Dream Gaze-ing

AN HOUR LATER - KREAKY KAULDRON:

John, Kyuala and Lani are fast asleep in their room. The first two being absolutely drained after their earlier activities.

The entire building lies silent however on the outside, the rain gets heavier, bouncing off of the cobblestone streets and windows. Signs and trees around the entire town shaking with the chilling wind which has ramped up also.

In the other rooms, Amilia is completely passed out from her earlier drinking. Meanwhile, Terra is slowly moving around, seemingly having an active dream of sorts.

The Kauldron wouldn't remain silent for long however as the door is practically swung open and a commotion is heard downstairs.

John is woken up by this commotion, hearing raised voices which he assumes has been caused by some drunkards.

As he's already up, John decides to go to the bathroom before heading back to sleep.

A minute later, John is done with draining his snake and is heading back to bed but he as he's heading back, he decides to look out the window.

John sees the harsh weather and thinks to himself, "Thank god i'm not out there".

He then looks down at the street and that's when he sees something pretty familiar outside the Kauldron,

Daffy's wagon.

John thinks to himself, "Daffy's back? Why? I thought she was heading home".

John continues to hear the commotion downstairs and puts 2 and 2 together, "Better go see what's happening with my favourite dwarf".

John grabs his shoes and his shirt, putting them on and then gives Kyuala a gentle kiss on her forehead before quietly exiting the room.

DOWNSTAIRS:

As John is descending the last couple stairs, the raised voices become clear enough to understand.

"Listen ya half-brained fool! I need tae talk to Kee-ala now! So go and fucking get her!".

John chuckles, immediately recognising the voice of his favourite dwarf.

John steps down from the final stair before turning the corner and saying, "You do know that the whole point of going home is to actually... go home".

Daffy's gaze immediately turns toward John, "Oh thank fuck you're here!".

Daffy immediately rushes over and clamps her arms around him.

John is stunned, looking down at the dwarf in a moment of disbelief as he begins to worry.

"Hey, what's wrong? You look like you've been through hell".

"That's because we have been young man".

John turns his head to the left, looking toward the source of the voice. As he turns his head, he sees a classic looking mage.

The mage stands up before continuing, "My name is Cidal Loweyorn, I apologise for the late intrusion but we are in dire need of help".

"Of course, anything for a friend of Daffy's".

At this point, Daffy let's go of John before saying, "We had ****, it's bad... really bad".

John hears a quiver of fear in her voice so he puts his hand on her shoulder, "It's gonna be okay. Now, get yourselves a drink, i'll get the others".

A FEW MINUTES LATER:

The group have all made their way down to the ground floor, some looking much rougher than others, *ahem* Amilia.

The group all sit around the table as Kyuala asks, "Okay, what's so important that it couldn't wait til morn?".

Cidal puts his drink down, "The undead have risen".

The group are all immediately confused, looking amongst one another before John says, "Wait, undead? You mean like... zombies?".

"I have no understanding of what a 'zombie' is however yes, the undead were there" Cidal answers.

Cidal then takes a sip of his drink before continuing, "We were on our way back to Wiralsama when we stopped to camp for the night. We were around the fire when one of the men we sent for firewood came back running and screaming. He said that the other man was eaten by beasts with red eyes and the appearance of a corpse".

Daffy continues on, "We were movin' mah wagon tae get back here but then... that's when they attacked".

The two new arrivals have sullen looks on their faces as they remember the events at the camp fire.

"The description from my comrade was correct, the undead were indeed there. Within the blink of an eye, one of those hellish beasts was chewing on the entrails of another comrade".

The group are all in shock, all except Amilia's whose expression is unknown as she's currently face down on the table.

Lani is the first to speak up as she says, "So... the undead showed up just a few hours away? The same day we went back to the cave and learned about... her? That can't be a coincidence".

"Wait, wee one... I hope yer no suggesting wit I think yer suggesting".

"What are you suggesting fairy?" Cidal asks.

The group all look amongst themselves once again before John speaks up, "Two days ago, we cleared out a cave filled with the group known as the Darkcross led by a woman named Ivellise. Yesterday, we went back to... loot, and when we got there... all the bodies had vanished".

Kyuala picks up from there, "After we looted and headed to Wiralsama, we were told about the original leader of the Darkcross... a woman named Imoga".

Cidal immediately recognises that name, "Imoga?! The Darksister?!".

The group just silently nod.

Cidal shudders in fear, "No... it can't be her".

As the mage is recoiling from this news, the door swings open and a man wearing soaked armour steps in.

"Alright! We have the local guards on alert and ready to fight and we also have back-up coming in about an hour, we just need to hold them off until then. Are these your friends?".

"Aye, these are the folks" Daffy responds.

The man in armour walks over to the table and takes a seat before introducing himself, "A pleasure to meet you all. I just wish it were under better circumstances. My name is Commander Johtun Praise, former commander, i'm afraid".

"You are still a commander Johtun" Cidal says.

Johtun bows his head in shame, "I lost all of them... every, single, one. What sort of commander lets that happen?".

"A commander who was blindsided by a great evil".

The group all turn toward John, all shocked by the sudden comment.

"You and your men were ambushed by an enemy that you could have never expected. The fact that you three got out alive is a miracle. Now, I know you don't know me and hell, i've never been a commander of anything so I haven't got a clue as to what you're going through right now... but what I do know is that... a good commander... would do anything to honour his men... even if it means to avenge them".

John's words really hit Johtun. This random man has just given him some of the best advice he's ever received as a commander and yet... he's not even a soldier.

Johtun takes a moment to compose his response but after sifting through many fancy words, he simply says, "Thank you, young man. May I ask... what is your name?".

"John Doe, a pleasure to meet you, Commander".

Johtun smiles, "A pleasure to meet you too. Now... do we have any idea on how to deal with this?".

"Not yet, however, we do know who may be behind it".

Johtun now looks at Cidal who has worry on his face as he says, "We believe it may be... The Darksister".

Johtun's face drops like an anvil off a cliff, "Imoga? Are you absolutely sure?".

"It's the only part that makes sense out of all of this" John says, "We took on the Darkcross, got rid of them and then their bodies somehow vanish? And to top it all off, this Imoga made the Darkcross? If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck...".

The group all stare at him, seemingly waiting for him to finish the quote but that's when Terra asks, "What is a... duck?".

"Uhh, doesn't matter, point is, it has to be Imoga".

"John is right. Now, we need to make a plan" Johtun says.

Cidal is the first to speak up on this plan, "Terra, Lani and I will work on a way for us to try and stop Imoga's spell. If that doesn't work, we'll attempt to negate their speed advantage".

"My brother and I will rally anyone who wishes to not get eaten and see if they'll fight with us. While we do that, Amilia will go to Sylus. he should have plenty of weapons on hand for any extra fighters" Kyuala adds.

"I assume Amilia is the feline currently face down on the table?" Johtun asks.

The group make a collective yet simple hum of acknowledgement as Amilia still doesn't move from her position.

Johtun then clears his throat, "Alright, sober her up as quickly as you can, the undead may be on foot but they are fast and I don't imagine they'll get tired".

"Hawd on, wit aboot us?" Daffy asks as she signals between John and herself.

"We keep watch. I arranged for myself to take up the next watch at the east watchtower but six eyes are better than two and as we do, we can make a battle plan".

"Sounds good" Kyuala says, "Now, let's get ready to put those undead bastards back in their grave".

The group all stand up with a determined look on all of their faces, all apart from Amilia who is currently still passed out.

"Ehh, how're ye gonnae wake her up?" Daffy asks.

Kyuala evilly chuckles, "Oooh don't worry, I have a plan".

"It's the plan that worries me" John says under his breath to Terra as Kyuala joyfully heads over to the bar.

The grinning orc grabs a large tankard and practically fills it to the brim with cold water. Kyuala then carefully steps back over to the table, making sure not to spill any of the water as she creeps up behind Amilia.

The entire group then take a step back, anticipating what's coming next.

Kyuala's grin seems to somehow extend as she holds the full tankard over the passed out cat. Just then, she completely turns the tankard and the entirety of the water falls down directly on top of Amilia's head.

The cold water lands and Amilia immediately shoots up, gasping for air and in shock. Amilia's head begins to shake from the cold and in anger as the water drips down her damp fur.

"Kyuala!" Amilia says angrily, earning a laugh from the group in a moment of calm before the impending shit storm heading their way.