Narg and the Necromancer

Wall

Three figures tramped through the snow. The wind had died down somewhat and white blanketed everything, muffling sound and limiting vision.

They had been walking most of the morning when it appeared. A shimmering wall in the air extending as far as the eye could see in either direction. The three adventurers moved closer slowly.

Beyond the haze lay a land which, whilst seeming to match the contours of the one they were traversing, was a very different place. Instead of snow laden trees, scorched earth stretched out to the horizon. Some sort of pale lake could be seen in the distance, waves moving in strange patterns, but otherwise it appeared to be a barren wasteland.

“It’s some sort of barrier,” said Shogun, reaching out to touch the shimmering air. The wall rippled as he poked his finger into it. He pushed it in up to his knuckle before it resisted and slowly forced his finger back out.

“I assume this is what we must use the Black Stone Key to pass,” said Gorgus. He gestured at the land beyond the wall. “That must be the Dead-lands, or whatever the elf called it.”

Narg glanced about and spied something slumped against a tree, right up against the invisible wall. He looked closer and saw it was a figure.

He motioned to the others, and they approached to see a young man wrapped in a cloak and dressed in militia clothing. Gorgus knelt down next to him and then looked up in surprise. “He still lives, though barely. Barely indeed.”

Gorgus knelt down next to the man and examined him. “He’s close to death,” he said. “Still, maybe…” Muttering a spell, he held his hands over the body.

At first there was no change, but then the figure stirred slightly. Opening his eyes he saw the group kneeling around him and tried to speak. “Un,” he gasped. “Eye in Un. West.” Then he slumped back, his energy spent in this one last effort.

“Dead,” said Gorgus after a moment.

”Well, glad he waited till we arrived,” said Shogun. “What did he say?”

Narg frowned. “Something about ‘Un’ being west, and I guess one of the Eyes of God being there. This could be one of Ezal’s daughters’ party.”

Gorgus, who had been praying over the body, finished his ritual and stood up. “Do you think they have gone west then? To Un?”

Narg nodded. “Could be.”

The body at their feet lay still, cooling rapidly in the falling snow.

                                                                                              ~*~

Narg looked at the magical wall and with the shimmering wastelands beyond. He turned west then, and looked at a small path wandering off through the snow covered trees. He rubbed his nose. “You know why I became an adventurer?” he said.

“To kill things?” said Shogun.

“Wealth and fame?” Gorgus.

“To see the world. To travel and meet strange creatures.”

“I would have thought a castle full of Bobs would be enough strange creatures for anyone,” mumbled Shogun.

“They were creatures alright, but deformed and twisted. When I was young I always heard of dragons and wondrous beasts. Do you know in all my travels I’ve never met a dragon? Or any of those wondrous beasts? Lot’s of very dangerous, gruesome ones though. Perhaps my definition of ‘wondrous’ is all wrong.” He turned to the Wizard and the Cleric.

“We’re going to Un aren’t we?” said Shogun.

Narg smiled and started walking west. Then he stopped and looked back. “Actually to kill things and wealth and fame too.” He turned again and moved off into the snowstorm. Gorgus and Shogun grinned to each other and followed him.

                                                                                              ~*~

The path twisted into the forest, which soon changed in nature. The stunted pines were replaced by trees of a far grander size and posture, looming high over the adventurer’s path and giving a welcome respite from the force of the winter weather.

Narg, Shogun and Gorgus picked their way through the undergrowth, following a weak trail that sometimes faded out altogether.

“What do you know of Un?” Narg asked Gorgus. “You said it was a mythical city, didn’t exist.”

“I’ve yet to meet a person who’s been there, though many have tales of meeting others who have. Yet when you press them, details are never forthcoming. My friends’ uncles’ sister and so on.”

“So what are the rumours?”

Gorgus stepped over a log that lay in his path. “It’s supposed to be a place where creatures of all kinds live together, using rare and powerful magics. The buildings are all majestic, and poverty is unknown.”

“No wonder people don’t believe in it,” said Shogun.

Narg grunted and looked up through the trees. “Storm seems to be weakening at least.”

“How far is this place anyway?” asked Shogun. “I have to walk twice as far as you lot remember.”

“I have no idea as to the distance,” replied Gorgus. “All I can remember I’ve told you already.”

They walked on in silence for a while. The snow continued to lessen and by afternoon glimpses of sun could be seen through the leafy canopy.

“How did you become a hero… an adventurer anyway Narg?” asked Shogun eventually.

Narg pursed his lips and looked to a distant past, lost in the Other Country for a moment. Shogun wondered if he was going to answer, and was about to repeat his question when Narg spoke.

“It was a long time ago Shorty. I was a soldier, a good one. I had signed onto the armies of the Coalition forces fighting the Red Emperor, back when he ruled most of the lands. By luck my squad happened to be in the right place at the right time and we managed to secure a major victory. I was hailed as the hero of Under-hall.”

“And that made you the hero? What about the rest of your squad?”

Narg smiled an unfathomable smile. “I was the only one left wizard. Yes, they hailed me as a hero.” Narg shrugged, “who’s to say they were wrong?”

“So you struck off on your own?” asked Gorgus.

“When the battle was over and the Emperor was defeated, I was a warrior without a war. The land was tired of fighting after so many years of blood-letting. So I bought myself some equipment with some money I er, found and headed off in search of treasure, fame and women, though they came in a different order.”

“Just like that eh?” said Shogun. “Maybe I should do the same, set off and become a hero. Sounds easy.”

Narg shook his head, partly to himself. “I was lucky wizard. I was young and cocky, full of myself because I’d survived a war. My first adventure taught me some lessons about that. I learned from them, which is why I’m alive now. That and this annoying sword.” He indicated his weapon. “Bloodletter was one of the two things I came away with from that castle. At the time I was mad as hell, but now I consider it as one of my greatest triumphs.”

“Because you found your magical sword?”

“Because I was young and stupid, yet I managed to walk away alive.”

“So tell us more of this castle. Who lived there? Some dark lord?”

Narg grinned. “You would never believe me Wizard. I will tell you about it sometime, but not now.”

“Why not now?”

Narg stopped and pointed. Ahead of them, scattered in a strategic semi-circle were a small group of figures with long bows drawn and aimed at the party.