The scattered bones jerk across the burial floor and lock together. The ragged black robe knits itself around the gaunt undead figure, silver stitching crawling closed as violet smoke pours from every joint and the skull.
Tarna’s warhammer lowers by inches. The force that shattered the coffin has not harmed the thing within, and her frightened gaze fixes on the skeleton’s deep-purple eyes.
The Robed Skeleton
I am an all-powerful lich. You have no idea what you have just awoken.
Tarna Óhagganlegur
Dagg, you said we had lost the element of surprise. I did not understand that you meant the dead would stand back up.
The lich raises one claw toward Dagg. His sword’s violet glow answers the smoke, and the barrow walls tremble as a buried resonance awakens beneath the stone.
The Robed Skeleton
This barrow was not a tomb. It was a listening post, shaped to carry the Lich Queen’s summons into every sealed grave beneath the northern road.
A low pulse travels through the floor. Dust slips from the ceiling, and somewhere beyond the burial chamber, stone answers stone. Tarna tightens her grip on her shield and waits for Dagg to act.
✓ Quest Accepted
Kill the Lich and prevent his report to the Lich Queen
“{Dagg looks at Tarna with a very sad expression} I am sorry Tarna, sorry for this. {Daggs face begins to melt revealing his Lich form, his face takes on a skeletal appearance and purple smoke pours from him as his eyes glow purple. Dagg looks towards the skeleton who has now revealed himself as a Lich" You know you are not the only one here that can act tough! {Dagg boasts} {The lich very confused until he realizes and says "Oh no, its you, the one who escaped, the Night Demon, Killer of Liches, Traitor! I will enjoy ripping you limb from limb!}”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -2)
Dagg looks toward Tarna with profound sorrow. Purple smoke spills from his skin as his face melts away, revealing a skeletal visage and burning violet eyes. Tarna sees the secret he has guarded from nearly everyone.
Dagg Nabbitt
I am sorry, Tarna. Sorry for this. You are not the only one here who can act tough!
The sword answers him, drawing the purple smoke into a bright violet flame along its edge. His will holds steady beneath the transformation, though the effort leaves a visible hesitation in his voice and a weariness pressing behind his glowing eyes.
The Robed Skeleton
You are not merely a mortal. Oh no. You are the one who escaped, the Night Demon, Killer of Liches, Traitor!
Recognition fractures the lich’s confidence. The barrow’s answering pulse falters as the robed skeleton recoils, while Tarna plants her shield and stares at Dagg with shock rather than fear.
The Robed Skeleton
The Lich Queen warned us of you. I will enjoy ripping you limb from limb and proving that your escape was only a temporary failure.
The robed skeleton’s threat sounds forced now, but the buried summons still trembles beneath their feet. Tarna shifts beside Dagg, close enough to stand with him, and waits for his next command.
The violet flame is ignited.
“{Tarna confused falls to the ground sitting and watching the battle happening in front of her.} {Dagg goes in sword swinging first, but the Lich puts up a purple shield with magic seemingly blocking the attack} {The Lich speaks, "Ha what a weak sword, this is the legendary Lich Killing sword I have heard about but it can not even peirce a shield spell."} {Just then the Liches hand falls to the ground and Dagg speaks." I think It did a little more than you thought there pardner.”
FAILURE (Fair Melee Weapons, rolled -2)
Tarna’s shock overwhelms her stance. She drops into a seated position among the scattered bones, shield slipping against her shoulder as she watches the battle with wide, bewildered eyes.
Dagg surges forward through the purple haze, the violet flame along his sword burning brighter as Unshaken Under Siege steadies his strike. Caution about the Lich Queen’s servants sharpens his aim, but does not slow the attack.
The robed skeleton thrusts out one claw. A purple shield snaps into place, catching Dagg’s flaming blade with a thunderous flash and forcing the sword aside. The impact leaves the shield intact, but its surface splits with thin glowing cracks.
The Robed Skeleton
Ha! What a weak sword. This is the legendary lich-killing sword I have heard about, but it cannot even pierce a shield spell.
The robed skeleton’s triumph breaks as his raised hand drops away at the wrist, severed beneath the shield. Violet flame crawls through the fracture, and the damaged ward collapses into smoking fragments.
Dagg Nabbitt
I think it did a little more than you thought there, pardner.
The severed hand spasms across the stones, dragging the robed skeleton’s attention downward. Tarna remains seated, but her grip tightens around her shield as the broken defense leaves the lich exposed and the buried summons shudders again.
The violet flame is ignited.
“{The Lich scared now, looks around and sees Tarna sitting there, Hee aims a purple fireball and directs it straight at her as he says "If I cant kill you, Ill kill your wench" The fireball shoots through the sky nearly hitting Tarna until Dagg steps in front of it taking the full hit. The flames stick to his body burning but not hurting him at all. Anger fills his stance now.] {Dagg speaks} You try to hit someone not even in our fight, what a coward you are. Ill make you pay for that. {Dagg picks up Tarna's hammer and hurls it at the lich. The lich dodges it and begins to laugh just as Dagg is in his face, sword all the way through the lIchs Heart and out the backside of him. Dagg speaks.} I think I like Night Demon, thank you for that name. {The purple glow in the lichs eyes dims as he slowly dies from the sword.}”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled +1)
Fear flickers through the robed skeleton’s violet eyes. He turns toward Tarna, still seated among the bones, and gathers a purple fireball in his remaining claw.
The Robed Skeleton
If I cannot kill you, I will kill your wench.
The fireball streaks toward Tarna. Dagg steps between them and takes the full blast. Violet flames cling to his body, but Unshaken Under Siege holds him firm, and the fire cannot harm him.
Dagg Nabbitt
You try to hit someone not even in our fight. What a coward you are. I will make you pay for that.
Dagg snatches Tarna’s fallen warhammer from the stones and hurls it. The robed skeleton twists aside, laughing, but Dagg is already inside his guard, violet flame blazing along the lich-killing sword.
Dagg drives the flaming blade through the robed skeleton’s chest and out his back. The sword’s magic sears through the undead heart, while the severed hand and scattered bones fall still.
Dagg Nabbitt
I think I like Night Demon. Thank you for that name.
Quest Complete
Kill the Lich and prevent his report to the Lich Queen
Skill Upgrade: Melee Weapons Fair→Good
The lich can be killed by the strike.
“[Dagg slides the Liches body off his sword and to the ground. His form goes back to human and the purple smoke subsides within him. He turns towards Tarna, who is still in shock sitting down. He hands her her hammer and apoligiezes again.} I can explain everything if you would like {Dagg says to Tarna} {Tarna stumbles over her words as she answers him}”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Dagg slides the dead lich from his sword, and the violet flame gutters out along the enchanted blade. He returns the weapon to his side as purple smoke sinks beneath his skin.
His skeletal face and burning eyes soften back into a living human visage. The effort of the transformation is over, yet his legendary resolve keeps him steady while his relaxed nature makes the apology come without ceremony.
Dagg bends, retrieves Tarna’s warhammer, and offers it across both hands. He lowers his head toward her, leaving the weapon and the truth between them.
Dagg Nabbitt
I am sorry, Tarna. I can explain everything, if you would like.
Tarna Óhagganlegur
I... yes. I would like that. You turned into a skeleton, Dagg, and then killed a lich as though this were an old chore. I need to understand who you are.
Tarna accepts the hammer, though her fingers tremble around its haft. She rises slowly, sets her shield upright beside her, and faces him without retreating, frightened but choosing trust over distance.