Said Random Holy Knight POV
I scream to our leader “Lord Paladin what do we do?!!” as bolts rain upon the earthen walls conjured by the mages in desperate haste, and my heart thumps in disgraceful confusion and fear. We had come to purge this land of undead and cleanse it so that humans could live on it, to better the people, but now we face our most desperate hour. We came confident that any remaining undead would soon be cleansed by us for the icon of our god had unleashed its power to purify this cursed land. All we had to do was ensure the destruction of any wretched idols of heresy before beginning the placement of shrines to the Holy God to claim and purge this land.
Now we are here, trapped like rats in a barrel as the cursed fog that drains one swirls around the undead marching on us. Marching like that was a term that would usually be applied to an undead until I saw it with my own eyes. These undead I see are covered in bone armour, and advance in perfect formations. Their steps perfect but filled with an eerie dissonance regardless. The malevolent feeling from each simply magnified en masse from their formations as they slowly march upon us. We cannot expect aid for those still on the walls report in despair filled voices that those outside the castle were slain and we are now hemmed in.
The mages cannot help us break forth for it is all they can do to keep the walls up under fire from what appear to be ballista of considerable strength. Flames of fearful green lick the air from where the bolts struck as those in the open have already fled back into the walls themselves or are here with us. The rest lay lifeless around us for now, I see lifeless eyes stare back to me as blood pools around the fallen, those eyes like they accuse me.... The priests are using their holy might to keep the enemy back but cannot last forever for their strength is weakened in this godless realm, what dark deity holds sway in this realm to empower such fearful creatures.
“Rally men, our only chance lies in slaying their leader and the rest will crumble. All knights, adventurers and mercenaries gather now!! Mages and Priests shield as much as possible from the ballista bolts, we need to charge into the castle before the enemy can emerge fully. Holy knights use your power and destroy the gate quickly, everyone else hold shields to cover us. Levy hold the line, if we cannot slay their leader none will survive hold I say HOLD. Quickly we have no more time, FORWARD MEN FOR THE GREAT GOD OF LIGHT” As expected of our paladin standing strong with his golden armour resplendent in his holy aura even in this land, he raises his sword and holds his shield high and advances.
Quickly spurring myself forward as I take heart in his words I muster the power bestowed to me by the god of light and project my holy aura to shield me. My brethren do the same and the others clad themselves as well if possible in whatever similar ability they have. Now is the time for action for we cannot afford to simply stay still. As the lord says we must give our all now more than ever. His words ring clear as we rush forward as fast as we can. Some have fallen but enough have survived that we can do this. With pounding feet and hearts we rush to the front gate of the castle. I hear war cries shouted as we move blocking the projectiles if possible and soon some war cries are cut off in shrieks of pain but still we move forward.
Arriving at the gate my sword shining with the power of light I slash at it in an attempt to break it and others join my effort. Though the wood and stone portcullis and gate are strong eventually they break under our attacks, but we lose some to bolts fired from murder holes.Rushing inward I see a group of skeletal spearman but unlike the others these are not as armoured but still plentiful, our lord paladin rushed in quickly and seeing them made a decision. “Mercenaries hold them off with some of the knights, we move now for the leader for surely he is in the central area!” Obeying his words some rush to contain the spearman and we break through and keep running, as we move through the corridors and up the stairs some more undead appear of various strengths. I am angered by this act but it is the only option left, quickly destroying those we can and having more stay back to hold the stronger ones off we dwindle in number as we advance.
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Inside these corridors we are stronger than the undead for they cannot surround us with so many numbers and we prove it moving through the castle. If standard castle design is followed then we are nearing the central chambers where audiences are held, and to prove we were right the dark fog becomes stronger as we approach. If we did not use our holy light to push back this fog then we would have been suffering it’s draining effects even greater than before. Eventually fighting through we find a massive set of doors with fog liberally spilling from gaps around it. Taking a breath to catch ourselves I see that over 50 now crowd these halls and a handful more eventually catch up with us bringing it to just around 60. The few who were not either slain or holding the enemy back at the various paths are now here. Only these poor souls are left but if we can kill their leader who controls all these undead then surely they will collapse for it is the only hope we have. My palms in their gauntlets are sweaty but readjusting my grip on my sword I will not sway against the enemy anymore, this is the oath in my heart as I gather myself.
Mustering our strength once more some of the remaining knights push open the door and we all rush in. It is a large gathering hall but with columns and arches along the wall, further down I see a dais with a throne made of what appeared to be bone in the center. Along both sides instead of the wall are stairs leading further on to another set of gates higher up, what is immediately apparent however are the previous occupants still here facing us. Along the walls stand what appear to skeletons dressed in black plate and arms but from the glimpses seen through openings in the helmet the bones are also pitch black bone. They appear like little holes in existence that absorb light in distorting ways, but around the throne are figures not to even mention the throne itself.
Arrayed around the throne are more guards but one stands out from it’s appearance, dressed in robes with wretched runes and heavy armour appears a very powerful being. From the fog of green and black drifting from its clothes and arms it is a wight, and a powerful one but it is the figure on the throne that is the priority. Seated on the throne in an imposing fashion is a robed figure with a hood, a fleshless hand holds a scepter currently placed in the lap while the other is on the arm of the throne. When we all enter it lifts its head and we all see malefic blue fire burning in the sockets. Without a single word we all knew this was the foul lich responsible for all the death this past battle. I am proud that none wavered for we all knew that this was it, slay this one and all will be over is the prayer we have however slighting it is against God. My heart beats so quickly but I cannot back down, I know that such weakness will only sign my death warrant sooner.
Our lord paladin walked to the front and roared “Damnable Demon! Perish by my hand in the name of our Great God of Light for we will cast asunder all you have created and purge this land of your unholy craft!!” Accompanying his words he raises his sword against the lich and prepares his sword with holy light. Praise our great champion who faces the enemy!! Silence dwelled after that declaration only to be broken by cries of fear as suddenly several warriors were attacked faster than they can react and blood spilled once more. From behind the pillars I see several of the black skeletons with crossbows already recocking them.
Fighting back we all started to engage as we holy knights pushed with our paladin to kill the lich. In my heart resounded the belief that if the lord paladin can slay the lich then we have won. It has to be or all the sacrifices of those who died to get this far are for naught, how can we go on if our great champion cannot slay the enemy. As I raised my blade to strike one of the black guards with all my power, nothing is held back for this desperate battle. All that exists in me now is determination and righteous wrath to destroy all who block our God of Holy Light’s Righteous Crusade of this blighted land, we can defeat the enemy for surely the Light is with us. We will succeed for how can we not, PRAISE THE HOLY LIGHT!!