The First Lich Lord

Chapter 10

The second village we visited in as many days, we could tell almost right away something was wrong. Normally, town villagers would come out and greet Friar Brown. By all accounts, he was fairly well-known in the region, and people have been consistently excited to see him, especially now in these trying times.

This village was located in a forest and its primary industry was logging. There were a few small fields of vegetables and root crops grown in the poor soil, but it was far from enough to support them.

What is going on here? I asked, looking around the abandoned streets.

I do not know. Concern filled Friar Browns voice. Lets split up to see if we can find anyone.

I grabbed Mercy and jumped off the wagon. Friar Brown continued on the main street while I began to look through the buildings. One had a broken-down door. Cautiously entering, broken furniture and scattered belongings riddled the space. Clearly some sort of altercation had taken place.

Leaving the house, I went up to a door that was still intact, but to my surprise, it pushed open as I knocked. Much the same scene as before lay within. This house was trashed. A bad feeling about what was going on grew worse with every house investigated. It was the same scene over and over again.

In a small house nestled against a local tavern alarmed me even more. The stench of blood and rot permeated the air. Toward the back room, the rank became stronger, and there I found the body of a stout man lying in a pool of his own blood. Rolling him over to see if I could identify how he was killed, revealed a trapdoor under his body.

I carefully opened the trapdoor, not knowing what I would find. As the door creaked open, I leapt back a moment before a bolt shot out and hit the ceiling.

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Im a friend! I said. I came here with Friar Brown. Were trying to figure out what happened.

How do we know this, a distraught female voice called out.

I guess you dont, but I can go get the friar if that would help. When she didnt reply, I began to worry, and just as I was about to reassure her, shuffling sounded from below.

I guess it doesnt matter now. You know where we are.

A slender woman climbed out, leading a child. The young boy kept his face in the womans side, and her hand gripped around his shoulder, her bloodshot eyes staring straight ahead, unable to look at the body. She was likely the wife of the poor man. Hed no doubt protected his family by hiding them down there, his own body ensuring their attackers would look no further. Fortunately, he succeeded.

My name is Ezekiel, I said softly.

Liz. She gestured at the small boy. This is my son, Simon Her eyes flicked to the body and grew pained. Can we?

I gave a tight nod and left the room, the woman following.

Can you tell me what happened? I asked.

She looked suspiciously at me. If you came with the friar, take me to him.

Leading the way out of the house, I headed for the main square, where Friar Brown was coming out of what looked to have once been the main building of the town.

Simon let out a cry of joy and charged Friar Brown.

Simon, the friar said, happiness clear in his tone. My poor boy, it will be all right. Simon began wailing as Friar Brown pulled him into a hug.

I found them in a cellar under the house next to the tavern.

Jacob he died making sure we were hidden Liz said.

He was a good man, Brown said. The town hall is full of bodies. What what happened here? He furrowed his brow. Wait, you are no doubt hungry. Let me get you some food and drink, answers can wait.

After pulling the wagon away from the town hall, I climbed in, now familiar with the contents of each of the crates, and produced bread, cured meat, and wine. Undoing the latches to the tailgate created a makeshift table. Simon hadnt detached himself from Brown this whole time. The child, who I guessed to be around ten, had clearly been through more than he could handle.

It all started about a week ago, Liz said quietly. For a long time, a cult has taken root in this village. We knew who some of the members were, but for the most part they seemed harmless. Then suddenly they were acting strange, and doing things theyd never done before. They talked about having waited too long, how their god would be angry.

Listening to her story, I realized what likely happened. The NPCs that started acting strange were no doubt part of some quest related to their cult. Problem was, players either never found the quest or hadnt bothered to complete it. Now that all the NPCs were waking up and becoming self-aware, the members of the cult had nothing holding them back. Theyd proceeded with their missions, without players triggering them.

Other survivors began to appear, no doubt believing it was safe thanks to Friar Browns presence. There werent many. Though some of the villagers had fled into the woods when the cultists started attacking, hopefully, more would return.

When they attacked, one man began, it was clear they werent trying to kill everyone. Those sickos were taking them captive and leading them off down the road. I tried to follow They they took my family! But I was almost spotted, and I-I was too afraid toI was unable to stop them

The anguish on the mans face was painful to witness. I could only imagine what he was going through.