Blood on the Grave

Standing on the out cropping of rock Vareloc looked out over the ancient graveyard with a smile. The young soldier standing behind Vareloc shivered as he held the reigns of the horses they rode upon. "Master if I may why here of all places? You said we must leave for a grand mission. The enemy is routed and soon we shall bring order back to this land of the north. Hell the grand lord of nation's himself has declared to visit this land!" Vareloc's smile turned to a snarl but he did not look back. "Yes young one I know, though this is a critical mission that will change the future as we know it and you my young friend shall have a very important role soon. First however tie the horses before we enter the cemetery and follow me."

The soldier's step quickened as the news of this gave him confidence. After tying the horses they made there way through the grounds. Each burial was shown by a sword, helmet, or shield. This was a burial ground of ancient warriors one Vareloc prized upon finding. They reached the middle of the grounds and found a burial cairn that lead underground. The young soldier looked over at the dark elf covered in heavy armor. The sliver of moonlight graced across Vareloc showing the white tattoo that covered his face like a skull. Entering the cairn the young soldier brandished a torch as they descended into the darkness.

"There on the walls torches once lit, ignite them if they will still burn for your human eyes." Vareloc looked to the young soldier as his grey eyes became a small dot of light in the shadows of the torchlight. The soldier was able to light three of the four torches. It was sufficient enough to show the contents of the room. In the middle sat a tomb with no lid. Around the tomb in the walls were holes where soldiers in armour laid to rest. There swords or axes held to there chests. In the middle tomb was another soldier with a two handed blade laid across his body. His dark red torn cloak draped across his remains, while his battered armor glinted in the light.

The young soldier peered inside the tomb with confusion. "Master I still don't get it I see no scrolls or items of power, there weapons and armor are useless, there is nothing in this tomb of value!" Vareloc turned on the soldier "oh but that is where you are wrong my young friend." Vareloc smiled as he bellowed a word of magic power! The soldier flew back and crashed against the wall. Throughout his body he felt as if his soul was being torn away. Vareloc without a second of remorse descended on the soldier with his blade in hand. His sword pierced through the leather armor and came out his back with a splash of blood against the wall and out the soldier’s mouth. The young soldier looked in Vareloc's grey eyes while his life ebbed away he felt as if he was torn apart as his essence flowed out of him and into a gem in Vareloc's other hand.

Vareloc pocketed the gem and cleaned his sword off. After sheathing the blade he walked over to the tomb and brought the gem out again. He looked over the emerald gem and looking deep within could see a shadow of the soldier screaming. Vareloc tossed the gem in the air and spoke more words of power. The gem stopped in the air and hovered above the warrior's chest in the tomb. The gem started to spin in the air like a spinning blade. It shot straight down like an arrow and punctured deep into the warrior’s chest. A green glow came from the warrior’s eyes and his skin regenerated over the husk of his body. His skin became a light grey and his veins glowed with a hellish green. The warrior bellowed to the sky as he sat up. He looked to Vareloc who stood back watching the scene unfold with a smile. The warrior bowed to Vareloc as he left the tomb his cloak moved like a ghost when the wind entered the cairn.

"General Belworn I presume leader of the blood warriors and highly skilled with the greatsword. I am Captain Vareloc Blacksteel your master and awkener I ask you this now will you follow me to bring chaos upon this world and flood the land with the dead as our army like ages past?" Vareloc awaited the generals response sword and spell at the ready. The general lifted the red hood of his cloak over his head the green glow to only be seen within. "No master I will not while you hold such a mundane weapon!"

The general moved to one of the torch holders on the wall and pulled it outward. The tomb slid to its side revealing a chest of ornate design. Vareloc watched the general as he moved to the chest and used a key he had in his armor. The chest opened with a click and inside was a blood red cloak folded around something. The general removed the cloak and pulled out a club like mace. It was made of the blackest steel and on the four sides it showed a screaming face with a spike jutting from the mouth. The general picked up the blood red cloak and handed it as well as the mace to Vareloc while kneeling before him.

"Now I shall follow you to the abyss and beyond my master and so shall any other warriors that you a rise. My sword is yours while death and fear shall follow in our wake!" With that Vareloc bowed to the general. He took the sword and tossed it by the lifeless soldier. He brandished the cloak and held the mace high a spark of red lightning snaked along the mace. "Excellent general for we have much work to do and it begins now...