The Unfated Wanderers Canto 24
The villagers of Shatterbone outfitted their catacomb for refuge. The Unfated Wanderers slipped away from the village where the promise of house and hope of home would remain unfulfilled.
Vilerend and Billet bravely bounded eastward towards the Inverted Tower. Icebrunt was beset by bands of giant spawn. The Wanderers warily wove their way between foes. Battle was not wise as they were fiercely outnumbered.
Purple hued holes in the sky opened from time to time. Previously, these portals were precursors for the vile, yet potent magic of the Stormcraft cult. These purple punctures in the sky emitted no bolts of lightning. The Stormcraft wizards were not conjuring these curious calamities. The Living World itself was developing these oozing wounds. The sunlight of day was tinged with indigo. Night fell blacker with moonlight marred maliciously.
Frightful flitting between scores of spawn brought the Unfated Wanderers to Fleagrass. Voluminous hordes of refugees caused the village to bulge like an overfilled sack. The invasion had driven many people north. The havoc wrought by the giants had reduced many safe havens to rubble. The entirety of the village was huddled in terror and exhaustion. Surviving the Demon Plague took so much from them. Now the People were utterly undone by the horrors of a bizarre sky, the foreign invaders and the plight of unstoppable giants. The Unfated Wanderers took what rest they could within the village.
The Unfated Wanderers watched more and more violet splotches mar the sky as they travelled to the Inverted Tower. The Living World was unraveling at an increasing pace. Keeper of Lore, in her dragon shape, landed at the tower’s entrance just as the Wanderers arrived. Several people disembarked from a basket on her back. She regained her human shape and greeted Billet and Vilerend with a tight lipped smile. She said, “I am happy to see you, though these circumstances are quite dire.”
Unbe Magister joined them as Keeper continued, “I have brought the last of the Learned Scholars that were willing to come. Not everybody wanted to flee. Others felt obligated to stay behind to help their neighbors. How are the preparations inside of the Inverted Tower?”
Unbe said, “We are doing the best that we can. I have already provided these items to everybody.” He handed a sack to Keeper and said, “Please give these to the last people that you brought.”
Keeper left to distribute the items. Unbe said to the Wanderers, “I have some new gear for you. I have outfitted each of our fighters with a Ring of Stoutheart, a Ring of Hellsight and a Terror Spike. You already have the first ring. The Ring of Hellsight works the same as the oil I used on you back in Twigstar. It will enable you to see Darkling Fomenters, should they enter the Living World. The Terror Spike will shrink them down to our size so that we have a chance of killing them.”
He looked at the purple hole in the sky and said, “It is looking more and more like the Realm of Terrors will open into our world. I think that this may be the end.”
Those tasked with defense remained on watch as the rest of the Scholars and their families descended into the tower.