They were on us immediatly, barely giving us the time to prepare.
The tunnels were small, barely fitting two adults side by side, but the spot we encountered the skeletons was a bit larger than the rest.
With my left hand, I kept the torch as high as the cieling permitted, while I took a dueling stance meant for lunging strikes, as swings were too difficult in this situation.
Sasha took a spot by my right, a step further than I was, and she assumed a stance from some combat style I wasn't familiar with, hands opened towards her opponent.
Sturm readied his mace, but, realizing he couldn't get into range, he started praying from the book in his left hand.
The skeletons came at us with their worn shovels, using them as makeshift spears.
The first one, the one who noticed us, lunged his shovel at my face, making full use of his range advantage; since the space was limited, I couldn't realibly dodge it, and had to deflect it with my sword, making it impact on the tunnel's walls.
I then tried to counter with a lunge of my own, jumping forward to close the gap between me and my enemy, sword pointed towards its chest.
I managed to hit it, breaking a rib off, but it didn't look like it had much effect.
The skeleton I attacked let go of its weapon, grabbing my arm before I could retract it, I realized, to allow for its companion to follow up with a thrust meant for my head.
I had to protect myself with my left arm; it was a painful blow, and heard something snapping, followed by searing pain, as the torch was flung behind me.
A curse escaped my lips.
On my right the combat was going much smoother, Sasha sidestepped the first lunge and rushed into the skeleton.
Instead of throwing punches, she grabbed her adversary and used her body as leverage to throw it on the ground, before finishing it off with a series of well placed stomps on the skeleton's head.
By the time she was finished, I managed to land a few hits of my own, but my weapon was barely effective against the sturdier bones, and the numerical superiority of my opponents was proving hard to handle, in the confined spaces of the tunnel.
I had been hit in multiple places, but the wound on my left arm was the most concerning, and I could barely lift it.
Sasha used the distraction I was providing to jump at the first skeleton, grabbing its head, twisting and turning it out of its socket, before throwing the skull away, as the body stopped moving and then collapsed, the magic that held it together gone.
The only remaining skeleton managed to land a blow on Sasha, hitting her on the side, and I could see the telltale glint of blood on the shovel as it retreated back to thrust once more, but in doing so it opened up for a strike, and the now clearer tunnel allowd me to swing at head's height, smashing the skull into fragments.
This skeleton, too, collapsed, turning it into a pile of bones.
'That's the last of them, for now'
I said looking at the way ahead of us, which was still clear.
The torch was now in Sturm's hand, who had to put the book away and continued reciting the scriptures by heart.
'Well then, let's see those wounds before going on, wouldn't want to catch something down here'
He said, after reciting the last verse
'That's a nasty cut, and this might be a fracture'
'Hurts like one'
I said gritting my teeth through the pain, as he examined my arm.
Then he opened one of his pouches, grabbing a small vial, before spilling the contents over my wound while reciting a prayer.
To my surprise, the wound closed almost instantly, and it didn't hurt as bad anymore, I could actually use the arm.
'I've been told you were supposed to drink those'
'A potion's a tool like any other, different uses have different results, now onto the missy'
'There's no need, really'
'Nonsense! You got hit, let me check that wound'
'Just a bruise, that's all'
She lifted her clothes to show a bruise, just on the spot she'd been hit, but no cut nor blood
'See? Just a bruise, no need to waste time on me'
'Hm, so it seems'
We finished treating our wounds by washing and bandaging the minor cuts, before continuing ahead.
'What do you think they were digging? Another tunnel, maybe?'
Sturm was the first to speak
'Directly upwards? Seems unlikely, honestly, but I have a guess...'
I answered
'Bodies. They were searching for new bodies'
Sasha finally added, grimly
'You don't mean...'
'Yes, they wait for one to rise, and then they dig'
'They're raising an army'
'Amassing, more like'
After a few minutes, we could see some light at the end of the tunnel.
It was a red shine, and it was accompanied by the sound of earth and stone being dug.
Approaching carefully, we found ourselves into a scene we could have never imagined.
A huge room, the size of a grand hall form a castle, was before us, pillars for support and stairs connecting it to the various tunnels, both carved out of the ground as the room was being excavated.
Our tunnel connected to the room almost at the cieling, and I could notice at least three more tunnels at the same height
Below us, around twenty between skeletons and zombies were hacking away at the earth with picks and shovels, carving more of the room out.
I realized that the undead were excavating something out of the ground, a building it looked like, as I could see cut stones here and there, but it was impossible to say what it might have been.
In the middle of the room, as if to oversee them all, an armored figure stood immobile.
The armor looked ancient and worn, the cloak was barely hanging on, torn in many places.
Above all, the most unsettling part was an altar to the middle, it had been chained to the cieling with four chains, holding it high up, almost level with our tunnel. On it, an orb that radiated a blood red glow, illuminating the whole room.
Skeletons were going up and down the stairs, armed with shovels and picks, so we decided to quickly retreat back into the tunnel.
'What the Hells was that?!'
I asked, after we were far enough from the room
'Whatever that was, it looked evil'
Sturm responded
'That was... Necromancy'
'What would that be?'
'A forbidden and forgotten art, used by mages to control undeath'
'I've never heard of anything of the sort'
'As I said, forbiden and forgotten. The orb in the middle, it controls them, makes them do the caster's bidding'
'What if we destroy it?'
'They'll just revert to regular undead, they would attack the city. No, I'd handle them there'
'But they're too many!'
'We could ask the guards for help, maybe the temple too. Father, does your temple still train warrior-priests?'
'The city has been peaceful for some time and we've lost our edge, but we still follow that tradition'
' "We"?'
'Don't be surprised, girl, I might not look the part anymore, but I used to be one of the best, back in the days. What I am surprised with, instead, is you knowing so much about this Necromancy thing'
'I... Used to work with a mage. She was investigating ancient rituals, and stumbled across it'
'What was the name?'
'Nadia Cullis, a human'
'I still have my questions, but we're close to the exit now, we'll save them for later. For now let's concentrate on what to do: I'll go back to the temple and bring some of my apprendices, you two should go to the city council to try and convince them to act'
'You think there's a chance they won't do anything?'
'Boy, I know they won't. Unless they see money in it, they won't lift a finger. But it's worth a try'
'I guess we don't have much choice, where do we meet back?'
'At the entrance of the graveyard, as soon as you can'
We finally emerged from the tunnel, and once out I could feel my body aching all over, now that the tension had finally gone.
Once out of the graveyard, we split immediatly, each going their respective way.
'Actually, Tarkus, you go ahead, I want to check something'
'What's wrong?'
'Down in the tunnels, do you remember feeling a breeze?'
'Not really'
'You should really pay more attention. Anyway, I was thinking that maybe there are more entrances, and the priest did mention that one tomb had a similiar story'
'Right, it was Clan...'
'Toridas, but I was thinking that there might be four entrances in total. You go ahead and inform the city council, I'll search for the other entrances, having a big fight on a tiny tunnel makes me uneasy'
'Just don't do anything reckless'
'Don't worry, I don't like taking unnecessary risks. Unlike somebody else'
'You didn't have to add that last part'
I immediatly went towards the city council, arriving them a short time later.
An armored pair of guards stood at the entrance, barring the way with their spears.
'Name and reason of visit'
'Tarkus, I need to have a meeting with the city council, urgently'
'No family name?'
'... No. Please let me in, it's urgent'
'Do you have an appointment?'
'A what? No, I didn't-'
'Whatever the issue might be, you need an appointment to enter'
'But it's urgent!'
'That's what they all say'
'The city's safety depends on it!'
'Heard that before'
'An army of undead is amassing under the graveyards! The city guard needs to act!'
'I appreciate the creativity, but as far as tales go, you should have gone with something belivable'
'I can show y-'
'Look, boy, I think you've wasted enough time. You're not going in without an appointment, end of the story'
Defeated, I walked away. Then I realized, if the council couldn't meet me, I could just go directly to the city guards.
Thankfully the barracks were right next to the town hall.
Two more guards barred my way, hoping not to have a repeat of the latest conversation, I approached them
'Need anything?'
'Yes, I have urgent matters concerning the safety of this city'
The two guards exchanged a look
'Have you told the city council?'
'They won't let me in because I lack an appointment'
'So, what's the problem?'
'An army of undead is amassing under the graveyards'
'A... what? Are you drunk, boy? You smell, sure, but not of alcohol'
'Maybe we should hear him o-'
'Shut it, recruit. Boy, do you have any proof of this "undead army" of yours or do I just need to belive your stench alone? And are those bandages supposed to sell the story?'
'I can show you'
'Sir, I don't think we-'
'Actually, this gives me the perfect idea. Neenie, you keep saying we should hear him out, right? Then follow him and listent to his mad ramblings. Hopefully that'll teach you to be a bit less gullible'
'Sir, I-'
'I don't think I was clear enough: it's an order, you're supposed to answer "Yes, Sir" and go'
'... Yes, Sir ...'
'Now go, you've both wasted enough of my time'
Neenie was an halfling, he looked like a child, around a meter in height - the average for an adult of his race - and wore a worn out uniform, a bit oversized.
'I'm sorry, he can be a bit brash'
'You call that "a bit"? The city's in peril and they only laugh me off'
'Your story is hard to belive, we haven't had a single incident with the undead for over twenty years'
'But you belive me'
'I belive that I can't overlook a possible threat just because it seems impossible'
'And your colleague?'
'He... Dwarves aren't as open-minded as we are'
'Does this happen often?'
'More than I'd like to admit...'
He fell silent for a bit, then his face flushed red with rage
'I just wish they didn't sit on their damned arses all day! They act all high and mighty and call the whole East side "lazy" when all they care about is money and beer! Even the other halflings are stuck with the same mentality! Argh I hate them all!'
'Woah, easy there'
he looked at me, his rage suddently turning into shame
'I'm sorry, I don't know what happened... I-'
'From what I've seen, I can't say I disagree'
We reached the point we were supposed to meet with the others, only to find Sasha, alone, who was back carving a piece of wood. It started to look like a small symbol, the size of her palm.
'Is he all they could spare'
She said, pointing at Neenie
'Look, don't even get us started'
'Ah, friends already? I'm Sasha, since this brute can't remember basic etiquette'
'Neenie Quickfoot, City Guard, pleased to meet you'
'So, Sasha, found what you were searching for?'
'Just two more entrances, couldn't find where the fourth one is'
'Entrances?'
'Did Tarkus tell you anything at all?'
While explaining the situation to the guard, Sturm arrived as well, followed by five more priests wearing the same robes as him. All of the priests were wearing a belt with pouches, probably filled with potions of various kind, and from which their maces hung.
I noticed how Sturm's mace was the only one as detailed and refined.
'Good job you two, you managed to convince them to spare one guard, I was betting on zero'
Sturm said, approaching us
'I had a bit more luck'
he said with a warm smile
'By command of the Instructor, we shall follow you into battle against the unholy'
Proclaimed the group of priests, bowing as they did
'Instructor? Never thought we had such an important figure with us'
'We all like keeping secrets from time to time, makes for interesting conversation. But please, keep calling me with my name, I don't like titles and honorifics'
He then addressed the rest
'Alright, let's do a quick strategy meeting and be done with it. If we are done by sundown I'll offer you all dinner in my favourite inn'