The air in the mine was thick with the sharp scent of earth and the faint metallic tang of blood. The flickering light of torches cast long, jagged shadows on the rough-hewn walls, illuminating the jagged crystals embedded in the stone. These crystals, black and hollow, seemed to drink in the light, their surfaces shimmering with an unnatural energy. They were the reason the followers of Azamul had come here, to excavate these strange sources of power for purposes unknown.
But now, the mine was silent, save for the faint echo of footsteps. The followers of Azamul lay slain, their bodies scattered across the cavern floor. A band of adventurers stood amidst the carnage, their weapons bloodied, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. At their head was Hans Heinrich, a warrior of unwavering resolve. He stepped forward, his voice ringing out like a clarion call.
"Mortimer!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the cavern. "We have come to slay you! Show yourself and face the consequences of thy actions!"
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a low, mocking laugh filled the air, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The torches flickered, their flames dancing wildly as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Mortimer, the necromancer, his dark robes flowing around him like a living shadow. His eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating light as he regarded the group with a faint smirk.
"I am the wind that whispers in the silence," he said, his voice soft yet carrying an undeniable weight. "I am the bitterness in your throat when fear grips you. I am the beginning and the end."
Kassandra Cynch, a fierce and determined warrior, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with defiance. "The end is near," she declared, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Mortimer's smirk widened. "On that, you are correct," he replied. With a flick of his wrist, he vanished, leaving only a faint wisp of smoke in his wake. The group tensed, their weapons at the ready, but before they could react, the air around them seemed to come alive. From the shadows emerged Aggregators and Conjurers, their eyes glowing with malevolent light. The battle was joined, the clash of steel and the crackle of magic filling the cavern.
Mortimer watched from atop a large balcony overlooking the mine, his expression one of detached amusement. As the adventurers fought their way through his minions, he leaned casually against the railing, his gaze fixed on Kassandra. When she finally broke through the fray and stepped forward to confront him, he grinned—a sinister, predatory expression.
With a subtle motion of his hand, Mortimer beckoned to her. Kassandra's eyes widened as she felt an invisible force seize her, pulling her through the air until she stood beside him on the balcony. The group below shouted in alarm, rushing to reach her, but Mortimer raised his hand, and a shimmering barrier of energy sprang into existence, blocking their path.
"Can you hear me?" Mortimer called across the void to them, his voice dripping with mockery. When they assured him they could, he laughed—a cold, hollow sound that sent a shiver down their spines. "Good," he said. "I want you to hear her scream."
From the sleeve of his robe, he produced one of the black crystals, its surface seeming to devour the light around it. He held it aloft for a moment, his eyes locked on Kassandra's. Then, with a swift, deliberate motion, he pressed the crystal against her breastplate. The mithril armor, forged to withstand the fiercest blows, offered no resistance. The crystal slid through it as though it were paper, piercing flesh and bone with horrifying ease.
Kassandra's mouth opened, but no words came—only a choked gasp, followed by a trickle of blood. Her eyes widened in shock and pain as Mortimer continued to push the crystal deeper, his hand finally pressed flat against her chest. He watched her expression with a detached curiosity, as though studying a particularly interesting specimen. When he finally withdrew his hand, she swayed for a moment, her strength failing her, before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Mortimer straightened, his smirk returning as he looked across to the group. Their shouts of anger and grief blended together into a low, indistinct hum, a sound he found almost soothing. With a casual wave of his hand, he opened a portal above Kassandra's body, and in an instant, both he and her lifeless form were gone, leaving only silence in their wake.