Greed

''“What we are is of little importance. What we have is all that matters. And we will have all that is yours.”''

The Story
Across the land people have been getting possessed by parasitic-like aberrations and stealing items of worth from towns, mostly sentimental value.

"Disguised in the normal day to day of the village life, belongings have been misplaced at an increasing rate. A barmaid is late to work searching for a sentimental locket, a farmer can't get into his barn without his missing keys, and a child cries over a lost toy."

The first adventurer to encounter one of these aberrations was Shia, when one attempted to possess them directly. Fortunately, her mind was strong enough to prevent it and their physical form was revealed.

''“It takes the shape of a long ghostly form made up of a hundred translucent tendrils. A single point of dim blue light suspended within its tendrils serves as the creatures eye.”''

Later that day three villagers attempted to steal from Bel. This attack was also prevented when Bel performed an “exorcism” by shooting the main villager in the head (he got better). Questioning the ex-possessed, Bel discovered that a mysterious adventurer type has been hunting down the possessed while they walked through the forest to Waypoint from Lorwick.

Going on a stroll through the forest to investigate these claims, Bel met this figure. A woman named Evelyn. Together Bel and Evelyn followed some possessed to a large pit in the forests below Transvale.

''“The two wander behind the group, keeping a steady distance. The path they take is an exact straight line, as if the people are on rails. They lead the two just south of Transvale. The forest around them gradually looking more and more rotten and darkened, as if approaching the source of decay. Remanences of nature screams to the druid as they travel through the unnaturally dead patch of forest.''

''Eventually, the group come to the centre of decayed area. A large pit that leads down into the earth, tunneling deep below. Around the pit are figures standing guard. They are not like the others, their form insect like and covered in a long cloak that hides empty glowing faces within. Crystal like textures grow along their bodies.''

''The people are accompanied by other townsfolk approaching from all other directions. All the people enter the pit.”''

In the quest ''Women!? In my D&D!?'', Bel and a party went into this pit and found decay from the abyss leaking though into our world. At the deepest chamber of the cave system, they found Evelyn who was transformed by the decay into a shadow creature that the party defeated. The ceiling of the chamber showed clues that the source of these creatures is in Lorwick.

On that quest Bel was banished to the abyss and saw the embodiment of Greed face to face. Learning that it is another part of The Game many others have been caught up in.

"I am what drives man to conquer kingdoms and kill for gold. What causes cities to grow and relationships to crumble. Have you ever desired an object? Wanted for knowledge? Perhaps lusted after a lover? You know me well already, Belirese. I am Greed."

In the quest Strange Paladins lying in the Abyss distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! a party accompanied Bel to Lorwick to destroy the source of all this madness. There they defeated the Aspect of Greed and freed Evelyn's father, Raymond. During the battle Greed drained Bel of all his magical powers. Seeing Bel's potential, Raymond explained that he is a Paladin of the Watchers and welcomed Bel into his order. The next day, at first light, Raymond knighted Bel.

"Then in the morning light, rise to your feet, Bel, Knight of the Realm, Bastion of Peace, Paladin of the Watchers. Rise to your feet and swear the final oath. Swear the Oath of the Watchers and forever safeguard the mortal realms from otherworldly threats and the evils that lurk in the darkness."

Bel's Research
Bel digs through dusty manuscripts and research conducted by long forgotten wizards. In their efforts they come across an old book, the pages frail and barely holding to the spine. Within this book are sketches similar to the creatures they have seen. Beside the sketches are notes that talk of their ability to control a population through psionic powers. Far removed from the workings of a spirit or ghost, these things physically live within a person’s mind like a parasite. Such effects can often be cured with such spells as dispel evil and good or by killing the puppet.

The passages also speak of their behaviours. They rarely act independently, often working as a collective for a higher power. Unlike a cult where people are indoctrinated, these creatures are spawned from the abyss purely for this purpose and function on a singular emotion. In past incidences, there are notes of them being driven by anger, fear, hunger, or greed, chosen by whatever happens to create them. Operating on the singular emotion as this makes them immune to being frightened or charmed.

The writer of this book hypothesises that these things are aberrations and view the people of the material plane as cattle. They are able to move through spaces by manipulating reality around them and even warp perceptions of their victims.

At the end of the notes is a passage by a druid, presumably a friend of the author, it reads:

''“The effect these aberrations have on the environment is similar to that of a cancer. They seed themselves deep within the earth and their decay slowly spreads across the area as they plague our world. I suspect this is caused by their connection to the abyss, causing a rift between our planes of existence where the source of the decay lies.”''