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Voting closed: November 04, 2022, 09:24:51 am

[King Zultan]

I like these little lore posts that you put together.

How much more work is left before you think we'll get to see the age of fairy tails?

[Maloy]

Appreciate it!


We'll see? I slowed down after the steam release of adventure mode mostly because real life stress has been pretty high.
I already got my next guy up to plug away some more at some adventures just need to put it together and post it lol

[King Zultan]

I'll be excited to see what you come up with, but if real life stuff is going on don't feel pressured to post here, we can wait.

[Maloy]

I have a quicker solution to our pop problems than camping random patrols and retiring-unretiring to hunt new nobles.


Unretire-Anyone.

Using Legends Viewer I can see the full list of currently living members of each race. At least I think it is the full list. It LOOKS like over 200 dwarves.

Anywho I can unretire them and the missing people from the goblins and elves and plant them in places I think.


There'd be a change where I'd transition from reacting to, and writing story from, the game and what it is doing. To me planting and writing the story myself.
Also I'm only mostly sure this is the entire list. LOOKS like everybody, but it won't let me copy paste the whole list and I don't wanna count by hand all morning.

[King Zultan]

Getting everybody somewhere you can actually find sounds way easier than running around chasing blips on the map to murder. I say go for it as that sounds like it'll make the whole process less of a pain in the ass.

[Maloy]

Prologue: Final Trial of the Dwarf-Friend
The two swordsmen faced each other. One massive warrior with sword and shield and the other a small one, the size of a dwarf, but the build of a young human with sword and shield as well.

The Morning sun was rising and bathing the smaller warrior in warm light as its rays ate away the morning dew. Behind the massive warrior was dark swirling clouds of a storm that was forever encroaching yet never advancing toward the small settlement.

The two eyed one another and silence filled the air that comes only moments before violence. The silence continued for moments until the smaller warrior broke first and charged forth swinging his blade overhead at his opponent. The massive warrior caught the sword on his shield and lunged forth, but the smaller pulled back where he could catch it on his shield. The force of the larger warrior's blade would have pushed the smaller away, but the smaller moved with it and the shield instead allowed the blade to slash across the shield instead of meet it and the younger warrior found himself behind the larger and ready to strike.
The larger moved faster than the small warrior could have imagined and swept his leg to kick up dust blinding the small warrior temporarily and then swiping the small one's blade out of his hand with his own.
The now disarmed smaller warrior did not know what to do, but the larger one did not relent and began swinging his blade down again and again as the smaller was forced to use his shield to just hold back certain defeat.
Again and again blows rained down just barely caught upon the splintering shield.

The small warrior was panicking and trying to see through the dust cloud being kicked up and believing he saw his sword he waited for the next blow against his shield to finish and then he rolled with it and grabbed for his sword. He quickly jumped up and swung it wide at his opponent, but too late did he notice his enemy's blade stabbing in against his stomach. Intense pain hit the small warrior and the force of the blow threw him onto his back.
The larger warrior looked at the smaller laying on the ground and spoke "You lose, Mispi." and dropped his own sword and shield.

Kanil offered his hand to his defeated student and the boy took it "I almost had you!" he said bitterly while holding his stomach that would surely bruise this day.
"No, you didn't. You assumed I was right on your tail and swung wide at the end assuming I'd be there to take the blow. That might work against a goblin or zombie, but never, and hear me say it again, never assume what your opponent is going to do." Kanil said arms crossed and tone firm
Mispi, the orphan the party had adopted after saving from the dark citadel in the arctic north, looked bitterly at his mentor at this rebuke and returned "Uncle Nemo says that predicting your enemy is how all battles are won before they start."
"Predicting and assuming are different things entirely. Learn the difference and you'll become a great warrior. Don't and you'll just be another forgotten corpse in these lands." Kanil said coldly
The boy, barely 12 at this age, looked at Kanil with a face that was debating crying or yelling. Before he could work up a response Kanil grabbed his head and pulled him close into his shoulder hugging him "You're doing good, Mispi. We just don't want you to get arrogant." He let the boy go and continued "Now go check in on that priest. You probably got chores to do"
The boys anger subsided some and he limped off holding his stomach.
The fact that he wasn't left retching from that blow shows how much he is improving, Kanil thought.

Kanil set off to the main hall of Fragrancehelm, the home of him and his companions. It sat next to the river for easy fishing and water access and next to its bank was Ersi the warrior who was doing push ups by the river. The warrior was entrusted with guardianship of the hamlet and trained ceaselessly to keep up his role. Despite constant training he could never seem to catch up with Kanil's super human form, but that did not stop the legendary warrior from trying. Ersi's hair was well-kept and naturally dashing to Kanil's wild and unkempt mane. Ersi had blonde hair, rare for this region, to Kanil's brown. By most appearances Ersi was more fitting as a hero of legend to Kanil who often looked like a wild beast when covered in the mud and blood of battle.
He did not stop exercising even as Kanil called to him "Ersi! You seen Nemo?"
"At his usual roost at the edge of town watching everyone and everything" he said huffing between reps.
"Great. I'll head that way then, I guess."
"He's in a grim mood, boss" Ersi huffed
"As usual" Kanil chuckled and walked the opposite direction and headed for the hill overlooking the hamlet.

Nemo was roosted upon the hill. The elf had a blind he had designed from brush and bramble in the area that allowed him to survey the area in a relaxed position without being seen. To the north, and down the hill, was the settlement of Helmsfragrance with its Mead hall and attached crypt where Kanil had buried his dearest friends.

To the south-east was another wooden building serving as a tavern and Inn and usually sporting a few travelers who'd come to tell tales or see one of the legendary warriors.
Further south on the edge of the town was a large temple platform supported by wooden beams where anyone could worship whatever deity struck their fancy. Atop the temple was buried the most dangerous foes of the band where the foul arts of necromancy would hopefully never find them.
Further north one could see the mighty silhouettes of the dwarven mountains where Nemo's extended family lived in a farming hillocks not far from them.
To the south-west lied the smoking ruins of Clappedsear and to the south-east a dark could that forever swirled above the battleground of Tumam the god of death. A fog permeated that area so thick that one could not see what lay beyond. It had been months, but neither cloud nor mist had dissipated.

Nemo was looking north as Kanil approached. "Ho, Kanil! Friend of elves!" the elven bladesman called
"Ho, Nemo! Friend of man!" Kanil called back.
The elf crawled out of the blind. He was as skilled a bladesman as Ersi although where Ersi built size and muscle, Nemo had a lithe figure for quick swordsmanship and movement. The iron-clad warrior was nearly a master swordsman himself just as kanil had already achieved. Despite all the glad tiding in his personal life the elf stayed dour as ever and recent world events seemed to only reinforce this habit. Kanil noted where the elf had been looking and said "You watch the north when that bleak cloud still hangs over us to the south-west?"
Nemo spared the cloud a glance and said "A threat to be sure, but not the most pressing one. Dwarven messengers come from the north to see our stout friends Ingiz and the rest" He nodded his heard towards the temple where the dwarves had uncharacteristically gathered to meet the strangers rather than at the comfort of the bar.
Kanil looked at the band thoughtfully "You think they'd even consider betraying us? Ingiz has been to the end of the world and back with us and the others listen to him. We'll be fine"
"The end of the world changes ones perspectives and priorities more than any one could expect, Kanil. Do not burden the stout folk by expecting more from them than they can give"
Kanil sighed in frustration "Now you speak in riddles! Is is too much that I expect them not to betray us? They shall not! If the world is ending then we shall all face it together as we did with Cor and again at the Dark Citadel"
"Aye, but beware the burdens our friends have to take on themselves in these dark days. I sense a grim task ahead of them and I simply advise, my friend, that we do not hold them to their oaths to us. For if you had me choose between my oath to you and my duty to my people the agony would tear me in two" Nemo's final words were stated with a grim certainty that calmed Kanil as he was reminded of how deeply his friends cared for him.
He clapped his hand on Nemo's shoulder "Come, my friend and brother, let us go and see what these messengers have told and if our dwarven friends need our aid once more"


The man and elf reached the base of the hill as the messengers had already begun to depart. The dwarves eyed the two as they approached and most had strange looks in their eyes that were difficult for Kanil to decipher. Two looked outright fearful of Kanil and every single dwarf present was armed even if the weapons were stowed.

"What news, brethren" Nemo called.
The dwarves looked toward one another conspiratorially and finally Ingiz broke the silence. The dwarf was covered in scars, missing an ear as well as many teeth. His speech was permanently impeded by his lack of teeth, but his naturally gritty tone still communicated the voice of a warrior "Most of the lads before you have been named nobility and leaders of what is left of the Craterous Glazes and the Silver of Staves." Ingiz spat on the ground "Inherited the job because everyone else is dead"  The group begun muttering bitter agreement at this.
"Does this mean you must depart to go rule some underground castle or other, Ingiz?" Kanil asked
The muttering ceased and silence fell again and Ingiz too was silent before finally sighing and speaking again "Lad, we've got the heaviest task of all given to us. To avenge our dead and protect the eternal glory of our people"
Ingiz's mouth was open for moments, but no words came out and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. He continued after moments of severe conflict upon his face "...and. That means we're gonna have to arrest you, Kanil"

[King Zultan]

Well that comment at the end makes me think that whole exchange will not end well for the dwarves involved, given who they're after.

[Maloy]

Mispi tried valiantly to ignore the aches in his body as he lifted yet another bucket of water, hauled from the river, into the kitchen cauldron. Having to spar against Kanil and then perform this manual labor was outright cruel and he was inclined to let the priest know just that!

"Why are you always passing off your jobs to me, priest?"
The "priest", Ersi, was sitting on a tree stump with a book his eyes quickly glancing through pages as if looking for something interesting. He was the other Ersi and not nearly as martially successful as the muscled powerhouse that followed Kanil from battle to battle. He looked up and smirked "I'm helping you learn, boy. You should be thanking me!"
Mispi glowered "No, you're just a lazy good for nothing"
"Pfft! It is my responsibility as a spiritual leader to ensure the nurturing and growth of peoples character! By giving you my trivial labors I am helping you grow in patience, discipline and dignity!"
"You're a free loader who makes up fancy sayings. Don't know why the others take you on any expeditions over me!"
The priest feigned offense "I'll have you know, child. That I fought in the battleto reclaim the city of Inkyrouts! Fought cold hunters and everything! Its not my fault that, recognizing my potential and the severity of the situation, I was suddenly gifted the position of high priest of Gamo!"
This was still a mystery to all. Ersi had been a sly tribal warrior recruited by Kanil with the others and despite having no religious background he had been made high priest. He spent most of his days reading old tomes and trying to make himself seem fit for the role
Mispi looked at the priest with disappointment in his eyes, but the priest continued "To answer your other point: You're still a child! 12 years old is hardly the age to be fighting against hordes of the dead, troll armies, cultists and cold hunters!"
"It's not like you can fight them either! You've never even killed anything before even with that fancy iron sword! I'd learn on the go! My destiny is waiting for me out there!" Mispi threw his fist pointing to the ominous and ever present cloud hanging over where the great horde of the dead were halted.
Ersi the Priest wagged his finger towards one of the smaller buildings saying "Look here boy! You see that building? That is where everyone who thought they had what it takes, when they didn't, ended up. If you think you're the next-" the priest stopped confused by the large crowd gathering around the temple next to the crypt hall. Many dwarves gathered with a few of the outposts elves and humans standing in the back. An anxious energy seemed to run through the whole crowd and the priest's instincts that had long saved him from the worst dangers of the world now told him that something was afoot again.
Mispi looked at the crowd curiously "What's happening there?"
The priest glanced back at the boy "Hmmm. Likely a beard measuring competition. I'll go check it out and you go get that last bucket of water"
Mispi sighed and picked up the empty bucket. Ersi slammed his book shut and began to quietly make his way over.


Despite the fact that no one had reached for any weapons yet. Kanil's body had entered that preternatural state of one ready for lethal violence. He knew in a moment he could have the large two handed sword, Cloudfought, in his hands, and in another moment he could have two dwarves decapitated. Despite his desire to work things out with his friend his instincts had already prepared to deal brutal death to any who tried to harm him or Nemo. "Don't try this, Ingiz" He said flatly
The crowd of warrior dwarves seemed noticeably nervous. Nemo put out his hands in placating fashion "Yes, let's not do this. Dwarves, I have called you my oath-kin for decades and have dwelt in and protected your lands as such. Kindly, tell me the reason for this madness?"
Ingiz seemed calm yet sad "Answered are owed, no matter what the nobles might claim, and so I shall tell you." He looked to Kanil "You are a great hero to us and all peoples. You defeated a sworn dwarf-enemy and not only avenged our countless dead, but also protected our future" members of the crowd nodded and looked to Kanil with due respect. "Yet, doing a great deed does not wipe away a wrong one. Early in your journey, when you were still a bandit, you slew a goblin who acted as mayor and overlord of a dwarf hillocks. He was the leader of an occupying force, yes, but he was also protected by dwarven law. By killing him without sanction from one of the dwarven kingdoms you were committing murder, acting against the kingdom of the Silver of Staves, and inciting anarchy. These crimes don't disappear just because you're a good person, Kanil"
Kanil recalled this event and recalled his battle against the pursuing dwarven military as they concerned themselves more with hunting him than rescuing their oppressed citizens. "You'd arrest me for something so ridiculous? Perhaps those who did nothing while the hillocks was occupied by an enemy goblin force, intent on attacking my own home, ought to be brought in and hanged for negligence and cowardice?" the crowd of dwarves roared their anger at these insults at Kanil, as dwarven pride was sensitive, and Kanil reached a hand towards his sword menacingly

Ingiz did not grow in anger though and looked to Kanil with grim determination alongside his previous sadness "I know this and I agree. Why do you think I have long lived away from the kingdoms? These are the last days of our people, Kanil! We here have been entrusted with ensuring that our glory and legacy lives on when the final dwarf dies! All wrongs must be righted and our glories protected for the centuries to come!"
Nemo took a step forward seeking to place himself between the unstoppable human and the immovable dwarves "There must be another way. Kanil saved the future of the dwarves once otherwise none of us would even be here! Surely that merits something, oathkin. He is a crucial ally in your plans to protect your peoples future!"
Ingiz did not look away from Kanil to respond to Nemo "Law is law. Rights don't make wrongs stop mattering. I promise a fair trial and to stand at your side in your defense, Kanil. I'll fight for you harder than anything I've ever done before!"
Kanil felt the turmoil inside of himself in his desire to not hurt his friend, but his instincts screamed for self-preservation "I'm not going" He said quietly
Ingiz sighed and looked down. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could another voice jumped in "Excuse me, dwarves, allow me to pass! I have a solution to your quandary!"
Ersi the priest squeeze by dwarves his armor visible beneath his resplendent robes.
Nemo was glad to take some of the pressure off himself and encouraged the dwarves to let the man through "Please, oathkin, we must hear all perspectives!"
Ersi reached Nemo, Ingiz and Kanil. He dramatically patted dust off his robe before speaking.
"Now, I understand this is an issue of law."
"Dwarven law, Priest. Not the place of religious figures"
Ersi chuckled and cleared his throat "In human lands law and religion are the same. Thus, I am versed in both!"
He waited for a moment to see if anyone protested his logic and then continued when he was not challenged "As I believe I heard you noble dwarves state: You all have been made into the new nobility and rulers of the dwarven kingdoms. Thus you are its arbitrators of law. Judge and jury, you might say!" He smiled his most winning smile as he spoke
Ingiz did not bat an eye "Power and positions aren't meant to be used to accomplish what one wants. Things must be done properly and justly"
Ersi held up his hands amicably "now now, that is not what I am saying. I am a beacon of law, dear friend." Some of the non-dwarves chuckled at this
The priest cleared his throat again "I propose a plea deal: Provided we don't go to all the trouble of going to court, we agree Kanil is guilty of the things charged against him-" Kanil's glare made the priest stutter and pause. He held his hands up towards him and continued "Hold on! Hold on! On the condition that he gets a sentencing that we agree upon and would still honor dwarven law and dignity. That is to say: We request community service!"
The dwarves roared in outrage and others began muttering to themselves angrily. Ingiz also looked angry for the first time in the discussion "That is an insult to our courts! Service, craft, and duty are the highest honor of dwarves and could never be a punishment."
Ersi wagged his finger "Ah! But, Kanil is no dwarf! Punsihments for a dwarf are not fitting for him! Humans don't value forced labor and actually hate it! Not only would is this a harsh punishment for our kind, but also the community service can be this "securing" of your peoples legacy you spoke of" Ersi winked at Kanil who now looked confused by the exchange
Nemo cut in seeming to have caught onto Ersi's plan and agreeing "So, what kind of service should he do in this instance?"
Ersi clapped and dramatically waved his arms like a magician before pointing to the dark cloud on the horizon "To destroy the ones who doomed the dwarves to begin with!"

Everyone fell into silence at this.

Giant perpetual cloud of doom raised during Tumam's final battle:

OOC:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm short on time, but I plan to hyperlink the many references to earlier entries that this one makes. This one is a little more story heavy than previous ones, but I really wanted to train my skills some. I also would like to give Kanil deeper motives other than "I get fulfillment out of fighting" lol

[King Zultan]

Fighting a cloud of doom sounds like quit the challenge, hopefully he's up for the task.

[The Spellwright]

It's a good thing his blade is named Cloudfought, then. He was made for this quest.

[Maloy]

It's a good thing his blade is named Cloudfought, then. He was made for this quest.

You know... This game has been going for almost two years and Cloudfought has been around the whole time and I literally did not even think about that lol
It was just a randomly generated name the game gave the sword so I actually think that is so epic now that you point that out

Fighting a cloud of doom sounds like quit the challenge, hopefully he's up for the task.

Well, they took the demons and titan from him so now he has to fight the sky to prove himself lol

[Maloy]

The savannah was scorching, heat coming off the ground and causing the air to ripple. These lands were said to be sun-kissed, as affectionately cared for by the sun as could be, considering it was a raging ball of fire. A herd of giraffe plucked away at the limbs of a tree with long tongues tearing off whole portions. The herd hears a noise and quickly departs as a very loud and arguing band marches forth:

Dwarven and human soldiers marching along loosely behind Kanil. Of course, there was also Nemo present too, the only elven warrior of the small settlement.


The cultural differences between the dwarves and humans were only exacerbated by the fatal combat that had almost happened earlier that day before Ersi the Priest's intervention. Kanil himself made no attempt to be kinder to the dwarves or ingratiate himself. He desired to help his friend and not be forced to kill them, but he felt no need to hold back at their apparently incessant need to push their values onto him

Limul in particular seemed determine to argue the most "One must understand that all freedom is an illusion. We're all predestined to the ends and decisions we do and anything else is just illusions we tell ourselves to feel better."
Kanil glanced towards her, but kept walking to the necrotic cloud in the distance, their target destination. "Everyone is free, but that doesn't mean our freedom shouldn't be tempered by other things such as duty, loyalty, or love"
Limul shook her head "That is absolutely wrong, child. Everyone dances along the path set for them"
Kanil suddenly recalled his encounter with the swamp titan and its claims of mastery over his fate. This added with the petulant dwarf calling Kanil a child had a deep violence stirring inside him.
"I'm sure your 'predestination' is some comfort with your people left nearly extinct. I imagine if I had failed so colossally I would also need a philosophy to make me feel better" he sneered at her
Limul's face turned red at the dismissal and she was beginning to argue again before another dwarf, Ushrir the marksdwarf, put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. Instead she turned her dagger-like words upon Ushrir for interrupting the verbal joust.
Nemo and Ersi the warrior conversed in the back, the two had become fast friends on Kanil's previous adventure to rescue the children stolen by the goblins, and Kanil took the time to speak to Ersi the Priest some

"Weather seems nice today. Although I'm not sure if any of it will be following us into the fog and cloud." Kanil remarked
The thin priest was covered in a layer of sweat he did his best to ignore "Hopefully it's nice and cool in there. If I'm going to get eaten by zombies I'd prefer it to be a milder day"
Kanil looked at the priest closer. He was covered in iron armor and had a longsword with shield. Outfitted for battle sure, but the priest clearly wasn't as suited for it. He had spent his time in religious texts over the last two years as the others spent time training and fighting. "Why did you come with us, Priest?"
"Well, I am the Sacred Funeral of Gamo! I have to be there to send all your blessed souls to his court before my own limbs are torn off" he laughed loudly at his own joke and then looked slightly more serious "Did you know I'm an orphan as well, Kanil?"
Kanil nodded "Orphans outnumber people with families many times over these days"
The priest looked up thoughtfully "Indeed. We brought humanity back from the brink. Or should I say you did! We all just helped. Society collapsed. Our monasteries, churches, libraries, and hell even our taverns all fell to ruins as we huddled around wooden huts waiting for the next wraith to run in and attack." He gave Kanil a conspiratorial wink "Don't tell anyone this, but I'm not particularly educated in a religious background. People need traditions though. Things they believe in and follow. It also needs to be somewhat well kept otherwise everyone starts their own version and they'll start killing each other over the ideas. ah I'm rambling. The truth is that we, humans I mean, need to be brought back from the brink and that" he pointed at the swirling, but never leaving, necrotic cloud "Do you know what that says?"
The cloud seemed to form the shape of a skull to Kanil's eyes "Death"
Ersi shook his head "Its a big sign to the entire world saying 'The good times aren't coming back'. This necromancer, that the dwarves riled up, wiped out one of the largest human settlements in his crusade. If humans were beginning to leave their wooden huts again to rebuild then he spooked them back into them. We want things to get better then we need to show people that not even something like that can stop us, if we truly give it our all."
Kanil felt a new respect for the priest "That is more noble than I'd expect of you, Ersi"
Ersi smirked and nodded sagely "Yes, I'm quite invaluable to the future of mankind. So, do me a favor, and prioritize keeping me alive, won't you?"
Of course the question is how to destroy the cloud, thought Kanil. Shortly after this the dwarves began to take up talking with the priest. Complimenting him in various ways, including his ability to negotiate peace between the two groups, but it was difficult to tell if they were being serious or mocking and Ersi clearly interpreted as an insult.

Within minutes they reached the cloud. While the dwarves slowed to gawk at it Kanil and Ingiz did not even slow to enter.


"Of course it's still an oven even without the sun" cursed the priest. Ersi the warrior laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.

The party did not know quite where to go. The cloud wasn't just over Whisperletter, the site of Tumam's death, but over this entire geographical region. They'd have to wander towards the general direction of the fort and hoped they'd stumble on it. They passed many animals that were seeking to make living in this perpetual darkness. "Amazing, what nature will try to endure, even when it is being poisoned." the animals were doing their best, but the plant life was clearly suffering. A few more months and this would be a true wasteland. Adelaathira's first desert.

The party changed directions multiple times, had to detour around a river-ravine, but after three hours of wandering found the haunted fortress: Its gates long shorn off from battle. Not a bird or critter in sight to make the slightest noise, but the creaking of hinges and branches as swirling winds pressed them. "Strategy?" Ingiz asked Kanil
"I go first and break their line. The rest of you sweep in after" Kanil said and without waiting began walking towards the gates
Ingiz chuckled "Just like old times" and waved for the others to follow him.

[King Zultan]

This has made me wonder, can the cloud actually be destroyed in game or is it permanent?

[Maloy]

This has made me wonder, can the cloud actually be destroyed in game or is it permanent?

I think it is possible, but I don't wanna spoil how I think I can pull it off.

[Maloy]

The first thing noticed by all as they entered the accursed fort was the smell: Death and rot on a scale that made one want to vomit. The fog consumed the visibility of most of the fort, but a buzzing sound could be heard in the distance.

As Kanil entered an elven zombie, torn to pieces and covered in gore not its own sprinted towards him, and Kanil punched the elf in the face. Cartilage crunched and maggots were dislodged from rotting flesh, but Kanil did not stop as he spun around the zombie and began a full sprint into the fort. Kanil thought he recognized the elf from his old home fort, but there was too much decay to be certain.

The zombie did not pursue the fast human, but turned to the mob of disgusted warriors entering behind him. It roared and ran full speed at them. In most circumstances Ersi the Priest sought to stay away from direct combat and play a support role. The zombie sprinted full speed for him though and his cohort was still taken aback by the scene developing before them. Ersi lashed out with his sword at the mindless hunger given form and he severed its head from its body. His first kill ever.

Immediately another zombie came running at the group: Both headless and missing one arm. The priest ran up and slashed its other arm and the thin necrotic magic, connecting like sinew to its puppeteer body, was severed leaving it dead.

A loud sound shook the whole fort: Many voices once of humanoids now twisted into some nightmarish form all screamed at once. The scream demanded more carnage and death as if hunger itself had taken some ghastly form and possessed countless bodies.

Most of warriors froze hearing this. Fear ate at each of them, perhaps the first thing this demon of hunger would devour from them, and precious moments ebbed away as Kanil had already entered the fog alone.
Ersi the Warrior, the largest man any had seen other than Kanil, lifted his longsword and roared his own and charged after his comrade and liege-lord.
Within another moment Nemo did the same followed by the dwarves, Zon, the ever frustrating Ushrir, and even a crossbow dwarf who had refused to speak the entire trip.


These brave souls charged forth while the rest froze up and wasted precious moments.
--------
Kanil was twisting and dodging. Cloudfought sang beautifully as it killed zombie after zombie, but Kanil did not slow! These were merely the vanguard of the proper horde beginning to waken and charge them. As Kanil crested the hill he began to descend and saw the nightmare on display below:

Source: Guild Wars 2 Concept Art
It was worse than a battlefield. Worse than many dismembered bodies. Before him was a carpet of pulped flesh, broken bodies, weapons and armor, and a storm of flies. The buzzing was near deafening and what looked like moon light upon the ocean waters seemed to move upon the field. The optical illusion his mind had created to protect him would have worked, but it was day time in the cloud, and in reality it was no moonlit sea. It was a sea of maggots writhing and devouring with abandon. His innate human curiosity sought to fully comprehend the scene before him, but his instincts pleaded with him not to as revulsion deeper than any he had felt seized him. Even the necromancer queen's destruction was never so disgusting: She sought a world to conquer and a living people to rule, but this Tumam only unleashed nightmares.

It was then that Kanil heard the nightmarish roar of voices the others had heard and zombies began turning the corner of the mead hall at the bottom of the hill and began charging at Kanil. Many sprinted, slipping in gore and maggots, while other disabled zombies crawled, hobbled or rolled towards the waiting man.

Ersi the Warrior, legendary companion and champion of humanity, arrived beside Kanil and looked at the scene below. He gagged "w-what?"
A vicious part of Kanil, planted and nurtured by years of war, woke and commanded the rest of him to go dormant: There was killing to do that was far more important than reckoning the scene before them "I agree. Let's move" he said and began running down the hill to meet the first few enemies reaching him.

Ersi and Kanil began to reap bloody ruin. Ersi was mankind's greatest natural warrior and anywhere his large arms swung then death would follow. Still, even being the best, he could not keep up with Kanil the demigod of mankind. For every enemy Ersi killed; Kanil killed four.

They fought for moments, that in battle feel like hours, but could have been seconds or minutes. Kanil's cold calculated side had difficulty distinguishing the time, but it did feel off: Where are the others, he thought
-------------
"We're not going" One of the dwarves said. Ingish, dwarf though he be, was Kanil's closest friend and he glared at the cohort of his kin "Beardless cowards! Where is your dignity?!"
The dwarf who spoke bristled and said "You've forgotten where your loyalties lie, Ingish! Let the criminal and his rogues go weaken that horde for us! We can swoop in to finish it off when they're dead"
"My loyalties? What a cursed day that the last dwarves alive be oathbreakers who'd abandon the men who were willing to brave hell itself on our behalf! If only you lot had died in the Spry's crusade rather than countless dwarven children who surely would have had more moxy than you!"

The situation was bad. Ersi the priest could tell the dwarves were about to come to very lethal blows. He stood to the side and was considering them: Apo the spearman stood with him clearly disturbed by the whole place and not sure what to do. He scratched his chin and looked towards where he could hear Kanil fighting and back to the dwarves. The priest was not the best fighter and by himself didn't feel he could add much to Kanil's battle. He turned instead to the dwarves "Lordly and lady dwarves! Please, I know this is a very tense moment, I myself am overwhelmed by the pressure of it, but I would care to point out that several dwarves ran after Kanil and are also risking their lives now."

The angry dwarf shot Ersi a glare for interrupting "Ushrir and the rest were mercenaries living in human lands. Barely dwarves to begin with" Ersi wanted to slap his hand against his head, but refrained from reacting in a way to reveal his emotions. He put his hands together and held them up "Well, that is fair and all, but from what I understand you dwarves are on the verge of extinction. I would think any dwarf who dies at this point would be a grievous loss for the whole species."
The angry dwarf was about to retort back, but another of his cohort pulled his arm saying "He has a point"
The entire group of humans and dwarves went quiet wasting moments as battle continued in the distance.
Pictured: Ushrir's shirt affirming her previous loyalty to the humans

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Severed arms, heads, and legs hopped, rolled, and crawled along the disgusting field. Ersi would stab and beat the things, but Kanil would crush them knowing that the magic holding them was thin and easily disrupted. The zombies were tougher than average. Strange bone plates and musculature had grown on them. They could not puncture his, or Ersi's, armor, but they could deal a substantial amount of concussive damage. Then cresting the disgusting field into sight for the two were the fell zombies. These gore covered skeletons had been shaped into nightmarish creatures with necrotically transformed bones and baleful light pouring from their eyes and mouths. Their presence spoke of an intelligence, much like Cor's Cold Hunters, and yet that intelligence was over written by insatiable hate and hunger.

Each was surrounded by a group of zombies and as Kanil swung Cloudfought, he blocked a blow from one, and felt the powerful impact of a fist more powerful than any a human could have. The creature swung again at the same time as the other dead and it was faster than Kanil! Kanil Inchwhip who could famously chase down the lions of the savannah or run with the giant wolves of the swamps was too slow to react to these fists! He had the desperately change tactics as he was sent reeling. Now he began dodging and rolling as he was striking in attempts to throw off these fell zombies with a moving target. It only sort of worked, but the sheer amount of the entire horde pressing on him left few options. He was saved from a vicious mouth biting his leg by a crossbow bolt that flew and landed in the creatures head:

Reinforcements had arrived. Nemo, Ushrir and Zon charged down as the crossbow dwarf reloaded.
"For vengeance!" Shouted Ushrir and Zon
"For Kanil!" Shouted Nemo

Kanil was dimly thankful beneath the haze of adrenaline and survival instincts. Ersi had his leg punched by a fell zombie and the pure concussive force damaged something and forced the man to the ground. Flies, those accursed things, batted the faces of all distracting the living, but not the dead. Ersi swung again and again valiantly as Kanil began to swing wide and wildly to cleave a path to his loyal friend. Before the fell zombie could punch Ersi's head, Kanil had come in and beheaded the beast. Nemo ran past Ersi and formed a protective two man wall with Kanil.

Brutal battle continued for ages as Ersi pulled himself back up and all the warriors: Dwarves, elf and humans formed a wall to meet the horde. Kanil played the most prominent role as he moved up and down the wall to kill the dead that would mass more upon one warrior or another.

Ushrir went down. A zombie punched her and immediately knocked her unconscious. The ravenous horde descended upon her. Countless mouths biting, countless fingers seeking flesh to dig into, and countless fists and feet banging and beating against her.
Kanil had reached her and was swinging his blade as fast as he could! Killing multiple zombies every precious second, but the horde continued. The fell zombie tore Ushrir's arm out of socket with sickening tearing and blood poured from countless injuries.
Zon joined kanil and they swung again and again until every last zombie and fell zombie died and they pushed the wall past Ushrir.
The battle continued, but all were too busy to look back other than Zon who saw that Ushrir had bled to death.
---------
Zon was young. His auburn beard was short for a dwarf and unlike the grizzled veterans like Ingish his eyes still shone with optimistic youth. He had left his homeland to pursue adventure and experiences in human lands during the exodus from the demon war. He just wanted to see the world.
He looked at the sea of maggots devouring his kin and the ones reanimated trying to tear the life from him. Then he looked to dear Ushrir who would soon be claimed by this carrion sea. The only reason, truly the only reason, he was not dead already was because he abandoned his people in their time of need to go live a selfish dream. He didn't want to die, but countless others were while he lived. Yet, still, he did not want to die. He began to cry as the flies batted at his face. He ran, not even knowing where to go, but he ran still deeper into the haunted fort.
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Kanil had not realized he had been abandoned and now only his two dearest companions remain. Zombies were battering Nemo viciously and the elf leaned against the mead hall wall as he continued to fight.
The attempt to save Ushrir had left Kanil exhausted. Sweat covered his whole being and he knew he was reaching the end of his near superhuman stamina. He had slowed his movements to only kill one enemy at a time, or two if a perfect opening presented.

Nemo took a blow to the jaw, but from a weaker zombie. Something snapped in the elf and his perfect face furrowed into a rage. He screamed and began to hack viciously. He broke the impromptu defensive wall and cut his way through zombies, leaving Kanil and Ersi behind. A group of zombies parted behind Nemo as a goblin fell zombie strut towards him. The creature threw one blow and Nemo was stunned and thrown to the ground unable to move. He was surrounded on all sides.
---------------
Zon had run to the fort's storage unwittingly. There he found a dwarf hiding among the boxes. The dwarf was disgusting to behold: Covered in grime, dirt, and gore. His clothes were tattered and he could have easily been confused for the dead if he did not shout in dwarven "Another Survivor!" he cheered
Zon was flabbergasted and having calmed slightly felt deep embarrassment from his running away "Wh- Who are you?!" Zon shouted
The disgusting dwarf laughed a roaring laugh "Doesn't matter. Here nobody has names anymore. I'm just happy I'm not the only one who survived! Where you been hiding all this time?"
"I'm not a survivor. We came to stop the dead"
A gleam entered the survivor's eyes "There's a way out of here then? There's been stragglers guarding the gates for months"
The cowardly part of Zon, mostly dormant, but still aware spoke out "Yes, the gates open do you need an escort? My friends are dealing with the horde"
The dwarf considered for a moment "Escape? A novel idea. Still though..." he rummaged around the storage room and found a copper pick and lifting it high he said "Still, vengeance suits me more, rescuer"
Zon was confused by this dwarf: Was he mad "You aren't a warrior and you aren't armored. I think you should escape while you have a chance to live"
The survivor shook his head and stared at his improvised weapon "I've done nothing, but survive for two months. After watching everyone I know and love die and all I did was survive. Its lost its taste to me, rescuer. I wish for the sweet taste of revenge now." He looked at Zon with desperation "Take me to the battle, please?"
---------------
The crossbow dwarf from earlier had abandoned range, likely seeing his comrades in danger of losing their defense, and advanced he shouted behind "Go! I'll watch this!" and he held the line with Ersi

Kanil ran, stamina almost expended and not even swinging at enemies anymore, but solely focused on getting to Nemo. Apo the spearman crested the hill and ran down to join the beleaguered living fighters.

Kanil reached Nemo as the dead tore at him. The elf even stunned was filled with rage and he bit at any undead who neared his face and tore them apart. Dead zombies filled around his head, but Kanil made it and stood over his friend. He swung again and again. He would run out of energy soon, collapse, and die along with Nemo. Still, he had to try and he swung, punched, kicked and struck with his shield.

The fell zombie bit Nemo's throat intending to tear it out, but Kanil stabbed the beast through the chest breaking its magic and ending its unholy existence. There is no better way to die than for my friends he thought as his arm grew too heavy to lift Cloudfought.

"On your right!" shouted Ersi as he beheaded a fell zombie. The warrior was leading the charge as Apo and the dwarves came running in. Zon had returned with a strange and very disgusting looking dwarf in tow.

Finally, all the allies had arrived and now the zombies were truly routed. Kanil did not fall, but leaned against his blade as Nemo recovered and stood up. Rage still twisted the elf's face, but was tempered "Thank you, my oath brother" He said and charged back into the nightmarish carnage.

The dead were routed and within minutes were all wiped out as Kanil held back to rest. The disgusting dwarf that Zon had found was doing the most damage as he charged past the allies and killed the last of the undead himself. The very last fell zombie was destroyed by the last survivor of the fort.

Combat Logs:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Got others, but imgur got weird on me so I'll edit them in later.