The Withering of Evilkings

**The Withering of Evilkings** is the second episode of the *Steelclutches* series; more specifically, it is the second episode of that series' prologue. It is the second overall episode ever uploaded by Kruggsmash.

## Description

> *There aren't even any straws to grasp at here, folks. Bah, let's do it anyways.*
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## Plot

Continuing some short time after the previous episode, all but one of Osor Gedor have died, though a subsequent migrant wave has arrived and offers to help, though none of them are proficient in useful skills. Undead of all varieties continue to roam on the surface outside the burrows. Despite the grim situation, the group have secured themselves in a structure on the surface (at the cost of three dwarven lives), where they wait in the dark. Thankfully just enough of the structure sits over the river for the remaining dwarves to be able to sustain themselves by fishing.

This saving grace is soon taken from them however when the river completely freezes. With the river inaccessible now, they are unable to eat or drink, and also unable to discard the rotting fish remains. Faced with the sharply declining situation, the dwarves break out of their shelter to make a run for a borrow where they believe useful tools may still be, but the undead easily dispatch some of them, including the current expedition leader; the position is passed on to migrant Logem Udarlr. The survivors successfully reach the burrow, but one dwarf is purposefully locked outside as they were too slow, and presumably killed, leaving only seven survivors remaining.

Inside the burrow, the group is relieved to find that it does indeed contain mining equipment, and so they are able to dig their way into the adjacent caverns where water can be found, and so their supply of fish is restored. Some effort is put into building a memorial hall for their fallen comrades (and depositing the corpses here), whilst Kbuk Nishrulush digs into the very first burrow of the fortress that was sealed up due to the raven head incident. He soon gains access to the underground portion of that first burrow, where some resources are still stockpiled, but the undead Rovod Dodksazir and the undead left hand of Vabk Mingkilmosus on the surface hears the activity and both descend to kill Kbuk. The remaining dwarves build a locked door on their end of the inter-burrow passage for protection from their undead former comrades, and focus on making use of the caverns, but even this turns out not to be a safe place as there are at least a handful of undead mole dogs roaming around.

Around this time, the new year (1005) begins. With the current caverns only supplying fish and posing a risk with the undead creatures here, an attempt is made to keep digging in hopes of finding any caverns that might have fertile ground, but the search is unsuccessful. Despite the access to fish, Logem dies of starvation, and his position of expedition leader is passed onto Olin Gusilkizet with immediate effect. Logem re-animates and attacks Dodk Abanenkos, but Logem is neutralised by the group, though they are uncertain if he will re-animate again.

Up on the surface, a new migrant wave arrives, but they have no idea of the situation they're in.