Liches be Bitches

Previously, the Twilight Knights and the Ardent Berserkers raced to secure a magical item in a seaside cave about 2 hours north of Gimmiacudl on the Freshwater Sea. The cave proved full of Su-Shee merfolk including a great champion that claimed to herald their deaths. While most of the party decided to abandon the quest, the Ardent Berserkers launched themselves forwrd, joined by Itsa seeking to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. But as soon as the Berserkers small saytr member - Spefias Swifthorns - stealth atop of the pile of loot and gained access to the chest, opening it, the Berserkers and Itsa were almost instaneously transported away. In their place was left an armor clad skeletal figure - a lich - surrounded by what seemed to be an army of the undead.

The lich sent forth the army of warriors, and so the remaining member of the Twilight Knights make their desparate escape back through the tunnels and openings of the cave and successfully exiting back to the beach. Its around midnight when they mount the slugraptors of the Ardent Berserkers and flee south along the beach towards the city, with the army of undead pursuing them.

While holding onto their mount, Cerfepto looks to Lathander, trying to read his expression.

"Fuck they are still trailing us..we sure we wanna bring this back to the city?" Lathander looks a little panicked as he looks over to Cerfepto and the rest as the hoard of undead only keep chasing them he tries to stifle maddening chuckles as the stress has clearly broke something in side him.

"What else are we gonna do? Can't hold 'em off on our own."Cerrie counters.

"Hah hahahaha were so fucked..haha" Lathander goes into a fit of giggles. HIs mouth laughing but his eyes looking absolutely terrified.

So the party decides to approach the city of Gimiacudl since they have little options.

Gimiacudl is on the coastline of the Freshwater sea and has a favourably mild coastal climate when not being battered into oblivion by errant monsoons and huricanes that seem to appear from no where at random intervals. The city is multicultural, with a mix of humans, dragonkin, elves and orcs with even the ocassional giant calling the mercantile town home. Race is irrelevant, only jade talks.

Its main industries are fishing and trade, with ships depart from the Wayard Docks and the Demark Quay one of the only alternatives to passing through the Pack Passage linking the Twin Cities, to access the lands of Droachainm. But this does not mean the voyage is not without its perils and some argue that of the two its the more dangerous, with the Great Pirate Fleets of Ars and the Merfolk of Sushee adding to the unknown dangers of the deep blue.

The city is broken north and south into two large makeshift and shanty town like residential districts each with their own markets, temples/shrines, stores and taverns. In the north is district of Mistring and home to the Wayard Docks and the south is the Feywell and home of the Demark Quay.

In the centre of the coast, atop a large elevated, rocky outcroping postioned between the two sets of docks is the abode of the Ocean Master, Head of the Gimiacudl Trade Guild and Governor of the city. The main guards are the Tridents, who maintain a patrol from their headquarters in Castle Rock, but also have watch towers, mostly along the ocean to fend off Merfolk and pirate attack.

"Lath, Lath, look at me." Cerrie clutches his chin with a firm grasp, turning him towards her face. "We're gonna make it out of this, one way or another. Snap out of it."

“Wild guess that nobody has a plan here?!!” Pearla screams.

"The plan is to flee! Better ideas'll come when we're not bein' chased through a forest!" Cerrie says.

“One problem elf. They’re already dead…they won’t get tired.”Pearla replies.

"Do you have a better suggestion, fatso?!"Cerrie barks.

Lathander giggles stifle for a moment as he fights back his fear and anguish for a moment focusing on survival. He grips his reigns as he lets Cerfepto and Pearla argue it out.

"I say we should head into the city..would the lich risk a full **** of fighters coming out to meet his undead?"Lathander says trying to hold back his laughter.

“I’m a dwarf! Not fat! Shut it before I push you off I think I might have a plan.”Pearla says.

Lathander continues to fight back the urge to panic giggle as he says this. His teeth grit as he gulps down the laughs.

"Mind sharin' wit' those of us who can reach a shelf, then?!"Cerrie replies snarkily.

“Not to the ones who have walnuts for brains. So unfortunately you’ll have to sit this one out.” Pearla snaps back. “Anyways what if we lured them up the cliffs near the city walls and then we send boulders down smashing them all.”

"An' what about the ones comin' after t'ose ones?"Cerrie snapped back.

As they are discussing this, they suddenly see a series of torches in the near distance ahead of them. The lights of the city have grown bright and they are still about 10 mins out. They then hear shouting.

"Stop there!" an authoriative voice with the torches says.

"Are we really going to take a chance that the city can react in time to a wave of undead in a matter of seconds..your mad Pearla..heh..heh..hah." Lathander hearing the shouting his brown eyes snap to the voices he can hear.

"Tch..." With gritted teeth, Cerfepto halts her mount. "Whaddaya want? We're in a hurry."

The party halts at the guards, a group of 5 on patrol north of the city. you are still on back of slugraptors. One guard speaks "What is your business in Gimiacudl? Why are you approaching from this direction in the early hours of morning."

"We're bein' chased." Cerrie bluntly answers.

Lathander would stop as well the look of terror in his eyes. His body shakes as he holds back a laugh his head turns backwards every so often at the wave of undead coming.

“Ones catatonic another’s an elf, but more importantly you’ve got like 10 minutes before a horde of undead breaks out and rampages through your city so I hope you guys have a sound little settlement otherwise we’re all fucked.”Pearla yells.

The guards look at the group in the torch light, especially Lathander and sees the genuine fear in his eyes and his terrified demeanour. He looks over to Perla. He knows something is definitely wrong. "Very well," the guard nods and lowers weapons before gesturing into the darkness behind him.

"Much obliged." Cerrie urges the slugraptor to canter into town.

Two sets of guards on bull boards appear from the darkness.

"Return to the city with haste and raise the alert to the rest of the Trident in the northern quarter." the guard orders, " then head to Castle Rock and inform of the situation." The guard turns back to the party, "follow us into the city." the remainder of the guards run as the slug raptors follow to the outskirts of the city.

Lathander follows wordlessly behind her his eyes looking to only the back of Cerfepto's head. Just keep following her lead was the only thing playing through his head.

“Understood and much appreciate for your assistance!” Pearla waves as she checks and pulls out the compass.

"What's that barmy compass even do, Pearla?" Cerfepto spits out.

By the time they arrive their are bells starting to ring and they can seek guards swarming out of the local guard houses and toward the shanty dwellings on the outskirts, gathering people and escorting them quick back to the city centre. As they enter the town, the guards stop, approached by a company. All are equipped with large metal tridents, wearing medium and heavy armor. Some have cross bows and arrows as well.

Lathander looks at the well armed town..He wonders if they have the strength to fully fight off the liches forces..those zombie warriors were strong..he could feel many would fall..it only brought him more dread.

The guard turns to you. "you can make your way to the northern quarter barracks - just straight ahead." He looks at you all again, now in the light of the street lanterns "though you look capable enough, if you can help us fight the horde?"

“If commanding counts yes if you mean actually like physically then I will happily cower in the corner.”Pearla says both sarcastically as well as hiding her self preservation.

"Sorry, mate, a bit worn out from some earlier scuffles." She places a hand on Lathander's shoulder. "Me boy-toy here's in need of some proper caretakin', he's gone laughing mad from the strress."

"I need swords and shields, not commanders."The guard says looking the party up and down. "I thought you adventurer lot never backed down from a fight."

“I have a metal stick final offer.”Pearla says holding up her weapon in a defensive manner.

*Sigh* "Understood. head that way and make yourselves safe at the barracks." The guard says disappointed in the lot as he knows that there will be casualties without their help.

Lathander speaks up "w-we have to fight..we brought this mess here.." He with holds a giggle as he dismounts. HIs eyes were full of terror but now determination

Lathander actively swats away Cerrie's hand "We can't leave them with this...i can smell it..how many are gonna fall because of us?'

She returns her grip, harder. "Lath, how're you gonna hold a bow steady if you can't stop gigglin'? I ain't lettin' ya throw yerself into some deathtrap like she did." (Referring to Itsa's earlier sacrifice.)

“You could go with him.” Pearla happily suggests as she dismount and heads towards the barracks at the top trot of dwarven speed.

Lathander looks grim as he just deflates he grips his bow. The fight leaves him just as she mentions Itsa.

Seeing his change in demeanor, Cerrie loosens her hand, instead gently patting him on the back with a sympathetic look.

“Ohhhh another idea. We break the thing. But like I’m also sure that’s a terrible idea.” Pearla says waving the compass in hand.

"Wot, break yer compass?"Cerrie retorts.

The party leaves the impending front lines and heads south, travelling no more than another 10 minutes to reach an extensive fortified barracks complex where guards are escorting hundreds of people from the northern outskirts of Mistring district to safety. Guard towers ring the area as everyone gathers inside the main yard. After several more minutes, the heavy wooden doors of the fort are closed and guards line the walls.

“Last idea here is we melt it down toss it into a box seal the box multiple times and fire it into the ocean.” Pearla says.

Cerfepto sighs. "Reckon it could work, if'n ya think just handin' it over's a bad idea."

“Respectfully elf handing the big scary lich the only thing he said he wanted is probably suicide.”Pearla shudders.

"What, as opposed to fightin' 'im?"Cerrie spat.

“Yes because giving the bad thing the thing he wants is usually an awful idea.”Pearla was getting tensed up.

"Listen if this lich fucker wants that thing we can not give it to him..I know first hand what relics can do when those with dark powers gain access to it." Lathander taps on the walls of the fort remembering his mother and the cult he is from. "As Pearla says..its suicide"

"Aye, fine, fine... let's see if this place has a forge or summat."Cerrie says.

“Wait is he ok again?”Pearla notes that Lathander was not laughing.

"Hah no..not catatonic..just a little..hah..hah touch of maddness you could say hehehehe." Lathander hearing combat the laughs flare up again.

A guard is rushing past the group. They gesture for him to stop quickly which he does impatiently.

"Oi, where's the smithy in this town? Got some urgent maintenance."Cerrie barks.

The guards on the towers are now opening fire as a rain of arrows blacken the morning sky for but a moment.

“Where’s the forge? This is very important like life or destiny the reason we’re in this situation level of importance”Pearla says with urgency in her voice.

"Yes, but no one in or out until this is resolved."The Guard says "There is a forge just off Mistring Square which does all our work for the Tridents but they wont be open now at 3am in the morning." "It will have to wait." and he goes to run off.

Cerfepto exasperatedly pinches her nose at Pearla.

Cerfepto sighs. "Whatever, just try stompin' on it or summat, you seem heavy enough."]

Before the guard can get to far Pearla uses the charm spell on him.“Great now take us there bring some friends and make it quick because I’m hoping to lighten the casualty load here.” For a brief moment the dwarf looks a bit troubled before she gently smack the guard on the ass.

"Of course, I understand. Follow me." the guard leads you to the front gate where a series of guards are bracing the gate, having boarded it up. "Sergeant, these people need to go to the forge urgently. Apparently it relates to this matter."

Lathander is silent he thinks this is a bad idea.

The sergent, a burly orc, looks down at the guard and the party. "what the fuck you talking about? the undead are literally about to smash down this gate and you want to fucking take some fucking civvies to the forge at 3am in the morning. What the fucks wrong with you? Get your fucking head in the fucking game!" the sergent pushes the guard back

The push is hard enough to **** the guard to the ground, causing the charm spell to break. the guard looks up at Pearla, anger filling his face. "Sergent, this one charmed me sir. I swear."

Cerfepto sighs, before whispering to Lath. "Can we say she's on 'er own this time?"

The orc Sergent looks down at the guard then up at the party. "we got fucking **** culters. you here to try and give the fort to the undead!"

“Nope just need access to the smithy. Kinda of our thing I’ve kinda got an idea.”Pearla tries to comment.

The Sergent raises his hand and flicks two fingers towards the party.

"Oi, I didn't know she was up to summat." Cerfepto pulls herself and Lathander away from her.

6 guards approach and immediately surround the group. Just at that moment, sounds of heavy impacts start hitting the gates.

The elven bow men who looks to the orc and then the dwarf "Its too late..its all too late..were all gonna die my mother was right hehehahahaha." Lathander silently speaks muttering and chuckling to himself as he has basically gonna back to how he was previously.

Cerfepto raises her arms with an annoyed expression. "Alright, I'll spill. The lich wants the small one's compass."

The Sergent looks at Cerrie and then at the compass. he seems distracted for a moment by the impending attack. "fuck! the undead are about to break through. why didnt you fucking tell someone you had what the undead were looking for. you led them right fucking here for fucks sake." As he talks you hear the creaking and shattering of wood as the doors of the fort final break and the horde of feral zombies breaks in.

"She 'cided we oughta keep it mum, but I guess now I know better than to trust some fat midget."Cerrie blurted out.- - - - - -

Meanwhile

At this time, Itsa is being questioned by a tall, statuesque and elegant looking, black leather cladded woman along with the Ardent Berserkers in the deep dungeon.

Itsa remembers hearing stories from Elanil about Shuvitinabuiti, its ruling Theocracy, the Cult of Kin and their breeding dens and fighting pits. She knows the entire city is just a single large build structure, reaching 15 stories above ground and reaching well down into the realm of the iron Kingdom below. The woman before her is clearly some form of leader

"What questions" Itsa says wondering what her friends are up to.

"Why were you being teleported to the steppes of the Happy Trail in northern Droachaimn? It was difficult to capture your ethereal stream and redirect it here"The elvin woman states.

"dunno ask them I was jus tryin to protec life"Itsa retorts

She looks over to Vachel with an enquiring look.

[7:20 PM]

"we were at a cave north of Gimmiacudl looking for an artefact for a sorcerer patron out of Zirradamark. At least the four of us were, Itsa here was after the same thing with their party from another sorcerer." Vachel answered

"And what is this item you were seeking?"The elvin woman asks

"No idea, just that it was in a cave, in a small chest."Vachel shrugs

Spefi interrupts. "I opened it and nothing but black in their. then we were here."

The woman looks concerned. "Extremely powerful magics required to hex an item for a transcontinental teleportation outside of a rune circle or portal mirror."

"we had no idea either we were sent by a magic hands named ashton"Itsa confesses.

"Ashton, "she says to herself, "and your patron" she says to Vachel.

"Ah we were told not to disclose that information."Vachel states.

"Don't think it matters now do ya" Itsa gettin snippy.

The woman looks at Vachel seemingly quizically and then he nods, acknowledging the reality of his predicament. "Cornelius."

"Very well. We shall investigate this".The woman goes to turn and leave.

"I dont think ashton knew"Itsa says looking at the floor.

"Wait," said Vachel, "are you just going to leave us to rot in here?"

The woman stops before looking over the group in an assessing fashion. "None of you make for suitable additions to the breeding program, though you may prove of value as fodder in the fighting pits."

"I do however appreciate your cooperation." She muses. "if you promise to aid the Conclave on our investigation of this matter, we may be able to come to some form of arrangement."

"Bleh breeding no thank you"Itsa shudders at the thought.

Vachel nodded eagerly. "Arrangements are what we do best!" he pats Itsa on the shoulder and laughs at her statement.

"Very well, we will be in contact," and with a flick of her hands, the ground below the party in the cell alights with a ring of runes, white and glowing. Before Itsa and the Ardent Berserkers have a chance to react, a flash of light engulfs them all.

Back to the rest of the group

As the door of the fort fly open, they are confronted by the blood horde. It appears that had not overly engaged with the guards on the outskirts, who appear to be continuing to parry the horde of creatures as they traveled with haste south direct to them. The guards in the fort engage the enemy as well.

They then are attacked by groups of enemies with roughly 2-3 opponents at a time. As the fighting continues Pearla and Lathander get smacked around meanwhile Cerrie's defense holds strong.

As the other members of the party, and the civilians too cowering back behind Cerrie's defensive prowess, swipes and bites and cleaving attacks and headbutts raining forward, the enemies attacking start to fall. one by one they are felled from behind as the guards turn to clean up the mess and make safe the civilians. Within moments, they are all felled and quiet engulfs across the fort, bar the sounds of burning buildings in the distance, the panting of guards and warriors, and cries of the people.

The party is all too hagard from the combat to notice that floating, armored skeletal figure floating in the air above the fort. The glowing yellow steaming and smoking eyes looking down at Pearla's bleeding and bruised form standing below him.

Bleeding out ,scared , and PTSD triggered its safe to say Lathander is not in any way able to fight this creature.

The Lich then turns to Lathander with a devilish smirk on his face.

A flash of light comes from the creatures hands and baths all those below in the fort courtyard. not knowing what it is, the party braces for what could be a quick ****, or perhaps, something much much worse.