"This is the Necropolis," Jeze breathed out as she glanced around.
"Incredible," Mikal observed.
"How big is this place?" Rolfe wondered.
"Oh ya! It''s enormous!"
"Stay focused, team," Dunar ordered.
They found themselves standing in a cemetery of monumental proportions with gravesites fit for kings. All around them, including above and below, was worked stone. The smaller tombstones were still giant-sized and intricately carved works of art with life-size gargoyles that stood watch. The air smelled of ash and dust, and it was dimly lit. The main source of light came from an enormous pillar of twirling blue and purple energies that spiraled up toward the dark heavens. The Necropolis was so large that it could take the Proven a week of traveling through endless aisles of extravagant memorials, gravestones, and obelisks to reach the pillar of energy.
"Is that where we need to go?" Jeze wondered.
Dunar nodded.
"Makes sense to me," Mikal replied.
Rolfe rubbed his large hands together. "What foul beasts do we need to slay here?" He asked.
Helga grinned. "We will face the Draugr of the First Kings?"
Mikal''s eyes narrowed. "We should leave them to their sacred duties."
"What''s a Draugr?" Jeze asked.
"Undead warriors that protect the Barrows of kings and chieftains," Dunar explained.
Rolfe grinned widely and asked, "But what about the treasures they are guarding?"
Mikal sputtered. The Cold Priest was conflicted between his religious duty and inherent greed. Finally, with his chin up, Mikal replied, "The Frozen All Father respects those who help themselves."
"Even if it''s robbing from your ancestors?" Jeze chimed in.
Dunar chuckled. The Leader focused mostly on their surroundings. So far, other than the Proven talking, the entire area has been quiet. Too quiet.
"Wouldn''t be my ancestors. Besides, the dead do not need material things like the living," Mikal responded.
"Ya! Good answer!" Helga exclaimed.
Rolfe scratched his head as he fumbled with his gear. "Dunar, which weapons should I use?"
The options for the large Protector were spear and shield, sword and shield, or spear in two hands. Dunar looked around. There was limited space with narrow dusty walkways that weaved in between a forest of worked stone.
"Spear and shield may limit your visibility and mobility," Dunar observed.
"So, sword and shield?" Rolfe asked.
Dunar shook his head. "Your spear off your pack will still still bump into the tombstones. I think you should go with your spear alone. It will give you reach, and you can thrust well enough in these narrow spaces."
"What if we encounter ranged attackers?" Jeze wondered.
Dunar thought a moment before he answered, "I can hold a shield."
"Hmm, what about me, ya?" Helga asked.
"You do you, Helga," Dunar said with a nod to her Dane axe.
Helga grinned and hefted her weapon in two hands.
"Which way should we go?" Mikal asked.
Dunar shrugged and motioned in a direction with a nod. The others agreed and the team marched out. Jeze ran up ahead to scout. Next was Dunar with his shield and Rolfe was beside him. Helga took up the rear with Mikal in the middle. Jeze studied the dirt floor and something caught her attention. She paused.
"What is it?" Dunar asked.
"Tracks, lots of them," Jeze replied.
The floor was churned with footprints. Jeze guessed hundreds. They traveled up and down the dirt and ash trail they were on.
"From adventurers?" Dunar wondered.
"I don''t think so," Jeze said.
She followed a set of tracks that led to a nearby mausoleum constructed from dark marble and engraved with images depicting some monarch. The iron doors that led into the edifice were solidly shut. However, the dust beside the doors was disturbed, indicating to Jeze that they had been opened before.
"Something is in there?" Dunar whispered.
Jeze studied the ground and other tracks. She rose up and motioned for Dunar and the others to step back to the center of the trail. They were still very close to the rows of gravestones and mausoleums.
"Something resides in all of them," Jeze quietly said.
"What do you mean by that?" Snapped Mikal.
Jeze motioned to all the stone edifices that varied in shape and size. The smaller ones were the size of a small cabin, and the larger ones could rival a palace. Essentially, they stood within a city.
Rolfe gripped his spear. "We could be surrounded."
"Wait, the footprints lead to all of them?" Mikal waved his hands.
Jeze nodded.
Mikal exhaled, "By the Frozen All-Father. Not could be. We are surrounded."
Dunar''s eyes narrowed, and he wondered, "Why would they remain inside? We have not seen a soul."
"And what does that glowing pillar do, ya?" Helga asked and pointed.
Rolfe shook his blonde head and muttered. "So many things. Why can''t we just fight?"
Mikal rubbed the Protector''s broad shoulder. "I agree, my friend."
Jeze on the other hand was excited. This was what adventuring was all about! Mystery and problem solving. Something was happening here and she will get to the bottom of it. Jeze studied the tracks and followed them along the trial. Many tracks diverted back into the surrounding mausoleums. Dunar''s tracking skill was not as high has Jeze''s but he knew enough to be of a assistance. He studied the ground alongside her and something confused him.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
"What are these?" Dunar asked.
Jeze came over to examine what Dunar discovered. Among the churned dirt of numerous footprints was a particular mish mash of tracks that caught Dunar''s attention. Jeze initially thought they were an overlap of hundreds of footprints but in reality, she discovered that they were a giant footprint!
"Something big came through here and the other footprints appeared to flee from this thing. This monster!" Jeze exclaimed.
“Monster?” Both Helga and Rolfe perked up.
Dunar followed the giant footprint and said, "It appears to be traveling away from us. That way."
"Or, we are going to its home where there might be others," Jeze added. Her response hung in the air ominously like a dark cloud.
Helga and Rolfe shared a grin. Finally! A potential fight! Mikal had wandered a short distance from the group. A gleaming gem caught his attention that was embedded in one of the raised sarcophagi that dotted the ashen landscape they found themselves in. The stone tomb was at one time intricately carved with flowing depictions that have long been scratched or marred. But by what? Mikal wondered. Who would deface such artwork? Mikal grinned. More importantly, who would leave the gemstones? Lucky me! He thought as he used a dagger to pry the shining stones free.
"Mikal! Stay close," Dunar barked.
The Healer paused and looked up to nod at Dunar. A grating sound caused Mikal to step back in alarm. The heavy stone lid slid slightly to the side to reveal a dark abyss within. Mikal cocked his head in curiosity. A dark, gaunt hand snapped out of the opening and grabbed Mikal by his cloak. The Healer scrambled back and managed to pull himself free but fell on his rump.
"What is it?" Dunar asked.
"We need to get moving!" Mikal spun and stumbled to his feet in a hurry.
"What did you do?" Jeze whispered.
"Nothing!" Mikal snapped.
Behind the Healer, a lanky, gaunt figure emerged from the opening of the sarcophagus. Its skin was coal black with shadowy tendrils that spiked off its body like dark knives. The creature had long arms that ended in thick clawed hands that reached down to its knees. The face was what caught Jeze''s attention the most. It was like a skull that was surrounded by a mane of sharp, shadowy hair. The thing''s eyes were red pits of flame, and its mouth opened inhumanly wide where its jaw came all the way down to its chest! It let loose an ear-rattling howl, and Jeze immediately recognized the Affliction aspect that was embedded in the supernatural shriek. Fear gripped her heart and pressed heavily against her Will, but she managed to suppress the effects. Dunar and Mikal grimaced as they both fought against the supernatural howl. But Rolfe and Helga were not able to withstand the fear effect, and the two large warriors fled in a panic.
"No!" Dunar roared, but it was too late.
The party was split apart, and to make matters worse, more monsters appeared from the surrounding tombs. Some undead rose from the dirt, and others emerged from the stone mausoleums. The coal-black-skinned Fear Monster pounced at Dunar with its long-clawed hands extended. Dunar deflected the claws to the side with his sword and chopped downward with his axe. The Frostsworn steel buried deep into the monster''s collarbone. Dunar kicked the Fear Monster away and, with horror, watched as its body mended itself.
"Run!" Dunar roared.
The three fled after Rolfe and Helga. The two large warriors scrambled in a frenzy through the dirt paths. Luckily, they ran relatively in the same direction, but hordes of undead appeared all around them. Mikal impaled a lurching zombie that tried to grab him. Jeze removed the thing''s head, and the three continued to run and dodge, grasping hands from all sides. Dunar loudly cursed as the Fear Monster pounced upon them from behind. The Leader fell to the ground, but not before bucking the creature off of him. Jeze impaled the Fear Monster to the ground with her sword. Its wicked claws slashed against her armored shins and thighs. Mikal rapidly Summoned mist, and with a wide wave of his hands, he Shaped the Mist into an ice wall that encased dozens of zombies. With a growl, Dunar hacked off the Fear Monster''s legs, and Jeze removed its head.
"We go after Rolfe and Helga," Dunar stated with determination clearly etched upon his gray eyes.
They ran, and the Fear Monster''s head howled after them. Jeze risked a quick glance behind and saw that the creature was putting itself back together. I should have kicked its head away, Jeze regretted. It would only be a matter of moments before it gave chase, and it moved much faster than them. They will have to deal with that creature again at some point.
All around them was a frenzy of activity as more undead noticed them. The foul creatures shrieked and hollered and gave chase. Lucky for the Proven, many of the undead fought and devoured each other. She watched in disgust as a pair of ghouls slurped up the dark ichor that leaked from the wounds of another undead creature. Jeze wondered what that was about but took the blessing in stride. They needed all the distractions they could get. Rolfe and Helga became overwhelmed by a swarm of gaunt undead bodies. The two fought in a panic but lacked skill. It would only be a matter of moments before they were torn apart!
"For glory!" Dunar roared with such fury as he leaped into the mass of undead that engulfed his friends.
The Proven Leader hacked and slashed like a whirlwind of death. Body parts and black ichor flew away from him as he waded through the mass of monsters. Jeze and Mikal Summoned and Shaped walls of Ice and stone to stem the tide of encroaching hordes, but the longer they remained, the more undead they attracted. The three furiously fought with axe, sword, spear, and Rune magic and finally were able to see the cowering forms of Helga and Rolfe. Their glazed-over eyes showed that their minds were not present.
"Jeze, do something!" Dunar barked.
"Keep the undead away from me," Jeze replied.
"What else do you think we would be doing!" Mikal snapped with a scowl.
The Healer''s face beaded with sweat as he exerted his Will to form more protective ice walls. Jeze ignored the comment and focused her Will. She tapped her Affliction ring and gritted her teeth as she Shaped the curse out of Rolfe and Helga. It took an enormous amount of effort, and Jeze feared that she would burst a vein in her head because she strained so hard. Greasy red tendrils emerged from her friends, and Jeze Shaped it into a ball that she then Controlled to splash against a group of undead that climbed over the ice walls that Mikal had erected. The monsters spasmed from the raw Affliction energies. Rolfe and Helga shook their heads and rose to their feet. It took but a moment for them to recover before they waded into battle with such fury.
"I will grind that monster''s bones to dust!" Helga roared her promise.
Rolfe agreed and the two large warriors slaughtered the incoming undead with fury and rage. But there were just too many and despite how formidable the Proven was it was only a matter of time before they would be overrun.
"We need to keep moving!" Jeze cried.
Dunar glanced around and saw an enormous castle-sized mausoleum with its doors closed. Maybe if they could make it inside? At the very least, they can fight with the walls at their backs and avoid getting surrounded.
"We go there!" He barked the order.
The Proven responded with pure discipline. They moved as one and covered each other''s backs with practiced ease. Helga activated the flame enchantments on her Dane axe and carved a swath of fiery death before her. Rolfe and Mikal protected the warrior maiden''s flanks and impaled the undead that attempted to close in. Dunar and Jeze fought with axe and sword. The two weaved back and forth and kept the undead at bay. Jeze spotted more intelligent undead among the horde of mindless zombies. They waited and pounced with an evil cleverness that glinted in their red eyes. But, like the zombies, they were cut down with ease by the mighty Proven. They neared their destination, and the heavy steel doors slid open. Jeze''s heart sank. Would they be surrounded? A tall, armored figure emerged with leathery gray skin and a scraggly beard. He wore a ruby studded crown and carried a greatsword with a golden pommel.
With mighty swings, the Dead King slew the zombies surrounding the entrance and called out, "Come with me!"
More and more zombies and ghouls appeared from the surrounding graves, and the odds were getting worse by the second. Dunar, with a firm jaw, nodded and pointed toward the dead king.
"Go inside!" He roared.
Mikal appeared that he was about to sputter a protest until they heard the hair rising screech from the Fear Monster. Rolfe and Helga''s eyes glazed over as fear consumed them. Mikal shoved the two forward and with Jeze''s help they all managed to follow the Dead King inside as he closed the steel doors blocking off the hordes outside.
"What is this place?" Dunar asked.
They appeared to be a grand hallway illuminated by magical torches and with its walls lined with nooks for the dead. Jeze imagined that it was once opulent with marble and gold, but now overtaken by age and time. The gold has since stained, and the marble chipped and covered with ash, grime, and dust. Plus, the nooks were emptied.
"Welcome, friends! This is the tomb of the great King Archerbold the Defiant!" The dead monarch exclaimed.
A gaunt creature grabbed Jeze by the shoulder from one of the nooks that lined the wall.
"Begone from here!" It hissed.
Archerbold cut the zombie''s head off with a sharp slice of his sword. "Apologies," he said as the black ichor dripped to the ground from the headless undead. Re-dead dead? Jeze wondered.
"Please, friends, join me for supper. It has been ages since I entertained proper guests," Archerbold said with a grin. Jeze noticed that his eyes kept lingering on the dripping black ichor.
The Proven, with their hands remaining on their weapons, continued deeper into the mausoleum. Their eyes were wary as they studied their surroundings.
"Be on guard, Proven," Dunar ordered.
Jeze spotted the undead king slurping up the dark ichor. When he noticed Jeze looking at him, he quickly finished drinking and wiped his scraggly beard.
"Just up ahead!" Archerbold said and hurried in front of them to lead them further inside.
When the Dead King was out of earshot, Mikal muttered, "This will not end well."