Getting everybody, including Cho'kobo and Kilgur, up the stairs was a little more of a challenge than had been expected but nevertheless, the group in its entirety eventually reaches the top of the incline to find a small stretch of hallway in front of them with torches glowing with green flame adorning the walls. Not far in front of them, is a somewhat steep incline that rises roughly five feet before plateauing out onto a unnaturally flat surface, a product of the mining operation, perhaps. Scattered around the base of the hill between the incline and the wall of the circular cavern are skeletons stacked two to three high, some with flesh still attached, others picked entirely clean. There seem to be a larger set of bones set into the stone and a few fresher bodies on the plateau as well; a handful of Dwarves and what looks like an average sized human dressed in a once white robe with brown hair.
As the group approaches, the familiar sound of the babbling allip comes to them as well as a voice that nobody save Temnir had heard before. It was deep, menacing and held more than a tint of madness to it though put next to the allip incarnation of Blaith, it seemed normal.
"I am tired of being failed, shade. Why has the army been moved from Heldenburg to the Burova Citadel without my express permission?"
"No, no, the master send word, yes, through envoys most dark and loyal. Came with army the missive did, in robed hands and parchment red with blood, written in the master's hand. Noemi followed faithfully, she did, yes."
The new voice makes a humming sound in his throat as if he's chewing over the matter before responding,
"Perhaps that is correct. Perhaps..." Now close enough to see over the ridge, those tall enough see that in addition to the allip, two men cloaked in black robes with the image of Nerul emblazoned on the back as well as a man, draped in what were once fine clothes befitting a higher nobleman of a vastly wealthy family. His silken cloak once embroidered with gold thread now tattered, bloodied, torn, and dirtied, as he turns in place to look full upon Blaith, the rest of his raiment seems to be likewise effected. The major issue though is his face and hands; as they come into view, the skin seems to be unnaturally tight around the bones in the places where it still exists, the rest exposing the bones and sinew beneath but not seeming to effect his movement at all. Most disturbing to those who had been made aware to it are his glowing blue eyes, cold as ice and burning with malice.
Reaching out a bony, ringed finger towards the allip, he speaks in a suddenly lucid and deadly serious tone,
"This instillation has served its purpose. Remove the rest of the test subjects and move back to the citadel to await further instructions. Derevaan is close to falling, only two of her jewels remain two us and one has yet already been blackened." The laugh that peals forth from his open mouth sends chills up the entire group's collective spines and makes every hair on their neck stand on end. This was not a foe to be taken lightly.
Coming to rest once again, the man turns to the rest of the room and finally spies the group standing at the mouth of the cavernous room. Whirling upon Blaith, he moved towards his with preternatural speed and grasps the ethereal shade by his neck and hoists him into the air.
"YOU TOLD ME YOU HANDLED THEM!" the man roars in fury. Throwing him down to the ground, Blaith shakily hovers to his feet, rubbing where his throat would have been before shooting an evil glare at the still living group members.
"If you need a job done, as they say..." he lets the saying trail off as he bursts into maniacal his hands begin to glow fiery blue and white and the floor begins to shake slightly. Those attuned to magic don't detect any spells being cast by the man but there is definitely power about his person in the form of a plethora of magical items.
(OOC: Alright, here we go guys, I hope you're prepared! This could get ugly! There is the chance to talk to him if you wish or you can just charge in, guns blazing. Also, since this is our 2000th post (fitting, I know), those who survive get a fun 200 extra experience! Now get in there and kick some undead ass!)
