The sound of chatter and footsteps filled a dimly lit space, the air was thick with the stench of putrefaction, decay, rotting flesh. It was distinct, offensive to the core and festering.
The underground lair stretched endlessly beneath the ruins of an old abandoned cathedral, its stone walls were carved with grotesque depictions and images of suffering and death.
There were torch lights, but made out of fire so it didn't do much lumination as one would like.
Shadows moved unnaturally in the dim glow, shifting like living creatures against the stone walls. There were the Howl Minions, Gravehowls devoted and loyal subjects. They were a mix of mindless undead and those twisted by his corruption.
Their bodies were wrapped in slickly grey flesh stretched too tight over fragile looking bones, their mouths permanently curled into snarls. Their eyes, hollow and black all through, reflecting nothing but the image of their master.
At the center of it all, Gravehowl sat on a throne of densely fused skulls and broken swords.
His massive, decayed hands rested on the armrests, long claws clicking idly against the bone.
The glow from the torches caught his skeletal Wolf like face, casting a sinister gleam in the pits of his murderous red eyes.
As he sat there in all his utterly disgusting glory, one of his Howl Minions walked purposefully towards him and knelt down.
It was a hunched figure with half of its face missing, replaced by patches of necrotic rottening.
Gravehowl tilted his head inquisitively. "Is it in motion?" His voice was deep and nerve wrecking.
He let out a long, deep, sigh.
The minion trembled with fear or respect, whichever.
"Yes, my lord. The security systems are crumbling as we speak my Lord. The Death Mist is spreading. Soon the city will belong to us".
"To... Us?" Gravehowl tilted his head further.
"Eyyyyyyiiiiiiiahhhhhhh!" The minion trembled with fear. "To you My Lord!!!" He corrected himself.
A slow, satisfied grin played across Gravehowls face.
"Good..."
"Finally that godforsaken Tempest Wolf is out of the way, nothing will stand in my path... We have been stuck down here in this gutter for too long!"
He leaned forward, his claws scraping against the bones beneath him.
"Sector D will fall first. The City's heroes, overwhelmed and scattered, won't have time to react before the fog consumes them."
"The Necrotic bomb is in position and I love it detonates, the corpses buried beneath the city will rise to my will. Their friends, families, their corrupt leaders... They will watch as the dead return to drag them to hell!... "
*Crack!
He popped his knuckles so hard that his minions trembled under the sound of it.
Lips curled back like a tree branch into a horrifying grin, revealing yellowish fangs with glimpses of rotten flesh stuck in-between the tight gaps.
"This city has grown complecent, clinging to their false snese of hope. But I will show them that their is no hope when Gravehowl is involved! "
The Howl Minions bowed their heads even lower.
"The heroes will surely fight back my Lord... And I've come to know that they can be quite formidable... " The messenger minion said with a soft tremble etched in his speaking.
"Let them! Let them struggle, let them resist, let them beg!" He flexed his fingers before curling it up into a fist. "Their screams will be the last thing they ever do, I'll make sure if it."
And then, with a triumphant burst of laughter, he threw his head back and howled. The sound rippled through the underground lair, shaking the walls, specs of dust and sand particles fell from the ceiling about, sending the minions into a frenzy of cheers.
Suddenly, loud footsteps erupted from the corner of the large space. Judging from the sound of the footsteps, it was evident that size of the incoming individual was unnatural.
The minions trembled again and again at the sound of each footstep.
Closer and closer.
Until its shadow revealed itself on the wall, a large demon like structure of some sought.
It opened its mouth and let out a cat-like hiss which caused the minions to separate into two groups, creating an isle leading towards the throne of Gravehowl.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
"My minions, I present to you my latest awakened. Once defeated but resurrected to be used according to my will..."
"My right hand as we match into Sector D to take over..."
"I give you, The Blood Feline: Mamrah!" Gravehowl introduced.
The creature began its dramatic stride through the isle making it way to the throne of Gravehowl. It looked like a mummified large cat with scanty fur and grey skin decayed underneath.
Its eyes were dead black with no form of life in them, its claws grey with rust of decayed aging but we're still as sharp as ever.
For every step it took, it seemed as if the stench of decay tripled in the massive space.
Mamrah reached the foot of the massive throne and dropped one knee in praise to his leader Gravehowl.
"This is my war commander! Mamrah!"
"With him leading the line of attack...lets begin!"