Dreekt felt sheer pleasure as he flew up from the skittering creepers to fight the noxious flyers. He was flying! He brought his scythe down on several flyers. After the first few he realized that he only needed to take a wing and they would go plummeting to their deaths. After he sent a few more to their doom he decided to lower back down to the skittering creepers. If he was flying and transformed back into a skravyn he would be unable to keep in the air. He would share their fate.

He glided to the ground, the battle below coming into view through the haze of lazily drifting snowflakes. The peaceful, white snow had hidden the dark and bloody battle below. The inky black ichor that served as blood in the Dark Under creatures stained the snow, making it harder to see in the deepening night.

Burner was standing with the archers on the wall, her face uncovered and her glowing orange eyes a beacon. She was no longer casting spells but was shooting off arrows from a small bow. Dreekt had seen the small bow once or twice peeking out from her pack but had never seen her use it before. Many a noxious flyer fell to her true aim.

Gaemacirch tore skittering creepers apart with his claws, never once using his mouth to bite or tear. His armor was streaked black and would need a thorough scrubbing at the next opportunity.

As Dreekt hung in midair, observing the sight, the defenders of Dregton looked up and saw him there. An avatar of death surveying the battle. His scythe thick with the black ichor of Dark Under creatures. The thrill of battle easily read from its face. They hesitated, all of them, for a moment.

Noticing the collective stare Dreekt shook his head. Gotta get back to the battle. He dove down to the skittering creepers and began to reap them as he had seen farmers do with wheat the few times he was near fields at harvesttime.

“Look, an avatar of death helps us!” Some of the men cried out.

“Either The Balance is with us, or The Desecrator is. Either way, we will win this fight! Onward!” The captain of the guard charged forward to join Gaemacirch in the fray. As he did so a large beast burst from the ground. It had six legs, three on each side, a large tail, and the scent of poison filled the air.

Gaemacirch froze in mid strike. He turned and faced the creature. “Strange salamander.” He turned to the captain of the guard. “We cannot hope to win against that. If we can hold it here until daylight it will go back underground, but many men will lose their lives if we do so.”

“And if we don’t we will lose the town.” The captain over at Dreekt, still reaping strange salamanders. “The tower mage sent me a message. That’s your skravyn friend over there.” He looked concerned. “The men see it as a good sign, but if they knew it was a skravyn that turned into an image of The Desecrator…I’m not sure what they would think.”

“Dreekt!” Gaemacirch called out. “Can you distract the big, ugly thing?”

Turning at the sound of his name Dreekt saw the strange salamander. He had been too preoccupied with thinning the skittering creeper ranks to notice it. He flew over to Gaemacirch. “I don’t think so. If I get hit even once I think I’ll change back.” Dreekt shrugged. “Wouldn’t do any good to get killed out here.”

The guard captain spoke up. “Can you cast spells in that form?”

No, you would lose concentration. You are not strong enough for that. The spirit told Dreekt.

“I don’t think I could do that without changing back.” He shrugged. “I don’t think you want me to do that here.”

“No, but there isn’t much we can do about that.”

The nearby guards stared at the avatar of death hovering next to the captain. They were instilled by both fear and awe as it turned back into a skravyn. Fear because of the ancient stories of the armies of The Desecrator, filled with skravyn, that used to reap whole cities at a time. Awe because he had slain so many of their enemies.

“Okay,” Dreekt said, “is there any specific type of spell I need, or do I just go ham?”

“Go ham but defending the troops should be a priority. If you can protect them I would appreciate it.” The captain said, still staring at the strange salamander. “We need to stop that thing from taking the capital of Newwar province.”

– – –

Burner looked down at the beast in horror. He had heard tales of strange salamanders, but their monstrousness was even more terrifying in person. Slinging her bow over her shoulder she motioned to some of the archers. “Come, we need to stop that thing. The footmen are not enough.” The creature was far out of their range.

A few of the archers nodded and left ranks. The other archers spread out to cover the weak points. They followed Burner down the stairs and through the gates that shut promptly behind them.

Burner pulled out her rapier as the bowmen switched to their scimitar daggers. They looked oddly elven to be held by a mostly human force, but burner just shrugged and moved forward through the skittering creepers. The group cut through most of the creatures in their path before the remainder shied away, watching instead of attacking.

The archers saluted the captain and slung their bows off their backs. They then turned to Burner as if waiting for her command.

“Surround the creature. When it faces away from you shoot it.” Burner said when the captain nodded at her. “The creature will become confused and distracted.”

The archers nodded and fanned out. Slowly surrounding the creature from a distance.

Bowing slightly to the captain Burner then turned and joined the archers.

“May The Jester guide our hands.” The captain turned back to his foot soldiers. “Follow Gaemacirch’s lead.”

“My friends call me Gaem.” Gaemacirch said, then turned to face the creature. “If you can get under it that’s where it has the least defense, though its hide is still tough.” Without waiting for a response, Gaemacirch’s ferret form started loping toward the strange salamander.

As Gaemacirch was running Dreekt cast a protective spell over him, then swiftly placed a general ward on the collective foot soldiers. As he finished the captain of the guard placed a dagger in his taloned hand.

“Here, I feel you should have this. If I don’t survive to tell you about it, ask my wife.” The captain turned and ran to join his men, leaving Dreekt staring at the dagger.

The dagger was curved like a scimitar but looked different than the ones he had seen the archers using. There was a place in the pommel for a stone. The shape of the empty spot looked familiar to Dreekt, but he didn’t have time to mull it over. He focused his attention back on the fight. He used the same strategy that Burner had told the archers to use. Only striking when the creature was facing away, to confuse it.

The foot soldiers passed their throwing spears to six of the foot soldiers. They stood back to throw the spears at the strange salamander, careful not to be in the line of fire the archers were using.

Gaemacirch and the majority of the foot soldiers approached the strange salamander from all angles, having fanned out along their approach. Dreekt noticed that there were just over fifteen foot soldiers actually attacking the monster.

Those protection spells were a good start, Dreekt.

How nice of you to speak up, spirit. Is there anything we know that can help this fight?

Avoid acid-based spells.

What do I know?

Just reach for the power. I’ll give you the spells. We need to discuss what I have for you later. Casting the spells yourself makes them more powerful.

 Nodding both to himself and the spirit Dreekt reached for the power he felt in the back of his mind. It left the faint taste of undeath in his mouth, but he knew, somehow, that this undeath was not against the balance of life and death. This spirit was willing to come back to teach him.

Before any of the others had a chance to attack Dreekt shot a large bolt of draining energy into the strange salamander from behind it. The energy washed over Dreekt, making him feel he could take more abuse before succumbing to it.

Just as Dreekt felt the increase in defense the strange salamander turned to him and spit a stream of acid from its mouth. Without thinking Dreekt rolled to the side and ran forward. The creature attempted to correct its aim, but only succeeded in getting a few droplets on its target. Dreekt’s feathers protected him from most of the droplets and he backed away again.

When the strange salamander had spit the acid Gaemacirch saw his chance and scrambled under the beast. He flipped over, onto his back, and clawed at the belly of the beast with the metal armor claws. The other soldiers were stabbing at it from both sides.

Roaring in pain the strange salamander began stomping the ground with its middle set of legs. The tremor knocked several of the soldiers off their feet. The strange salamander’s tail swung and hit two footmen. They crumpled inside their armor. The rest of the men hurried away from the tail but realized if they went too far the jaws would get them. They were stuck between a blunt instrument and a sharp-toothed grin.

As the tail raised for another swing it was peppered with arrows and spears. Some of the spears temporarily pinned the tail to the ground, but the soldiers realized their mistake as the tail came back up with the spears still inside. The tail was more deadly than it had been before.

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Riverdale was a small village on the edge of the river. It was so small that Kreet didn’t even remember passing by it. She could’ve blinked and missed it, but she suspected she wasn’t paying attention to anything at the time, trying to ignore her father’s ranting about Dreekt.

The village had slant-roofed buildings, but they all slanted in one direction instead of having a peak. This allowed them to half a small second story and keep the snow off their roofs at the same time.

Krashaeletin walked down the street directly towards the docks. “Come on. They’re this way.” He motioned at a house right up against the river bank.

Draveth, Kreet, and Grefin followed behind. The few villagers that were outside doing chores stared at the riverfolk. The stares were more of surprise than hostility. Grefin waved at a couple of the human villagers.

“Ah, you on river often.” He said to one. “Never take lot fish. Only little.”

The man nodded. “Uh, yeah. I never saw you, though.”

“Good. I not rusty.”

The man chuckled lightly and carried his pile of firewood towards a building. “If you’re with Krash you’re welcome here.” He disappeared through the door.

“Nice guy.” Grefin said, speeding up to keep pace with Krashaeletin.

“Yes,” Krashaeletin replied, “they all are, I think.” He stopped in front of the house at the river’s edge. “Here we are.” He knocked on the door. “Darla, I’m here for that favor.”

The door opened, and an elf stood there. “Already, Krashaeletin? You were only gone a couple days at most.” She nodded at the other three people at the door. “You make friends fast, don’t you?”

“It seems so. People must be attracted to my maddening charm.” He smiled broadly.

“Maddening, yes. Charming? Needs work.” Darla sighed. “What’s the favor?”

Krashaeletin shrugged. “Can you spare a small riverboat?”

“Why?” Darla looked at the riverfolk with Krashaeletin. “Planning on going native?”

“Of course,” Krashaeletin chuckled. “What better way to go mad is there?” He stopped chuckling and his face went serious. “However, that’s not what I’m doing. The riverfolk are being harassed by the sea srengaa. I wish to help.”

“Ah, I see.” Darla glanced at the riverfolk again. “Your tribe is the local one?”

“I chieftain. Call Grefin.”

“If your tribe can provide us some fish for the winter we’ll give you our best riverboat.”

“I see to it now.” Grefin nodded then ran to the end of the nearby pier and dove into the water.

Krashaeletin shook his head. “Man of action, that one.”

“So are you.” Darla smiled. “Where are my manners? It’s cold out. Come in, come in!” She stood out of the doorway. “You must introduce me to you friends.”

Kreet and Draveth followed Krashaeletin into Darla’s house.

“Oh, right.” Krashaeletin motioned to Kreet and Draveth. “This is Kreet, and this is Draveth. I met them not too long ago, but they saved me from a rogue riverfolk tribe. Not Grefin’s tribe, but I’m still not sure how much we can trust him.”

Darla raised an eyebrow. “Yet you’re going to help him fight the sea srengaa?”

“Yes, nobody said I was completely sane.” Krashaeletin smiled broadly.

“No, I suppose not.” Darla shook her head. “So,” she turned to address Kreet, “how did you meet Krashaeletin?”

“We were traveling north on the road, and he was traveling south. Draveth and I had just fought off some sraixen but Draveth had been bitten. Krash took the time to heal Draveth and we asked if he wanted to travel with us.” Kreet shrugged, her ebony feathers reflecting the lamp light. “It never hurts to have a priest of The Wanderer with you.”

“Unless he goes mad.” Draveth added.

“I promise I won’t do that on purpose.”

Darla chuckled lightly. “One rarely does.” She started walking towards the back of her house. “Come, I’ll show you the riverboat while we wait for Grefin. All the boats are inside now unless they’re in use. Can’t have the ice building up and ruining the wood.”

They walked down a hallway with closed doors on either side and stopped at a door at the end of the hallway. Darla fumbled with a ring of keys then inserted one into the lock. There was a click as she turned the key and she opened the door. Beyond was a small room with another locked door and a pile of firewood in the corner. The room was colder than the hallway.

“This is our firewood room. It connects the boat storage and the house.” Darla motioned everyone inside then shut the door behind herself. “Also helps keep more of the heat inside.” She locked the door to the house and unlocked the other door. It opened on a partially enclosed boat dock. There were four boats tied up and a large, shut portcullis made up one wall.

“You keep them here to keep them from freezing?” Draveth asked. “It feels pretty close to freezing to me.”

“Things don’t freeze as easily under cover.” Darla motioned at one of the medium riverboats. “That’s the largest riverboat we have that can be crewed by four people or one in a pinch.” She glanced over the three people with her. “I should probably give you three a rundown on how they work. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think any of you have worked a riverboat before.”

“Well, I haven’t and I’m fairly sure Kreet hasn’t either.” Draveth glanced at Krashaeletin. “Have you ever worked a riverboat?”

Krashaeletin’s eyes went out of focus for a moment, like he was remembering something from his past. “I have. It was a while ago, though. Best to have a refresher.”

“When did you ever work on a riverboat?” Darla asked.

“Maybe I’ll come back and tell you one day, but not today.” Krashaeletin grinned. “You don’t how many different things I was before I settled on being a priest.”

“Okay, well I’ll give you a crash course then.” She turned to the riverboat. “Pun not intended.”

– – –

Draveth, Grefin, Krashaeletin, and Kreet waved to Darla for a moment before they turned to their duties.

Draveth began manning the bow with a pole to push the fore away from the shore. Grefin started looking at the sea charts Darla had given to them, making short notes in simple common on them. Krashaeletin sat down with his priest’s books and started to study wind and water spells in case he needed to turn aside a storm. Kreet looked over the provisions that had been packed and started writing down the different recipes she could put together with them.

Suddenly there was a gasp from below decks. Krashaeletin looked up from his books. “I’ll check it out. I think that was Kreet.”

“Ok. Can’t really go check myself unless you want to try your hand at this.” He motioned at the pole.

“No, no. I don’t think I can handle that.” Krashaeletin shook his head and started down the stairs to the small hold. “Hey, Kreet, is something wrong?”

Kreet looked up from next to the provisions. “Sorry, no. Just realized that helping the riverfolk means I won’t see my family, probably for years.” She took a deep breath. “This past week was the longest I’d ever been away from them.” Shaking her head, she went back to writing down recipes. “I’m fine.”

A skeptical look crept onto Krashaeletin’s face. “You’re fine?”

“Fine.” Kreet sighed. “I just don’t like the idea that my brother’s out there somewhere forging his own story without me, Krash. I knew we needed to leave the nest, but I didn’t expect to part ways for so long.” She shook her head. “I know I’m still part of his story, but not actively. More like in his past.”

“That’s how all siblings become.” Krash nodded. “I should know, my brother is out there somewhere, too. We all fade from their stories, but only so we can be the main characters of our own stories.”

Kreet smiled. “I guess you’re right. I am becoming my own skravyn. Flying off, figuratively, to my own destiny.”

“Yeah, but right now I need to get back to studying those spells. If you need anything, though, don’t hesitate to yell.”

“I won’t.”

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[The Fractured Mountains will now be taking the Friday slot since The Gods of Nevre is complete.]

Burner, Dreekt, and Gaemacirch stood ready to fight back the Dark Under creatures. Burner stood with the archers on the town fortifications, her battle instrument ready. Dreekt stood at the top of the western mage tower and was in communication with the mage in the eastern tower. Gaemacirch stood with the men just inside the town fortifications. If the creatures broke through they would be the last line of defense.

Burner and Gaemacirch didn’t have enough time when they got back to Dregton to talk to Dreekt. They had given the quarterstaff to the captain of the guard, and then the defense horn sounded.

The captain didn’t want Burner on the wall, but he knew they needed everything they had and let her go.

“You, zarx, don’t transform into your animal form. I don’t know how my men would respond. Just stand and fight as you are.”

“Yes, sir.” Gaemacirch joined the ranks of the guardsmen. They were fine with him choosing to be in front, where the Dark Under creatures would be the worst.

– – –

Up on the tower Dreekt heard a voice in his head. It wasn’t the mage in the other tower, it was something else. Something he had felt in the back of his mind ever since he almost drowned in the Gigli canal in Rentaz.

Dreekt, it said, don’t forget. If you need the knowledge I have you need only ask.

“What do you mean?” Dreekt asked aloud. If he thought to the voice he might accidentally talk to the mage instead. “I know no such thing. This is the first time you’ve deigned to actually communicate with me.”

Don’t get your feathers in a fuss, boy. You’ve never needed my help before.

“And I do now?” Dreekt scoffed. “How would you know?”

You’ve never used magic in combat before. That’s how.

“Well, I’ll keep it in mind, then.”

– – –

Up on the wall Burner had a decent view of the road. The mass of creatures started out small, then more and more of them filtered out of the northern highland grasses and onto the road. The sheer number of them surprised her.

Burner immediately started setting up defensive wards as quickly as she could. Some of the archers looked at her strangely when she started rapping spells.

As the horde of creatures approached a thick snow began to fall from the sky. It was hard enough that they were approaching at night, now even those with night vision were having a hard time seeing the road.

– – –

At the top of the mage tower Dreekt was trying to hold two conversations simultaneously while keeping his sight on the Dark Under creatures.

Do you have any fire spells? The mage asked.

“Do I?” Dreekt asked the voice in his head.

The voice responded, yes. A sphere of fire.

I do, Dreekt responded to the mage. A sphere of fire.

When I tell you to, place that in the center of the road about twenty feet from the gate. The mage said. I’ll cover the ground in ice just behind the sphere so when the skittering creepers try to divide some of them will end up in the fire. After that just kill any of them any way you can.

Got it. Dreekt prepared the spell, waiting for the mage’s signal.

You know, the voice told Dreekt, we need to talk after this fight. You shouldn’t need to ask what spells I have for you. You should know what you can cast and prepare them for faster casting. I’m only here to guide your powers. They belong to you.

“Remind me after the battle.”

Will do.

A layer of ice appeared on the road, snow immediately started covering it.

Wait for them to reach that patch, then cast the spell. The mage said. I’m going to end our communication now. It’s hard to concentrate with it in effect. The presence of the communication spell left Dreekt’s mind.

The first few skittering creepers hit the ice patch. Dreekt immediately loosed the fire orb from his hands into the center of the road. The skittering creepers who were on the road tried to run around the sphere but slipped on the ice and slid into it. A few more were caught in the trap before they started running around the icy patch.

Dreekt started to cast other spells, keeping the fire sphere up. It was melting some of the snowflakes and was giving more sight to the archers.

– – –

The archers started loosing their arrows into the mass of skittering creepers and Burner lobbed a few spells at them as well. Burner wasn’t focused on the ground, though. She was looking out for noxious flyers.

The skittering creepers were insectoid dog-like six-legged creatures. They would have a hard time breaking through the gates. The noxious flyers, however, could just go over the walls. The stench of noxious flyers wasn’t bad in small numbers, but if enough of them arrived it would make it difficult to focus on anything else.

She saw Dreekt fire a few bolts of lightning down on the skittering creepers. The creatures were falling fast, but not fast enough. Burner was considering casting the spells she was saving for the possibility of noxious flyers on the creepers when she saw movement in the snow-filled sky.

“Noxious flyers!” Burner shouted, casting a light spell up into the sky. “Where my light is.” The noxious flyers were momentarily distracted by the light and a few fell to arrows before the group of them turned to dive at the town walls.

– – –

“Open the gates!” The guard captain yelled. “Archers focus on the sky! Footmen, to arms!”

Gaemacirch was the first through the gate. The skittering creepers saw a zarx and some of them fell back in fear. The zarx that still lived in Dark Under had instilled fear into the creatures. Taking advantage of the opening, Gaemacirch swung his blade in an arc killing three of the skittering creepers. The guardsmen rallied to Gaemacirch and started pushing out into the horde of creatures.

“When the last of us are through close the gate behind us. Let no skittering creeper into Dregton!” The guard captain joined Gaemacirch in the thick of the battle. “Well, zarx, time to prove your worth.”

Gaemacirch smiled at the captain. “Well, the only way to truly do that is to transform. Do you think your men could handle that?”

“Sure, just be careful.”

“I will.” Gaemacirch fell to the back. “I need a moment.”

“When the zarx returns as a beast do nothing to him! Pass it along!” The captain stabbed at a skittering creeper, but the carapace was too thick.

Gaemacirch ran back to the Blue Flagon and waved down Samuel, the barkeep. “I need some help with armor.”

The salaman looked strangely at Gaemacirch. “You look well armored to me.”

“No, not this armor, my beast armor.”

Samuel’s eyes grew wide. “Is it that bad?”

“Not yet, but the archers are occupied with the sky and the footsoldiers will only last so long. Quickly!” Gaemacirch ran to his room and retrieved his pack. He spilled the beast armor on the ground. “I’ll tell you where each goes.” He transformed into a giant ferret. “Ok, the big one first, straps around my front legs.”

– – –

Burner saw Gaemacirch run for the Blue Flagon and saw the gate close shortly afterward. “When a giant armored ferret appears, don’t shoot it! It’s on our side!”

The nearby archers looked at the wick strangely then shrugged. They turned their attention back to the skys.

Burner started sending arcane bolts into the air, most of the humans were unable to keep track of what she was saying, she was rapping so quickly. Later, they would remember her as being the fastest spell caster they had ever met.

A group of archers ran out of arrows and another group moved to take their place. That’s when the dive-bombing began. The noxious flyers would dive down, release the fumes from their gas-sacs and take back to the sky. At first the gas was nothing, but then the gas started to overwhelm the archers and Burner.

“Cover your mouths! The gas is poisonous! It will cause your vision to blur and your hands to be slower!” Burner did nothing to cover her own mouth.

One of the archers nearby tried to hand Burner a cloth. “Here, cover up. We need your spells.”

“No, I’m immune to poison. Heated metabolism and all that.” Burner breathed deep. “Hmm…smells flammable. Careful! The fumes may combust!”

There was a strange clinking of metal and a form jumped over the archers. Gaemacirch’s blaze-patterned underbelly was visible for a moment, and none of the archers had enough time to react.

Gaemacirch was able to grab a couple of noxious flyers out of the air and landed on the mass of skittering creepers. His paw armor had metal claws attached and he began to rake through the mass of enemies. The foot soldiers watched in awe as he tore apart several skittering creepers in one turn.

“Stop staring and start fighting!” Gaemacirch’s voice sounded more feral than before. “I can’t take all of them myself!”

– – –

Seeing Gaemacirch jump over the wall Dreekt felt a longing in himself to do such carnage. To transform and take down the skittering creepers down on the ground, or to fly through the air and destroy the noxious flyers. As he delved inside himself to find out where this desire stemmed from a figure appeared before him.

The figure was covered by a black cloak and had shadows that floated under a cowl, blocking his face from view.

“Dreekt,” the figure said in a deep voice that sent chills through Dreekt, “you have power from death. Use it how you will.” He held out an ancient, pale hand. “Spirit, reveal to Dreekt his power.”

Dreekt’s desire to fight in the thick of the battle combined with his magical power and with the power of the spirit that had been talking to him. Inspired by the figure of death in front of him he turned into a pale reflection of that death.

“Yes,” the figure said, “become like the creator of your race. Like me. Like The Desecrator.” The figure faded away.

Dreekt, now looking similar to the figure of The Desecrator, held a scythe in his hands. He floated down to the skittering creeper mass and began to reap them.

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