Role

Chapter 2

The vivimancer finished updating his diary, satisfied that even if his magic
didn't take hold, he would at least be no worse off than before. His satisfaction
was premature though, for the ghost that had been present flew back to the lich to report.
The vivimancer's plan was a secret no more.

The undead are not given to brooding, but this lich was quite exceptional in that
regard, and sulked for nearly 20 minutes before coming up with its revenge. Summoning
the skeleton before him, he exerted his will upon it, sending it through the silent
halls of the tower to the portal chamber, where he forced it through the first portal it came to.
At least now, he thought, I cannot lose either, for the vivimancer cannot prove
success.

Meanwhile, a rather confused skeleton found itself amongst a pile of bodies. Skeletons
don't usually suffer from confusion, of course. This was the first sign of the vivimancer's
magic asserting itself. But for lack of anything better to do, the skeleton lay down, staring
in turn at the stars, moon, sun, clouds, storms and snow. A careful observer would have
noted that the skeleton now had more flesh upon it, whilst the other bodies now had none.
Rot, and scavengers, had taken the flesh from the others, but none would touch the skeleton
that was Tsalantha. Some years later, Tsalantha sat up for the second time in her new existence.
She scratched her gaunt scalp, pondering this new sensation. She was cold, and uncomfortable.
Rising, she lumbered towards the smoke that gathered to the southeast, her walking
becoming increasingly proficient as she went. Her body, though still gaunt, more lifelike.
Arriving at the gates of Udgaard, she passed in without attracting undue attention from
the guards. Hunger now, she felt too, but fortunately there were enough stray dogs to
meet her needs, each giving her warmth before giving her sustenance. After some decades
though, she needed more, and her awakened consciousness took the decision to seek
out the power she would need to achieve whatever desires came to her. Thoroughly
disenchanted with her original career as a conjurer, she walked to the northwest of the city.
The guild of the anti-paladins loomed high over the surrounding houses, and she strode to
its door. The guard, however, was having none of it, until she took the first breath in
65 years and gave voice for the first time in an equally long period. So it was
that Tsalantha joined the guild, and rejoined life as the rest of you know it.