The Necromancer's Wand: Rise of the Phoenix

Micah and Hector didn’t return from their search, to find us a new hideout, until the next morning. “Did you find a suitable location?” I asked as they entered my tent.

“We did,” smiled Micah.

“The Holy Magus Cathedral,” presented Hector. “It has laid abandoned for the last few centuries.”

“I have never heard of it,” I replied in surprise. “Where is it located?”

“The closet town is Misty Grove, but even that is miles from it...which is why it took us so long to get back.”

“It sounds like just the place we’re looking for. Begin moving some of our things there, from the supplies to personal effects. Recruit others to help you, if you need. Oh, and have someone remove a brick from the back wall.”

“As you wish,” they said before leaving.

Micah and Hector did as I instructed. They enlisted a few others and, throughout the day, moved stuff from Goblin Goods to the cathedral. They also had a common follower take a brick out of the back wall, leaving a hole for us to flicker through when the time came.

Over the next few days, I informed the others, Ben, Damien, and those still on their espionage assignments, about our plan and we continued on as normal...until the night of the fifth day that is. As I sat there meditating, a high pitched screeching started emitting in the air.

“You are a little early,” I said to myself. I quickly got up to my feet and proceeded to leave my tent. Some of the others, who were already still up, were making their way out of their tents as well. I cast Spara, putting the tip of my wand up to me neck. “Make haste! For our enemies have arrived...”

As we waited, for those who were just waking up, I walked over to the wall next to the main entrance. I unsheathed my wand, aiming it at the wall. I drew a circle, slowly, “Bombardia,” I cast.

A hexagonal symbol made of fire appeared on the wall. It was the explosive trap known as the Bombard Enchantment. It was ready to blow as soon as our enemies opened the door.

As I walked back over to the others, the second high pitched alarm signaled through the air. They were getting close, roughly ten yards out now. This caused the men, we were waiting on, to hurry.

Once we were all together, we headed to the back wall. We stopped right next to the hole, where I had the brick removed. I aimed my wand through the hole, outside.

I flickered from inside Goblin Goods to the openness of the outdoors. I waited for the others, making sure no one got left behind. As the last person joined us, we heard the final alarm signal.

“Quickly, we must get a safe distance away from here.”

We scurried away from the warehouse, looking upon it safely from the beginning line of trees leading into the woods. As a brief moment of silence passed, the entire building exploded, being completely engulfed in flames.

I aimed my wand at the building, exploding once more. “Alarra,” I cast. A giant Phoenix, of green flames, rose out of the fire and into the starry night sky, letting out a loud screech that echoed over the land. I used the Aura Spell just to send a message to those who survived.

“What now Dark Lord?” whispered Micah as the Phoenix vanished.

“Come my Harbingers, we go settle in our new home...”

We used Varos to teleport from the woods to The Holy Magus Cathedral. As we all appeared out front, we looked upon our new hideout. The cathedral laid within the marshlands of Misty Grove. Vines and moss covered the haunted looking building.

The cathedral had stained glass windows, depicting murals of the Holy Magus. The magus were teal robed religious wizards, from centuries ago, that practiced ancient, sacred, magic that has been lost throughout time. The building’s stone structure appeared to be in a weakened state, cracked and eroded.

“It is perfect,” I said stepping forward. As I waved my wand at the front doors, they whooshed open.

We all walked inside, surprised at how much more spacious this was compared to the warehouse. The main room was the magus’s worshipping sanctuary, with a few deteriorated pews and a chancel with an alter. On each side of the chancel were doors, leading to other corridors.

“Micah and Hector, do you know where those doors lead to?” I inquired.

“No, we did not take time venture around when we brought the supplies,” she replied.

“Well, if you can, do so now,” I commanded. They did as asked and walked across the cathedral, both taking a door. I noticed how dark it was and that an old-fashioned candle chandelier was hanging from the ceiling.

I aimed my wand at it, “Illuminate,” I cast. The wicks of the candles sparked, and then lit. This brightened the room, allowing us to see better. I could now even spot our supplies from Goblin Goods along side the right wall.

We waited for Micah and Hector to return. As the doors opened back up, they both poked their heads out. “Mine led to bedrooms,” stated Micah.

“Mine was some sort of dining area,” claimed Hector.

“This place is better than expected,” I praised. “Well done to the both of you for finding it. As I get us settled in, why don’t you take the supplies to the dining area.”

I began conjuring a few tents in the sanctuary, knowing we didn’t have enough bedrooms for everyone. However, we still weren’t going to be as cramped as we were at Goblin Goods. I then proceed to the housing corridor.

There were around ten bedrooms, none having a single bed. I conjured tents in each and claimed the last bedroom, at the end of the hall, as my own. After, I returned to the sanctuary to find that Micah and Damien had moved all the supplies like I asked.

As I assigned everyone a tent, people started settling in and went back to an uninterrupted sleep. Once silence fell over the cathedral, I returned to my bedroom. I meditated until I was disturbed in the morning.

Damien appeared in my room, using a minor teleportation spell. “Is all alright?” I asked, looking up from the floor.

“Never better,” he replied. “I thought you might want to hear the headline for this morning’s paper.”

“Do share...”

“Five killed and nobleman severely injured,” he started. “During a raid at Goblin Goods last night, five inquisitor agents were killed from an explosion in the hunt for Corvin Phoenix. Nobleman, Peter Pegasus, was also severely wounded from the blast and the Dark Lord is still at large...”

I chuckled, “A shame that poor Peter was only wounded.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

“Now with the Inquisitors kept at bay, we can begin moving on another council member...”

“Who did you have in mind?”

“See what you can find on...Everett Summit.”

“May your will be done, Dark Lord...”