The BlackSand War

Chapter I: May it not be the end…

The cold winter breeze carried an odd sense of calm across the black lands surrounding the city walls of BlackSand.

A calm primed to be broken.

An ocean of undead bodies stood still on the horizon: zombies, ghouls, skeletons and other dark creatures in their thousands. A horde of death bathing under the full moonlight.

Lifeless, yet awake. Ready.

At the center of that undead legion, a group of riders set on evil-looking mounts. Some were wrapped in red burning flames; some appeared to be made of pure ice; others looked as dark as the night itself. None of it affected the comfort of their riders, who hid their faces beneath thick black hoods. They stared, their eyes aiming at the city walls. Eager.

They had arrived two days earlier, and waited since. In silence.

There was something utterly intimidating about that stillness -a feeling of impending doom, irreversible and unavoidable.

Azazel had worked tirelessly to prepare the city’s defenses.

Can you really prepare for something like this?

Doubt started to creep in.

It’s not enough time.

The breeze turned into a strong wind, lifting waves of black dust and rattling through the magic weapons and metal armor of the city guard. Hundreds of warriors and wizards stood ready on the city wall.

Prepared to protect BlackSand. Ready to die for it.

Hundreds against thousands. Young and old, against pure death.

Azazel had called for help and nearby cities answered. Wizards from the Red Wizard Capital, Blue Wizard Bastion and Dream Master Lake; warriors from the Barren Court, the Toadstools and Fur Gnome Wold; cavalry from the Elysian Fields. All had come in aid. To fight against this new, evil enemy threatening not only BlackSand but the Runiverse and its magic.

Yet it was only hundreds of them.

It’s not enough

But it had to be enough.

Maybe more will come in time?

Suddenly the wind vanished. Silence fell.

The rider that Azazel had identified as the general of this horde of death dismounted, moving for the first time since they arrived. He kneeled to touch the black sand on the ground. A faint blue light barely visible from that distance appeared under his palm.

The land soaked it in instantly, as if thirsty. A radiant azure light beamed from the soil enveloping the thousands of undead creatures behind the general. Their eyes lit up with that same cold, blue light.

The general stood up, raised his head and somehow found Azazel’s eyes with his glacial stare.

What is this…

He then lifted his right arm just for a second, before quickly, decidedly lowering it to command the attack.

He said nothing. But the horde heard.

The silence was abruptly broken by a cacophony of guttural noises as thousands of undead sprinted forward towards the city walls. Desperate to obey their master. Hungry.

Azazel took a deep breath. He was exhausted -maybe even scared.

“So it begins.”

Original lore by legatus

Entered by: 0x8717…A7A8