PhantomQueen

Between the Gaulke Mountain and the Great Plains of Middle Earth, the settlements of the Human race grew increasingly prosperous. One day a new tavern opened at the far end of the village. The owner was a young and beautiful woman - perhaps that was not an accurate description, as words were meaningless against her beauty. She was born for all the praise in the world, said the men. Customers flooded into the tavern, and the prices of the drinks went up. Until one day the owner announced that she would no longer accept money for the drinks. If anyone wanted to drink, they had to bring her some less expensive goodies. On the first day, she wanted fabric to tailor new dresses. People went shopping. On the second day, she wanted fresh flowers. The tavern was turned into a florist's shop and the garden was destroyed. On the third day, she wanted interesting books. The scholars' library was turned upside down. Even so, it was difficult to see her, not to mention drinking the wine she poured with her own hands. Yet people went there with pleasure.

One day, a Human Shaman arrived and harshly condemned the people who had been so easily bewitched. He declared righteously - playing with people's hearts by seduction is clearly the work of the devil, and if you persist, the gods will bring down punishment. The owner, however, smiled and poured a glass of clear spring water, which she respectfully offered to the shaman with both hands. And whispered in his ear that if he drank all the water, he would be cleared of his sins even before the gods. She brushed her fingertips gently over the shaman's chest - his slightly puffed-up pocket held a small pouch of gold coins, a bribe he had just received from the tribe leader to gain the shaman's support. The formerly solemn shaman was momentarily shocked and flushed red with panic, cursing "damn the devil" as he left the tavern in shame and anger under the heated gaze of the crowd. She smiled and poured the glass of spring water in front of the tavern. The crowd of customers trampled the water on the ground and poured into the tavern again.

★ The tavern was still open and the lady who owned it offered a new deal for a drink... or a kiss. You could pay her something, expensive or cheap, tangible or intangible, even if you did not currently possess it. She told them that she was a succubus, as the shaman called her, who took pleasure in playing with men's hearts. But the drinkers took it as flirting, and still fell in love with her. When she offered to make a contract with them, each one agreed without hesitation. But soon she grew tired of those little tricks. "It's just so boring." Asmodeus waved her hand and a black mist filled the streets. It was time to take its toll on her "Contractors" The drinkers, wrapped in the black mist, collapsed with grim faces, turning into monsters driven by instinct, that roamed the streets of the already increasingly desolate villages and ravaged the settlements of the Human race. "My lovers, all failed experiments." Asmodeus sighed with regret, killing a few inferior demon servants, "How about just destroying the place?"