the heart of Khald Azalar. Rhogrimnalazur was stronger than Calliande, but neither could Rhogrimnalazur stand against the power of the Keeper. Most of Calliande’s strength went into the warding and the augmentation spells, but she had enough left to strike.
A bolt of white fire shot from her staff and hit Rhogrimnalazur’s side. The urdmordar reared back with a furious snarl, the white fire carving a smoking line across her crimson-armored carapace. Had Calliande more power to spare, she could have done more damage to the urdmordar, but she had nothing left after holding the warding and augmentation spells.
Already the charred gash upon Rhogrimnalazur’s flank started to shrink.
The spiderlings cast another spell, combining their power to unleash a withering lance of shadow at Calliande. Again she poured power into her wards, deflecting the strike. Ridmark and Kharlacht and the Swordbearers drove towards Rhogrimnalazur and the spiderlings, carving their way through the undead dark elves. The soulblades shone like shards of the sun, while the staff of Ardrhythain was a dark blur in Ridmark’s hands, its length flickering with symbols of white fire, an echo of the mighty magic Ardrhythain had wielded with that staff. For all their prowess, the dark elven undead were starting to surround them. Some of the undead broke free of the melee and charged towards Calliande. Caius and Jager and Mara had held off the undead so far, aided by Morigna’s earth magic, but they could not hold out forever.
Even as the thought crossed Calliande’s mind, Morigna waved her staff. The white flagstones folded and twisted, knocking the undead from their armored feet. Caius dashed forward, hammering with his mace as he crushed the skull of an undead warrior. Together Jager and Mara sawed through the neck of another, severing the skull from the spine and breaking the spell upon the creature.
Yet five more undead warriors charged at them, more than they could hold back. Ridmark and the Swordbearers and Kharlacht were too far ahead, and could not fall back to aid them. Besides, Ridmark and Kharlacht had to get the Swordbearers to Rhogrimnalazur. Their soulblades were the best hope of victory.
“Antenora!” shouted Calliande.
Antenora spun, black coat billowing around her, and shouted. A wave of flame boiled up from the ground and rushed forward, engulfing the charging undead. Two of them collapsed at once, Antenora’s fire turning them into piles of smoking coals. Two more staggered forward, and Caius smashed one with his mace, burning bones scattering across the ground. Mara disappeared in a flash of blue flame and reappeared behind another, taking its head with a wild two-handed swing of her short sword. The final undead lunged at Calliande, and she spared just enough power to spear the creature with a blast of white fire, the force throwing bones and armor back a dozen yards.
Dark magic surged before her Sight as Rhogrimnalazur summoned more power for another spell.
Calliande turned her attention back toward the urdmordar, preparing her wards.
###
Ridmark whipped his staff in a circle, knocking one of the dark elven undead from its feet. The creature landed with a clatter of armor, and Arandar brought Heartwarden down in a swift stab. The soulblade split the undead dark elf’s skull in twain, white fire flashing down its withered limbs as the dark magic unraveled.
The undead defenders rushed at Ridmark, but he kept ahead of them, using his staff as both weapon and shield. The symbols upon the staff’s length began to glow with white light as he struck. The staff was not magical, but Ardrhythain had carried it for so long that his vast power had altered the nature of the weapon, allowing it to wound creatures of dark magic.
Ridmark might not have been able to call fire and lightning into battle as Ardrhythain could, but he could employ the staff in other ways. He knocked down another undead warrior, crushing
A bolt of white fire shot from her staff and hit Rhogrimnalazur’s side. The urdmordar reared back with a furious snarl, the white fire carving a smoking line across her crimson-armored carapace. Had Calliande more power to spare, she could have done more damage to the urdmordar, but she had nothing left after holding the warding and augmentation spells.
Already the charred gash upon Rhogrimnalazur’s flank started to shrink.
The spiderlings cast another spell, combining their power to unleash a withering lance of shadow at Calliande. Again she poured power into her wards, deflecting the strike. Ridmark and Kharlacht and the Swordbearers drove towards Rhogrimnalazur and the spiderlings, carving their way through the undead dark elves. The soulblades shone like shards of the sun, while the staff of Ardrhythain was a dark blur in Ridmark’s hands, its length flickering with symbols of white fire, an echo of the mighty magic Ardrhythain had wielded with that staff. For all their prowess, the dark elven undead were starting to surround them. Some of the undead broke free of the melee and charged towards Calliande. Caius and Jager and Mara had held off the undead so far, aided by Morigna’s earth magic, but they could not hold out forever.
Even as the thought crossed Calliande’s mind, Morigna waved her staff. The white flagstones folded and twisted, knocking the undead from their armored feet. Caius dashed forward, hammering with his mace as he crushed the skull of an undead warrior. Together Jager and Mara sawed through the neck of another, severing the skull from the spine and breaking the spell upon the creature.
Yet five more undead warriors charged at them, more than they could hold back. Ridmark and the Swordbearers and Kharlacht were too far ahead, and could not fall back to aid them. Besides, Ridmark and Kharlacht had to get the Swordbearers to Rhogrimnalazur. Their soulblades were the best hope of victory.
“Antenora!” shouted Calliande.
Antenora spun, black coat billowing around her, and shouted. A wave of flame boiled up from the ground and rushed forward, engulfing the charging undead. Two of them collapsed at once, Antenora’s fire turning them into piles of smoking coals. Two more staggered forward, and Caius smashed one with his mace, burning bones scattering across the ground. Mara disappeared in a flash of blue flame and reappeared behind another, taking its head with a wild two-handed swing of her short sword. The final undead lunged at Calliande, and she spared just enough power to spear the creature with a blast of white fire, the force throwing bones and armor back a dozen yards.
Dark magic surged before her Sight as Rhogrimnalazur summoned more power for another spell.
Calliande turned her attention back toward the urdmordar, preparing her wards.
###
Ridmark whipped his staff in a circle, knocking one of the dark elven undead from its feet. The creature landed with a clatter of armor, and Arandar brought Heartwarden down in a swift stab. The soulblade split the undead dark elf’s skull in twain, white fire flashing down its withered limbs as the dark magic unraveled.
The undead defenders rushed at Ridmark, but he kept ahead of them, using his staff as both weapon and shield. The symbols upon the staff’s length began to glow with white light as he struck. The staff was not magical, but Ardrhythain had carried it for so long that his vast power had altered the nature of the weapon, allowing it to wound creatures of dark magic.
Ridmark might not have been able to call fire and lightning into battle as Ardrhythain could, but he could employ the staff in other ways. He knocked down another undead warrior, crushing
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