It's midday but it's so cloudy that it's already dark outside. It's raining water diluted blood, and there's a fierce wind. They enter the town of Eanverness. Or rather, what's left of it. It was only a small village, home to around 20 families but most of the houses are on fire or collapsed with destroyed walls. Corpses litter the streets, some of them mere children.

  We're too late for this town. I wonder where he could've gone. Let's look for survivors.

  It isn't long before they hear screams coming from one of the collapsed houses.

  Let's get over there quickly. A child is cowering in a corner as an undead fighter moves closer to it.

  Kilian runs in and slashes the undead fighter in its chest, its limbs break off and it falls to the ground, defeated.

  Alina runs over to the small child, which looks to be around 8 years old.

  Are you okay little man?

  My leg hurts, the boy says, sobbing. His leg is blue and looks broken. Alina recites a spell and heals the most severe damage.

  Can you tell us what happened?

  We were having lunch when we heard these loud explosions. My dad grabbed his sword to look outside and this mean man shot fire balls at him and he got hit and burned. Then he destroyed our house and killed my mother, sisters and brother. The boy starts crying.

  Alina hugs the boy. We're going to help you.

  Was there anyone else with him?

  I don't know, the boy says. I was too scared to go outside and look.

  Zad and Foley return. We cleared the area of the remaining undead fighters. It should be safe now.

  We're going to take care of him, do you think you will be fine waiting over here? The boy nods yes.

  They give him some food to help calm him down. Then they continue following the path, which leads to another small village known as Garmsby, according to the signage.

  Sassarak should be on the way over there, he's not a fast traveler. Ennius plays some tunes to help their mood but the gloomy nature of this day makes it difficult for him to play something uplifting, and he defaults to marching songs to set the mood.

  Along the way they run into various undead creatures, summoned by Sassarak as mere toys, they are easy to defeat, since they are not under any direct control and many of them are missing limbs already.

  Guys we really shouldn't do this, we should just go back, Sassarak is far more powerful than any of us. Mona says. She yet again tries to convince them to give up their goal of fighting Sassarak.

  No, we have to stop her. We can't just let him continue to reign terror on these people without consequence. People ignoring him is how it got to this in the first place. Kilian says, but he isn't thinking rationally. All the destruction they've witnessed has made him, and most of the group, quite upset. They seek vengeance, they want a solution. But you can't always get what you want, even if it is just.

  You have no heart Mona, you don't want to defeat him even after you just saw what he did to that little boy.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Why are you so protective of him anyway? Foley says, casting suspicion on her.

  I'm not protecting him. How could you say that, I'm trying to protect you guys, we can't defeat him, I'm sure of it. Why won't you guys believe me? He destroyed that entire village.

  You said you didn't meet him either Mona, you've only heard rumors right? Don't you think they exaggerated it just a little bit at least? You know how these things go in war time. A city is defeated by 1000 men but the reports will boast and say it was only 500. A crew of elite mages destroys a town but their leader takes all the credit. You're overthinking it, we got a decent shot, we're a balanced and powerful party. And if he really did all of that on her own, then he has to be exhausted by now. Amaru tries to add some perspective. The others agree. But Mona still doesn't feel right about it.

  Foley decides to walk in the back so he can keep an eye on Mona. He is expecting her to switch sides at any moment.

  After a while they spot Sassarak in the distance. He's walking surrounded by about 8 or so reanimated corpses, most are in a dire state, with parts of their bodies burned to a crisp.

  The group sneaks up on him and manages to cut him off by going off trail. Sassarak looks extremely pale with a greyish complexion. His eyes look dead and there's grey patches on her skin. The rumors are true, he's really just a reanimated corpse. He has a sinister looking smirk on his face, permanently. Must be because of the anticipation of what's coming next, seeing as he is drawing close to the nearby village. Mona opens the fight by using her arcane shackles to lock him down.

  Sassarak instantly summons forth a barrage of darkness orbs that explode near the party, hurting all of them, before they have time to react he moves forward and instantly kills Ennius by forcefully ejecting all his blood through his orifices. It's a terrible sight to behold, and probably an even worse way to die.

  Alina acts quick and successfully casts her revival spell, reviving Ennius, Baldric moves forward to defend him but before he has a chance to do anything meaningful Sassarak just does the same thing to Ennius over again.

  Hahaha, how many times are we going to do this? I'm sure your friend would rather be dead than experience that again, so thank you!

  Then Sassarak reanimates Ennius and has him throw his bombs and rocks and his former allies.

  Oh no! I don't think he likes you guys anymore, he's on my side now! Hahaha. Sassarak laughs. To him these are just toys.

  Mona throws a powerful arcane bolt and Foley fires his magic piercing arrows, but neither manage to do anything against his powerful shield.

  Stop attacking me, take care of your friend first.

  We should escape, he's far too strong for us, Kilian yells. But as they start running he just teleports after them. It's the exact same teleportation spell Mona uses, but unlike her, Sassarak seems to be able to use it faster and more often.

  Aw, you guys want to leave now? Am I that bad? We only just met. I don't have many friends. I'll tell you what, if you can kill your friend here, I'll let you leave. But you have to promise not to interfere with me anymore, or I will burn all of you.

  The corpse of Ennius starts charging at them, Baldric blocks his path and smashes his shield against him. Then Kilian slices his arm off.

  Forgive me old friend, but there is no other way.

  Mona starts casting her arcane prison whilst Sassarak is busy talking.

  Make your escape now guys, my spell won't hold him for very long.

  Zad takes a smoke bomb in his possession and throws it at Sassarak. Thick smoke surrounds him.

  They run away into the darkness off the forest, Sassarak is unable to give chase, or unwilling. He doesn't look forward to playing hide and seek, there's a village quite close and he can just slaughter the local townsfolk to satisfy his bloodlust and sate his never ending supply of anger. He prefers easy targets anyway, the more helpless they are, the better.

  As the group walks away they can hear the large banging sounds of magic explosions in the distance. Zad turns around, large purple lilac flashes from the arcane blasts light up the village in the distance. Every explosion represents at least one death.

  Rest in peace Ennius, he lived a short but happy life. Inns and bars everywhere have suffered a great loss with the death of this bard.

  There's nothing we could do. Either all of us would've died and then he would've massacred that village, or we escape and he does the same thing, Kilian says.

  After returning to Eanverness they escort the child to an orphanage in Sassafreud. They stay silent for the rest of the day.