Orin stood his ground, his eyes never leaving the woman in front of him. He could feel the energy pulsing through his body, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
The room was dimly lit, and the only source of light came from the flickering flames that danced around the cauldron.
The mad witch, or so the woman claimed to be, wore a long black robe that covered her from head to toe. Her face was obscured by a hood, casting deep shadows across her features.
Orin knew that the real mad witch was much more terrifying than this imposter, and he could sense that something was amiss.
Orin took a step forward.
"Where is she?" he demanded, his voice low and steady.
The woman simply laughed, a high-pitched cackle that echoed off the walls of the chamber.
"Your friends are in danger," she said, her eyes flashing with amusement.
"You're so foolish to separate from them."
Orin narrowed his eyes, sensing that the woman was taunting him. He took another step forward, his grip on his staff tightening.
"What has you done?" he growled.
The woman simply waved her hand, and the room filled with a thick fog that obscured Orin's vision. He felt a sudden surge of fear, but he pushed it aside and focused his energy, calling forth his inner strength.
As the fog cleared, Orin saw that the woman was gone, and he was left standing alone in the chamber. He knew that time was running out, and he needed to find his companions before it was too late.
Zarr was the first to notice the strange behavior of the townsfolk. He growled and bared his teeth, sensing that something was not right.
Suddenly, the group was surrounded by zombies, their decaying bodies lurching towards them with a hunger for flesh. Ein drew his sword and charged forward, his movements graceful and precise as he sliced through the horde of undead.
Lilitha used her magic to distract the zombies, her mischievous nature allowing her to cast spells that caused confusion and disorientation among the undead.
Zarr used his sharp teeth and claws to rip apart the zombies, his wolf instincts making him a formidable opponent.
But despite their best efforts, the zombies continued to swarm towards them, their numbers seeming to multiply with each passing moment. Just when all seemed lost, Orin appeared, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy.
He lifted his hands and unleashed a powerful spell that sent the zombies flying in all directions.
Breathing heavily, the group turned to Orin, grateful for his timely arrival. But as Lilitha recounted the events that had occurred in his absence, they realized the true danger that they faced.
The stranger, who had appeared to them as a friend, had been infected by the mad witch's magic and had become a zombie, spreading the infection to others in the town.
Determined to find a way to stop the mad witch and put an end to the infection, they made their way to Garret's house.
Zarr sniffed around the perimeter, his keen senses leading them to a hidden basement. Inside, they found the source of the infection, a cauldron filled with a bubbling green liquid, and the mad witch's familiar guarding it.
As the party entered the Garret house, they were immediately assaulted by the stench of decay and the sound of shuffling feet. Zombies, dozens of them, lined the walls and blocked the doorway.
Zarr bared his teeth and growled, ready for a fight, while Ein unsheathed his sword and Lilitha began to weave her spells.
The battle was fierce, with the zombies relentless and the party struggling to keep up. Ein swung his sword with deadly precision, taking down zombie after zombie, while Zarr leapt and lunged, biting and tearing at anything in his path.
Lilitha danced around the fray, throwing glitter and chaos in equal measure, confusing the zombies and making them vulnerable to attack.
But it was Orin's magic that turned the tide of the battle. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a powerful bolt of lightning that blasted through the zombies, clearing a path for the party to move forward.
As they pushed deeper into the Garret house, they found the source of the infection: a cauldron filled with bubbling, putrid liquid. Standing over it was the familiar, a twisted creature with glowing eyes and a wicked grin.
With a shout, Ein charged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light of the room. Zarr followed close behind, jaws snapping, while Lilitha unleashed a barrage of spells, turning the room into a whirlwind of glitter and magic.
Orin stood back, watching the battle with a cool detachment, waiting for the right moment to strike.
As the familiar fell, the air seemed to grow heavy with the weight of the battle that had just taken place. Ein, Lilitha, and Zarr were all breathing heavily, their eyes still fixed on the spot where the familiar had stood just moments before.
Orin, meanwhile, stood calmly in the center of the room, his hands still glowing with the remnants of his powerful magic.
Slowly, the tension in the room began to dissipate as the group realized that they had been successful in their mission. The townsfolk who had been infected by the mad witch's brew were slowly beginning to come to their senses, their eyes clearing as they regained control of their own bodies.
Lilitha flitted around the room, sending sparks of magic into the air as she laughed in triumph. Ein cleaned his sword, watching carefully for any signs of movement from the defeated familiar, while Zarr laid down next to him, his panting breaths slowly returning to normal.
As the group prepared to leave, Orin turned to them, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Well done, my friends," he said, his voice filled with pride.
"We have saved this town from the mad witch's curse."
With that, the group left the ruined Garret house, the cool night air hitting them like a refreshing balm after the heated battle they had just faced.
As they walked through the town, the residents who had been previously infected greeted them with tears of gratitude, thanking them for saving them from the terrible fate they had been facing.
As they approached the inn where they had been staying, Ein turned to Orin, a question in his eyes.
"What now, Orin?" he asked, his sword still clutched in his hand.
Orin smiled at him, his eyes glittering with excitement.
"Now, my friends," he said,
"we find the mad witch and put an end to her once and for all."