"The Slough of Eternal Sorrow"

The desolate highlands of the Slough stretched out before Prince Cormag like a barren grave, the wind howling through the rugged terrain like a chorus of restless spirits. He rode his horse, a majestic black stallion, with a determined gaze, his companion Sith by his side. Sith, a skilled warrior with unmatched prowess in combat, was as enigmatic as the land they traversed. His piercing green eyes seemed to hold a thousand secrets, and his rugged features were etched with the scars of countless battles. As they rode, the air grew thick with an unsettling energy. Cormag felt it in his bones, a creeping sense of dread that seemed to seep into his very soul. He had heard the stories, of course – everyone had. The tales of those who had dared to venture into the Slough and never returned, their mortal forms lost to the void. Some said they became Raiders of Never-Ending Misery, malevolent spirits doomed to roam the highlands, wailing in torment. Cormag shivered, despite the cloak wrapped around his shoulders. He had always been driven by a sense of duty, of purpose. But this quest was different. This was personal. His father, the king, was destined to meet his end at the hands of King Takeo, a ruthless leader with a thirst for power. Cormag was trapped in the temporal grasp of the past, unable to change the course of events that would lead to his father's downfall. But he was determined to try. According to legend, the eternal relic they sought lay hidden beneath the grave of the last emperor, a powerful artifact rumored to grant its wielder control over the very fabric of time. Cormag had made a deal with a mysterious figure, a sorceress who claimed she could help him navigate the treacherous landscape of the Slough and reach the relic before it was too late. As they crested a ridge, Sith reined in his horse, his eyes fixed on something in the distance. Cormag followed his gaze, and his heart sank. A figure, shrouded in mist, stood atop a rocky outcropping, its presence seeming to draw the very life force out of the air. "What is that?" Cormag whispered, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Sith's voice was low and gravelly. "I don't know, but I think it's a Raider. We should be careful." Cormag nodded, his mind racing. They had to be careful. One misstep, and they would join the ranks of the Raiders, forever trapped in this desolate landscape. As they watched, the figure began to move, its slow, deliberate steps sending shivers down Cormag's spine. He felt a presence, a malevolent energy that seemed to seep into his very being. "We need to get out of here," Sith said, his voice urgent. "Now." But Cormag hesitated, his gaze fixed on the Raider. He had to know more. He had to understand the secrets that lay hidden in this forsaken place. And then, as if in response to his thoughts, the Raider let out a wail, a mournful dirge that seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth. Cormag felt a chill run down his spine as the sound washed over him, a sound that seemed to speak directly to his soul. He knew then that they were not alone in the Slough. The Raiders were out there, waiting, watching. And Cormag and Sith were about to become their next victims... or so it seemed.