Gerald frowned as Marvin killed the woman. True, she was a horrible woman, but she deserved so much more torture than that... He had slunk into the shadows with the other two, and didn't risk showing himself again. There were quiet whispers from the crowd. Some erred on the side of caution and followed Marvin as he headed towards the Magi area of the town, but it was only a few.
The rest began shouting, chanting, and a variety of other items. None said the word that was in all of their minds. Necromancer. The taboo would bring the Everseekers... The Everseekers would bring almost as much death to Portal as the undead that were quickly attacking it. (At least if half of the rumors were true.) Someone suggested that they head back for reinforcements, and the column soon went back up the road and towards the city council chambers.
Gerald enjoyed the fear that hung over the town. Not because he enjoyed their fear, but because it meant that there may be more, behind what he could see, that would follow his instructions. The Vampress was annoying him with the questions about why he had decided to grant them clemency. Gerald was just happy that Marvin had given him the perfect excuse. While many shared such racist and supremacist sentiment, not all of them did. Many of the children as well would only parrot the words and actions of their parents. "It's already a very short window of time that I gave them anyway."
"My lord." The skeletal commander nearest to him stated. "We have several people at the gates who are leaving. Shall we let them?"
"Yes." He responded.
"Very good. I do not understand the reason we are standing still. We could have, more easily, taken them down while they are in disarray. We have eyes on at least four people taking charge near the council chambers. An Enchantress, a Sorcerer, and two Druids. One male, one female. They're gathering every magi that they can, and have a few non-magi standing at the front of the forces with swords but no armor."
"The Council..." He seethed, his grasp on the magic almost took over for a moment, but he let it slide. He had worse plans for them...
"Master?" Hermina asked, pulling on the Necromancer's arm. "Why are you giving them a chance to escape? Are you still soft on children or something?"
"Children are truly innocent, and shouldn't be punished unduly. It is their parents who must suffer more for their stupidity and their elitism."
She shrugged and snuggled closer. "Have it your way." She smiled at her master, imagined him lewdly for a moment, then shook her head. She had other matters to attend to. A moment of her magic later she reported. "My men have taken all of the other gates and the skeletons are finishing the last of the men who were attempting to gather on the walls with crossbows."
"Excellent." His mind was tired. Magic definitely took its toll on the individual using it. Let alone the plans for the attack, the magic that led up to the attack, the magic and thinking done with the attack... He released his grip on the magic as much as he could and took a deep sigh. The stars began to light up the sky again, and the calls of the Zombies filled what was left of the night.
"Master, you need rest." The Vampress stated. "You shouldn't push yourself like you have."
"But I need to." Came the weary reply. "The Zombies must be below the ash by the morning's light, or we'll lose all control of them." Sunlight drove Zombies into insanity, which is why the surviving Necromancers (after the war) had ordered the Zombies to hide in the ashes in the past. Even a Necromancer should be scared of a Zombie in the daylight...
The Vampress nodded. "I suppose so, master. But I would still prefer it if you could rest and leave the rest to us."
He nodded. "If I could, I would." He smiled at the Vampress and ran a finger to pull some hair from her face. "Don't worry Hermina. It'll all be alright. We have a couple of hours before sunlight after all."
The Vampress blushed slightly as he moved her hair, and snuggled tighter against her master.
"You… promised me… women…" The abomination said, looming over him.
"You'll get it." Gerald replied, looking tiredly at the abomination. 'I should give it a name…' "I will give you a name if you want in the meantime."
"My name…"
"You are no longer the name you were… you will be named… Fash."
"Fash… Fash ok." The thing replied, backing away. "I want… women."
"You'll get them. The half hour is almost up."
The rest of the half hour was spent with Gerald sitting and resting (while he could) while the Vampress caressed him, the Abomination stood tall and kept sniffing the night air, and various reports came in for Gerald. Finally the time passed.
Gerald stood with difficulty, making a mental note to get another walking stick and customize it to his liking. He pulled on the magic, and fog filled the town. A woman screamed in fear in the distance, but Gerald didn't care. He squared his shoulders, and walked off towards the courtyard where he and Lydia had entered not even a day before…
As Gerald walked close to the courtyard, he could hear the screams as the Zombies sniffed out those who thought they could hide out in cellars, attics, and other areas. The Vampires were also in good spirits. They were feasting well that night. The Zombies stopped before entering the courtyard, at the demand of their commanders. After another half hour, silence reigned. Gerald finally walked into the courtyard all alone. He felt the magic from the magi in front of him bristle his clothing and his hair. 'Anti-Undead magic. High level.' He thought. He smiled as he entered, holding his sword at the ready.
"Hello everybody." He said, amplifying his voice. The people in front of him cowered at his voice as it magically amplified around the courtyard. "I'm sorry to see that you didn't take my advice."
"Go to Geez." A man shouted and a fireball flashed in front of Gerald. A small bit of magic, and the fireball didn't even warm him.
Gerald tsked… "My, my… Seems like I'm not wanted here. But then again… magi supremacists are literally taking a page from the book of Geez…" His eyes flashed, and a couple of people threw more spells at him. He simply ducked a little, and the spells went over his head and crashed into the buildings behind him. Gerald didn't even turn to look. "You should all die for what you planned to do. You, those you love, and those who have ever known you and supported your stupidity."
"And what would a… a dead raiser know of supremacy?" Came a shouted answer from the Druidic councilman.
"Councilman Stem." Came the response from the Necromancer. "Not much of a question. I know this." He raised a hand and shouted, "FINIT FORGA!" With that, the barrier was down, and all within the area gasped and attempted to pull on their magic. There would be no magi in this area for several hours, and Gerald immediately felt a strong drain from the magic. He stumbled slightly, but was caught before he could fall. Hermina on one side, and a skeleton on the other. "CHILDREN FIRST, SPARE THE WOMEN AND THE COUNCIL ONLY!" Gerald shouted, and immediately the large gathering of people were beset. Zombies poured from all sides, and out of several nearby homes, while the people in the plaza had only a few swordsmen, crossbowmen, and spearmen to take them on. They did, but they were quickly overwhelmed. Skeletons went down another road, and were led by Fash. The Vampires were already down and among the people, biting and gorging themselves on the blood of children in the circle. The screams were deafening. The hopelessness of those who had remained despite Gerald's warning… almost absolute. Without their magic, many of the people were completely on their own and without any means of defending themselves or their children. Their pride was forgotten as they pushed aside the bodies of children, sometimes their own, in their attempt to flee. None escaped, or even had much hope, but they still tried. The necromancer was glad that he had much more bloodthirsty soldiers in his army than him, and ones that obeyed what he said. The terrified cries of children before they all went silent… that would haunt him…
Gerald cleared his mind, and attempted to relax his body, allowing the Vampress, the skeleton, and a group of other Vampires to carry him in a seated position. There, on their shoulders, he watched the carnage unfold. 'This is what it means to be a ruler.' He thought, hating the scene in front of him. He didn't turn away. This was his fault, and was his responsibility. Blood… screams… and the few and far between shouts of defiance and the clash weapons. It took fifteen minutes before only the women and the council remained. Screams from women he could handle. He was proudly egalitarian in his wrath. The hatred in many of their eyes for him, was justified. Not that they had any idea of the horrors that would be in store for them. Many of these women's eyes were lifeless, some openly cried and begged for death. Those the Necromancer felt for. The abomination was walking around the women, licking its lips and rubbing its stomach in a sickening way.
"You… promised…" It said, turning to the Necromancer.
Gerald said in response. "No more than five."
The creature laughed a horrible laugh and immediately grabbed a woman who looked defiantly at it. It then grabbed another woman. Both women screamed loudly and tried their best to scratch, bite, or do anything to get out of its grasp. Nothing would help them though. The monster then ran off, the women held in its monstrous hands. The other women looked tragic, and only two still looked like they would put up a fight. Two of whom…
"Put me down." He ordered. The vampires, and skeleton, put him down on his feet lightly, and he walked slowly towards the surviving council. "Greetings ladies. A pity I wasn't able to introduce myself before." The Druidess just spat on Gerald's shoes, and the others just looked cross at him. "Temper…" He scolded, his eyes dark. "It's time you understood that you aren't in command anymore."
"Master." Hermina interjected. "The sun will rise in less than an hour."
The necromancer nodded. "Tell the commanders to get the Zombies underground outside of the city. Use the most expedient gates." The Vampress curtsied and relayed the instructions. "My dear women… you are about to show me the way-"
"Go to Geez." The Druidess interrupted.
"Not today." He chimed. "You will show us the way to the town charter, as it was laid down by my father over 2000 years ago." The council's eyes widened at that, as did Hermina's, but the Necromancer paid it no mind. "Hermina, get all of the Vampires inside of the council chambers before the sun comes. I'd rather not have more ash on the plains."
Hermina nodded and relayed commands just as Fash, the abomination, came running from behind the house, rubbing his stomach. "Delicious! More!"
The Necromancer nodded to the rest of the women, and the abomination grabbed three of them in his hands and arms. He then hurried back to where he had been with them. Their screams filled the sky, even as Gerald and the Vampires filed the rest of the women and the two surviving members of the council into the council chambers.
The room was dark, and what few windows were in the main hall had their curtains drawn to further block the illumination of the future sun. To us, the living, the once brightly lit room would have been impossible to see, but the Necromancer and the vampires were able to see what was there almost as good as in the light. Gerald pulled himself onto the council seat as the three Vampire lords bowed (or in Hermina's case curtsied) before him. He had no real love of Vampires, and was for the most part willing to live and let live with them, but he was their master, and the one who had raised the foremothers of these bloodlines, so decorum was necessary. The lower vampires all bowed as they entered and took their seats in the council hall, or stood in the shadows.
"You have fought a battle." Gerald began. "But that does not mean that we have won a war." The Vampires applauded lightly. "Some of you were injured in tonight's fight." There was some nodding, and one openly showed where his neck had been slashed, "But there is nothing more I can do for you tonight. My magic is all but spent until I have slept." Murmurs of confusion. "In explanation, I have been hiding among the non-magi, and have had to lower my connection with Magic as a result." There was some angry muttering. "When I awaken, in a few hours, the sun will be awake and alive in the sky. I will need to be immediately setting out and taking care of the city. It will be up to you to be prepared for tomorrow night. Gather what strength you can, and know that I have the utmost faith in you. Make the council show you to the charter and have them remove the spells that guard it." The vampires nodded, turning their attention back to the prisoners. "The women are yours, as a thank you. Hermina, you take charge until I awaken." Gerald then slouched in the chair, and before the Vampires could question another word, he was lost in a deep sleep.