The Dark Killer
Jultar 3rd - 4th
King Rufus IV of Drenai greets Malethrax, Danat, Hujal and Zavien as they climb onto one of a thousand small vessels that congregate on the northern shore of the Lone Lake. The elite palace guards help them to the king who takes the letter from Malethrax (given to him by the king’s brother – Andrilar). Upon reading the letter Rufus mellows, his eyes warm to the travellers and he says; "It seems I owe you a debt of gratitude, my friends, for if it wasn’t for you I would have lost a citadel by now."
Malethrax introduces his companions and the king seems genuinely grateful to the party. Rufus is the head of the greatest spy network on Grayhawk and his knowledge of the war is comprehensive – he even refers to Caldron and the sacking of Karsus as the start of the war with Rosen. Malethrax shifts uncomfortably in front of the king and changes the subject quickly.
King Rufus IV learns of their plight towards Myrid and gives Malethrax a letter to give to the king, Viator Varkos, or at least to whatever authority is in charge. Along with the letter Rufus provides five excellent riding horses – all fully equipped – and a number of weapons to help against Caldron and his demons. "These we took from our enemies," he says. The party share between them a magical longsword, a pair of daggers (one white one black), a battleaxe and an elven ring.
Soon they are on the road eastward…their journey is to Dros Yali, a seaport, the king has promised them a ship will be at their disposal should they reach it. But as they make good speed on the road Zavien – the dangerous killer – senses they are being tracked. Worse, he fears they are being tracked by an expert.
Hujal sends Skurm – his familiar – to scout around when the party finally stop for the night. Through the rats eyes Hujal is able to see Skurm in the hands of a beautiful elven woman, who stares at the rat curiously. Reacting instantly Hujal casts Web through the rodent but the only effect is to annoy the woman. She places the rat inside a pocket in her robe. Still undeterred Hujal casts magic missiles from the rat, even though he cannot see a target. The elf is now angry, "this robe cost me a fortune!" she hisses. She knocks Skurm unconscious and Hujal loses contact.
The party are secured in an earth elemental dome Malethrax has created. He sends out Breeze – his hawk familiar – to find the elven woman. The party decide to confront the woman, though Malethrax and Zavien are suspicious of her. She is called Fuviel and after handing back Skurm she explains that she has been sent by the king to aid them against Caldron. Malethrax helps her up onto his horse and the party head east.
Malethrax casts an ESP and this allays some of his fears about the woman. Zavien and Hujal are more suspicious, however, when Hujal’s horse starts to back away from the elf. The Nadir adept of the Power Words decides that something a little more creative is called for – he intones a word and creates a compass to find Caldron. It is a simple needle on a piece of thread…they all watch in horror as the needle gravitates in the direction of the elven woman.
The visage of the elven woman changes…she is Caldron! The dark sorcerer reacts quickest; he casts a spell into Malethrax and the elementalist disappears in a flash of light. Danat, Zavien and Hujal launch themselves at Caldron. The sorcerer turns aside every blow with a knife, or ducks under their desperate attacks. A minute after the first spell Caldron casts another…and vanishes.
Speed is vital. Hujal is already gathering his thoughts to cast another Power Word. He creates a shimmering arch in front of them, with the compass in hand he forms a gateway to where Caldron (and probably Malethrax) have gone. Danat fears for his life and declines Hujal’s invitation to take the gate…but Zavien is close behind the Nadir.
At the other side of the gate the two men face a dark purple sky with angry clouds and sweltering heat. It can only be one place.
The Abyss.
Before them is a castle; imposing, impenetrable with walls a hundred feet high. Along the battlements sit twenty demons, their cruel faces watch Zavien and Hujal carefully, their demonic lips salivate at the prospect of food. Hujal casts spider climb and the two men clamber up the gatehouse to face claws and talons.
Hujal is knocked from the gatehouse and is set upon by many demons. Rather than rip him to pieces they incapacitate him and fly him over the walls to an inner courtyard. He is deposited in the centre of a pentacle next to the naked form of Malethrax. Hujal knows instantly that the pentacle is a prison and that his magic – and Malethrax’s – is useless within it. Caldron smiles triumphantly at the two men. To a demon he says; "There is an assassin out there – find him and bring him to me."
Zavien melts into the shadows as the demonic guards are everywhere. He slows his heartbeat and breathes economically; his whole being becomes the darkness all around him. The killer moves into the inner courtyard with eyes fixed only on the dark sorcerer.
Caldron gloats over his captives, but his cruel smile is short lived. From behind him – with an expertise beyond his years – Zavien Scourge pulls a milky white blade across the demonologist’s throat. Caldron is not able to say anything, no spell will come, only blood flows from his now. The pentacle disappears with the death of the sorcerer and the three men turn to another danger. A snarling twenty feet high demon towers above them.
"I am Morash," it says plainly, "this is my castle once more. The deadly sorcerer had usurped it for his own needs and I thank you for slaying him." Malethrax has his equipment returned and Hujal rifles the body of the dead sorcerer...before Morash opens a gateway to the Astral Plane...