In Farevie, amongst the rich district where a tower of stone and mystery stood tall. Michael the wizard researcher of the arcane arts stood in his lab near the top of his tower. Tapping upon a bronze container, its contents wisped in a strange pearl blue.
He smiled at the container, pulling down a lens magnifier. Studying its contents with glee. He needed but a few remaining elements, materials and the special ink. Before he could truly make the community of the arcane arts tremble. Though considered forbidden, no amount of research was against the rules in his eyes!
Just as he grabbed a strange tool with a red ruby at its end. He heard the atmosphere.. No felt it shift.
Expression changing he pushed the container, the wall behind it enveloping the container before solidifying. He pushed up the lens magnifier and pushed the arm it was connected to a short distance, before dropping the tool into a box and shutting it. The runic symbols lighting up, before fading with a slight click.
He stood up straight hearing footsteps, taking up a book swiftly, glancing at its title before calming his nerves.
A figure stepped into his lab giving him a disdainful look. "You don't have to pretend your going to read that Michael, i'm not one of your assistants.."
Michael looked up in surprise and relief.
"Oren! What are you doing here? I thought the coast was more your style, less work and all."
Oren spat, his spit burning as it touched the ground. Thanks to a cleaning array, without enchanted boots, or being recognized any living thing, or inanimate object not given perms to walk the grounds would be burnt to a crisp.
"Oh I did, until that damned Lich came along.." He waved his staff, the walking stick dissipating into a pocket dimension.
"A..a lich? From legends? Has your brains gone mush being bored all day?"
Oren turned on him. "Look me in the eyes and tell me i am lying!" Mana stirred at his emotional response.
Michael putting his hands up midway. "I suppose not.."
"I saw a lich. It had legions, Michael. It had death knights, not one noo.. Four! It razed Garlen, and its marching on this city next. I need you to contact any and everyone that you know. We cannot let this lich get in our way!"
"Our? I dont see how this is my problem"
"You dont? You don't see the armies marching on your fucking lab? Michael, i am not just talking about your lab, or this city, hell i don't care. I could just phaseshift out of here. But you know who does care?"
Oren got closer, staring Michael down, the man had let him vent, but two words made his expression change.
"Broken Hand"
Michael gripped his hands, the tower coming to life as every offensive and defensive capability started to activate!
He was going to obliterate Oren right now, right here! Yet Oren only grinned as he pulled a pendant from his neck. All defenses and all offenses stopped.
Michael looked on.. "Your.. Apart of us.."
"Not just Michael, I am their agent for locating tears in space. To the soul realm, who do you think got you those souls?"
Michael was speechless.
"Look, I will get you your material, just call a few favors we must destroy that army before they reach the city."
Michael nodded his head. As Oren made his leave.
He needed track materials down before it started. Yet Oren would soon find out he was almost too late.
###
Duth halted his armies, no need to send them to their deaths, if the adventurers of the city were already that strong. He didnt want to try poking the army of the city. Now adventurers were actually much stronger than the average soldier, but fewer in number.
That said, the army of the city likely outnumbers the adventurers by leagues. The size of the city is no joke. How many people live in that place.. Tens of thousands? No likely, Hundreds of thousands. Or at least closer to the latter.
If that is the case than by calculated ratio, there may be hundreds of Adventurers and tens of thousands of soldiers.. This city.. Wasn't his match, it far exceeded him.
He needed to level the playing field, aim at an indirect series of attacks, use a 'Rogue party' of adventurers as the culprit, say they were adventurers turned bandits.
That should draw in Mercenaries and Adventuring groups to him. Inevitably building his numbers.
"Mahel, Split my army between the four of you, Adilen your with me."
"Mahel you and the rest will aim to attack caravans, main roads, and outskirting farms or villages. Cut the city off by foot and horse. Pile the bodies off the roads in a hiding place."
"Wights, you come with me. Adilen will lead you"
Duth split his forces up between four death knights, whilst the wights and Adilen took up another group.
"Adilen, directly attack the city, but keep to the very outskirts, the checkpoints and maybe a few houses behind it. Only attack weak areas, i'm sure your ability to find those weaknesses should be superb."
Duth himself would poke at the stronger checkpoints. Kill a few and retreat, build up his own self. This way they draw more than the adventurers.
If he can just lure the city's army out, or at least dwindle its number enough..
Just maybe, just maybe.
He would have a chance.
--
Lets try this..
300 powerstones = 1 chapter
600 powerstones = 2 chapter(s)
900 powerstones = 3 chapter(s)