Quest Loot Runners #3 The Wind and the Willow

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

He looked back as Flint spoke. His friend was right. Waiting around only spelled another chance of death for him or his ally. He saw the small girl behind them meet a similar fate that he had experienced and he felt his heart drop a bit. Opponents or not he wasn't here to wish death upon anyone. That fear couldn't push him back. He couldn't drop his momentum for the sake of someone else. They were here as adversaries.

Orival brought himself to move again as to not keep them stuck there forever. The further he went it seemed that the steps of the bridge were less worn. Likely due to not as many people reaching that far. It would be a much smoother walk from the looks of it. He forced his feet to move.

Eventually, he did reach the end of the bridge. He looked back towards Flint and wiped his forehead to express relief.

Flint

 

[Rizzo Bouchard]

ISLAND 3: WILLOW​

Finally! She and Tol made it!

And today was gonna be all sunshine and starlight! Rizzo got her contract from the Adventurer's Guild before she had set out from Alliria and caught up with Tol and asked him for help. And, wow, what a contract! Not only was her promotion from Copper-class to Iron-class depending on it, but a wealthy collector wanted an item the famous wizard Grangomelle--yeah, that wizard!--had hidden for one of his upcoming thingamajigs! A sword, a fancy sword, called the Willow.

Now here's a win-win scenario! Nab the sword, get a replica made, turn in replica to the Adventurer's Guild, get promoted, keep sword, whowasgonnaknowthedifference? Right? Right!

Also, it was Rizzo's first true time being far outside of Alliria. And the world outside the city was amazing! This city made her head spin! It was incredible! And it was probably full of stuff she could tactically acquire! And by "tactically acquire" she meant steal. Politely! Okay maybe not so politely in some cases. Those ghouls sounded scary!

The wizard explained the contest and what prizes lay where and--AHHH! What! No! There's was a million other people going towards those things called Panda-roo-ba-dos and the Willow sword. That wasn't fair! She needed that!

Rizzo jumped up and down, signalling to her massive best friend to crouch down so she could whisper to him. And by "whisper" she meant shout loud enough directly into his ear to be heard over those winds (her cape was fluttering like crazy! That was gonna be a problem!)

And she said to him, "Tol-Tol, what are going to do! All those other people wanna get the Willow and we need the Willow! Yes we do! But wait! We can plan! We can do this!" A huge grin and a curling flex of her arm. "We just might have to be...impolite about it! I promise I won't tell-tell anyone if you don't!"

Conspiratorial glee danced in her tone. "Here's what I think. Let those divvies go and fight those Panda-bam-bos and get all tired and exhausted and then...we borrow it from them!" Rizzo rubbed her chin. "But how best to do it...? Wouldn't want them to get away, get away. Not with the Willow! Hmmmm..."

Rizzo swayed her head side-to-side, literally tumbling around thoughts and plans in her head.

Tol

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Island 3: Pandaraan and Willow

Raigryn's gaze turned upwards. As the splinters came tumbling down from the other bridge. The other two adventurers were above and to the right of them now. These towers allowed for a lot more vertical room than lateral.

It occurred to him that if those two wanted, they could have thrown all manner of trouble down on him, Fife and Belduhr. It was a competition after all. At this point their safety was predicated upon their honour. Perhaps a foolish mistake on his part.

His attention snapped back to Fife as he heard a plank give way. Reaching for his Desire at the same time as throwing out a hand, he found that Fife had already shifted her weight back onto the safe plank. Either she was using her store of Joy or just the natural agility of a street thief.

He didn't have much time to consider which it could be as the wind suddenly picked up. The bridges were swung dangerously far to the left, afforded Raigryn a rather spectacular view of the waves below over his right shoulder.

"Hold tight!" he called out. He wrapped the rope tight around his forearm several times, calling for the others to do the same.

 

[Belduhr Brighthand]

Raigryn Vayd Fife

Belduhr gazed up at the men, watching them make their way across as the broken board came down onto their bridge. The plank snapping beneath Fife's foot drew his attention back however, his body tensing at the natural reaction of wanting to react as he had once done for his little sister.

The bridge loosing a board did not phase the girl, but the wind very well could have as it whipped up. Belduhr suddenly missed his home of stone that had seldom more than tremors run through it. And even those were relatively muted given the measures the dwarves had gone too in assuring their existence remained.

Raigryn wrapped his arm in the rope, and Belduhr had little time to do more than two wraps before the wind demanded all of his attention otherwise.

 

[Fife]

Stepping past the precarious gap, Fife didn't have quite as much time as the others to wrap her arms in. Reaching out and holding fast to both ropes was her best shot at not getting swept over. The wind roared in her ears and whipped her hair about her face, but Fife held on tight. It was impossible not to look down at the waves below as the bridge swayed. Not unlike being in a carriage, she felt her stomach churning at the to and fro motion.

It swung back, as pendulums do, and as the wind died down, Fife dared to look back for the first time. Her dark eyes were wide with worry, but both had hung on. She didn't linger. The sooner she forged ahead, the quicker they could follow and they could all be off of this accursed bridge.

Focusing on her task, Fife tested the boards as she moved on, tapping her foot firmly before putting weight on. Those that would not support her or more than her splintered and she stepped past, pointing it out.

She wasn't being reckless, but she was quicker about testing as she grew more confident. They couldn't cross as quickly as those on the higher bridge, but she eventually made it to the other side. The rickety tower didn't make her feel much better, but she scampered across the platform to the wall, putting as much distance between herself and the edge as possible. She had made it. Panting from nerves, she watched the other two following after her.

// Raigryn Vayd // Belduhr Brighthand //

 

[Harrier]

ISLAND 2: IGNATYR/FLAMING MACE
Freya Thrakin

"Good work!" Harrier called back. "My walkers-"

She cut off as rocks clattered and broke. One of the Ignatyr collapsed into its constituent parts. She blinked and looked around. Almost a quarter mile away, one of her stupid skeletons had taken it upon itself to scrape out a shallow grave with its rusty sword and put some local bones inside. She knew the signs: that particular skeleton wanted rest. She drained away the power invested in binding a half-asleep soul to a set of bones. Her skeleton fell with a mental sigh of relief.

The other skeletons proved quite decent at finding comparable bones. Harrier used a College cantrip to excavate basic graves a good two feet deep for each aet of remains that she or Freya found. Each time either one laid someone to rest, an Ignatyr collapsed with a sigh like the skeleton Harrier had released.

 

[Flint]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow
Going second meant he'd have to wait longer to get off the bridge, and while he was the more nervous of the two when it came to heights, he was glad he was bringing up the rear. It meant Orival could test for dodgy footholds, paving the way for them to traverse the bridge as promptly as safety allowed. Though a terrible gust buffeted them before they managed to cross the bridge, the duo had managed to survive the journey, the comfort of solid ground welcoming them on the other side.

Flint looked back, watching Fife Raigryn and Belduhr as they closed the distance. His eyes darting back to the mage, the barber moved put some distance between himself and the chasm. "Right. Where to next?". His eyes fell on the body of land that lay before them. He wondered if the pandaranns had already noticed them, if they were planning their attack right now, as he spoke. It mattered little. They would attack. If there was any uncertainty of that, they wouldn't have been warned of the beasts in the first place. Regardless, Flint was confident that he and Orival would be able to deal with them when the time came.
Orival Theodric

 

[Tol]

Island 3: The Willow

Like Rizzo, The furthest Tol had gone from his home before was Allira and now he has followed Rizzo all the way to where ever they were to grab some sword called a Willow. Sure Tol had heard of the other items but the only one Tol had any use for was a flaming mace and to be honest trolls and fire don't mix well. As long as Rizzo gave part of the coin gained from this quest Tol was happy.

Crouching down Tol listened to Rizzo's plan. While traveling to this place Tol finally somewhat figured out that Rizzo was a theif at heart and when she borrows something never expect to get it back but then she was Tol's first friend outside Bayou Garramarisma plus Tol would be a hypocrite if he stopped her. There was a reason stories of trolls being under bridges existed as many swamp trolls learnt how to be brigands and take things from those travelling in the Bayou. Of course most people traveling in the Bayou were also bandits and smugglers but still it helped Tol practice and he knew what to do.

Looking at his elven friend Tol grinned and said "No worry Tol get tolls" before walking up to the bridge having one look at it then turning around. There was no way Tol was getting to the island via a wooden rope bridge. Tol had expected this and made sure he had a two stamina potions that he got from a certain lizard. They wouldn't do too much for the troll but were better than nothing.

"Tol see Rizzo at other side" Tol shouted before climbing down the cliff face. The only way he was going to get to the island was to climb down then brave the waters and hopefully swim to the base of the island and then climb that one all the way to the top. Tol could easily climb down and swim but climbing back up would be the most hardest part to Tol at least.

 

[Rizzo Bouchard]

ISLAND 3: WILLOW​

OF COURSE!

Tol the Bull was Tol the Smart today! They could switch nicknames for a little bit, that was fine, it was in the rules! Raaaaaah! Rizzo the Bull! She didn't know how she could possibly be as intimidating as Tol but as grandma and grandpa Bouchard always said, "Show a little gumption!" Yes! If it came down to scaring those other teams into handing over the Willow then she'd figure it out! A little gumption, alright!

Anyway, Tol's plan was genius! Charge whoever had the Willow a toll. And guess what? The toll is the sword! Aha! You wouldn't want to break the rules, would you? Would you? And besides, they didn't need it. Rizzo needed it! They weren't getting promoted. Rizzo was getting promoted! Little Sweetroll gonna stay Copper-class forever, huh? SURPRISE! Day, equal to, seized! That's Iron-class Sweetroll to you!

"I'll meet you there-there!" Rizzo said. See that, Tol was super smart, and Rizzo would slap anyone who said otherwise! He knew that rickety old bridge wouldn't hold him up. So he showed a little gumption and decided it best to climb down that big scary rockface and swim to the other island.

Rizzo went and stood before the swaying bridge with a mischievous grin and her hands on her hips, cape and hair fluttering wildly to one side in the wind. This old bridge wouldn't be a problem to her! She was light-light! Lighter than humans, lighter than other elves, the bridge wouldn't even know she was there!

And she sang as she started to prance along the planks:

♫ Off • to get • the Wil • low~
I • don't need • an In • tro~
You know • my name • is Riz • zo~
And • I'm here • to bor • row~ ♫​

Problem! With being so light! It made crossing the bridge itself easy-easy, but then the wind blew in a sudden sharp and fierce gust. Enough to blast Rizzo clear off of the leftward-swinging bridge and send her sailing and spinning out in the open air.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Don't think! Just do, just do! The boots of Rizzo's feet shimmered with a black and purple glow and she double-jumped, kicking her feet impossibly in a leap against the thin air and propelling herself against the wind and back toward the bridge. This was it! She couldn't triple-jump (last time she tried she oopsy-daisy blacked out and smacked her head on the ground when she landed. Ow!). So this had to be enough.

And it was! Rizzo's hand barely grasped the edge of the swaying wooden bridge, and, heart pounding with terror and excitement in her chest, legs dangling wildly out in the huge drop down to the sea, Rizzo grunted and pulled herself back up onto the bridge.

"Haha! The wind can't steal my sunshine!"

Whew! That was almost a disaster! Rizzo's feet and hands--all of which were now firmly planted onto the planks--shimmered with that small black and purple, and instead of wall-latching she, uh, bridge-latched. Okay! So this was going to take a while! Crawling across the bridge! But hey, maybe she was a cat, yeah, pretend she was a cat! Sneak-sneaking up on a bird back in Alliria, you know how they do it, all low and slow and then quick and then slow again and eyes big.

So Rizzo started again across the bridge, this time on all fours and with the assistance of her innate magic. Two of those humans already made it across. The older human man and the dwarf and the human girl were all way ahead of her. Hey, no fair, the wind ought to blow that little human girl off too! But that was okay. Like she said, the wind playing favorites or no, it couldn't steal her sunshine!

Tol

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

Was that...? Orival couldn't see very clearly across the bridge but he swore he was looking at a troll climb down the bluff on the other side of the rickety bridge. He rubbed his eyes but. No, yeah. That was a troll. Aiming to go go for the same prize he and Flint were. That would prove to be quite troublesome, wouldn't it?
When Flint got to the other side Orival's focus was on those about to cross and the elvish girl who'd almost met her doom from a gust of wind. Their rivalries were beginning to stack.

"Regardless of where..." He wrote adamantly. "We need to move. Now." He nodded at his partner before turning his back to the bridge and packing his staff away. He then began to run straight for the first tower he could. They could assess things better and plan without interruption if they were able to get ahead of everyone as they currently were.

Orival set his hand backwards as he ran to leave a trail of fire to block them from being followed but was only able to muster a small patch of flame that died out quickly. He was running too intently to even notice.

Flint

 

[Freya Thrakin]

ISLAND 2: IGNATYR/FLAMING MACE
Harrier

They had made relatively quick progress in the search for the bones, the sound of crumbling rubble emphasizing the completion of each of the graves. Freya wiped the dirt off her hands as she placed what was hopefully the last pile of bones into a newly created grave. The Ignatyr, with as satisfied an expression that a pile of possessed rocks could muster, collapsed into the ground.

Looking over to the necromancer, she asked, "What was it that you wanted the Ignatyr for? Just to put them to rest?"

 

[Flint]

"Got it."
The pair took off, fleeing their competitors with the aim of starting their search unbothered. Flint was a resourceful man, and Orival was well versed in the arcane. Where the other teams may have lead the charge in strength and number, he and the mage held the advantage of craftiness and intellect. Plus, there was a chance the younger men would be underestimated, which had to play to their advantage somehow.

Adrenalin coursed through the barber's body, calling out some of the innate magic within him. It manifested as he drew one of his knives, turning it in one hand with skill that looked natural to the man.
"You okay? Looked like you saw something back there?". He also noticed Theodric's attempt at a flame during their flee, which had led the barber to some concern.
Orival Theodric

 

[Raigryn Vayd]

Island 3: Willow

Once the wind stopped buffeting the group, swinging them like a fly on a strand of spider silk, he quickly started to follow after Fife. Without his... her... natural agility he had to keep drawing on his magic to keep his footing. It was like a quarter open tap letting a steady flow work through his body.

When he reached the wooden platform at the fair end he stopped, but because he was out of his breath but because he needed to calm his nerves.

"Look!" he said, calling to Fife and Belduhr Brighthand . "Plague ghouls."

On the other tower green stick figures darked from one floor to another, scuttling back into the shadows.

"Hated because they follow the plague, but also good for disposal. Did you know they eat entire diseased bodies, bones and all?"

Turning back to follow the bridge they had crossed he saw a boulder falling down the cliff. Not a boulder, but an enormous troll. It wasn't going to swim was it? These choppy waters would be almost impossible to swim, but the troll was going to do it.

"I guess we search this floor and then move up?" he suggested.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

This wasn't exactly where she had expected that they'd be taken. Portal stones were fickle things and annoying! All that Myrcella had wanted was to go back home to the Bochanan Estate where she can be pampered and properly healed under the care of her Mother and their servants.

But no.

The Fates had other plans it seemed.

Myrcella held onto Richard Henry the Eighth in dismay as she caught site of their new surroundings. So now what?

"Do you think that if we manage to get one of the prizes, whomever is running this...contest...would help us get home?"

 

[Tol]

Climbing down the cliff wasn't hard and luckily Tol was smart enough to make a leather strap for his club leaving both his arms free. He would periodically look up to the bridge to see if Rizzo was safe and of course nearly died inside when he saw Rizzo fall off. Luckily Rizzo was smart and had magic that allowed her to jump in mid air.

One thing Tol did notice was a small flame appear and disappear at the end of the bridge. One thing every swamp troll learnt was to spot a flame being one of the few things that truely hurt a troll. Nearing the bottom of the cliff Tol ripped a loose stone out of the cliff side and threw it towards whomever made that fire. The wind and mainly the height difference meant that stone didn't even reach halfway before plummeting into the water.

Finally Tol had reached the bottom of the cliff and jumped right into the water. He would now have to fight against the current to reach the the other island.

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

As the light began to dim with their entry into the first tower on the island, it felt as if all sound began to vanish as well. It left them in a room that was wide and dark but not impossible to navigate. As he walked forward he wrote, "Thought maybe I could slow our opponents down. Magic didn't come out right." Orival felt something was wrong but couldn't put his finger on it...

In the instant he thought that he and his partner would be met with a terrifying roar. A flash of black and white barreling towards them. He had no time to write. He attempted to dodge this flying impact with near success, but was caught by their shoulder. He flew backwards onto a pile of broken barrels taking light damage and making an incredible thud. After its initial charge it would turn to face them.

One of the Pandarann's was not here to waste any time. The beast frothed at the mouth and bore immaculate claws on its hand. It was not going to let them leave as it quickly shifted to block the exit.

Flint

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard sighed as he held Myrcella, they have been wondering around for days now and somehow have ended up in a contest to find a rare item. It was hidden in one of the islands which the host was vague on the people or creatures that inhabited it. The Bard Knight looked around the island that he and Myrcella chose, the girl was exhausted and scared hoping that the island they've chosen was safe for them. Richard was also tired of the misadventures they've been having. Myrcella needed medical attention and was in no shape to be outside world.

"I hope so," Richard said lifting Myrcella off her feet. "Maybe they can heal your ankle and give you a new dress. Maybe they can make me more pretty for you because I know what you're thinking?: How can the man I love look so ugly?"

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Flint]

Flint's attention was drawn from his friend as something landed outside the tower with a deep crunch. The barber's eyes narrowed at the sight of the boulder Tol had thrown, but he hadn't much time to wonder where at all it came from.

It was as though the beast appeared from nowhere. Barelling into Orival, it sent the mage hurtling into a few barrels that had been broken on the ground.
"Son of a bitch!".
The barber cried out as the behemoth of a pandarann came to a halt inside the tower, each breath causing its shoulders to drastically rise and fall. The barber didn't hesitate to draw a blade, gripping the sharp edge and launching it at his enemy, glad to see it find the beast's shoulder.

The throw seemed in vain, however, as the beast seemed anything but in pain. It cried out in frustration, and turned its sights on the barber. Flint swore once more, moving to climb the stairs towards the first stairs, hoping the predator would follow him. Orival needed time to recover.

Orival Theodric

 

[Rizzo Bouchard]

ISLAND 3: WILLOW​

Across the bridge she went. Slow and steady wins the race! But only when that saying was appropriate! Nobody said that when slow and steady didn't win the race! But that was the plan here. That first team of two humans was already across the bridge and they'd be running into those Pan-dooblies soon enough and guess what, guess what? They'd be all tuckered out once they finally got all the way up to the top of that tower and to the Willow! And tired people were agreeable people! They let Rizzo borrow stuff all the time!

Right hand. Left foot. Left hand. Right foot. Easy does it. Whew. This was exhausting, going on all-fours like this and using her magic without a break while the wind tried to yank her ceaselessly off the bridge. But! She wouldn't be tired! Because she still had her secret weapon from Ye the Flowery! Yes! Those stamina potions! The wind failed to take her satchel along with it; close, but not quite! Chug a potion once she got to the other side and she'd be good to go!

That other team, the team of three with the dwarf, was doing well for itself. They got to the other end. Haha! All according to plan! Let them do the hard work-work.

Getting close to the end now herself. Finally! Her arms were starting to hurt and her legs felt all cramped up! She could see through some of the looser and some of the outright broken planks Tol waaaaaay down below. He could do it! That water looked fast and rough and nasty but Tol could PUNCH it into submission and swim soundly across, she knew he could!

Then, at last, Rizzo made it to the wooden platform at the end of the bridge and onto the island tower proper. She plopped down on her rear end and sat, arms limp at her sides and her head lulled back and panting from her exertion. Aaaaahhhh...she was so tired and thirsty. But hey. Not for long! Refreshments of both flavors were in her satchel.

She just...whew...she needed a minute to relax.

Tol

 

[Orival Theodric]

Island 3: Pandarann/Willow

Orival stood up and cracked his injured shoulder trying to collect himself. He barely caught the tail of end the pandarann being impaled by a throwing knife. Flint had started to make it the next floor of this labyrinthine tower and he couldn't lag behind. He sprinted towards the back of the creature and attempted to dodge passed it with a light hand spring. He unfortunately couldn't vault over the things massive height and ended up stumbling. Luckily no more damage came from it but he'd foiled his own friends plan of getting the beast to look away from Orival.

The pyromancer tried to not waste any time and and launched a circular flame towards the beasts head. It seemed to catch flame for a second but shook it off easily. Its fury apparent in its eyes as it came back for Orival. Frozen in fear the dancer was met with a claw across his chest knocking him ridiculously far, almost to the entrance of the tower. He hit the ground with a thud and winced in pain as he impacted the tower floor.

The beast was already moving to him again. Orival could only think about his mother. That, and death.

Flint

 

[Fife]

With her hands on her knees and bent over to watch her breath, Fife only straightened when Raigryn stepped onto the platform as well. Her cheeks were red from the wind and her eyes were bright. She flashed hin a nervous smile and gave a thumb up. They had made it, for better or worse. All that remained was Belduhr.

She followed Raigryn's gaze to one if the other towers, in time to see the sickly figures before they receded into the dark recesses of the building once more. They were eerie, and his nervous string of facts didn't ease their unsettling effect. She glanced sidelong at him, frowning. Of course she didn't know that.

It was a good thing that they weren't on that tower, but theirs had enough going on. A rock sailed past them and back down again from the troll -- the thought of fighting with a troll for this Willow thing was not appealing in the slightest regard -- and there was an enormous crash and roar above them. Even over the howling wind Fife could hear it and looked up the tower.

Raigryn suggested up, and Fife assumed that he had a fifty percent chance of being right about which way the thing was hidden. But going up meant running right into whatever commotion they were hearing. Excellent. A look back at the bridge, however, showed a woman crawling on all fours shortly behind them. Fife didn't want to find out if she was friendly or how long it would take her to close the gap. She was ready to go, and ready to see this all through. Though she wasn't exactly hoping they met their demise, they were their competition and they may not share the same sentiment.

// Raigryn Vayd // Belduhr Brighthand //​

 

[Belduhr Brighthand]

Raigryn Vayd Fife

Belduhr pulled himself along slowly, keeping a hand wrapped in the rope as his short steps likely did nothing to help the steadiness of the bridge. After clearing the bridge however, and only managing to misstep and break a single board under his own foot, he listened to Raigryn speak about the plague ghouls.

Blasted things they were, great for cleanup, but a right pain for anyone else trying to be rid of them. The boulder going up and then down made the dwarf look quickly, brow knitting together at the realization that it was a troll. His mouth dropped into a harsh grimace at the sight. But it was headed to the waters below, and he wasn't going to make it see sense about that choice.

The choice of clearing this floor and moving up seemed sensible, even if he was loathe to figure out what these native creatures were. The hammer came off his back strap, as large as the dwarf himself with a long handle and large flat faces on either side.

 

[Myrcella Bochanan]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Myrcella snickered a little to herself as Richard Henry the Eighth made a little joke to lighten her mood. "Well, you are in need of a bath and a shave..." But the Gods knew that she didn't look much better.

Her eyes were drawn to the bridge that they were to cross. It swang in the wind and already that made her quite nervous. Yet others seemed to be crossing it okay. "That doesn't quite look safe, but...I guess if we're careful..." If there was one thing that this journey continuously tested her on; it was her bravery. Though Myrcella wondered just how much there was that she had left inside her.

 

[Richard Henry the Eighth]

ISLAND 3: PANDARANN/WILLOW

Richard rolled his eyes "Myrcella!" he said pretending to be shocked. "A few days ago you've told me that I looked handsome with a beard! And to think I was about to talk to the Dwarves on how they maintain their beards!"

The Island was mountainous and precarious. A flock of massive birds flew over the couple as the Bard Knight squinted to try to see what kind of Birds they were, sadly they disappeared into the mist. The other people were crossing the bridge no problem though Richard suspected none of them were injured. "Right," Richard said placing Myrcella down on the ground and sitting down next to her.

"How do we approach this?" he said while holding Myrcella's hand. "I can't carry you the traditional way the bridge might collapse under our weight. And I know you're going to say to lay off the lemons cakes, trust me Myrcella I'm doing that. However maybe you can try to hold on to me on a piggy back. You've always told me that you wanted to ride on my back. So you have an opportunity."

Myrcella Bochanan

 

[Harrier]

ISLAND 2: IGNATYR/FLAMING MACE
Freya Thrakin

"Is that so hard to believe? That a necromancer would put useful beings to rest?" Harrier sealed one final grave with a gesture and sagged down on a rock that had been an Ignatyr's torso. She'd spent the energy from all her undead and then some. She was eighteen kinds of tired.

"I learned what I learned, and that's enough for me. Go get your new mace, Freya. Let's see how it works, yes? Give something a hit. Something not connected with anything we've just done - I don't think it could wake the souls up again, but you never know."