The Lich had been a plague upon the provinces of Pasor for generations, none who now lived remembered how it had been born, however myths exist that the Lich had been an archmage of terrifying power, who had extended their life for hundreds of years by moving the essence of their soul from magic grown clone to magic grown clone until it had grown tired of the procedure, setting up a catastrophic civil war that had raged for decades, tearing Pasor apart from the inside, it was only at the end of the war when this creature revealed itself, having absorbed the essence of each creature slain in the war, removing them from the Wheel forever. The creature claimed the name of Lich, used it's horrifying powers to drain the souls from each war council of the separate factions and went into seclusion to continue its studies into magic.
Rosaria knew that they went to fight a terrifying enemy, but none had seen the Lich in decades, people had whispered that it could rival the gods themselves, but she felt the warm light of Adia infusing her always and knew that none could come close to her power or influence over this world. Next to a god and it's divine herald, how could any foul thing like this Lich compare? Rosaria was known throughout Pasor as simply the Paladin, she and her compatriots went from town to town, village to village, on a never ending quest to rid the world of the horrors that lurked beneath the surface. No enemy was too great or too small for them, from drunken village murderers to nobles that attempted to use their powers to rape and abuse, all were judged wanting by Rosaria and run through with her sword, Justice, along with any that attempted to shelter them.
Behind Rosaria strode her fellows, fearsome warriors gathered from all across the lands, they numbered 20 in total, twenty brave souls that had sworn to risk their very essence to remove from the world a blight that had plagued the people of Pasor for far too long. A group of five mages floated along, seemingly carried by small clouds, with tendrils of purple connecting their heads to a shroud that covered the group, supposedly it was to protect them from prying eyes, however Rosaria put little stock in it and kept her eyes constantly moving, searching for the slightest hint that they were about to be attacked.
Rosaria could not help but keep flicking her eyes back to the spire that sat on the horizon, impossibly tall, the shear black tower rose high into the sky, passing above into the clouds. It was said that even on a clear day the structure went far beyond the reach of any mortal's eyesight, stretching up forever into the clouds. Rosaria chuckled quietly to herself here was proof that the Lich was no god, it desperately tried to ascend, the jealous desire to be godlike clear in the construction of its fortress, no truly divine being would let its desperation show so clearly.
As they journeyed closer, others in the group started following Rosaria's lead, donning their helmets and starting to scan the horizon in case the Lich had creatures protecting its lair. With an ear splitting crack the ground in front of the group split open, their beasts of burden rearing back in fright. As the crack in the ground widened and continued to split, Rosaria's companions backed away, fear shining clearly through the eye-slits in their helmets. Slowly the light in the sky began to dwindle, the sun still shone overhead, but none of it's light or warmth was reaching the group, instead hot red light began to light the ground around the split, the heat like standing in front of roiling magma forcing the companions further back. Rosaria stood her ground, calling on the her connection to Adia to shield her from the heat. As she whispered a litany into the hot air she felt herself cool, the heat fading into the comfortable warmth of her god's embrace.
A giant veined hand extended from the crevasse, bulging as it gripped onto the edge of the ground and dragging its owner up. Slowly a gigantic red skinned creature dragged itself up from the void, skin bulging with muscles, standing a full 4 meters tall at least, the creature held a wickedly sharp battleaxe in one hand and was completely naked, thick cock hanging impressively from its groin. It held it's battleaxe ready to charge at the group, in a thick, guttural voice it spoke
"Leave, now. Unless you wish to die right here and now"
Rosaria looked from left to right, noting the lack of her companions by her side. Either they had run or were waiting for her to make the first move. Regardless her choice would be the same, she brought her tower shield up and began moving towards the beast, gathering speed to strike against it. Letting out a war-cry Rosaria brought Justice around, preparing to slash through the creatures thigh and bring it crashing to the ground. Instead of biting into the meat of the beast and feeling it give beneath Justice Rosaria felt nothing, as her sword sailed cleanly through the thing. Startled, Rosaria glanced up and around her shield, the beast had made no reaction or move, standing still, eyes focused in the distance. An illusion, cleverly crafted, but an illusion nonetheless.
Rosaria looked back, her companions were just now forming back up into a battle line after their initial retreat, clearly an effective illusion. She shook her head, without her and her god to guide them, would they ever have got this far? She doubted it, it was up to people like her to lead others and root out the evil of the world, she just hoped that when they came to the Lich they could hold their ground and show a little backbone.
Having passed the illusory gatekeeper, the group strode on. Finding themselves unhampered in their progress up to the foot of the spire. With the sheer wall of black rising above them into the sky the group made their camp, moods somber, with none of the merriment or excitement that had marked the earlier weeks of their journey. Knowing that tomorrow could mark the end for some or all of them, but gods willing, they would find and kill this Lich such that it could no longer do harm in this world.
The group began to rise from their slumber as the sun rose again, those that had taken last watch handing out strips of dried meat to the waking, the wizards walking through the camp using their magic to cast simple cleansing spells, ensuring that the group stayed clean and smelling fresh. They broke their camp and began to circle around the base of the spire, searching for an ingress point. They circled the tower, their eyes scanning all around both for an entrance and in fear of any attack that the Lich may launch against them, without warning part of the wall shifted, startling the group and causing the warriors to clasp the hilts of their swords, the mages letting out small yelps of surprise as flame began to coalesce in their palms, ready to leap out at a thought to scorch whatever threatened them.
Silently, from the obsidian wall of the spire a face emerged, eyes igniting with pure arcane energy, stone moving and flowing almost organically. Slowly a creature tore itself from the wall, dark stone flowing to fill the void where it had emerged from. Standing almost 10 meters tall the golem towered over the group, looking down upon them impassively.
The golem opened it's mouth, letting forth a booming proclamation
"State your purpose for visiting my master, or be destroyed!"
As her companions drew themselves up ready to fight Rosaria stood tall, staring at the creature directly in his flaming eyes she proclaimed
"We come to destroy the Lich, stand down construct, or perish beside your bitch master!"
Registering the reply the construct stared down at Rosaria, flames burning brighter in its eyes until Rosaria had to look away, blinking spots out of her vision. The golem drew back its arm, arcane power coalescing into a giant spiked mace held in it's hand. As Rosaria hefted her shield and prepared to charge the golem a voice, unmistakably female, with the accent and mannerisms of royalty cut across the scene
