The Headless Horseman

*Darkness descends, cascading downwards,*

*Covering all like ebony flowers.*

*On this night, normality shall bend,*

*For on this night is Hallow's End!*

 *All the children, mothers and fathers,*

*Hide in homes, waiting for impending slaughter.*

*Many thundering bells ring through the night,*

*Filling all those who hear with fright.*

 *A knight of undeath, with armor of black,*

*With a ghastly undead horse, and a head he did lack.*

*He flew through the sky, has a madman exclaimed,*

*The Headless Horseman rides again!*

 *"Prepare yourselves, the bells have tolled.*

*Shelter your weak, your young and your old.*

*One of you shall pay the final sum.*

*Cry for mercy. The reckoning has come!"*

- Popular poem from the region of the Fallen Empire of Koruthar

### First Appearance

Although its origins are yet unknown, the first sighting of this mysterious specter was in the continent of Koruthar, in the year 150 HE on the Thurogar region.

According to the locals at the time, after a bloody battle between two Elven armies the winning King took over his lands and titles. To consolidate power the Elven King imprisoned the leader he just defeated, and took the leader´s daughter has his bride.

He quickly arranged for the wedding to occur in the keep next to the bloody battlefield, although he was advised against it for the battle had only been 2 days prior, and the smell and sight of the rotting corpses could still be felt and seen on some parts of the city. However the King wished to present his might to the new people he now ruled, and maintained the location and date despite the objections.

But as the King partied and the full moon filled the night sky like a ghostly apparition, bells began to be heard throughout the keep. The King demanded a stop to the ringing, but almost as if to defy his laws, the bells only became louder and louder, until not even the bards of the wedding could drown out the noise.

Furious the King got up and demanded the head of the man responsible, but as he shouted orders kicking down the front door of the chamber he appeared. Behind him a road of decapitated bodies whose screams had been drowned out by the bells, foolish enough to attempt to stop the specter.

His dark horse stood tall in the hall, and riding it a headless black knight with a ghostly aura. The king immediately began to make his escape as the attendants of the party scattered, and the royal knights defended their king.

But the horseman decisive in his way, merely charged straight ahead quickly reaching the king and decapitating him, as his head rolled atop the royal table and onto the stairs, the head hitting, every, single, step, along the way.

With the King dead the bells stooped, and the royal knights froze up, quickly joining the fearful masses who evaded the haunting Horseman.

And so the Headless Horseman broke through the window, ridding once again back into the night. But forever leaving his mark, for the people knew “The Headless Horseman, would ride again”.

### Knight of Vengeance

According to legend he only rides when someone has a big grievance towards you and offers his soul to the Horseman, and in exchange he will stalk the night and get revenge on behalf of the offered soul. When vengeance has been fulfilled, the Horseman will take the offered soul, joining the Knight in his endless quest for vengeance.

It is believed that the Horseman will only appear to the ones he deems worthy, or whose thirst for vengeance supersedes all others. However some evidences have suggested the existence of a summoning ritual using the Horseman´s true name.

Most common folk fear the presence of the specter, and have heard some manner of the stories told about the Horseman. So in the very rare cases he does appear, people usually close the doors and hide, believing that whoever the Headless Horseman is about to kill deserves whatever is coming to him, and they need only to get out of his way.

Leading to the very popular phrases, such has “The Horseman is gona get you someday” or “I’m going to see your head next moon”, referring to people who should receive divine punishment for their doings.