The Wolves arrived to the wooded outskirts of Stonehammer. Along the outer walls were tumbled towers and walls. On the other side they could rotted and ruined rooftops shattered on the floor. The gatehouse of the fortress looked as if it had been ripped from its mortared stance and eaten up by age. A ramshackle scaffold built between the two towers connected the broken structures. The central keep to this stone corpse had less of a presence of feudal strength and carried the appearance of a face long since desiccated and feasted on by birds.

Before the broken fortress was a long field of tall grass surrounding the whole outer ring of the fortification. With a deep moat just before the walls, much of the old walls now resting within the dugout. The drawbridge to the gatehouse down, the chains resting on the ground. Along the remaining walls still upright were impaled bodies some long dead with others disturbingly recently deceased.

“Gods, this place used to be sung in stories and odes before even the founding,” said Kveldulf.

“That’s what happened when remembering your past is considered a cultural sin,” said Silvius bitterly.

“Maeryn,” Cid called out, “Can you see anything?”

“I see two guards at the ruined gatehouse and a couple went by the tower arrowslits not too long ago.”

“All right, Doc, how much time do we have left before the spell goes off?”

“Two hours, two and a half at most.”

“Then time isn’t on our side,” Cid said, snarling.

“What’s the plan, Cid,” Jeanne asked.

“Stay in the tall as long as we can until we get to the moat, Maeryn when you can, take those two guards at the gate house out. I don’t want them making things difficult.”

“We could hang right of the house,” said Kveldulf. “The grass is a little taller and those ruins in the moat look like it’d be easy to move up.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” said Cid. “Kel, take Ben, and Hypatia and infiltrate the walls there. Once inside we’ll move in behind you.”

“Got it, come on,” Kveldulf said as he gestured the others to follow. Keeping their heads down they moved through the tall grass. Kveldulf felt the blades of grass tap on his armor, some of the dew making them stick before being pulled off as he continued forward. A sharp caw of a bird in the distance caused them to stop, turning towards the sound and then looking at each other before moving again.

Reaching the outer edge of the moat Kveldulf felt his muscles tense. Constantly checking behind him to see if the others were still there, or if someone else was there. Peering his head out, Kveldulf saw no one on either side, turned to Hypatia and Benkin and gave a quick nod.

Moving into the moat, the three moved down the ditch, behind some of the debris. Kveldulf moved himself up a large broken section of the wall now in the moat. He helped Hypatia and Benkin up before poking his head over the top of the depression. Much of the inner bailey empty with one collapsed house positioned on his right side. To his left was a stair way leading up to the gatehouse structure and where the two guards He clicked his tongue twice, catching their attention. Do you see anything?, he asked them.

They peered their heads up briskly before pulling them back down.

I can’t see anyone, said Hypatia.

Neither can I, Benkin followed.

All right, let’s move in. We’ll head up the stairs and take the two guards out. Hypatia, signal the others to move in, Ben we’ll take out the other two Maeryn mentioned before, Kveldulf gestured before slowly pulling out the halberd as Ben and Hypatia readied their weapons.

Moving over the edge they rushed up the stairs and reaching the top spotted the two guards along the scaffolding. Hypatia swiftly crossed the path, striking both guards down before they could make a noise. One man fell over the parapet and in front of the two men standing guard below. They looked, spotting Hypatia above them as they were shot down by Maeryn in the distance.

The rest moved quickly to the gate as Kveldulf, Ben and Hypatia opened it enough for them to get inside. As they gathered in the courtyard Cid surveyed the area. “Excellent work, now, where would they be holding this ceremony?”

“If they were doing at the top, we’d be seeing signs,” said Leonidas. “My money would be on them inside, probably somewhere deep.”

“I’m not saying you’re wrong, Doc,” said Benkin, “But I don’t like it.”

“Oh, I’m not happy either,” Leonidas admitted.

“Let’s not tarry then,” Cid said as he noticed Leonidas jerking his head to the side briefly. “Everything all right, doctor?”

Leonidas looked up at the impaled bodies. “They’re not dead,” he said as he unsheathed his sword.

The bodies began spasming to life. Gripping the stakes holding them and pulling themselves upwards. The metal pulling chucks of flesh and flaked bone off the deceased bodies.

“Well, that’s just outright disturbing,” said Benkin.

“I’m glad I didn’t eat breakfast,” said Silvius.

As the undead released themselves from their stakes, they gripped the metal halfway down and with a twist removed the tops from their placement.

“Are you shitting me!” Jeanne said, turning her skin to stone and reaching for her war-hammer.

“Go for their heads!” cried Leonidas, “That’ll kill them immediately.”

The undead leapt from the parapets, landing on the ground and lunged towards The Wolves. Kveldulf cleaved halberd’s blade deep into the chest of one body. Benkin decapitated one monstrosity and slicing another in half in a single stroke. Hypatia composed an ode of war with multiple movements on several of the oncoming enemy.

Jeanne slammed her hammer into the skull of one as another tried biting through her skin. An arrow from Maeryn loosened the undead’s jaw. “Are you all right?” Maeryn asked.

“Much, thanks,” Jeanne replied, throwing her hammer into the eye socket of a creature running towards the elf.

Silvius removed one of the undead’s head as he saw Leonidas running up the steps, several of the monsters after him. “What are you doing?” he shouted at Leonidas.

“Keep those things, busy,” Leonidas shouted, “I’m gonna try something.”

“Hurray up, Doc!” Hypatia said, decapitating another of the undead.

One reached for him as he clefted its head into two. He kicked it down, knocking another off the stairs as more came after him. He lifted his staff into the air, the clouds above turning a blood red. With dark ominous voice he utters the words:

Command the soul, Command the flesh,

Heed my words demon wretch

Depart the world, begone at last

Summoned back and spell uncast!

He slammed the butt of his staff the ground as red lightening erupted from the sky and struck the undead around them. The undead fell to the ground and turned to ash, The Wolves look up at Leonidas. Leaning heavily on his staff he looks back at them. “I feel like I made a blunder.”

“That’s was epic!” Benkin declared, “With the clouds, and the voice, and the staff in the air!”

Leonidas, making his way down and catching his breath nodded, “Thanks, I was hoping that’d work.”

“You mean it could’ve gone bad?” asked Silvius.

“If the caster had more power behind the spell, then we’d be in a bit of trouble.”

“Thank the gods for small favors,” said Cid, patting Leonidas’s shoulder. “It’s good to have an expert with us.”

“Well, I think that’s all I got for today,” Leonidas said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Cid spotted the door into the central keep. “Let’s see if the way is clear.”

As the others prepared their torches and lighting spells, Cid gingerly opened the entrance and looked down into the darkened entryway.

“And why am I not surprised.”

“For what it’s worth,” said Kveldulf, “I’d be concerned if they had immaculate lighting waiting for us.”

“Kel.”

“Yeah Cid?”

“You need to be quite.”

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“That’s fair.”

As The Wolves moved into the darkened halls, Kveldulf felt the sensation he was not alone. His shoulder jerked up as he felt a cold wind touch his neck, as if someone was breathing behind him. Out of his peripheral vision he would see an eye staring back at him.

“This place is giving me an uneasy feeling,” Maeryn said softly.

“You think place is haunted?” Benkin asked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” said Leonidas.

“I was hoping you were going to say he was wrong,” said Hypatia, forcing a chuckle.

“Then I wouldn’t a be good little doctor, would I?”

“Doesn’t mean you can indulge us.”

Cid turned around and held up his hand. Everyone went silent and watched him with great intent. He turned his ear up and listened to something. Maeryn moved up to where Cid was as well.

I think we found them, Cid gestured.

Any idea how many? Kveldulf asked.

Cid shook his head. Can’t tell, too many voices.

Well that’s never a pleasant sign, Benkin gestured.

What, no sense of adventure? Hypatia asked.

I have as much of that as the next person in a questionably inviting place. But this place is all kinds of creepy, Benkin replied.

“Hey, what’s the hold up?” Kveldulf hissed in a whisper.

“Oh gods, we haven’t been moving,” said Hypatia.

“Well, that’s just embarrassing,” replied Benkin.

Rounding the corner, they came upon a door ajar. Cid moved to one side, Kveldulf on the other. As Cid pressed his fingers push the door open more, they heard chatter amongst some people on the other side.

“I think whatever caused the commotion above is finally over,” said one voice.

“Good, that was starting to get a little strange,” said another voice.

“Guess we should get out the mess,” said a third voice, “make sure everyone is all right up there.”

Cid and Kveldulf readied their weapons as footsteps drew near. One of the men opened the door as Cid shot the blade in his shield into the man’s neck, piercing his skull. Kveldulf, mace in hand, slammed his weapon into the second man’s torso, and once more against his back. Silvius two knives in hand, threw them into the neck and heart of the final guard back in the room.

“That room’s clear,” said Cid. “Let’s keep moving.”

Passing by several more rooms, The Wolves saw nothing inside, person or even furniture. “Taking minimalist living to an extreme, are we?” Cid said out loud.

“Perhaps these were just storage rooms?” Silvius asked.

“Not an unlikely conclusion,” Cid replied. “But I’m not saying one way or the other, given who we’re talking about.”

“Do you still hear the voices?” Jeanne asked.

“A little,” said Cid, “It seems to be getting a little louder now.”

“Same,” said Maeryn, “I can make out some of the words but not enough to get what they mean.”

“I almost prefer not knowing what they’re uttering,” Cid replied.

“At least we’re moving in the right direction,” Kveldulf said.

Moving deeper into the bowels of the keep, they found a large double door closed shut at the bottom of a flight of stairs. The Wolves spilt, moving down both sides of the stair case until reaching the bottom. Maeryn moved to the lock, pulling out a series of lockpicks and other tools. While she did this, Jeanne checked the door for magical tampering.

“Is anyone else getting a bad feeling about this place?” Silvius asked.

“Can’t say I’m not,” said Kveldulf, “but I get it with every place like this we’re in.”

Maeryn turned to Cid. “All clear with the lock.”

“I’m not getting anything, either,” Jeanne followed.

“Good,” Cid replied, “Let’s move in and see what these people have planned.”

Kveldulf and Cid pushed the doors open, seeing six cloaked figures, their hands raised upward chanting in an ancient tongue. In each corner of the room there was a statue in a similar pose, beams of energy pulsating blue, purple, and white came out from the stone heads and met together to form a great ball which hovered over the six individuals.

The Wolves moved from pillar to pillar, keeping to the shadows and out of sight. Jeanne stood next to Leonidas, both looking at the growing ball of energy above them. “Is that the spell?” she whispered.

“I’d say it is.”

“The hell are planning with that?”

“A lot of things, none of them good.”

“Then let’s end it before it gets worse,” said Cid, standing by the pillar next to them with blade in hand charged the cultists.

The cultists, spotting Cid and the others rushing towards them, ceased their chanting and began conjuring spells. Leonidas, staff in hand bound one of the cultists arms together as he struck the foe with his sword. Another leapt into the air as Maeryn’s arrows pierced their chest. One fired a burst of energy at Jeanne, her skin covered in stone. The blast shattered some of her stone skin, leaving the rest intact.

The cultist smiled with malice as she looked on Jeanne. “Let me give you something to smile about,” Jeanne roared as she sent a fireball to the person, setting their robes blaze. As they screamed Jeanne struck their head with her hammer.

As the other cultists fell dead, The Wolves moved around the empty room. The sphere of energy slowly disappearing the cultists blood spread out over the floor.

“Well, that was faster than I was expecting,” said Cid. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“That can be remedied,” said a deep, ominous voice. It echoed off the walls, catching The Wolves off guard. They turned around, weapons at the ready, seeing no one else in the room.

“Oh good, disembodied voices,” said Silvius, “That’s always a good sign.”

“You just had to say something, Cid,” Jeanne followed.

“I’m not proud of myself either.”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on you since managed to end Belthory. She wasn’t the type to go down without a fight,” the voice continued. “And I must admit your tenacity is nothing short but admirable. And if thought there was a true chance of such a thing happening, I would’ve more than offered you the chance to join. However, I am fairly certain we all know the answer to that question, don’t we?”

“I’m starting to consider options,” Kveldulf said, surveying his surrounding as sweat beaded on his brow.

The voice chuckled. “The humor is appreciated, but nothing more than a formality. And I’ve poured too much time, resources, and effort to have this undermined. But, before I give you this parting gift, know that perhaps in another life, we could have been quite the allies. Perhaps we might draw swords together in the next life, only time will tell.”

“Why does that not fill me confidence?” Hypatia asked.

“Because it shouldn’t,” the voice replied.

As the energy disappeared and the room began shaking violently. A monstrous roar came from the depths below. Something beneath them was striking with tremendous fury to breach the floor above. Parts of the ceiling began falling to the floor, Silvius and Jeanne barely dodged from the debris.

“Move it!” Cid called out as the rest of The Wolves raced up the steps. The ferocity of the earthquakes causing their feet to slip and tumble. The wooden supports began cracking and snapping as they left the subterranean levels. Reaching the top of the keep, they poured from the entrance as the whole keep collapsed onto itself.

“Can we not do that again?” Leonidas said, bent over and trying to catch his breath.

“I agree with the doctor,” said Silvius, “That was anything but pleasant.”

“Let’s get out of here before whatever was down there decides to –” Cid said before a hand exploded from the ground, launching a shower of dirt clumps into the sky.

“Cid,” Jeanne shouted, “Gods damn it, stop jinxing us!”

“We can discuss this later,” said Cid, “fall back to better ground.”

As the emerged hand clasped the ground and gripped the earth, tearing into it deeply with its claws. Its head emerged from the bowels of the ruined keep, its nose protruding over its mouth. The maw when closed still have dozens of curved teeth peering over the scaled skin, stained in dark hues of gold, brown and black. Its eyes crimson red where the pupils lie with blackness surrounding the rest. Each side of its head was a large horn swirling until it pointed outwards.

Rising further revealed the large elongated scales cutting through the dirt as a sword serrating through flesh. Scars, gashes, and other ancient wounds marked its hide as came out of the earth. Each strike of its hands and feet shook the ground. As it opened its maw, droplets of saliva dripped down with bits of broken bones dripped from down from its teeth. A deep bellowing churned from within followed by a thunderous boom shuddered the heavens as it released a chilling scream.

“The fuck is that?” shouted Hypatia.

“It’s a Bukavac!” Leonidas replied.

“Just wonderful!” said Kveldulf.

Maeryn, sunk an arrow into the creature’s flesh. It turns its gaze to her as she ran for a pile of rubble nearby. Each stride brought her closer, more than her legs to regain the distance. From the parapets, Hypatia leapt from the stone works, her blades pointed down and sinking deep until the cross guards arrested their thrust.

The creature roared as it thrashed about. With one arm it reached to grab her off. She barely missed the first swipe as its own claws into its own flesh to swipe her off. As it stood and tried to attack her, Benkin and Kveldulf moved to attack its feet. They slashed at the Bukavac’s ankles with terrible fury.

The Bukavac lifted one foot up and slammed it hard against the ground. Rock and earth jutting up from the strike. Kveldulf was flung into the air and landed hard. Cid and Leonidas helped him back to his feet as they moved to a rubble pile. “Tell me you have another trick up your sleeve, Doc,” Kveldulf asked.

“I used mine with the undead,” Leonidas replied. “I have a few small ones, but nothing to knock that thing out.”

Jeanne ran up. “What’s the plan, Cid?”

Cid turned to Benkin, “You think you can get on that thing and give Hypatia some support?”

“On it,” Benkin said, rushing off back into the fray.

“We can’t use brute strength with this thing. Doc, do you know any weakness of that thing?”

“It’s weak to fire and extreme heat, and its insides are exceptionally susceptible to damage,” said Leonidas.

“Jeanne, do you have any spells you can cook up?”

“I got an idea,” said Jeanne, turning to Kveldulf, “But I’m gonna need that spear-axe of yours.”

“It’s a halberd, and why?”

“The handle can extend, right?”

“When I hold it.”

“Then I’m gonna need you, too, buddy.”

Silvius cried out as he flew in the air, landing near the rubble pile. Leonidas rushed out to grab him, dragging him back to the others. “I got you, friend,” he said once they reached the others and started treating Silvius’s wounds.

“Oh, gods damn it,” he said reluctantly as he rose to his feet. “Come on.”

He followed Jeanne up the steps to the parapet. They saw both Benkin and Hypatia hanging off the shoulders of the creature as it tried to dislodge them. “You know how to extend that thing on command?” she asked him, running along the walkway of the wall.

“I’ve been working on that yeah,” he replied.

“Good, and I think you know what I need you to do.”

“I do, but I don’t like it.”

“Oh, I don’t like what my part is either.”

Kveldulf spotted Maeryn down in the courtyard and readying for another shot. “Maeryn!” Kveldulf shouted. As she turned to Kveldulf he continued, “Get it to open its mouth wide.”

She nodded, turned to the creature, and after a short shrug fired an arrow into a spot causing the Bukavac to scream in terrible pain. It fell to its knees and as it continued crying in pain, Kveldulf launched himself into its mouth, extending the handle of his halberd to keep it from closing its jaw shut.

Jeanne bouncing on her feet a couple of times before going into a full run, leapt into the Bukavac’s maw and as she fell deep into its bowels unleashed a torrent of energy. After a series of deep explosions, the innards of the creature blasted away, its guts, organs, blood and bone scattering amongst the immediate surroundings. The creature landed on its chest, both Benkin and Hypatia tumbling off of the fresh corpse.

Kveldulf, retracting the handle, crawled out of the mouth. Rising to his feet he turned to find Jeanne covered in the visceral of the creature. She stumbled her way out of the cavity of the dead Bukavac, a dazed look in her eye. “Are you all right?” he asked her.

“No one is screaming, so that’s a good sign,” she replied, her head moving slowly and her eyes opening and closing asynchronously.

Benkin and Hypatia, now on their feet they came to Jeanne, both ecstatic brimming from her feat. “That was fucking epic!” Benkin declared.

“You just leapt in and exploded it like it was nothing,” Hypatia followed.

“Well … I do like making memorable performance,” she said, still recovering her faculties.

Leonidas ran up, his helm removed and shaking his head. “Another one from the fortress?”

“Yeah!” Jeanne said proudly before having a confused look on her face. “What fortress?”

Leonidas began chuckling as Cid and Silvius reached the rest. Cid ran his hand over his face. “That was, without a doubt, the dumbest thing I have ever seen you do since I’ve met you. And only you could’ve pulled that off.”

“Aw,” Jeanne said, brimming brightly, “You know just what to say.”

“Do you need a moment to … you know … recover?” Kveldulf asked.

“I just want to leave this place, ever so much,” she said with great certainty.