Ritual of Corruption

[Morathor]

A procession of elaborately ornamented boats made their way eastward along the Kandus River. The current was swift, but the craft were hurried by sails and oarsmen. On the decks, soldiers stood like statues, staring warily across the lush golden plains on the right bank, and even more attentively at the thick forests which grew on the left.
The boat in the center had a small structure at the aft, a room just large enough for a single occupant to be comfortable. The doors and side and prow of this boat were all emblazoned with the royal crest. The soldiers were there to guard their kingdom's most precious treasure: their princess. Today she began her journey to the great elven kingdom of the east, where she would meet her fiance for the first time, and where she would be wed within the month. It was a journey that would take her through the rivers of her kingdom, out to sea, where the swiftest ships and greatest mages of the elven navy would guard her on her way to her destination. But for now, she was guarded by her own people, fifty men ready to lay down their lives for her if need be.
But none of them were prepared for the sudden and complete darkness that washed over the procession.