Narg and the Necromancer

King Bob.

“What is it? What’s going on?” gasped Shogun. “Why have you stopped? Did you see a way out?”

“It doesn’t matter now,” said Narg, putting a comradely arm around Shogun. “Did I ever tell you how brave you were? What a great little guy you are!”

“What’s got into him?” asked Gorgus joining them. “I don’t know what was in that box, but the doctor and his friends have all stopped.”

Shogun looked back. It was true. Doctor black and twisted seemed to be having a group hug with is staff.

“Come over here big guy,” said Narg. “You’re a great pair of friends you know. Couldn’t ask for more loyal buddies…” tears welled up in his eyes. “My pals!”

“It’s sent him mental, whatever it was,” said Shogun, trying to get away from Narg’s hugs. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

The two of them dragged Narg along as fast as they were able until they stumbled upon a large door set back in a dark corridor. It had the same design as the one they came in by. Leaving Shogun to console the now weeping Narg, who was babbling something about love making all beings equal, Gorgus struggled with the lock until he managed to get it open.

They staggered out and slammed and locked it behind them, dropping Narg onto the floor.

Shogun leaned against the door and sighed. “Man, the patients have taken over the asylum.”

“Help me with Narg, over here…” Gorgus dragged Narg to a corner of the small room they had landed in and the three settled down to rest.

                                                                                             ~ * ~

It was later. The adventurers were once again creeping through the castles musty rooms and hallways.

“So,” said Shogun innocently to Narg. “Tell me again what great buddies we are, and how you love us all.”

Narg scowled. “Piss off short-arse. And if you ever mention that again I will hack your head off and urinate down the hole.”

Shogun chuckled and then cut off short. “Ahead,” he said simply.

Blocking the corridor they had been travelling along was a huge figure. He was vaguely human in shape, but his body was bloated and his legs and arms were swollen to match. His face though, his face was of a Bob. He was squashed into the corridor, barely able to move.

“You Narg. You come,” it said simply and turned, with some difficulty, back up the corridor.

“Let’s go and see number one shall we?” said Narg, and followed.

The Fat-Bob led them to a larger hallway, where it could move more freely. This led up to a pair of massive double doors, being guarded by two more of the monsters. Fat-Bob number one led them through and into an enormous hall. Obviously they had reached the ballroom.

Bobs of various denominations sat around. Most were Fat-Bobs, but Narg saw spider-Bobs, worm-Bobs and others they hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting yet. In the centre of it all was a massive couch, and lying on that, dressed in what looked like a red curtain, was the gigantic form of King Bob.

He had a small crown on his pointy head and a large sceptre in one ringed hand. Otherwise not much covered his layers of fat.

Narg and his companions approached.

“So, you are Narg are you?” boomed the King. “I am informed we may be able to help each other, is that true?”

“It depends what you want,” said Narg, folding his hands.

“Our God is imprisoned by the one called Herkus. With him in the lich’s power, he has an unwanted hold over us Bobs. We want you to free our God. That is all. Simple.”

“If it is so simple why don’t you do it yourself?” asked Narg.

“Do you think we haven’t tried? We are unable to break through the barrier around the lich’s kingdom. The wards are simply too strong. You are on a quest for him though, you he will let through. In return for doing this we will provide you with a means for getting past the Devil in the tower, and a way out of the castle later.” King Bob paused and looked at them. “What do you say?”

Narg looked at the other two. Shogun shrugged. “Why not? Seems on the level to me.”

Gorgus frowned. “I don’t trust them. What happens when we free their god? And how will we convince the lich to do that anyway?”

“On the other hand, if what they say is true, then the Devil is going to be a problem” mused Narg. He scratched his chin for a moment and thought about it. “I don’t see we have much choice,” he said eventually. He turned back to King Bob. “I agree, assuming you can assist us, and we survive of course.”

King Bob nodded, or it could just have been his fat wobbling. In any case a Spider-Bob approached them and handed Narg a small necklace.

“This necklace will render you undetectable to the Devil in the Tower, and nullify his magics against you. It won’t protect you from his minions though, and it will only work on the wearer.”

“And how many minions does he have in the tower?” asked Shogun.

King Bob shrugged, an action that took a while to stop. “We know little about inside of the tower itself, though there are demons between here and there, there numbers are not great. We can attack them in a nearby sector to distract them as well. We haven’t pushed them very hard lately anyway.”

Narg looped the necklace over his head. “Better get this show on the road then.”

                                                                                             ~ * ~

Narg, Gorgus and Shogun ran forward though corridors in the silent, hunched over kind of way that people do when running through enemy territory. The Bobs, true to their word, had launched an attack, and the demons had responded by rushing to the battle. From the sounds that rang through the castle hallways it was a humdinger of a fight.

They reached the tower without incident, and started to climb the spiral stairway as quietly as they could. Halfway up there was a screech, and a winged, bat-like form launched itself at Narg from above. Narg raised Bloodletter and the creature skewered itself upon the sword in its eagerness to attack. Demon blood rained down on Narg as he twisted the blade and brought the beast down onto the steps. A quick s***h to the neck and it was silenced.

“Thus one more spawn of hell meets its end,” muttered Gorgus as they stepped over the carcass, leaving a trail of black blood footsteps behind.

They slowed as they reached the top of the tower. Narg signalled for Shogun and Gorgus to remain where they were and guard the stairway, then proceeded up the final stretch alone.

The stairs ended in an open doorway. A red glow came from beyond. Narg crept up to it and peered around carefully. The room was large and circular. In the centre was a huge throne. Sat on this throne, brimstone and evil emanating from every pore, was the Lord of Hell. Narg certainly wouldn’t have gone up against this creature without the necklace, and even with it he hesitated.

King Bob had not lied. This thing was a major league player. The skin was red, throbbing and swirling as if made from the magma that has surely spawned it. Its eyes were glowing holes which seemed to pierce through the very walls. Hands the size of a man’s head ended in dark and wicked looking claws. Two giant bat wings rose up behind him, and a sword as tall as Narg rested at his side. Narg was not sure what the beast would need it for though, he looked more than capable of mangling anything without any aid.

“Okay, this is it.” Narg said quietly to himself, trying to muster up the courage to go in. The Devil’s throne was facing the doorway, so there was no way he would get in undetected if the necklace didn’t work as advertised. Indeed, the necklace must be working already, or he would have been spotted when he peered around. Sheathing his sword, it would be no use here, he stepped forward into the room.

The Devils’ breath was loud and rasping, filling the room up with the heat and smell of hell. Narg could barely hear it over the beating of his heart. Keeping close to the wall he slid around the room. The Devil didn’t move.

Somewhat reassured by the lack of response he stepped up the pace a bit, eyes scanning the area as he did so. There! A single table. It could only be there. Stepping towards it he reached out…

…and flew across the room as an enormous red hand smashed him in the side. “What do you think you are doing mortal?” Images of hell flashed across Narg’s mind as the words arrived straight into his brain.

He slid down the wall he had hit and gasped. Only his chainmail shirt had prevented his ribs being crushed. The floor shook as the devil strode over to him and picked him up as if he were no more than a bug.

“I admire your courage! No one has ever dared show their face in here, let alone tried to sneak past me! What bold faced impertinence. I am almost amused! Still, I cannot allow you to live.”

Narg was flung head over heels high into the air to land on the very desk he’d been trying to reach. There was a huge crash as he smashed the thing into firewood. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something rolling away…

A shadow loomed over him. The Devil raised a fist and prepared to smash Narg into jelly.

“Wait! Wait! I have an idea,” gasped Narg, desperately dragging himself up off the floor and wiping blood off his face. “Spare me, and I will aid you.”

“You aid me? How could you aid me?”

“Listen to me and we can both profit, I vow!” Narg pulled himself up to a standing position and looked the Devil in the eye, though the effort and pain nearly killed him.

“You want to make a deal with me?” The giant form tapped a claw on his chin for a moment. There was a low rumble that could have been laughter. “Go on then, I’m listening.”

“Okay” said Narg, trying not to fall over. “Here’s what I propose…”