As the raids of the skeleton armies persisted against Antioch, the work
of the diggers in the southern desert was made complete, unearthing a
dilapidated, but functioning outpost full of skeletons of multiple
shapes and sizes. The outpost, determined to be called "Zh'Serurn", was
explored and overrun by the strong Antiochian forces in fairly short
time, leaving its taunting General Athall to be viciously slain.

Curiously, as Athall died, she dropped a small key, which was promptly
picked up by the allied forces within the chamber. After a brief look
around the room, it was discovered that the key unlocked a chest, and
the chest contained a scroll made from cured flesh. Iluov was the first
to read this scroll, and what she saw within chilled her blood to the
point that she refused to let anyone but her closest confidantes to see
it...much to the dismay and consternation of many citizens.

After some consideration, Iluov and Airamaya discussed the contents of
the scroll, and agreed to read it to the city, minus one exceptionally
key point. The revealed that the scroll was from Lhortae himself,
trusting Athall to chant a dark magickal incantation to unearth his
buried pyramid, the Necropolis. Doggedly refusing to even consider
carrying out Lhortae's will, for fear that it would have grave
consequences, Iluov and Airamaya continued their refusal to bring forth
the pyramid.

Things changed rather dramatically, however, when one of the most
revered citizens of Antioch, Bina, the blind, was plucked from her place
in Victory Circle and whisked to the side of Lhortae, who flooded her
mind with agonizing pain, and visions of Antioch's future. Unable to
contain herself, Bina's words were broadcast to all Antiochians, who
could hear her pain. While most Antiochians wanted to avoid the
utterance of the dire incantation etched upon the scroll, Airamaya
finally went to the directed place, chanted the incantation, and brought
about the spectacular and macabre unearthing of a giant black pyramid
from the desert sands.

As soon as the allied forces entered the pyramid, they were confronted
with even darker and more threatening creatures, clawing at their bodies
and souls. Lhortae, the Lich Lord mocked the forces, claiming that all
their actions were for naught, as the chanting of the incantation had
sealed their fate. Refusing to believe this, scores of Antiochians and
their allies stormed their way through the pyramid in the hope of saving
Bina and slaying Lhortae. After a long battle with the dire Lich,
resulting in many casualties, they were finally able to "kill" the
Lich...insofar as much as a Lich can properly be killed. As his corpse
dispersed in a whirlwind of decay through the various cracks of the
chamber, Lhortae was heard to say that the fate of Antioch was sealed,
regardless of their apparent victory.

Upon cautiously congratulating themselves on Lhortae's apparent defeat,
the forces of Antioch took a visibly shaken Bina back to the city, where
she proceeded to tell them, in halting tones, that she was forced to see
the future of Antioch, and it included the relentless and unending march
of the skeletal armies upon the city, and that by chanting the magickal
incantation, it sealed the fate of Antioch to have to regularly face the
taint within their city and desert. Though she made no accusations, Bina
sorrowfully mused upon the fact that Antioch sacrificed their potential
liberation from Lhortae and his dark taint for the sake of saving her
single life.

And thus ends the latest chapter in Antioch's storied history, with the
city facing the grim reality of a skeletal outpost as well as the
Necropolis so near to its walls. If Bina is to be believed, there is
little hope for the city to curb future onslaughts of the skeletal
armies, though the silver lining to this dark cloud is that with the
firm resolve of the citizens, Antioch will be able to face even the
darkest forces that rise against it now and forever.

Penned by my hand on the 7th of Bellum, in the year 486 AD.