The Heroes of Culdesac
In the great Kindom of Culdesac within the blasted forests of the east lies a hidden ruined temple, legend to have been cursed by a slain necromancer of old. Rumor and hearsay tell of unspeakable horrors that prowl around its grounds after nightfall, seeking out any prey that dare wander during the night. Upon daybreak, the fiends retreat deep beneath the surface into the labyrinthine catacombs below, for it is only under the cover of darkness that they may reveal their cursed forms. Frightened accounts describe of how the earth moans and howls during the final hours of daylight as the evil entities within are stirred to their nocturnal prowl and emerge to stalk the land above. Even during radiant morning, not even the bravest of men dare venture close to this tainted ground for fear of their mortal hearts being corrupted by the aura of evil that permeates from deep below.
 In the face of such unholy villainy, a call to arms rings out in the hearts of the land’s bravest; four noble warriors of light have stepped forth to heed the message. The first among them, a stalwart Knight; His tower shield anchored by his side, and a hefty longsword wielded in his mighty grip, his innumerable victories has earned him a fearsome reputation known to distant lands. The second, a Ranger: A legendary veteran of the far north, his keen eyes mark the most hidden of weaknesses, so that an arrow, loosed true, may put down his adversaries where they stand. The third: a zealous Priest, accustomed to many a campaign across distant lands, he carries a blessed mace by his right and holy scripture in his left – with words of both praise and damnation, he uplifts his brethren and condemns the unholy while under the watchful vigil of the almighty. And the fourth: a cunning Sorcerer, a master of the elements, a learned scholar of the mystic arts of the very secrets of the cosmos. Using incantation and ritual, he unleashes devastating strikes of arcane energy against any adversary foolish enough to oppose him. With the four champions assembled, the party makes haste in journeying towards the place of ruin with steeled resolve.
	After a trek though the wilderness, the heroes approach the accursed ruins, passing through crumbling arcades strangled with black ivy and moss. A portal is discovered to the underground: a hefty door, bearing sigils of long forgotten noble houses. The heroes duly lift the passage aside and descend into the darkness, with naught but the flame and embers of a radiant torch to illuminate their passage. Choking darkness immediately swallows them as they enter, and numerous shadowy halls stretch long before them into the infinite darkness. Not even a single pace is taken before the mere mortal presence of the four rouses the evil tenants to intruders within their midst.
“Be wary of the shadow, brethren. Keep thine wits sharp and thy blade sharper, for who knows what evil lurks in these ruinous chambers.” says the Sorcerer.

“Aye,” the Knight replies, “my sword arm stands anchored at a moment’s notice to strike down whatever villain that may dare challenge us.”
“We have naught to fear, brothers. Our holy task will be seen to fruition, for the powers above guarantee the triumph of our righteous quest.” the Priest proclaims.
The Ranger, whose piercing eyes sees farther than other men, suddenly pauses.
“Halt! Something approaches!” he hisses.

	Silhouettes of figures move in the shadows before them. The warriors brandish their weapons and steel themselves, preparing for whatever evils that may come forth.
“Unholy abominations! Stand firm, my brothers!” a voice cries.
	Shambling corpses and animated skeletons wielding hatchets and scimitars leap forth from the blackness and swarm the heroes. Sounds of pitched melee and the clashing of steel echo down the ancient halls, and all manner of evils are alerted to the fight. The flash of a longsword swinging down upon a smited foe is seen, while blazes of conjured spells cast looming shadows of combatants across the darkened halls. Arrows piece the blackness from a sharpshooter unseen, and foes drop before him, their killer masked by the shadows. A heavy mace swings to and fro, felling undead creatures accompanied with words of scripture and holy blessing, a most fatal weakness.
	The great battle rages until all lay still. A spell of illuminating light is whispered, and suddenly the shadows of the battlefield are banished, revealing the remains of their foes that lay scattered and vanquished. The heroes rejoice, for the enemy has been decisively repelled.
	But for they would soon discover, their victory would be short lived. As the remnants of the defeated adversaries retreat back into the shadows, a powerful evil stirs deep within the walls of the labyrinth. For a moment, the courage in hearts waver as a howl of a great monster of darkness echoes forth, and the very earth trembles and quakes from its terrible resonating might. The blackness is split as a beast from the abyss charges forth, gnashing fangs of daggers; a Hellhound, a beast born from the furnaces of the underscape. Cries of battle ring forth, and a great skirmish erupts the likes of which legends are told.
	Suddenly, pitched combat is interrupted as a servant of darkness, a harpy summoned from the depths of the abyss, appears and accosts the party. As it descends, a wretched message of evil is uttered from its cursed lips:

“Mom says you have to do the dishes, Tommy. And your little friends have to leave.”

The hero protests in defiance, but he is swiftly abducted and dragged into the blackness, his fate unknown. Helpless, one by one the heroes are seized by vicious creatures, all impervious to their efforts to resist their tainted evil. Soon, all but the Knight remain. With his brethren snatched into the abyss, he stands alone against the horrors that beset him. He thrusts his weapon into the ground, falls to his knees and cries out to the almighty above,

“You’ve always got to ruin all the fun, Melissa!!”