The creature which stood in the centre of the crypt would be a chilling sight to behold were there any light to see by. This latest creation was mostly human, but unlike the walkers some notable modifications had been made. The limbs were elongated and muscle added to them, the hands and feet ended in claws, and the mouth was lined with sharpened teeth with a stronger jaw. As a consequence of this growth in some areas, the torso and waist were skinny, anorexic even, and the skin there hung loose, and the spine had been contracted, although with the longer limbs to compensate there was negligible change in height. As always, the eyes glowed black. This creature was designed for speed, climbing, and slashing and tearing. It was also somewhat smarter than the walkers, capable of arranging ambushes and coordinated attacks rather than merely mobbing any humans in sight, giving it a pack mentality rather than a hoard mentality. Similarly to the walkers, and any of the undead, killing them requires the body to be mutilated and rendered completely useless, for they have no need for organs or blood or air, only their muscles and skeleton and the magic binding them together and animating them.

Calvartem dubbed this creature a Gremlin. While it is superior to the Walker once summoned, the requirements for summoning a Gremlin are somewhat more stringent than that of a Walker. Because significant transformation needs to take place, they take somewhat more magic to summon. The corpse also needs to be in reasonable physical condition, with most of the flesh still on the bones, or else there will not be enough biomass to work with. However, he should not need nearly as many gremlins as walkers in a hoard, so this would not be a major flaw.

With a wave of his hand the Necromancer summoned a group of imps. He gestured to some of them and ordered, "You, make a tomb for this Gremlin." He then gestured to the wall next to the tomb for the Walker. Those imps drifted over to the wall and began chipping away with ethereal tools. To the other half of the group, Calvartem ordered, "I have some improvements for you to make to my Heart. Take some quartz and insert it at the end of the arms." The other imps also drifted off, this time in the other direction in search of the small quarry where the imps had found quartz the first time.

Calvartem left the imps to their task and emerged onto the surface. The red sun had risen by now, but the sunlight no longer bothered him. Whatever had happened to the Source had removed whatever holy, cleansing properties its light had. Outside he saw an imp waiting, and he realised that it must have been the last scout, which he had sent north. Calvartem sent a little mote of shadow at the imp, and it spoke.

"I found a large city to the north. It is well fortified, well populated. It has a big cathedral, and men dressed in robes of blue and red," the imp said.

The robes of blue and red were familiar to Calvartem. "Priests," he added.

"They have big walls, patrolled always. The cathedral is a fortress, and their leaders are there. Big army too."

The imp paused. "Is that all?" Calvartem asked.

"Yes, master."

Calvartem nodded and waved the imp back into the void. Such a city would be very large, and it would doubtless notice his presence eventually, especially as he has slaughtered a number of towns in the area. He would need to make preparations, and make his hoard greater.
 
 
 
Gremlin - Second minion. Undead, made from a somewhat fresh human corpse. Limbs are elongated and muscle mass on limbs increased, claws on hands and feet, teeth sharpened and jaw strengthened, chest and waist has greatly reduced muscle and fat, spine shortened, and eyes glow black. These agile monsters are built for speed and climbing, and for tearing and biting through flesh. With their pack hunting mentality as well as their agility, they are purposed to break apart enemy formations and bypass defences.