Copper's Candle Curse

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. This candle was bright. So bright that the nearby townsfolk in the town of Copper could see it from their homes. In those days the townsfolk dared not enter the forest for tales of the witch that lived there.

Such was the talk in the town’s tavern that night. “A light burns in the cabin in the woods yonder” The barkeep growled. “Who here believes they could brave the woods tonight to find the cause?”

“We dare to challenge the night and find the source of the candle in the window.” A man with an oversized hat complete with a plumed feather sticking out of it announced. Behind him, a burly man with a lot of tattoos, a woman in robes and another swashbuckling woman were queued up ready to leave. The barkeep looked them up and down and spit into his spittoon.

“A word of warning for you all then. Those woods have never been traveled successfully before and the cabin, while visible to our little town, has never been visited at night. It is our boundary from the world of our town and the world of that forest. As long as our town has been around, that cabin has stood there. Any attempts to traverse the woods during the day have led us back to the cabin and anytime any party has gone into the woods at night, they have not returned or returned with one of their party members missing.”

“According to magic users passin’ through our town, the source of these disappearances are related to that cabin on the hill. They say a powerful wicked magic emanates from there.” At this the barkeep gestured for them to come closer. “Many of them have suspected a witch living in that cabin. Possibly that candle has something to do with the foul creature.” The barkeep straightened up after delivering this bit of ill news.

“In any case, a candle burning there must be investigated so that our town has some closure.”

The foppish man bowed to the barkeep. “Consider this task done my friend.” He replied. “We don’t expect payment in advance, but any donations you can supply for us on arrival will be much appreciated.” At this he took off his hat and held it out for all to see, bowed, put his hat back on, and strutted out of the tavern. His companions sheepishly glanced at one another and followed him out.

"Another free job Clyde?" The burly tattooed man spat out. "How are we going to make a living if you're signing us up for this nonsense every time we turn around?"

The foppish man let out an exasperated sigh. "We'll make more money faster if we have a reputation made for us, Lionel. Completing jobs like this gives us that reputation." He looked to his other companions. "Lisa, Emerald, what do you say?"

The swashbuckler looked at the mage. "You know me boss, I'll follow you everywhere. Emerald loves witches so she's automatically in." At this the robed mage bobbed her head up and down. "I didn't really pay attention after that barkeep mentioned a witch." She said, a smile crossing her face.

"Alright then, let's investigate, you'll have to wait for your payment for later, Lionel. Clyde said with a grin."

The walk through the woods was uneventful. The light from the candle made it easy for the party to get to the cabin. As they drew nearer, they could hear sounds and smells of cooking coming from the cabin. They stopped and looked at each other just before they got to the clearing where the house was.

"This definitely doesn't live up to my expectations on a witch's hut" Clyde hissed to the others.

"I've never been one to be frightened of a little cooking." Lionel said. He jostled himself up to the door. "What's the worst that could happen?" he said as he knocked on the door.

The door opened and a middle aged woman appeared. "Ah company, I've been expecting you. I was hoping someone from the town would come up after I put my welcome light out. Please, all of you, come into my house, you must have some food. You too in the bushes," the woman gestured to Clyde, Lisa, and Emerald. "I see you there." At these words, Clyde's party entered the light of the candle.

They went into the house, more curious than frightened. A large caldron of good-smelling soup was boiling in the corner. Clyde stopped Lionel from grabbing a ladleful of the soup and looked at the woman. "We have been sent by the town to investigate the candle in this cabin. According to the townsfolk, this candle heralds the coming of a witch. This witch would give insight into the disappearances associated with the woods."

At this the woman smiled. "You probably think I'm a witch. Well, unfortunately for you and the townsfolk of Copper. I'm not. I'm from the town on the other side of these woods. It's called Bronze. People in Copper can't accept the fact that some members of their town don't want to live there anymore. These disappearances are just former Copperites migrating to better living in Bronze. In fact, my family owns this cabin and I'm only here to sell the land so we can remove the last legacy of our family from this place. Please stay, have some stew. It's a family recipe." The woman said with a smile.

"Well if all that's true, then I guess we'll be on our way." Clyde said to an annoyed grunt from Lionel. "We don't want to trouble you any further Lady…"

"Dya, my name's Dya." The woman said. "If you must leave, do be careful, the way back can take longer in the dark. Are you sure I can't interest you in some food?"

"Unfortunately, no, we don't want to trouble you any longer than we have to Lady Dya." Clyde said with a bow.

The party made their way out of the cabin with ease. Dya blew out the candle as soon as they left. The way was darker without the brightness of it and though the town was normally in view from the cabin, the party found themselves lost in the darkness of the trees.

"We'll have to stop here and make camp for the night." Clyde said with an exasperated sigh. His companions looked worried. "I know this is frightening for us all, but if we keep watch we should be fine. Who wants the first watch?" Clyde asked.

Lionel heartily volunteered. After a quick supper the party bedded down under his watchful eye. While they slept, Lionel pulled out a bowl of Dya's stew. "Nobody gets between me and good food." He muttered as he ate.

Clyde woke up with a start. He felt well rested, but it was still very dark. A cloud must have gone in front of the moon as it wasn’t this dark when they made camp. Clyde viewed his surroundings. He was able to wake up Emerald and Lisa. Their camp looked like it had been ransacked with belongings scattered everywhere. Faint light from the direction of the town gave them just enough light to get a lantern lit.

“It’s unlike Lionel to not wake us up after the first watch.” Emerald said, clearly spooked by the theft. “I guess he really couldn’t wait for payment. It looks like he fleeced us.” Lisa said, inspecting her bag, stuff strewn over the campsite. They cleaned up their camp in silence and took stock of their surroundings.

It was Lisa who saw them first. Large, three toed tracks from some creature lead from the campsite to the glow in the distance. “We have to help the town.” Clyde said. Emerald and Lisa nodded in unison. They turned and went towards the town.

The town seemed not much different from how they left it, only all the residents were out and about doing chores as if it were the middle of the morning. The residents looked sick to Clyde, Lisa and Emerald. It looked as though they were going about their day mindlessly. They had a glassy look in their eyes and their skin looked pale. Clyde grabbed one of the villagers by the shoulders, a young man who looked to be on his way to a farm. “Why are you out so late?” Clyde shouted at him. The man’s head lolled back on his shoulders and he collapsed backward. The man convulsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth. Clyde stepped back from him, clearly shaken. “His skin was so cold.” He whispered to Lisa and Emerald.

They watched the man convulse until he stopped. They approached him. Emerald knelt down and did a quick analysis of the man’s pulse. “He doesn’t have a pulse.” She said. They looked around at the villagers in the town, but none of them seemed to notice them or the fact that one of their own had fallen to the ground. “Let’s focus on finding Lionel and get out of here.” Lisa hissed.

The tracks led back to the tavern so to the tavern they went. The town and the darkness felt oppressive, but this was magnified when they went to the mostly empty tavern. The barkeep was stationed behind the bar, staring off into space, absently cleaning a bar mug. Clyde walked up to him. “I demand some answers here, barkeep. First off, where’s our friend?” To this the barkeep seemed to notice Lionel for the first time.

“You’re… friend?” The barkeep said, smiling eerily. “Why, he’s one of us now.” The barkeep opened his mouth wide and started a full throated laugh. The door to the tavern crashed open and a massive 10 foot tall creature crouched into the tavern. Its skin stretched tight over its distended limbs and had ruptured in some places. Its face had no eyes, only eye holes. The mouth of the thing hung open loosely, jaw permanently dislocated. The creature lumbered over to the party, pushing tables and chairs over.

Lisa screamed in horror and anguish as Clyde drew his rapier. Clyde hesitated “My god, it’s Lionel! Look at the tattoos on his arm!” Lisa howled in anguish and Emerald sobbed into her robes as Clyde engaged their once friend. The creature swiped at Clyde ineffectually, and Clyde guided him away from the door. Clyde successfully pushed the creature towards the barkeep, who had started to undergo his own transformation. Sickening popping sounds reverberated through the room as the barkeep’s eyes flew into his skull.

Lisa drew her own rapier to help Clyde dispatch Lionel, but she was too late. Taking a blow to the abdomen, the creature was able to grab Clyde with both hands. He then bit down hard on Clyde’s shoulder, jaw snapping shut with a sickening crunching sound. “RUUUUNNNNNN!!!!” Clyde screamed to Lisa and Emerald. The barkeep grabbed his legs and a tug of war between the two monsters ensued. They ran through the door of the tavern to a scene of chaos as the villagers had also started to undergo their own hideous transformations.

Lisa and Emerald ran through the town, but they quickly found their way blocked by the villagers. They found themselves guided to a dead end street, blocked by buildings on all sides. “We need to find a way back to Dya.” Lisa said to Emerald. “She’s the key to all of this, before everything went nuts.” Emerald nodded to Lisa’s comment. “Let me get us out of this dead end.” Emerald grabbed a giant broom lying on the wall. She threw the broom to the ground. “Lisa, get on, I’ll levitate us away.”

Lisa turned to jump on to the broom as Emerald finished up her levitation spell, but the window of the house to the left of her smashed open. Deformed villagers poured through the opening and one of them got it’s hand around Lisa’s ankle. “Revenge me!” Lisa screamed as the deformed villagers swarmed over her body.

The levitation spell worked its magic on the broom and Emerald floated away. Emerald floated to the rooftops and jumped off the broom. She was sobbing as she ran. The rooftop led to another building’s roof and another building that was only a story high on the edge of town. From there Emerald ran towards a familiar candle in a familiar cabin.

The route back to the cabin was easy, and Emerald’s legs were swift. She burst open the door to Lady Dya’s cabin. “Dya!” she shouted. “Something’s wrong with the village! My friends, we must save them!” Dya turned from her cauldron, her face not the same youthful demeanor. “Foolish child, haven’t you learned anything? This was all a trap to lure you here. Now your magic and your youth will be mine!” At these words, Dya started an incantation. Emerald attempted to dispel her curse but she could already feel her magic leaving her body. Emerald fainted from the exertion of resisting the spell and succumbed to darkness.

Emerald awoke to a bright flickering light. “What a nightmare!” She thought. “Someone must have relit the fire.” Was her next thought. Then she noticed that the flame was above her. She couldn’t move her arms and legs and her surroundings were Dya’s cabin. “Yes my pretty,” the witch Dya said from the corner of the room. “You are now my candle.”