city_limits The Gathering
Dragons' breath...

That was what some called it, back in the days of yore. A great, billowing cloud of ebony mist, black as pitch and acrid in its taste. Such portals from the 'other' of the Abyss and mankind's cradle, were no more confined in their dimensions, than they were in angle. This one came up through the ground, accompanied by powdered ash and sulphur. Nothing stepped out from it; the fog-like shadow simply was. It existed. It roamed.

And now it was here.

Moments before, any sign of life had suddenly taken to deserting. From rodents to reptiles, insects to floating seeds; none wished to be there. They could sense what was coming. Something unhealthy and flush with the disease of corrupting temptation.

This was no mere gas. It brought with it a loathing intelligence. A force of will. Something reached forth with vampiric tendrils of thirsting hunger, searching, questing, seeking. Yet, with that same malevolent oversight, the being knew fully well where it wished to go, what it required to take. It was of hatred, ice and infernal torments. No escaped captive, this - it liked its home. No, it did not seek liberation. On the contrary, it was an ambassador. Emissary, indeed, of the Black Light, as one of many such titles it possessed, would say.

It hovered there, safe in this place of disuse and rare human visitation, like some etheric vulture awaiting its tribute of carcass. In truth, it was observing those surroundings in reserved contemplation. Warriors, clerics and more, were being drawn to this locality and, having made already become acquainted with several, the reason for their renewed solidarity was what now gave the presence a puzzle to solve, all of its own.

For a single, solitary moment, the being washed over in various shades of blacks and greys, as if pondering this riddle in a deathly rainbow. Things were being whispered to it, speaking in a melody of damnation and the nest of shadows listened. Waited. Watched, as greater clarity was afforded and opportunities relayed.

Yes... It would do that.

Levitating softly the Corruptress' ethereal self lifted in ascent to the sky, for this task necessitated a more encompassing view of things. Another world, another harvest, except that now the game had been made that much more intriguing by the addition of awareness.

All the better to purge you with, my dear...