Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Swan Tower, The Palace, City of Yeledor
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Magister Rebus bit his fingernails. It was a bad habit that surfaced whenever he was stressed. And there was plenty that made him stressful.
Despite his infinite faith in Girn, there was doubt nibbling at his mind. He had sent the barbarian off on his own, into an undead-infested place, and Lady Madison had brought news that his long-time friend could be in grave danger. He had been indecisive with fear at that moment. That had never happened before. Was it the old age? Luckily, Lady Madison had taken the reins and sat now crosslegged before him in some sort of meditative stance. How that would help Girn's possibly dire situation, Rebus was not sure. But he had to trust her.
Glancing at the buxom brunette with draconic horns, he felt a pang of melancholy. There was once a time he partook in ample of fun with countless ladies. Stunning women of all shapes and sizes had been intimate with him. But the one before him was unlike any of those in past times. Lady Madison was unique not only in her bloodline, but more so in that she practised draconic sorcery, an ancient form of magic thought extinct.
While there was once a time he would visit a pristine lady like Madison for carnal activities, he had long entered a new stage in his life and would rather seek Lady Madison Drac's companionship to learn about her well-kept secret of practising draconic sorcery.
But for now, all Rebus could do was wait and twist his thoughts away from Lady Madison's captivating body.
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Harrow Keep, Kyns Wood, West of Yeledor
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The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the ancient, crumbling stones of Harrow Keep. Once a bastion of noble knights, it now lay in ruin, a twisted haven for the undead. The air was thick with the stench of decay and the faint whispers of long-forgotten souls. It was through this forsaken place that a barbarian, three female warriors, and a spiritual apparition ventured, their goal set upon the highest room in the highest tower.
The hulkingbarbarian with tribal tattoos across his body led the group. His broad shoulders and rippling muscles spoke of countless battles fought and won. Though his appearance was intimidating, his sharp eyes and quick mind made him a warrior without equal. The ladies liked his rough yet handsome look.
Girn smiled at his luck from being bound by magical shackles to having four allies at his side. He considered the four women: Lady Helen, a lithe and agile wood elf; Lady Maeve, a fierce and fearless dark elf; Eden, a powerful sorceress formerly working for the necromancer Voxir Doomweaver and mind-controlling the two elves into obedience; and Lady Madison, a stunning beauty in spirit form. All of them were a great addition to their group with unique talents.
Realistically, the odds were still stacked against them, but Girn was more positive on the outcome then he had been when he awoke in the dungeon. The appearance of Lady Madison had contributed greatly to this. Surely she had to be a powerful arcane practitioner to appear the way she had. She had explained the how but Girn had already forgotten most of it, only remembering something about his cum on her tits and then some magical tinkering.
"Remember," Girn whispered, his voice low and steady, "we move quickly and quietly. Eden, you're sure Voxir keeps my weapon at his side?"
"Yes, he wouldn't part with it once he got his hands on it," the goth beauty responded. Her dark clothes made her blend well with the surroundings. If she would tighten her blouse further and cover her cleavage, she would be practically invisible when looked at from afar. Not that it mattered, he thought, glancing at the shining form of Lady Madison.
"Okay, then we'll focus on getting that axe in my hands and move from there," Girn instructed.
The women nodded, each understanding the gravity of their mission. They sneaked through the keep, moving like shadows against the cold, dark stone. Then, Eden commanded Lady Maeve to take point, the dark elf's keen eyes and nimble fingers disarming traps that Eden pointed out. The corridors were dark and silent, save for the occasional shuffle of undead feet echoing in the distance.
As they navigated the labyrinthine corridors, they encountered their first real challenge: a grand hall teeming with skeletal warriors. Girn signaled for the group to halt. "We'll need a distraction," he murmured, his gaze shifting to Eden and Madison.
With a nod, Eden stepped forward, her hands weaving an intricate pattern in the air. A faint, ethereal light began to glow around her, and with a soft chant, she conjured an illusion of a phantom army of humans, elves, and dwarves charging from the opposite direction. The skeletal warriors, drawn by the commotion, clattered away, leaving the path clear.
They pressed on, their journey punctuated by tense moments of near-discovery and the occasional clash with roaming undead. Lady Helen's arrows flew with deadly precision, cutting down any foe that dared approach, while Lady Maeve's daggers found their marks in the darkness. Girn's brute strength cleared the path of obstacles, and Eden and Madison's magic shielded them from the occasional arcane strike.
Finally, they reached the base of the tower. Its spiral staircase seemed to stretch endlessly upward, each step echoing with the creak of ancient wood. The air grew colder as they ascended, a chill that seeped into their bones. The higher they climbed, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, as if the tower itself were trying to repel them.
At the top, they found a massive, ornately carved door. Girn pushed it open with a grunt, revealing a dimly lit chamber. They expected heavy resistance from the necromancer himself, but Voxir Doomweaver was not in the room. They were alone.
"Fuck, he's not here," Eden cursed.
"And neither is my greataxe," Girn mumbled. "Then why were there so many of his undead minions still about?"
The chamber fell silent. Lady Madison approached the window and looked at the Kyns Wood spread before her with the outline of Yeledor in the distance. "He's marching on Yeledor!" she exclaimed. The others came rushing to her side and witnessed an army of undead lumbering slowy towards the city's walls. "I need to get back and warn them. Every second is crucial."
"This is my fault," Girn whispered. "I shouldn't have been caught."
Lady Madison stepped up to Girn and grabbed him by the bicep. Her spiritual touch tingled and felt cold yet exilirating. "Don't lose focus, Girn. It's not over yet. I believe in you. I believe you'll find the necromancer and defeat him. Magic weapon or not, you're Girn the barbarian! I must go now, I'll see you when you killed the necromancer." With an optimistic wink and chiming sounds echoing through the cold air Lady Madison vanished.
Eden cleared her throat. "Remember to introduce me more elaborately to her. She's ravishing." The goth woman beamed a smile. Lady Helen and Lady Maeve stood unblinkly next to her.
"Right, let's get out of here," Girn said.
"Wait," Eden said with a look of realization, "I know why he's left so many undead behind. Let's first do something that might prove vital in defeating Voxir."
The group retraced their steps, the journey down the tower and through the keep feeling lighter now that no obstacles barred their way. Later, they emerged into the night, the moon lighting their path into the forest.
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Swan Tower, The Palace, City of Yeledor
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Lady Madison opened her eyes and instantly locked gazes with Magister Rebus. "It's begun," she said. "The necromancer's coming. And he's bringing a lot of his friends."
"And what of Girn? Did you learn something?"
"He's free and unharmed. But he's lost his magical weapon. It's in the hands of Voxir."
The magister sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then a look of determination took hold of him. "Then let's get to work."
"You go ahead," Lady Madison said. "I've got some brewing to do." Magister Rebus nodded his understanding and left the secret room.
*****
Carefully checking the large tome one last time, she dropped the concoction into the brazier and began to recite in a soft, low voice. "Zalruth, Zalruth, Zalruth! Heed my call!"
She watched the thick red and grey smoke rise inside the pentagram drawn on the flagstones of her chamber. Quickly, the smoke whirled thoughout the space and a figure appeared. As the room cleared, the summoned daemon became visible. He was exactly as she had envisioned him, down to the bare, muscular chest and tight, bulging black shorts. Two smoldering eyes stared at her with a hollow dread, and a snake-like tongue darted from his chasmal mouth. Despite the strong ridges and elongated nose, his face was handsome. A long tail swayed behind him. Two incorporeal wings extended themselves fully, jagged bones and incorporeal membranes stretching upward. The daemon frowned down at her and said in a rumbling voice, "Who dares to summon me?"
It was time for Madison Drac to begin her deception. Immediately she replied with a tone of subservience, "Forgive me, my Lord! I brought you to my plane of existence to release you. One as powerful as you should not be bound to the confines of one realm!"
Madison quickly poured a bowl of water in front of her feet, wiping the chalk on that part of the pentagram away. The daemon stared at the woman in puzzlement as she erased the symbolic circle that was supposed to keep him powerless and imprisoned while on this plane. He warily approached her, ever suspicious of trickery and betrayal.
