"Lich"

Prompt: Abyssal Depths

The city of Ironfang was cursed, and it was spreading. The black desert of ash and corrupted magic had reached the massive outer walls, and none knew how much further it would range. Guild hunters sent to investigate never returned, the latest party wary. Would they be next?
Tyrant-king Glacialstorm had suicided after surviving multiple assassination attempts and a revolt led by his many bastard children. He was given proper last rites, of course. Though many secretly prayed for the Maw of Oblivion to devour his soul, nobody wanted to risk his return as an undead.
The dragon god-king was crazy from paranoia by the end, sealed in his temple just before the black blight struck. Those strong enough fled the city, while the rest weakened and died, drained of both magic and vitality. Many returned in restless undeath, with others turning to ash alongside anything else organic.
Thus the need for monster hunters.
Demigod and beastfolk alike, the hunters entered the city. The unicorn’s healing aura kept the draining corruption at bay–barely. They freed many trapped souls, fighting their way to the temple, the source of the blight. Once inside, the elemental spirits lending the beastfolk magic fled in terror, leaving only the demigods for spellcraft.
In the dark, they found deeper darkness, as if the Maw itself had entered the mortal realm. Flesh and scale hung rotting from rune-carved bones, eyeless sockets drinking in light. Through open ribs, an abyss replaced the heart, pulsing in that same beat.
This dragon-shaped thing lurched forward, freezing them in horrified fascination. The black ash was tar, miring as more undead rose from it.
The phoenix shrieked defiance, breaking their stupor.
RUN!
But the unicorn stumbled, light failing as the firebird blazed glory, only to vanish between the lich’s bloody fangs. The bear and griffon roared vengeance, fighting to their last. The lion and wolf dragged the unicorn away, but she was too weak, begged them to flee.
The lion covered the wolf’s escape.
Wind elementals found the wolf at the gates, her dying words a warning they delivered to the Guild.