More Problems Than Just Demons (Plot)

[Northen Light36]

The army instantly redirected their channeled power to Shadow in bright white bolts of lighting that were added to the blinding ball of light growing larger and brighter above Shadow. For some, it was their dying act.

Shadow wasn't sure it wouldn't be his dying act as well. The power fought his control, burned him agonisingly inside and out and gave him the sense of a living being. A powerful creature, furious at this mere mortal of flesh and blood daring to try controlling it.

Just as he thought he might lose his grip, on the power, on his sanity, on his life... Shadow sent it a last desperate order and filled the sky with a sheet of powerful lightning that stretched from one end of the city to the other and was accompanied by a deafening boom of thunder.

[Kender Bard]

Zephion was hurt; more so than he would have ever expected of humans. His flight was halted midair and he fell, fell, fell.

Akkarei lifted her eyes, frowning. She spread her hands and sent her power forth. It drained her, every drop of the essence she had soaked up in the previous engagement. Rather than looking like a beautiful, freshly dead woman, she became utterly dessicated again. And then she flew forth, trying to intercept Zephion in his fall.

It put them both at a vulnerable position, but Akkarei's act would prove a considerable distraction. The dead rose, animated by her foul, fell power. These were not the undead warriors of Taed, as seen when he unleashed his wrath against Efil. These were demonic things; the dead clawed their way out of the ground, easily where there was nothing but dirt to hinder them, but they tirelessly shoved and chipped and clawed at any stone or marble as well. And the dead in the old thief tunnels stirred as well, adding their might to the rest. All over the city, where the dead began to rise, people screamed.

[Northen Light36]

With the last of his stored power, Shadow sent out another blast of lightning at the demons, not as powerful, but still deadly. Then he staggered, his legs feeling too weak to hold him. For a moment the world was swimming in a haze of pain.

Stanton caught Shadow as the king sagged, exhusted by the incredible power of what he'd just done. For a minute, Stanton was afraid Shadow would die then and there, before he saw the glazed look fade from the king's eyes and Shadow managed to stand again, barely. Both men knew Shadow had likely paid for that attack with his life, but Taed wasn't calling in the debt yet and there was still a fight. Already, those who'd fallen to the demon pair were rising and turning on their fellows.

"You, you and you," Stanton ordered some of his men. "Get the King to the Queen and get them out of the city. The rest of you... FIGHT!"

"Stanton," Shadow started to protest but fell silent at a hard look from the Commander.

"You've done your part, my King. Look after your wife." As Shadow was hustled off by his guards, Stanton took a last look at his dying king before he threw himself into the battle against the dead. One way or another, he felt they would not see each other again.

[Kender Bard]

Akkarei caught Zephion and twisted, taking the brunt of Shadow's attack on herself. It hurt, but it didn't knock her out as the combined attack on Zephion had. Sizzling and smoking, she flew off with her companion, allowing her undead army to do the rest of the fighting for her.

[Northen Light36]

Maelstrom's army swallowed their fear and charged into the attack against the dead, fighting with elements and weapons to keep them away from civilians as much as possible.

Shadow's guards hustle the King back to the palace only to find it under attack from past members of the royal family - risen from their rest in the palace's family graveyard. As his guards spring to action, Shadow fights to overcome the sick twisting in his gut and strains for a last burst of power. Trying not to think that one of these bodies is Flash's, Shadow blasts the dead, trying to clear a path inside without passing out.

[Kender Bard]

Lya wasn't there to greet him; just as he came in, she flew out of the palace and up into the air, calling on her Wind powers that she'd been busy building up. The winds around the palace blew and began to pick up speed with alarming swiftness. She amplified her voice and cried out, "Soldiers and guards of Maelstrom, fall back! Clear a path!"

[Northen Light36]

Aside from those guarding the weakened king, the soldiers and the few remaining guards threw themselves into following Lya's orders and managed to clear a path.

[Kender Bard]

Lya quickly whipped up a twister, controlling its path and size carefully. With a flick of her hand, she directs it forward to begin sucking up and battering the undead. A quick redirection towards a large amount of rubble adds more lethality to the twister and, with intense concentration, she begins to move the twister around with careful precision. The undead cannot fly nor access their old Storm powers; for once, she's probably in the safest position.

[Northen Light36]

As Lya beats away the undead, many of the exhusted soldiers cheer her efforts, greatful for a moment of rest.

Shadow watches his wife and manages a small smile, glad to see her recieving the support she deserves.

[Kender Bard]

Lya did considerable damage before coming back down to rest. She sought out Shadow quickly, her eyes sweeping over him with concern. "I don't see blood. How hurt are you?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow didn't meet his wife's eyes, chosing to close his eyes for a moment instead. "Just tired," he replied softly. "I pushed myself a bit hard out there." He knew he'd pushed himself too hard, but now wasn't the time to tell Lya that.

He'd have a little time before the visible symptoms set in. There'd be time to talk later. And in truth, while his heart ached for what he'd lose, the years had worn away at his strength and resolve. It was something of a relief to know that he would die in defence of his wife and daughter's kingdom, rather then in bed as the bitter old man his adoptive father had been.

"I don't think I have much of a fight left in me," he warned Lya. "Not without some rest."

[Kender Bard]

"Then rest," Lya told him. "I'm wearied as well. We have an army; if they can't protect us for a day, then all may be lost anyway."

She frowned and glanced out a window. "I didn't see any sign of the demons that started this. I think they fled. At least you've driven them off."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow nodded, leaning against the nearest wall. "I saw them retreat. I think I managed to do some serious damage to at least one of them."

[Kender Bard]

"Then let us rest while we can," Lya told him, taking him by the arm to lead him away somewhere that he could lie down before he collapsed.

[Northen Light36]

As soon as he could lie down, Shadow fell into a deep sleep that proved almost imposible to wake him from.

Some of the colour returned to his face as he slept though, so the deep sleep seemed to be helping him.