Name: Todd Longfellow, Race: Human

Height: 5’6”, Weight: 130, Sex: Male

Archetype: Fighter

HP: 18 / 18, Mana: 0 / 0

Stats:

Physical: 4, Moxie: 2, Spiritual: 2, Luck: 2

Agility: 2, Magic: 2, Mental: 2, Energy: 3.

Relevant Skills: Physical - Awareness, Physical - Listen

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Todd used afoot to nudge a newly severed head away from the corpse on the ground next to it. He gave it a second kick as an eyelid moved. Not jumping this time, unlike previous kicks. "Hey Mark, what about a create undead spell with a trigger when they die to have a laugh sound play."

"Like the fucking Joker from Batman?" Mark said. "That'd be evil." Mark stared at nearby corpses for a second before looking back at Todd. "Probably have to use another system; I don't think this one has a contingency spell. At least I don't remember one."

Todd nodded before turning to look for Jax. His friend was standing over several corpses, but heads were caved in rather than severed from the body.

"That's the last of that batch," Todd said toward Jax.

"May they find their slumber eternal," Jax said. He stepped toward a nearby tree and tapped his gore-covered mace against the trunk. Bits of flesh and dried blood fell off.

"Here, let me help." Mark walked up and directed Jax to hold his mace outstretched. Once the mace was out, Mark created a blast of water at the weapon. As the stream of water faded, the weapon wasn't clean, but most of the gore was removed.

"I've been wondering, should we bury them, I mean, they were already buried, whats the rites for dealing with undead remains?"

"I'm not sure; for some reason, I remember stories about burning the corpses, but that may be so they can't be reanimated again," Jax said.

Todd located a small clearing, went to the center and dug out some dirt. He only dug down about a foot and a few feet wide, then cleared the nearby ground of brush and leaves. Putting some wood and kindling in the center, he then dragged the bodies in a pile in the hole. Not taking any chances, he severed the head from each before dragging it over.

Success! Physical roll 7d10; 10, 10, 1, 4, 3, 7,. 10; Four Successes; Skill Physical - Awareness has gained 4 Experience. Skill points to the next level, 9,902.

Todd spotted something move through the woods out of the corner of his eye. He quickly put a tree between him and the movement as he whispered, "something ahead, two o'clock." He kept his eyes on the area, looking for a sign of who was approaching the group. Another branch forty feet away moved; Todd saw a robed figure pushing a limb out of his way. Todd crouched to spring forward when he attacked, waiting several seconds for the robed man to get closer.

Tightening his grip on his sword, he waited and carefully listened to the sound of the person getting closer. Guessing that the robe and the fact the target looked living would mean they'd be a caster or perhaps the necromancer that was creating all the undead. He closed his eyes as he listened, hoping the reduced visual distraction would help his hearing.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Success! Physical Roll 6d10; 10, 8, 8, 7, 2, 2; Four Successes; Skill Physical - Listen has gained 4 Experience.

Skill points to next level, 62

A foot stepped on a twig to Todd's right about twenty feet away. Opening his eyes, he stared in the direction of the sound. A glimpse of the robed figure's shoulder appeared between some low-hanging branch. Todd held up his right hand with the index finger pointed. Swirling it in a circle, he then pointed in the direction of the robed figure. Without waiting for any reply from anyone behind him, Todd strode forward to meet the threat, sword out with the tip pointing toward the figure.

Todd got only a few feet closer before the robed figure looked directly at him, then glanced to his left. The figure raised his hands and took another step forward. Charisse came into view behind the robed figure.

"I told you, no more strays," Todd said when Charisse and the robed figure got close enough to talk without yelling.

"I'm gonna hug him, pet him and call him George," Charisse said.

"I refuse to take any name you give me," Tim said as he threw a glare at Charisse.

"It's a saying where we come from," Todd said. He sheathed his sword and stepped to the side. He saw no one else had followed him with a glance behind him. Jax was standing over the mass grave, Mark was staring off at the sky, and Reggie talked to Henderson.

"He's willing to cooperate, maybe provide some insight, then I told him Jax was fair and just," Charisse said.

"I," Todd cut himself off as he looked at Charisse, then Tim. Then, shaking his head at the guy's name and how they've all become softer when dealing with NPC's, he turned away again to look at Jax. "Jax," he called out.

Jax looked up briefly before he started jogging over. He slowed and stopped leaving a dozen feet between him and Tim. His mace appeared in his hand and slowly raised as he closed the distance.

"If this is a joke to force me to break my vows, then it is a poor one indeed. Why is this vile creature standing before me?" Jax said. His knuckles were white as he gripped his mace. The lines of his jaw visibly tensed.

"Charisse brought…" Todd was interrupted.

"Tim is a reluctant participant, and he was hoping to exchange his life for information," Charisse said.

"I only pursued this path to find the knowledge to save my family," Tim said quickly. Then, he shrank back as Jax's eyes met his own.

"If killing hundreds to save your skin is what you're willing to pay to save your life. Seems like an unfair exchange." Jax said. His right arm, holding the mace, shook a little.

"I told him we'd spare his life if he gave us information to help defeat this necromancy." Charisse took part in a step between Tim and Jax.

Jax closed his eyes for a second and several deep breaths. When he opened his eyes, he glared at Charisse, then Tim. With a suddenness, he turned away and said, "Alright, what information does he deem worthy of his life?"

Quickly losing interest in Jax's interrogation, Todd tapped Mark on the shoulder and pointed to the pile of corpses. They walked over, and Mark threw a little fireball at the base to start the fire. Flames flickered until the leaves ignited, the wood soon following. Soon the small pile was burning, a column of smoke pointing down to the clearing. Occasionally a bit of wood would pop, and sparks would jump out. Todd quickly stamped them out.

Charisse stepped next to Todd and Mark; she slowly looked up and back down to the bonfire before speaking. "Mark, do you know of a way to hide the smoke?"

"Not offhand, I'm sure I could figure something out, but at this point, it's too late," Mark said. He threw down a few more little fireballs into parts of the fire that were not burning as quickly. "All we can hope is to burn it quickly and get moving before anyone starts investigating."

"So, what's the next step?" Todd said as he used the tip of his sword to nudge a corpse closer to the flames. "Did you discover a temple that we need to clear out?"

"Kind of, more like tunnels, was hoping someone would have an idea how to quickly neutralize it without taking up too much time," Charisse said.

"I doubt Jax will be content with blocking an entrance and moving on," Charisse said.

"Didn't D&D have a consecrate type of spell? Something to bless the land to inhibit negative energy?" Todd said.

"Yeah, I don't think S&D has anything that is similar." Mark's gaze unfocused as he stared off in the distance. He quickly snapped back. "Sorry, didn't mean… maybe a bless, but I'm not sure how long it'll take to verify."

"Do you think it would be enough to satisfy Jax?" Todd threw a glance over to his friend, interrogating Tim.

"Maybe," Mark shrugged, then looked at the fire as it languishingly consumed the corpses. "I have an idea." He said as he pointed to the burning corpses. Then, beckoning people away from the flames, he focused on several points in space around it. After a minute, he started throwing full-sized fireballs into the burning pile. Each exploded and stopped its expansion as if an invisible box held it within a ten by ten field around the corpses. Several seconds and fireballs later, the corpses were piles of ash.

"At times, you're scary," Todd said before he let out a breath.

"Any system where a wizard with creativity isn't feared is an unrealistic system," Mark muttered as he watched the flames settle. "Anyways, we the good guys." Mark flashed a smile so fake that Todd assumed he must have rolled a critical failure.

"Couldn't we just nuke the underground caves?" Todd said.

"We'd have to explore them all, then as we exit, nuke each one on the way out. Otherwise, the heat will prevent us from exploring deeper."

"The initial tunnels didn't seem too lengthy, but I didn't go past the first sets of rooms," Charisse said.

"Great, so either Mr. Goody Two-Shoes will want to check every square foot, or we can hopefully consecrate the whole thing," Todd said.

Success! Physical Roll 6d10; 6, 3, 3, 2, 4, 5; Zero Successes; Skill Physical - Listen Failed.

"Until I obtain the rank of Knight, you are correct," Jax said. His voice powerful and confident next to Todd.

Todd jumped a little as the voice of his friend startled him. He quickly turned and saw Jax and Tim standing nearby. His mouth sputtered as he tried to say something but a smile grew on Jax's face.

"It's alright, but you bring up a valid point." Jax's eyes scanned the group, meeting Mark's and Charisse's before settling back on Todd. "I think Bless will shut down or at least slow them down a few days. Although, I admit a part of me wants to crush every spec of evil in the tunnels, I know it's easier for evil to just rebuilt in another location."

"So we consecrate the shit out of the area and call it good?" Todd said.

"Yes, we bless the heck out of it." Jax smiled as he spoke.