Cursebreaker by Cursebreaker

The story & album were written for "The Lost City Of Shadows" community compilation over on r/DungeonSynth

Cursebreaker follows the journey of Lief Garrick, a Crescent Glaive soldier who's dedicated his life to cleansing his homeland of the Silver Meridian necromancers influence, a curse which causes the dead to rise each night. Below is a short story written as accompaniment to the album, dripping with lore & adventure.

Warning, the story below features intense fantasy violence, blood & gore along with a healthy dose of adventure.

A Lief Garrick Story

Part I.

"Saris, recite that poem again,” said Garrick, “& let us chant in unison. We ought to brighten this chasm before the thornweavers return for their sacrificial offering." He traced his fingers over the stone pillars surrounding them, & their blood drenched inscriptions. He sighed & added "The curse remains here yet. Such filth lingers among us."

"Is there anywhere the Scourge has yet to touch, Lief?" replied Saris in her stern yet soft voice. Her training as a celestialist didn't allow much time for world studies, so she queried Garrick quite a lot when they headed out on a mission.

"To the East,” said Garrick “The Scourge has yet to reach Medera & their islands, nor the Faustlands & their ziggurats, nor has it met your folk's land of Diodoth, land of shimmering crystals. You asked me the same question the last time we trekked through the Plaguelands. You test my patience, miss Danonette."

"Plaguelands. They weren't always called that. These parts were once verdant & green, I've seen the paintings... & I'm only part Dothan. You know that. We could be related, you know, I'm Devorish too." said Saris, teasing her mentor. Her skin was dark, & his was light, but he knew what she proposed wasn't an impossibility. The Devorish bloodlines had roots in every corner of the world. Before the Scourge, his people had a foothold in every country on every continent across the whole of Devoria, because his people were from every nation of the world, even if much of the world chose to forget this truth when cataclysm struck.

"Saris,” said Garrick. “The song. Recite it. Those Thygians will arrive back soon, we need to invoke the light in this dreadful place before they can further infect this land. There's a necromancer amongst them, you can be certain they're Silver Meridian." His words echoed off the pillars & trailed through the vast expanse before them. He continued "Hopefully Chrysander shows up before we finish. He said he would catch up with us, but I never know with that one. He studies his reflection in a pint of ale far more than the reflective arts."

"Oh give him a break.” said Saris, defending her fellow acolyte. “If your family had been eaten by the dead you'd be no stranger to the ale either. His skill is still undeniable."

"You're probably right about that," Garrick said as he nodded, then paused & waited for Saris to begin her recitation. Before any words were uttered, she stepped into the proper stance, set her hands together & fixed her fingers into the correct positions, then took a deep breath. All of this was integral for the celestial arts to work.

They chanted together, "Wickedness bereft, vileness inept, ending dark tides here with each fiery breath. Cast it down & watch it seep, drain the pus of this olden deity. Quelling rot, illuminating truth, bring forth closure to this violating gloom!"

As they sang & chanted in harmony, a glimmering orb of light appeared in their midst, firing bright rays outwards in every direction. The warmth of the orb washed over the Thygian's altar & dissolved the dark inscriptions from each pillar surrounding it, the blood evaporating off of them, leaving no further trace of the Silver Meridian's handiwork. Shining directly into Saris & Garrick's golden irises, the orb dissolved as the remaining light entered into their bodies. She then finished with a final recitation, directly invoking their deity.

"Leiun,” Saris chanted, “we invite your illumination into these lands. Fill our minds with a sheen of pure ineffable luminosity, coat us with golden beams & empower us to cast this darkness asunder." In that instant an amber coloured wave of electricity arced around them, destroying the pillars along with the altar, crumbling them into dust before their very eyes.

As the ashes of the former structure were carried away on the wind, Garrick looked at his student & said, "Excellence becomes you, Saris. It's time we set back for camp. The sun is nearly down, & you know what that means. If fortune beckons, we'll meet Chrysander there. Sure hope the kid hasn't lost his way."

Saris Danonette smiled at her mentor & the two went on their way, taking the same path out of the chasm they took to get in. As dusk fell upon them, Garrick gripped his claymore, while Saris pulled out her morning star mace in preparation. The two of them shivered as the light went out from their half of the world, making way for darkness to creep not only into their path but also into their minds.

Devorish folk were a superstitious lot, & for good reason. The dead roamed in the west when night fell each & every evening & this night was no different. As they trailed on towards camp, they heard what sounded like swords clanging in the distance & rushed over to see what was going on. Brief flashes of light sparked before dying out. Garrick said, "Has to be Chrysander. With haste now!"

The two of them ran over to their companion, Garrick's plate armor clanking as he rushed forward, while Saris' robes remained essentially silent during the whole trek over. As they closed in on the flashing lights, the two were able to make out what was transpiring in front of them.

Chrysander swung his shotel at the Thygian thornweaver before him, sparks flying as his sword met thorns. He brandished his mirror shield & reflected the thornweaver's spell back on the caster. The Thygian was coiled in her own thorns due to Chrysander's counterattack, but after a moment she managed to break free from their grasp & whipped them at the reflectionaire she found herself in combat with. 

The thorny vines wrapped around Chrysander's blade, tossing it off to the side before the Thygian squeezed the thorns in her hands, drawing out more blood from which she conjured longer vines from her own vital essence. The barbed whips were themselves made of blood, yet no less sharp than any bramble in the wild.

The young reflectionaire managed to recite a chant as the thornweaver lashed out her bloodied barbs in a whip-like motion. As it tore Chrysander's flesh from his chest, the Thygian's own abdomen was then ripped in half directly where she managed to hit Chrysander, only on her own body.

Garrick & Saris finally caught up to him & said, "Hail Chrysander! You made that look easy, though that had to hurt at least a little."

Chrysander shrugged & replied "It was sort of a gamble, ser. Before she arrived I finally managed to combine the spell seals for mirror & magnify, so when her thorn whip landed on my chest I chanted & caused most of the attack to reflect back onto her, then magnified the power of the blow. Enough to rip her apart, it appears. Not exactly what I was going for, but looks like it works." He finished then bowed at his opponent."May she rest in... pieces."

Garrick sighed at the reflectionaire's final statement & said "Well you're certainly gifted, kid. Let's tend to those wounds of yours before the dead come about. Don't forget your shotel."

Chrysander winced as Garrick put his hands on the chest wounds & chanted a prayer to Leiun. Golden light glimmered around the cuts & sealed them over the course of a few seconds. The three were standing in a tent at the center of camp, with a handful of other Crescent Glaive troops set up in their own tents nearby.

"You were too risky if you ask me," said Garrick. "But you handled yourself well. Truly. You could teach your mentor a thing or two, actually. Maybe I'm not risky enough."

"Teach the great Cursebreaker? said Chrysander. “Yeah right. There's a reason you mentor kids like us ser, & a reason we don't mentor legends like you." 

"You're wrong about that, kid.” said Garrick as he washed the blood off his hands in a bowl of water. “Any teacher worth his weight in salt knows there's always more to learn, regardless of the subject or the art-form. You just started combining those spells last night. It takes most folk months or even years to successfully splice spells together. It's prolific what you do."

The bowl of water featured inscriptions in a circle around the curvature of the bowl, spelling out "Cleansed may you always be, even amidst putridity." written in the Devoric language. This was a common spell among the Crescent Glaive, & could even be found inscribed on the breastplate of Garrick's plate armor.

"Your experimentation with merging spells is impressive, Chrys," added Saris, looking down at the ground as she said it before quickly looking up at him, then averting her eyes again when their gazes met. "You really have to teach me your methods for merging sometime, maybe we can collaborate on a spell. I have some ideas if you're open to them. Never know..."

"Uh-uhm-yeah. We'll see." Chrysander said, stuttering between every word. "I'm going to uh, p-pay a visit to the quartermaster & see about grabbing a new shirt. This one's spent." he stood up, ready to leave the tent. "Oh, & thank you ser. That would've taken a while to heal on its own. I'm really starting to see the appeal of the redemptive arts. Please teach me some, won't you?" 

Garrick nodded as Chrysander wandered off & Saris followed, staying a few paces behind him. Garrick stood there lost in thought for a minute. "That was no doubt a scout for the Silver Meridian's war party. We haven't seen the last of those fiends or their curse-bringing. To the general..."

The general of the Crescent Glaive army in the Plaguelands sat on a stool carved from Keiran wood, an impossibly rare treasure, whilst hunched over a table covered in maps depicting the surrounding areas.
Garrick kneeled & shouted "Hail fair general of our Crescent Empire! I come bearing news for you, lightbearer. By Leiun may you hearken these words!"

"Rise, Cursebreaker." said the general who stood up & motioned his hands upwards as if he was lifting something invisible. "Garrick. Tell me the dead have not breached our perimeter. We doubled the patrol since last week. Our men tire of slaying the same corpses each night. It's no good for morale."

"Ser, no dead have breached this night as far as I am aware. This news is far worse still. One of my students came across a Silver Meridian spy scouting out the area to the north of the camp. You can be certain their troops are not far off now if their previous tactics are anything to be accounted for."

"Leiun help us... If what you are saying is true, they are certain to strike this here night. I want everyone on the ready! The dark may not prevail on this ground. Seek the luminaires, etherealists & any aegis in camp! Rally everyone now, hopefully we can boost morale before they descend upon us with their hordes of darkspawn. You should have brought this before me sooner, Cursebreaker. Prepare for war!"

Lief Garrick sent news across the camp, spreading encouragement along with it & gathering the army for a quick speech.

"Keep faith now, they may have taken us by surprise in the past but we have the advantage here today! The Crescent Empire grows strong & fat once more, no longer are we phantoms of our former glory. We are powerful in number & belief, united in our purpose of eradicating the defilers from the Western world & reclaiming the light for all who've wandered in the dark. Let us remove these cursed ones from Devoria proper, & redeem this land for our glorious empire of light! By Leiun we shall have victory this night. Let us join in recitation as we prepare for them to strike. May the whole camp ring out in hopeful song & chants. Let us beckon the great beings of light so that they might join us in the fight ahead!"

The general ordered most of the troops to the north, near where the scout was spotted & slain, with the rest of the army evenly distributed to the rest of the camp. Garrick, Saris & Chrysander met on the eastern edge & prepared a barricade, following a hunch from the celestialist among them.

"This is sure to be a gruesome battle... but you lot have the mettle to come out of this alive. Stick close to me, alright? I promise to keep you safe, come what may." said Garrick, unwavering in his resolve. The youths nodded in agreement, & in that moment the groaning of the dead reached their ears. The horde threw themselves at the barricades while thornweavers tore down a section of it with barbed vines.

A harrowing voice broke through the noise of undead chatter & pierced every eardrum in the vicinity. "Come forth filth, let our rotted dance & bring new plagues! May your end become a mire for your doomed empire! We shall snuff out your light once more, we shall consume your flesh along with your bones, & drive stakes into the ground through your skulls!" the voice shrieked & caused countless soldiers to drop to their knees in terror.

"The necromancer. Someone alert our forces in the north, they're striking here not there!" shouted Garrick.

"There's so many of them..." said Chrysander. "I-I don't know about this..." he finished, clearly panicking as the reality of their situation dawned on him. Saris put her arm around him in an attempt to comfort her fellow student.

"I just don't want to run into my family out t-there, you know? They've been dead awhile now, what if I have to face them on the battlefield? I'm not ready for that."

Animated corpses started raining from the sky, landing on unsuspecting troops. Garrick yelled out once more. "We'll face them together, kid. Remember, our light can never go out. Not fully. Not forever. To battle!" The group got into defensive position, Saris called upon the celestial beings, Chrysander chanted a reflection spell, & Garrick coated them each in sunlight. "Tonight we behead a necromancer!"

Part II.

A violent screech pierced through the clashing of swords & bones. The necromancer spoke, "Fall down & worship me, oh slaves of mortality! We Silver Meridian have broken the chains of death & forged them into a new set of armor. Death does our bidding now, death protects us. Don't you want protection? Bow to me! I am Pygia, & I am your new god. I shall decide whether you live or die tonight. Throw down your arms & I will allow you to serve me for eternity in undeath."

All over the camp walking corpses stopped what they were doing & groaned the name of their master in unison. "...Pygia..." The word emanated from hundreds of rotted throats, flooding the Crescent Glaive camp in a bitter cold which could only be likened to the chill of the grave.

"He speaks lies," shouted the Cursebreaker. "This monster means to make you all slaves & be rid of your free will forevermore! Kneel to this foul creature & it will be the last move you ever make!"

The necromancer retorted "I have lived for countless hundreds of years, I have seen fires such as yours light & extinguish throughout the ages... & you Cursebreaker, are nothing. A flickering flame soon to be ash. Your corpse shall be my fool henceforth. I look forward to watching those bones dance & groan along with the rest of my... servants."

A dozen or so Crescent Glaive troops bowed down & submitted to their new necromantic deity, allowing fear to buckle their knees. The instant these soldiers dropped to the ground in prostration, their life force dissolved from their bodies. When they arose, the soldiers were hollow beings, mere husks clad in armor. Whoever they were before giving themselves to the necromancer simply no longer existed.

Upon seeing all those troops rise to their graves, Saris called upon the celestial bodies. She brought down great pillars of light from the stars to smite the army of darkness standing before her. The animated corpses vanished in the light beams, leaving behind nothing where the pillars landed but scorch marks & piles of ash where the dead once stood.

The onslaught resumed from there as Pygia forced their undead horde forward. "Devour them," the necromancer said, "consume every scrap of meat on them! Tear out their hearts while they still beat. Tonight we feast on their very souls!" The necromancer cackled in delight at this finishing statement, licking it's crusty lips & motioning the dead towards their dinner.

Amid the horrific screams & shouts of warfare, Garrick stood there in the thick of it completely unfazed by the commotion & splattering blood. Cursebreakers were trained in battle meditation, as this is when one most needs both the calm & clear mind which meditation can provide. He took a deep breath in followed by a shallow exhale, closing his eyes & centering himself. Sensing an undead approaching his left side, Garrick swung his claymore in it's direction, eyes still shut.

Under his breath he chanted as his blade glimmered with conjured sunlight, arcing through the approaching corpse & onto the nearest undead assailant. Both the animated dead exploded upon coming into contact with the light, spraying corpse chunks & coagulated blood outwards into the mess of the battlefield.

"Saris," Garrick said in a serene tone of voice, "let us recite that poem once more. This time with Chrysander. Light exposes the weakness of the dark. May every strategic opening reveal itself unto us." He opened his eyes to find Chrysander swinging his shotel wildly in a flurry of attacks upon the legions of animated corpses, clearly losing his cool.

Saris tried to balance calming her fellow student with soothing words alongside her celestialist arts, bringing orbs of light down to surround them & ward off any further dead from attacking. "Stay close to me Chrys," said Saris, "Lief isn't far, we need to keep it that way or we'll soon be swarmed."

Chrysander seemingly unable to hear anything kept chopping & slicing, even after the corpses fell to the ground no longer animated. He hacked away at their bodies until before him was a pile of mangled limbs, barely recognizable at all. "Ma..." he uttered through the fallen tears, "I'm so s-sorry."

The Cursebreaker rolled into the circle of light & spoke to Saris. "Is he okay? I told you to two to stick close to me. Chrysander looks rattled. I actually have a spell for that. Keep those orbs around us." Saris began to speak, but Garrick was already headed towards Chrysander.

The reflectionaire was on his hands & knees bawling, surrounded by the corpses he'd dismembered. Warfare raged on outside the protective orbs Saris cast, but inside the sound of it was dulled as if the quarrel was rather far away.

"Chrysander," the Cursebreaker began "Let the terror run it's course. Don't grip onto it, let it fall through your fingers like sand. Allow it to come & go. Those are not your parents."

"H-how do you know?" said Chrysander, still weeping. "They could be. I-I'm sure this is what they would look like after all these years." he said, raising a head with it's neck still attached.

Garrick squatted next to Chrysander & said, "There's no way to know. After the rot sets in, no one looks like the folk they once were. These could be your parents, sure. But they could just as well not be."
He put his hand on Chrysander's shoulder & chanted, "Revitalize, reignite, restore." before the reflectionaire rose to his feet feeling invigorated, dropping the severed head & looking towards his mentor.

"You're right, ser. No way to know." said Chrysander, "If you're not careful, the darkness creeps into your head out here in the field & well... anywhere really, but I'm ready now. This isn't the time or place. When this is all over promise me you'll teach me how to be a Cursebreaker, ser? Thanks for the lift up. I need a pick me up now & then, as you know, & you won't always be there."

Garrick took his hand off Chrysander's shoulder & said "Depends on where you're going, kid. The curse still runs strong in the West. I'm here to see that we can redeem our lands, cleanse it of the Scourge, root out the dark that consumes it. So you know where I'll be. Stick around long enough & you'll become a Cursebreaker before you know it."

"Guys." Saris said, "Get on with it. There's something dreadful happening out there, we need to get back to the fight. Doesn't look good for the Crescent Glaive army..." Saris then sent the orbs of light inwards, instead of circling a great radius they orbited around her body.

"T-thanks Saris. I would have been meat for sure." said Chrysander, but the words were drowned out by a horrific cacophony of undead voices, a unified choir of corpses. The horde stood in place, singing an eerie drone as someone shook what sounded like bells & chimes which rang out through the thick of the noise.

The group hacked their way through throngs of animated dead as they attempted to make their way towards the origin of the chiming, making it through the crowd of corpses just in time to see what was transpiring.
The Crescent Glaive general was skewered on a large metal spike which the undead were driving into the ground. It went directly through the general's skull & into the soil beneath him. Pygia waved around reams of bells & chimes clustered together like grapes still on the vine.

"The bells," Garrick said, "It's a spell. They're setting another curse on the land to counteract what we undid earlier in that chasm, Saris. That's a curse-stake, it's activated through resonant tones pertaining to the spell seals. The dead will stop their droning if we silence that necromancer. I have an idea. You're seriously going to despise it but you can do that later. Come here, kid."

After sharing his plan, the mentor's students took turns glaring at the Cursebreaker. "No way. Nope." said Saris. "Not happening." added Chrysander. "Not a chance. We're not doing that, ser."

"You can hate it later. " retorted Garrick. "You signed up for this when you joined me in the Plaguelands. Now, let's get this over with." The pair looked at their mentor uneasily before realizing there was no way they could talk the Cursebreaker out of this. "Fine." they each said in unison, still surrounded by the groaning dead.

"Alright," Garrick said, "you start the chant Saris, then Chrysander will start his, & I'll start my own. If we're going to chain these spells together it all hinges on synchronizing the utterances of our words & intentions." he stopped for a moment & grasped one hand from each of them, imbuing them with a protective aura using his words. "This will act as an armor thick as plate, but it doesn't last long so we had better get a move on. Chrysander, now for yours. Before they drive the stake down any further."

The trio separated then, dispersing into the mass of undead circling the necromancer & the skewered general. Each standing in the midst of copious walking dead, they formed a triangular formation & begun their chants from each corner, slowly increasing in volume & frequency as they did.

Entering a sort of trance-like state, the trio chanted as loud as they could which sent a shock-wave through the field of cadavers & forced the necromancer to pause for a moment before ringing the bells once more. "Come out now filthy mortals, your new god is waiting for his meal!"

In that instant, their chants reached their pinnacle & the darkened night was filled with a luminous presence, lighting up every part of the camp & blinding the dead where they stood. As necromancer & corpses alike shielded their eyes, a world-shaking bolt of lightning descended from the sky & collided with the curse-stake, sending golden waves of electricity all throughout the camp.

As the lightning washed over the crowds & over the trio it touched their protective auras which the reflectionaire topped off with a reflective spell, causing the electricity to ripple back towards the curse-stake in a triangular formation, sending another wave of pure energy out across the Crescent Glaive campsite.

The groaning of the dead was silenced in that moment as the lightning vaporized every corpse in the vicinity, each vanishing into the brilliant light surrounding them. Even the general was gone, though the stake remained behind.

Pygia realizing they were in trouble, skulked off as quickly as they could into the distance. The trio then all three chased after the necromancer, pursuing them over hills & into a strange mountain cavern.

"Impressive." said Garrick. "Never seen anything like it. If I'm being honest, I didn't think that would even work... but Chrysander inspired me to try." he chuckled as they met & caught their breath at the cave's mouth before entering.

"This is a jest, right?" said Saris, "What about when you faced down that necromancer Dracis in the Corpse Mines back on Devoria Isle? Wasn't he part of the Silver Triumvirate? I heard that was an epic clash, but they didn't stand a chance against the great Cursebreaker."

"You heard wrong miss Danonette." Garrick replied, "Those minstrels 'forget' a lot of the hairier details that don't sell so well. It was a close scrape, nearly didn't leave those mines. Probably would have bode fairer with you two down there with me, but I wouldn't wish the Corpse Mines on anyone. It's unequivocally worse than it sounds." the Cursebreaker shuddered at the thought of the place.

"I have got to hear that tale, Lief." said Saris. "Right Chrys?" she nudged him but Chrysander was lost in thought, still astonished that he could inspire the great Cursebreaker to try something as risky & experimental as that. "Sure Saris. Let's head in before that necromancer has a chance to recoup."

"Right you are." Said Garrick, "Behind me now, this armor can withstand all but a ballista, or perhaps a well placed explosive. Fingers crossed he's fresh out of both."

They wandered inside the cavern then, with Saris chanting in order to summon an orb of light to illuminate their path. As they made their way through the cavern the group was met with the smell of rotten flesh & spilled bloodwine.

As they approached a narrowing path, they were ambushed by three thornweavers who dropped from the stalactites hanging from the cavern's ceiling. Saris' orb went from illuminating to searing flesh in a moments notice as it entered the attacker's body & cooked them from the inside out.

"One down." she said, "Need any help boys?" Saris laughed & pulled out her morning star, proceeding to lodge it into the back of the Thygian latched onto Chrysander. The thornweaver dropped & Saris planted the mace in it's face before Chrysander could even unsheathe his sword.

The Thygian on Garrick was wrapping him in thorns as she clung on, but as soon as they reached his neck the Cursebreaker took a leap & plunged to the floor with the thornweaver still on his back, crushing them under the weight of his armor. The thorns fell away from him in that moment, & Chrysander reached out a hand to lift Garrick up. "Figure it's my turn to lift you up, ser."

"Right. Thanks, kid." Garrick said, "Pygia has to be in the next room over." The trio walked through the narrowing path & entered a room hot with steam, paired with a putrid smell which could only be compared to a freshly filled mass grave.

"Took you long enough!" shouted the necromancer, "Wasn't sure if you'd 'lost' your way, or maybe you decided to serve me after all. I am a forgiving god! Come, kneel before me. Pledge your fealty to me & all shall be forgiven! Kehehe!"

"Lief," Saris said, "are all necromancers this delusional? I mean seriously, what?"

"Pretty much, yeah." replied Garrick, "If they're not trying to be deified they're trying to get you to hand over your soul, so I mean... yeah."

"Hush now!" squealed Pygia, "Everyone knows we Thygians are far superior to every other being on this continent. We have a right to your souls! Haven't you seen the thorn wall? Nothing you Devorish peasants have created even comes close to it's magnificence. You are a weak people, spoiled by avarice & false piety. It's a pity we didn't curse your lands sooner. You belong with the dead, even more so than I."

Chrysander, seething at the boldness of the monstrosity before him began chanting under his breath & placed his hand on the hilt of his shotel. Saris, noticing what he was up to started to do the same, hoping Garrick could keep the necromancer distracted long enough to catch them off guard.

"I know what you're doing!" Pygia shouted, "Won't happen this time! Have you wondered at all about that smell? Meet my child! He's so eager to m... eat you! Come along now my filth! Kehehe!"
A heaping mound of flesh crept out from the darkness behind the necromancer. It appeared to be a conglomerate mass of corpses sewn together, writhing & wheezing. Hot putrid steam seeped from orifices in it's body, & slime oozed out after it.

"Wretched spawn." said Garrick clutching his claymore. "Your vileness ends here, Pygia." The trio each pulled out their weapons & chanted in unison, this time much louder than before. The oozing mass of rotten flesh spewed a great geyser of putridity towards the party, soaking Chrysander in it's juices. The force of the blast reflected back onto the necromancer's creation however, putting a man-shaped dent in it's writhing flesh.

Pygia launched great orbs of rot in their direction, slathering the vicinity in chunks of cursed meat, certain to be riddled with plagues. The group dodged & mid-roll Garrick launched a spear of light at the necromancer, barely missing them.

Saris summoned a sphere of shimmering light & hurled it at the abomination before them, blowing up a portion of it's front side & unleashing a wave of rotten juices which flooded the area & swept them all off their feet.

As they rose up, the trio looked at one another & began to chant once more. The Cursebreaker sent a brilliant spear of light towards Chrysander while Saris summoned another luminous orb, this time giving off an incredible amount of warmth. Chrysander reflected the spear, directing it through the orb & into the necromancer's wretched spawn.

The orb clung onto the spear, which upon piercing the mass of rotten flesh, caused it to heat up & subsequently explode. This filled the room with a thick mist of steam that allowed the necromancer to once again slink away amidst the chaos.

Everyone in the trio took a second to wipe off some of the slime in the hot steam cloud before chasing after the necromancer once again. This time they reached a doorway carved out of the cavern, lined with intricate inscriptions & a set of stairs at the end of the murky hallway.

"Turn back, you two." said Garrick. "Gateways like this... there's always a chance one may not return."
Chrysander spoke up, "Ser, let us-" before being interrupted by their mentor.

"No. Turn back now. Head back to the camp, see if there are any other survivors, then head back to Devoria proper. I will meet you back there. Probably."

"You don't have to go by yourself, Lief." said Saris. "We work well together, you said it yourself." She hugged him & stepped back, then Chrysander did the same.

The Cursebreaker continued. "If you pass through here, you will more than likely die. I can't guarantee your safety, I'm sorry. This is something I must do alone. Head back & make sure those minstrels get this story right, you hear?"

"We will, ser. Be safe." said Chrysander. Saris then chimed in, "If you don't come back I'll make sure they tell it all wrong." she said reluctantly. "See you soon, Lief."

"Yeah, see you soon, kid." Garrick said as he walked through the gateway & headed down the stair steps, fading into total darkness. He turned around but the doorway was gone. There was nothing but a pitch black patch of emptiness the way he came.

The Cursebreaker moved forward, left with no other direction to turn. He followed the stairway down further & further into the depths. It felt to him like hours had passed at this point, descending into darkness which seemingly had no end.

As he plunged further into the darkening path, he approached what looked like a city. The Cursebreaker reached the bottom of the stairs, & with no sign of the necromancer, he walked through & entered the city enshrouded in darkness. There he ran into folk wandering around in masks, & stumbled upon what appeared to be some sort of reveling event. Some sort of celebration, he thought.

The Cursebreaker wandered into the crowd of masked people, asking them if they'd seen any necromancers pass through. One answered "Which one? There are a few." & another "Oh certainly, there's one over yonder." He then asked, "Where are we anyway?" & someone answered. "Why, the Lost City of Shadows, of course. Where did you think?"

The End.

Exploring fantasy worlds through the eyes of it's inhabitants via story & song.

YouTube