M.J. Markgraf
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Norman the Necromancer Chapter 70
🕑 Added 2023-03-06 13:03:01 +0000 UTCGrobert worried about Norman’s mental state. The kid was doing rather well dealing with being in charge and overcoming obstacles. It was a good way to learn who you were and what you were capable of. That being said this war with the Brotherhood was a bit much, especially for someone not used to being in charge or having so many lives riding on your decisions.
He was mainly worried about how Norman would deal with all the deaths. Norman was coping so far, but Ashvale had been lucky, only suffering minimal casualties. Grobert knew that wouldn’t last. Eventually, the enemy would come in overwhelming numbers or tactics that the citizens weren’t able to counter and a few deaths would turn into dozens or even hundreds.
Had Grobert still been the gron President, he would just call up the golems that defended Grothlosburg and sent them to eliminate the Brotherhood. But he wasn’t the President anymore and the yungin Barthus had changed the command codes. Which was probably a good idea since Grobert had tried to activate the golems and send them to the Brotherhood.
What could he say, he liked Ashvale and the kid, so he would do his utmost to see the place survive, even if it meant severing ties with his old home and people to make that happen.
Death didn’t bother Grobert, he had lived far longer than anyone should and had desired death for more decades than was reasonable. He only stuck around in this new form because he saw something interesting in Norman and wanted to help him reach his potential. With that in mind, Grobert headed over near the temporary stables and waited for Eugene to arrive.
It was time to try and implement his misinformation campaign. He just hoped Eugene caught on and didn’t ruin this attempt. He would have discussed this with the man but he didn’t want to risk the information spreading. Grobert barely trusted discussing the possibility of his plan inside the castle, but he had scoured the place top to bottom to ensure there were no bugs, not the electronic variety, but actual bugs. He couldn’t be certain how much control this enemy spy had over animals or other living creatures so it was better to be thorough.
Eugene didn’t make him wait too long. “This better be good, I’m kind of busy,” the man grumped.
“We need to prepare for the worst.”
Eugene quirked an eyebrow but remained quiet.
Come on dammit, play along Grobert shouted internally. “If the city falls, we need to ensure the greykin survive.”
Grobert waited a moment until he saw the spark of understanding in Eugene’s eyes.
“You don’t think the boss can hold the city?”
Grobert wanted to smile, but he kept the façade of being worried plastered on his face.
“You know as well as I do that he is not qualified to lead. With that in mind I have prepared a position for some of our people to survive what’s to come.”
Eugene rubbed his face, looking to consider Grobert’s words. “I don’t like it, but I have to agree. Where exactly is this redoubt that you have prepared and how can we be sure our enemy won’t find it?”
“It’s to the southeast, off of the normal path that our enemies take to Ashvale. There is a series of hills where I located a steep valley and a rather large cave complex. The trail leading to it is only a small game trail, so the people will have to go on foot as wagons will not make it.”
“Alright. I’ll select a group of non-combatants and get them heading that way.”
Grobert gave a stiff nod in reply before walking off. The bait was set, he only hoped he was right and the enemy would bite.
After finishing up that task and a few others around town, Grobert headed back toward the castle.
“Grobert, good you’re back, come here for a second.”
Grobert turned around and followed Norman into his workshop. The place was a mess of papers and diagrams scattered everywhere as well as stuck to the walls. It was clear to Grobert that Norman was taking the problem with the Brotherhood very seriously and he couldn’t help but smile slightly. Although, he did so when Norman wasn’t looking. He didn’t want the boy to get an inflated ego.
“Did you need something?” Grobert asked.
“No, I mean, well maybe. Here take this.”
Norman handed Grobert a small round stone about the size of a fist. Grobert looked at the odd stone, quirking his eyebrow as he glanced back at Norman. “This is?”
“It’s a magical device that will ensure our victory. I want you to take it and hide it outside of town. Anywhere within a few miles will be fine. It would probably be best to bury it as well. Don’t let anyone see you hiding it though and don’t tell anyone else about it.”
“Ok, I’m curious as to what this could be but I’ll refrain from asking for the time being.”
Norman nodded, looking a bit frantic and exhausted.
“Um, perhaps you should get some rest or take a break and have some food.” Norman was looking worse than Grobert had seen him looking this morning. Grobert doubted Norman had taken a break since he had left after breakfast.
Norman nodded, “I will in a bit, I’m almost done with what I was working on today.”
Not wanting to be a nag, Grobert nodded and left. Grobert could feel the magic emanating from the device as he held it, but he had no clue what exact purpose it served. All of the magical pathways were hidden inside. Grobert thought that was a sensible precaution as he slipped out of the town unseen.
The personal teleportation band that Grobert built for himself after being resurrected worked wonders, teleporting him into a prearranged area of woods a few miles from the city. It was too bad the magic wouldn’t work for anyone besides those with a calling like his. He could have created bands for all of the greykin.
Grobert glanced around the thicket of trees until he found an ideal spot. He walked over and used his power to uproot a plug of dirt six feet long and just wide enough for the orb to fall into. He placed the orb into the hole and pulled off the end of the plug before using the rest of it to push the orb into the ground. He assumed this magical item was part of a set of anchors for Norman’s AOE spells. Hiding it outside of town and making sure nobody saw him burying it? It was the only possibility that made sense. Grobert wouldn’t be surprised if Norman had given similar anchors to people like Eugene.
***
Eugene issued orders to his men, but inside he was grumbling. He hated the cloak-and-dagger shit but he understood the necessity of it so he didn’t complain. The plan Grobert had concocted was a decent one. And Eugene knew just who would be best hidden in those caves Grobert had spoken of.
Before he could set off to the teleporter though, he saw Nolix heading his way. A burst of annoyance passed through Eugene, the man was supposed to be guarding the castle. But if he was here, it was likely that Norman had sent the man to find him.
“Commander,” Nolix saluted with a fist to his chest.
“Let me guess, Norman wants to see me?”
Nolix nodded.
“Bah, we need to get some messengers. Can’t have you abandoning your post every time the boss needs something. Let's not keep the man waiting,” Eugene gestured back toward the castle.
After they arrived, Nolix took up his guard position again while Eugene went inside.
When Eugene first agreed to work for Norman, he had known the man was lying about some of the stuff he spouted. But he had still been uncertain enough not to test the man at that time. Although, Eugene did figure out what bullshit Norman had fed him eventually. The fact is, Eugene didn’t care, he had been looking for a career change for some time and Norman’s offer was more than generous. Also, the perks of being undead were well worth it.
Leaving Sin’s organization was still hard for him, he respected the man. How could he not, the man had built up a criminal empire from nothing. Eugene’s respect for his former boss slowly declined after the fall as Sin’s ego grew beyond his ability. Sin had decided then to start wielding his people like clubs. Eugene hated the change, hated being the one sent to fix all of the issues Sin’s own hubris caused. He didn’t complain though and continued doing it because he was good at it. That didn’t mean Eugene liked it, or the path Sin had decided to go down.
That’s not to say he wasn’t still a bludgeon for Norman but it was a different sort. At least with Norman, Eugene got to apply his specific set of skills against those that deserved it, instead of innocent people. The change was a small one but it was enough to make Eugene proud of what he was doing again.
Eugene stepped into Norman’s workshop. “You wanted to see me, boss?”
***
Eugene thought over the conversation he had with Norman as he patrolled outside of the city with one of the guard groups. The item Norman had handed him sat inside a leather satchel at his side. It made Eugene’s hands tingle uncomfortably when he touched it, so he limited his exposure to the strange stone orb.
Norman had asked him to bury it outside of town, and not let anyone see him do it. How the man expected that to happen was beyond him, but Eugene kept an eye out while he patrolled.
Eventually, Eugene came across a small rent on a shallow hillside where one side had collapsed. Eugene glanced around to make sure he was out of view of the other guards patrolling for spies before he crouched down and pulled the item from his bag.
The tingle started immediately so Eugene quickly shoved the fist-sized stone into the crack in the earth. He only managed to get it a few feet deep, but that should be plenty. After extracting his arm, Eugene kicked loose dirt into the crack, covering it up and hiding the fact that it had ever been there.
Eugene hoped the weird tingle didn’t give him some sort of crazy form of undead cancer, it would be just his luck. After wiping his hands off, Eugene met up with his patrol and headed back toward town. He had an ambush to plan.
***
The valley was everything that Grobert had said it would be. It was tight and treacherous, with only one way in, and no easy way to get out once you entered. Eugene ordered his guards to start constructing traps that would collapse the way out, making it even harder to escape. Meanwhile, Eugene found the caves. They were tight, and not very deep, but they were perfect for what he had planned.
He began stringing the trap and hanging all of the spell anchors Norman had given him that contained the feral undead. There was one tunnel that wasn’t quite visible from the cave entrance where Eugene tied up one of the ferals. He hoped its shuffling about would incite the Brotherhood's forces to rush the cave and not look too closely at the ground.
Eugene didn’t have high hopes for this trap causing the enemy too much damage, but it was better than Norman’s original plan of letting the ferals roam and hoping they came across the Brotherhood’s forces. Even if the trap was a complete failure, it would still be a win because it would give the enemy pause. And that would give the boss the time he said he needed.
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