by Eden Redd
“Run!” Thorrin and Renner shouted at the same time.
The party quickly converged and bolted for the path. Thorrin’s eyes were wide as the dead turned to the commotion and then shambled toward them. The paladin glanced back as power surged into the robed figure’s pale hands. It stalked toward them with a relentless stride. The player had seen mages in action before but he never saw a lightning bolt with that kind of power. If any of them were struck dead on, it would have killed them.
The Dire Mage pointed a hand and another surge of lighting blasted out. Thorrin used his arms and shoulders to knock Vass and Renner aside as the bolt streamed past and disintegrated a dozen tombstones. Lightning arced and blasted a few more tombstones before the energy dissipated. The Dire Mage’s robes billowed as power rose up around it, forming in purple aura.
The party quickly recovered and pumped their legs. Corpses shambled toward the wide path, arms out and jaws hanging. The hatred for their light consumed them as they slowly began spilling onto the stone path. Thorrin’s aura blazed bright as he led the way. White light burned the undead and they lifted their boney arms to protect themselves from its brilliance. Ro and Jon’s auras added their light and soon all three paladins glowed like beacons in the land of the dead. Renner tried to keep his cool as the undead hissed and reached out. The rogue didn’t want to waste any bolts and quickly slapped away any hands that drew too close. Vass kept her crossbow up as the dead hissed and clawed for them. Ro’s little body moved with purpose as she cursed under her breath. A large metal hand punched across two boney kneecaps and a corpse hit the ground and floundered. Jon whipped his staff at the undead, the end smashing in one skull after the other. Deidra followed close behind, eyes sharp but not engaging the enemy.
The Dire Mage lifted up both hands and fired off two streams of lighting. The party divided into two and dove among the tombstones as the stone path was ripped to shreds. Thorrin stumbled to his feet and saw he was surrounded by hungry corpses. The putrid stench of death cloaked him as he looked for his fellow party members. A hand reached for him and the paladin struck outward with his hammer. The corpse shattered into light as three more took its place. Aura blazing, the paladin charged into the undead, hammer slamming into chests, heads and necks. Like a whirling dervish, he fought with practiced ease but the dead were too many.
Crossbow bolts flew and sunk into chests and heads, a moment later they exploded. Renner and Vass reached each other through the chaos and threw their backs to one another. Bolts flew again and again as the rogues tried to create a focal point for the party. Deidra moved to their side, batons at her hips. Ro smashed her large metal fists into each undead, curses filling the air. Jon backed up onto the ruined path, his back to the rogues and staff out. Thorrin cracked another skull before pulling back to the party. Vass glanced to the Dire Mage as it pointed glowing hands at the group.
An arcane word filled the air. Thorrin made it back to the party only to see the stone shift on the path ahead of them. Watching in horror, the stone rose up to form a twenty-five-foot-tall wall, it continued to form to the left and right, stone surging into the cemetery. The paladin burst forward with hammer held high. When he reached the wall, he brought his weapon down with all of his might. A piece of stone chipped away but the wall stood.
The Dire Mage moved along the path, arcane words floating on the cold breeze and hands glowing with twisting energies. Renner aimed at the mage and pulled the trigger. The bolt flew out and struck a barrier. The bolt flipped into a group of undead and exploded.
“Over the wall!” Thorrin shouted as Vass and Renner fired another pair of bolts.
Explosions filled the cemetery. The dire mage moved with even steps up the path while most of the dead converged on the party. Ro was to Thorrin’s side and lifting a leg. The paladin intertwined his fingers and the goblin stepped up. With a powerful heave, the goblin paladin was airborne. A metal hand grabbed the top of the wall and Ro lifted herself up. Staying at the top, she let her hand drop, fingers opened.
Renner and Vass concentrated their bolts at the dire mage. Pairs of bolts hit the mage’s barrier and flipped off to the side. It was then when the rogues saw a large group of undead turn from them and move toward the dire mage. The mage was about to let off another stream of lightning when corpses moved in closer. A barrier surged with power as boney hands clawed at it, eager to consume the mage’s living mana. The dire mage turned its attention and fire burst outward. The corpses were shattered to light but another surge moved toward him.
“We might have a chance!” Renner shouted as he backed up.
Deidra moved to Thorrin as he put his clasped hands out. With a heave, he pushed her up as Ro took hold of the rogue’s outstretched hand. The goblin let out a small grunt as she helped the rogue over the top. Deidra jumped down to the other side as undead moved in.
Vass was next. The elf ran to the paladin and lifted a leg. Thorrin helped her up and Ro took her hand.
“Renner!” Thorrin shouted.
Renner watched as the dead swarmed the dire mage. Energy blazed as the barrier began to crack. Fire and lightning burst outward, destroying swaths of corpses but more continued to advance. The rogue backed up a few paces before turning and running. With a running start, he jumped and clamped fingers and toes into the wall. Scaling the side, he made it to the top and stayed there.
On the other side of the wall, Vass moved to Deidra’s side as the undead crowded around but did not attack. White daggers in hand, the rogue wondered why the dead didn’t advance. Not taking any chances, Deidra bent her knees and launched into the horde. Her attack caused the undead to react. Batons lashed out against kneecaps and hips, smashing them to bits before they flashed into a greenish light. The rogue spun and moved like a dancer, taking down two at a time and carving a path. Vass moved forward, daggers flashing and sending corpses to their true afterlife.
Jon and Thorrin stood side by side as the dead closed in.
“You first, I’m taller so get ready to grab me,” Jon directed.
Thorrin didn’t argue as the tall paladin placed his staff against the wall and clasped his hands. Giving Thorrin a boost, Renner and Ro reached down and took him by the hand and wrist. With a heave, they pulled him up. Renner flipped his legs over the side and jumped, leaving Thorrin and Ro. The paladins reached down as Jon placed his staff in his inventory. Hands reaching up, the tall paladin jumped as Thorrin and Ro took hold of each hand. Jon’s aura glowed as decayed hands reached for his legs. The paladins heaved Jon up, the undead missing his feet by inches. When Jon reached the top of the wall, all three flipped over and landed on the ground with the others.
Magical explosions filled the night as the three paladins rushed ahead to the rest of the party. Deidra, Vass and Renner fought tooth and nail until white light glowed around them. The paladins rushed the dead, weapons swinging at the horde. Their light pushed them back as their weapons struck true. A break appeared and the party pushed forward. Claw like hands reached out, blazing against glowing auras. Pumping their legs, they could see the tower drawing closer with each step.
Thorrin pushed to the lead, smashing corpses as he ran. The tower stood ominously against the night sky as they made a dash for the door. Shadows and moaning dead poured from darken corners, wanting nothing more than to snuff out the living light. Thorrin eyed the entrance as the tower stood, windowless. A large metal door stood, slightly ajar.
Thorrin poured on the speed until he reached the entrance. Taking hold of the door, he waved the party in. Each player dashed through the doorway while Thorrin gazed past them to the magically created wall. It cracked with power and then exploded down the middle. The Dire Mage continued its slow advance as hundreds of corpses surrounded it. Fire and lighting blazed out as a single dire mage kept the undead army at bay. When the last party member stepped through, Thorrin slammed the metal door shut and slid the bar into place.
Heaving, the party quickly took inventory but their eyes turned t
o the ghostly light illuminating the inside of the tower. Thorrin turned from the door and his eyes widened. Stepping forward, he stared at the astonishing sight before him. The rest of the party did the same as they couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
It was just as Magnys described. A decayed corpse was on his knees, black armor covering everything but his skull. Before it was a ghostly form, frozen in a final act, holding a battle axe in the kneeling figures skull. Thorrin stepped forward, drinking in the wicked black armor of Vyle Rath. It held a sheen like it was brand new. The breast plate was whole and arms hung at his sides, pointed iron knuckles on his gauntlets. The ghostly image of Byrus stood, eyes filled with righteous fury as the white axe glowed between Vyle Rath’s hollowed eyes. With each step closer, Thorrin could make out the skull like head. It was almost like dried skin stretched over bone. There was no muscle to speak of, only a sickening looking skin.
“We should do something soon,” Jon spoke up. “I don’t think that door will keep the mage out for long.”
Thorrin stepped close and looked at Vyle’s breastplate, “It looks like it’s sealed up. We need to open him up if we are to get the arm band out.”
“It looks tight between him and Byrus. I’m not sure we can cut through his chest with the ghost right there,” Vass added as she stepped forward.
Ro spun around slowly, taking in the carved runes along the inner walls of the tower before turning to the group, “Anyone else find it weird that the front door was open?”
“Who knows how long the door was open. It’s not like anyone could get through the dead guarding this place,” Jon said as he moved to Thorrin’s side.
Ro looked to the tall paladin with discomforting eyes, “We made it through, she whispered.
Thorrin stared at the dread lord, “Anything we do will most likely wake him up. We should be careful. If we can get the band without separating him from Byrus, we might have a better chance.
Jon stepped closer, the runes on his staff suddenly blazing to life. Thorrin looked over as energy arced along the staff. Jon stood with staff in hand, his eyes moving to it and widening.
“Step back!” Thorrin commanded but it was too late.
Energy arced and struck out. Several small bolts struck the dread lord but several more hit the ghostly form of Byrus. The party held their collective breath. A tightness squeezed their hearts as the ghostly form of Byrus blazed brightly for a moment and faded away.
“What the fuck!” Renner said as he heaved up his crossbow.
“I’m sorry; my staff is enchanted against the dead. It must have had a reaction to the dread lord and dead paladin,” Jon said as he backed up.
“Pretty big fucking reaction that you didn’t fucking know about!” Renner said aiming at the dread lord.
Thorrin held his hammer as the party stood frozen. A deep blue fire sparked and surged up Vyle’s thin neck and surrounded his skull like features. Armor stirred and creaked. The thin line from between his eyes sealed up to the top of his head. Blue fire glowed and waved as the dread lord awakened. Points of light appeared in hollow eye sockets and then blazed open.
Thorrin’s shock melted away as he stood ten feet from the dread lord. Energy pooled in his muscles as he held his hammer tight. Purpose took the reins and eyes narrowed when he saw we was about to fulfill his promise.
“Stick to the plan and don’t give him an inch,” Thorrin commanded.
Ro flexed her oversized mechanical hands, eyes filling with determination. Jon bent his knees, staff held sideways and power pulsating from one end to the other. Vass and Renner split up, aiming their crossbows. Deidra stood with a baton in one hand and a healing potion in the other. She took several steps back and held her breath.
Vyle Rath turned his glowing blue eyes to Thorrin. A knee shifted up and he put a foot down. Before he could lift the other knee, Thorrin burst forth with a blaze of white light flowing behind him. A creepy dread filled the tower as Thorrin launched himself into the air, hammer raised high.
Time slowed down. Power surged as Thorrin darted for the waking dread lord and brought his hammer down. Aura and holy power blasted outward as Thorrin’s hammer struck the dread lord’s breastplate. Intent rolled into action as the party unleashed with divine fury. Jon and Ro launched themselves forward as Thorrin rained down hammer strike after hammer strike. The blows sent pulses through the air as Thorrin looked to see Vyle’s hit point bar had question marks. Channeling wisdom into his hammer, each strike was like a thunder bolt.
Vyle still managed to lift himself up as Thorrin’s hammer struck true each time. Vass watched as her brother didn’t let up. Aiming, she fired a bolt. It hit the breastplate and gave off a mute explosion. Renner did the same and they were greeted with another mute explosion. Jon slammed his staff against the dread lord’s armored knee but it did not bend, even with fiery white light scorching it. Vyle stood to his full height and then began to grow tall and wider at the shoulders.
Thorrin continued his barrage as he stared with wide eyes. Vyle Rath’s head tilted down to look at him. Darkness billowed and his height reached twelve feet tall. Ro leapt into the air and slammed her holy gauntlet against the other knee. Power flared but it did not bend.
Vyle Rath looked down with lifeless glowing eyes as the three paladins hit him with everything they had. Light and darkness flashed but the dread lord barely moved as he gazed down on them, as if studying their every move. Panic started to set in as Thorrin bashed again and again with his hammer, trying to make a dent. The light in the tower swayed to their bursts of light. Vass reloaded and hefted up her crossbow. Renner did the same but fingers stayed off the triggers. They searched for a weak point as the three paladins continued their onslaught.
The dread lord opened his armored hands as he silently took each blow. Thorrin knew he had to keep going and the edge of panic took hold. Numbers rolled up at the edge of his vision telling him he was doing high damage with his hammer but it seemed to have no effect on the dread lord. The paladin glanced down to see black chains unfurl from Vyle’s hands, snaking down to the floor and spreading out.
Thorrin stopped his attack and grabbed Ro as she launched into the air at the dread lord. The goblin’s feet went up as her eyes went wide. Thorrin threw her back and then turned to Jon, ready to tackle him away when chaos bloomed. Black chains whipped out like tentacles. Vyle moved his thick armored arms with such power that the air vibrated from each swing. A black chain struck Jon against the chest, sending him backwards to the ground. Thorrin felt a chain whip against his side, sending him spinning to the stone floor. Hit points drained as he rolled to a stop.
Renner fished out a sack from his cloak, “Gylda!”
The golden fairy appeared next to him, tiny hands out. The rogue handed her the sack and took hold of his crossbow. Gylda zipped through the whipping black chains and darted for the dread lord’s head. Vyle barely turned his head when the fairy opened the sack and brought it down over his fire engulfed head. An armored hand reached up as Gylda zipped away.
“Aim for the head,” Renner said with a commanding flair.
Two crossbow bolts launched, flying through the air and hitting the sack. Runes glowed as they exploded. The explosions were enough for Vyle to step back. Cords pulled back as bolts slipped into place. Triggers pulled and two more bolts fired. Black chains whipped upward, slashing each bolt in two and exploding. The sack over Vyle’s head burned away as blue fire engulfed it. Gylda dove back for Renner as the sack burned to ash and a whip lashed upward.
Renner’s eyes widened as Gylda darted toward him only for a black chain to hit her dead on. The golden fairy’s body went limp as she flew into the air, eyes wide. The rogue bent his legs while slinging his crossbow over his shoulder. Launching himself into to the air, one hand reached for the falling fairy while another drew a white dagger. The rogue caught her softly and turned midair. Throwing the limp fairy to Vass, the rogue continued to turn until he landed at Vyle’s feet.
Vyle stumbled from the blow, chains moving around him like some demonic squid. Thorrin took the chance and slammed his hammer against the dread lord’s chest and released another lightning bolt at point blank range. White lightening surged in the thin space between hammer and breastplate. It bore into the black armor with holy fury as the paladin gritted his teeth.
A chain coiled around Thorrin’s torso and before he could act, he was thrown away. The paladin flew backwards, his back hitting the stone tower wall and sliding down to his feet. Jon pushed forward, staff knocking away chains but his progress was slow. Ro leapt into the air, hand taking hold of a chain and propelling herself forward. Chains missed her small form as she used the chains like a monkey holding vines, driving herself closer to the dread lord. Vyle stared with unfeeling eyes at the adventurers as they fought on against the impossible. Thorrin charged forward, noticing the tiny hole his lightning caused at the dread lord’s breastplate.
Renner continued to move, striking and moving. Ro swung closer, holy gauntlets glowing with white light. Jon knocked away a chain and had a clear shot at the dread lord. Bodies moved at the same time, driving toward Vyle and hope in their hearts. Chains coiled and lashed out. Ro was knocked from the air, her body hitting the floor before a chain coiled around her and slammed her down like a rag doll. Jon was within four feet when a chain slammed into his shoulder. The chain then coiled around his neck and squeezed, forcing the paladin to fall to his knees as hit points drained. Renner made one last slash with his dagger before two chains snaked around his ankles and pulled. The rogue landed face first into the stone floor and before he could recover, was thrown at Vass. The elf had put Gylda down and turned to fire off a bolt when Renner’s body came hurtling toward her. Crossbow falling and hands up, she grabbed for him just before he hit her, sending them both to the stone floor. Deidra stayed where she was, watching the mad display of power.
