>>5572169“That’s right!” Diogenes says excitedly. “Do you like it? You’re the third person I’ve managed to successfully implant a Crest of the Four Saints in. A true breakthrough for my research, especially considering the differences between you and my other two subjects. It pains me to admit though, that my work with you is still incomplete. Aspasia, you’re allowed to kill them all, but I must insist that you leave Blair d’Rusalka, Lysithea, and the bandit woman alive. Their potential for Blood Reconstruction is too great.”
The room you were facing becomes engulfed in a sudden, blazing light that forces you to turn your gaze away. Snapping your head back, you see the stablehand, or the creature disguised as her at least, standing towards the back of the room. The female Agarthan is not alone. At least two dozen humanoid figures are also standing with her. Their movements are janky and uneven, but they’re definitely human. Some carry different sets of weapons and are clad in armor, but all wear horrid-looking, arcane masks. These masks obscure their facial features completely, with the exception of their eyes, which glow an ominous shade of red.
“I really couldn’t be any happier to meet you, Blair.” Diogenes says. “I’m always immensely grateful to those who are able to provide value to my research. Take these corpse warriors, for example. I’ve been provided little opportunity to field test them, so they’ve simply been laying around down here taking up space. But you Blackwings are supposedly the strongest mercenary force around! I think you should be able to provide them an adequate challenge that will allow me to measure their skill.”
“Did he just call them…corpses?” Damien says grimacing.
“How horrible. I sense no traces of life in them at all…such desecration of the dead…” Elizabeth begins praying.
“Your pity is wasted on these creatures, cleric.” Aspasia, the stablehand, says. “They’re no longer capable of feeling or understanding anything other than the commands I give them. Better you save it for yourself, as you’ll be joining them soon enough.” With a snap of her hand, the corpse warriors that had previously been shambling around the room stand at attention and face towards the Blackwings. Positioned at the entrance, you quickly find yourself surrounded by three groups of undead warriors. The group to your left seem to be magic casters, while to your right are three corpses wielding bows and arrows. Directly in front of you are physical fighter.”
