Apr / May 2016 Lite Challenge: A Ghastly Rest

[tilt]

@ladiestorm - well, it is a battlemap so the story was meant to end when battle commenced But I aim to please - so here is a little more

The dragon breathed but nothing came out but a terrible chill over the adventurers. Garamons fingers felt chill along the metal handle of his warhammer. The sigils on the head started to glow sensing the undead presence near and he swung it hard against the dragons head. It passed through the scary visage but he could see the rippling as he hit it.
"holy crap", Railin shouted as he fumbled for his short bow a shaky hand putting arrow to string as he pulled back.
Garamon noticed the profanity but now was not the time to comment on that. He was almost ready to swing his warhammer again as the front paw of the dragon hit his shield, making it flare up with a protection spell but still being hammered enough that he had to step backwards half onto his knees.
A bright light passed through the air as Caitlin cast a powerful spell. "no need for pulling the punches" she thought follow by thoughts about them killed by a dragon dead for centuries. A shower of bright spots circled her now to protect her from the dragon. She watched as it roared, the sound revrebrating against the mountain, as it got hit by the spell she threw at it. It turned towards her it whole shape flickering and the moment it turned Garamon burst forward towards it shouting something in an ancient language his warhammer glowing like the sun as it connected hard with the dragons skull.
An arrow flew from Rai but passed harmless through the dragon who ignored him as it stepped sideways to avoid another hit from the paladin. A quick burst from its eerie wings and dust blew up all over, and suddenly Rai shouted. The fang at the end of the wings had hit him in the chest. There was no wound to see but he grabbed his chest and cold spread from there and out onto his limps, his flesh turning blue as he went down eyes blank.
"noooo", Garamon screamed as he raised his shield towards the dragon, but the hit never came. Cailing send another spell towards it and it hit the dragon straight where the old wound in its head sat and the whole dragon shimmered and disappeared in a fog, Caitlin went to her knees blood running from her nose from the strain of casting a spell she could hardly hold, but she was alive.
Garamon saw her bleeding, but then saw Rai and went to him, kneeling by him and putting a hand on his head. He was dead cold and Garamon could see there was no way he would be able to get him back. He sighed deeply and made a holy gesture over his cold body. "God take you in Railin - you were taken from us to early", he looked to Caitlin who was half unconscious by now and laying on her side looking at him pray, the he got back up and went to heal her. Her at least he would be able to safe. But deep down he knew that the treck over the mountains were just begun and this was not the only challenge they would face. But they had to prevail, the worlds survival rested upon it.

[justanotherhack]

Nice map and nice story to accompany it. And I like how the dead dragon and the mark of it's fire tell a whole story on it's own. I would like to hear that as well .