The ghost of Ashenvale chapter 2

Chapter 2:

The Abominations

I was told to go south to a place that was known as the Ghostlands where the outpost known as Tranquellin was. There I had my first encounter with the Forsaken - undead who were freed from the Litch King’s grasp. They were cold even disdainful at first with good reason, but my accomplishments changed all that. Soon I was ready to undertake one of the most difficult tasks: the destruction of Knucklerot and Lurzan. As I waited for the first one I decided to clear out the ziggurat on the side of the road, Flame and I made short work of it.

When we came out we were met by a stench so foul that the trees themselves shrivelled up. Then we saw him: Knucklerot in all his putrid glory. The abomination was sewn from different greying human skins with a huge gap in the middle from which purple intestines where leaking. He held a scythe in one hand and a meat cutter in the other the two remaining where clenched into fists.

I sent Flame out first then hit him with an arcane shot. He bellowed and lunged toward me, but Flame roared and he changed course hurtling toward Flame instead.

The fight was to be a long one. As Flame ducked and dived; breathed fire and bit, I shot arrow after arrow into the creature’s body, crippling it, but never managing the coup de grace.

About 4 minutes into the fight, I noticed Flames strength starting to wane. Instantly I summoned my arcane power and fusing it with that of nature sent a healing bolt to Flame. His wounds healed and his strength replenished Flame fought with renewed vigour, but still the insult to life refused to fall.

Finally an arcane shot hit him in just the right place.

The abomination fell with a ground shaking thud. I walked up to him; always watchful for signs of life, but Flame had done his job well the creature really was dead. He wasn’t carrying much ac couple of silver some wool, ooh he had some silk on him as well. Trying only to think of the reward, and cut the bastard’s head off, wretched and left his body to be dealt with by the corrupt beasts that stalk the ghostlands.

Lurzan was next. He was easier to find, but I had to venture into unfriendly territory. The dead scar that stretches from Deathhlome to Silvermoon; full of all manner of evil rotting undead and remains of the scourge. As I drew my bow back to the cheek ready to fire, I saw of the corner of my eye an axe swinging toward me, a necromancer’s pet had decided that I was to be it’s master’s next slave, I dodged, but my arrow went awry and to make matters worse Lurzan had noticed. I sent flame out to attack the abomination while I focused on the skeleton before me.

The air was rent with bellows, screeches and the clash of steel on steel. Flame was swooping about the abomination’s head diving, biting and breathing fire whenever he could; while I dodged parried and attacked, my sword finding gaps in the skeleton’s armour. Finally both Lurzan and the skeleton lay dead, but flame was badly poisoned and fell the moment we reached Tranquellin , but I had not learnt the ways of the wild for nothing, summoning all my ties to nature and fusing it with my arcane energy I managed to call Flame back form his ghostly wanderings.

Trying not to betray how sick I felt, I showed the forsaken who had charged me with the task of destroying the two abominations. I received a handsome pile of silver and the demonslayer’s ring. As I put it on I felt stronger and more intelligent. The reward was well worth the effort.