The people in question who seem to be the only ones to navigate through these forbidden cavers are those who reside within the mountains. The poor souls who live their entire life to the mercy of the vast passageways of the caves. These fairies have developed a keen sense to find themselves through the serpentine corridors. Some say that the very first of them had made a misfortunate deal with Lord Malafein. A foul arrangement disguised behind pretty words and empty promises. Although, such an undertaking coming to a village whose townspeople were nearly completely taken from the smog would come across as anything less than appealing. So, they went to the distrustful Lord and welcomed the arrangement.
The Lord had promised that the residents of the town would never be lost and that they would always be able to orient themselves. That they would seek refuge in the maze-like caverns and enjoy the endless benefits from its healing water that rests deep within the heart of the caves. But everything comes with a cost, and this was no different. Their condition to stay safe within the caves endless walls was that they must never leave for they will know a new fear entirely. Weighing their options between the harsh life they know from above or the possibility of a better life living within the vast caverns. The new life gave them hope so they agreed to the Lord's terms. Lord Malafein wearing a wicked smile directed them to descend into the caves with trust in themselves and their rebirth will be revealed.
The farther they went the more they lost themselves into the darkness. The echoes of their footsteps flooded their minds. The sound of their breaths bouncing back off of the walls were their only solace that they were still alive for all they saw was darkness. The more they endured the less it seemed to bother them. Within the shadows the village fairies could not recognize that their ability to see was slowly fading. All they will ever see will be the never-ending stretches of the pitch black they surrounded themselves in. They could not see what they have become. The once beautiful delicate creatures of starlight became hard and calloused. Their nails no longer filed and prim are now long talonlike and sharp. Their skin no longer soft and milky are now pale and hardened by the salt. Their eyes which once reflected the stars are now empty and glow a ghoulish white amongst the shadows. their hair now defiled with dirt and crinkled to a crisp.
Their nutrition even altered. Due to their ban from ever leaving the caves their food source was little to none. They have become so desperate and blinded by their newfound hunger they have decided to feast upon the poor souls who sought out the immense qualities of the purifying water. Any miserable creature who crosses paths with Lod Malafein and makes the naive decision to make a deal is the equivalence of making a deal with the devil. It will indefinably end with hardship and chaos. The mountain fairies were just one example of this fact. All they wanted was to be saved from the tolls of the smog. But what they found instead was imprisonment. Forever being trapped within the walls of the caves they sought out shelter in. And that horror they were threatened with if they should ever leave would have been nothing more than the ridicule and persecution from every person they would encounter. The once elegant mountain fairies have now devolved to what we call now the pale golems of the caves. If one were to ever be seen outside the protection of their caves would be hunted down and executed for the many souls, they have already devoured that fed their very existence.