DRAGONLANCE: DEATH KNELL

by PJ

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Lord Soth stood before the altar his servants had prepared according to his instructions. The chamber he now stood in had once been a large dungeon beneath Dargaard Keep, but his skeleton warriors had torn down the cell walls and made the dungeon into one massive ceremonial chamber, as the ritual demanded. Beyond the altar was a large hole, it plunged down several dozen feet until it opened into a huge natural cavern. The destroyer slept in that cavern, until Lord Soth awakened it with the ritual.

At the limit of the death knight's hearing, Soth listened to the walls of Dargaard Keep tremble. The Wild Elves had besieged the fortress for days, hurling rocks at the outer walls with primitive catapults. Soth's red eyes narrowed, the rabble would be swept away when the destroyer arose, all life would be purged from Krynn.

Garbed in his ever-present, blackened armor, Soth took his place at the edge of the ritualistic circle, hands clasped together against his breastplate. Five skeleton warriors completed the circle, mimicking Soth's stance, fleshless faces downcast.

Laurana lay upon the altar naked. The elf woman's wrists were manacled above her head, more iron manacles bound her ankles. She was unconscious at the moment, weak from starvation and fear. Soth gazed at Laurana's comatose form, lust stirred in his loins as he ran his burning eyes over the nude woman's lush body. Soth dismissed his desires, the elf would be the catalyst for the ritual, with her death he would finally be at peace.

"Begin," commanded Soth, glancing briefly at each of his men.

The skeleton warriors began chanting, reciting the spells he had taught them. Soth joined his warriors, adding his deep, strong voice, anticipation building within him.

Clawar's eyes snapped open when the staff began glowing with a soft silver light. The draconian leapt from his bunk, grasping the precious staff, closing his eyes to attune himself to it.

Power called to the staff, a great deal of power. Clawar set the bottom of the staff onto the floor, chanted the incantation that would link him with the flying citadel. The huge flying castle changed direction, slowly sailing through the clouds toward the source of the magical gathering.

Halim stood next to a crackling campfire, face grim as he watched large rocks scream through the air and smash against the strong walls of Dargaard Keep. The elves had spent days battering at the walls, all to no effect.

"What else can we do?" muttered the wild elf, hands clenched on hips.

"The griffon riders are here!" shouted one of the perimeter guards.

Halim smiled, walking quickly across the camp to a cleared ledge where two griffons folded their wings and preened themselves.

A female wild elf dressed in leathers hopped from her griffon's back, extending her arms to clasp Halim's.

"Well met, Meryl, I'm glad that you made it," smiled Halim.

"Sorry we're late, the Dark Knights mounted some raids along the border and we had to help drive them off," grinned the raven-maned elf woman.

"As you can see we haven't made much progress with the siege. With the arrival of your riders, perhaps we can finally do some damage tomorrow."

"Oh, we will, you have my word on that!" laughed Meryl, placing her arm around Halim's shoulders and leading him back to the warm fire.

The flying citadel descended from the clouds, speeding ever closer to the source of the magical disturbance. The amount of power grew steadily, the staff in Clawar's hands burned like a star, nearly blinding the draconian. Kitiara stood to Clawar's right, hand resting on sword hilt, her death knight eyes smoldering with the anticipation for battle.

"Is this journey worthwhile?" asked Kitiara over the strong wind buffeting the castle's battlements. "Abrena's last messenger said that the Solamnic Knights were attacking, the Dark Knights won't last long without help."

"Then the Dark Knights shall be destroyed, they are not important to my plans," replied Clawar with a reptilian smile. "Magic is what I require to conquer Ansalon. I have a flying citadel at my command, I have the staff of Fistandantilus, when I capture this strange, new magic, I will be unstoppable."

"As you wish," nodded Kitiara, turning her attention to the approaching wall of mountains.

Smoke began pouring out of the floor hole. Soth's eyes widened with excitement, he chanted with renewed enthusiasm as the chamber vibrated softly, the destroyer beginning to awaken from his torpor. The ritual would end soon, and the world would be overwhelmed by Darkness.

Halim oversaw the loading of his warriors onto the griffons, then climbed onto Meryl's mount, holding on lightly to her waist. The elf woman stroked her griffon's neck, the signal to take to the air. The griffon screamed, flapping its massive wings, jumping up into the clear, morning sky. The flock of griffons followed Halim, spreading out before diving at the waiting fortress. Skeletons manning the walls hurled spears at the griffons. The flyers dodged the badly thrown projectiles, crossing over the outer walls and hovering above courtyards so their riders could dismount. Elf warriors raced up the stairwells to the battlements, slashing the skeletons off the ramparts.

Halim drew his sword, gutted a staggering zombie that tried to grasp him. Meryl guarded the elf's back, smashing skeletons that stumbled too close. Halim and a small group of elves ran to the castle doors, pushed the heavy portals open. The main foyer was empty, only a broken chandelier and a blackened scorch mark on the floor welcomed the elven invaders. The castle shook violently, nearly knocking the elves off their feet.

"What in the Abyss was that?" demanded Meryl.

"I don't know," replied Halim, fear for Laurana twisting inside his belly.

The wild elf sprinted into the dimly lit fortress, followed by his warriors.

Massive claws of bone emerged from the floor hole, followed by the titanic skull of a dragon. The undead dragon roared, making the skeleton warriors stumble, cracks forming along the chamber's stone walls. Crackling green orbs of light that served as the dragon's eyes lowered to Laurana, who awoke with a moan, her heavy eyelids flickering open. Fetid breath washed over Laurana's naked body, she stared at the dragon in horror, screaming at the top of her voice.

A black, rotting tongue unrolled from the dragon's huge maw. It licked over Laurana's body, covering her in glistening slime. The agile tongue pushed between Laurana's legs, caressed her shaved cunt. Laurana screamed again, struggling in her manacles as the undead dragon probed her slit with the tip of his tongue, stroking her inner thighs and coating them with more foul ichor.

"Devour her," growled Soth.

The flying citadel hovered over Dargaard Keep. Clawar's draconian warriors fluttered into the castle's courtyards, swords held ready. Clawar led the way into the fortress, Kitiara at his side with blade bared.

Elves hiding along the battlements started launching arrows at the draconians. The reptiles hissed, stumbling beneath the rain of missiles, several of them turning to stone when they died.

"Kill those elves!" shouted Clawar to his draconian sergeant.

The warrior nodded, leading his soldiers up the stairwells to engage the elves.

Clawar and Kitiara entered the castle alone, the draconian's glowing staff guiding them.

The undead dragon raked his fangs over Laurana's legs, slicing her flesh, her blood staining his ivory incisors. More of the dragon's body appeared through the hole, until it had to burst through the rock floor, its body too massive to pass through the floor passage. Skeleton warriors were tossed about like dolls, shattering against the walls and ceiling. Soth raised his arms in exultation.

"Kill!" roared Soth. "Kill everything that walks upon Krynn!"

The undead dragon raised its muzzle from Laurana's torn body, roared its hate to the ceiling. Extending enormous bone wings, the dragon rammed its head into the rock above, smashing its way to the surface.

One huge claw crashed into the altar, crumbling it to powder. Laurana was flung across the rubble-littered floor, she lay still, covered in blood.

"What is that?" shouted Kitiara from the foot of the stairwell leading into the ritual chamber.

"I..I don't know," answered Clawar, his reptilian eyes uncomprehending.

The death dragon spied Clawar's glowing staff. It lashed out with a claw, cutting the paralyzed draconian in two.

Kitiara jumped at the dragon, sword tip aimed at the enormous skeletal worm. She smashed her blade into the dragon's neck, making it roar with pain. The dragon rammed its head into the broken ceiling, dislodging the death knight.

From the opposite side of the room, emerging from a second stairwell, Halim and his elves stared at the battle unfolding.

"Laurana!" exclaimed Halim, spying his love lying in the wreckage.

The elves raced across the chamber, heading for Laurana's still form.

"Intruders," growled Soth, raising his left hand.

A fireball sizzled from the death knight's open palm, exploded amidst the elves. Burning bodies flew through the air, falling wetly to the rock-strewn floor.

Halim crawled to Laurana's side, shook her gently.

"Halim…" smiled Laurana, her eyes glazed with agony.

Lord Soth stabbed down with his dark blade, impaling Halim through the heart.

Laurana screamed, throwing herself at the death knight.

Soth howled when Laurana's blood touched him. Smoke rose from his armor as he pushed the elf woman away.

Realization dawning, Laurana grabbed Halim's sword, ran it over her stomach to coat it in her blood.

Soth backed away, brandishing his blade.

Laurana smiled grimly, and dashed forward. Soth swung at the elf, but she evaded the slash, ducking under his arms to stab her sword to the hilt within Soth's waist.

Soth roared in agony, clutching the embedded elf blade. He burst into flames, spinning to and fro, consumed in a white-hot conflagration that left nothing behind when it finally exhausted itself.

Stumbling, dizzy and weak, Laurana fled the way the elves had taken to enter the room, the sounds of battle reverberating behind her.

Kitiara slashed at a bony wing, severing it from the dragon's body. The dragon snarled, smacking Kitiara away with a claw strike. Kitiara hit the floor heavily, then groaned when the dragon impaled her in the belly with a sharp finger claw. Kitiara slashed again, her blade cutting off the dragon's claw at the wrist. The undead worm roared, lunging with its open muzzle. Fangs bit deep into Kitiara's undead flesh, she could no longer feel her legs dangling beneath her. Kitiara raised her sword in both hands, smashed it between the dragon's glowing green eyes. The dragon jerked its head back, throwing Kitiara into open air. The ravaged death knight crashed into the ceiling, then fell to the floor like a stone, impacting loudly with the sound of crushed metal.

The undead dragon fell back against the wall, its skeletal body twitching, its eyes dimming until only darkened sockets remained.

Kitiara weakly raised her head, smiled at the motionless dragon.

"Bastard," groaned Kitiara, the light in her own eyes dying as her head hit the ground again for the last time.

With the Keep's foundation shattered by the undead dragon, Dargaard Keep began to collapse. The wild elves withdrew, mounting the griffons that landed in the courtyards. Laurana was loaded onto a griffon by two wild elf warriors, then they all took to the air, winging away from the crumbling castle.

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"So that's the end of Soth?" smiled Linsha, pouring Laurana another cup of tea.

"Yes, thank Paladine," nodded Laurana, still pale from her ordeal, but healing. "Congratulations on your campaign against the Knights of Takhisis."

"They fought like devils, especially Abrena, she turned into some kind of dark dragon! We had them though, good thing Palin was there with a few of his wizards!"

"Maybe we'll finally have some peace and quiet," smiled Laurana, sipping her tea.

"If the gods smile upon us, let's hope so," chuckled Linsha cheerfully.

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