Narg and the Necromancer

Lich God

“YOU DID WHAT?” said Gorgus, eyes wide.

“I made a deal.”

“You made a deal with the Devil???” Gorgus almost fell over.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t sign in blood or anything, but I did manage to get out of there, which should make you happy. I know I never expected to. Which reminds me, I need to have a serious talk to King Bob about his magical concealment device once we finish this.” He turned to Shogun and showed him a ring. “…but first I need you to do something for me Wizard…”

                                                                                           ~ * ~

Herkus was sitting on his throne, as he had for nearly longer than he could remember. There was a noise. Someone was approaching.

The figure of the adventurers appeared on the stairwell. Herkus felt anger beginning to rise.

“What do you want? I told you I would only give you…” He stopped. Narg was holding out the ring. The Ring!! Could it be? After all this time? Yes! Yes, he could feel the power in the room. He reached out with his bony hand.

Narg drew back.

“Give it to me! It is miiiine!” He nearly fell apart with eagerness.

“First, I want to see the Stone Key,” said Narg. “And should we do any business again, which will not be likely, I will want a more detailed explanation of what we are up against. This,” he brandished the ring, “wasn’t easy to acquire, let me tell you!”

“Yes yes, here we are.” Herkus produced a small black stone from somewhere and thrust it into Narg’s hand. Narg handed it to Shogun who nodded.

Narg passed the lich the ring and stood back.

“Yeeeessss! After all these years! It’s mine!” Herkus turned to Narg. “Foolish mortal! You think I summoned the Devil by accident? No! I summoned it to do my bidding! It escaped me, but with this ring I will be able to command it, to control it.”

“You lied to us!” cried Shogun, backing away.

Herkus gloated. “Of course,” he said. “With a Lord of Hell under my command no one shall stop me! I shall be unbeatable!” He pointed at Narg. “And it’s all thanks to you! Maybe I shall let you live afterwards, shackled and broken of course.” He laughed a hollow laugh. “It’s time!”

With a gesture the he dispelled the wards around his frozen domain and slipped the ring on a bony finger. “Come then my summoning! Come and do my bidding!”

A red glow appeared in the centre of the room, and the smell of brimstone pervaded the chamber. Slowly, as the Lich stood grinning in triumph, the devil appeared…

                                                                                           ~ * ~

Narg backed up against the wall as the red shape expanded, filling the room with an evil presence, until finally the Devil stood complete before Herkus, who was holding his hands up and chanting.

“Bow before me Hell spawn,” the lich commanded. “Bow before your true master. I hold the power and I hold the Ring of Command! You shall serve me for eternity!”

The Devil stepped forward and reached out to enfold Herkus with a giant hand.

“Stop! I command you! You cannot resist! Nooooo! What is happening? Narg! Help me!”

Narg stepped forward slightly, though he was careful not to get too close. “Sorry, can’t really oblige there. Don’t feel like it anyway.”

“What’s happening?” Herkus’s voice was faint as the Lich and the Devil started to fade.

“Well, I am not really a trusting sort you see,” said Narg leaning against the wall. “I thought you may betray us, so I had Shorty here put glamour on a normal ring. I have the real one here,” he held up the piece of jewellery. “You should always check the goods before use. Your big red friend there is really pissed at you, keeping him locked up here for so long. I feel he may have a few issues to discuss…”

“Noooooooooooo”… The Lich’s voice faded as the Devil took both of them to another, less comfortable place.

The room was suddenly silent and cold.

Narg clapped his hands together. “A job well done I feel,” he said. “Now then, what about this Bob god?”

They explored the area, pocketing a few items that could prove useful or valuable or both, and soon found the figure floating in his tank.

“Well, look who we have here,” said Shogun. If isn’t the god of the Bobs. Must admit, he doesn’t look that almighty.” He tapped on the glass and then stepped back as the flayed figure jerked in response.

“What shall we do with him Narg?” asked Gorgus. “I can’t see him living long if we take him out of this tank, but we promised the Bobs we would free him.”

“We could leave him where he is I suppose.” Narg stepped up to the jar and examined the figure.

“I may be able to use some of the lich’s magics to revive him” said Shogun, looking through some of the equipment. “May take a while though.”

Narg scratched his chin. “I think we’ll let our friends decide,” he said. It’s their god after all.”

                                                                                           ~ * ~

King Bob stood, or rather sprawled, in-front of his captive deity. The four spider-Bobs carrying his enormous sedan chair grunted under the strain.

“Marvellous job! Simply wonderful! We applaud your valour in this escapade! You have finally given us the means to escape!”

Narg merely grunted in response, busy counting the gold the king had awarded him on the news of Herkus’s demise.

King Bob hauled his fat a*s off the chair and approached the captive being. Knocking on the tank he spoke directly to his god. “You have caused us pain for the last time!” he cried. With this, he raised his sceptre and smashed the glass.

Life supporting fluids poured out of the shattered container, soaking the Bobs and splashing the three adventurers, who skipped back to escape the outpour.

“What?” asked Shogun, perplexed.

Narg shrugged, as puzzled as Shogun.

The Bob god’s form, deprived of his vital fluids, convulsed and spasmed, shaking wires and tubes loose in the process. As the last of the liquid drained from the tank he let out a long rasping sigh, twitched one last time, and fell still.

“It is done. We are free!” King Bob said, and stood back. “The thanks of all Bobs go with you Narg.” As he spoke his skin began to pale. “We are finally free from the misery of our existence…”

His skin began to turn grey. At the same time the Bobs around them began to shake and shudder, a black shadow sweeping over them.

King Bob’s now dark skin began to peel back and flake off, exposing a twisted skull which, in turn, began to crumble away.

The process continued as the three adventurers looked on. Before long they were alone in a room surrounded by piles of dust. They looked at each other.

Shogun shrugged. “I guess they never wanted to exist in the first place, this was their way out.”

Narg stooped and retrieved King Bobs sceptre, giving it the once over with a professional eye. “Mmm, not even real gold.” He threw it back among the pile of dust and turned to the other two. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to leave this place.”

They nodded in agreement, and picked their way out of the tower, making their way back through the now melting salad box and the door they first came through. Down they went into the entrance hall and back out into the courtyard. The portcullis was now raised, as Bob had promised it would be, and they marched confidently out over the drawbridge into a fine winter morning.

Once safely over they stopped and looked back. The castle still loomed, and Narg had the strange feeling it was waiting. Gorgus and Shogun started to move off west again, but Narg raised his hand. “Wait a minute. There is something I promised I would do first.” He paused and took out the Ring of Control from his pouch. He drew it back to throw it in to the moat, but stopped for a moment and held it in his fingers, examining it thoughtfully. “You know, this ring can control powerful devils…”

“Throw it in!” shouted Gorgus and Shogun together.

Narg threw it in.