Revenge of the Undead Kings

Eira watches as Frezlor comes in for a landing at the Wingnut Bluffs, and purses her lips as she sees who is on her back. Luna smiles back at her and waves. In that moment, all of the cruel things Luna had said to her before floods back into her mind as she clenches her fists, a single tear falling from her eye.   Kuai notices as she comes up beside her. "Snowy. . . it will be okay," she says gently.   But Eira doesn't hear her as she whips around and starts running. She has no direction or aim, she's just running. As far away as she can. "Snowy!" she can hear Kuai call after her. "Eira!" Luna calls after her. But she doesn't stop. She keeps running.   ***   The woods around you all grows dark. The air around you grows cold. Your breaths come out in wisps of cold vapor. Everything around you is still and quiet.   ***   Straight into the woods line, Eira ruins. Further and further through the trees and growth, tears streaming from her eyes. I can't forgive her. I just can't! she thinks to herself. Deeper into the woods she goes, not even noticing or realizing as the woods around her grows darker and quieter.   ***   The air around you grows colder and colder, as cold breezes start to pick up all around you.   ***   Finally Eira comes to a stop, as she slumps behind a fallen tree, and tears are streaming from her eyes. Then suddenly, she stops, as she looks around her. Strange. I don't hear a single Mystimon. . . Not a single bird or insect or anything. It's all quiet. Too quiet. Her curiosity is piqued as she realizes the fallen tree she's sitting behind is not the only one here. There are dozens of fallen trees, all around her.   Then comes a cold breeze, her hair standing on end. She starts to get up. Something feels. . . wrong here.   ***   Those cold breezes turn into winds, as you are chilled to your bones. You catch a whiff of a pungent aroma in the air.   And then you hear a cold raspy voice echoing all through out the woods, at the same time as Eira hears it from where she is.   "Such a fool he is. Chasing the Guardians, is all he ever does. . . when it is so much easier. . . to let the Guardians. . . come to you instead. . ." says the voice.   ***   Eira starts to back up, as she begins to call on all of the cold air around her, forming huge balls of ice and snow in her hands. The voice cackles. "And what pray tell do you think that will do? . . . the cold doesn't bother me. . . isn't that what you always say?"   "Who are you? Show yourself!" says Eira, defiantly. But her own confidence betrays her as her voice cracks.   The voice cackles. "Look whose spirit is broken. Good. Now the prey is ripe for the taking."   ***   The cold breezes turn into small tornadoes, three of them surrounding Eira, and yet more surrounding you, as bones and debris are seemingly sucked up into the funnels, forming and coalescing into boney skeletal creatures.   Eira flings the ice balls at the approaching skulms. But they seem to only be absorbed by the creatures. She backs away slowly as her eyes go wide and she freezes up. The larger skulm approaching her rears up its huge arm and readies to strike her. She closes her eyes.   ***   More skulms now surround you all. As you look closely you can see that these are different from others you've seen before, such as Coco back at the ranch. These seem to have a layer of rime and frost covering their bones. They approach you. . . as I must ask you all to roll for initiative.   Through out this battle, any Fey characters will be targeted by the Skulms, as they try to capture them.   ***   (After the first round)   Eira's eyes are closed shut as she awaits the strike, knowing the end is coming, knowing her magic will do nothing against these creatures, when all of a sudden a figure leaps afront of her and deflects the attack away. "Hands off my daughter, you son of a bitch!" says a familiar voice.   Eira looks up and her eyes go wide with shock and surprise as she sees her mother standing there between her and the skulms. . . and her eyes are glowing! ". . . Luna?" she says meekly. Luna looks back at her, her eyes glowing a bright violet, with a smile.   "I've got you, Eira," her mother says, as Kuai comes up beside her and holds out a hand to her. She smiles as she takes her hand.   "Alone my magic does nothing to these creatures. . . but maybe if we combine our magic. . ." Eira says to Kuai.   Kuai smiles. "We're a team, Snowy. Always a team." she says.    ***   (After the combat ends)   With the Skulms defeated, Luna turns to Eira, and says, "You fight well. Though you are my daughter. Your father wasn't much of a fighter."   But Eira remains silent as she turns away and leans down to look at the bones.   "Okay, I think I know what this is all about, and why your dragon brought me all the way out here. . ." says Luna, as she takes a deep breath.   "Frezlor isn't my dragon. She's her own free spirit. Whether or not I've imprinted her." says Eira, not looking at her and continuing to examine the bones.   Luna rolls her eyes. "Will you just look at me while I'm trying to apologize to you, Eira?" she says as she approaches her.   But Eira doesn't seem to pay attention to her as she turns to Kuai and motions to something on the bones. But Kuai isn't paying attention to either of them, as she seems to be staring off into space.   "Eira, I know. . . What I said all that time ago. . . it hurt you. It hurt you deeply. And I am sorry. I never should have said what I did. It was wrong, and I was wrong to say it. I will admit, I was surprised in that moment. . . but then not really that surprised, seeing you with her. And at the time I was trying to distance myself from you in order to protect you, to keep you safe. I was working with forces I didn't fully understand, working with a madman no one can understand, and I wanted to keep you away from that. But I was wrong. And I was wrong to say what I did. I am sorry, Eira. From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry." she says. "I don't know if you can ever forgive me or ever will. I am sorry too for all that you went through after, well, everything. No parent should ever put a child through any of that, and I promise I am looking into why you were not able to access the estate. Eira, I love you, from the bottom of my heart. And I do accept you, everything about you. I fully accept Kuai and I will be proud to call her my daughter. As I am of you."    Eira doesn't look at her as she says, "Luna. . . what made you think running for office or trying to abolish those stupid laws would make me forgive you?"   Luna shakes her head. "You thought I was trying to buy your forgiveness? Gods no. I know I have to earn that. But I am your mother, and I will never stop working to give you a better life. But there are more people than just you, Eira, living in Almahna who are afraid to love who they love because of those ridiculous laws rooted in the past. And there are many other things that can stand to change." she says as she approaches. "I am sorry if my running for office gave you the impression I was doing it to buy your forgiveness. I have to earn that. And I am prepared to do that. However long that takes. Even if you never forgive me."    Eira stays silent a long time, as she examines the rime frost on the bones, as she notices something beneath the rime. But just as she starts scraping the rime off with her nail to get a better look, suddenly Kuai grabs her shoulder. "Ow! Kuai?" she screams out.   "We need to leave. We need to leave now. I sense. . . something evil. And ancient." says Kuai.    "The Primal Witch? This is the Primal Wood isn't it? We've been warned to stay out of these woods." says Eira.   "And you just ran right on in here, despite the warnings? What has Crystal been teaching you?" says Luna.   Just as Eira is about to respond, Kuai says, "No time for that. We have to leave. We have to go now! I actually wish it were her. This be worse. . . Much worse." says Kuai, trying to pull Eira along. "Come on. We must go. We must go now! The Dark is here!"   Eira reluctantly gets up and follows her, Luna following closely behind. "Where are we going, Kuai? The treeline is back that way!" says Eira.    But Kuai doesn't answer, as freezing cold winds start gusting all around them. And then they start hearing an evil cackle echoing all around them, and Eira's blood runs cold, as sweat beads start pouring down her face.   Soon, they all crash into the party, as Kuai frantically says, "The dark is here! And I think it wants Snowy! You have to protect her! Please!" she says. Then she turns around toward the forest behind them, and points. "They're here. . ."   The freezing cold winds and snowflakes and ice begin to coalesce in one spot before you, as a tornado forms. An acrid scent permeates the air, like frozen death. You can feel the freezing cold seep beneath your skin, freezing you to the bone, as you instinctively pull your clothing tighter. Bastille's metallic joints feel stiff and cold. Soon, within the tornado, a tall and slender skeletal figure begins to form before you, a tall spiky crown adorning its head, wearing tattered robes blowing in the wind with a wispy appearance, as it stares you down with icy blue eyes.   "That's. . ." Luna says as she steps afront of Kuai and Eira and starts guiding them back. "That's impossible! They're supposed to have been destroyed!"    The figure's lips curl as it cackles. "I can assure you. . . news of our demise has been greatly exaggerated." it says. "How curious. We started with two. Then a third appears. And then you run, leading me to a fourth. Four Guardians all in one place. . . It would appear the fool has been going about things all wrong."   If they point out that there's only Soma, Kuai, and Eira, the figure simply lifts a finger and points to Luna. "The Guardian of Darkness has made themselves known.   "Kuai. . . what is that thing?" whispers Eira.   "An Undead King. . . One of nine liches. Which were supposed to have been destroyed at the Battle of Konaset." says Luna.   "Weakened. Not destroyed. Seven of them remained. One was destroyed, another was redeemed. The others went into hiding. . . Not anymore." says Kuai, quietly.   "Kuai, this one seems far more powerful than even Brazius was. . . I don't think they're so weakened anymore." says Luna. But then she begins grasping at her throat as she starts levitating in the air.   "Never compare me to that idiot Brazius. . ." says the lich, as it flings its wrist, and she goes flying against a tree.   "Mom!" screams Eira.   The lich's eyes fall now upon Eira, as its lips curl in a smile. "Of all of the Guardians before me now. . . you interest me the most." it says.   Eira screams as she unleashes a blizzard of ice and snow directly focused on the creature. But it seems unphased as it cackles wildly. "That tickled!" it says. "The cold doesn't bother me. . . your magic is little more than a nice cool breeze to me."   If the party now decides to attack, the lich says, "Oh goody. You all want to play now? Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to play. Not right now. My skulms will be grabbing their quarry right about. . . now." it looks behind it. "Ah. Yes. Perfect. We will have time enough to play later. I promise." And the lich vanishes in a cold breeze.   Eira runs over to Luna, who lies unconscious on the ground. "Mom! Mom wake up!" she says.