The Homecoming

By Thomas Setzer

Sir Nikolaus rode at the head of his followers up the ancient road through the dark forest where no light of star or moon penetrated.  As the midnight hour approached, the sounds of the night creatures changed from those of owls and birds to those of hunting wolves, and the wind carried what sounded like the moans of the damned.

As they round one final turn in the steeply climbing road, they see the Ancient Castle ahead, a dark and foreboding pile of stone with the wild mountains and a hunter's moon at its back.  Sir Nikolaus von Rabeheim looked upon Castle Rabeheim for the first time in centuries.  The years of exile were nearing an end.  The mortals who dared to claim his ancestral home would learn the meaning of defeat.

Sir Nikolaus rode forward with his herald and challenged the mortal lord to single combat to decide the fate of the inhabitants of the castle.  He called for honourable combat between two knightly foes.

Count Andrew refused his challenge and said there was no honour in fighting an un-natural being such as Sir Nikolaus and he refused to even acknowledge Sir Nikolaus standing as a member of the Knighthood.

Sir Nikolaus' rage was truly terrifying to behold, his eyes shone red with his fury and his need for blood raged within his veins.  He commanded, "Necromancer, come forth and earn my good will.  Raise up those who lie within my ancestral tombs beneath the keep and all their retainers, raise an army of the dead within those walls, bring terror and death to the puny mortal who would defy me.  Bring down the ones who would claim my home and deny my honour."

And the spells of rising were cast, and the dead rose up from their graves, Skeletons and Zombies rose out of the earth, Ancient warriors rose up from their tombs as mighty Wigth Warriors wearing the armour they wore in life and carrying ancient weapons.   They brought death and terror to those within the ancient castle.  A group of Wights fought their way to the castle gate and threw it open.  Sir Nikolaus rode through and into his home once more, and his revenge was sweet as he drank the life of Count Andrew and all who were dear to him.

The Count von Rabeheim had returned to Castle Rabeheim.  Woe unto those who would stand against him!

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