Shra's Surprise Secrets (Book of Shra)

The half-orcs at the House of Swords Castle were having a party that was alive with drinks, music, dancing, and food. Gossip and laughter filled the air. That was until a cloaked figure opened the doors to the dining room. A couple of people gasped and screamed at the sight. The figure's cloak was covered in rain, mud, and leaves. His face could not be seen, not even his eyes could be noticed. As he walked through the crowd they encircled him but gave him plenty of space to pass by. People began to whisper and theorize. Such a stranger must be on a mission of some sort and no one who or what was going on. That was until he reached a particular person. A middle-aged female whose hair was greying and wrinkles were starting to show, but her strength and beauty were still present. The cloaked figure kneeled before her and reached out his white bony hand. The female knew immediately who it was but the crowd still didn't for they went into a frenzy. "A bony hand, he must be a LICH!" the crowd began drawing their weapons husband began standing in front of their wives, and guards began rushing toward the cloaked figure with swords and shields in defensive positions. They slowly encircled the female and the cloaked figure. The female was scared and frozen the entire time. She couldn't believe such a joyous night was ruined by this undead creature who didn't might be confusing her with someone else. She wasn't a necromancer, nor an undead, she wasn't even a cleric.

"I am very disappointed you don't recognize me." said the cloaked figure. He reached his hand further almost touching the female's hand. The female was so scared that she couldn't even resist. He grabbed her hand held it in front of his face and proceeded to tap it with his hood. He then let go of her hand and stood up. He removed his hood to reveal his skull, with blue and purple magic swirling in his empty eye sockets. They danced and flickered like flames. This lich was either very powerful or was recently turned into one. "Who are you? and how do I know you?" asked the female. Lich signed, he seemed defeated and genuinely disappointed. "I am Shra Longsword of the House of Swords, and I am your grandfather."

The crowd gasped in unison. Such a person with such a legacy shouldn't be here. This party was just a normal get-together where everyone shared stories. So why would Shra come here at this time? Why didn't he ever come earlier or later? Why now? Such questions filled the heads of the quests, and the female stood before Shra. "Why are you here?" asked the female. "Because I missed you growing up and Laraganus was too ill to travel, so I am here in her place," answered Shra. "Laraganus? Whose Laraganus?" asked the female. Shra's skull tilted to the side. "Laraganus, the Exiled Hero? The one who married one of Shiv Longsword's sons." The crowd gasped again. This female was a descendant of Laraganus the Exiled Hero and of Shra the Lich. Yet it seemed that this female had no idea of these connections. Such knowledge must have been kept from her or she kept that a secret for some reason. These thoughts began bouncing in the crowd's heads. "How do you know me? what do you want from me?" asked the female. "Laraganus knows everyone in the family and has been our guardian. However you've been distant, she didn't like that, so she sent me to see how things are going, and as I said before She would've come herself had she not been ill." the female seemed confused. "I think you have the wrong person. I'm Fien Cutless, of the House of Swords. I've lived as a servant for Lord Shig Greatsword all my life." This info shocked many of the guests. They had seen Fien talk to nobles like she had been one of them, she weaved in and out of many conversations with some of the most powerful people in the country and only now does she reveal her true status. Some of the members began questioning themselves, they felt fooled and lied too. This whole situation seemed too much like some decades-old family drama nonsense but the bubbling truths and reveals had kept their attention. The feeling of their feelings and theories being right kept them from being bored and concentrating on the conversation. "Now to answer your other question, all I want is for you to come back home. The rest of the family is dying to see you. It's been so long since we've seen you and we have so much to talk about. Heck, even Laraganus wants to see you, and we all know you can't say no to her." The lich then extended his arm out. Fien took his arm and wrapped her's around his, and they walked. The crowd made room for them and allowed them to exit. All the while the guards had been surrounding the couple.

"HALT!" shouted a booming voice. Everyone turned to face the current king of the Green Swamps: King Shew. He made his way to Shra and Fien. "I'm sorry but, the party is not over, and I'd hate to leave it in a sour mood. Why don't you stay and explain more? We all know you have time." said the king. "I'm sorry, but I must take Fien to meet with Laraganus and the rest of the family. One of the women is about to give birth and we must see if it's Noone or not." the crowd gasped. The prophecy of Noone had been spoken about as a myth and empty Chrissten promises. But to have the lich Shra make such a claim it must be true. "My apologies then. You may go, and may the True God bless us with Noone and his future union of this continent. But do tell Laraganus I said hi. It may have been years since we last spoke but that cranky old lady can still be any female soldier in our army 1v1." The crowd chuckled at the joke. Shra and Fien were the only ones who didn't laugh. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to hold you for so long. Please go and enjoy your family reunion." said the king. "I sure hope so. Some people will have a lot of explaining to do, that's for sure. Anyways thank you all. You can go back to whatever it was you were doing beforehand." said Shra as he led Fien out of the castle and onto his undead horse which smelled awful and even had flies buzzing around it. "How long is this journey going to take? Because I might be throwing up throughout it," said Fien. "Only a couple of days. I don't need to sleep nor does the horse so it'll make good time. You, you just hold on." answered Shra. "Wait, but I never packed anything," said Fien. "Trust me you will be fine. We don't even have time for that anyway. So sorry, you're just going to have to deal with it. Now get on" said Shra in a very fatherly tone. Fien got on but nearly fell through it as some of its flesh also slid off. Shra steadied her and then cracked the reigns and off they went into the dark humid night.