And so the companions hesitated, studying the creatures before them; unsure of whether to attack, retreat or try and push forth. But then, as though sensing the mortals' hesitation, the forward skeleton glanced behind itself to study the other undead creatures briefly. It then stepped forward. The other six undead remained in the guarded semi-circle position while this one walked slowly towards the rocky protrusion where the corpse lay. While it's hand rested on the hilt of it's Scimitar, it did not draw the weapon - it's soul-chilling gaze passed across each of the companions slowly.
The group watched the figure warily; half expecting an attack. Helgkhor, his face pale with fear, drew his greatsword out and held it before him as though it were a ward against the horror.
The undead figure stopped beside the corpse. It raised it's right hand, palm upwards while watching the group before it - as though urging the group to be attentive, and then rested it's left bony hand on the shoulder of it's fallen comrade.
Instantly the noise of a large battle could be heard in the empty clearing. Echoes of swords clashing and men screaming reverberated through the night, but that is all they were - echoes. Nothing could be seen. Aredhel and Metandris both saw the sounds for what they were, however, and the Druid raised his hand to the group, "Do not be alarmed! That noise is not here-and-now."
The Druid's warning didn't stop Atacuso from yelping in surprise when a spectral form materialized just a foot away from him. The figure was human and looked to be of Hypoten descent - dressed in a crimson militarial captain's uniform and wielding a Rapier and long dagger in either hand. Though the male was visible, it had a faint azure aura around it, and Atacuso and the others found that he could see through it's form to the other side!
"BACK TO HELL, YE VERMINOUS BEASTS!" Obviously not in the present, the spirit swung both weapons around violently, backing away as though accosted by invisible assailants. Though only this one figure could be seen, the way the captain's weapons bounced back and lodged in mid-air suggested he got a good few hits onto whatever was attacking him! "HAHA! TASTE MY STEEL, SEWER-FILTH!"
Finally, though, after a good minute of abrasive cursing and acrobatic fighting, the captain was forced up towards the rocky protrusion in the midst of the clearing. "YE'LL NOT...AURGH!!"" The companions saw the captain's long dagger clatter to the ground and his left hand ring finger - complete with a ring similar to what the skeletons wear, though golden - suddenly become crushed and then disappear from the illusion, as though an invisible force had bitten it off altogether!
"I'LL GET YE FER THAT!" The man screamed, but his screams were cut short with a gurgle as several large holes opened up in his torso - sword wounds. The spectral captain slumped to the ground, his ghostly form perfectly encasing the skeletal form which was already collapsed there. And then the image disappeared, leaving silence and darkness once again."
The skeleton removed it's hand from the corpse's shoulder and then tilted it's head to one side, as though studying whether or not the group had understood. Finally, the creature silently raised it's hand once more; this time to point. It's skeletal hand pointed over to it's left, at a particularly large wreckage of a Hypoten vessel. It's hull was torn open at the front, providing the perfect entrance point, should one want to explore it.
