The shambling skeletal remains of the two armies that had clashed generations before on the field lurched towards Halthor and Freystein. "STAY BEHIND ME," the mountain troll commanded. Deciding that it was better to stay behind a mountain troll swinging a branchless tree trunk as big around as he was, Halthor moved to rear gaurd position. Freystein walked forward. With a mighty swing, skeletons were shattered and sent flying. Those struck by Freystein's blow did not reform. Those struck by the flying debris and were damaged, did.
"NECROMANCERS ARE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE, YOUNG HALTHOR," the mountain troll said matter of factly, "ALL OF THIS BECAUSE OF A NECROMANCER'S DEATH CURSE." They had advanced a good ways into the field when the undead began to surround them. Halthor crouched and moved backwards with his back to Freystein. "WE MUST FIND THE LICH AND DESTROY THEM."
"The what?" Halthor said, unnerved by the fact that despite how Freystein was knocking down vast swaths of skeletons, their number seemed undiminished. A skeletal hand grasped at Halthor. Halthor struck with his hammer and the sound of thunder filled the air as lightning split the sky. Smoking ashes remained where the skeleton was and a good number about it had been thrown back by the blast. They were not getting up off the ground, unlike the ones they ran into and knocked down.
"THE WIZARD SKELETON KING," Freystein answered, looking over their shoulder to watch as Halthor struck down another grasping skeleton. "OH, THAT WILL DRAW HIS ATTENTION. GOOD THINKING."
"Draw his attention?!" shouted Halthor in dismay, "I thought we were trying to just get out of here."
"WE CAN NOT LEAVE A SKELETON ARMY TO RAMPAGE THE WOODS. THAT WOULD SIMPLY BE RUDE OF US TO LEAVE SUCH A MESS," Freystein said, "THE BLUE LADY WOULD BE MOST DISPLEASED WITH US." Halthor shoved a couple of skeletons into each other with the shield and watched as a shockwave moved through the press, many falling. "I LIKE THAT. YOU SHOULD DO IT AGAIN BUT THE OTHER WAY." Halthor dodged another grasping hand and smote the skull attached. Lighting flashed, thunder crashed, and bones were dashed to pieces.
"What other way? They're coming from everywhere, Freystein!" Halthor shouted. A skeletal creature, which Halthor could only assume was once a horse, attempted to bite him. Halthor swung his left arm up and staggered back with the force of the blow against his shield. Halthor felt something pushing and attempting to pull on the shield. Fixing his shoulder against the shield, Halthor pushed back as hard as he could. He nearly stumbled as the resistance fell away. He looked over the top of the shield for a moment. The builder could see the forces marshalled against them attempting to swarm over them again.
Halthor accidentally struck the shield with his hammer. A noise like the toll of a great bell sounded. From where Halthor stood, a wave washed over the foes he was facing. The skeletons disassembled themselves and fell lifeless again to the ground. Realizing that striking the shield was what did this, Halthor turned to the left and did it again. Again a vast number of skeletons dropped. He turned to the right and repeated the process. "Freystein, let me in front," Halthor said.
"NO," the mountain troll answered, "TOO DANGEROUS."
Halthor tried to look around Freystein and saw what appeared to be a gaunt spectre towering over the moutain troll. "Suddenly, I have the greatest desire for fowl," Halthor said. The mountain troll paused in mid swing.
"WHY ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT FOOD AT A TIME LIKE THIS? I TOLD YOU THAT YOU DID NOT EAT ENOUGH EARLIER."
"Duck, Freystein," Halthor said. The mountain troll turned, looking at Halthor in confusion. As they shielded their charge with their body, Freystein stooped to try to hear him better. Realizing that he had the space to throw the hammer at the specter, Halthor did so. The hammer spun through the air before it slammed into the filmy gauze that remained of the necromancer turned lich's clothes. As it struck the skeletal remains of the specter, lighting cleaved through the air and the clothes turned into a ball of fire.
An inhuman scream of agony filled the air. And then everything stopped. All of the skeletons collapsed to the ground. Halthor held up his hand and Freystein turned, only to duck quickly as the hammer whistled over their head and back to Halthor's hand. The mountain troll reached up a hand to pass it over their head where the hammer just missed them. "BE CAREFUL WITH THAT LITTLE HAMMER, HALTHOR," Freystein warned, "IT CAN SPLIT MOUNTAINS IF NECESSARY."
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