Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo 2 or its expansion.

This is my first fanfiction though, and it is based on the new Necromancer character and his adventures. Other characters from other professions might come in sooner or later in time.

Chapter 1: Den of Evil

Golden streams of sunlight penetrated the gloomy sky, though it did not fully illuminate the camp. Apparently, Diablo's passing has made the sky quite overcast, though the stray golden beams was enough to slip into Haimler's tent, awakening him. He stretched himself, and got out of bed. He took his wand in his hand and then strode out of his tent. He then noticed Paige walking towards him, and she offered him a cheerful smile. "Good morning, I trust that you had a good night's rest?"

He nodded and said. "Yes, I did, Miss Paige, thank you for your concern." She grinned and said. "It is good to hear that, you need all the rest you can get, especially if you want to go and cleanse the wilderness and that cave." He nodded and was about to stride out from the camp, before Paige held him back. He was puzzled, and was about to ask her what she wanted and the she said. "I need to ask you to get something for me. One of my best friends died in that cave… and if you see her bow, could you bring it back for me? It looks like mine... a sister to it, if you will. We made it for each other." She then showed him her bow, which he studied for quite some time before nodding. "It will be done, Miss Paige. You can count on me in this matter."

She nodded and then said. "Thank you, Haimler… I pray that the Great Eye will watch over you and see your safe return to the camp." She then left again and he strode out into the Blood Moor. "All who oppose me beware…" He thought as he began to explore the area. He did not get far before he spotted a few shuffling figures, accompanied by a low moan. "Zombies…" He thought. He then sprinted forward, swiftly dispatching them both. They did not get a chance to inflict damage on him though, as they were quite slow. As they fell to the ground, he noticed that one dropped some pieces of gold, which he picked up, as well as a pair of sturdy looking boots on the zombie's legs, which he washed at a stream nearby to remove the foul odor before he put it on. He then looked at one of the corpses and then closed his eyes, muttering an incantation, and it burst into bits, a skeleton rising to his side. It wielded a rusty looking scythe, and a battered buckler.

He grinned to himself as he continued to walk through the wilderness, his skeleton and him dispatching more zombies, and quill rats, that were surprisingly adept in hurling their pins at him. The beasts nicked him a few times, but as a form of reply, his skeleton made short work of them. He garnered quite a few spoils from the battle, some more gold coins that he pocketed. He spotted a small house nearby and entered. He was not surprised to see it deserted though. He saw a large chest there though and opened it. He found a set of sturdy leather gloves and leather armor, which he put on. He also found a sash, which he wore around his waist. He also scanned the shelves of the house and found some more gold, and some bottles of potions with blue and red coloring. Recognizing the red ones as restorative potions, he took one and uncorked it, drinking it down, letting the bittersweet flavor of the potion run through his throat, but the effect was that he felt much better now.

He also chanced upon a wicked looking dagger, which he strapped on his boot, and a short sword which he strapped on his back.

He continued to travel across the moor, encountering small roving bands of torch-carrying demons known as the Fallen Ones. The small demons attacked him with the cry of 'Rakanishu!', and he and his skeleton companion had to battle them quite a bit.

After the battle, he went towards a small grove of trees and rested a while, and took out his tome that his teachers had bestowed upon him.

He studied the section about summoning and he found that he had understood more on how to summon skeletons. He looked at his old wand and then sighed, discarding it, and watched in sadness as he saw his skeleton crumble. For a while, he battled alone, killing many zombies and quill rats, pocketing the gold they dropped. He also found some gold pieces as he chanced upon some loose rocks in the wilderness. Before long, he spotted his destination and he made camp right outside, continuing to study his tome, and gained more knowledge in summoning creatures. He was able to summon two skeletons now, after killing two quill rats before entering the cave and he noticed that his skeletons now wielded crude looking axes, and their shields were less battered, and they looked sturdier.

He entered the cave, with his skeletons in front. He grimaced, as he smelled the foul stench of death reeking in this place. As he navigated through the dark cavern, he found more dark demons here, such as large furred monstrosities known as Gargantuan Beasts, which took quite some time to dispatch even with the assistance of his skeletons. But the fruits of the trouble were very much worth it. He picked up a cap that was lying on the ground nearby. This one was different because it glowed blue, and for some reason he could not identify it. He then took out a scroll from his pack, with a red ribbon binding it. He opened it and read the incantation and he was now aware of its properties. It appears that the cap would bestow upon its wearer some added agility, and accuracy to his ability to hit enemies accurately.Pleased with his find, he put it on his head.

He soon found small bands of Fallen Ones, though he was slightly annoyed with the Shamans, who were always flinging fireballs at him, and raising the demons that he had killed. He learnt a hard lesson, but he was now aware and determined to remove the Shamans before killing the minions, just to save the trouble of killing them all over again.

Soon he reached a small chamber where there were more Fallen and their shamans, which he dispatched easily. He picked up two chipped gems, and then he saw a group of zombies, though one of them was tinged in blue in some parts of his body. He directed his skeletons to attack, and was surprised that these zombies were much tougher. Nevertheless, he and his skeletons managed to dispatch them, picking up more gold pieces. The leader then turned a grotesque smile at him. "Impressive, mortal… though your good fortunes end here…. I am Corpsefire… I will be your doom this day."

"We shall see about that, demon…" He said as he directed his skeletons to attack, and threw himself into the fray. He was shocked that the blows inflicted by the zombie often carried a spark of electricity, or a chill of cold. He was forced to raise his skeletons when one fell to the blows, and he was glad to see when the creature finally fell. He picked up a scepter and a sword, which was glowing in a yellowish tinge, rather than the bluish tinge that surrounded the scepter in a nearby alcove, where there were bodies of peasants that were slain by the undead. He also picked quite a number of potions nearby as well as well as some more gold pieces that were lying around and stuffed them in his pack. At that point, sunlight streamed into the cave, illuminating the darkness.

He smiled and then thought. "My task here is complete... I hope it will at least reassure Kashya and Akara that I am earnestly seeking to help them." He was about to leave when he remembered that he had promised Paige that he would retrieve something for her. Scouring the cavern once more, he found the bow that he was looking for. A once beautiful rogue woman's body lay on a small alcove in the cave. He slung the bow across his shoulders, offering the fallen warrior a sign of respect as he strode out of the cave and walked back to the Encampment.

Once he entered, he sought out Paige and then handed the bow to her. Her eyes grew misty slightly, but quickly blinked back her tears. She then bowed to him, and said softly. "Thank you, Necromancer… I thank you for this favor that you have done for me." She then gave him a hug and then released him, and offered him a sunny smile that brightened up his mood. "You did a good job clearing out that cave… Akara wants to see you. Go to her now."

He smiled, though he was surprised at the way that she hugged him. She wasn't interested in him, was she? The thought did pass through his mind as he made his way to the seer's hut. The old woman smiled and said. "Well done… you cleansed the Den of Evil and done us a great service and you restored my faith in humanity. I shall impart you some knowledge that you might find useful in your own learning." He nodded and soon, he learned more knowledge in how to strengthen his minions.

He was about to return to the Campfire and the comfort of his tent when Kashya stopped him. "I am glad to see you well and unhurt, outlander, but it seems that you have little time to rest. My Rogue Scouts have sighted an abomination in our Monastery Graveyard. Apparently, Andariel is not content in corrupting the living. Blood Raven, my best friend and our Order's finest captains was the very first to be corrupted by the demoness. Now you will find her raising our dead as zombies… we cannot abide this defilement. I beseech to you, slay her, and put her soul to rest."

Haimler could see the sorrow and anguish that this hardened warrior woman in her eyes. She was aggrieved by the loss of her friend, and he could empathize with her. Only recently in this camp, that he was beginning to feel accepted by people. He nodded solemnly and said. "I shall do this for you, honorable Kashya…"

The rogue leader's expression was one of surprise, but soon fell back to the normal emotionless mask that she often wore. "Then you'd best rest a while… and set off soon. Every moment that you delay will bring one more of the undead into her ranks." She then turned and left him alone as he made his way to his tent. He then lay down and closed his eyes, resting a while to recuperate and recover his strength.

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