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The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3877293" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>They do spawn, but Tiros has fought enough undead lately that you can bet he'll make sure that the victims are all burned before he leaves the camp. </p><p></p><p>An army of famine spirits would basically be the end for Camar. Thought it might make an interesting twist for the story. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> </p><p></p><p> </p><p>Good insights. I've tried to have my characters grow without it being just, "Oh, they were bad guys, now they're good." Besides, bad can be more fun to write. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> As for the two faiths, I think the difference between them falls more on the Law-Chaos arc than Good-Evil. Some of your questions are developed more later in the story.</p><p></p><p>And thanks, Ximix, for the words of praise. </p><p></p><p>The rest of the week is pretty much carnage at the old mill.</p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 289</p><p></p><p>THE SIEGE</p><p></p><p></p><p>A <em>fireball</em> blossomed over the rutted path, a brilliant if short-lived blaze that lit up the weak morning. Ghouls screamed as the flames burned their oily gray hides, but the creatures were infused with the dread potency of their demon god, and they kept on coming despite the terrible burns that covered their bodies. </p><p></p><p>The ghoul horde surged forward, and withstood more attacks as they closed with the lonely millhouse on the edge of the stream. Another <em>fireball</em> exploded in the midst of the horde, and then a <em>flame strike</em> descended from above, slamming down into a dense knot of the creatures. Nelan’s evocation incinerated a dozen of the creatures, but they kept on coming, heedless of their losses. </p><p></p><p>Arrows knifed hard into ghouls, the shafts piercing their rubbery hides, the holy missiles wreaking terrible damage with each hit. Even at the long range, Dar could hardly miss; the ghouls were packed together in a mass that extended from the edge of the woods to the bank of the stream. There were hundreds of them, and more were still coming from the direction of the village. </p><p></p><p>A third <em>fireball</em> exploded in the van of the ghoul charge, and now some of the ghouls were going down, twice or thrice-burned, or with Dar’s arrows jutting from their bodies. But each casualty seemed trivial against the sheer numbers of undead present. They started shrieking eagerly as they closed upon the mill, closing the range rapidly, too fast to stop. </p><p></p><p>Until Allera raised her hands, and invoked a protective ward over the entire mill. </p><p></p><p>The overwhelming majority of the ghoul force stopped as if they’d struck a stone wall. Screaming in frustration, they clawed at the invisible barrier that held them at bay, ninety feet from where Allera stood, a look of calm control on her face. Many started pouring to the sides, seeking a way around the <em>repulsion</em> spell. </p><p></p><p>But about one in every eight ghouls, driven by bloodlust or hatred or the sheer potency of the force that had animated them, were able to crash through Allera’s barrier, and their cries became jeers of triumph as they surged forward. There were only a few, at first, but even in that initial surge at least fifteen made it through, and they rushed as one at the woman whose blessed power kept their peers at bay. </p><p></p><p>The stone wall barely slowed them. The first three sprang over it easily, but a fourth clipped a leg on the top of the wall and pitched forward, collapsing in a heap on the far side. That did not dissuade the others, and even those that did not clear the wall in their first attempt recovered quickly, clambering over it in mere seconds. </p><p></p><p>Dar dropped his bow and slid <em>Valor</em> out of its scabbard, stepping back into the middle of the small courtyard to meet the ghoul charge. The first ghoul he cut from shoulder to hip, severing its body in twain. Even as the sundered pieces collapsed into the dirt he spun to block the next two. Claws tore at his breastplate, failing to find purchase. <em>Valor</em> cut once, twice, and then both ghouls were down, one missing its head, the other sliced open like an overripe melon. Dar extended <em>Valor</em>, cutting down another ghoul that tried to rush past him to get to Allera. </p><p></p><p>And then he was hit by a surge of a dozen ghouls, tearing and biting in a deadly gray wave. Dar gave ground before their assault, but each step was bought with cloven flesh and sundered limbs. Several claws tore his flesh, but he resisted the cloying touch of paralysis that threatened to undo him, summoning every last bit of the fortitude that drove him. He knew that if he faltered, even for an instant, the creatures would tear him apart. And if they got through him, Allera and the others would be slain in an instant. </p><p></p><p>But even as the thought formed in his mind, Allera unleashed another <em>mass cure</em> spell. Ghouls collapsed in bright flares of blue energy all around him, and those that did not made quick work for <em>Valor</em>. But Dar looked up to see more surging over the wall, another two dozen, at least. Beyond them hundreds more had already gathered at the invisible edge of Allera’s <em>repulsion</em> barrier, temporarily held at bay. A flash of lightning from the window above slashed down into the mass of ghouls, incinerating a dozen, but Letellia’s spell did little to diminish the total number of foes. </p><p></p><p>“Fall back, inside!” Dar yelled, not turning as he slowly gave ground before the new rush of ghouls. Ghouls rushed the fighter and died, but there were more behind them. One sprang up at his face, its jaws slavering as it sought his throat. Dar thrust it away, and again he had to muster his strength to fight off the paralyzing effects of its touch. There was no time to finish it; four or five others were already coming at him from his flanks, trying to get a hold on him. </p><p></p><p>Something subtle drew his attention, even over the chaos of the surging melee and the cries of the hundreds of ghouls at the edge of Allera’s barrier. He glanced up, and instantly recognized what had alerted his instincts. It was far back still, but it dominated over the ghouls like an oak tree in the middle of a field of weeds.</p><p></p><p>The deathbringer had arrived. </p><p></p><p>For a moment, the eyeless creature met his stare, and Dar felt something cold press at his vitals. And then the <em>repulsion</em> field collapsed, and the ghouls rushed forward as one, screaming in their eagerness to rend warm flesh.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 3877293, member: 143"] They do spawn, but Tiros has fought enough undead lately that you can bet he'll make sure that the victims are all burned before he leaves the camp. An army of famine spirits would basically be the end for Camar. Thought it might make an interesting twist for the story. ;) Good insights. I've tried to have my characters grow without it being just, "Oh, they were bad guys, now they're good." Besides, bad can be more fun to write. ;) As for the two faiths, I think the difference between them falls more on the Law-Chaos arc than Good-Evil. Some of your questions are developed more later in the story. And thanks, Ximix, for the words of praise. The rest of the week is pretty much carnage at the old mill. * * * * * Chapter 289 THE SIEGE A [i]fireball[/i] blossomed over the rutted path, a brilliant if short-lived blaze that lit up the weak morning. Ghouls screamed as the flames burned their oily gray hides, but the creatures were infused with the dread potency of their demon god, and they kept on coming despite the terrible burns that covered their bodies. The ghoul horde surged forward, and withstood more attacks as they closed with the lonely millhouse on the edge of the stream. Another [i]fireball[/i] exploded in the midst of the horde, and then a [i]flame strike[/i] descended from above, slamming down into a dense knot of the creatures. Nelan’s evocation incinerated a dozen of the creatures, but they kept on coming, heedless of their losses. Arrows knifed hard into ghouls, the shafts piercing their rubbery hides, the holy missiles wreaking terrible damage with each hit. Even at the long range, Dar could hardly miss; the ghouls were packed together in a mass that extended from the edge of the woods to the bank of the stream. There were hundreds of them, and more were still coming from the direction of the village. A third [i]fireball[/i] exploded in the van of the ghoul charge, and now some of the ghouls were going down, twice or thrice-burned, or with Dar’s arrows jutting from their bodies. But each casualty seemed trivial against the sheer numbers of undead present. They started shrieking eagerly as they closed upon the mill, closing the range rapidly, too fast to stop. Until Allera raised her hands, and invoked a protective ward over the entire mill. The overwhelming majority of the ghoul force stopped as if they’d struck a stone wall. Screaming in frustration, they clawed at the invisible barrier that held them at bay, ninety feet from where Allera stood, a look of calm control on her face. Many started pouring to the sides, seeking a way around the [i]repulsion[/i] spell. But about one in every eight ghouls, driven by bloodlust or hatred or the sheer potency of the force that had animated them, were able to crash through Allera’s barrier, and their cries became jeers of triumph as they surged forward. There were only a few, at first, but even in that initial surge at least fifteen made it through, and they rushed as one at the woman whose blessed power kept their peers at bay. The stone wall barely slowed them. The first three sprang over it easily, but a fourth clipped a leg on the top of the wall and pitched forward, collapsing in a heap on the far side. That did not dissuade the others, and even those that did not clear the wall in their first attempt recovered quickly, clambering over it in mere seconds. Dar dropped his bow and slid [i]Valor[/i] out of its scabbard, stepping back into the middle of the small courtyard to meet the ghoul charge. The first ghoul he cut from shoulder to hip, severing its body in twain. Even as the sundered pieces collapsed into the dirt he spun to block the next two. Claws tore at his breastplate, failing to find purchase. [i]Valor[/i] cut once, twice, and then both ghouls were down, one missing its head, the other sliced open like an overripe melon. Dar extended [i]Valor[/i], cutting down another ghoul that tried to rush past him to get to Allera. And then he was hit by a surge of a dozen ghouls, tearing and biting in a deadly gray wave. Dar gave ground before their assault, but each step was bought with cloven flesh and sundered limbs. Several claws tore his flesh, but he resisted the cloying touch of paralysis that threatened to undo him, summoning every last bit of the fortitude that drove him. He knew that if he faltered, even for an instant, the creatures would tear him apart. And if they got through him, Allera and the others would be slain in an instant. But even as the thought formed in his mind, Allera unleashed another [i]mass cure[/i] spell. Ghouls collapsed in bright flares of blue energy all around him, and those that did not made quick work for [i]Valor[/i]. But Dar looked up to see more surging over the wall, another two dozen, at least. Beyond them hundreds more had already gathered at the invisible edge of Allera’s [i]repulsion[/i] barrier, temporarily held at bay. A flash of lightning from the window above slashed down into the mass of ghouls, incinerating a dozen, but Letellia’s spell did little to diminish the total number of foes. “Fall back, inside!” Dar yelled, not turning as he slowly gave ground before the new rush of ghouls. Ghouls rushed the fighter and died, but there were more behind them. One sprang up at his face, its jaws slavering as it sought his throat. Dar thrust it away, and again he had to muster his strength to fight off the paralyzing effects of its touch. There was no time to finish it; four or five others were already coming at him from his flanks, trying to get a hold on him. Something subtle drew his attention, even over the chaos of the surging melee and the cries of the hundreds of ghouls at the edge of Allera’s barrier. He glanced up, and instantly recognized what had alerted his instincts. It was far back still, but it dominated over the ghouls like an oak tree in the middle of a field of weeds. The deathbringer had arrived. For a moment, the eyeless creature met his stare, and Dar felt something cold press at his vitals. And then the [i]repulsion[/i] field collapsed, and the ghouls rushed forward as one, screaming in their eagerness to rend warm flesh. [/QUOTE]
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