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Hemlock

by Rick

After the attack in Erta, we made haste to our bastion, Fort Bearly.

There, Hebaz and Verdant had a veritable army assembled. Grim Ben and his men patrolled the walls, and Lily's dubious contacts "The Underground" had a cadre of mercenaries and the like. Verdant's followers were assembled, and Bryce's men were also in attendance. Everyone was ready for what was to come.

The beast below

While we were away, something attacked the fort. Our dwarves were able to corral it into an underground shaft, then seal the entrance. They showed all of this to Lily, and she let us know that there would be a problem to deal with later.

Curie's stars

As we all prepared, Curie consulted the stars. When she returned, she asked to be put in the front line of combat. Being cryptic and all, I offered her my [family's] second sight, and she compiled:

As Curie contemplated the universe, the very stars fell to surround her. Surrounded by those pinpricks of light -- and nothing else but the blackness of space -- I felt infinitesimally small, and wondered how Curie carried this with her. There was more here, that I could not understand.

And, after striding with the greatest of confidence to the southern gate of Fort Bearly, Curie began her casting.

Tiberius rode Curie out to the battlefield. As the horde neared on the horizon, and our star-caster entreated the stars, the pair attempted to find a good path to line up the unthinking undead.

An unbroken line of stars formed before Curie, and all at once the pure radiance of the Light erupted from her. A true line, 120 feet long, irradiated our foes. This inner radiance torrent was truly a sight to behold.

Tiberius reared the horse, scorched from the light and terrified.

We reconvened, and fell back to the inner gates.

Preda, leading her horde at us, simply became mist and floated through the metal gates. While the undead banged against the portal, Lily loosed arrow shots from above and we dealt with the vampire in our gates.

But she was too fast. The vampire whirled to and fro, and when I tried to lay hands on her she pulled me in closer with an iron grip. Her fangs glinted in the bright lights around us, and Preda found my neck. I felt the vigor sap from my veins... but she reeled back in pain. Blood -- hers or mine -- dripped from her mouth, and her mouth began to rot.

"Tell Duncan that my father will chase you to the ends of the earth, where no light will find you." I threw her to the ground, my wound glistening with starlight.

And then, she was nothing but dust.

Outside, a wailing grown surrounded the fort. Whether held together by Preda's magics or otherwise, the undead besieging us fell to the ground here and there. Many fled to the trees, only to be assaulted by the creatures whose homes they found there.

Continue reading...

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Hemlock

The beast below

Curie's stars

Continue reading...

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