“Resurrection can be tricky, requiring the soul to be available since it becomes an extraplanar entity very soon after death. No one is really sure where they go, only that resurrection magic only seems to work on people the God’s have deigned with purpose. Reanimation on the other hand, this something that is one hundred percent effective because it simply utilises the magic of the user. And if we are specially creative we can make whole new works between the mixing of rune magic and animation of dead tissue. Revolutionary new armies could be created in the blink of an eye. All you need is the bodies.” High Necromancer F’L’Rik Igallen 1505, The Magicians Revolution

1509.04.11 N’vesstar, Varsh

Wild yet tired swings of a mace smashing through wood and bone could be seen amongst the defenders of Fort Julius. Arrows flew with newly blunted and tied ends like flying primitive clubs swinging down to the skeletal army below. Others thinking better instead used makeshift slings to throw what blunt objects they could at the mass of skeletons below the walls. Surrounding the fortress city were the many bodies of the fallen both living and undead. The gate had been battered down but the people inside the gatehouse held firm, a shieldwall of the varying heights of the people of Fort Julius as they held firm. Humans, elves, orcs and minotaurs kept the undead horde from just pushing through them and into the city proper. Smaller similar engagements were happening on the walls and ladders that had managed to find purchase in an attempt to overwhelm the defenders.

Though skeletons were light which would work against more forms of formation warfare it came in especially handy here as they climbed the many remaining ladders allowing for small pockets of landed undead on the tops of the walls cutting off many soldiers from escaping to the lower levels of the inside the walls. The city itself was a smoking ruin, large amounts of houses were either melted away, aged beyond time immemorial, or just simply burnt to its skeletal remains. The spire that would mark the city for where it was, toppled in its place in the remaining open parts of the temple below and most of the second floor. The third floor was entirely on fire with blue white flames reaching for the sky like each lick of plasma was its own little hand grasping for escape.

The smell of death hung in the air, shouts could be heard across the city, seemingly things in the northside of the city were much quieter but there weren’t many guards on the north end either. All available manpower being used to prevent the Ildrani army from pushing any further, white robed mages on both the wider fronts on the eastern and western walls were blasting the armies below with magically accelerated rocks and shrapnel. Chants and whistles could be heard from the mages, waving wands and staves with many holes in them. When waved around they each created a variety of tones along with the magic being cast from their users, sharp whistles, raining projectile death to the army attempting to encircle the fort. Large legged catapults could be seen in the distance, made of large bones and wood structure, large ropes bound tight perpendicular to the catapult and its load. The Ildrani banners of icy blue and silver grey borders with a dragon’s skull facing the viewer. Many banners have black skulls on them denoting their undead nature as per regiment. As stagnant as the battlelines had become it appeared as though it looked like the city was going to fall. Distant fires, pillars of smoke littered the roofs of the city.

“I can’t believe it.” Kelly’s words were said to no one, but even here seemingly alone she could see that her handlers knew where she was.

How am I supposed to find anyone in this mess, my fucking face is on the line.

Kelly shuddered at that thought, the mistress Sol’Dae has already shown what will happen to those that displease her.

I also pray that I do not find them.

A blacken brand on her shoulder blade flared, her armour covered the brand but the burning could be felt even here in this tree. Kelly staggered, nearly losing her footing.

Right, I have to be careful about what I think about.

The sounds of distant fighting persisted even as she carefully climbed down the forest floor. Her brand ebbed a devilish heat as it began to finally calm itself, something like the reminder as if one had been flogged.

Blasted tracking brand, you won’t control me.

The heat was still a reminder to not hold on to that thought too long but a horn nearby sounded.

Here comes the cavalry

.

Kelly trudged through woodland and underbrush. The thick thicket gave her no recompense though she was thankful to have her armour back. She still felt weak from her recent resurrection; she was not sure when it was done, only that the Elantrans seemed to prefer dominating things with souls more than just the flesh automata that the typical zombie would be.

I suppose I should try to make it to Vaellen instead, the Elantrans are supposed to be here within a few days and we were supposed to meet up at the hideout if we were separated.

Kelly wondered openly as to why she was just left there, she wasn’t exactly sure because they were supposed to stand together at least.

At least they aren’t captured.

Snapping twigs and bramble covering the soft moss until Kelly made it into a rather curious little glade.

INVESTIGATE!

A sudden mental compulsion forces Kelly to not leave this little glade.

This is gonna get real old real fast.

Kelly sighed audibly as she started to look around, there was definitely small fire here, dehydrated leaves could be seen from overhanging trees that must’ve been just a little too close.

No evidence of a campfire though.

A sickerness snap underneath her feet immediately sounded like old bone until she finally realised what exactly she was standing on.

Oh shit!

There in the early morning sun Kelly spied the most disgusting of sights she could’ve seen. She’d stepped on the thick legs of some kind of mutated horse bone and it snapped in too, the skulls of a human and a horse could be seen contorted in the abdomen both with jaws wide open as if it had been screaming to the last breath.

What in Hera’s breath has happened here?

Kelly’s heart pounded as she looked further, there were lines in the ribcage of the being or at least she thought it must’ve at least been open at some point the bone was twisted into a spiral, and there were hairline fractures.

No, veins?!

On close examination there was a black and mummified looking heart connected very small but many strings of black little veins. Some hung in between the oddly crab-like looking creature. The bone was also somehow unreasonably weak. Barely stronger than sandstone Kelly made sure to snap off a piece and put in the bag she carried. It had four arms and four legs, seemingly sharpened into crab-like legs apart from the sharpened shaft. Claws that came together like mirrors of each other, here the bone seemed to almost melt together.

RELEASE!

The compulsion to stay in the area was released finally but Kelly took a longer look at the creature and more specifically its dried out little blackened heart. Two distinct burn holes could be seen.

Someone burned through this thing with some kind of fire magic, must be a strong mage of some kind.

She tried not to finish the thought but she had this outer feeling of satisfaction of a job well done.

They’ll be here soon I should stay still before I do anything else dumb.

TWO DAYS!

Kelly sighed once again, she felt aggravated hostility towards both the brand and her master.

What the fuck am I supposed to do for two days.

The distant fighting could still be heard as Kelly silently wondered if she should hunker down here or not. The elven warrior scanned the treetops trying to find a tall enough vantage point to maybe see more of the fighting and to why it sounded closer.

“Kelly? How?” Kelly immediately turned to see Oakarn.

“Oak you need to leave,” The warrior’s hand went to her sword instinctively.

“How are you even alive?!”

“It’s her, I am not allowed, ah!” Kelly’s brand burned brighter but that was all Oakarn needed to hear as he immediately went into a casting stance.

“I saw you get completely nearly liquified by the creatures in the Blight,” Oakarn then gestures to the misshapen and burnt out corpse.

“That is what happened to Ada, something in the Blight got into her wound and it changed her.”

“You think I am a creature like that? No, it might actually be worse.” Kelly continued to wince at the burning brand and its seething fury.

“Who brought you back Kelly!”

“Elantrans!” Kelly’s magical compulsion had clamped her jaw shut now, unable to say anything more. Oakarn never dropped his stance, instead managing to slip a white wand from an injured hand, his index finger was completely blackened and bruised.

“You burnt out your finger.” Oakarn said nothing in response, Kelly she’d be killed and having her being under someone else's control was all the more disconcerting.

“Look Oak, I don’t wanna die, you must know who is… my new employer.” Kelly left her hand on her sword and began to back away, eventually letting it go.

Tolunar Brae

Like a whip made of plasma the electric serpent was released shooting a straight line right for Kelly. Kelly dives to the side and draws her sword and charges attempting to drive the sword at the old wizard. Sidestepping the sword and pointing the wand into her throat Kelly stopped and dropped the sword.

“Oak,”

“Do I have to kill you Kelly?”

“If I don’t fight you now, my… Mistress will find you… You need to run! You nee-”

Y’Therra Feiros

Gurgling blood and a shocked look came from Kelly’s face, a new hole lanced into Kelly’s throat and spine. Oakarn’s wand seemed to take the new brunt of magic fired out though the mage knew that if he kept up this expulsion of energy he might not ready if he gets ambushed.

“Hopefully she will just let you stay dead.” Oakarn patted down Kelly’s corpse. Looking around the old wizard could hear more fighting.

I am glad they managed to leave, I only hope that I can catch up. Should I make sure Kelly can’t be brought back?

Oakarn thought for a moment and then pulled out a white stone, scratching a rune into it with a metal pen.

Ildras Fenri

White light flashed finishing the engraved stone, the soft light eventually ebbs off of the stone before Oakarn places it in one of the pockets of Kelly’s corpse.

“If they do bring you back at least I will know where and perhaps even when. I’ll be seeing you soon I suppose.” Oakarn left the glade to the sounds of fighting beyond. A distant explosion could be heard fired from the anchored catapult.