"Sadly, your campaign ends here..."

---

When the blade came clattering down the large skull it caused something to stir.

The rusted steel resonated against the cobble, its edges shrill and sharp as it slowly rattled to a halt against the ancient stone. And once it had finally stopped in place Kalim lifted it up with his muzzle, teeth holding fast against the leather strappings of the blade's handle. The knight intended to pack the entire blade away- for safekeeping. Maybe for use, if needed.

Regardless, it was a small victory; once its pieces were pulled apart and divided. Scraps proved profitable enough for a start.

However, fate didn't seem to care much for that idea.

"Kalim! Lyr! Move!" Maw had pulled away from her search for a path forward, a shrill whinny escaping her as her fangs bared and her dark eyes grew wide. With the blade removed the skull had begun to rumble; it stirred with an ancient pain that had merely been locked away by some magic within the blade itself. And whatever had been brought to life by its removal, well...

They were about to find out.

As the skeletal structure began to rattle, head lifting and shoulders shaking, it threw Lyr off its crown while a golden glow began to radiate from once-empty sockets. At first, it seemed lost, even dazed, by the smaller creatures that surrounded its grave-place. But soon the golden gaze fell on the blade in Kalim's jaws and once its attention had been drawn the skeleton let out a pained shriek; loud enough to ring through to the dungeon's darkest corridors. Pained enough to awaken a thousand memories in the hearts of dungeon beasts that dwelled below to hide from invaders.

Lyr had already run, but Kalim was paralyzed and could not leave his spot; a knight of steel resolve he may be for his crown; but that didn't change the truth in being nothing more than flesh and bone.

Fear held him.

A thousand thoughts ran through the Courser's mind; he was still something that could so easily be crushed beneath the weight of pain still fresh in the mind of a once silenced soul. He could join the skeletal rubble that someone would pick through a dozen lifetimes from now. He-

The pain of a sharp bite against the flank causes him to stir from dire thoughts; he had been drawn from fear, briefly.

"I said move you fool!" Maw yelled once again, now using her large form to push against Kalim's barrel and finally move from where he stood. He dropped the blade too, trading treasures for his life.

A wise choice- fate didn't often appreciate those who danced too closely with greed.