黑暗信徒 Dark cultist

   I knew the cultists had found me when I saw the bloody, curved knife stabbed violently into my door this morning. I have spent months trying to ease the fevered imaginings that have tormented me since that encounter a scant few months past, but to no avail. And now they know who I am.

          在那天早上，當我看到門上插著那把血淋淋的波形刀時，我就已經知道被那些黑暗信徒發現了。在幾個月前，我無意間遇到了他們，從此那一幕場景就一直在腦海中折磨著我，無論如何都揮之不去，而現在，他們已經知道我是誰了。

         There is an absolute and oppressive darkness to be found only in the deep wilderness at night. Thus, when I saw the distant light of fire while making my way through the thick Tristram forest, I welcomed the company of fellow travelers. As I approached, however, something even darker than the unlit forest crept over me. So horrendous was this feeling that I thought to turn away until the sound of chanting reached my ears and drew me onward. I thank whatever gods blessed me with the presence of mind to stop short of entering that unholy place whence the sound originated. Instead, I sought out a well-hidden vantage point from which I could look upon the frigid clearing that seemed violently torn from the depths of the forest.

      那是一個伸手不見五指的夜晚，那種黑暗只有在最深的暗夜才會出現。當時我正要穿越過濃密的崔斯特瑞姆森林，看到遠處的火光時，心中還慶幸著以為遇到了好客的旅行者，隨著我走近那火光，我卻感覺全身被一種詭異的氣息所包圍，雖然處在深夜的密林中，這種氣息卻顯得比周圍的夜更加黑暗。在恐懼的驅使下，我立刻就想拔腳就跑。然而就在這時，我聽到了詠唱的聲音，不由自主地繼續向前走去。不知從何而來的勇氣，讓我還能保有足夠的理智，我在離詠唱聲不遠的地方停了下來，沒有進入那片不潔之地。我躲在一個隱蔽的地方，可以清楚地從樹林深處看到在那片空地上的情景。

       That was when I first saw them, the dark cultists, arrayed in a circle. Their torches lit the macabre proceedings in a pallid light that danced over their garish rune-covered robes. I had heard tales of these hooded cultists and their depraved rituals, and I must admit to some curiosity upon seeing them. As their chanting droned on, I thought to make my escape lest they see me, but my attention was riveted by a pale, vacant-eyed supplicant being led forward. I do not know if he was of limited mental capacity, lost in religious mania, or simply drugged, but he was definitely not sound of mind as he knelt in the center of the thrumming circle.

     那是我第一次見到這些黑暗信徒。他們圍成一圈，正在舉行某種可怕的儀式。他們穿的長袍上繪著繁複而華麗的符文，折射著火炬那蒼白的光線。我曾聽說過關於這些信徒的傳言，他們總是載著兜帽，不露出臉來。我也曾聽說過他們那邪惡而恐怖的儀式。不過，我的確很好奇，想看看那儀式到底是什麼樣子。儀式仍然在繼續，我在想是不是該遠遠躲開，不要讓他們發現我的存在。然而這時，一位臉色蒼白，雙眼無光的祝禱者從隊伍中走了出來，吸引了我的注意力。隨後他一言不發地走到人圈中間，緩緩跪倒在地。

      The chanting stilled as the leader, face shadowed by a heavily gilded hood, stepped forward and began to intone a ritual in some indecipherable tongue. A large, thickly muscled and leather-masked cultist draped a black, eyeless hood over the victim's head before pulling a foot-long spike from his sash. My mind searched for any possible use for this cursed nail when I noticed the immense stygian hammer grasped in his other hand. With one swift motion, he raised it above his head and drove the spike into the supplicant's back with fierce intensity. I almost screamed... but the victim made no sound.

       這時，禱告停了下來。一位似乎是首領的人站了出來，他戴著鑲金的斗篷，遮住了自己的臉孔。這人向前走了兩步， 開始用一種我沒有聽過的語言高聲吟唱起來。一位戴著皮製面具，身材魁梧的信徒走上前去，用黑布套住跪著的人的腦袋，然後從腰間抽出一根一英呎長的釘子。我努力在腦海中搜索，想不出這根釘子象徵著什麼。這時我突然發現，戴面具的人手中握著一把陰森森的大錘。他把錘子舉過頭頂，然後將釘子釘入了中間那人的後背，整個動作一氣呵成，輕盈迅速。我幾乎叫了起來，然而那位受刑者卻沒有發出任何聲音。

      As another spike was readied, I knew I could watch no more. I trembled with the thought of those nails being driven into me should I be caught. I averted my gaze as I heard the revolting squish of another spike sunk into willing flesh. My eyes fell on the robe of the lead cultist. The intricate runes woven into his robe undulated and swirled in sickening movement. As I watched, horrified, I could feel my sanity crumbling away. I began to back away from the wicked tableau, forcing myself to move slowly while my mind screamed for me to flee with abandon. When I could contain myself no longer, I broke into a full run, not caring what sound I made. I ran until I collapsed. And then, as soon as I was able, I staggered to my feet and ran some more.

       接著他拿出了第二根長釘。這時我再也看不下去了，若是被他們發現，恐怕這釘子就會釘到我身上，想到這點， 我不禁渾身發抖。我把視線移開，不再去看場地中間的兩人，然而釘子釘入身體的聲音仍然傳入了我的耳朵。我轉眼去看那個首領，他長袍上繪著錯綜複雜的符文，隨著身體的細微動作不斷地起伏翻滾，令人目眩。看著看著，我感到越來越恐懼，覺得自己的意識正在一點一點粉碎。我決心離開這個可怕的地方。雖然腦海裡不斷響起可怕的尖叫，我還是努力控制著自己慢慢地後退，怕他們察覺我的存在。但不久，我便無法控制自己，全力往前奔跑起來，也顧不了會弄出了多大聲響。跑了不知多久，我暈了過去。醒來之後，我拖著沉重的雙腿回到家中。

       Not long ago, I wrote of my disappointment that New Tristram lacked the palpable dread its reputation led one to expect. I wish that I had not tempted fate with my quick words. Disappointment is much preferable to stark terror, and terror was what I stumbled into that night.

      不久之前，我曾經在書稿中表達過對新赫拉迪姆教派的失望，認為他們已經沒有足夠的震懾力，辜負了他們給人們帶來的期望。而今我卻後悔曾經說過這種無心之言。令人失望總比令人恐懼來得好，而那天晚上我所邂逅的場景，實在是令人毛骨悚然。

     Since returning home, I have been feverishly researching those demon-enthralled cultists in an effort to ease my mind, to assure myself that I had not actually seen what I had, but every whispered, frightened tale only deepens the chill that has seized me. I do not know which of my actions alerted them, but my worst fears have been realized. I have been marked.

    自從回到家之後，我如痴如迷地收集關於那些狂信者的資料，想說服自己我自己並沒有看到那天晚上的一切，藉此來平定自己的心情。然而每讀到一段捕風捉影、駭人聽聞的傳說時，我心中的恐懼便增加了一分。我不知道到底是什麼舉動使他們有了警覺，然而我心中最可怕的事情已經發生了，他們盯上了我。

    This is the last known writing of Abd al-Hazir. Known for his compilation of weird and wonderful facts about our unique world, he has unfortunately been missing since late last year.

    這是阿卜杜勒‧阿哈茲(Abd al-Hazir)所留下的最後一段文字。這位著名的學者為這個世界上所有獨特的奇觀編著了很多的作品，然而不幸的是，從去年年底到現在，沒有人再見過他的蹤跡。