RAVEN'S GAMBIT

Lira Valesong’s boots slapped the stone as she ran, breath heaving, hair whipping around her shoulders. Behind her, mist thickened like a storm cloud mid-howl.

The dwarven vampire Ctenmiir, solidified with a guttural snarl, Whelm—his rune-carved warhammer—gripped tightly in both clawed hands. His pallid face stretched in a sneer, crimson eyes flaring beneath his helm.

Hissssssss.

And then he moved.

Faster than thought.

With a violent lurch, Ctenmiir surged through the gathered heroes like a battering ram. His warhammer slammed into Hachiro Noboru’s chest, crunching ribs beneath reinforced armor. The samurai was thrown back like a broken reed.

The vampire’s next swing, wild with momentum, left him open.

“YAHHHHH!” Hachiro roared, launching a kiai-driven thrust as his katana carved into Ctenmiir’s midsection. The blade struck deep—yet even as the steel withdrew, flesh reknit itself before their eyes.

“Damned thing won’t die!” Kaela Virell cried.

Thog Skullsplitter, already frothing with rage, charged with his greataxe, each blow like thunder. Around him, the warband responded in kind:

• Lira Valesong loosed arrows from her shortbow, eyes scanning for a weakness.

• Kael Emberblood met the monster with his longsword, sparks flying from each strike.

• Theron Blackroot hurled a blistering Eldritch Blast, searing the vampire’s flank.

• Elowyn Mosswhisper, with hands aglow, grabbed Ctenmiir and cast a healing prayer, burning holy light into the vampire’s undead form.

• Kaela Virell’s magic missile streaked like a comet into the fiend’s shoulder.

• Kale “Whisper” Stronemarch sent a shaft deep into Ctenmiir’s thigh.

• Agent Marcus Virelli fired his service revolver at point blank, bullets punching through bone.

• Brother Tetsuro Iron-Mind, stoic and unshaken, let fly his shortbow.

• Brock ‘Bull’ Dawson’s navy revolver cracked like a hammer.

• Dr. Elias Finch calmly pulled the trigger on his Derringer, the round striking dead center.

• Lin of the Whispering Wind unleashed a second magic missile, screaming into the fray.

• Marcus “Tank” Rourke’s M4 lit up with suppressive fire, rounds slamming into vampiric flesh.

• Kaelen Thornstride, vision now cleared, returned fire with his composite longbow.

• Seren Willowmere, Jahari “Duststep” Malek, and Talia Windstep each loosed shots that struck true.

• Kael the Ember-Eyed, Elric Duskwind, and Kaelen Firebrand all cast magic missiles, one after another.

• And Thalia Emberbranch, a ranger sworn against the undead, fired three rapid arrows directly into the vampire’s chest.

The storm of power and steel was enough to bring down armies, but Ctenmiir only hissed, his form already knitting together, his rage growing.

Whelm struck again, hammering Kael Emberblood backward into a wall with a crunch. Then he turned and bludgeoned Thog Skullsplitter so hard the half-orc coughed blood and dropped to a knee.

Elowyn stepped forward to shield them—too late.

Ctenmiir grabbed her by the throat. A sickening hissss escaped his lips as he drained her life away, leaving the druid pale and collapsed.

Kael rose, defiant, cutting the vampire with steel once more—only to see the wound seal instantly.

Varek Duskwither stepped in, replacing Elowyn with a war cry, and joined the frontline.

Theron Blackroot, blood on his lips, unleashed a concentrated blast, lighting Ctenmiir’s back on fire.

And then—

Lin of the Whispering Wind raised her hands and unleashed a final arcane missile, pure white fire crackling through the air.

It struck Ctenmiir directly in the heart.

The dwarf vampire screeched, his body crumbling into mist, unable to maintain form. He fled upward in gaseous retreat, slipping through cracks and stone, back to his lair, to his coffin.

“Quickly!” Theron Blackroot shouted. “Lira Valesong—after it! Find its coffin and finish this!”

Without a word, Lira took to the sky, wings of invisible force still carrying her high.

She followed the vampiric mist, weaving through narrow stone passages, alone, deeper into White Plume Mountain’s final secrets.

TO BE CONTINUED...