Secrets of the Cytharai

III

Crypt

Antonio was a typical Tilean crime lord: A bloated form, greasy fingers, thick cheeks accompanying a neatly trimmed beard and the finest silk robes money could buy.

And a wanted man.

Or at least in his native homeland.

He'd been travelling incognito for the past week or so – he couldn't remember exactly how long. Time seems to matter little when you're trying to avoid attracting attention. When he was in Tilea, he had managed to build a fair-sized crime empire with his own two hands, making dealings in the black market, making friends with the right people and silencing his enemies with money or, failing that, a knife in the ribs.

Recently however, he was interested in expanding his borders. So, he had travelled into the Empire, with the intention of establishing a crime racket.

Or more to the point, he has been driven out as his empire collapsed – through betrayal from a close ally.

Such was the way of the Tileans.

Currently Antonio had been travelling far and was pausing for rest. For the moment, he was resting in a tavern in some village, Weissbruck he thought it was called, plotting his next move.

With a pair of burly bodyguards at his side, no one really bothered him.

Or most likely no one recognised him outside of Tilea.

All the more better for him…..

Anyway, rumours had led him to believe that this village was a very quiet place, facing little in the terms of crime or involvement from any groups. There were stories that a tribe of Orcs had established a camp nearby but since no one had proven so, such talk was dismissed as stories.

There were also whispers of an army of blue and gold sacking a town up north but, for whatever reason, such a potential threat was rarely discussed.

But in any case, this quiet town seemed the perfect starting point to rebuild….

Suddenly, Antonio's thoughts were interrupted – in the form of a piece of paper being slammed down before him.

The crime lord looked up to see a tall Kislevite, bedecked in furs, black clothing and a brown moustache. In front of them both was a wanted poster with Antonio's name.

Antonio's eyes widened with terror at this newcomer. A bounty hunter? Or some young buck wanting to pick a fight?

Oh what does it matter? With a snap of their master's fingers, the bodyguards moved to act.

Without batting an eyelid, Dimitri Shandrikova grabbed the nearest one by the front of his shirt – before hurling him across the room. The bodyguard went flying into a table, scattering those around it. The man hit the table with such force that the table split in half with a loud crack.

Immediately panic spread through the tavern and many of the patrons made their way to the door, not wanting to confront the big Kislevite. Oblivious, Dimitri turned his attention to the second guard. The bodyguard launched himself at the bounty hunter but Dimitri anticipated such a move: in one swift movement, he reached down to his side and drew forth a lethal-looking hand axe.

One which he promptly drove into the bodyguard's face, with a sickening crunch.

The bodyguard tumbled to the ground, and again, Dimitri confronted Antonio.

By now, the crime lord was inching towards the door, keen to get away from the bounty hunter. But Dimitri was too quick: Striding over he grasped the crime lord by the front of his shirt.

Suddenly Antonio drew forth a knife. Driven by fear, he thrust it forward to the bounty hunter's ribs.

And he would've got there had his hand not been intercepted.

Next thing he knew, the crime lord felt a tight grip encase his hand. One that refused to let go and buried itself deep into the man's hand. Roaring with pain, Antonio dropped the knife.

Now facing certain doom, all Antonio could do was quaver before the bounty hunter.

Dimitri remained silent, returning nothing but a cold, emotionless stare.


"So where is Dimitri exactly?" Lilly asked.

"Althion had a separate mission for him to complete," Torestorm replied. "Something about an enemy he wanted taken care of."

"And he agreed?" Jarek added. "He seemed very angry about not being rewarded for killing that hobgoblin."

"Well that's what I thought…" the elf murmured, his voice trailing off.

The three adventurers were heading out beyond the village borderline to the unknown world that was the wilderness.

"You know," Jarek said, "since we've met, that bounty hunter hasn't said anything at all. I'm beginning to wonder about him."

"You're not the only one," Torestorm muttered.

"He shouldn't bother us," Lilly reasoned, "after all he's only after criminals, right? I know for one I haven't broken the law."

"And whilst I exist outside the human laws that govern the Empire," Torestorm added, "I haven't done anything to clash with them since arriving here."

"What about you?" The Dreadlord then asked Jarek.

The Tomb Raider grinned nervously.

"….No…." he said "….I don't think I've ever done anything wrong…."

A brief pause followed.

"So what has Althion have in store for us?" Jarek asked, keen to change the subject.

"We have been asked to take up a task from an outside source" the elf answered "From a wizard called Marlak,"

"And this task would be?" Lilly asked.

"I think we're about to find out," Torestorm replied, indicating before him.

And there, up ahead was small hut.

"Typical wizard," Jarek muttered, "Keeping to himself."

"What's the matter?' Lilly asked, in a playful tone, "Don't like people who like to maintain their privacy?"

"Your point being?"

And without waiting for an answer, the tomb raider continued on his way, leaving Lilly blinking in astonishment.


All around was a smoky atmosphere, thick with magic. Skulls leered from all around, inscribed with runes. And in the middle of it all, was an imposing figure with a burly frame, shaven head and black robes.

The man cleared his throat and spoke in a voice tempered with age but resonating with immediate authority.

"I have a problem. For my research, I require a burial shroud that's at least two hundred years old. There's only one crypt in the cemetery that old, and it's probably being watched by agents of a Necromancer, Zeru. He is working with the Cytharai cults, though to what end, I do not know.

"Fortunately, Zeru's minions will be watching for me, not any of you. If you enter the Hanan family crypt and bring me back a piece of a burial shroud, I'll give each of you twenty gold crowns."

Torestorm, Lilly and Jarek exchanged interested looks.

"Plus I'll give each of you a diamond," Marlak went on. "You can sell it to the jeweller for at least fifty gold crowns, I'm sure. The cemetery is just on the other side of town, but I'd go there immediately. Even I wouldn't venture there after dark."

"We'll see what we can do," Torestorm said. Bowing his head, he moved to the door.

Lilly followed – but not before issuing a hissed whisper.

"Jarek!"

The Tomb Raider looked up from a gold object he had been observing with a large degree of fascination. Suddenly aware that his companions were on the move, he quickly moved to follow.


"He wouldn't go after dark," Jarek muttered. "That's why he's getting us to do it for him."

"What's the matter?' Torestorm grinned. "Beginning to regret becoming a mercenary?"

"I'm not a mercenary! I'm a Tomb Raider! There's a difference!"

"There is?"

"Well yes – mercenaries do things for money. I find long lost treasure and keep it from unsavoury hands!"

"Your condemnation about unsavoury hands worries me," the elf muttered.

"What was that?" The Tomb Raider snapped.

"Oh nothing."

"Can we please get on with this?" Lilly sighed. "Let's just get this over and done with."

"What's the matter?" Jarek teased "Worried about what that mage said?"

The priestess said nothing. Immediately, the smile vanished from the Tomb Raider's face.

A brief pause followed before Jarek cleared his throat.

"I wonder what's so important that it's found out there" he said

"What do you mean?" Torestorm replied

"This isn't some Imperial city" the Tomb Raider went on "This is some town in the middle of nowhere."

"So?"

"I doubt a crypt be still standing"

"What are you saying?" Lilly asked.

"Considering the recent Orc attack on Weissbruck, one would think it would've been looted and razed to the ground long ago"

"Jarek" Torestorm said "As you said, this place is in the middle of nowhere.

"So who'd care for a backwater town?"


The three made their way down a darkened stairway. They had arrived at the graveyard and headed to the centre where a chapel of Morr stood. There, according the Marlak's instructions, the crypt lay directly beneath. So far, they had managed to locate the entrance where darkness awaited…..

"Well anyway," Jarek went on, "mercenaries are only in it for the money. I however have noble intentions."

"Whatever you say," Torestorm murmured.

"Will you stop doing things like that?" Jarek yelled.

Lilly sighed. But then she froze.

"Hold it!' She said. "I heard something."

Instinctively, Jarek and Torestorm fell silent. It was then that they heard a distant sound that grew closer.

"Wha….What is that?" Jarek said.

"If I'm not mistaken," the Dreadlord said, drawing his swords, "that sounds very much like naked bone scraping on rock."

"You don't mean…."

The Tomb Raider waved the lantern light ahead.

And a grinning skill leered back.

And another.

And another.

And another.

Jarek shrieked with terror. And then, from the darkness came a group of skeletons, animated through the dark art of necromancy and walking with unnatural movement.

"What the hell is that?" The Tomb Raider shrieked.

"Undead," Torestorm answered.

"Shallya be with me!" Lilly said, gripping her staff tightly and advancing into battle.

"You're not going to fight these are you?" Jarek yelled.

"What are you going to do?" The elf hissed. "Run?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Where are you going to go? We are in a graveyard and there's probably going to be a lot more out there!"

Meanwhile, the skeletons had managed to surround Lilly. She had already downed one, and, with one hefty swing of her staff, another tumbled.

"I thought you would've fought the undead before, being a Tomb Raider!" Torestorm snapped at Jarek.

But he didn't reply, quavering in fear, and taking small, backward steps back up the stairway. With a snarl, the elf turned his attention to the undead.

Opening up the lantern, Torestorm swung it in a wide arc. The motion and burst of the air created a large fireball which blazed its way into the skeletons.

Lilly continued her way through the undead, downing one after the other, driven by her faith alone.

Jarek continued to be paralysed by fear. All he could do was watch, his eyes too transfixed with terror to turn away.

But the more he watched the terrible undead being defeated by his comrades, the less he felt the grip of fear.

Instead he felt something new: a sense of survival instinct.

Suddenly, with a roar of courage, he drew his sword and charged into battle.


"Glad you decided you join us," Torestorm grinned.

Jarek said nothing for breathing heavily. The burst of courage was slowly subsiding.

"Are you all right?" Lilly asked. "Are you hurt?"

The Tomb Raider's lips moved and words came tumbling out.

"…..N…No…" he breathed. "I…..am fine…"

Lilly opened her mouth to speak further but then she noticed something.

"Hey look!"

And there, by the light of the lantern was a trail of footprints in the dust. It headed in a westward direction.

"What do you think of this?" Lilly asked.

"It would seem," Jarek said, "that this the direction where we have to go."

And with that, he marched onward, in the same direction as the footprints.

"How can you be so sure?" Torestorm replied.

"Let's just get on with this!" The Tomb Raider snapped back. "Let's get this over and done with!

"Before any more of those skeletons appear!"

The priestess and the Dreadlord exchanged bewildered looks.

"You really don't like the undead do you?" The elf inquired.

"And what if I don't?" Jarek retorted.

And without waiting for a reply, he headed onward.

He hadn't taken more than a few steps before he came to a stone wall.

"What the hell?" He demanded. Looking to the floor, he noticed the footprints went right up to the wall.

Then he blinked with realisation. And a smile came across his face.

"A secret door! There must be a secret door!"

Jarek turned to Lilly and Torestorm who were still standing where he'd left them.

"I think I've found something!"

Interested, the priestess and the elf walked towards the tomb raider.

But as they did, something underneath went click. And then suddenly, the floor collapsed underneath them! It slowly began tilting downwards, throwing the trio off balance.

"What is this devilry?" Torestorm shouted.

"What did you do!" Lilly demanded

"What did I do!" Jarek snapped back, "What did you do!"

But before the priestess could reply, the tilting came to an end, opening up a darkened opening and the trio went tumbling down into this new tunnel.


The tunnel didn't run for very long: It sloped downwards into a new room. And it was there that they went tumbling into.

Jarek landed first, flat on his back. The tomb raider groaned with pain – before Lilly came sliding down next to him.

"Are you all right?" Jarek asked.

"I've been better" the priestess replied "How about you?"

Before Jarek could answer Torestorm came sliding into the room.

"Some secret door," he muttered.

"You can't blame me!" Jarek said indignantly. "I didn't touch anything!"

"Never mind that now!" Lilly said, getting to her feet. "Where are we?"

The trio looked around the room. Behind them was the ramp they had slid down. Before them stood a massive, ornate door. Set in its surface was a strange arrangement consisting of five levers and five panels. Each of the panels displayed the letter A. Protruding from the mechanism were a pair of iron rods that kept the door locked to the wall.

"I think it's fair to say, we are in a completely different part of the crypt." Torestorm noted, getting to his feet.

Suddenly, Lilly gasped.

"Jarek! Look out…."

And there, slithering towards the tomb raider was a viper. Acting quickly, Jarek drew his knife and beheaded it in one stroke.

"That was close," he murmured.

"No time for rest." Torestorm warned, "Look!"

And then, a second viper made its way towards the trio.

And again with quick movements, Jarek impaled it with his knife.

Suddenly a third viper appeared.

'I'm not liking this!" Jarek said.

"Where are these snakes coming from? Lilly asked.

"Who cares?" the tomb raider replied urgently "Let's get out of here quick!"

The priestess and the elf nodded and turned their attention to the door.

"Okay so how do we open it?" Lilly asked.

"This would appear to be a combination lock," Torestorm replied, examining the mechanism on the door. "And a primitive one at that."

"So you've seen something like this before then?"

"Let's see now," the elf said, pulling up on the first lever.

Promptly, the first panel shifted, revealing the letter H. The elf pulled it down, returning the panel to A. Pulling it down a second time revealed the Letter N.

"Interesting," the elf mused.

"So, what now?" Lilly inquired.

"The levers are there for use to solve the combination so the door will open for us."

"Well that's great. So what's the combination!"

"Good question…."

Jarek meanwhile, had got to his feet. He had killed several vipers but with each one dead, another appeared to take its place.

He looked around in desperation. They must be coming from somewhere – but where?

It was there, that his eyes fell on a small hole in the wall….

Grinning broadly, he reached into his belt and pulled out a piece of small, thin tubing.

Suddenly the elf's eyes widened.

"Wait," Torestorm said, "I think I have it: what was the name of the family who was buried in this crypt?"

"Hanan I think."

Seizing on this information, the elf pulled the levers to make all the panels spell HANAN. Immediately, a loud click echoed throughout the crypt and the door shuddered. The iron rods slowly ground out from the lock, thus leaving the door open.

Reaching forward, the elf pushed the door open. Instantly, wisps of white mist came creeping in through the doorway.

Torestorm's face hardened.

"This doesn't look good," he growled.

Pausing only to draw one of his swords, he entered the room.

Lilly cast a glance over her shoulder.

"Coming Jarek?"

The Tomb Raider looked up – he had jammed the tubing into the hole in the wall. Seeing his comrades on the move, he followed.

The adventurers stepped into a sea of white mist.

"I can't see a damn thing!" Jarek grumbled.

"Torestorm?" Lilly asked.

"Right here," the elf replied.

"Can you see anything?" The priestess asked, "I can barely make out a single thing in this mist,"

"This isn't natural," Jarek muttered.

"Of course not, you dolt," Torestorm said, "This has all the earmarks of a trap."

"Great…"

Lilly blinked her eyes, slowly adjusting to the mist. Then she blinked again.

"Hey look," she said "I think I see something."

The elf and the Tomb Raider looked in her direction.

And there they saw it: a shape that stood out in amongst the mist. As the mercenaries' eyes adjusted to the mist, the shape took the resemblance of a sarcophagus.

Immediately, Jarek's tomb raiding instincts took over.

"Aha! Now this looks promising!"

"Wait!" Torestorm shouted.

But it was too late: The tomb raider had bolted for the sarcophagus and immediately set to work in opening it up. Much to his surprise, he found the lid wasn't locked down and it opened easily.

"Going into this crypt has finally started to sound like a good idea!" He grinned.

"You really have no shame do you….." Lilly groaned.

Jarek reached into the sarcophagus and pulled out a shiny sword and a piece of cloth.

"Hey look," he said, "I think we've found just what we've come for!"

"True," Lilly said "But what's with that sword?"

"I'm taking it with me of course."

"But…."

"After all, it's not like this fellow is going to need it," Jarek grinned gesturing to the sarcophagus.

"You know, you shouldn't be violating the dead like that," Torestorm said sternly.

"Oh who's going to stop me?"

"What, did you forget we were fighting undead mere moments ago?"

"Then we…" Jarek started before stopping. "Hello, what's this?"

He reached back into the sarcophagus and lifted up a worn but still impressive-looking shield.

But the Tomb raider's gaze was on the reverse side.

"There's a map here!" He exclaimed "It seems there's a trail leading from Weissbruck into the Skaag hills!"

"Wherever they are," Lilly muttered.

"Magic statue…." Jarek murmured, looking closely at the shield.

Suddenly the room echoed with the sound of laughter.

Ready for action, Torestorm and Lilly drew their weapons. Even Jarek looked up.

And then, through the mist came a voice.

"Who are you?" It asked "You're not Marlak."

The voice echoed throughout the chamber. It bounced off the ceiling and the walls, and didn't seem to have any point of source.

"More to the point who are you?" Lilly shouted back "Show yourself!"

"Wait," said Torestorm, "You mentioned Marlak. How do you know him?"

"I've been waiting for him," the voice replied. "But it would seem the cowardly cur has sent some gullible saps in his place!"

"Let me guess," the elf replied "You want this shroud too?"

"Correct."

"So why did you bother waiting for Marlak to show up?"

"Oh enough talk!" The voice snapped. "You fools are in my way and it seems I may need to get rid of you."

"You know I'm not convinced you pose a significant enough threat," Torestorm grinned.

"Then you really are a fool."

"Really? And you aren't?"

"No, I am Zeru and I'm a necromancer."

"Really?" The elf replied dryly, "prove it."

"Very well then. Behold, the Guardians of Zeru!"

And immediately, from the mist, shapes came shuffling. They were human in size and moved with a stiff awkwardness. As they drew closer they revealed themselves to be animated skeletons, bedecked in rusty armour and clutching wicked swords – the hallmarks of a wight. The wights then promptly proceeded to surround the trio.

Lilly grew nervous whilst Jarek's blood turned cold.

"T-Torestorm?" The priestess stammered. "I hope you know what you're doing!"

"Now then," came the voice of Zeru, "I have an offer for you. I have no interest in fighting you. If you let me go unharmed, you can have all the treasure you want."

"Sounds like a reasonable offer…" Jarek said thoughtfully.

"I don't make deals with necromancers," the elf said coldly. And to prove his point, he leapt into battle with the nearest wight.

"Now you're talking!" Lilly grinned gripping her staff.

"Hey wait!" Jarek shouted, "Let's not get too hasty!"

But then, without warning, a cold hand shot out and grabbed the tomb raider's wrist.

With eyes radiating with fear, Jarek looked down to see where the hand came from.

It belonged to the corpse in the sarcophagus.

The tomb raider shrieked with terror as the corpse slowly sat up. As it rose, the shroud concealing it fell down, revealing a rotting face and its jaw opening in a demented grin.

With hands shaking, Jarek's hand dropped down to his belt – only to feel the familiar hilt of his dagger. Then, with a sudden burst of inspiration, the tomb raider's fingers managed to grip the hilt.

And then, in one swift movement, Jarek thrust the dagger into the corpse's wrist, severing it completely.

The corpse let out a hollow scream as Jarek staggered backwards. Brushing off the now disembodied hand, the tomb raider blinked as the corpse began to move up and out of the sarcophagus.

"I am so tired of you undead," he murmured.

Still riding on the burst of courage, he reached to his belt and pulled out a small salve of liquid. Written on its side was the legend Heroic Brew. Pulling out the stopper, Jarek gulped the brew down.

Then, with a roar, he leapt towards the corpse of the Hanan family member.


The battle with the wights was a tiring one. They were capable of taking so many blows but they still came shuffling forward. The dark magic that held them together was strong enough to keep them continually growing in large numbers. Matters weren't helped with the constant white mist and the taunts from the unseen Zeru.

The trio found themselves outnumbered and badly wounded. In the middle of the battle, the three found themselves with their backs to each other, as the wights circled around them. They were breathless and bleeding heavily.

"You know something" Jarek murmured "I really hate fighting the undead,"

"And I'm with you on that one," Lilly added.

"I concur." Torestorm said. 'If only because they are such a nuisance.'

The two humans looked at the elf in a quizzical manner.

"They just won't lay down and die!" the Dreadlord snapped.

"So what now Fearless Leader?" The priestess asked.

"We've got what we came here for," Jarek said, "Let's just get out of here while we still can!"

"You know something?" Torestorm said "Perhaps you're not so stupid after all."

And with that, the three companions backed their way to the door.

"Running away are you?" The voice of Zeru mocked, "Cowards!"

As he made his way to the door, Torestorm knelt down and picked up a piece of discarded armour from a fallen wight. Then he looked up and grinned.

"Perhaps," Torestorm said to the unseen Zeru, "but we have the shroud – you don't."

"Wait!" Zeru shouted, "Come back! You won't leave here alive!"

"Yes we will."

And with that, Jarek darted back through the door, as Lilly and Torestorm followed.

"What are you doing with that?" The priestess asked, gesturing to the armour.

"Watch," the elf replied.

As the wights advanced to the doorway, the elf placed the armour in the gap beneath the doorway and yanked the door to close. The door groaned in protest as it came in conflict with the armour but it managed to close.

A close that rendered the door completely jammed.

As the trio slowly got their breath back, they were greeted with the sound of fists hammering the door.

"That should hold them," Torestorm said.

"But for how long?" Lilly asked.

"Who cares?" Jarek argued, "Let's just get out of here while we still can.

"I don't know about you two but I'm keen to see the back of this place…."


Meanwhile, in the depths of the crypt the wights all turned to the door, in confusion.

"The fools," growled the voice of Zeru. "They can't seriously think they can seal me in here forever. It's only a matter of time before I escape.

"And then, those three will regret the day they dared to cross me.

"They can only run so far but they can't hide…."