Taylor assigned a squad of knights to rush through the city and find any civilians hiding in the underground city.
Using back alley and side passages, they would be brought to the gates and evacuated outside.
Leyocan and a handful of Nogitsune volunteered to sneak through the settlement towards the prisons to free the non human captives.
In order to ensure that he didn't get lost, Taylor assigned a scout to guide them to the proper place.
Taylor ordered that his men open the doors behind them.
What Storm saw on the other side took his breath away.
A vast cavern was stretched out before him, and inside it was constructed a city every bit as grand as Northburg, Kingsport and any other human city Storm had seen.
All the buildings seemed to have been carved out of an unknown black stone.
Sigils and Runes were carved in gold all across the walls of the buildings.
Skulls and other iconography of death were carved in the windows of the Stone houses, the pillars and the ceilings.
Streetlights with a large crystal at the top was scattered all along the street and bathed the caverns in a gloomy purple light.
At the back of the city was a massive black ziggurat.
Taylor held out his hands in a welcoming gesture.
"Welcome to what the hunters have named 'The City of the Dead'.
Rumored to be the lair and fortress of the Dark Dragon Lord Mortis." Explained Taylor.
"Legends say that he was sealed away underneath the mountains. " said Aurora.
"The Legends are true.
An expedition of wizards found this place years ago, and this place has attracted experts from all across the kingdoms.
It has only recently been playing host to the Hunter's guild however.
The Dark dragon was found bound by magical chains in the catacombs of his own Ziggurat.
The dragon was alive, but seems to have been placed into some kind of magical slumber.
Everyone is terrified of the dragon and we have clear instructions not to disturb it for fear of accidentally rousing the ancient evil.
That Ziggurat over there is his tomb." Explained Taylor.
"Then that is where Calderon will be." Said Storm.
Taylor gave several quick instructions and his men moved forward and secured the open space in front of the gates.
His men constructed barricades along the only street that led to the gate as well as the alleyways connecting to it.
His archers and mages took up positions on the rooftops of the houses leading up to the gate.
"Our two armies will hold the undead here, we should hurry and set off before Mortis's army gets here!" Said Taylor.
He guided Storm down the dark streets until they felt a dull tremor beneath their feet.
"This way, dragon!!" Said Taylor.
He guided Storm down a alley that was too large for Storm's natural form, so he shifted back to his draconic humanoid form and they rushed to hide behind a large stack of crates.
A moment later rows upon rows of armored undead marched down the main streets towards the gates.
They had all been carefully mummified in order to better preserve their bodies over the many centuries that they would be expected to operate.
Their scale mail armor and tasseled helms was forged in a style that had long been lost to history and their large round shields were covered in the same symbolism and hieroglyphs as the buildings around them.
Most of them were using a curved sword that closely resembled a sickle in shape with a shield.
But a few of the battalions used a spear and shield, or even used two handed battleaxes instead of shields.
Others were equipped with bows and arrows.
There were also ranks of mummified beasts like large feline creatures the size of horses.
Some of the beasts had riders on their backs, but most were riderless.
"I hope our forces can survive long enough for us to kill that Lich!" Thought Storm.
The sound of battle soon echoed through the caverns and Storm knew that the front ranks had reached the gates.
"We'd best avoid the main roads, the army may send out battalions to search for other people to conscript into their ranks forcefully." Explained Taylor.
At that moment a squad of undead walked down past an street on the opposite side of the alley.
One of the last warriors in the group turned in their direction and spotted them.
It unhinged it's jaw and released a loud shriek that echoed down the caverns.
His companions turned back and the entire group ran down the alley.
Storm summoned Fulgur in his duel swords form and was just about to rush at the squad, when a thick stream of fire flew past him and quickly incinerated the warriors.
Storm looked back and saw that it was Taylor that had fired the blast.
"These things are vulnerable to fire, as their dry skin and bandages goes up like dry firewood.
Your lightning should work just as well for the task, dragon!
Don't try and take them on in a straight up sword fight, they don't feel pain and so are very hard to incapacitate." Advised Taylor.
They made their way through the streets together, using alleyways and side streets to avoid the main host of undead.
They encountered the occasional squad that were sweeping the city streets looking for civilians, but mostly their path was unobstructed.
As they reached the Ziggurat, Storm saw a large black stone wall with a large iron gate blocking the entrance.
Several undead warriors in highly ornate armor and with highly exquisite weapons were standing at attention.
"Honor guards.
The elite bodyguards of the Dark Dragon.
Not only are their armor and weapons of considerably better quality.
They're also enchanted with more dark magic than the rank and file troopers.
Simple fire won't be enough for these ones.
We're going to have to work for this." Explained Taylor.
Storm eyed the large wall in front of him.
"Unless you have wings!
Follow me!" Said Storm.
They avoided the main gates and instead made their way to the side.
Storm grabbed the paladin from behind and carried him into the air and over the wall before dropping him quite heavy in the garden on the other side.
Several other Honor guards were patrolling through the area.
They carefully avoided each one until they made their way to the large entrance.
The corridors and rooms inside were large enough for Storm's natural form, but he decided to stay as he was so that he was less likely to be spotted.