When Elyoya had accepted the job to investigate the nearby town, she was absolutely not prepared for the devastation upon reaching the top of the hill. Smoke was visible from a couple miles away, but she hadn’t expected it to be this bad. The entire town had been reduced to ash, leaving some bare bones and smoking ruins. She exchanged a glance with Evelyn, her adventuring human partner and the sorceress had a look of concern on her face with pursed lips. Elyoya knew what was going through her mind. In her many years living as an elf, she’d seen wars where innocent towns were burned to the ground, the townspeople slain or enslaved, but this was different. The air felt heavy, it reeked of death and something…almost evil. “Do you feel that?” She asked.

Evelyn nodded. “Some kind of magic, some dark ritual. Someone tried to summon something with…horrible consequences.”

Her voice broke and she shut her mouth. Still, they’d been paid to investigate what had happened and they couldn’t just turn around and go back with no evidence. “Hey, is something glowing in the town?”

Evelyn’s voice jerked Elyoya out of her thoughts and she peered into the distance. There did seem to be something in the center of the town faintly glowing red. “That looks like a good place to start then.”

Evelyn looked like she wanted to argue but thought better of it and the two adventurers descended down the hill towards the town.

Up close, it was worse than they thought. Everything was covered in a thin gray layer, which Elyoya soon realized was ash. Their boots left footprints in the ash as they walked down what was likely the main road. Houses had been gutted and reduced to little more than blackened timbers or nothing at all. Cautiously, they continued towards the middle of town, twice jumping as a house beam crumbled and collapsed with a crash that was extremely loud in the silence of the town.

Evelyn had been write, the air felt heavy with death, smoke, and somethjng almost demonic. As they got closer to the town, Elyoya began to notice small shapes on the ground, bending down to inspect one pile before leaping back in shock as she realized it was a body. Their flesh completely burned away leaving nothing but bones. She felt sick, then turned and noticed how many bodies there were in the courtyard around her. Now she wanted to throw up.

She closed her eyes and thought of home, of the green forest, of nature. Her quesiness disappeared but it wouldn’t be long before it returned. Evelyn patted her on the back as she stood. “Center of town is just up the road, let’s see what there is and we get the hell out of here.”

Elyoya couldn’t agree more. The two quickly walked to the square at the city center but as they passed under a burned stone archway, they froze in place. In the center of the square was the source of light they had seen from the hill: a young human girl. She was chained to a wooden pole at the base of a statue that was now too blackened and broken to know what it signified before. All around the square were burned remains and bodies, enough to make her stomach lurch as she approached the girl who was hanging limply by her chained wrists, her eyes closed.

Looking around cautiously, Evelyn cast a spell to reveal hidden magic. “Nothing.” She said in confusion. “Everything has been burned down except her.”

“I’m going to check on her.”

Evelyn sucked in a breath, a habit that Elyoya knew she did not like the idea. “Be careful.” She hissed.

Treading as lightly as she could, Elyoya approached the chained up girl. She wasn’t sure if the girl was even breathing but she got within a couple of feet and bent down to try and talk to the girl. “Hello?” She asked.

For several heartbeats nothing happened, and then the girl’s eyes flew open so suddenly even Elyoya was startled. The seasoned adventurer then gasped and took a step back. The girl’s eyes were completely red. Then she opened her mouth and spoke and some unearthly voice emerged. Two is perfect. Just the amount needed to complete the ritual. 

Elyoya and Evelyn both stood frozen in horror as the girl clenched a hand and black chains shot out of the ground around the two women. They didn’t stand a chance as manacles on the ends of the chain clamped around their wrists and ankles, causing both to drop their weapons before they were pulled spread eagle and hauled off the ground. Both women struggled but the black chains were unyielding and stretched them out to the point Elyoya thought her limbs would be ripped from her sockets. There were almost enough sacrifices in this town. They thought that by sacrificing this girl they would appease me. Keep me satisfied for another year. But I decided enough is enough. And with the completion of this ritual I will return with my full might.

Elyoya opened her mouth to cry out but then realized no one was within several leagues to hear here. Mot that it mattered as a chain looped itself around her head, muffling her shout before it exited her mouth. She could see Evelyn also had been gagged with a chain, her cloak torn away leaving her in her long dress, gloves, and boots. Elyoya herself was still in her tunic and thigh boots but that may not last long, not that she could do much about it. Then she saw the statue erupt into flames and the chains began to move the two women towards it.

Both women struggled their hardest as the heat of the flames hit them like a brick wall, but the chains simply continued their task. Thank you girls. Now become one with the flame, your blood will spill and the ritual will be complete and I shall once again rise!