Ghoul General - Assault on the Ashen Outpost

18th Day of the Month of Sunsebb 573 CY calendar

Folggnaw becomes very still as Jamaros turns to address the helmed horrors and a smile spreads slowly across his face, “I am Jamaros Many-Battles, general of the Ghoul King's Army.  I am assuming command.  Execute your prisoner.”

The armored figures spring into action immediately, drawing their swords and chopping into the wraith with a great ferocity.  The work is done in a matter of moments.

“Lead me to the army.  We have much work to do.”

The armored figures move to obey the general's command.  Jamaros' squad of ghouls fall in behind him as they march back out the city gate.  The entourage turns north and stalks off into the caverns.  Miles pass quickly.  The only sound is the echoing clang of the footfalls from the animated suits of armor and the gibbering of the less powerful ghouls under the undead barbarian's command.

The towering Nordheimer casts his mind back over the last several days and the unexpected turns his life (and death) had taken.  He had left a party of adventurers a short while after emerging from the citadel of the Three Pigs and struck off on his own.  He found and was befriended by an inter-dimensional merchant and con-man named Orphant who led him to the City of Sigil.  Orphant then tried to cash in on Jamaros' size and strength by entering him in a series of gladiatorial matches.  One match went horribly awry and the barbarian was killed, but not before being infected with Ghoul Fever.  He rose from the dead shortly thereafter with an unquenchable hunger for flesh.  He did his best to keep himself in check while in the Cage but control had never been one of his strong points, even in life.

He soon found himself approached by Doresain, King of the Ghouls and was instructed to go to the world of Oerth to establish the White Kingdom on behalf of the god in exchange for a reward.

His next course of action would be to take control of Kilenor's army, by killing the current general if need be, and then sacking the village of troglodytes.  The barbarian tried to remain patient but his hunger for fresh meat was driving him onward like a man possessed.  

Jamaros and his  troops have only marched a few short miles when the sounds of a smithy begin to reach their ears.  The undead barbarian orders his helmed horrors to slow and sends scouts ahead to observe and report back.  Within minutes the scouts return.  They explain that the tunnel is blocked by a set of heavy double doors.  The sounds come from the other side of the barrier.

There is a brief fluttering sound and a small glowing bat darts into the tunnel.  It flits all around, squeaking and squealing as it flies to and fro, doing a quick lap of the room before alighting on the ceiling.  It turns its head and a voice that is definitely not its own begins to speak 

“Who are you and what do you want?  Answer, by the command of Marquis Yosef von Linden, Lord of Ashes and Master of the Ashen Outpost!” 

The big barbarian rolls his eyes and thinks “Another fool I must deal with!  Bah! I grow weary of this game!”  Jamaros takes a step forward, clears his throat and, faster than the eye can follow, snatches the bat with one hand and bites its head off.  He signals his Helmed Horrors forward, “Attack, breach the doors.”

The red line is the route of Jamaros' troops.