(Third Person POV)
[The Bonefields, Southwest Drahan]
The sun had set a few hours ago, plunging the area in darkness as the Moon rose to the sky, giving off only a faint glow through the thick clouds that covered it. The Bonefields was a large strip of land that was called as such due to the vast amount of bones that rest either on top of the soil or under the first layer. Bones from either mortals or animals lay all throughout the Fields, making it an unofficial graveyard.
What causes the bones to be there in the first place? A number of reasons.
The first and main reason is the avian predators known as the Death Condors, which swoop down and pick up any corpse, big or small, to feast on in their nests in the mountains. These massive birds are an important factor to the ecosystem, cleaning up the environment from any unwanted filth. Not only are they scavengers, they also fight for territory against any that they deem a threat. Considered to be among the top Predators in Drahan's neighboring country, Rubrein.
The Death Condors eat the remains of any carrion they find, their digestive system being so strong that they don't care what condition the flesh is in. They then fly and drop the skeletal remains in the Bonefields. Some say that the Bonefields are rich in a fertile substance, which the Death Condor can sense, having them attempt to fill the area with lush life after the bones decompose. But that is impeded by the second reason why the Fields exist as they are.
Ogres.
Large humanoid beasts that dwell in the caves of the nearby mountains and swamps, close to Lake Agartha. They attack any mortal, animal, or beast that comes within their territory, tossing their remains on the Bonefields. It is said that the Ogres' constant trampling throughout the area prevents the fertilization of the soil. Others say that the Ogres cursed the land, to keep it as a permanent Graveyard.
Besides Ogres and the Death Condors, other magic beasts roam the Bonefields, catching any wandering prey and feasting on them, leaving their remains to add to the skeletal collection of the desolate area.
The Bonefields is rarely willingly visited by the Drahan citizens, or any other mortal with common sense. This makes it a perfect location to discard any remains that one would not want to be discovered.
And as such, that is what had happened on a very brutal encounter not too long ago.
For just a few days prior, a certain individual was buried in the Bonefields, right around the area where a group of Bandits were roaming about.
Five bandits, Two Orcs, and three humans were walking around a hill in the Bonefields. They were holding their torches up, lighting the way as an Orc was looking at a map, scratching his head as he frowned.
They all wore the classic Bandit attire; fur garments with leather armor. The Humans each had rusted swords on their hips, while the Orcs each had a wooden club. The one holding the club also had a handaxe on the other side of his hip.
They were looking for something, something that was buried in the area.
"Are you sure we're in the right place, Urok?" The other Orc said, his dark green skin glowing due to the torchligh, "We don't see the marker."
"Koru." Urok said, "The Boss told me he was buried here. Look closely, those guys marked the spot right."
"Tch...." Koru said as he walked towards a group of bones that were jutting out of the ground, "I don't see it. It's supposed to be an inverted cross with a circled star on the right side of it, right?"
Urok said as he kept scratching his bald head, "Yes, that's what they said."
"What are we looking for anyway?" one of the humans said, standing on the middle of the hill's slope, "We can't be here for that long, what if an Ogre shows up?!"
"Hah!" another one of the human bandit laughed, "We got two of our own to protect us!"
Koru scowled, his dark green eyes glaring at the other one, "Do you want me to bash your fucking skull in?! That is offensive to Orcs!!"
"Boohoo!" the human snickered, "Cry me a river! You damned bastards think you can just enter the Gang and act all tough!"
"Enough." the third human said, who was wearing a fur cape and had long black hair, "Hota told us that we were looking for the Necromancer's corpse. He has a reason to believe that there is a jewel on his person, one of great value."
"A jewel?" the one on the slope said, "We're risking our neck for that?"
"A piece of the Drahan Queen's collection." Koru said with a snort, "It has magical properties."
"He stole from the Queen?" the snickering human asked, "Ballsy."
"No." the longhaired one said, "Not the current Queen, the Old White Queen. The one from the songs. He found the jewel in an ancient ruin, fighting a coven of Vampires."
"Didn't the Boss make an alliance with Vampires?" the one on the slope asked, "I'm very confused."
"Not the coven that the Necromancer stole from." the Longhaired one said, "Anyways. After he was killed, the Vampires buried him here but Hota reminded them of the jewel. So we were sent to retrieve it."
"I found it." Urok said, "I think."
They all looked over to where he was at, a few meters away, crouching down and finding a rock that was marked with an inverted cross and a circled star on the right side of it. The rock was placed over a fresh spot of dirt, as if it had been recently dug up.
"Good." the longhaired one said, "Get the shovels. We dig him up and take the jewel."
"We bury him again?" Koru asked
"No, we can split him in pieces and use the pieces of rotting flesh as bait for any wandering beast." the Longhaired one said, "Ogres also like eating rotting flesh, I hear."
"Urok." Koru said, "What's wrong?"
He was looking at the crouching ogre, noticing that he was staring at the ground.
"Something is off." Urok said as he narrowed his eyes, "I hear a heartbeat."
"What do you mean?" Koru said, "Only us are here."
"Yes." Urok said, "But underneath the dirt. There's-"
He was cut off by a hand suddenly bursting forth from the ground, dirt flying everywhere as they all jumped back in alarm. Urok landed on his butt, crawling back in a panic as the others stepped back in caution.
"What the fuck?!" Koru exclaimed, "What is going on?! Undead?! You're kidding!!!"
They all then watched as a figure emerged from the dirt, gasping for air as it emerged.
"Aaarrghhhh.....!!!!" the figure groaned in pain as he pulled himself completely out of the ground, "W-What.....?!"
They saw a young man get on his feet, slouching down as he coughed repeatedly. All of his body was covered in dirt as his upper body was exposed, a couple of bright red scars were visible. His white hair was covered in dirt, nearly hiding his black and red streaks. The bandits saw as his mismatched eyes glared right at them out of pure instinct.
"A Zombie?!" Koru exclaimed, his green eyes widened in shock, "What?!"
"No rotting flesh...." the longhaired human said, "A Revenant?!"
"Whatever it is, it's alive!!" one of the other two humans exclaimed
The young man straightened up and wobbled to the side, looking at them with a slight smirk appearing on his face.
"Zombie?" He asked, "Revenant? Not quite.....I'm still me, dammit!"
"No way." Urok said as he stood up, "You can't be alive!!"
The young man patted his upper body, knocking the dirt off his body as he looked at them, "is that so?" He asked, "Well, I'm here. My heart is beating and I draw breath, so I must be alive!"
"You were supposed to be dead!" Koru exclaimed, "The Boss said you were killed by the Vampires! You're Rathiel! The War Necromancer!!"
"The Fucking War Necromancer!!" the other human exclaimed, "That piece of shit who went around Drahan and massacred the Bandit Gangs?!"
Rathiel narrowed his eyes, "The Vampires....." He said, "That damned Arianne!!! She betrayed me!!! I'll never forgive this!!"
He got on one knee, glaring at the group, his right eye reflecting the light of their torches. They were unsettled by the sight of his heterochromia; his right eyes was jet black while his left was a golden yellow. They weren't used to such a thing, especially with someone who had white haired with two-toned streaks.
"The jewel!" The Longhaired one exclaimed, "We have to get the jewel!"
"Right!" They all drew their weapons
"I don't even know how this is possible." Urok said, holding his axe in his left hand, "The Vampires were sure that he was dead. There is no way they can have just been wrong!"
"Hmph." Rathiel said, "That's what they get for being pricks. And as for you...bandits, huh?"
Rathiel dug his hand under the dirt, pulling out a long curved bone which had a sharp end on it.
Urok narrowed his eyes, "What?"
"We're in the Bonefields, eh?" Rathiel said with a slight smirk, "What a coincidence, huh? A nice and sturdy bone, with a sharp end....my Magic Power is depleted.....so I have no choice but to go all out with pure physicality...."
"Get him!!!" Koru shouted, rushing Rathiel with his club
The Orc reached Rathiel and swung his club at him, missing completely as Rathiel had just crouched down and stabbed his thigh with the sharp end of the bone. The Orc flinched completely as he looked down, seeing that there was blood pouring out of the wound; Rathiel had immediately pulled the bone out.
"What?" Koru said, a bit stunned
Without warning, Rathiel stabbed Koru in the throat, the bone piercing his skin with ease as Rathiel kicked him in the knee, buckling the tall Orc down. Rathiel then pulled the bone out and stabbed him yet again in the right eye.
"Brother!!!" Urok shouted as the others rushed Rathiel, surrounding him completely, "NO!!"
Rathiel pulled the bone out and kicked the orc down, having dispatched of him with ease. He then saw as one of the other humans swung his rusted sword at him. He stepped to the side and stabbed his forearm with the bone, causing the bandit to shout in pain as he dropped the sword.
Rathiel then pulled the bone out and kicked him in the side, sending him reeling back. Without wasting a second, he rolled on the ground, avoiding the Longhaired one's sword and picking up the one that was dropped. He then straightened up and flung the sharp bone at the other human, lodging it right on the shoulder of the arm he had his sword in.
The bandit jerked backwards in pain, "Argh!"
Rathiel then parried the sword of the Longhaired one, who closed the distance right away, "Hm." He said, "My movements are sluggish."
"Tch..." the Bandit said as Rathiel pushed him away
"Get out of the way, Brack!!!" Urok bellowed as he charged past the human
Rathiel dodged the Orc's axe as it was swung downwards, swinging back as a counter, slashing through the massive shoulder of the Bandit. Urok stumbled forward as Rathiel stepped forward and looked at Brack, who was staring at this with wide eyes.
"It's like the blade was sharper than ever!" the Bandit said, "There is no way these idiots kept that rusty thing so sharp!!!"
"Good eye!" Rathiel smirked, "My Sharp Edge Passive allows me to give a sharper edge to a normally dull weapon, hehe. Quite handy for situations like these!"
"A passive?!" Brack said, "You have an Aspect that allows you to stack passives?! I thought you wielded War Necromancy!!"
"I do." Rathiel rushed him and swung the sword at his hand, cutting through and spraying blood everywhere, "Sharp swords are necessary for war, no? This is what it's all about!!"
In a swift motion, he stabbed Brack through the chest, killing him immediately as he swung the sword outwards, causing blood to spray everywhere.
"Fuuuckk!!" one of the other two humans shouted and rushed him
Rathiel swung his sword at his throat, cutting through with ease and then spun around, cutting through his midsection yet again. Blood sprayed all over the place as the bandit collapsed to the ground.
Urok stared at this, completely baffled, "A dead man like you can't be this strong!!!" He shouted, "You are nothing but a corpse!!!"
"No." Rathiel said, "I never died. It was merely believed to be the case. Such is a Necrotic Failsafe."
"What?" the last Human said, "What are you spewing about?!"
This was the one who had his arm stabbed by the bone, losing his sword to Rathiel. He was clutching his wound as it bled profusely, his face going pale immediately.
"I sacrificed a Necrotic Core, which was one of my most prized possessions!" Rathiel shouted, veins popping out of his forehead, "And I entered a dead-like state when I was fatally wounded, a powerful ability granted by my Unholy Necromancy Aspect: [Necrotic Failsafe]!!"
"What?!" Urok said, "That's.....that's cheating!!"
"It is! But it comes at a great cost!" Rathiel rushed the last human bandit, "It currently leaves me in a magic-less state! But...."
In a swift motion, he cut through the bandit's neck, blood spraying everywhere as the body crumpled to the ground. Urok stared at this with pure shock as he clutched his wound, completely baffled at what had just transpired.
Rathiel then placed his hand in his pocket, pulling out a single blood-red jewel. It was a few inches in diameter with an oval shape, the light of the fallen torches reflecting off the stone.
Urok looked at this, "That's...."
"Yea...." Rathiel said, "The Vampires forgot I had this. And I am glad that they overlooked it. They were more focused on the fact that I insulted their Grand Elder, the fucking cunt. And Arianne...for fuck's sake, that stupid damned woman!! She will pay for what she did!! I trusted her!!!"
He clenched the jewel and glared at Urok, the Orc completely bewildered by this.
"You....." He said
"I was so close in fucking that woman too." Rathiel said, "If you have seen Arianne of the Castrella Coven, you would understand. She is a woman out of a dream, completely ethereal....but to think she fell to the temptation of Silva Castrella, that shadow-fucking cunt!! I will have my revenge, I swear it on everything I stand for!!"
"Hota...." Urok said, "Hota will find out and he will kill you."
"Hota? The Disgraced One?" Rathiel said, "Isn't he the former Drahan Royal Knight turned Cultist? I've heard about him. I've tracked him for a few months before he ran to Othenia."
"He has returned." Urok said, "And he didn't run!! He had a serious issue to attend to!! And you.....to think that The War Neromancer had such an ability....to cheat death...."
Rathiel smirked, "The War Necromancer....I've kinda loved that nickname. Makes me sound...cool...." He said, "And the Castrella Coven realized that they had to take me out at that moment, when I was caught off-guard by Arianne's betrayal. But that was not enough to kill me!! For I am still here!! Ahhh!! Dammit!! I'm so fucking pissed!! A Necrotic Core, dammit!! Dammit!!"
He then flung the sword at Urok, impaling him in the stomach. The Orc jerked back slightly before collapsing to his knees and coughing up blood.
"Urgh...." he managed as he dropped his axe
"Pathetic Bandits." Rathiel slowly walked towards him, "I've never understood why you imbeciles seal your fate, thinking you can do as you please. Raping and pillaging, attacking the innocent. I'm no saint myself, but I don't stoop so low."
He grabbed the handle of the sword and twisted the blade, adding more agonizing pain to Urok's current position. The Orc clutched Rathiel's arm as he weakly grimaced in pain, looking right at the young man's eyes.
"You..." He said, "Hota....."
"Hota won't know a damned thing." Rathiel said, "Did you really think that I would tell you the secret of my Necrotic Failsafe, planning to let you go and inform a Bandit Leader who worships Kadione? You are but a fool. The moment you planned to chop my body up in pieces and offer them to the Ogres, well.....you sealed your fate to die at my hands."
"You filthy...." The Orc glared at him
"Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and the Fairfolk." Rathiel said as he pulled out the sword, causing Urok to collapse forward, "You who decide to commit atrocities put a bad name to your brethren. Your fellow Orcs should be ashamed, seeing a pathetic Bandit with no magic straying from the just path. They'll probably think that getting killed by a magic-less Necromancer is the fitting end for your kind."
"My kind?" Urok managed to say as Rathiel tossed the sword aside and picked up the hand axe
"Yea. Filth. Scum." Rathiel raised the axe, "Bandits."
He then swung the axe down, cutting the Orc's head off.
As the body collapsed completely and his head rolled on the ground, Rathiel felt a rush on his body, signaling the sudden return of his magic power.
"Hm...." He straightened up, "So the depletion has ended. Now, I imagine my magic power will slowly fill back up. But.....it's going to be slow. I cheated absolute death, the price was hefty; my Necrotic Core and depleting my magic for an undisclosed amount of time. Tch...."
He looked around him, seeing nothing but absolute darkness past the light of the torches that were slowly dying out.
"I have to make use of my [Pact of Debauchery] Aspect." He said with a serious expression, "I have to fuck some nice and sexy woman. It'll fill my Magic Power back up."
"I have to do it quickly, too."
**********
A few hours passed, and the light of a torch illuminated what looked like a small pond. The sounds of frogs were heard loudly as Rathiel waddled through the waters.
He held a torch up in his hand, holding what looked like a sack holding unknown contents. He had a serious look on his face, the light causing his golden eye to glow brightly as he walked. On his waist, the axe that belonged to Urok was hanging from a leather strap he stole from the other bandits.
"Hm...." He said as he pointed the torch to the side, the water reaching his waist, "I'm closer to Lake Agartha....these swampy areas belong to the Ogres.....where the fuck are they?"
Rathiel saw the distant reflection of eyes staring right at him from the waters in front of him. He simply frowned and kept walking, ignoring the fact that crocodiles were currently stalking him. One might say that it was the most foolish thing one could do: swim with crocodiles in the area. But Rathiel showed no fear, knowing that mere crocodiles were not the most threatening things that lurked in these swamps.
Rathiel reached a small dirt patch, acting as an island in the pond, "Hm..." he said as he climbed ashore, "Tch...."
He stopped at the edge of the other side, waving the torch around, casting the light upon the waters in front of him.
Suddenly, from the waters in front of him, a massive figure emerged. It gave off a deep growl as two massive orange eyes glared at Rathiel, a foul stench filling the air which caused Rathiel to scrunch his nose in response.
"Shit...." he said as he looked up at the towering figure
It was humanoid, having oily brown skin with a large, bulging bald head. It's ears were pointy and chipped, as if they were wounded in the past. It's mouth was chapped, covered in scars as its pores emitted some sort of oily substance. It was, without a doubt, one of the most horrifying creatures that Rathiel had laid his eyes upon, but it was one that he was used to.
Rathiel dropped the sack on the ground, snorting and letting out a guttural noise from his mouth. The creature tilted its head as its massive belly was vibrating, a deep growl being given off in response.
Rathiel waved the torch over the sack, gesturing at it with his other hand, "I don't speak Ogre, you cunt." He said, "You know that much."
The Ogre snorted and leaned its head down, "YOU." It said with a loud and simple tone, "DEAD. SMELL."
"It's probably the pieces of corpses in the fucking sack." Rathiel scowled
"NO." The Ogre pointed its fat finger at him, "YOU. DEAD."
"I'm not dead." Rathiel said as he showed him a red scar on his arm, "But I am this."
The scar was in the form of a sword that a skull on its handle, completely bright red. It was if it was a Mark, carved in Rathiel's skin with a blade.
The Ogre leaned in and narrowed its eyes, "YOU." It said, "NECROS."
"That's right." Rathiel said with an annoyed tone, "Now. I give these remains as offerings. Take me to the Swamp Warlock. Now."
"SWAMP. KING." The Ogre said
"Yes. Swamp. King." Rathiel said, "Go on. Have this snack. Eat it. Because it is the only mortal flesh I will willingly give an Ogre. The flesh of filth like them."
"FILTH. GOOD." The Ogre grabbed the sack and picked it up in its hands, turning around, "YOU. TAKE. TO. SWAMP. KING."
Rathiel nodded as the Ogre began to walk through the water, "Yea." I said, "Take me to the fat bastard."
He followed the Orc, walking through the water as the sounds of the frogs got louder. He noticed that the crocodiles were slowly following the two, stalking Rathiel as he walked behind the Ogre, his torch in his hand.
He didn't like Ogres. In fact, he hated them. But he knew a certain group of Ogres of the Agartha Swamps did not like to eat innocent mortals, so they resorted to targeting the Beasts that wander the Bonefields or any Bandit that wanders in their territory. Most of them are quite intelligent despite their aggressive and simple behavior, knowing when to differentiate their victims.
Rathiel had come in contact with this certain group on multiple occasions, knowing to offer them flesh to gain passage through their waters. The predators of the swamp know not to attack any living being when an Ogre is nearby, which is why the crocodiles and serpents steer clear of Rathiel and the Ogre in front of him. But they remain behind, stalking the Human, just in case.
After several minutes of walking through waters, the Ogre led Rathiel to a large cavern entrance that was right on the shore of the pond, several bone effigies planted around the entrance with crocodile and deer skulls decorating them. There was a faint orange glow from deep within the cavern, telling Rathiel that the one he was seeking was within the cavern.
The Ogre pointed forwards, "SWAMP. KING."
Rathiel nodded, "Yes." He said as he walked ashore, "And remember. You eat innocent. I kill you."
The Ogre snorted and walked away, ignoring his threat.
Rathiel entered the cavern, walking for another minute before reaching a massive chamber that was beneath the earth, a small crevice that allowed the smoke of the large bonfire in the middle to pass through.
He saw a massive Ogre sitting on what looked like a throne made out of bones and wood, its skin was pale white as it had a strange mask on its face. Its massive and burly body was covered in fur pelts, resembling clothing.
The Ogre looked at Rathiel, its green eyes peering through the eye-holes of the mask, "So...." its deep and raspy voice filling the chamber, "You lived."
Rathiel frowned, "Otake..." He said, "You Oni fuck. What's your damn problem? You didn't warn me of what was going to happen!!"
The Ogre scratched its fat chin, "I've tried to." He said, "But you were too worried about getting the Vampire Woman to share your bed. I knew the Castrellans were nothing but trouble."
"Tch..." Rathiel said as he sat down, "You have a point there. But there was something wrong about the whole thing, I can feel it."
"And I peered through the eyes of one of my Ogres." Otake said, "Watching as the Vampires swarmed you, after the Vampire Vixen betrayed you. You gave them a good fight, Silva Castrella was sure to be scarred. But ultimately.....you lost."
"I did." Rathiel said seriously, "They started the ambush with devastating attacks....."
"And yet...." Otake said, "You lived. How?"
"I won't disclose my abilities with you, who could have helped!" Rathiel glared at him
"A terrible regret." Otake said, "But worry not....I intend to pay you back. As you are aware, my Ogres are friendly with the nearby town's merchants. We provide protection from the bandits while they gift my Ogres rotting beef, and they give me....the Swamp King.....valuables....."
"Yea? So?" Rathiel said
"I have clothes for you." Otake said, "Some food and water. Rest, old friend. And on tomorrow's caravan, you shall have safe passage to Greenspire."
"Why would I trust you?" Rathiel asked with a scowl
"I cannot harm you." Otake said, "You are aware of my Pact, after all. Take this as my personal apology, Rathiel. You know that I must not involve myself with such dangerous foes."
"Fine." Rathiel rolled his eyes, "Whatever. But you know that I still don't like your Ogres."
"It is expected." Otake said with a dismissive gesture, "Rest. You must be tired. Surviving those Vampires must have been tiresome."
"It was." Rathiel said
"And what is your plan now?" Otake asked him
"What do you think?" Rathiel scowled even more, "I find the Castrella Coven. I find Arianne....."
"And I have my revenge!!!"