The desiccated form of the lich stalked in its once lavish quarters in the highest reaches of its tower. It looked out onto the frozen landscape and vaguely remembered a time when he took awe in the majestic Galena peaks and savored the brisk mountain air. Now all it saw was hate, all it smelled was its own decay, and all it felt was the cold of the grave. He sensed the presence of those miniscule souls that dwelt in the pathetic town of Reavers’ Rest. He remembered long ago when the Reavers lodged at the humble farmstead that grew into an inn, then a trading post, then a settlement, and finally into the small town that lie below. He hated those who lived there and would destroy them all, but they were no more to him than ants under his heel, not worthy of notice. However this day he felt the presence of something more, something familiar. He was already aware of the spawn of his hated enemy that guarded the pass to this place and he sent his messenger Aldinach the Mason to torment him, but it served his purposes to keep interlopers out of his home so he let the bastard live. But now there was a presence in the town that stirred other memories, memories of his past. Suddenly rage burned in his where his withered heart had once been. Arcane energy crackled in the air and burst forth, hurling the dusty furniture aside and rending the atmosphere above Reaver Hall.
************************************************************
Far below in the sleepy town of Reavers’ Rest the townsfolk were shaken by the mighty clap of thunder and the eerie lightning that flashed high in the Galenas. They knew that this was no ordinary storm that its origin was something far darker and more dangerous, but such was life living in the shadows of Reaver Hall.
************************************************************
The first leg of their journey was almost over. The companions approached the stockade wall of Reavers’ Rest and were nearly shaken from their feet at the sudden report of a powerful thunderclap that rang down from the mountainside. They looked up a saw another flash of strange lighting and braced themselves for the coming thunder.
Calipheros looked up and said to himself as much as the others, “the Harbinger of Hell welcomes us.”
************************************************************
Alystaire regained control of his rage and sensed the fear of the “ants” below and was pleased. He was a veritable god now thanks to the bargain he had made over a century ago. The seed of his old companions thought to regain what their forbearers were too weak to hold. Very well then, let them come; he would enjoy feasting on their souls!
No comments:
Post a Comment