The air rumbled. Vladan could hear the crash of snow from the world outside, an avalanche in the distance. The floor shifted. The floor that was only packed ice and snow. It cracked and bent unevenly to his left. Looking across at Mannfred, he could see the vampire glancing around, clearly unnerved. ‘It may be time to leave…’ he began. Turning back towards the open rib-cage that was the corpse of Theldrisual, he was thrown to his knees, and the horizon beyond shifted. Coming close to panic, his head swing towards Mannfred and it was clear he shared similar feelings. ‘No…’ the Mortarch was groaning, ‘Not him….’ he snarled. And Vladan realised that although he may share similar feelings, clearly it was for different reasons.
Green and purple light flashed above him, running along the immense bones. They creaked. Snow melted and ran along the bones, and ice fell about the pair as they attempted to escape the collapsing structure.nnThe floor gave way and both began towards the sealed doorway, half slipping, half falling, and in no way in control of where they were headed. And suddenly nothing at all was below them. Or the doorway. And they floated in front of it, turning around the huge doors as snow, rock, and ice continued emptying from the huge skeleton. The Shyishian magics that were running through the cavity they stood in had grown and now lit the entire structure, the bones themselves glowing as they slid back into place. Outside, the mountain itself seemed to give way.nnAnd Theldrisual stood.
Bones flew about them and coalesced between Vladan and doorway. Arms and legs formed. A crown floated down from above and landed upon a leering skull, it’s eyes white-hot staring down at Vladan. Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead, god of death, the great necromancer and true ruler of Shyish. Vladan shivered as his god looked down at him. And smiled.
’Vladan,’ he began, ‘my little exiled prince. You have failed. Why even attempt to approach my land when failure hangs off you so?’ Vladan gaped. Had it been anyone else, he would have descended into a rage, most likely striking the person’s head off in the process. But this wasn’t just anyone. He bowed low, ‘Lord, I am humbly yours, I live and die in service to you alone.’ Vladan swallowed the bile that made it’s way up his throat. ‘I…. Apologize. My lord. Please… Forgive me.’ he grimaced, and bent lower.
Nagash laughed. The sound was like bone scraping metal, and rang hollow in the huge, now empty, rib-cage around them. ‘Look at this Vladan,’ he said motioning around him at the now-standing god-beast, ‘look at this power!’ Theldrisual raised its arms high into the sky, among the clouds, mirroring Nagash and roared a sound that shattered the mountainside. ‘Never forget Vladan, I am king. I am lord. The dead are mine. And all will be dead. Never forget that Vladan, do you hear me?’ Vladan suddenly surged forward, his body completely out of his control, until his eyes were mere inches away from those of Nagash. ‘Speak my little prince…’ Vladan gulped. ‘Yes. Yes lord. Of course. Again, I am yours and only yours.’
’Good.’ Nagash raised the hand that held Alakanash and Vladan’s own arms mimicked the motion. Bone flew about as Vladan slowly rotated. Plate landed upon his chest, armour about his arms and legs, black and gold gleamed in the Shyishian magic about them. A crown grew out of the shadow and darkness that whipped about his head. And behind him a dread abyssal formed wrapped in flame and dark smoke, it’s plate matching that on Vladan.
’Rise Vladan Lehr,’ Nagash intoned, ‘my Mikronox, Prince of the Ever-shadow.’ Vladan settled back down, gaining back control of his body he stood and faced his god. ‘Stretch out your blade’ The Necromancer said, and Vladan obeyed. His blade rent the air in front of him, and by instinct, he reached into the pitch-black portal.
And seized his missing key.