The Dead Never Die (CH1)

[Ethuar Felson]

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Fels The Liche

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Early Morning - Western Greywoods

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The cold wind rushed through the old abandoned cemetery. Blanketed in a thick layer of snow as the morning light was slow to creep over the horizon. A masked figure crouched next to an open grave. This place has been forgotten and overgrown for over a decade, yet the bones of the dead were the only prize this undead abomination truly desired.

Digging through the remains of what looked like a half rotted wooden coffin he grabbed a handful of bones of various sizes, holding them up to his face to get a good look at them. "Just about the perfect size..." He muttered under his breath, his voice course and dry as dirt. Wrapping the bones up into a bundle of cloth he stood and casually wandered over to a patched together body of flesh and blackened blood. "Just what you needed darling!"

Kneeling down toward the patched together corpse of various odd body parts and sown together flesh. Plucking out an eye to replace it with another. Breaking fingers only to replace them with eagles talons. Surgically inserting new organs and adding a triple layer of skin. Beneath the mask his sunken face revealed a sinister smile, not that anyone would know it.

After a while he stood to his feet and looked down upon his handy work. Like a blacksmith proud of a newly crafted blade. Taking out a small dagger he carved a complicated runic sigil upon the mutated half skeletal face of his new creation. "Don't worry love, I'll put you to work very soon." A rustling in the trees briefly caught his attention, moving his hand to the sword upon his back he waited patiently and listened to the sounds of the forest around him.

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[Cadeus Durosh]

SPECIES: Satyr

LOCATION: Greywood

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The rustling of the wind picked up as the faint scent of burning sulfur filled the ruined cemetery. Snapping twigs and cracking firewood gave rise to an immense ring of flame that circled the tomb. Enclosing any hope of escape for the Liche. For a split second the howl of a wolf in the distance broke the eery silence.

Then out of nowhere... THUNK. A giant spear the height of a grown man could be seen before the undead abominations eyes. Locked deep into the chest of Fels patched creation. Out of the flame, clothed in dragon leather and with eyes the color of death he stepped into view. Short sword in one hand, a burning torch in the other. 

The Satyrs horns gleamed in the firelight, only for a high steel dagger to suddenly appear mere centimeters from the necromancers foot. As if he was trying to pin him to ground. "Oh, look at that... I missed... But don't worry. My next one will be between your eyes."

Taking a step closer to the Liche he twirled his sword in hand before raising the torch and readying himself to lunge at the fiendish sorcerer. "Down side of Lichedom... Fire just melts the bones so much faster then it does the living. Tell me sorcerer, where is your philactory, hmm? I doubt you'd ever keep it on your person."

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Cade The Ichorborne

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[Ethuar Felson]

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Fels The Liche

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Early Morning - Western Greywoods

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The hunched figure of Fels quickly stood to his feet as a spear as tall as himself suddenly rained down from the sky, landing inches in front of his face. Examining the flesh golem in a moment of panic that he had worked so hard on, the Liche almost didn't notice as the flames encircled him. Ethuar knew this hunter had been tracking him for weeks.

He was sure he was at least a day or two ahead of the Ichorborne, but clearly he underestimated the man's endurance. Without a word he looked down at his feet to see a dagger that barely missed his right foot, or perhaps purposefully missed in a show of skill. With a sly grin beneath the mask he looked the hunter up and down and backed away slowly from the burning torch.

It could take days for him to form a new body and he didn't have that kind of time to waste. In a last ditch attempt to distract the hunter he grabbed a fistful of sand and tossed it at the Satyrs eyes. Deciding it was now or never he took his blade and carved a simple runic sigil of animation in the ground. Cutting his own palm and flooding the ground with dead man's blood.

A brief muttering of an infernal incantation resulted in the ground itself cracking around them. Six graves opened up, skeletal Ghouls rising from their graves. He didn't have time for any kind of astral enhancement. If he was going to activate the Ghast he had to do so now. "Keep the bastard off me! I have work to do!"

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[Cadeus Durosh]

SPECIES: Satyr

LOCATION: Greywood

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The sand clouded his vision as Cade took several steps backwards. Finally opening his eyes to see cracks in the earth that spread out toward the graves around him. It seemed as if the Liche had summoned help. "You're a fool if you think that's enough to save you."

With a calm demeanor, he tossed the torch directly into one of the Ghouls faces before pulling out a small vile of black liquid, drenching the blade of his short sword. Before pulling out a small alchemical match that ignited the weapon. Watching his new enemies closely, he slashed toward the nearest ghoul.

The flaming short sword slicing clean through the abomination before three more had circled around him. In a sudden flash of inspiration he stood with his back to the circle of fire around them. Slashing with his blade at yet another mindless ghoul that stumbled in his direction. 

"So you just gonna watch as I burn them all to ash? Or do you just enjoy delaying the inevitable?" Cade lunged at another ghoul trying to flank him from the side, but their speed was below average and the necromancers rushed spell clearly wasn't as strong as he had hoped. Four Ghouls down... Two to go. 

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Cade The Ichorborne

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[Ethuar Felson]

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Fels The Liche

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Early Morning - Western Greywoods

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The Liche quickly went to work, pulling out the spear impaled in the corpses body and patching up the would before finishing the sigil upon its forehead. In less then a minute he had worked harder then he had in the past hour. Turning to the hunter and clapping in applause. "I must commend you my ever persistent opponent. But unfortunately for you, you just kill monsters... But me? I create them!"

Raising his hand to the sky, a rough shard of crystalline in hand, he muttered a lengthy incantation with his eyes locked on the soon to be eclipse that had gone unnoticed by the hunter. A flash of silver light infused his palm as he slammed down onto the flesh golems forehead. Activating the sigil and infusing it with celestial energy.

Just as the last of the Ghouls dropped and crumbled into dust, the Astral Enhanced Ghast rose to its feet. Claws like an eagles talons, fangs like a wolf, an acidic bile flowing from its horrific skeletal jaw. The creature had to be at least eight feet tall. With a thick layer of leathery skin and reinforced bones. It's eyes the color gold with thick muscles of a dire bear.

Fels laughed uproariously at the hunter before speaking once more. "Oh I almost forgot." With a snap of his fingers the sound of its roar echoed across the forest. An ear piercing glass shattering scream that causes ears to bleed and animals to tremble in utter terror. "Yeah... Vocal chords of a werewolf. Took a lot of work to get that one. But in the end, I'd say it was worth it."

Ethuar simply pointed at the hunter and the Ghast charged with deadly fury and with a speed unheard of for common undead. "Oh did I forget to mention? I infused it with the power of the eclipse. Until the sun is fully shining again, it's practically as strong as a lesser giant... Have funnnnnn!"

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[Cadeus Durosh]

SPECIES: Satyr

LOCATION: Greywood

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Seeing the necromancer return to his work and pull out his spear was one thing, but the fact that both the remaining Ghouls lunged at him from either side was a frustrating distraction. Slashing with perfect precision at the one to his left before turning to kick the other into the ring of flame behind him. A look of smug satisfaction on his face.

But this moment of victory was not to last. The satyr hunter's eyes widened at the gruesome spectical as the enhanced ghast finally rose to its full height. Before his mouth dropped and the words "Oh Shit..." escaped his lips. The creature charged forward with an unnatural speed before swiping with its talon like claws.

Cade was easily lifted several feet up into the air only to be thrown aside like a limp twig. Crashing into the cold snow covered ground with a loud thump. Rolling to the side and returning to his feet, he noticed the claw marks in his plated leather armor, thankfully it protected him from most of the damage. Yet Cade couldn't help but feel outmatched as he circled around the beast.

Now standing with his flaming short sword pointed in the creatures direction, he made a risky glance toward his spear which was now only a few yards away. In a moment of inspiration he rolled to the side and grabbed the weapon. Barely dodging another charge before watching in horror as the abomination turned on a dime.

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Cade The Ichorborne

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[Ethuar Felson]

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Fels The Liche

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Early Morning - Western Greywoods

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Ethuar made a crooked smile beneath his mask and turned toward a the wall of flame that surrounded him. Ignoring the yelps and thrashing of the battle only a few yards away, he tried to imagine a way of escape. Fire was an undead greatest weakness and he had no intention of dying today only to spend the next several days forming a new body.

Thankfully his Philactory was safe, locked away in a hidden tomb many long miles from this cursed place. Pulling out his Scimitar, he slashed at the ground near the base of the fire. Kicking up dust and snow which seemed to quell the flame ever so slightly. He tilted his head in curiosity. Seems the hunter made a circle of flame with holy oil. Long lasting but not entirely unconquerable.

Grabbing a handful of rocks and stones he half hazardly tossed them over the bright orange flame. Testing for any kind of weak point in the line. Taking a moment to glance back at the fight he chuckled to himself and placing his hand over his heart, the liche openly mocking the hunter. "Oh to see a beautiful death, that is what I crave most in this world!"

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[Cadeus Durosh]

SPECIES: Satyr

LOCATION: Greywood

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The Astral Ghast roared in anger as Cadeus lifted the heavy boar spear in its direction. Preparing to anchor it into the ground if it charged. The two circled around each other, as if searching for an opening. With his eyes locked on the undead fiend, he slowly grabbed a small vile from the pouch at his waist while holding the handle of his flaming short sword in the same hand as his spear. The hunter cautiously drank the mysterious orange liquid before tossing the empty vile to the ground.

Then it charged... Slashing with its taloned claws left and right and gnashing at his throat with its fangs and acidic bile at cades throat. He rolled again to the side and held the burning sword in his right hand, the spear in his left. Then as if consumed by rage, the satyr screamed at the beast. Large clouds of bright orange flame and blackened smoke exuding from his mouth.

Taking a deep breath he decided to finally go on the offensive. Thrusting with his spear and slashing toward the Ghasts arms with his short sword. Then he exhaled with a mighty gush of flame that consumed the creatures patched, half skeletal face. His eyes glowing a neon orange before jumping backwards to prepare for another counter attack.

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Cade The Ichorborne

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[Ethuar Felson]

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Fels The Liche

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Early Morning - Western Greywoods

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Ethuar watched as a bust flame came from the satyr hunters mouth. Quite a troublesome little potion he thought to himself. Raising his poisoned high steel scimitar the Liche pointed the blade in the direction of the Ichorborne. "You know you can't kill me boy... Try as you might, i'll just be back in a few days!"

Casually twirling the blade in his hand Fels slashed at the snow covered ground in a quick flurry of blows. The Ghast reeled in pain as it's face slowly became chared black from the fiery breath. The mark upon its forehead singed and cracked, stumbling backwards before collapsing backwards into a thick bank of snow.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE!" The Liche raged in anger and stepped into the runic sigil he had just slashed into the ground. Two etheral spectres emerging from his mouth as if Ethuar was trying to duplicate himself. Spectral scimitars in their hands.

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[Cadeus Durosh]

SPECIES: Satyr

LOCATION: Greywood

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Cadeus stood with his foot upon the chest of the astral ghasts burnt corpse.Thrusting his spear into its forehead as he let out another burst of flaming breath that utterly consumed the undead beast. Turning his attention back to the screaming Liche he gave a sly smile and readied himself to face the empires most wanted necromancer.

Boar Spear in his right hand, flaming short sword in his left. His glowing orange eyes seemed to flicker and faded as the fire breath potions temporary effects finally wore off. "If you didn't want it to die, then why'd ya send it to me? It's destruction was inevitable."

Sticking his feet firmly into the ground he focused on the two spectres, knowing their psionic attacks could be a serious problem. He quickly slammed the spear into the ground, pointing towards his enemies. In a flash with his right hand he unsheathed a second high steel dagger. "Time to see how good you are with a blade..."

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Cade The Ichorborne

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