stone floor as he leaves the area. Peter stands up slightly shivering from the cold stone he rested against. Peter quietly messes with the door to try and open it but to no avail.

Looking around the empty areas that coffins would be placed into for something he can use to get the lock open. Sliding his hands along the casket shelves he finds a long iron nail. Pulling it up to his face to examine it. It's rusted but should still work if he can figure it out. He’s never tried to pick a lock before but things are too weird with the rumors going around.

Pressing the nail into the hole it almost falls through. He pulls it out a little bit so the tip is not poking out the other side. He moves it around looking for any moveable pieces. Finding some he keeps playing around inside the lock. Adjusting his knees around as they get sore from the length of time this is taking. After sometime his hands grow cold and sore when all the sudden he hears a click. Holding the nail still he twists his hands and hears the lock disengage. Dropping the nail he pulls the door open and the hinges creeks.

Standing up as he enters the dark room. He puts his hands out to reach for anything he can find. Moving forward he finds the candle on the table the bishop was at. Using it as a guide to find the matches below. Striking a small orange flame erupts at the end of the match. Reaching over to light the candle and illuminate the room a little.

Looking at the table Peter sees a book of disturbing design. The cover looks to be made from some kind of skin. Strange patterns all over the front and back of the book. He opens it up and finds some loose pages just inside the front. This must be what the bishop was writing. Various times with locations and lists of odd items are written. Some of the things written have a line through them. He sets the pages aside and looks into the book itself.

The pages of the book are thick and somewhat stiff. Written in that same smelly ink that Peter found on the burnt paper. The first pages are full of lists of items that match what the loose pages have written. The next section describes a ritual to call forward a dark black fog that will corrupt anything it touches. Turning all living things into monstrous creatures bent on destruction. Peter’s eyes get wide at what he is reading. Turning the pages more he finds various images of magical symbols and circles needed for the ritual.

Trying to grasp what he’s seeing he looks up and sees eyes painted in black all around the room. He reconizes the Watchful Eye Spell. When the bishop wakes he will know Peter was in here.

Peter can’t believe what he’s reading. What is the bishop thinking by having this book here? Looking between the loose pages and the book itself while giving much thought. He decides that the bishop must have turned away from the gods. Why would he make lists of the items in here and then cross them out? He must be gathering them to use against the city. He carefully closes the book and takes it with him. Gently closing the door behind him he quietly makes his way back to his room.

In his room he changes into his priestly robes and whips on a white hooded clappa. Taking the book with him he keeps it covered under the cappa so no one can see it. He can hear chanting in the upper levels behind the altar. The words sound similar to the writings in the book. He must hurry to Lord Duskvale before it’s too late.

Slipping out through a side entrance Peter plans his route. Going right through the grounds would be the fastest way. Walking through the courtyard Peter is guided by the gas lit lamps along the pathway which splits the row of roses to either side.

The sound of thunder claps over head and Peter looks up. Seeing a deep black cloud pouring from the top of the cathedral. He looks to advance faster but as he gets close to the gate he can see it is locked up. Without a key and the time it took before to pick a lock he wouldn’t be able to get through in time. He turns and makes his way to a side gate. The second fastest way to the Duskvale manor would be through the cemetery, but first he would have to cut through the asylum courtyard.

Pushing through the metal gate Peter pauses and sniffs the air. It has a foul rotten smell to it and the taste of ash. He shakes his head and pushes on through the alley looking for the door in the high wall that separates the asylum from the rest of the city. After minutes he finds the door and starts to slam into it. The heavy wooden door doesn’t want to budge at all. He keeps pounding into it over and over until the hinges loosen from the stone wall. The door falls to the ground with a heavy thud and Peter wastes no time stepping over it. Crossing the asylum courtyard quickly passing over stone pathways well taken care of bushes.

He makes no effort to sneak around as time is of the essence. Looking up he can see the black fog spreading over the sky. He turns his attention to the gate between the cemetery and the asylum wall. Turning the knob he finds the gate is already unlocked. Not questioning it he pushes through. The cemetery resembles several mazes all stuck together. He works to make his way to the center to get his bearings easier.

Each twist and turn makes him feel more lost than ever before. The fog overhead has descended to some of the streets in the city. Screams of terror and the cries of beasts echoe in the cemetery. Peter rushes even more to reach the center.

Finding his way there he sees a large mausoleum for the parish as they leave this world. He moves past it and turns in the direction of the city’s center. The cries and screams start to echo from that direction as well. He’ll have to try and go around the factory and lower city district.

Rushing through the maze-like landscape Peter keeps pressing forward. The sounds of terror ringing in his ears. He can’t help but imagine what horrors are happening to the people. In the distance he sees someone wandering around. He slows down to approach.

“Hey, it's not safe out here. You should get home,” Peter calls out.

The person turns around and staggers a bit. He notices that they don’t look right. As he gets closer he sees the irises of their eyes are vibrant red and their skin is a grey color. Their bone structure protrudes at the joins and along their face. The limbs seem to be strangely elongated but not evenly. The beastly human locks its eyes on Peter and starts to charge at him. Peter turns and starts to run away.

All he can hear is the thudding of the creature chasing him. He doesn’t look back but keeps moving forward. He sees a mausoleum nearby and turns to it. The creature grabs the end of his cappa. Peter struggles to unhook the fastener of his cappa leaving the white vestment behind. The creature tears at it not realizing he isn’t with it anymore.

Reaching the mausoleum he swings the door open and slams it shut. Peter takes one of the columns with flowers on the top and wedges it under the door knobs. The beast pounds at the door over and over. Peter backs away to the altar in the back.

The door starts to crack and push in. Peter sits low on the side of the altar holding the book tightly in his arms. The door pushes in more and the creature reaches in trying to move the column blocking the way. Any normal proportioned person could squeeze through but this oddly shaped beast would never make it. Peter stares at the arm wildly swinging in the air. It seems as if it will never stop. More screams from people and howls of creatures fill the air.

The beast pulls its arm back and slams into the door again with no results. A nearby scream draws the beast's attention and its limbs thud as it leaves. The tearing of flesh can be heard just as loud as the woman’s cries of terror. Peter feels as if the gods are watching over him.

As the hours pass Peter looks into the book once again. Searching for a way that might reverse or cancel the terrible events happening. Flipping through the pages over and over. The only way he can find to stop it is to destroy the person who activated the ritual.

Hours turn into days and Peter hasn’t left his hiding spot. Fear has overtaken him and he can feel himself getting weaker. He has discovered that the black fog isn’t summoned into creation but rather called from somewhere else. It already exists in its own place in the universe. Entering it doesn’t kill you but transfers you to another place where the corruption takes place. When you come back you are twisted into a beast bound to its destructive ways.

Out the opening in the door he can see the fog has completely covered the area. The howl of the beasts and their trampling the area. Peter prays everyday to the gods for something or someone to come and stop this. Despair begins to claim him but he remains inside as he wants to die as himself, if he must die that is.

Having hidden away for twenty days now, Peter drinks the last of the water he brought with him. He can barely lift his arm as he hasn’t eaten at all. His hands are skin and bones as he clutches the book tight. He knows the end is near and no one is coming to save the city. With the last bit of energy he bites into his finger and draws an eye on the wall. Remembering the Wandering Eye Spell, he puts his own down to watch over the book even in death. He closes his eyes for the last time. The red eye he drew starts to move and multiply.

Five years later the sound of footsteps woke the red eyes. They follow the stone floor outside and direct the person to the mausoleum. When she squeezes inside she finds Peter inside with the book in his arms. Long dead priest clutches hard to protect it. The Red Eyes watch her as she flips through the book. Her long green coat and wide brimmed hat. Not having a concern before about who it was, the eyes take the time to look at her face. Recognizing her from years ago. This could only be the daughter of Lord Duskvale. Sent away nine years ago to become a warrior and leader. She is the last hope of the city. The eyes follow as she throws the book to the ground and burns it.