Return to the Fortress

I decided to go on the return trip to that sunken fortress to the west. I suppose I never wrote about my first trip there, and what happened to Brozart.I guess I thought going back would give me closure, I am not sure it did though.
 
We went with a large group this time. Caelam and Kaecil came again, but this time we also had Conviction, Del and two newer arrivals, Cayden and Angelika. Our trip out was uneventful, and frankly so was our exploration of the actual fortress. Nothing in the places we had gone before and beneath the water there was nothing until a pair of iron doors. Then, in what seems like is becoming a habit at this point, we all lost consciousness.
 
When we awoke we found ourselves standing atop the fortress, an unsunk fortress. Before us on the field, which was not a swamp, was a massive army of undead. Then the ghost we met on our first visit to the fortress addressed us (I pretended not to understand because I'm getting fed up with these Idrillic people picking and choosing when they can be understood). He called us 'heroes' and asked us to join the battle. Figuring we'd not have a way back if we refused we went to take part.
 
At first we were stationed on the plains, holding a small pass against the undead forces. We held, without much issue from the first wave. But we were ambushed by warrior ghosts, they would have been trouble if not for Angelika's turning. But that allowed us to deal with them at our leisure. We were then granted a rest, or so we thought. At the camp we attempted to take some time at some long fingered creature of bone rose from the ground. It didn't surprise us though, and we set upon it and put the thing down before it could wreak any kind of havoc. Then we rested, but not long as there were civilians in need to rescue. Unfortunately we never made it, we were stopped by a group of undead on the way and by the time we finished with them it was clear we needed to retreat as the main force was coming and any civilians not streaming past us were all ready gone.
 
We retreated to the great bridge before the fortress and realised we needed to stand our ground. A massive undead dragon was upon us, the remnants of it's blue scales still visible upon the rotting flesh. I hate to admit it, but I found the creature terrifying I couldn't really keep myself calm, that is until Conviction was near, then my fears just vanished. Most of us fought the dragon, but Del remained behind to hold against the undead tide coming towards us on the bridge itself. We did slay the beast, it collapsing on the bridge behind us as we ran to aid Del with the advancing undead. Once dealt with our vision faded, the bridge disappearing, and that elf appeared before us again. He told us that they held, but did not succeed in stopping the origin of the hoard and so rewarded us each with an artefact from their time. Then, finally we returned to our own reality, still in the flooded fortress, but with our rewards. So, we left and I began to ponder my thoughts.
 
Something stood our to me on our mission, it was my shield. Many of my allies prefer to use bows and crossbows, and my shield attracts things of that nature. I know that it has saved, both my life and my allies lives. But I see that since I enjoy being in the fore it stops them from aiding me. Yet, I know it protects me well.
 
Then there is the matter of closure, the reason I came back here. I'd hoped to find something that might help me with what happened to Brozart. I almost feel I was robbed of that with how empty the place was, I know we've been entrusted with something important. But that's not why I came back to that forsaken fortress.