The Ghoul General - Establish Dominance

18th Day of the Month of Sunsebb 573 CY calendar

The Ghoul General takes a step toward his lieutenants and glowers down at them.  “How about this, since you want to lead so badly, I’ll give you a chance.  If you can defeat me, then you can lead but if you can’t…, well, it won’t matter, you won’t be here anyway.”

The ghast stares up at Jamaros.  If it is at all afraid, it does not show.  A wide grin splits its face, revealing razor sharp, blood-stained teeth.  “We killed you no problem the first time, can’t see as doing it again would be so hard.”  The one pacing behind the speaker slows a step and glances at his companion and, seeing him unfazed by the general’s looming presence, sneers back at the undead barbarian and moves further out to the left, putting it in a position to strike from the side.  .  The gargoyle guarding the frost-rimed eastern door shifts its weight and flexes it claws, eager for a fight to begin.

The company of warriors Jamaros has been given take a few steps back, widening the perimeter of the fight.  One draws too near to the skeletal warrior guarding the north door, prompting that sentry to draw the silvered greatsword from its sheath and level it menacingly at the offender.  The blade glows with a reddish light, casting the cavern in bloody shadows.  The light causes the ghouls discomfort and they try to move out of the light but the close confines of the tunnel leave them with few options.  Several push and shove, snarling angrily at each other as they press against the ghouls pressed in behind them.

Jamaros readies his axe as his two lieutenants spread out to flank him.  The ghoul closest to the skeletal warrior turns and scowls at the undead guardian but backs away, trying to escape the blood-red glow of the skeleton’s silver blade.

The barbarian sees one of the Risen reach for a flask at its hip.  The smaller ghoul pops the cork and brings the potion up to his lips.  Jamaros is already in motion but is a moment too slow to stop his traitorous officer from vanishing.  He launches a powerful two-handed swipe with his axe and tries to give himself over to the rage that has so often carried him to victory against dire odds but finds nothing.  His unbeating heart simply doesn’t care – there is no rage, no anger to call upon.  At best, there is a dull hunger in the pit of his stomach.  The axe whistles through the air but strikes nothing as the invisible ghoul drops flat to avoid the blow.

The other ghoul rushes toward him from the right, a morningstar in hand.  Jamaros checks his swing and then reverses it, bringing his massive blade, Heaven Scraper around at this second enemy.  The axe slams into this foe with punishing force.  Tough hide splits open, revealing rotten entrails that spill out onto the cavern floor.  The wounded ghoul doesn’t slow and slams his spiked weapon into the huge barbarian’s ribs.  Jamaros’ armor turns the blow and he lets go of his axe with one hand and reaches out to grab his enemy by the throat.  He lifts the flailing ghoul into the air and begins shaking him like a rag doll.  The grappled Risen drops his weapon and drags his claws along Jamaros’ thick forearm but the barbarian’s armor once again is more than enough protection from this enemy.

With the struggling ghoul still held firmly in one hand and his axe in the other, the huge undead barbarian begins slamming his traitorous lieutenant’s head against the blade.  On the third blow, the Risen’s skull splits open, spilling its brains onto the cavern floor.

Jamaros’ remaining, invisible enemy moves in a circle around to the back of the mighty Nordheimer, adjusting its grip on the handle of its morningstar as it prepares to strike but stops, having  seen the failed results of the exact same tactic tried by its partner.  The undead ghoul slinks away in the darkness, choosing discretion over true death in the face of the powerful commander.

Jamaros: 91% health