Traia Land of Corruption and Conflict

A group of about twelve elves stand at a port in the nation of Cenonire. Most wear expedition equipment. They wield weapons and armor seemingly coming from different nations and eras. One wearing simple plated armor another wearing scratched and damaged advanced armor. One holds a sidearm having limited ammunition for it while another has a simple sword and shield.

"Before we leave I'd like to make sure everyone here is aware that no one has returned from the Sanyx island and that it's presumed to be lost to nature for a reason," three of the elves stand out as notable, one of them with red eyes and light green hair continues to speak. "Everyone here is also aware that this expedition may not return, correct?"

"Yes Yesrel we have been told many times what we've signed up for," another one her hair blue her eyes a brown with a sheathed katana at her side speaks rolling her eyes. "I plan to change this trend of no one returns."

"Fafiel you know that strength can only get you so far correct?" Another one with pink hair and black and blue clothes holds an umbrella as she walks towards the edge of the port looking out towards where the Sanyx island is. "It is said that Sanyx was once home to a thriving empire but only became lost to nature because those who lead went mad for power and advancement."

"This is correct. If the stories and tales from our ancestors are to be believed then that is the most likely thing that has happened to the island," a man wearing a face mask follows the lady to the edge of the port. "I'm surprised you know about that, Miss Zinlee."

"Why of course I'd know. After all, I must be prepared for what I'm to face. Isn't that right sir Eldan?" Zinlee smiles as she looks at Eldan.

"Quit flirting with each other and get in the damn boat you two," Yesrel demands as the other ten wait on the boat for the two of them. They quickly scramble onto the boat and a few hours later they can see the island of Sanyx. "We will be making landfall in a few minutes now. Prepare for the worst.

As the boat comes over to the coast the group all gets off touching down on the island. As they touch the rocks of the shore they all have a sudden feeling that someone or something has invaded their mind. The remnants of a small port village can be seen nearby; most of the buildings heavily damaged some collapsed on themselves.

Eldan begins to closely examine each building taking note of the types of damage the buildings have received. "Strange. Some of these buildings seem to be slightly burnt while others look as if something big swept through them," Eldan's expression is puzzled as he continues his search. The rest of the group begins to scavenge around some finding remnants of things that may have once been valuable. Some pocket them and others leave them.

As they continue to scavenge around and Eldan continues his remarks at the inconsistent forms of damage, what seems to be music begins to approach them. Fafiel quickly moves onto a roof watching in the direction of the music. A deformed seemingly human figure emerges from the nearby forest holding a musical instrument, the instrument being made of bones. Behind the figure there are three more humans, these less deformed but a mask has been sewn onto their face. They each wield a stone drumstick.

As Fafiel turns getting ready to warn the others a voice speaks directly to her but there is accompanying body for the voice to come from. "Welcome to my paradise. Soon just like him I will free you from the life that burdens you and will allow you to be free to retrieve your desires." Fafiel looks around confused before she looks back at the group. Each of them seemed to be confused as well, some looking around as well.

"We got a group of danger coming towards us, everyone get ready to fight!" Fafiel is the first to regain composure and begins to shout at the others as she turns to look back at the thing she saw; she now simply sees the trees of the forest. Seconds later the music is intensified followed by the sound of groans.

Eldan screams as Zinlee gracefully attacks the masked thing in front of him. "Sir Eldan, were you unprepared to fight?" Zinlee uses the umbrella to push back the masked thing before delivering a kick to its face, causing the mask to crack slightly and break off some. There is no face behind what broke off, instead simply a black void.

Yesrel stands facing the deformed human shaking slightly. "What the hell are you?" it continues to play its music as if Yesrel had said nothing. 

Each time a masked thing is hit the music seems to screech before returning to normal. "You shall become one with my symphony and make me the greatest there ever was," the deformed figure speaks but its voice is strange and distorted as if it was something and is now nothing. As one of the masked is stabbed and then shortly after decapitated the deformed figure screeches and his music seems to lose an element. It charges at the one who killed the masked but Fafiel quickly stops it. "One must not ruin my symphony. You shall be the one to replace what you destroyed." Another masked falls the music now only being made of two instruments and no longer synchronized. The deformed musician begins to erratically run between the two people who have killed a masked.

Eldan sits to the side not engaging in any combat. He writes different things down as he witnesses the battle unfold before him. "What is this thing? It is not natural. And those masked things accompanying it. None of this makes any sense in the slightest," he continues to ramble to himself about every little thing he sees.

Yesrel and Fafiel continue to fight the musician as Zinlee finishes the final masked off. As its music stops all that is left is the sound of the musician's own music. It begins to make mistakes and its sound becomes messy. Eventually it stops playing and stares Zinlee down. "May all of you become one with the truest and most beautiful symphony that you all have ruined!" With a swift movement the musical instrument is slammed into one of the elves face Eldan's eyes fill with fear as he witnesses his ally's life get erased in a simple swing. "Yes, let me make music with you and it shall become my greatest masterpiece!"

Yesrel and Fafiel jump backwards both taking a defensive stance. Two of the elves turn and run away, dropping their weapons onto the ground. Zinlee watches as they run, her face filled with disappointment. "For ones who knew what they signed up for they sure seem unready," Zinlee stands in front of Eldan using her umbrella as a shield prepared for any attack they may come their way.

The air grows tense as the remaining elves stare at the musician. It begins to play music walking towards the headless corpse. "May you create music as beautiful as I."

Before the musician touches the corpse Fafiel runs towards it. "You ain't doing shit to him!" She stabs it with a small dagger followed by a quick kick knocking it back. She doesn't leave any room for air immediately chasing after it, swinging her katana at the musician. With each move the musician makes a note is played. When it is hit a more broken sounding note is played. Cut after cut the two stay locked in combat neither getting a true advantage over the other yet no matter how many cuts and strikes Fafiel lands, not a drop of blood is drawn. "Whatever you are, it doesn't matter, I'll defeat you one way or another."

The musician oddly seems to be enjoying the fight. "Yes you have allowed such beautiful music to be made. This is what true music sounds like. You will be such a delightful part of my symphony." 

Fafiel rams the hilt of her katana into the musician's deformed head, knocking it back. "I'm an artist not a musician," she quickly delivers two slashes in quick succession one perfectly sideways the other a perfectly straight line down the middle of it. She sheathes her sword and the musician falls to the ground in pieces.

Eldan runs over and begins to examine the corpse. "You could've left it with some form of life. I can't learn much from it now," Eldan's voice is filled with disappointment and Zinlee and the others run over two of the elves look at the corpse of their ally instead. "With the information I have gathered I will write this down as "The Crazed Musician."" Eldan closes his notebook after writing some more and stands up.

A sigh of relief comes from Yesrel. "We must find a place to set up for the night. We can continue our exploration in the morning," she glances at the forest that the musician emerged from before looking for a suitable building to set up in.