Narramapping...
Narramapping...
Chapter 1.60
Skinner breaches Liscor's defenses by paralyzing the guards with fear magic, sparking a massive battle in the city streets. Facing heavy resistance from Relc and the Watch, Skinner retreats and directs his forces toward The Wandering Inn, where Erin's Antinium friends gain individuality while defending her from an Aberration Worker.
Skinner launches a devastating assault on Liscor by casting a powerful [Terror] spell that magically paralyzes the Watch Sergeant and the guards at the city gates. With the defenders frozen in fear, Skinner's terrifying horde of Zombies, Ghouls, and Crypt Lords pours unhindered into the city. Captain Zevara and the Watch desperately rally to defend Liscor, falling back to Tesseract Street to form a defensive chokepoint against the undead tide. Relc takes the frontline, showcasing his immense strength and his [Triple Thrust] Skill to decimate the undead ranks. Pisces also joins the defense, utilizing his [Necromancer] abilities to snap undead necks alongside offensive magic like [Fire Orb].
Meanwhile, at The Wandering Inn, Erin Solstice remains unaware of the full scale of the invasion. Danger strikes the inn when an Aberration Worker ambushes Toren, ripping off the skeleton's skull and leaving him flailing on the ground. The Aberration then attempts to murder Erin but is ultimately killed before it can succeed. In the aftermath of the chaos, several Antinium Workers from the chess club—including Bishop, Vladimir, Calabrian, Emanuel, Garry, Milner-Barry, Belgrade, and Jose—awaken as Individuals. They take on unique names and identities, achieving a state of personal existence previously unknown to their kind.
Back in Liscor, Skinner observes the battle and realizes that Relc's overwhelming combat abilities make the city's defenders too formidable to quickly defeat. Assessing the threat, the undead monstrosity decides to abandon his siege of Liscor and retreats eastward, setting his sights directly on The Wandering Inn. As the danger shifts toward the inn, a decapitated Toren manages to leap out of the darkness to ambush an approaching Zombie, signaling the start of a desperate fight for survival at Erin's doorstep.
Small inn where Erin is present; currently occupied by her. Noted by the Watch as having been abandoned years ago but Erin is using it; the Drake and Klbkch enter here to investigate.
aka the inn, Abandoned hilltop inn +27
A city adjacent to the Floodplains, culturally aligned with Drakes and not friendly to Humans.
aka City of Liscor, the city +8
A rare combat skill.
aka [Triple Thrust], [Triple—] +1
Zevara, Relc, and Pisces mount a defense on Tesseract Street, with Relc using [Triple Thrust] and Pisces using [Fire Orb] against the undead.
An Aberration Worker attacks Toren outside The Wandering Inn, ripping off his skull.
After the Aberration Worker attempts to murder Erin and is killed, multiple Antinium chess club workers awaken as Individuals and take names.
Realizing Relc is too dangerous of a threat, Skinner departs Liscor and heads east toward The Wandering Inn.
Despite being decapitated, Toren leaps from the darkness to attack a zombie approaching the inn.
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.as
aka Erin, the traveller +64
A sapient reptilian species dominant in regions south of Liscor, generally unfriendly to Humans.
aka lizards, giant lizards +3
A species of tall, bipedal hyena-like humanoids covered in fur.
aka hyena-people, dog-people +8
A species of which Erin Solstice is a member.
aka Humans, smooth skin +4
Small green humanoids with red eyes and sharp teeth that chased and slashed at Erin.
aka Goblins, little green things +16
An Earth chess grandmaster.
aka the Worker, Garry
A tall female Gnoll shopkeeper in the market who runs the stall 'Krshia's Silverfang Goods'. She is direct and attempts to get Erin to shop at her stall.
aka Krshia, The Gnoll shopkeeper +13
A type of undead creature armed with magically paralyzing claws.
A class skilled with spears.
aka [Spearmaster]
The skeletal remains of a person that Erin discovered in an upstairs bedroom of the inn.
aka the skeleton, Skele-thing +7
A small, child-like Goblin who attacks Erin out of grief and is spared by her.
aka Ragged Goblin, Littlest Goblin +16
A Drake Watch Sergeant whose hesitation and subsequent magical paralysis allowed the undead to enter Liscor.
aka The Watch Sergeant, [Sergeant]
A member of the City Guard who was apparently traumatized by Relc's reckless dagger-flipping on the day he signed up.
aka Gnoll guardsman, gate guard
A friendly and helpful Drake who works as a receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild in Liscor.
aka the female receptionist, the she-Drake +14
An Antinium Prognugator tasked by the Queen with handling surface affairs and hunting down Aberrations.
aka Prognugator, the Prognugator +4
An Antinium Worker whose mind breaks from the strain of chess and newfound desires, turning into a violent Aberration.
aka Aberration, screaming Worker +2
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Bishop.
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Vladimir.
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Calabrian.
aka the Worker
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Emanuel.
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Milner-Barry.
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Belgrade.
An Antinium Worker of the chess club who gained individuality and took the name Jose.
A newly discovered ancient dungeon near Liscor.
aka ancient dungeon, the Ruins +13
A class of city guards.
aka Guard, [Guards] +10
A branch of magic dealing with the dead, considered dangerous and illegal.
aka [Necromancer], [Necromancers] +4
A class held by Relc. It grants the [Iron Scales] skill at a high level.
aka [Sergeant]
A general class for any individual who practices magic.
aka [Mage], [Mages] +3
An archer is a class defined by specialized equipment for ranged combat, as seen with a tall, furry individual in Liscor.
aka an archer, [Archers]
An offensive fire spell cast by Pisces.
aka [Fire Orb]
“I have named myself. I have chosen. I am Individual, first and last of my kind. I am Knight, and no other is like me. And I am here to protect you. We are here to protect you.”
“I Am iNdivIDuAL. BuT i reJECT. I rejEcT aLL.”
“i aM AnTiNium. i haVe a NaMe.”
“The Queen is all. She must not be placed in danger. Erin Solstice…is merely important.”
“It might be nothing. Just—keep an eye out, okay?”
“If he’s here, find him! I’ve got to go. The east streets need help.”
“YOU DiD ThiS To me. yOu mAde Me THis waY. For yOU, I did tHis. bUT alL iS SuffERIng.”
“We will all die for you. I am Jose.”
“Belgrade. I will die for you.”
“We have countless witnesses who saw the undead emerge from the ruins. Besides, I doubt a [Necromancer] of your level could reanimate more than five bodies, let alone a horde like this.”
“Heya, Captain! Mind if I take this one on?”
“Keep an eye on that, okay? If you see anything—”
“Ow! Get out of the way next time!”
“They are unable to be summoned as well.”
“H-hello? Can you hear me? Who are you? What do you want?”
“Ew! Don’t do that! Just get rid of them outside!”
“The Soldiers guard the entrance to the Hive and the surrounding streets. We will let nothing disturb our Queen. She is in the middle of a critical process. The Rite of Anastases. She is hours—less perhaps—to completion.”
“He was kept in the Hive by the Prognugator. He remains. But we have come. We have chosen. We are Individual.”
“Just so we’re clear: I didn’t raise them.”
“Yeah, that’s right! Run! Run! Finally met someone with too many scales for ya, huh? Run away and…wait a second.”
“YOu. ThiS is yOuR FAulT.”
“I too chose. I have decided. My name is Vladimir.”
“If it was him, we’d be dead already. There aren’t any Giants or Bone Horrors or Ghosts or any of the other undead he brought last time. No—this is something else.”
“I have chosen. I am Bishop.”
“Not an officer. I hate fighting monsters.”
“[Indomitable Will]. Anyone without a similar Skill should fall back. This thing—it’s projecting fear. Like a Level 30 [Mage]. Higher.”
“Kill these things and I’ll give you a medal. Now start casting or I’ll slice your damn hands off!”
“That will not be necessary, Captain Zevara. We are here.”
“As this is not a period of war or crises as declared by the Council, I must decline your request. The maximum number of soldiers the Watch Captain is allowed to command is fifty Soldier Antinium and a hundred Workers in a time of crisis.”
“I wish to be known as Milner-Barry.”
“I don’t know! I don’t know!”
“Ah. Hello to you, receptionist. Don’t wait to thank me for saving your life.”
“Already, three have become Aberration. We fear the rest may have as well. They are violent, and many are armed.”
“I fear the Workers are not in the city any longer. They are moving towards a Human. Erin Solstice.”
“This creature is highly intelligent, guardsmen. It won’t fight anything that can resist its fear effect and poses a credible threat. Perhaps it could win, but it won’t risk that.”
“I am Calabrian.”
“I am Emanuel.”
“If we didn’t have a horde of the undead trying to eat us all, I’d be more worried. The citizens are either in their homes or fighting with us. If these Workers kill a few zombies, I won’t shed any tears.”
“Join the battle. Kill all undead. Retreat if you suffer significant injuries.”
“I—I don’t know you. I never—”
“Most of the more valuable undead specimens have some kind of survival function built into it. I surmise this being may be the same.”
“It’s neck snapping, and I have ample mana reserve. I suppose if it means exonerating myself…”
“The dead are coming. Please remain inside. We will protect you with our lives.”
“Not that idiot. I mean the Necromancer.”
“Anything I can do, Captain?”
“I can. Maybe. Probably. But give me some of those Antinium just to be safe.”
“Call me Garry.”
“Something ugly? It’s—strong. All that dead flesh is like armor. I need to slice it away to get at what’s underneath. But one touch of those hands—”
“I understand. I will help. Stay here and, ah, try not to put an arrow in my back.”
“Begone, pest.”
“I can try. But give me more [Archers] and [Mages] to get rid of the undead. I can’t have them on my back and that thing.”
“Get them to safety! Gates down! Move, move! Call the Watch Captain! Summon Klbkch—summon the Prognugator! Where’s Olesm? Raise the alarm!”
“Perhaps it seeks to wear us down first! Or maybe it goes after easier prey! I can’t tell!”
“Are all you Humans as damn crazy as this? Liscor is under attack!”
“The Workers are in rebellion. Many have left the Hive and fought with the Soldiers at the entrance.”
“Whatever the reason is, I can’t spare anyone. She’s not a citizen here, and we’re up to our necks in trouble. The Human will be on her own.”
“Tkrn. What’s happening out there?”
“Am I near the equator?”
“Do you think she forgot?”
“Can’t you feel it? Something is wrong.”
“Will you stay and fight?”
“Me? What did I do?”
“Stay back! I’m warning you!”
“Do you know what that thing is?”
“It was the chess. Pawn was totally on the offense this morning! Did you notice that? He was better—I mean, he’s still learning, but he’s taking chances. I can’t wait to see what happens if he and Rags play a game. It’s like he had a massive confidence boost or something. Do you think it was what happened with Ksmvr?”
“I mean you no harm. And this wasn’t my fault! I was in the city all day, and I knew nothing of this—this event.”
“They’re just the undead. Quite easy to subdue. I have every confidence your Watch will safeguard innocent civilians like myself.”
“Where the hell were you? And where are the other Soldiers? I don’t need fifteen of them, I need every single one in your Hive! Bring them out!”
“Erin.”
“You bastard! [Triple Thrust]!”
“I assume I will be remunerated appropriately for this?”
“Watch-Captain Zevara. It is good to see you alive.”
“Your Queen can take her damned ritual or whatever it is and shove it—”
“I will fulfill my duty as Prognugator within Liscor. However, my position will cease in a few hours. Another will take my place.”
“Okay, but where is that thing going? Is it going back into the ruins or do we have to worry about reinforcements now? Even without that monster, we’re still up to our ears in undead!”
“Well, that’s just great. If it comes back with another horde, we’re cooked. But what could it want if it wants more victims? There’s only a few farming villages around here and they’re almost all north or west, not east. So where—”
“Soldiers, fall back. I’m going to need some room for this.”
“You heard the Ant. Looks like we’ve got no choice. We need to close those gates. Get Relc. He’s the only one who has a chance of cutting his way through. I’ll grab a squad and push up.”
“Why are you all here? Why now? Why tonight? What—what’s happening?”
“I don’t know where it is. But there’s something. Something bad.”
“Survivors! They’re coming! Hold the gates! Hold the gates!”
“Can you do that back-snapping thing many times?”
“The Ants are immune to whatever he’s doing. So am I.”
“Where are the Antinium? Send a message to the Queen at once! We need Soldiers!”
“diE.”
“I regret to say that is impossible at the moment. I have brought fifteen Soldiers. That is all that can be spared at the moment.”
“I regret that is impossible. The Queen must not be disturbed at this moment. I am sorry.”
“As soon as our Queen finishes the Rite of Anastases, we will fully cooperate in the defense of the city.”
“Until then, follow me. We’ve got to use this moment until your Soldiers all die.”
“Are you Human cowards or guardsmen? Put your tails into it!”
“This area is secure. I’ve got civilians holding bows, and a few mages are catching any Crypt Lords they see. You go and organize the adventurers. Tell Relc I want to see him, and find Olesm! We need his Skills!”
“Watch the damned Ghouls! They’re strong enough to rip your scales apart if you let them!”
“That is exactly what’s happening! Or do you not see the undead? I am authorizing you to bring all your Hive! Bring the Soldiers and all the Workers then! We need barricades, fortifications—”
“Um, that is correct. But this is rather inconvenient, is it not?”
“Yes. One of the Aberrations who escaped was intent on killing her.”
“Believe me, ah, Captain. I would never jeopardize my good standing with your city. In fact, I am helping to prove my innocence. I—”
“This is a state of emergency. If we can’t push the undead back soon, they will overrun this place. Your Soldiers can buy us some time, but there’s not enough. We need all fifty and soon. More than that. We need all of them! Talk to your Queen. Tell her we need help!”
“Fighting, Captain. We’ve closed off the streets like you said. That’s stopping them, but there are larger creatures out there.”
“I mean, he seems different. He acts different. More confident, y’know?”
“I prefer gold, myself.”
“I am Knight.”
“The adventurers are asking what they can do. They’re fighting with our people—but poorly. There aren’t many good teams around. My people have bows. They’re shooting from the rooftops!”
“We shouldn’t be fighting in the streets! If we can get close to those gates and close them, these undead will die outside the city. Why the hell are they still open?”
“You stay here and help! If this wasn’t your fault, then help us!”
“Many of those large things are standing next to the entrance. We cannot kill them, and more keep coming.”
“Can you kill it?”
“Where the hell are the other guards? Why aren’t those gates closing?”
“Good. They won’t get through that way, then. But this is insane.”
“Please, Erin Solstice. You must remain calm. We are here to protect you.”
“Maybe someone dropped a nuke? Or a magical nuke?”
“Crypt Lords. They’re extremely dangerous. Shoot them down if you can. But what about the southern gates? If they’ve fallen—”
“Clear a space. Hold the lines!”
“He must sense you’re a threat.”
“That’s Liscor. Why is it red over there? Is something burning?”
“Where are the damned Antinium?”
“The Workers, then. We could use them. Not just for building. If they can fight—”
“The one who got Klbkch killed?”
“Not many bugs around. But it’s winter. Apparently.”
“You have a name? Um. Good. That’s good, right?”
“Oh no.”
“Sorry, Captain. The southern gates are closed, and we’ve got [Archers] shooting down any undead that try to climb up. But all our guards on the north and eastern walls have fled!”
“Have them pick off any stragglers that break through. We’ll hold the line here and push forwards. Now, where’s Relc?”
“I saw him in the city earlier today. I could track and kill him—”
“That doesn’t make sense. I saw those gates closing! What could have…?”
“Just stop it for now while I call a retreat. We’ll set up another street and give you a chance—”
“I got that. Can you take it out with just them?”
“Something’s out there.”
“Why by the damned Ancestors—”
“What did I do? I don’t remember—”
“Please. I mean you no harm.”
“Relc attack!”
“Hey, Toren. Where are you?”
“You? But who are you? Where’s Pawn?”
“No one has seen him this day. They saw him leaving the city, but—”
“Fall back! Fall back to Tesseract street!”
“I believe you.”
“He’s holding them off down Tesseract Street.”
“I am not Pawn.”
“Fall back! Fall back!”
“Something is wrong.”
“Oh. Pawn. It’s just you.”
“W-Wight?”
“Fall back!”
“Crypt Lords standing guard? That’s…”
“Something’s different about him.”
“Hold the doors!”
“If you’ll excuse me—”
“yOU knoW.”
“Damn. This isn’t good.”
“Being? It’s not undead?”
“It just—”
“Close the gates!”
“Close the gates! Close—”
“C-close…the…”
“What is that?”
“It’s…leaving?”
“Close ranks!”
“Good. Do it!”
“Reject? Reject what?”
“The Antinium? Why—”
“What was that, then?”
“Oh, no you don’t!”
“I feel—bathroom.”
“You’re serious.”
“Very.”
“Wait a second.”
“Relc!”
“Here!”
“You!”
“[Fire Orb]!”
“Who…are you?”
“Why?”
“We?”
“Why’s that?”
“Knight?”
“Toren?”
“…Pawn?”
“Individual?”
“I—”
“Oh.”
“Hello?”
“Thanks.”
“No.”
“What else?”
“Please—”