Mandolin Hero 6!

 Updated 

Death Spiral

Watching the tens of thousands of vermillion coloured scorpions, break their circular formation and scatter from the flaming oil, Liga Bur wonders how long these creatures have been circling the hidden tower… Could it really be for a hundred years? Have these wretched creatures bred, lived and died ad infinitum in this never-ending loop?!

Assuming that Moody hadn’t lied about it, why would they? Arachnids can’t be trained, they rely on basic instinct to survive. The continuous dark, inky red stain on the sand tasted like dried blood but bitterer... Eviler! Have these vermin been surviving on this near black ichor and each-other for generation after generation?

Did the Human and Gnomish builders somehow plan this? 

Looking back up at the now visible, and oddly rotating statue/tower, the little beast-master considers that spindly pipe again. Projecting from near the top of the building, at fifty feet, it’s long enough to reach that scorpion covered point and angled slightly so to act as a downward spout…

But what could constantly provide a trail of that much blood over a century and still not die?

Despite his trauma hardened, halfling heart, Liga Bur shudders inwardly, suddenly unsure of who's evil is the greater; the tower's seemingly immortal prisoner or their vengeful jailer?!

Something Wicked that way waits

Hunched over the round table in a small, darkly shuttered stone hovel, her wrinkled face bathed in a soft glow, the aged woman sits momentarily dumbfounded.

"You found her? You actually found her after all these years?!"

The crystal ball is fogged by the multiple dimensions between them but the hawkish visage of Sir Briefadel is still clear enough to be certain.

"Yes but she is weak and we're being pursued. I need you to reconvene the coven. Mother will soon need its protection."

Madame Megarna chews her thin bottom lip for a moment.

"It's been over twenty years since we last convened... The traitor Witch was eventually found and killed, some of us died while fleeing these lands and a few would have certainly perished since then. I'll send word out to the few I’m still in contact with, but it'll take time and I'll need to recruit several new members if we're to make up the necessary thirteen."

Sir Briefadel seems to wait for Megarna’s words to travel back but finally acknowledges them.

"You'll have some time. First I have some vermin to squash and then we're off to recruit my army."

Watching the crystal ball fade to grey, the old witch's brow furrows further and she turns to her ever-attentive black cat companion.

"Well Moggy, it looks like our retirement is over. Time to put the Coven back together."