The Bones of the Blessed

The cold grasp of the dead

"You again?" said the barkeep."Yep, I hope I didn't get your hopes up when I left," Azerol said jokingly. "Ha! No, you're my only business. I don't want you leaving just yet. "
"Can I get a hot venison stew and some ale?" "Sure, but first get closer to the fire, you're shivering, and I don't want my only customer dying because of this dreadful cold." Azerol chuckled "Is this why your lack of business?" He asked the barkeep."Is what why?" "The cold..." He responded "Yes. Unfortunately, since my inn is a pitstop for travelers and adventurers like yourself instead of being in a town, the current cold has made it pretty pitiful. It usually has a lot of customers tho, makes a lot of coin." "Really?" "Yeah! All year around, especially during winter, weirdly enough. People are more often tired, hungry or well, cold during the winter so they tend to stop here more often. But it's so unbearable out there right now, I have no idea what caused it. Do you?" The barkeep paused and looked at him, Azerol took a moment to answer. "I might have an idea. Have you heard the rumors lately of the... undead?" He said hesitantly. The barkeep scoffed. "You don't seriously believe all that nonsense, do you?" "Well it's hard not to believe it when you've seen then with your own two eyes."

"You saw them?" "Yes, they exist. Those... Frost walkers are petrifing. I can still remember it as if it's happening this very second... I was trudging through the snow, I was freezing when I felf something grab my arm, it's grasp felt like pure frost. It managed to fin me on the ground, for a bref moment it sounded like it was gasping for air, or maybe chocking or something like that. It's skin wasn't rotting but it was partially a skeleton in a way, the skin on it's fingers were pulled back revealing sone type so dark claws, the color of coal. It almost killed me before I managed to escape, but it wounded my arm before I did and I can't get back to town to see a doctor until it gets a little warmer." Azerol's voice sounded shaky whîe he explained "That sounds horrifying, do you want me to take a look at the wound?" "No it's ok, don't worry." I just ne-" He stopped abruptly and they both look at the door, *Rattle *rattle "Was that?" asked the barkeep "Stay quiet!" Said Azerol as the wind blew heavily.