text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, zombie, fantasy]
  
  "Look at you! Delightful! Absolutely delightful! They're amazed!" Mister Chinkrinkski laughs. "Entertainers! We have visitors! Please, children, feel free to explore our humble abode and see what talents, tricks and delights we have to offer. Aranti's room is down the hall on the first left, Samwell on the second left, the delightful, stupendous Cursed Crew second on the right, Dog-Tongue's room is the first right and Tiny Tonk's room is underneath in the cellar! Please, explore and enjoy! If you're hungry or thirsty, just ask, or I could show you a magic trick."
  
  > visit Dog Tongue's room
  You walk into Dog Tongue's room, which is filled with pots, cauldrons and other potion-making equipment, and quickly learn where the man gets his name from. The side of his face is paralyzed, his tongue falling out of it and hanging like a dog's.
  
  "Hello," he says, though you struggle to understand his speech. "I am Dog Tongue. How may I help you, sir and madam?"
  
  "What do you do?" Blaise asks.
  
  "I make potions that can do wondrous things. Unfortunately, none work on children. Sorry."
  
  "What... what happened your face?"
  
  "Warhammer hit me when I was a baby," he grunts. "Still, I've moved past it."
  
  "Look at you! Delightful! Absolutely delightful! They're amazed!" Mister Chinkrinkski laughs. "Entertainers! We have visitors! Please, children, feel free to explore our humble abode and see what talents, tricks and delights we have to offer. Aranti's room is down the hall on the first left, Samwell on the second left, the delightful, stupendous Cursed Crew second on the right, Dog-Tongue's room is the first right and Tiny Tonk's room is underneath in the cellar! Please, explore and enjoy! If you're hungry or thirsty, just ask, or I could show you a magic trick."
  
  > leave James' Barracks
  "Thank you, Mister Chinkrinkski. I think it's best we leave now," Blaise says
  
  "Leave? Leave where?" he asks, confused.
  
  "Leave to go... go to dinner."
  
  "Ah, yes... I'm sure we'll see you around, Lady Blaise. Yes. I'm very sure we'll se you around."
  
  Mister Chinkrinkski grins wider than you would've thought possible, and opens the door. You quickly rush out, and he slams the door behind you.
  
  "Well that was... interesting," Blaise says.
  
  "Yeah... Let's go to dinner," you reply.
  
  > The Next Day...
  The next day, you wake to find Thorin or some other undead being has left fancy clothing on the end of your bed. Black pants, polished boots, a white shirt, a blue and golden jacket and a buckled fur cloak. You put them on, and realize quickly you look like a twat. Still, today's the day of the Ceremony of the Pledging, so you assume you're supposed to look like a twat like all the other important people coming here. You walk outside of your room, and Thorin's waiting for you.
  
  "Dagden, you and Lady Blaise have been requested to have breakfast away from the head of the main feasting table."
  
  "Why?" you ask.
  
  "You will have dinner with the other children."
  
  "I'm thirteen, I'm not a child."
  
  Thorin shrugs.
  
  "What do you even mean, other children?"
  
  "Many of the various Necromancers, Mercenary Captains, Lords, Ladies, Mayors and Politicians who hold positions of power among the Grand Necromancer's empire have brought their sons and daughters here. The Grand Necromancer requests you and Lady Blaise... "entertain" the new company."
  
  You shrug, and follow Thorin to Blaise's room, where she's waiting. Weird feelings go through your body as you see her. She's wearing a long, deep crimson dress with a beige cloak over it. You feel a pang of joy when you see her dragon tooth necklace displayed proudly.
  
  "Hi, Dag."
  
  "Hey. How'd you sleep?"
  
  "Good, thanks. Are you excited to see the new guests?"
  
  "Yeah, I can't wait."
  
  Thorin leads you into the main hall, where an additional "children's" table has been set up. About a dozen children, ranging from Humans to Elves to Orcs to Dwarves sit at the table already, with two places at the head for you and Blaise. You take your seat next to Blaise and stare at them.
  
  "Hello. I'm Blaise," Blaise says cheerfully. "And this is Dagden."
  
  "Dagden what?" one of the Orc children ask. "What's your title?"
  
  You wince, realizing your lack of contact with other Orcs means that you've yet to receive a title, meaning you still have the childhood title of Youngblood. You suppose Bearbane could be used, but the only one's who gave you that nickname died without telling anyone of your feat, so you have no witnesses to it and hence the title's invalid.
  
  "Dagden Dragontooth."
  
  Huh. She was a lot quicker at bullshitting than you. Impressive.
  
  "How'd he earn that nickname?"
  
  "He stole a tooth from a dragon," Blaise says, and she smiles at you.
  
  The Orc nods in respect, and you feel pride. You make a mental note to thank Blaise after breakfast.
  
  "So, your father's the Grand Necromancer?" a High Elf girl asks.
  
  "Yes."
  
  "No wonder you smell of corpses. This entire place can be smelled before it can be seen," the High Elf Girl says.
  
  Blaise frowns, and looks to her feet in embarrassment.
  
  > do nothing
  You stare a hole in the side of the High Elf Girl's head, but you don't say a word. The group gets back to eating, and eventually a chat begins.
  
  "So, how rich are your parents, Jessica?" one of them asks.
  
  "They have three large manors. My Daddy says his land is the most important piece of land in the Grand Necromancer's empire."
  
  "Everyone thinks that about their own land," one of the children says, rolling his eyes.
  
  "Well, he's so rich he got me a diamond ring just because," she says, showing a large diamond ring to you all.
  
  Blaise leans in to you, and whispers into your ear.
  
  "Do you remember when I said it's quite lonely without other children? I take it back. I hate everyone here."
  
  You nod in agreement, before you hear a shout.
  
  "Alright! Can I have everyone's attention? It's time for the Ceremony to begin! Let's begin with Lady Charlie Findrozo," the Grand Necromancer yells, slumping into his massive black stone throne at the head of the table.
  
  The table is moved out of the way to give room for Lady Charlie Findrozo to kneel in front of the Grand Necromancer.
  
  "I pledge my life, my body, my soul, my land and my people to you, King Dante, Grand Necromancer and Master of the Dead."
  
  Dante nods, placing a hand on her shoulder. She stands, and goes to sit down. This process repeats itself, and another person goes up to swear their allegiance to Dante. With the amount of people there, you can tell this is going to take some time. You wait patiently, bored as hell, as people pass by.
  
  "Can we go somewhere?" one of the kid moans, and Thorin appears.
  
  "Lady Blaise, Dagden, please take the children out... somewhere."
  
  "Sure," you say, standing.
  
  You head towards the doors, followed by a gaggle of children. Blaise runs up to next to you.
  
  "Where do you want to take them?" Blaise asks.
  
  "How about the mass grave? We dump their corpses their, bury them, and then eagerly make up an excuse on why they've disappeared."
  
  "I''d really love to. But my dad would get mad..."
  
  "The only people who'd even notice the kids' deaths would be the parents, and they'd be overjoyed."
  
  "I wish. Let's take them to the garden."
  
  You head towards the garden, and open the door.
  
  "Ah, it's beautiful," a Wood Elf child says.
  
  "Too flowery," a Dwarf moans.
  
  "This is my garden. Please don't touch the flowers," Blaise says.
  
  Most of the children follow these simple instructions, but the Orc who asked your name earlier begins plucking flowers, sniffing them, and tossing them aside.
  
  "Hey! Don't do that!" Blaise says loudly. "Dagden, make him stop!"
  
  > attack him
  You charge forward, swinging your fist. You're larger than the other Orc, and in one swing send him tumbling to the floor. You stomp on his throat and the Orc gasps, before kicking him in the head. Blood drips down from his nose, groaning in pain.
  
  "Don't pick flowers," you say, spitting on his face.
  
  "Thanks, Dag."
  
  "No problem."
  
  > Two Hours Later...
  You watch the other children play and talk about the flowers, and wish you could murder them. You always thought Blaise was spoilt, especially every birthday. These children wear golden chains that weigh down their necks, wear clothes of soft silks and fabrics softer than clouds and seem to have been raised entirely on milk, honey and beer mush. You really, really hate them.
  
  "Who plants all the flowers, Blaise?" one of them asks.
  
  "I do."
  
  "Oh. Don't you have servants to...?"
  
  You lean in to Blaise, interrupting the child.
  
  "Please, if you say they all tried to kill you, I'll back you up, and we can use this as an excuse for me to murder everyone here."
  
  "Hush now, Dag."
  
  "I'm so sick of them."
  
  "I know, Dag."
  
  You continue watching the other children playing and talking as time passes. One of them trips and complains about getting dirt on her dress, and you once again get mad at these pansies.
  
  "Dag, go have one of the Blood Fruit. You need it."
  
  "Thanks, Blaise."
  
  You walk over to the very small tree with the fruit, and pluck one. You open it, and begin devouring the red fruit inside. Eventually, Thorin arrives.
  
  "All right, Children. Come, come. The ceremony is almost over."
  
  You follow Thorin back to the Main Hall, and take your seats. You see one of the Vampire Lords on her knee in front of him.
  
  "I pledge my life, my body, my soul, my land and my people to you, King Dante, Grand Necromancer and Master of the Dead."
  
  Dante nods, placing a hand on her shoulder. She stands, and goes to sit down. The Grand Necromancer stands as the room goes quiet.
  
  "Ladies and Gentlemen, Living and Dead, Leaders and Warriors, today you have..."
  
  An undead, armored warrior bursts through the heavy double doors of the main hall.
  
  "Sir! They've attacked!" he roars in a deep, mangled voice.
  
  "What's the situation?" Dante asks.
  
  "The Kingdom of Man, the High Elves, the Wood Elves, the Dark Elves, the Dwarf Clans, the Orc Tribes, they've all sent large forces to assault the edge of the Empire. They say you're an enemy of the gods and an unnatural monster that needs to be destroyed. They're invading!"
  
  Dante laughs.
  
  "The Elves and the Kingdom of Man have joined forces? That shows how terrified of this new world I'm trying to create they are. We outnumber them. What is the issue? Have our armies sent out. I want all the undead guards of the towns and cities of my empire, including this castle, sent out with whatever mercenaries we can muster to wipe out these armies. Hell, it's easier, having them all in one place. Today we'll have a crucial victory to make my conquest certain."
  
  "Yes, sir," the Revenant says, before turning and walking out the door.
  
  The vast majority of the undead soldiers and warriors in the room, as well as many of the mercenaries, stand up and begin marching out the doors, leaving behind a token guard force.
  
  "Go forth and slaughter, my men!" the Grand Necromancer laughs. "Go, wipe out my enemies!"
  
  You look around, to see the room is much more empty now. Necromancer Trant and Balok the Honorless are still here, so at least they won't be killed by some human instead of you.
  
  "Well... That destroyed my speech. Well, fuck. I'll start again, even though half the crowd has left."
  
  The Grand Necromancer clears his throat and starts again.
  
  "Ladies and Gentlemen, Living and Dead, Leaders and Warriors, today you have pledged yourselves to me. Today you have pledged yourselves to my empire. We will build a better world. Through the Path of Death, we will create a new world of life. With one leader, we won't need war. With an army of undead, we won't need town guards to hunt down criminals and risk their lives. To protect us from threats we'll have an army that requires no food or rest. You children, your sons and daughters, will not be sent out to fight and die. In pledging to me, you've pledged to have your children protected! In death, your body will be raised again to protect your family, and if you wish, your soul may stay as well. There will be no corruption in me, for once I embrace undeath and become a Lich, I will have no need for physical pleasure, I will live on through death to carve this empire and keep it going for an infinite number of generations. We will have the perfect world. The homeless will be housed, the sick healed and the starving fed. The dead will be risen! We fight for the perfect world! Our Empire will become the envy of the living, the dead and the Gods! We will create the perfect world! An end to poverty, an end to starvation, at end to racism, at end to sexism, an end to suffering, an end to death! You have joined me, and I swear, the Reaper will take me from to the grave before I let that vision crumble! Follow me past the obstacles of death and the enemy! We will create the new world! We march down the Path of Death towards a future of living and joy!"
  
  The room breaks into applause, and you follow through. You have to agree, Dante paints a fair picture of the perfect world. You understand why so many people are following him.
  
  "Alright, bring out the food! Let's feast!" Dante shouts, before pausing. "Oh, yes... Most of the servants are gone. Curse the Gods, this isn't going as well as I had planned. Are there any servants even left? Oh, here's a few. Go, bring food."
  
  Slowly, the few undead remaining fetch massive plates of food and bring them out.
  
  "So, did you like my Dad's speech?"
  
  "Yeah, it was good. I liked it."
  
  "Good. I hope he gets to achieve his dreams of the perfect world, though I am realizing I'm not really the heir to his throne if he does become immortal."
  
  The food arrives, and you begin to eagerly dig into a plate of chicken. You gobble it down happily, before chugging down several mugs of ale. After about an hour of feasting, you feel sick, bloated and drunk.
  
  "I don't feel great," you moan.
  
  "You're drunk," Blaise says.
  
  "No I'm not. You're drunk. Stop lecturing me, you drunk!"
  
  "I've had one cup of spiced wine. You've had loads of mugs of ale."
  
  "I've been drinking water. You're drunk. Stop drinking."
  
  Blaise laughs, as you decide to rest your head on the table.
  
  "You're not even fun drunk. You're sad drunk," Blaise says. "You're only thirteen. You shouldn't be drinking this much."
  
  "You're only thirteen. You shouldn't be so mean."
  
  Blaise pats you on the back.
  
  "Come on, let's get you to bed."
  
  "It's only Six O'Clock!"
  
  "It's Eleven O'Clock, Dag."
  
  "Oh. Shit," you grunt.
  
  Blaise helps you up, and you walk back towards your room.
  
  "Thanks, Blaise."
  
  "Shut up. I'm considering dumping you here."
  
  "And thanks for wearing the necklace. It means a lot to me. I want you to know, you really..."
  
  "We're here. I'm going to disregard anything drunken Dagden says from this point on. Go to bed."
  
  "OK. Goodnight."
  
  "Goodnight."
  
  She opens the door, and you walk inside and sprawl out onto your bed.
  
  > Sleep
  As you dream, voices begin to break through the dream and scratch against your mind.
  
  "Kill him."
  
  "He's just a boy."
  
  "He's old enough. Plus, he's an Orc."
  
  "Lummug's an Orc. Bolaga's an Orc. Agrarz's an Orc..."
  
  "I get it, we have Orcs on our side as well. Just slit the Orc's throat."
  
  "You do it."
  
  "Fine," the the first voice sighs.
  
  > Awaken
  You awaken, to look into the eyes of a hooded man holding a long dagger. You yell, grabbing your bone dagger and jabbing through the man's eye. He slumps onto you, and you throw him off you. You spot another, similar man standing by your bed, and his eyes widen in response.
  
  > leap up and stab him
  You leap into the air, stabbing the man through the throat. Blood gurgles out of his throat as he painfully dies.
  
  > pack your things
  You quickly begin packing your things. You grab a small leather satchel, and pop in your Blood Stone, book on Blood Magic and a few other minor things. Mort hops in, and you rub his back, before grabbing your long sword and sheathing it.
  
  > go through the hallways to Blaise's room
  You walk out into the hallways, and find death. Corpses lie everywhere, with blood stains on the walls and a puddle of blood forming. You recognize various nobles, merchants, mercenaries and leaders who were pledging themselves to the Grand Necromancer. You spot a High Elf Warrior, looting from a dead noble. He hasn't noticed you yet.
  
  > Attack
  You stand over the High Elf, and stab downwards, splitting the Elf's skull in half. The corpse falls beneath you, and you jab him through the side of the head.
  
  You continue along the hallways, before seeing a pair of Orcs standing above a bleeding Necromancer.
  
  "Please..." the Necromancer groans.
  
  "You're powers over death will do little to save you now, corpse fucker," one of them says, brandishing her spear.
  
  > help the Necromancer
  You quickly charge forward and swing your long sword, beheading one of the Orcs. The other turns and jabs her spear, stabbing into your side. You roar and swing your long sword, cutting open her chest. She falls backwards, and you turn to the Necromancer.
  
  "Thanks... Dagden, right? Come on, let's get out of here."
  
  "I have to go find Blaise."
  
  "Her bedroom's next to the Grand Necromancer's. She's dead by now."
  
  "I'm not leaving her."
  
  "Come on. I know a way out. She's almost certainly dead."
  
  > follow the Necromancer
  Memories, Mort and an Open Road
  
  "Fine. Fine," you grunt sadly.
  
  You follow the Necromancer along the hallways full of dead, towards the nearest exit. You pass countless dead, though the fighting seems to have ceased in the outer areas. Eventually, you manage to sneak out of Reaper Castle.
  
  "Where to now?" you ask the Necromancer.
  
  "We head out. We'll pass by nearby towns to resupply, then we'll... we'll join one of the Merchant Caravans. Then, I don't know what."
  
  Over the next few days, you head out of the Grand Necromancer's territory, escaping from the world of death. You manage to find work among a Merchant Caravan, although the Necromancer parts ways with you in search of others who follow the Path of Death. The work with the Merchant Caravan is easy, mostly guard and escort work and other, more menial tasks like carrying crates. The Undead Empire crumbles, with vast swathes of land being taken by the Kingdom of Man, the Orc Tribes, the Elves and the Dwarf Clans. Eventually, nothing is left of the empire but your memories, and Mort, of course. Mort's tiny, rotting body sits safely on your shoulder, and he squeaks happily as you rub him. You'll always have your memories as well. Talking with Blaise in the garden. Mort's reanimation, hunting for the Dragon Tooth to give to her. You'll always have those.
  
  "Come on," one of the Merchants says. "We have to be on the road if we want to reach Toring Bay by sundown.
  
  You nod. The world is open to you. All you have now is Memories, Mort and an Open Road.