Venturing into the Darkness

*The wilderness is a dangerous place full of hidden wonders, but also hidden dangers. Most of the wilderness grows denser the further you get into it. More animals, more trees, more flowers, but one spot does the complete oposite. White marble arches strech through the distant trees as adventures grow closer. The hidden Aylied ruins of Hame create a soft silence as people draw closer to it. There are no animals here, the trees dont blow in the find, and the flowers all face away from the entrance. The ruins sit in the still of time. The entrance rests at the bottom of a spiral stair way leading to the first chambers of Hame. The insides lay in an unaltered state of rest that hasnt been seen by eyes of mortal men and revield to the outside world in over 400 years.

Itun and his compaigniouns exited the tree line around Hame. The three men stopped as Itun signaled to them. Gripping his pack he sighed "Alright men, this is it, the ruins of Hame. Now, does anyone have any questions before we get started. Once we get inside, theres no telling if we'll get any time to recoperate." As he waited for any questions, he placed his hands together and clkosed his eyes. With a quick pulse of magika. All three of them glowed with a white light that surrounded their bodies and then faded. Itun opened his eyes and relaxed. "That is a shielding spell that will absord any of the basic attacks that the necromancers or undead will throw at us. The Soul Gem will take the heat of the necromancers, but you have to stay with 15 feat of me, otherwise youre in trouble."*

As Warik left the treeline, the site of the ruins drew him in. It's beauty mingled with the foreboding of trespassing in such an ancient place. Warik grinned, his excitement washing away the agitated mood he had held since the morning. He quickly checked over his gear, dropping his bag at the nearest tree. As he turned to his friends, he felt a tingle wash over him from Itun's spell.
"Itun, I think I am ready. If you would like, I can take the lead. I'm fairly good at sneaking about. 'Specially when there is profit involved." Warik took a few steps closer to the ruins, before kneeling down and closing his eyes. He whispered a quick prayer to Shor, then opened his eyes and began to listen.
"Can you feel that? Such an energy to this place. Though I guess that could be my imagination." He stood to his feet, turning to face Kurgan. "Are you ready, Kurgan?"

As Kurgan stepped out of the brush into the clearing, an immediate feeling of doom lurched over him. His eyes where filled by the beautiful ruins that he has become so familiar with the architecture of. He proceeded with Itun and Warik and listened to them very closely while keeping his face directed to the spiral staircase of the ruins.
Kurgan looked at Warik and nodded that he was ready. His face was stern, emotionless with concentration. Kurgan knelled down on his right knee, and closed his eyes. He moved his head as if he where looking around the place and stood back up. "There is a certain force here that is obviously trying to make us flee." Kurgan looked at Warik. "I don't think sneaking here will be of any use. The aura of this place is already unsettled simply by our presence." Kurgan turned to Itun, "You can feel it as well right? The pain and despair of the undead. Their suffering...I can feel their unsatisfied blood lust swirling around me." Kurgan looked at the bright ruins sparkling in the sun. "This outer appearance is most deceiving..." Kurgan smirked and lifted his hand to block out the sun. "See, there is a very thin haze over these ruins. You are definitely right about this being dangerous Itun." Kurgan took a step towards the ruins ahead of the other two. "So...who's first?"

*Itun looked over at Kurgan. "Your right Dunmer, the aura around this place is completely repelling to anyone and everything in this area. Even the plants face away from it trying to escape. we must tread carefully in this place, or we will surely perish." As Kurgan spoke, Itun began forward. He walked past the tree line and into the open area of the ruins. As he reached the bottom of the steps, he noticed the pressure on his subconscious had increased slightly. He reached into his backpack and pulled out the black crystal and his mage's staff. He placed the crystal on the top of his staff in the gnarled roots of staff. With a wave of his hand and few short words the roots slipped and slid all over the crystal enveloping the crystal in a twisting holster at the top of the staff. The crystal began to glow a dark purple and he could feel the pressure of the evil lift from his mind. He turned back to his companions "I will hold the crystal in the staff .The power of the staff will only last so long, but it will bolster the rang and the consistency of the barrier that will protect us. Again, don't get to far away or else."
Itun turned back away from them and towards the steps. HE walked up the stairs and looked down into a pit that spiraled down against the wall to the door leading into the ruins. He jumped down holding onto the staff and his pack. He waited for his comrades to mimic him and then he walked up to the door. With a close of his eyes, and a sigh, he pushed it open. The air from the inside of the tomb rushed out of the door way and hit them like wall of icy cold death. Itun pulled his cloak over him and continued into the halls. He lift his hand and a green light spread around his body and reached across to the walls and down the stairs for a good 5 feet. He continued down the stairs until they reached the first room. He stuck close to the wall outside the door and looked around the corner. 5 figures stood at the other side of the room, swaying back and forth. He looked back at the others and whispered "Alright, 2 champion skeletons and 3 hero's. we need to think about this logically, if we take out the heroes first the other 2 will be easier. any ideas?" Itun waited for any smart ideas and watched the skeletons, praying his light wasn't going to give them away.*

Warik followed Itun, silently contemplating the words of his friends. Though he understood what his companions were saying, he felt differently. The energy he felt was strong, maybe menacing, but all it did was bolster his excitement. He found it hard to contain a grin as they approached the door to the ruins. Briefly, the thought crossed his mind, "Maybe there is something wrong with me." As he followed Itun to the edge of the first room, he looked at the enemies. He removed his cloak, dropping it to the ground, and then slowly drew his longsword. He then looked to Itun, and briefly considered his question.
Warik smiled at him, before responding quietly. "Ideas? I have one. Kill them. All." He winked at the Argonian, then stepped into the room, paying no heed to Itun's objections. He then ran towards the closest skeleton, and aimed a powerful strike at the skeleton's torso. When the flat of his blade made contact with the creature, it toppled over to the side, thought it still lived. As the clattering of bones drew the attention of the other skeletons, who all centered on Warik with vacant stares, Warik laughed. As the skeletons charged the Nord, he landed a powerful stomp on the skull of the prone skeleton, smiling with satisfaction at the sound of crunching bones. As he slowly backed away towards the door, he shouted to his companions. "You know what my favorite part of fighting these creatures is? The satisfying crunch." Warik laughed again, then crouched to prepare for the the coming charge.

As Warik charged in head first, Kurgan stood back for a second to watch what would happen. When his sword clashed against one of the Hero's torso, Kurgan knew it was time to step in. As the other skeletons turned towards Warik, Kurgan sprinted towards Warik. He drew his blades as he ran for a column that had fallen down at an angle. Kurgan sprinted up the column and jumped over Warik, falling towards one of the champions. Kurgan landed a powerful kick that sent the skeleton falling backwards as Kurgan rolled on to the ground. He quickly recovered and faced the angry skeleton champion. Kurgan twirled his blades one time and ran at the skeleton. The skeleton let out a screech as Kurgan bashed its ribs in with the flat of his blades. Kurgan turned around and there was an extra hero behind him wielding a massive battle ax. "AZURA'S CUNT! Watch out you two, the champions can summon heroes!" Kurgan screamed to the others as he blocked the hero's attack with his right sword. Kurgan looked behind him to see a claymore being swung right at him. Kurgan rolled to the side and watched as the champion missed the attack. Kurgan sheathed his left sword and started coursing his hand with lightning as he stood up. Kurgan held his hand back as he charged the two skeletons again. The hero swung again with the heavy ax, only to be easily dodged by Kurgan as he rolled under the swing. Kurgan stood up behind the hero as the champion's claymore, once again, headed straight for him. Kurgan blocked the strike but it made him stumble. Kurgan quickly placed his left hand on the back of the hero's head and unleashed a powerful lightning blast, shattering the skeleton hero as its remains disappeared. Kurgan looked back up and saw the claymore of the champion coming for his side, "son of a..." Kurgan sighed as he fell and lied flat on the ground as the sword flew over him. Kurgan quickly switched positions and tripped up the skeleton with the swing of his legs. Kurgan stood up and pulled out his other sword. As the skeleton stood up facing Kurgan, it leaned back and screeched again, this time out of rage. Kurgan ran towards the skeleton as it was bellowing out in rage. Kurgan spun around and landed a mighty kick to the skeleton's jaw, sending the jaw flying across the room. "Much better" Kurgan smirked.

*Itun watched as his comrades bolted off with heads filled with the dreams of battle. He rubbed his temples and sighed "Its as if im invisible, and they dont even listen." As he said this, a green light emmited around him and he vanished in the blink of an eye. Two every one else, Itun had vanashied, but to those who could see the life force of the living, he walked calmly arounf the corner that he had been crouched behind and into the middle of the battle field. He watched as Kurgan took on one of the Champions and his minions. He then looked at Warik handleing the other heros. "Wait.....wasnt there another Champion...." As he turned around the bleach white face of the last champion was standing stareing him in the face. It wasnt until the creature screached in his face and Itun relized that he had given himself away with his light spell from before. "DAMN!" he hissed as the Champion swung his fine steel sword at Ituns neck, missing him be mear inches as he ducked. Itun followed the dock all the way through to the ground and rolled backwards out of the reach of the Skeleton. He hissed and dropped all his cloaking spells as he gripped his staff and launched himself at the champion. The skeleton had just begun to spread its arms wide, the ritual performed to summon a hero skeleton. But Itun rushed the creature and brought the blunted, crystalized side of the staff across the head of the skeleton, causing him to stop the ritual. The red glow faded and the champion hissed with pain as he reared back his mighty blade and swung at Itun. Itun parried the swing with his own staff and pushed back on his opponet, causing him to shuffle backwards. Itun gripped the staff tight in his right hand and brought it up to chest hieght. His left hand in a claw like gesture at his side, Itun launched himself back at the champion and pushed his sword away with his staff, causing it to fly across the room towards Warik. With His left hand poised to strike, Itun reach up and grabbed the bone face of the Skeleton and roared. A briliant green flash lit the area he was fighting and then disapated. The skeleton creaked and then fell, frozen in time, onto its face. Itun smiled and placed his leather boot on the back of the skeletons head, and with a mighty pushed, crushed the the skeletons skull all over the floor. His breath heavy from the strain of the magicka used and the slight pressure still placed on his mind, he looked around for his team mates. "Everyone ok?"*

Kurgan watched as the jawbone slid across the floor towards Itun's battle, "You see that?" Kurgan laughed while looking in the hollow eyes of the skeleton champion, "We are kicking your friends fragile, boney, asses!" Kurgan continued laughing in the skeleton's face. The skeleton walked up, chest to chest to Kurgan and stared at him. "What are you going to do?" Kurgan sneered, as the skeleton, a head taller than Kurgan, stared down at him. The skeleton began to glow purple again and lift its arms. "Fucking do it then!!!!" Kurgan screamed as the hero was summoned. Kurgan landed a hard, right-handed uppercut on the jawless skull of the skeleton, cracking the head of the champion. The champion flew back into a pillar and collapsed on the ground, Kurgan turned to see the hero with a silver sword and an iron shield. The hero swung the sword at Kurgan, he quickly trapped the sword with both of his. Kurgan elbowed the hero in the jaw and disarmed him. Kurgan kicked the sword into the middle of the room, and followed up the attack with a left backhand on the skull of the hero. The hero shrieked from the hit. Kurgan ducked down and swiped right leg on the ground, tripping up the hero causing it to fall to the ground. Kurgan put his right leg on the hero's torso, and he looked up to see the champion standing back up. Kurgan smirked, slammed his foot through the ribcage of the hero, and watched as it vanished. Kurgan sprinted back towards the champion. The champion looked up to see kurgan jumping towards him, with his glass sword held in the air behind his head. The champion didn't have enough time to pull up it's claymore to blck, and Kurgan landed a mighty slash to his already cracked skull, sending it shattering across the room. Kurgan looked up to Itun, "Absolutely my friend." with a smile.

Warik had stepped back in surprise when Kurgan jumped over him. While he was distracted, the first of the two skeletons reached him, swinging its sword directly at Warik's neck. Warik moved to the side, dodging around a pillar. The skeleton's sword bit into the pillar, and as it struggled to remove it, Warik came around to face it. He grabbed the creatures shield with his left hand and tugged it free of the skeleton's grip, while simultaneously striking the creature in the face with the hilt of his sword. As the skeleton reeled away from the pillar, his sword still lodged in it, Warik laughed and watched as the skeleton clattered on the ground. He turned, and barely brought the shield up to deflect the second skeleton's surprise strike. The claymore smacked the shield, and Warik stumbled back as the creature struck repeatedly. After the third strike, the Nord dropped to a crouch. The claymore whistled over his head, and Warik quickly threw the shield. As it made contact with the creature's leg, it severed it, and the skeleton fell over with another clatter. The skeleton dropped its weapon as it fell, and Warik quickly slid over to the creature and grabbed at its face. He locked his finger's in its empty eye sockets, and as the creature moaned, Warik began to laugh again. He began to shout, "Kurgan, Itun! Look at this! isn't it hilarious?!" As he turned to look for his friends, Warik was surprised to see the previous skeleton had retrieved the claymore, and he barely had time to raise his own sword as a powerful strike was aimed at him. He deflected the attack, but his sword flew from his grip when the claymore made contact. Warik began to push himself backwards along the floor, shouting "Whoa, Whoa, WHOA" as he did so, barely out running the continuous strikes of the standing skeleton. Warik still had his fingers hooked in the legless skeleton's eyes, dragging it along the floor with him. Suddenly, Warik rolled back as a claymore strike severed the moaning skeleton's skull. Warik found himself with his back to the wall, staring at the skull in his hand. As the skeleton moved in for the kill, Warik narrowly moved as the blade swung past him. He grabbed the skeleton's bony arm, pulling back to cause the creature to stumble. He then brought the skull he still held around, smashing it into the face of the attacker. As the creature fell back, dropping the claymore, Warik dove on it, knocking it to floor. As he straddled it, he began to strike, over and over, smashing skull against skull, until the skeleton stopped moving. As he slowly stood, still gripping the miraculously unbroken skull, he noticed his friends staring at him. He laughed, holding up the skull for them to see. "I'm good, gentlemen! I had help from my new friend. Can I keep him, Itun?" Warik chuckled, not waiting for an answer before continuing. "I'm going to name him Facebasher. I've always wanted an inanimate pet."

*Itun watched as the Nord finished bashing the skeletons together, ending theyre first victory into the depths of the ruins. He smiled as he picked a piece of bone out of his shoe and flicked it at Warik. "Sure warik, as long as you remember to feed it, water it, and pick up after it. Alright gentalmen, we scraped by by the skin of our ass with that. Had there been a necromancer, you to would have died. You didnt even notice how far you had gotten from the crystal, we need to watch that. Now, lets keep moving." Itun motioned to a carved archway in the distant corner of the room. As he entered the hall, he looked around carefully at the cieling and the floor, watching for any trapps that might be waiting for them. The tunnel twisted and turned going deeper and deeper until finally, it opened into a much bigger sized room than the one before. A steel grate carved into the shapes of leaves sat in a stone window, blocking them from the view of the creatures below. Itun placed his pinky and pointer finger of his right hand over his eyes and a small purple flash illuminated them. he looked around the floor, motioning his comrads to crouch down just enough for them to see through the grate. "Alright, Kurgan, help me verify this, im looking at 5 zombies, 2 ghosts, and......awwww by the fucking nine.........a lich sitting on the far side of the room." he turned back to the other two. "Alright look, we CAN NOT go rushing in like we did before. I have no idea if thats one of the 2 gardians or not so we need to stick together. Kurgan, you and i need to try and deal with the ghosts since Wariks blade is not enchanted. Warik, if you can take out those zombies it would be a very good idea. " Itun peaked back over the stone ledge. To his surprise, the Lich had turned away from the horde of monsters and was headed down a side passage. He turned quickly to the others, "Nows our chance, get in, get out and take care of buisness before that Lich comes back." Itun, continuign to croutch, darted over to the side passge of stairs that lead down to the main floor. He stopped and waited for the other two to join him and then took off to the left of the zombies and made his way around to the ghosts. He stood and drew back his lright hand. With a blast of heat, a fire ball hurled itself across the empty space at one of the ghosts. With a moan the spector turned to him and hurled a frosty ice blast at Itun. He dodged the spell and flung 2 more fire balls at the ghost, one missing him by an inch, the other hitting its see-threw arm. The ghost shreaked and moaned as it flew at Itun. Like a blizzards first wind, it hit Itun and threw him across the room, dropping the staff where he had been standing.*

Kurgan nodded his head at Itun to confirm what he saw. Kurgan watched as the lich in the room exited. Kurgan waited until Itun's blast reached the first ghost, then he advanced quickly, head first towards the other ghost. He shot a blast of heat towards it to grab its attention. The ghost shrieked as the other blasted Itun, leaving the staff next to Kurgan. Kurgan quickly kicked it up with the top of his foot and threw it like a spear at Itun. Kurgan turned back to see a blast of ice coming for him. Kurgan quickly wrapped himself in a blue glow as he ran and slid under the blast. Kurgan got up quickly and blasted the ghost in the face with a powerful heat blast. The ghost fell back in a shriek of pain. Kurgan put his hands out to his side, extending his arms completely. His hands glowed red for a split second as he slammed his hands together. Another ghost appeared in front of Kurgan and attacked the already wounded ghost. Kurgan knew neither of them could hurt each other, it was just a great diversion. Kurgan turned towards the other ghost that had blasted Itun. Kurgan held out his left hand and shot a lightning strike towards it. The lightning grazed its shoulder and exploded onto a pillar next to it, launching the ghost forward from it. Kurgan turned towards his ancestral ghost fighting the other one. Kurgan held his palms out towards the other ghost and let a chain of fair out towards it, roasting the ghost.

While Warik listened intently to Itun's words, he had pulled a piece of rope from one of the pouches on his armor. He looped it through the eye of the skull, then tied it to his belt, leaving it dangling at his hip. He followed his two companions silently, holding his sword at the ready. When Itun made his move towards the ghost, Warik nodded to Kurgan and watched him join the assault. Warik waiting for a minute, watching the five scattered zombies. When the zombies began to turn towards the battle with the ghost, Warik began to move. He moved in a quick crouch, staying in the shadows until he reached the first zombie. He then leaped from the shadows, swinging his longsword with two hand in a wide arc, neatly severing the inattentive zombie's head. Before the body crumpled, he had charged the next. As he neared it, the zombie turned and lunged at Warik. He quickly sidestepped, then brought the sword down on the zombie's shoulder, the severed arm flying in the opposite direction. As the Zombie stumbled, he noticed two of the other zombies approaching. He quickly drew his hatchet with his left hand, and brought his sword up defensively as the first made its move. He pushed it back with his sword, then swung his left hand around at the second zombie, his axe cutting it's face deeply and causing it to falter. He then spun past the first zombie, just as the armless creature from before rejoined the fray. It slammed into the other, causing both zombies to fall to the ground. Warik took that moment to lunge at the zombie still standing. He thrust his longsword into its belly, driving it deep, until he was face to face with the monster. As the monster began to scream with agony, he brought the hatchet up and hacked at its neck, once, twice, three times, until the zombie was silenced. He used his foot to push the body off his sword, watching as it fell, the head dangling from the neck by a few tendons. Suddenly, he felt a searing pain as one of the other zombies, now recovered from the fall, slashed at his back, tearing through his old armor and leaving the stinging sensation and the feel of warm blood. Warik stumbled forward, then tripped and fell to the ground. The zombie who attacked him tripped over him, not prepared for the Nord's own fall. As the zombie hit the ground, Warik rolled over on top of him. He pressed the blade of his sword to the zombies neck, and with a growl of exertion, pressed the blade deep, severing the head. As the blood spray made a mess of his face, Warik rolled off of the zombie. He found himself staring at armless zombie as it lurched towards him, moaning annoyingly, as only zombies can. Warik came up onto one knee, and with a grunt, launched his hatchet at the monster. The hatchet sunk deep into the creatures skull, causing it to fall slack to the ground. Warik leaped to his feet and retrieved the hatchet, slipping back into his belt as he looked around for the last zombie. When he spotted it, he saw it had made its way over towards the others. As he began to run across the chamber, he saw it's target: the currently prone Argonian. Warik began to shout as he charged the zombie, "Itun!!! ITUN!!! Watch out!" Suddenly, he felt a sense of dread pass over him, and stopped to halt, turning towards the passage he was near. He took a step back when he found himself within 10 feet of the lich they had seen before. Warik raised his sword gripping it tight as he growled, "SON OF A..." Before he could finished, the lich released a blast of energy, striking Warik in the chest. He suddenly felt himself lift from the ground, the force of the blast slamming him into the wall. Warik fell to his knees, looking up to watch the Lich slowly make it's way towards him.

*Itun watched in a blurred haze as their opponents gave the party a fight for their lives. He looked over at Warik to see the Lich hovvering over him, and then at the zombie slowly approaching. He placed his hands on the wall and pushed himself up, the zombie now only feet away. he grabbed his staff and with a horrific hissing noise, brought the staff flying threw the air towards the zombies head. upon contact, the crystal on the end ripped threw the zombies facial features like a hot knife threw butter. Pieces of fleash and blood, spewed across the floor and the Argonian like a backed up fountian. But the zombie was only hendered, not stopped. it rushed him again and Itun brought the staff back threw the air ontop of the Zombies skull, there was a menaceing CRUNCH and the zombie crumpled. Itun heaved in air and turned to Warik. "Im ok Warik, Im on my way to hel.......AHHHHHHHHHHHHH" a searing pain shot up his leg and through his body. Looking down, Itun found what would have been the face of the zombie clenched down on his ankle. "You piece of shit!!" he twisted the staff in the air and sent the metal tipped end down threw its head. With a jerk it let go and died. Itun had no time to tend to the wound, he mearly pushed threw the pain and rushed over to the Lich all the while holding the crystal in his hand and chanting some ancient words. As he reached the lich he relesed the magic upon the staff which began to glow red. Placing himself in a stance to strick, he swung the crystal end of the staff at the lich, making a direct contact with its side. As the staff made contact with lich, a huge roar of flames errupted from the end of the staff and completely engulfed the lich. A horrific scream errupted through the caverns of the ruins that shook the very foundations. Itun knew now there was no purpose in trying to do this miossion stealthfully. With the lich still howling in its inferno, Itun ran it it again and this time brought the blunt end of the crystal into its gut. Ituns hands grew purple and his eyes took the same purple glow as they had in the bar. WIth a rush of magicka, the Lichs began to be drained of its soul through the crystal. With nothing left in the Lich, itun swung the husk of flesh and bones into a wall across the room. His breath very shallow, and his energy all but gone, Itun crumpled to the ground landing on his back. "Is everyone ok?"*

Kurgan watched as the ghost melted into a pool of ectoplasm at his feet. He had forgotten about the other ghost that he had attacked to get it away from Itun, until he felt a numbing cold on his shoulder. The icy sensation then exploded into an icy haze that sent Kurgan forward, landing on his right knee. Kurgan turned around and brought himself up to see the ghost coming at him with vengeance. "Hmpf" Kurgan scoffed, mocking the ghost, "You can only attack a man when his back is turned, you coward." Kurgan walked at the pace of the ghost towards it. The ghost lifted up its hand and sent an icy ball straight for Kurgan. Kurgan sheathed his swords completely and held out his left hand, nullifying the icy blast with a flame he created. "You have to do better than that." Kurgan then put his hands out from his chest, shaping them as if he where holding an invisible orb. A burst of heat and light appeared in his hands in an instant. Kurgan looked at the ghost and blasted it with an enormous wave of fire. The ghost screeched out in pain as it too, scorched until it was reduced to nothing but ectoplasm. Kurgan spat on the remains of the ghost and turned his attention towards the others, where he looked just in time to see Itun eradicate the lich. Kurgan ran over to his friends when he saw both of them on the ground. "Itun, what in Oblivion happened to your foot? It looks like shit." As Kurgan began to heal Itun's wound, he felt another presence. Kurgan looked up and saw two gloom wraiths entering the room from the farthest hallway. Both of the wraiths wielding glass long swords, they let out a terrible, high pitched scream and came straight for the three of them. Kurgan looked at Warik and Itun, "Shit, we really do not need these two cocks right now." Kurgan stood up and unsheathed both of his swords. Kurgan walked towards the wraiths, sending a minor lightning blast at the one on the right. The wraith shot to the right, dodging the lightning blast. "As i figured, you two are more intelligent than ghosts. I have heard tales of dark ghosts such as yourselves. I am excited to finally fight you." Kurgan swung his right hand sword only to be blocked by the wraith on the right. For a split second, Kurgan had all focus on that wraith, the wraith on the left touched Kurgan. A red aura came around him and he collapsed to his knees, feeling drastically weaker than before. "Piss..."

Warik watched Itun destroy the lich, then collapse near him. He rose to his feet and staggered over to Itun.
"That was by far one of the most interesting things I've ever seen you do." He grinned and slapped the Argonian on the back, before looking up as Kurgan approached. He briefly winced as he watched Kurgan healing Itun's wound, thinking of his own zombie-inflicted wound, and wondering if it needed attention. Before he could say a word, he saw the wraiths. He watched as Kurgan went to face them, before turning to Itun. "I have to help him."
Warik began to run towards the wraiths. As he neared, he saw Kurgan fall to his knees with the red aura glimmering around him. He saw the wraith's downward strike, and arrived just in time to parry the attack with his own blade. He then made a feint towards the Wraith's face, before spinning and doing the same to the other, drawing their attentions away from Kurgan. He backed away, taking turns parrying the attacks of the wraiths, sweat dripping down his brow. Seeing an opening, his thrust at the face of the left wraith, and stumble back a bit when his blade seemed to simply pass through air. With a growl, he looked to the Dunmer. "Kurgan, I know your busy resting, but I would really appreciate if YOU GOT YOUR ARSE UP AND HELPED ME!"

Kurgan rose up on one knee, he could feel his strength returning. He took out a little bottle containing blue liquid from a little pouch around his waist and drank it all swiftly. Kurgan's body began pulsing with energy once again as Warik bellowed at him, Kurgan walked quickly towards one of the wraiths. "Warik my friend, you know what is great about being alive?" he said with a cocky look on his face, "being able to do this," electricity wrapped around Kurgan's hand as he punched one of the wraith's across its hollow face, sending a shock all through the wraith's body, paralyzing it momentarily. While that one was paralyzed, Kurgan looked towards the other wraith and released the rest of his charge he was holding in his right hand at the wraith. Kurgan took out one of his swords and temporarily encased it with flames, lobbing it at the second wraith, pinning it to a wall whilst it burnt to nothing but a pile of ectoplasm. The other wraith came shrieking towards Kurgan with blind furry for paralyzing it, the wraith swung its sword and Kurgan quickly parried it with his dagger. He put his right hand right up to the wraith's chest and unleashed a mighty fire blast, killing it almost instantly. Kurgan walked towards the wall where his sword was in and grabbed it out of the stone, stepping around the pile of ectoplasm. Kurgan looked around the room as he put his sword away, and it was finally empty. He put his left hand over his eyes as they began to glow purple once again. "Still nothing within my sight friends. I think we are safe for now." Kurgan began to walk towards Itun to see if he was alright, as he stepped over a metal piece in the floor. Before Kurgan could even acknowledge that it was different than the rest of the floor, it opened up and he fell through, leaving his companions behind as he fell deeper into the ruins.

Warik had backed off from the fight when the attention of the wraiths had turned to the dark elf, taking the moments he had to make his way back towards Itun. He kneeled down by his friend, checking to make sure he was recovering fine, and was worried to see Itun unfocused gaze. He started to attempt to rouse the argonian, but turned to check on Kurgan's fight with the wraith. He turned in time to see Kurgan drop the final wraith. He grinned, and began to cheer as he wiped sweat from his face with his arm.
"Brilliant Kurgan, though you could have drank your little potion sooner, you know, before I broke a sweat." Before he could speak further, he heard a mechanical click, then watched helplessly as Kurgan plunged into the darkness. With a sound similar to a shriek (very uncharacteristically for the Nord) Warik charged towards the opening. He dropped to his belly at the edge, shouting Kurgan's name. When he heard no response, he ran back towards the Argonian, stopping only to grab one of the ancient iron blades the wraiths had used. He sheathed it awkwardly in his belt, hoping it held an enchantment that would help him face any further ethereal threats. He gently shook the dazed argonian.
"Itun? ITUN!" Warik could see that his friend still lived by the gentle movement of his chest, but Itun remained unresponsive. Not knowing what else to do, Warik pulled the argonian into a corner, hoping he would be safe from harm. "I don't know if you can hear me Itun, but I have to find Kurgan. I will return for you." With that, Warik dashed over to the tunnel entrance the Lich had come from, took a deep breath, and headed into the darkness, anxious to find the dunmer.

Kurgan came to, only to see himself locked in a circular cage, no bigger than a radius of four feet. He stood up, dripping from the small pool of water he landed in, put his hand around his neck and twisted. Kurgan spoke to himself, "What in oblivion happened?".
Kurgan walked over to the door of the cage and saw it was locked. He is no thief, and has no skill picking locks. Kurgan slammed his fist on the door, "Vivec's cock!"
"My, you have quite the mouth on you, Dark Elf...", a voice came from across the room. "Let me out of this cage and I won't string you up by your balls, cur!" Kurgan snarled at the shadowy figure. A small wood elf wearing tattered necromancy robes came out of the shadows, "Well, with an-" "HAHAHAHA!" Kurgan loudly interrupted, "What a sad day it is when a fucking Bosmer bests me." Kurgan still laughing to himself as the Bosmer gets next to the cage. "What do you mean by-", Kurgan again cutting him off mid-sentence. This time, Kurgan had reached through the cage and had a firm grip on the wood elf's neck. "Now you are going to tell me where the key is aren't you?". The wood elf shook his head in agreement and pointed to a table. Kurgan loosened his grip, enough for the wood elf to talk. "So how are you going to get the key if you kill me?" the wood elf said, still being choked. "Why I am so glad you asked, time for a demonstration in the arcane arts." Kurgan lifted his free right hand as it started to glow purple. The key on the molded, wood table began to glow as well, then shot across the room into Kurgan's hand. Kurgan unlocked the cage and threw the wood elf on the ground so he could get out. "So, I can live right?" "Who said that?" Kurgan interjected, with a smirk on his face. "Isn't that how it works though, I tell you what you want and-" "You really need to work on your negotiating skills." Kurgan interrupted again. "To bad you can't live to work on them." Kurgan said as he thrust his sword through the elf's skull, "After all, you were going to turn me into an experiment."
Kurgan pulled his sword out from the wood elf's skull, shook off the blood and returned it to it's sheath at his side. Kurgan looked around the room, it was dimly lit by torches that were poorly mounted on the wall. The room was dank, moist, and had a certain feel of gloom about it. After a minute of searching the room for anything of use, Kurgan walked towards the only door, "Alright Warik, where are you."

Warik had been making his way deeper into the ruins for close to an hour, keeping his progress slow, so as to avoid any traps like the one that had gotten Kurgan. He passed through many chambers, and had managed to avoid conflict with many of the creatures that infested the old tunnels. Eventually, he found a dark, quiet room, perfect for some much needed rest. He listened intently at the entry, to be sure nothing occupied it, before stepping in. He saw the outline of an old stone chair, and with a quiet sigh, he sank into it. Warik was becoming weary of this place, and his worry for both of his friends was making him very anxious. As he planned his next move, he pulled out a bit of charred meat that he had saved in one of his pouches, and began to nibble on it. A few minutes passed, and just as he finished his snack, he heard the unexpected shuffle of feet on the stone floor outside of the room. He jumped to his feet, staring at the entryway, hoping to discern what approached in the dark. Suddenly he picked up on two voices, arguing, followed by the flicker of an approaching torch. Reflexively, he leaped behind the stone chair, pressing his back to it, hoping to remain unseen.

He heard the two men as they entered the room, arguing about the effectiveness of summoning skeletons. Warik grimaced at the realization that the men must be necromancers. As the torchlight filled the room, Warik glanced around, and was shocked to see that multiple beds were positioned in the back of the room, visible from his hiding spot. Warik silently cursed himself at his lack of investigating the dark room more closely.

"Skeleton's are useless. Why would you summon bones when you can something dangerous, like a wight, or a dremora?"
"Because they are easy, fool, and numerous. In the time it takes you to summon a dremora, I could summon five skeletal warriors. They can win by numbers alone."
Warik rolled his eyes as the two men argued, waiting for a chance to strike, or at least for a more interesting conversation.
The first voice grunted. "Whatever you say. Well, you enjoy your rest. Master Varkun asked me personally to go check on the captives. Apparently, three of them still live, and he is planning quite the experiment for the morning."
The second voice spoke yet again. "Indeed? Well did you hear that some dark elf fell through one of the old traps, right into that nifty cage the Master had us set up? First time that has actually worked. I was in there when he fell. I went and told Varkun just before I found you. I left that initiate bosmer to watch him until the master can check in."
Warik tensed at the mention of the dunmer, his gut telling him it had to be Kurgan in the cage. Certainly dunmer didn't fall down holes every day.
The first voice laughed. "Finally, a use for Faedwiin, that annoying little dolt. Well, I may have to see this one myself. Goodnight, brother. Oh, and take a bath. It smells like wet nord in here."
Warik listened as one of the men left, and smiled to himself when he heard the necromancer plop down in the chair he had just been in. Slowly, he turned around and peeked over the chair. With practiced precision, he threw his arms around the man's throat, putting him in a head lock and covering his mouth. He jerked the man out of the chair as he struggled, then slammed him onto the ground, still locking him in position. Warik whispered into his ear.
"If you scream, I will kill you. If you struggle, I will kill you. If you even blink, I WILL kill you. Now, you are going to answer my question. Where is the Elf in the cage?" He slowly let go of the mans mouth, then listened as he spoke in a shaky voice. "Down the hall, there is another chamber. Three doors..the second leads to the cage."
"And the captives?"
"First door. Two more chambers to the pen. Please don't kill me."
Warik smiled in satisfaction. "You know, I honestly thought about letting you live..." He quickly cupped the man's mouth as he struggled. "But after listening to your conversation, I just can't allow you to inflict just dangerous boredom on the world anymore." With that, he snapped the necromancer's neck.
Warik rummaged through the black robes, and was elated to find a shining silver dagger. As he inspected the blade, he saw a slight shimmer of electricity. "Perfect.." He whispered, as he sheathed the dagger in his boot. Warik then headed out of the room, glancing each way for signs of other black mages. As he approached the chamber the man had directed him to, he stopped and glanced in. He frowned at the sight of three men at a table, eating and conversing right in the path to the door which held Kurgan's cage. Warik stepped back, taking some time to plan his approach. He mumbled, "I should just leave him in the cage. Who falls through trapdoors?"

As Kurgan went to open the door, he stopped dead in his tracks as he heard noises from the other side. "Shit, more of them..." Kurgan said under his breath, trying not to reveal what happened in the room. With a flash of purple light, Kurgan could see three outlines, and one to the left of his door facing the other direction. He knew in order to get anywhere, he needed the one on the left to leave, or get in the room. Kurgan looked around the room for anything to aid in his cause. He walked over to the table and saw a black, dusty book. Kurgan sat down and opened it, hoping it would give him any ideas. "Heh...perfect." Kurgan smirked, as he continued reading the book. It was a basic necromancy book, which explained how to control and raise bodies from the dead. Kurgan studied the book for a few minuets, then looked at the dead wood elf. "Worth a shot." Kurgan said, as a flash of read came from Kurgan's hands. The body of the wood elf began to tremble, and in an instant, it shot up. "Hmm, now to make you speak." Kurgan flipped through the pages once more, then back to the body. "I need your help" the wood elf said, "PERFECT" Kurgan grinned. Kurgan sent the wood elf outside, and talked to the one standing next to the door. They both came inside, "What in oblivion do you want Feadwiin?" Within seconds, Kurgan's elvish dagger was in his throat, thrown from the shadows. Both necromancers fell to the ground as Kurgan retrieved his fathers dagger. "Now then, lets try this idea." Kurgan said to himself, as he stripped the robes from the second necromancer, and threw them over his armor. Kurgan walked out of the room and started towards the table. He stopped when he noticed Warik in the shadows across from his position. Kurgan pulled his hood back quickly to reveal himself to Warik, so there would be no unnecessary alarm for his friend. The three necromancers looked up at Kurgan, not seeing through his disguise and offered him a seat. Kurgan did not want to raise suspicion so he sat next to the one who offered the seat.
"So friend, I don't think i've seen you here. Are you knew?" The necromancer asked Kurgan.
Kurgan looked at him and simply shook his head in acknowledgement, he didn't want to reveal his race to them.
"What's wrong? Are you too good to talk to us new blood?" The one across from Kurgan began to speak, as his irritability rose.
Kurgan held up his hand, thinking quickly, and held one finger up, revealing his glass gauntlets he forgot to take off. He quickly grabbed a knife and began to carve on the table, hoping they did not notice his armor.
"I am stripped of my tongue..." The necromancer began to read what Kurgan was writing, "Please forgive me, i meant no disrespect." Kurgan looked up and all three where reading what he was still carving. Kurgan lifted his other hand and sent a little fireball into the air, hoping Warik would see the signal before he returned his hand back to his side, keeping the three men distracted.

Warik had been watching the men at the table, deciding on a plan, when he noticed the bosmer leave the room with the cage. He saw the second man follow him in. Thinking this was his only window of opportunity, he slipped his hatchet out of his belt, hoping to nail at least one with a precise throw. Just as he prepared to make a move, he saw a necromancer leave the cage room. Knowing he was seen, he prepared to aim for the new target, but paused with the man dropped his hood. Warik grinned when he realized it was Kurgan, and he waited for the Elf to make his move. He watched with curiosity as the dunmer fooled the necromancers, wondering what Kurgan's plan could be. As Kurgan flashed the tiny wisp of fire, Warik knew it was a signal. Warik snatched the silver dagger from his boot with his left hand, axe still in his right, and slowly moved towards the table. His movement caught the eye of the one man facing him, and before the man could utter a warning, he let his hatchet fly. The dull end of the axe smacked the man square between his eyes, knocking the man out of his chair with a clatter. Warik then tackled the second man just as he turned in his direction, stabbing him in the throat with the dagger. As the necromancer's blood sprayed, Warik saw the third man bolt from the table, heading for the nearest door. As Warik freed his knife from his victim, he hissed to his comrade, "Stop the bastard!"

Kurgan threw the knife he had been carving with at the fleeing necromancer, aiming for his spine. The knife found a target in the back of the necromancer's knee and sent him crashing to the ground, slamming into a cabinet that had dinning plates on it, causing a massive crashing sound. Kurgan slammed his head against the table in frustration from what he had just done. He stood up from the table, quickly took the robes off and walked over to the injured necromancer. He picked him up and put him on the table, holding him down. "Alright Warik, you're much better at this than i am."

As Kurgan grabbed the wounded necromancer, Warik had retrieved his hatchet, then used the dagger to slit the unconscious man's throat. He cringed at the sound of crashing tableware, then turned to Kurgan as he slammed the black mage onto the table. "Aye, red-eye. But next time, try to be more bloody quiet. There must be more of them." He then approached the Necromancer, his eyes gleaming with anger as he grabbed the man's collar.
"Where is your master?" The man responded by spitting in Warik's face. In an instant, the Nord struck the man in the mouth, watching his head bang against the table before asking again.
"Where is he you bastard?" Before the man could answer, the door across the room crashed open, two skeleton warriors entering before standing at each side of the doorway. A high elf in a black cloak entered the room, a grin on his face.
"That won't be necessary gentlemen. I am Master Varkun. Welcome to my dark little enclave."
Warik glanced at Kurgan, betraying to emotion when he stared back at the Altmer.
"Varkun, eh? I'll have you know, you done a terrible job of making me and my friend here feel welcome."
Varkun smiled. "Oh, my apologies. You must forgive our manners, we don't often commune with the living."
Warik smirked at this. "Well, as pleasant as this conversation is, I believe me and my dunmer companion here are both a little busy. With killing your cronies. We were saving you for last, but look at you. Such a gracious, you delivered yourself right up to us. We thank you for that."
The necromancer laughed. "On the contrary, I've come for you. See, I'm running out of test subjects, and you look perfect for the job." The man glanced at Kurgan, appraising him before winking. "And you, dark elf, you will make a fine addition to my undead thralls."
The necromancer clapped his hands, still smiling, as three more skeletons entered the room, followed by two more necromancers. As the two men began weaving spells, Varkun spoke again.
"I suggest you both surrender. I promise, I will make things far less painful if you don't put up a fight."
The two finished their spells, causing the two dead necromancers in the room to twitch to life, rising as zombie slaves. Varkun slowly eased a staff from into view, tapping it against the stone floor. "Your move, friends."
Warik smirked at Kurgan, then drew his longsword in his right hand, and the iron sword in his left.
He then nodded to the Necromancer.
"Well friend, we thank you for your offer, but I believe I speak for both of us when I decline. See, if we surrender now, I won't get to see that fun face you make when I shove that magic stick up your golden arse."

Kurgan laughed at Warik's last comment, while drawing his swords. "Warik my friend," Kurgan said, while slamming one of his blades down on the neck of the necromancer on the table, "when did you become such a jester?" He turned to Varkun, "and i am afraid my barbaric friend is correct, he did speak for us both."
"Pitty," Varkun said while nodding at the necromancers to attack, and sending his four skeletons on the offence as well.
Kurgan looked at Warik and cast'd a spell over the both of them, "This will help with our resistance," he said while deflecting an attack from a skeleton, "hrng! Thank me later!" and that was it. Kurgan had lunged into battle, getting the attention of all four skeletons. Two skeletons wielded a silver great sword, while one had a silver mace, and the other holding a silver sword and steel shield. The two skeletons with the great swords attacked simultaneously, Kurgan dodged easily by rolling between them. He kicked one of them into the skeleton with the mace, causing the two to fall to the ground. Kurgan then threw a powerful side slash to the other skeleton that was still fatigued from attacking. The skeleton screeched as the glass sword hit, shattering bones, sending it stumbling back. Kurgan roared as he struck it again on the skull, giving it a blow powerful enough to end it's synthetic life. Kurgan turned around in time to catch the shield bash in the face, sending him crashing into the skeleton with the mace. Kurgan quickly sent an elbow crashing across the jaw of the skeleton he fell on to, as he pushed himself away spitting blood. The same skeleton came lunging at him again, but Kurgan parried the attack and sent his left sword straight through its skull, sending the bones crashing to the ground, lifeless. The other two skeletons came rushing at him, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glimpse of a necromancer sneaking up behind Warik. "DUCK!" He yelled at the top of his lungs as he threw his elvish dagger straight into the skull of the necromancer. Kurgan returned his attention only to be met by a mace across his right shoulder, cracking his armor and sending him stumbling back into a wall. Kurgan made a loud and very deep guttural growl, "You rotten fetcher!" Kurgan sheathed his left sword and his left hand began sparking with electricity. The skeleton screeched and lunged another powerful overhead swing. Kurgan deflected it with his sword and slammed his fist into the skeletons chest. The skeleton screeched as Kurgan released the electric energy from his hand, vaporizing that one and sending the other skeleton crashing into the table. Kurgan jumped into the air and slammed his sword into the skull of the final skeleton. Kurgan pointed his sword straight at Varkun as he stood in the doorway still "You're next dirty cur..." Kurgan snarled as his sword ignited in flame from his magic. Kurgan took out a blue bottle and drank its content, slammed the empty bottle on the ground, and jumped off the table walking towards Varkun.

Warik watched Kurgan plunge into the battle, laying about into the four skeletons. He hesitated in the moment, deciding if he should assist the dunmer. In his hesitation, he failed to notice the necromancer approach him from behind. When Kurgan shouted however, Warik obeyed, dropping to one knee just as the dagger made contact with the necromancer. Warik took a quick look back at the falling body, then forward just in time to see the two zombies approaching him.

Warik sprung forward towards them, both swords at the ready, then slashed out at the first zombie. His attacked whistled through the air as the monster fell lifeless to the ground, its master's death severing it's lifeline. Warik stumbled from the miss, causing him to crash into the second zombie. The beast wrapped it's arms around his torso, locking his swords by his side. Warik slammed his forehead into the beast's maw just as it went for a bite. He followed with a second, loosening the zombies grip just enough to free his arms. He used his leverage to lift the the zombie clear off the ground, throwing it to the side, where it landed in a heap. Before he could pursue it, he caught the sight of the remaining necromancer throwing a fireball in his direction. Warik turned quickly to face the man, dropping into a roll that allowed him to barely dodge the blaze. Warik came of his roll and slid feet first into the necromancer. As the man flipped over, Warik twisted and slammed both of his swords down toward the target. The Necromancer quickly conjured a sword, just in time to block Warik's attack, before pushing him away and making his way to his feet.

Warik recovered as well, and as the two opponents circled each other, Warik realized that Varkun had yet to get involved in the fray. He feinted at the Necromancer, enough to make the man back up, and took a chance to glance in the direction of the master. He saw that Varkun stood with arms crossed, gripping his staff, still grinning. Warik turned back in time to see the zombie moving behind his master.

The Necromancer lunged forward with his sword, aiming for Warik's torso. Warik parried the strike with his left sword, then drove the hilt of his right sword into the jaw of the man. He felt the man stumble from the strike, and he continued his lunge to the zombie, slamming it with his shoulder. As the zombie fell to the ground, Warik slammed both of his blades down into the chest of the zombie, grunting with the effort. As the zombie screamed his last, Warik spun with both blades at the ready, facing the necromancer just in time to see he had replaced his bound sword with a ball of electricity. With no time to dodge, Warik braced himself for the blast. The bust of electricity smacked Warik in the chest, lifting into the air and sending him into a wall. Warik lost his grip on both swords, sending them clattering across the room. In a daze, he rose into a crouch, looking up at the approaching Necromancer.

The man grinned as he prepared another blast, but Warik had regained him composure quickly. He drew the silver dagger from his boot and flung it at the Necromancer, then lunged forward at the man. The necromancer quickly dodged the knife, but the time he took to do that gave Warik his opening. The nord connects one punch to the injured jaw of the man, causing him to trip back. Warik reached out, grabbing the man's hood and pulling him into another fist. The man reeled from the force of the hit. Warik's eyes betrayed his blood lust as he struck a third time, caving in the man's front teeth. He slammed the necromancer into the wall then, then placed his hand over over the face of the man. He slammed his head into the wall once, then twice, then watched the dead man slide down the wall, leaving a vibrant trail of blood in his wake.

Warik then turned in time to see Kurgan finish off the skeletons and face the Master. As Kurgan approached the man with his flaming sword, Warik couldn't help but feel nervous at the sight of the still calm master. As he snatched up his longsword, he bounded towards Kurgan, grabbing him by the shoulder to instill caution. It was then that he noticed the slight movement of Varkun's lips.

"Kurgan, he's casting a - "

Before the Nord could finish, a force unlike anything he felt before struck him from the side, sending him sprawling into the floor. Warik rolled to face the new enemy, spitting the metallic tasting blood from his mouth in the process. Warik was shocked to see a towering creature before him. The beast stood nearly seven feet tall, muscular and large, with long claws and a frightening maw filled with rows of razor sharp teeth. Warik stared at the creature and muttered as he readied his sword.

"Shor's bones...you are an ugly son of a bitch."