The previous, similarly titled quests they had been completing over the past month would fall under the usual classification. Go here, kill giant rats, go there, kill spiders, etc. Nothing she had done had ever sent a shiver down her spine like the noise she heard.

As the torch lit, the sound travelled up the stone steps. It sounded even worse this time, and SJ immediately equipped her claws, holding the torch out in front of her as she slowly edged downwards. The steps were enclosed on each side and then turned at ninety degrees halfway down so she couldn’t see the cellar area below.

“How large is the cellar?” SJ called to Silti.

“Same size as the house. I think,” came the reply.

“One room or multiple?”

“Three,” Silti replied, her voice sounding very distant suddenly.

‘What’s making that sound?’ SJ thought again as she shivered on hearing it.

“Still can’t see, sorry. It is too dark in there, and I look down on things not up, unfortunately,” Dave chuckled weakly.

Reaching the bottom step, the flickering torch cast its orange glow into the cellar. The light did not reach the farthest corners, and much of it was still in darkness.

‘Anything yet?’

“Nothing,” Dave said.

Once again, the sound came. This time, being down at the bottom of the steps, SJ could tell it was coming from the far corner.

‘Over there.’ SJ thought, moving the torch to point in its direction. She crept forward, her senses on overdrive. Even with her improved vision, she could not penetrate the far gloom. Not wanting to make a sound, she checked the floor for anything and placed her feet as silently as possible.

Having only taken about five paces, she froze as a sense of foreboding crept over her. Her whole body suddenly felt like it was being dipped in an ice bath, and her teeth chattered. Every hair on her body felt as though it stood on end.

“Still nothing,” Dave said, sounding frustrated.

The first thing SJ saw was the flash of something coming towards her. Instinctively, she moved her head sideways, and narrowly avoided being hit by whatever was coming towards her. ‘What was that?’

“Oh, no,” Dave said nervously.

‘WHAT?’ SJ screamed in her thoughts.

“I think I know what Goji was.”

‘WHAT?’

Before Dave could answer almost instantaneously, a being appeared in front of her, hands outstretched to grab her. SJ, seeing the sudden appearance, screamed, staggering backwards and knocking into a table. She lost her balance and tripped, releasing the torch as she did.

“Are you okay?” Silti called from the kitchen.

SJ didn’t respond, busy clambering back to her feet as fast as she could. Spinning and looking in the direction the thing had been. The torch continued to burn, spluttering against the stone floor. At the edge of the light, SJ saw them. The glowing green eyes of the creature.

“It’s a lesser lich. The good thing is they are weak magically. The bad thing is that I think Goji was a necromancer, and that is him.”

The being moved further into the light. It wore dark, tattered robes and stood almost five feet tall. Its once fur-covered body now looked withered and skeletal, with patches of fur still clinging to its gaunt features. Hanging around its neck was a brilliant green gem that flashed in the torchlight as the robes fluttered around it.

It didn’t make a sound, but SJ saw its husk of a mouth move. A thin needle of white suddenly flashed towards her. Not reacting in time, the missile struck SJ in her left arm. Searing pain shot through her as she looked at what struck her. It was a thin, needle-shaped bone. Gripping the end with her right hand, she pulled it out, grunting.

“Up close and personal is the only way,” Dave said.

Everything inside SJ was telling her to run. Her fear receptors were on overdrive, and it took all her will to move towards it. Its hands ended in thin, needle-like claws, and she believed they were what had been making the sound. As she stepped forward, it again vanished into the darkness.

“Damn,” SJ cursed out loud this time.

“Is everything alright?” Silti called again.

“Yes,” SJ shouted back. Although every inch of her said it wasn’t.

“You have to get close enough to hit it. As I say, it’s a lesser lich. They are not very strong and have low health. You destroy that gem around its neck to kill it once you have injured it enough. The gem is its phylactery.”

“The quest said nothing about the undead,” SJ grimaced, cold seeping into her arm where the needle-like bone had struck her. Her health had not dropped by much, but her left arm was starting to feel heavy. “I think it poisoned me.”

“Necrotic poison, probably. You will need to see a cleric once you kill it,” Dave said.

“That’s if I can even see the damn thing,” SJ hissed.

SJ caught a flash of movement in her peripheral vision and threw her claws out defensively. Her claws caught the extended hand of the lich that was again reaching for her. The blades dug in deeply into the soft flesh that it still had maintained, and it let out a screech.

If the nails had sounded bad, the screech sounded ten times worse in the confines of the cellar. SJ’s enhanced hearing took the brunt of the high-pitched sound. She winced as the lich went to strike at her with its other hand. Using mind over matter, she moved her left arm up, blocking the claws from the lich from reaching her body, but they didn’t fail to penetrate the skin of her arm. Thankfully, it was the left again, feeling a colder and sharper pain this time as at least three of its long nails pierced her skin.

Thrusting with her right, she aimed for the Lich’s head, her claws catching it on the side of its face as it pulled away again. Quickly triggering her identification skill, she took a step back.

Lesser Lich

Level: 18

Hit points: 76 of 121

Mana points: 85 of 115

Armour Class: 20

Attacks: Claws

Special: Necrotic Needles

‘At least I am doing decent damage when I hit it,’ SJ thought.

“Just stay away from those claws. You have two doses of necrosis now. The doses of necrosis stack over time, and the spread will be faster with each strike."

‘My health is good, though.’

“It wants to immobilise you to turn you,” Dave said. “They can control undead.”

That thought drove the fear of god into SJ. Noticing another movement, she spun just in time as it again appeared from the darkness to strike her. Kicking out, she caught it in its abdomen, her foot seeming to sink into its weakened body before striking a solid bone. The blow made the lich double over, and SJ tore her claws across its shoulder as it did.

Again, the screech it made deafened her as it vanished backwards into the dark. Its health was down to 41.

“I wish I had more light,” SJ said.

“I have a lantern. I will get it,” Silti replied, hearing SJ.

Before SJ could respond, two more needle-like projectiles flew at her from the dark. Twisting from one while the other struck her in her right leg. “Argh,” she cried.

“Careful. That’s three now,” Dave said.

“I can’t see the damn thing to attack it,” SJ hissed as she pulled out the needle, dropping it to the floor. The torch continued to splutter on the floor, and she moved towards it to stay in its light. Another needle flew at her. This time, she just deflected it with her claws. Her right leg felt weakened and heavy, her left arm almost useless now.

“Here you go,” Silti said as she came onto the steps and started heading down, not understanding what she was getting herself into.

“Wait,” SJ called in panic.

It was too late as the lantern light bathed the cellar with its much brighter flame. The dark, shadowy figure in the robes screeched again, and Silti stopped dead in her tracks two steps from the bottom. Wide-eyed terror was on her face as she took in the robed figure.

SJ moved as the figure looked at the new target.

“Goji. Is that you?” Silti said in a terror-stricken voice.

The figure didn’t respond, instead flicking its hand out and firing a needle-like dart at Silti. SJ couldn’t help her, being too far away, and the needle struck her in her chest. Silti screamed in pain and shock, dropped the lantern, and fell backwards, clutching at her chest.

“Damn,” SJ cried, moving towards the figure as fast as she could. She triggered her shroud skill, unsure if it would help her that much, and lunged at the lich. The lich turned at the last moment and tried to move backwards but backed into a cupboard, stalling its escape. Striking out with as much fear as anger, SJ attacked. Her left arm was now useless, and she only had her right to fight with. She couldn’t even kick out of fear of losing her balance because of her right leg.

The lich threw one of its skeletal arms up to try to block the blow, and her claws ripped through the robe and flesh, striking against the bone underneath. Another screech left its mouth as it tried to attack back. The one saving grace that SJ had above everything else was her high Dexterity and initiative. Since her levels had increased, her dexterity now sat at 26, having added two extra points to it on top of the level increases. She had also increased her Constitution and Charisma by a further two each. Swinging her right arm down as though it had been one movement, she parried the lich’s attack and brought her elbow around and inside, catching the lich across its jaw. Its health dropped to 8.

“Once more,” Dave said.

“I’m trying,” SJ replied through gritted teeth, her movement impaired by the necrosis. She moved her right leg forward and over-reaching stabbed towards the lich. The green of the lich’s eyes met hers as her claws caught their target, and its final health dropped to zero.

Staggering backwards, gasping for breath from the extra exertion of moving half-paralysed limbs, she watched the light from its eyes fade.

“Good job,” Dave said. “Now smash the phylactery.”

SJ had already turned away from the lich’s form and was heading to Silti. ‘I will in a minute,’ she thought. “Silti. Are you okay?” she said as she approached.

Silti was lying across the steps where she had fallen, the thin needle of bone still protruding from her chest. Her face was pale and ashen-looking. “I can’t feel my chest,” she gasped as she tried to breathe.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“You will need to get help as soon as you can. The necrosis is working on her chest and affecting her breathing,” Dave said.

“This may hurt,” SJ said as she reached and pulled the dart from Silti’s chest.

Wincing from the pain, Silti struggled to sit upright slowly, taking rasping breaths.

“I need to get help. I will be back as quickly as I can,” SJ said.

Silti just nodded as she lay there looking over at the corpse of her now-dead, deceased husband.

“The phylactery,” Dave said.

‘It can wait until we are back,’ SJ replied as she moved up the stairs as quickly as she could in her injured state. The numbness was spreading through her right leg, and she had to get help before her leg became useless. Forcing herself up the steps, leaning heavily against the wall, she made it to the top before stumbling down the hallway to the front door. Managing to open it, she stepped outside into the street. Seeing an elven couple walking down the street, SJ called out.

“Help. Please.”

The elves stopped and turned, looking at her, before recognising her and running over. SJ recognised one of them from the inn. “SJ. What’s happened?” Jolian said.

“We need a cleric as fast as possible. Necrosis,” SJ said.

Jolian and his partner's eyes opened in shock at the comment. “I’ll go,” the female elf accompanying Jolian said as she turned and ran down the street, seeking help. SJ was leaning heavily against the doorframe of the property.

“Here, sit,” Jolian said. Helping her sit down.

"Silti got hit. She is in the cellar," SJ said.

“What caused it?” Jolian asked with concern.

“A lesser lich. It appears Silti’s husband may have been keeping secrets from her,” SJ said.

Concern changed to fear on Jolian’s face. “I killed it. Don’t worry. Please check on Silti,” SJ said. Her right leg was now useless and felt like a lead weight. Her left arm flopped at her side, immovable. She could feel the cold spread of the necrosis as it worked its way up her leg and felt it in her hip. It wasn’t painful, just ice cold.

Jolian stepped past SJ and hurried inside. “In the cellar,” SJ called.

SJ felt a nudge on her right arm as she sat leaning against the doorframe. Turning, she saw the face of the tabby cat Hawey. It let out a purring sound and rubbed up against her. SJ smiled and, reaching with her good arm, stroked him.

A few minutes passed before SJ heard the calls, and heading down the street came the female elf with a man. The man’s name was Gregor, and he was a cleric who served as the town guard at the training grounds. SJ had been healed by her regularly after receiving the odd cut or blow while training.

“You have got yourself in a bit of a state this time,” Gregor said, seeing SJ slumped against the door.

“Don’t worry about me. Please heal Silti first."

“Will do,” Gregor replied as he headed straight inside.

The female elf crouched by SJ as they waited for Gregor to return. With the cold now spreading to her lower abdomen, her left leg seemed amputated. The necrosis in her arm had now spread into her shoulder and across her back.

‘I would have thought the lich being killed would have stopped the damage,’ SJ thought.

“Nope, not from necrosis. It will basically end up paralysing you and then suffocating you as it stops you from breathing and takes hold fully,” Dave explained.

Gregor appeared back at the front door. “Silti will be fine once she rests,” he said as he knelt by SJ. “Where were you hit?”

“Left arm, right leg,” SJ replied. "The wounds have healed over and there is no visible sign of the damage," attributing it to her healing ability. She added that only the effect of the necrosis remained.

Gregor pulled the sleeve of her dress up, placed his hands on her upper and lower arm, and chanted. A tingling sensation and then heat blossomed from where he held her, and slowly, she felt the cold of the necrosis beginning to lessen as though it was being pulled back to the source of the injury. Feeling the movement come back to her arm, she flexed her shoulder, smiling gratefully at Gregor. “Thanks.”

Gregor then moved to her leg. “Do you mind?” he asked as he moved her dress.

Laughing, SJ replied. “What do you think?”

Gregor slipped his hands under her dress and felt the warmth of his hands on her thigh. Again, he chanted. SJ felt the cold dissipate, bending her knee.

“Thank you. Gregor,” SJ smiled.

“No problem. I am surprised that there was a lesser lich in the town.”

“No more so than me,” SJ replied as Gregor helped her back to her feet. “What can I give you as payment?”

“No need. You are a councillor of the town, and I have seen how hard you train and what you do for Killic.”

SJ flushed at his comment. “Thank you.”

“I better get going. I am supposed to be on the grounds by now,” he replied, smiling at her.

Entering the house again, SJ found Jolian, his partner, and Silti seated at the kitchen table. Silti still looked pale from her ordeal.

“Silti. I am so sorry,” SJ said, embarrassed that she had been affected.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Silti replied.

“I need to finish the job,” SJ said as she returned to the cellar.

The fallen lantern stood upright at the bottom, and picking it up, she walked over to where the robed figure lay on the floor.

“Don’t get scratched by those claws,” Dave warned.

SJ reached down, flipping the body over. The green jewel glowed brightly, appearing to pulse. Reaching out, she grabbed the jewel and pulled, snapping the chain from around the neck of the once Goji. The jewel felt cold in her hand.

“How do I destroy it?” SJ asked.

“Smash it,” Dave said.

Taking hold of the remaining chain, she held the pendant, looking at the glowing light before swinging it firmly onto the stone floor of the cellar. There was a cracked sound, followed by a howling wail as the shards of the gem flew across the floor, the green light fading from the shattered pieces.

SJ had not been ready for the wailing sound and had thrown herself backwards, banging her head against the wall as she did. “Damn. You could have warned me,” SJ huffed, rubbing the back of her head.

“Sorry,” Dave said, coughing slightly and feeling embarrassed.

SJ’s display triggered.

Lesser Lich killed – 180xp awarded

Quest - Cellar Dweller – Completed

You discovered Mrs Westbury’s husband had been up to no good and disposed of his undead presence.

Reward:

1 x silver

400xp (+100% bonus) 800xp awarded.

“I don’t feel right looting the corpse of Silti’s husband, even if it was now a lich,” SJ said.

“Understandable. Ok. Next quest,” Dave said cheerily.

Rolling her eyes, SJ stood and scanned the room with the lantern, quickly moving and checking the other two smaller rooms the cellar had. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary or any signs of necromancy. Goji must have been a necromancer to have become a lich. Dave had explained that many necromancers would attempt to have a lich failsafe if they died. Necromancers could never guarantee the chances of returning as a lich, and it could also take them years to develop the ability. Even Dave was uncertain about the precise formation of a lich.

Walking back upstairs, she checked on Silti and comforted her. Silti gave her the silver coin, even though SJ tried to refuse because of the turmoil she must be going through. Shortly after, she departed and extended her thanks to Jolian and his partner, whom she found out was named Lucial, for their help.

“I think I have had enough excitement for one day,” SJ said as she left the house.

“Yes, but you are only one more quest from level 15,” Dave said glumly.

Sighing deeply, SJ checked out her character sheet to see how much experience she required. Her recent development had been going well.

Legionnaire 25007077

Name: SJ

Age: 27

Race: Fae

Class: Assassin

Alignment: Neutral Good

↻ Level: 14

Experience: 4985 of 5250

Hit Points: 107 of 107 (112)

Mana Points: 66

Armour Class: 31 (15)(16)

Attributes:

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 26

Intelligence: 11

Wisdom: 11

Constitution: 18

Charisma: 17 (2)(15)

Skills

Racial:

Night Vision – you have improved vision in poor light conditions.

Flight – when in miniature fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form.

Shapeshift – the ability to switch between fae forms.

Class:

Martial Arts – Kata Level 7, Clawed Avenger Level 3

Subterfuge – Identification Level 8 – 278 of 300 to level 9, Shroud Level 2

Profession:

Tailor Level 6

Symbiosis:

Dragon Sense – your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened.

Precognition – foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown)

Divine lightning – your blood is combined with that of a Blue Dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat.

Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed)

Inventory: 10 slots (10 special)

Followers: 3

Resigned to the fact she was so close to level 15, she replied, “Okay. Where now?”