Armies of the undead are so impolite! I mean here I was trying to limp my way to them, and they couldn't even slow their relentless march to wipe out civilization! Damned undead with their not having to sleep, or slow down due to not being alive! I still wasn't even sure how Morley had got this army (at the time I figured he'd screwed me because honestly that's what Morley does), I couldn't even tell if I was going in the right direction (I was, following destruction usually works for chasing armies, yes I've chased armies after this one).
The sun was setting over the ruined plains (in a day of hobbled travel I'd left teh forest where the shorties existed and found my way to what makes up the majority of the Red Hand territory hard scrabble brush lands, that's why its easy to get lost in their territory it all looks the freaking same). The undead army was making it easy for me, as they walked what little vegetation there was died, so I just followed the dead plants and soon enough there they were. The horde had stopped for some reason. I'd been following them all day, but in my pain and hunger (what little food I found at the shorty camp did not look appetitizing) I almost stumbled right into their ranks (this is even worse when you consider I was on a plain with great visibility). The dead were a mixture of the recent (most of the shorty village) and the long dead (basically ambling skeletons), I couldn't tell who was leading them, and oddly enough they were all just standing around. Not talking, not warring or stomping; just standing.
It was really odd. I was so mesmerized I didn't even realize the undead that had snuck on me. It was a recent shorty and his boney companion. The little guy wasn't clothed (nightmare fuel) and the skeleton had the remains of some cloth shirt on his torso, probably what he was buried in. I was made aware of their presence by a sharp pain in my injured ankle (naturally) as the shorty attacked. I didn't suppress my natural desire to kick the little bastard and caused myself more injury (though thankfully with the splint I knocked the shorty into next week, so minor win for a major pain). Bonehead tried to grab my torso, but unfortunately what ever magic enabled him to be alive was not enabling him with unnatural strength (no muscle, no real structure) I was easily able to disarm him (literally in this case) and with a quick sword strike I took his head off, which dead nothing to stop the body but without a head and arms it was kind of bumping up against me. I was set to disable the shorty when I turned around and noticed I was surrounded.
Getting gummed to death was not something I really wanted a part of. Aided by the pain in my ankle (when you're in pain you tap into that nasty primal magic, I believe I've talked about this in the past), I unleashed a fire wave in front of me, I could feel corruption seeping in with stabbing pains, but I'd rather take the chance of madness down the line over death right now. The fire was white hot destroying the undead in front of me and igniting the dead plants all around us, which lead to more of the dried dead igniting. It actually worked too well, soon enough I was engulfed in smoke and flames and could not make out a way for the life of me. I did see that whatever magic had brought the dead to life could not prevent them from being destroyed by my fire.
I was about to give up hope (something I do frequently) when Morley's necro steed appeared riderless. Not wanting to ignore this gift of fate I mounted fast (at great pain to my wounded ankle) and got the hell out of dodge, or I should say I let the horse get me out of there. The smoke had overwhelmed my lungs and stung my eyes, I did my best to hold on as the horse lead me out of there. I can't say how fast or how far he moved, I was only half paying attention when I looked around and could only see the faintest hints of fire in the distance. The horse stopped and tossed me off with a quick start. I hit the ground with a thud and pain surged up my ankle.
"Thanks a lot you stupid dick." Horses don't understand speech (I think?), but I tried to make my tone of voice explain my displeasure.
"You're welcome Trezlan next time I'll just leave you to your own stupidity." That was Morley, of course it was Morley, it was his horse after all. What did he want? How did he resurrect an army? Well that will be tomorrow, I've got some nasty business to attend to today and I'd rather not be in a fouler mood than I already am!
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