Chapter 25: Sanctuary!

As the mass of bloated flesh started running towards them, there was no denying that it was a scene from a nightmare. Na'ish raised his shield and Rogon unloaded a full chamber of shots into the nearest approaching body. Where it hit, the bloated part of the body's abdomen burst in a shower of gore, significantly slowing it due to the loss of one of its legs. The others had no such impediment, and were barely being slowed by the various projectiles being flung by Varus and Indira.

Garrick swiftly backed up from where he stood, reaching over his shoulder as he arrived at the spot where Alistair was desperately trying to dig down to the vanished Anya. "Get back, and be ready to grab her!" Garrick called. Alistair looked up, and realising Garrick's intention hopped back a little.

Swiftly drawing the enchanted shovel he had bought from Charlie, Garrick slammed the tip into the ground approximately where Anya had been submerged. Immediately a pit formed in the soft mud, swiftly losing its integrity as the wet sludge attempted to fill the new void.

Still, there at the bottom, Anya's torso was revealed, much to her visible shock as the shovel had even removed the mud from her person. More disturbing was the bloated corpse that currently had a firm grip around her mid section, which snarled up at them when it was revealed to the air. The creature was visibly larger than those surrounding them, with empty eye sockets and many missing teeth.

"Now!" Garrick called, prompting Alistair to reach down and grab Anya's arm, which she held up in an attempt to pull herself free. The corpse was not going to give up it's prey so easily, however, and it continued to pull her down into the hole.

"Oh no you don't!" Garrick snarled, before striking the corpse in the head with the shovel he already brandished. The impact appeared to do only minor damage, but it did stun the creature into letting go of Anya briefly. At the same time, the hole deepened further as more earth was immediately excavated.

This caused the corpse to fall, while allowing Anya to be hastily pulled up with some effort on Alistair's part. The corpse snarled up once more, before diving swiftly into the soft mud below him, thus avoiding the follow up arrow Garrick had shot after dropping his shovel.

"Blast. Keep an eye on your feet! There's still one below us!" Garrick called, before turning his attention to the circle of approaching bodies. While several had been slowed or felled by his allies, more appeared to be pulling themselves up from the water and mud all the time.

Meanwhile, Anya was getting her bearings after being dragged beneath the surface. "Are you alright?" Alistair asked, worriedly. Anya gave a nod "All things considered. Turns out I don't need to breathe anymore, which is a bit dist….watch out!" she called, before shoving Alistair aside as the first of the corpses managed to breach their line. Before the creature could so much as gnash at her, Anya grabbed the creature's head, giving it a wrench to the side and causing a loud snap.

The creature fell backwards, and while still moving was obviously having difficulty coordinating as it flopped about in the mud. Alistair stared at the creature in shock, before looking at Anya. She looked slightly abashed at the strength she had just displayed. "...Er...thanks. Much appreciated, that" he said quietly. Anya shrugged, before a bright flash turned their attention back to the crippled corpse. It was now missing it's head entirely, and had gone still. Mel currently stood over it, her hand pointed towards it. "If you could kindly gather your wits, there's still a fight going on!" she called, before throwing her cloak aside to allow her to release her wings. Flapping, she took to the air, to prevent the underground body from grabbing her. Just in time, as a hand burst from the ground where she had been standing previously, flailing for a time before retreating once more.

Alistair shook his head, before flipping back onto his feet. With a quick and precise leap, he jumped up onto the overturned rowboat so that he was not standing directly upon the ground. "Where is it? How can we attack what we can't see!" he called out. "The better question…" Garrick called, as he set a beartrap that promptly caught an approaching corpse, allowing him to dispatch it with a few arrows, "Is, how is it targeting us? The thing has no eyes!"

Indira paused as she reloaded her crossbow, looking to the others that were fighting. She watched as Na'ish and Rogon fought side by side, one shooting the incoming while the other slashed at anything that got too close. Suddenly, Na'ish stumbled, and Rogon stamped near his ankle. This forced the hand that had grabbed Na'ish to release its grip and disappear once more.

"Vibrations!" Indira called as she shot her newly released crossbow. "The big one is sensing us as we move around!" Alistair kicked a corpse off the boat as it attempted to clamber up to reach him, causing it to fall back to the ground, where Mel dispatched it with another flyby magic strike. "Great! Then all we need to do is not move! I'm sure that will work out well for these other ones!" he threw back sarcastically.

Varus paused, having struck the nearest creature to him with his bow, stopping it from moving. "I might have a way to tell where it is…" he muttered, before holstering his bow on his back and pulling out Balthrys' book from its holster.

Hastily turning the book to the page that held the "Mold Earth" spell, he began to channel the required energy for the spell. However, rather than simply cast it and move some earth, Varus attempted to keep the spell active, trying to use it to sense any disturbances within the earth. "This is harder than I thought it would be….wait...there's something there...right below me...ah crap." Varus attempted to leap backwards, but only succeeded in avoiding his feet being grabbed. Instead, the corpse burst from the ground like a whale breaching, grabbing him by the arms instead.

"How the hell is an old bloated body so strong!" Varus thought. "Get the hell off me!" Varus shouted, writhing within its grip. The corpse gurgled at him, water welling up and spilling from it's lips as if it was still drowning. As it did so, a feeling of dread overcame Varus, as he found himself becoming unable to breath. "Wait...I'm above ground….why is it I'm…" Varus coughed, and water began to well from his mouth in the same way as the corpse. His eyes widened, as he began to panic as he was being dragged below the surface. "Oh no you don't!" Varus yelled in his mind, before Gauss exploded out of his chest right in front of the corpse.

Before the corpse could react, Gauss took a large bite at the creature's face, ripping the being's nose clean off. Releasing Varus and recoiling in shock, it gave Varus enough time to back away as the creature recovered and dove below the surface once more, avoiding the arrow shot by Garrick.

Garrick jogged up to him, retrieving his arrow and notching it once more. "Are you alright?" he asked, while casting an eye over Varus' coughing form. Varus succeeded in clearing the last of the water from his airway, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Yeah...couldn't be better. That thing? Don't let it touch you, it can make you feel like you're drowning."

Garrick frowned and nodded, before looking over the current battlefield. The large numbers of undead were thinning, seemingly unable to burrow like the larger one. This left them vulnerable to the hail of projectiles that Indira and Mel were launching. Rogon and Na'ish were still working in tandem, Rogon switching to his axes and cutting down any that approached, with Na'ish doing the same with his sword. Despite their teamwork, it was clear that a few attacks had succeeded, with Rogon sporting a wound on his thigh and Na'ish bleeding heavily from his brow.

Anya had joined Alistair in standing upon the overturned rowboat, allowing them to avoid the burrowing creature and focus on the incoming waves of corpses. Using their height advantage meant that they had avoided most of the damage they could have received, though their legs were accumulating more and more cuts and scrapes.

"We need to retreat. We cannot fight on this sodden ground, the enemy has the advantage." Garrick muttered, firing his arrow and decapitating a shambling corpse that had been about to blindside Indira.

Varus scoffed. "Please, the majority are already dead, we just need to go ground fishing for the other one." Garrick grunted while notching another arrow, "And how would you recommend we do that?" Varus frowned while firing a small burst of fire from his hand to burn an incoming corpse, his book held open in the other. "I'm working on it."

Before Varus could come up with an idea, the creature in question resurfaced. However, rather than attack one of them from below, it decided to rise up along the bank a short way away from them. Garrick and Varus turned to look at the creature. "...What's it doing? Why didn't it attack?" Garrick asked in concern. Varus shrugged, before raising his glowing hand once more. "Hey, their funeral," he said.

Before Varus could cast, the creature gave another gurgling cry, water spilling from it's maw once more. Varus had time to look shocked, before the familiar feeling of drowning overcame him once more. "It doesn't need to touch us to do that?!" Looking around him in panic, he realised that he was not the only one that had been afflicted by the creature's magic. Garrick, Alistair, everyone had seemingly been affected.

Garrick was coughing up water beside him, gesturing ahead of him to the few corpses still alive. In the distraction, they had not stopped advancing. Rogon and Na'ish were faltering in their defence, unable to fight while drowning. Indira had made her way over to the rowboat, but Alistair was suffering the same as she was.

Anya, however, despite also coughing up water, had not slowed down. She was still dispatching the few corpses that came within range of the three of them. Once no more approached her, she looked around her to realise her comrades were down. Garrick was desperately holding off one that was attempting to bite his flank, while Varus had allowed Gauss to take form outside himself once more. However, she was struggling to achieve much as a fox but gnash at the corpses' ankles, and Varus apparently lacked the concentration to do more at the moment.

Looking to the source of the horrible gurgling sound, she saw the creature standing down the bank, leaning back and crying out to the sky. Coughing a wave of water out of her mouth, to little effect, Anya started to sprint towards the being. "Being able to survive without air...my curse, but in this case our salvation…" she thought as she gained a determined expression.

The creature stopped gurgling and looked back down towards her, clearly having felt her approach through that strange vibration sense it seemed to have. However, Anya had built speed, and it had little chance to react before she was barrelling into it at speed. Anya ploughed into the corpse, attempting to bring it to the ground.

The creature's size and strength prevented this, however, with both of them ending up grappling in an attempt to overpower the other, the two simply sliding back in the mud a short distance before the corpse regained its footing. Anya scowled up at the creature, standing a good head taller than her. Still, her strength was preventing the corpse from either pulling her over or retreating into the ground.

The creature gurgled at her once more, but the drowning effect did not prevent her from holding on. Anya frowned, "I must stop this thing, the others cannot hold out much longer…" she thought. As she looked up, a brief shadow overhead caused her to smile.

Suddenly, Mel landed directly behind the creature, swinging her weapon which glowed with energy. The hit struck true, causing the creature to stumble and allow Anya to gain the upper hand in strength. Roaring slightly as she pushed forwards, Anya realised that the water in her chest was now able to be expelled. Grunting with effort, she wrenched the hand that held onto the creature's arm to the side, successfully ripping the appendage off.

Mel followed this up by striking the creature in the head with her staff, forcing it to stagger back slightly. This was followed up by a bright spell that forced it back further. Anya crouched slightly, ready to react in case the corpse dived once more. Mel and Anya briefly exchanged a look and a nod of acknowledgment.

The two flinched as a loud crack sounded out, Rogon fired his revolver and then kicked off the body of the corpse that had been attacking him, its head no longer present. Na'ish also began to stagger to his feet. All around them, the formerly choking individuals started to recover, standing once more and expelling the water with a series of coughs.

The creature gave a quiet gurgle as everyone stood and began to walk up to where Mel and Anya stood. The corpse had seen better days, with the body now missing it's nose and an arm. As they reached Anya; Garrick, Varus and Indira all aimed arrows at the corpse, while Mel charged another bright spell within her hand and Rogon reloaded and aimed his revolver.

Alistair looked at the group, before smiling grimley at the corpse. "Checkmate, buddy." The corpse attempted to dive beneath the surface. But before it was able to, it found itself getting struck by a barrage of projectiles. Arrows hit its flank, Mel's spell burnt most of its other arm away, while Rogon's shot blasted its right leg clean off.

The corpse slumped to the ground, and rather than disappear under the surface it instead rolled over a few times before coming to a stop. It laid still, apparently finally truly dead. Rogon blew the smoke from his revolver before reholstering it. He spat to the ground, "Damn bloaty. Damn near got us it did."

Na'ish walked over to the corpse, ensuring it was dead. Mel and Anya were approached by Alistair and Indira, as they celebrated their victory. "That was awesome, how come you weren't affected by it Mel?" Alistair asked, already aware of Anya's ability to survive without breathing. Mel shrugged and pointed upwards. "Must not have bothered looking for me up there, it seemed to rely on feeling for people through the ground after all." Alistair nodded in understanding.

Varus sighed, before allowing Gauss to jump into him. "There, see? Nothing to worry about, old man." Garrick frowned and huffed as he replaced his bow onto his back. "Nothing to worry about? We damn near drowned and all of us are sporting injuries!" he said, gesturing to the wound where a corpse had scratched his arm. "We need to move, in case there are more of them. The moment we can take a path away from the bank, the better."

Varus rolled his eyes as Garrick gathered his things and suggested to the rest that they move. As none of the others, even Rogon, had any arguments against leaving, he kept his mouth shut.

As it turned out, the road they were on continued to follow the bankside of the river. While they could have ventured off to the side, they still needed to find a crossing somewhere in order to get to Brentwood. Thankfully, the path was no longer waterlogged, instead becoming a dryer and more substantial dirt track. This did not stop the group casting a wary eye at the water line, especially when the occasional splash from a fish occurred.

The party trudged on mostly in silence, the adrenaline from the fight having long worn off and the accumulated injuries and fatigue starting to take its toll. Garrick looked to the sky, the sun just starting to make its descent to the horizon. "We'll need to find somewhere to rest for the night soon" he muttered quietly.

Varus shrugged from beside him. "Doesn't really matter where. I can set up a camp quickly with my book." Garrick gave a small nod, but looked around him warily. "That still doesn't mean we should not be on the lookout for danger. I doubt that tent can withstand an undead horde banging on its canvas."

Varus gave Garrick a deadpan look. "It's a magic tent…it probably can." Garrick looked at Varus, an eyebrow raised. "Do you truly want to test that theory with us inside?" Varus opened his mouth to argue with Garrick, but they were interrupted by Alistair walking in between them as they had slowed down.

"Now now, let's not argue chaps. We were victorious! That's what matters" he chuckled as he placed his arms around each of their shoulders. He completely ignored Garrick's shake of the head and Varus looking at the offending arm as if he wished to rip it off.

Before Varus could entertain such thoughts, they were forced to stop walking lest they end up bumping into the back of Mel. She had been walking at the front of the group, but suddenly stopped while looking out to her left.

Rogon and Na'ish caught up, curiously asking "'Ere, what's the 'old up?" Mel gestured at them to quiet down, to which the group complied. Na'ish and Garrick both palmed their respective weapons in concern.

The sounds of the rustling plants around them was the only sound initially. However, it was soon joined by a low roar, setting the group on edge. It sounded distant however, and Varus scoffed. "It's only a wolf. We could take a wolf." Mel shook her head, and started to jog along the path.

"There is more than one…" said Mel slowly, clearly concerned. The others exchanged looks, before starting to jog behind her in order to keep up. "What's got you so spooked? It sounded far away to me" Alistair commented as they travelled. Mel shook her head. "They are heading this way...and they are much faster than us."

"How the hell can you even tell at this distance…" Alistair started, only to be interrupted as another roar rang out, this one far closer than the last had been. "Ok, point made. But still, we can take some wolves, like Varus said." Mel shook her head and broke into a full sprint. "They are not wolves, they are much larger...and feline, I think."

Running to keep up, the others exchanged worried looks. "Felines? What sort of felines?" Indira asked concernedly. Mel simply shook her head and did not answer, concentrating on the path ahead. They got an answer however in the form of a crash behind them as several large figures burst from the undergrowth beside the path and turned to charge towards them.

They were several hundred metres behind them, but were gaining quickly. Massive feline forms, far bulkier than the norm bounded towards them, growling and snarling as they ran. Despite their size, they still moved with the grace cats are known for, which meant they were gaining fast..

Varus skidded to a stop, spinning as he did so and retrieving his bow. The others swiftly noticed, also slowing in their sprint. "What are you doing!" Alistair called in a slight panic, his gaze moving from Varus to the rapidly incoming pack.

"We won't outrun them. We're better off standing our ground" Varus replied, before loosing an arrow and rapidly drawing another. A steady hail of arrows began to strike the lead feline. Each struck true, but appeared to do little to slow it's approach, simply angering the beast and drawing a hiss of pain. The one arrow that would have hit the beast in the face was struck aside by a claw before it could hit.

The others exchanged a brief glance. It was clear that some were still keen to run, though the truth of Varus' comment was undeniable. The first to move was Rogon. With a grunt, he drew his hand axe and jogged back to Varus' side. "Damn righ'! I ain't never been a coward, yeh hear!" he yelled. Nai'sh was swift to step up to Varus' other side, his shield raised with the intent to meet the pack head on.

Before long, the whole group were clustered, facing the incoming enemies with weapons drawn. It would be moments before they were upon them, and the arrows being fired by their group had done nothing but slow them slightly.

Just before the pack reached them, the leading feline gave another roar, one returned by a guttural shout from Rogon and war cries from Varus and Alistair. If they were going down, they were doing so fighting! The cat pounced, intent on landing upon Na'ish with it's entire weight. Na'ish raised his shield, his sword ready to strike the moment he blocked...but before the two could meet, the feline struck something in midair.

Halted entirely in its progress, the group watched in shock as the feline screeched in pain from hitting what appeared to be an invisible barrier. It did not remain invisible for long, however, as the air sparked with magical energy, lancing what appeared to be lightning outwards from the point of contact.

The energy travelled outwards, like a ripple, revealing a massive, previously invisible wall. After a short period of contact, the feline began to burn from where it had hit, its skin cracking and turning to ash. The rest of the pack slowed to a stop in order to avoid hitting the same obstacle.

All watched as the feline that had hit the barrier slowly turned to ash, the roars from the creature died as the last of the ash blew away in the breeze. The barrier's energy ceased once the creature had gone, leaving nothing but empty space and no indication of it having ever been there.

Silence descended upon both sides, as they stared at where the beast had died. As they lowered their gaze to look at one another, the nearest feline looked directly at them. The beast paced one way and then the other in front of this apparent obstacle.

Hissing with hackles raised, the creature swiped out with a claw, striking the barrier once more and causing the energy to erupt briefly in front of it. It yelped, and withdrew a slightly smoking paw. Hissing one final time, the creature turned and started to run away, the rest of the pack swiftly following.

The group began to relax and holster their weapons, as the creatures grew more distant. "Well...that was interesting. What were they, do you reckon?" Alistair commented, scratching his goatee in thought. Mel huffed and began to walk forwards. "Nevermind them. What the hell was that barrier? We had no idea it was even there. We could have been fried!" she grumbled, stepping up where the barrier had approximately been. There was no apparent indication that there was even still a barrier there.

Varus frowned, before he started to walk purposely to where Mel was. "Are you sure that is wise…" Garrick started, before Varus simply walked past Mel and beyond where the barrier had been. After a moment with no reaction, he shrugged and turned back. "Whatever it was, it doesn't seem to hurt us."

Shaking his head at Varus' foolhardy approach, Garrick looked to Alistair. "I have no idea what those creatures were, and I have even less knowledge of the arcane such as this, I am afraid."

"Perhaps we can find out there?" Indira called from behind the group. Turning to look at her, they could see she was pointing to a small shack-like building situated a little way back from the river bank. The group exchanged looks. "Did anyone else see that when we were running?" Mel asked concernedly. Rogon shrugged. "Nah, but we were a bit busy weren't we? Running fer our lives and all tha'."

Alistair also shrugged, before walking up to Indira and towards the building. "Doesn't hurt to ask, does it? Besides, what's the worst that could happen?" Garrick visibly winced at that statement, though remained silent and proceeded to follow, Anya close behind him.

As the rest of the group trickled off towards the shack, Mel lingered behind slightly before reluctantly following. "I was sure there was no building previously…"

Enemy Profile

Name: Drowned

A reanimated corpse that had previously met its end in a watery grave. Certain large individuals, by use of the foul magic that reanimated them, can bestow the method of their death open others, even from a distance. Keep away from water bodies where death has occurred, lest you meet the same suffocating fate.