The Widowmaker

In the caves of Mount Valerthon, there lives a vile creature. According to myth, the creature stands ten foot tall, covered in coarse black fur, and has four arms. Its claws can break the strongest of armors and ripe out a man’s heart. This hideous creature is known as “the Widowmaker,” and this is its tale…

The story begins in a small hamlet near Mount Valerthon. Like many tales, it involves two love stricken teenagers, Alerthera and Garchon. Garchon was a journeyman wizard, and Alerthera was the daughter of the village cobbler. The two youngsters were the ideal picture of romance. Their lives would have been perfect, if not for one detail, Alerthera had been promised against her will to Count Sarton, ruler of the area. Despite this dark cloud that overshadowed their love, Alerthera and Garchon cared for each other right up to the day of the tragedy.

On the day Count Sarton came to claim his bride, Garchon stood defiantly against him. Garchon proclaimed his love for Alerthera and challenged Sarton for her hand. Sarton, with cruel laugh, snapped his fingers, and an arrow struck Garchon in the arm.

“That is your warning, toadling,” Sarton said, “Leave now, or you will die.”

With tears in his eyes, Garchon looked at Alerthera and said his final words to her “Because I love you more than my own life, I willingly give it away to keep you safe.”

With a wave of his hands, Garchon and Sarton both fell dead where they stood.

Over the years that followed, Alerthera became bitter and cold to all. She moved to the caves of the mountain, where she made a dark oath. She swore that none would have love in the foothills of Mount Valerthon ever again…

Many years passed, and the villagers forgot Alerthera and her pain. After twenty years, on the day of the incident, the priests made an addition to the rites of marriage. The first night of the union, the husband must spend the night in the mountain caves with only his clothing and wedding ring.

Another ten years passed, and at last the hamlet Alerthera had called home celebrated its first marriage since the new rite. Dutifully, the young husband went to the caves for the night. In the morning, they found his body. His heart had been ripped from his chest, and his wedding ring had vanished…

And now, here you are, just married and in the caves. You are the eighth victim to come here. And by my hands, I, the Widowmaker Alerthera, will take your life and add your ring to my collection. For as long as I live, no other woman in the foothills of Mount Valerthon will know the joy of love… Only the pain of loss.