Chapter 1 – The world is changing

Something was in the air. Inconspicuous yet steady, it spread. It crept across the countryside, from valley to valley, from village to village. Unnoticed by those rulers who entrenched themselves behind thick walls of stone, but in the mind of every commoner who had not experienced the good fortune of a noble birth. It was fear. The horrendous feeling of no longer being safe. This fear had become established over the last few years. Ever since the cult of the Soulcatchers had emerged from the shadows, they had been looting villages and abducting people. Folks hid in their huts as soon as it got dark. Life had become even more dangerous than it used to be. Almost magically, the figures appeared in the darkness of the night and took those with them who were not clever enough to seek the protection of a town or strong enough to defend themselves. As soon as night fell, one could not be suspicious enough. Every step in the distance, every clang in the yard, every crackle in the forest, it could be them. They could be coming.  

People tried to protect themselves as best they could. Magical plants and talismans were traded expensively, with the promise to remedy any evil. Whenever they could, the villagers kept mages and fighters with them as long as they could, hoping to be protected by them. 

The worst thing, however, was that no one knew who these Soulcatchers were. Mages, bandits or organized criminals? The Mages' Guild had not yet been able to verify anything about the plagues. The mages had already been able to avert many plagues from the people and it would be the same this time. At least that was what many hoped.