08/19/2025: The Fight With the Revenants Begins

Zilk, eyes bugging out, moves forward stealthily, the stench of rot growing ever stronger. He emerges surreptitiously from the magical fog and spies the corpses of five animated knights entering the mists. The sounds of combat will commence soon, he thinks, before quietly slipping back into the fog.

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Meanwhile, Ilya hangs on to a corner of Ratrick’s cloak so as not to become separated from his mentor. He whispers, “Papa, it smells terrible.” Ratrick murmurs his agreement and sneaks forward a dozen paces without the boy. Suddenly the stench becomes overwhelming. Without warning, a steel wrapped fist lashes out, striking him painfully in the shoulder. Ratrick cries out, and from close by, Ilya shouts, “Papa! Where are you? I’m coming!”

Before the boy can move, Biblo charges forward to help Ratrick and feels a blade wicker close to his face. A voice, hollow and sounding ancient, hisses from within the fog: “Do you wish to know death?” Biblo rears back and draws his trident, igniting its magical fire, “Come and kill me!” he roars into the fog.

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In the ruined kitchen, Shifty, Crystal and Novaril are engulfed in a swirl of squeaking bats. As Shifty and Novaril move out of the doorway to allow the bats to exit, Crystal sends a Burning Hands spell into a swarm of bats, igniting the creatures, many of whom drop from the air. The panicked animals swirl around Crystal, burning her hands and face as they pass in their desperate search for escape.

As the last bats flee out the door, the vaulted room becomes nearly quiet. Novaril’s head snaps around, “That sounds like Biblo!” The comrades race through the doors on the south wall into the ruined dining room. The flickering magical lights, dim in the gloom, throw crazy shadows of the comrades across the floor. The trio pound over to the open doors through which tendrils of mist flow across the rotted carpet. Within a wall of fog before them, the sounds of combat can be heard. 

Taking a risk that they may strike an ally, Shifty and Crystal both fling fire bolt after fire bolt into the foul smelling mists. Successful strikes reach their ears as unearthly growls of pain, misses fizzle out, engulfed in thick fog. Novaril, hurrying to catch his companions, casts a Faerie Fire spell. Immediately, the outlines of three revenants and several of their comrades are visible, glittering in pale violet flames. 

Within the fog, the desperate battle goes on. Zilk follows the sound of combat into the fog and begins swinging his massive longsword randomly, and then catches sight of the purple glamour surrounding one of the revenants. Grinning, he engages the creature, his long arms and longer weapon giving him an advantage. Further off, a glowing Biblo engages one of the glimmering revenants. His flame tongue trident inflicting massive damage. Ratrick, creeping silently and unseen behind one of the glowing creature, is able to backstab it, causing it to roar in rage. He suddenly realizes that not all the revenants are visible when, in a heartstopping moment, he hears Ilya call out, “Papa-”

The cry is cut brutally short by the sound of a blade connecting with flesh. The sound of a small body falling to the floor sets Ratrick’s feet moving toward his ward.