Tough Lessons

The old sword had it's nicks and cuts, but the blade had held it's own in the years it had seen by his side. Liguyus had never let the sword slip from his side since the battle that took his son. It was his last real connection to him, more so for the vengeance it had claimed that foul day than for the memory it invoked. The cave Liguyus walked down now was sparsely lit with torches every few turns, lending as much darkness as they did light. Turning one tight corner of the slimy walls allowed him to see the end. A chamber brightly lit with rows of candles and hollowed out larger than any of the previous rooms. Inside stood his goal. Amagaster. The dark robed, sickly pale Amagaster was an evil wizard that the word old paled in comparison for a description. Only the wizard's reputation had outlived him. Thus, the reason Liguyus now stood to face him. "You bastard!", shouted Liguyus. "I saw those people. I saw deir corpses! Why!? They done nothin' wrong 'cept try to live off yer poisoned lands!" Amagaster pulled back the hood of his robe, "No one lives if they do not bring me their dead kin." The smell now began to sink in and caused Liguyus to look around. Their were dead bodies in the room, bent in grotesque posses and ritual magic placed around him. Liguyus had heard the stories of the dark wizard being a necromancer. But the proof almost made him sick. "No more! No MOOOORE!", screamed Liguyus. The trusty sword was in his hand like a faithful companion. Hungering for the first cut of righteousness. Liguyus swung the sword up to cleave the wizard's head off in a single smooth move. Amagaster flicked something out of his robes and a hellish blast of fire threw Liguyus against the back wall of the cave. The wizard's hand flicked again, now visible with a wand. The bodies began to move all around the cave. Liguyus knew that he must move with haste and picked himself off the floor. His plate armor was restrictive, but he practically lived out of it now. Two steps, then three and he was again at the wizard's side. Swinging again the sword struck against a barrier of magical energy. Liguyus caught the step and swung around to cleave his sword through one of the dead, a young woman it seemed. Caught off guard by the suddenness of the undead woman Liguyus stumbled in his steps. The dark wizard took the opportunity. His wand swiftly shot out at Liguyus and a quick word was all that was needed to send a bright blue stream of energy out to strike. The energy hit it's mark. Pain was blinding as it found it's way to every corner of Liguyus. Uncontrollably he shook for only a moment. Just enough to let his trusted companion drop to the floor with a metallic chime. The ringing tolled clearly in his mind, while his vision clouded. Just then, from the entrance of the cave three yellow, glowing balls of energy errupted forth and slammed the wizard. The shock of the event caused Amagaster to drop his sacred implement before it could finish Liguyus. Liguyus hit the floor, but remained conscious. Through his clouded vision only sheets of yellow and blue could be seen. He tried to clear his mind, but the pain was still fresh. Before he could get up a wave of warm energy washed over him and the sound of many bodies hitting the floor could be heard. "Hasn't anyone told you? Fighting undead means you should have a priest by your side!" The voice was familiar in some way. Ah, yes! Liguyus' vision cleared to see the face of the young man looking down at him and smiling. It was a distant memory, but a happy sight indeed. "Morganus? How the hell did you get to these lands?" "One tale at a time, my friend. One tale at a time."