Long time ago, far away, in the barren heart of the Vale of Shadows, where light never dared to trespass and echoes of ancient horrors lived on in whispers, there existed a creature unlike any other. This being was known in legends only as the
Death Fiend, a Dementor born not of the world, but of something darker. Its tale, passed down in fearful murmurs and shadowed stories, is one of betrayal, survival, and a thirst for vengeance that could not be quenched by time itself.
Centuries ago, when magic was young and the balance between light and dark was tenuous, a small village named Grimwater thrived near the edges of the Vale. Its people knew well to avoid the shadows of the cursed valley, yet they prospered, living under the rule of a powerful witch named Illyria. Though feared by many, Illyria had a protective streak; she cast spells to ward off spirits and taught the villagers to respect the unseen forces around them.

A chilling sight in the dark—this hooded specter wields an ancient staff, casting a shadow in the fog-filled corridor where only faint light dares to break through.
But one winter, a rumor spread - an artifact of unearthly power was hidden somewhere within the Vale. This relic, said to be forged by the hands of the first Dark Wraith, held the power to summon and control even the foulest creatures of the night. Whispers claimed it could grant eternal life, but at a terrible cost. Driven by greed and ambition, Illyria's apprentice, a man named Vaelen, ventured into the Vale one bitter night, desperate to find the artifact and claim its power for himself.
He walked for hours through mist and shadow, his breath freezing in the deathly cold air, until he stumbled upon an ancient stone marked with a twisted rune. It was here that he summoned it - the being that would later be known as the Death Fiend. As Vaelen chanted the forbidden words, the air grew dense, the ground shivered, and a towering, hooded form emerged from the shadows.
The creature was no ordinary Dementor. Its form was draped in darkness that seemed alive, writhing and shifting like tendrils of smoke. Beneath its tattered hood were not empty sockets but orbs of deep, malevolent red that burned with an insatiable hunger. Vaelen felt terror grip him, but he steeled himself, commanding the Dementor to bend to his will. He brandished the artifact, sealing his command over the creature, binding it to him in servitude.
For years, Vaelen grew in power, wielding the Death Fiend as his own personal weapon, sending it to steal the souls of rivals and enemies alike. The villagers of Grimwater whispered in dread about a monster that drained life itself, leaving nothing but hollow, empty shells behind. Some claimed to hear its mournful wails at night, and others saw glimpses of it in shadows, moving with a spectral grace.
The Death Fiend, however, was far from loyal. Its existence was a curse, bound to the will of the artifact, but within its undead heart, it harbored hatred for Vaelen. It bided its time, feeding on the life forces it took, growing stronger even as it suffered under the mage's command. Its own will, buried deep, smoldered, waiting for the day when it might be free.
The day of reckoning came during a storm like none before. Vaelen, now mad with power, attempted a spell to bind all creatures of the Vale to his command. He stood at the heart of Grimwater, holding the artifact high as he chanted in a voice that resonated through the darkened skies. Lightning cracked, and the air turned bitter cold. But as he invoked the final words of the spell, something went wrong - the Death Fiend, sensing an opportunity, forced its will against the binding spell.

This figure, cloaked in an air of mystery, evokes the majesty of a forgotten era, as the flickering flames illuminate the intent gaze, hinting at monumental stories from the shadows.
For the first time, Vaelen felt fear as the creature resisted his command. The artifact pulsed and trembled, crackling with dark energy, until, in a blinding explosion of light, it shattered. The binding was broken. The Death Fiend rose, no longer bound by any force, its red eyes blazing with a rage so intense it seemed to darken the very sky.
With a silent, terrifying grace, it moved toward Vaelen. The villagers, helpless and trapped in their homes, watched in horror as it enveloped him, its cloaked form stretching like a shroud, smothering his screams. It was said that Vaelen's soul was torn from his body and devoured, but his suffering was only the beginning.
Now freed from its servitude, the Death Fiend sought vengeance upon the world that had created it. It swept through Grimwater, feasting on the terror of the villagers, reducing the once-thriving settlement to a ghost town in a single night. Only one soul was spared - a young girl named Alara, who had been the last to see the Death Fiend as it passed through her village, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. Alara was left untouched, some say because she was too young to know fear, others claim because she was marked by a mysterious protective magic.
Alara grew, and as she did, she spoke of the Death Fiend not with hatred but with a strange reverence. "It was bound, like we all are," she would say. "Bound to others' will, until it found its own." Alara lived on as the last of her village, a witness to the terrible power that lurked in the Vale of Shadows.
The legend of the Death Fiend grew over the years. It was said that it still roamed the darkest corners of the world, a creature that could never be destroyed, only avoided, for it was too powerful to be bound again. Some claimed to hear its mournful cry on winter nights, or catch a glimpse of those burning red eyes in the mist. A select few believed it to be the spirit of justice for those who had been wronged, devouring those whose hearts were corrupted by greed and deceit.

In the calm waters, the Malignant Wraith comes alive, merging with the moonlight to weave an enchanting narrative of mystery and allure on a still night.
Over time, Alara's own descendants took on the role of guardians of this legend, their purpose to remember and respect the powers that lay beyond mortal control. They told the story to each generation as a warning: that darkness can never truly be bound, and to try to control it only invites ruin.
The Vale of Shadows, now overgrown and forgotten, was left undisturbed for ages. But those who wandered too close claimed to see a figure cloaked in shadows, moving with a haunting elegance. They said its red eyes glowed like embers, watching, waiting, its power now bound to none but itself. The Death Fiend, eternal and unrepentant, was free at last, a legend that refused to fade, haunting the night with the promise of vengeance and freedom.
And so, the tale of the Death Fiend lived on - a reminder that some forces are meant not to be controlled, but feared.