The Shrouded Lord

The plan to deal with the Shrouded lord was simple. Maximus together with Lilith, and Eonwe and one legion of soldiers would ride towards The Sorrows to defeat the Shrouded lord and take over the ruined city to turn it into a massive military city. While he was gone, Olorin would be in command and had the authority to act in Maximus's place.

The trip took 6 days and the only thing they ran into were river pirates who were waiting on easy prey to kidnap and sell as slaves for some money. Unluckily for them, they ran into Maximus's legion and were taken as prisoners.

Arriving at The Sorrows, the landscape was as bleak as the tales foretold. A heavy fog shrouded the structures and waters, suffocating all but the most stubborn of wildlife that thrived within the environment. The silence was occasionally broken by the distant cries of birds or the sounds of sea creatures swimming in water.

As Maximus's legion approached the ruins, an eerie stillness settled over them. The fog seemed to thicken, obscuring their vision and muffling sounds. Lilith, her senses heightened, whispered to Maximus, "There's magic here, ancient and potent. We must tread carefully."

Eonwe nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the mist-shrouded structures. "The Shrouded Lord's influence is strong."

Maximus raised his hand, signaling the legion to halt. "We'll set up a perimeter here," he commanded. "Eonwe, can you dispel some of this fog?"

Eonwe nodded, closing his eyes in concentration. A soft blue light emanated from his hands, pushing back the mist in a wide circle around them. As the fog receded, the true extent of the ruins became visible, crumbling stone structures, overgrown with vines and moss.

"Let's move in smaller groups," Maximus suggested. "Lilith, you're with me. Eonwe, take a squad and scout the eastern side. The rest of you, secure the perimeter and be ready for anything."

As they ventured deeper into the ruins, the air grew colder. "Something's not right," she murmured. "It's like the very stones are watching us."

Suddenly, a figure materialized from the mist before them, a tall, gaunt man shrouded in tattered gray robes. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his eyes glowed with bright blue light. The figure raised a skeletal hand, pointing directly at Maximus.

"Why do you trespass in my domain, mortal?" The voice was hollow, echoing as if he was speaking from a distance. Maximus stood his ground, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We seek the Shrouded Lord. Are you he?"

A cold laugh emanated from the figure. "I am he, and I am not. I am the fog and the stone, the water and the ruin. What do you hope to accomplish here, in this place of decay?"

Lilith stepped forward; her eyes narrowed. "We've come to claim these lands for the Imperial Union. Your reign here is at an end, Shrouded Lord."

The figure's eyes flared brighter. "Many have tried to challenge my power. All have failed. What makes you think you'll succeed where others have fallen?"

Maximus drew his sword, "Those who came before us, were weak. We will not suffer the same fate as them." The Shrouded Lord's form began to shift and expand. The Shrouded Lord's form began to shift and expand, tendrils of mist coiling around him like serpents. His voice boomed, shaking the very foundations of the ruins. "Then let us test your strength against the power of the goddess curse!"

With a wave of his spectral hand, the fog thickened, obscuring everything but the glowing blue of his eyes. The Imperial Guards formed a circle around Maximus as Lilith used her magic to search the area, and the other soldiers began to gather together to counter the fog which obscured their vision.

Within the next few seconds, the fog had started to clear up, but what they saw was a large number of skeleton-like figures. The skeletal figures emerged from the dissipating fog, their hollow eye sockets gleaming with the same blue light that the Shrouded Lord had. They wielded rusted weapons and wore tattered remnants of ancient armor.

Maximus raised his sword in the air, "Stand your ground!" he shouted to his troops. "These are but shadows of the past!"

Lilith's hands crackled with arcane power as she began weaving a complex spell. "Eonwe!" she called out noticing his arrival to the scene. "We need to break the Shrouded Lord's connection to these undead!"

Eonwe nodded, his own magic starting to build up. "I'll try to disrupt the curse. Keep them off me!"

As the skeletal army advanced, Maximus's legion charged forward. The Dothraki riders rode forward crushing the weak boned skeletons under the strength of the charging horses. Maximus himself was fighting alongside his Imperial Guard, while Lilith made sure nothing happened to Eonwe as he prepared his magic. The other witches had followed Maximus ensuring he stayed protected from anything magic related.

The Imperial Guards formed an impenetrable wall around Maximus as he shifted his focus to the Shrouded Lord who was standing behind his army of skeletons smiling. "Come on Mortals, I'm growing tired just sitting here."

The Shrouded Lord's mocking laughter reverberating through the ruins. With a fierce determination, Maximus pushed back against the advancing skeletal horde, his sword slicing through their bones with ease. "Forward, men!" he shouted, his voice rising above the sound of the battle.

The legion surged ahead; each warrior emboldened by Maximus's resolve. Lilith, her spells lashing out like lightning, struck down skeletons as they approached. Each flick of her wrist sent arcs of energy crashing into the undead, their forms disintegrating into a cloud of dust.

Eonwe, meanwhile, stood firm, chanting incantations as he summoned his own magic to disrupt the Shrouded Lord's hold on the undead. The air shimmered around him, rippling with power. "We must sever the connection!" he urged.

The Shrouded Lord, sensing the threat, raised his skeletal hand, and the fog thickened once more, obscuring the battlefield even more. "Foolish mortals! You cannot hope to defeat me in my domain!"

Ignoring the Shrouded Lord's words, Maximus broke through the ranks of skeletons, carving a path toward the Shrouded Lord. As he neared the figure, the skeletal horde began to crumble, Eonwe's magic taking effect. Each fallen skeleton weakened the Shrouded Lord's grip, the blue glow of his eyes flickering momentarily.

Lilith, sensing the tide turning, summoned all her strength. "Now, Eonwe!" she called out, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Eonwe unleashed a brilliant surge of energy, a wave of light that washed over the battlefield, dispelling the fog and illuminating the ruins. The remnants of the skeletal army disintegrated, leaving only scattered bones behind.

The Shrouded Lord staggered back, his form wavering. "No! This cannot be!" he bellowed, fury radiating from him as the last remnants of his power waned.

Maximus seized the moment, sprinting forward, his sword raised high. "Your reign ends here!" he declared, driving his blade towards the Shrouded Lords heart.

With a sharp gasp, the Shrouded Lord raised his hands, but it was too late. The sword pierced through the center of his form, causing an explosion of mist and light that illuminated the ruins. The Shrouded Lord screamed, before disintegrating into nothingness, his power dissipating like smoke in the wind.

As the light faded, the remaining fog lifted, revealing a landscape transformed. The ruins stood still, but the malevolent energy that had once permeated the air was gone, leaving behind a strange quietness.

Maximus turned back to his legion, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "We did it!" he shouted; his voice filled with triumph. "The Sorrows are ours!" Cheers erupted from his legion; their spirits lifted by the victory.

But as they began to regroup, a bright light had appeared in front of Maximus, prompting everybody to grab their weapons and prepare for another battle. Instead, what appeared was the figure of a women that was radiating with a bright light.