The Palace of Dread
Dec 29th – 30th
The Eagle is moored to the deserted wharf of the ruined citadel of Dalt’Ara, the home of the dark elven race led by Lord Dread. Morikand Bitchpiss can still see the mystic, Amarel, high above him on the outer city walls. "Before we go in we need to be prepared," he says, "with both protection and weapons."
Down in the hold he gathers his companions and prepares to summon demons into their weapons and armour. First he summons a demon from the Plane of Blades into Vetrik’s greatsword, binding it to aid the wielder as well as draw out the soul of an opponent. Next he turns to Gila, a Muhaki martial artist that has joined them, into his studded leather armour he binds a Fortress demon and into his quarterstaff he binds a Combat demon.
Orbelain gets a Fortress demon bound into his chainmail armour but it is only when he tries to summon a demon from the Plane of War that Morikand and the party have problems. A six-armed monstrosity will not be bound into his leather glove and a battle ensues. Blant casts glitterdust from the room above as the party clash violently with the demon.
When things look to be getting out of hand Morikand un stoppers the vial he was given by Malakar and Vohaas begins to emerge in the hold. Before the powerful demon can materialise Vetrik – armed with his heavily augmented greatsword – cuts through his opponents flailing defences and the greatsword consumes its soul quickly. When he wrenches the blade free there is only dust remaining of the demon.
Morikand is, as usual, one step ahead of Vohaas. As the demon of Combat draws his nodachi the demonologist calmly stoppers the vial and he vanishes back into the prison of Malakar’s making.
Eventually Morikand manages to bind a demon from the Plane of Combat into his leather glove (right hand) and the party are now ready to face the citadel and Lord Dread himself. Gila informs them all that the date is profoundly important. Although the Grayhawkian calendar is on the verge of becoming common year 4851 (at midnight this night) the actual date in terms of this universe is ten thousand years since Promethius first created time.
All night the sounds of guttural screams emanates from within the citadel. Morikand knows instinctively what is happening; Lord Dread is sacrificing his own people in order to summon demonic help.
Blant casts stoneskin on Gila as Morikand leads his companions onto the wharf. Amarel, the Dalt’Enn mystic who has watched them for nearly twenty four hours, disappears behind the high walls. The streets are deserted. All buildings lie in ruins, dilapidated and fallen, not even the rats have stayed in the emptiness of Dalt’Ara. The only building that shows any evidence of life is the black marble walls of the palace of Lord Dread.
The power of the demonic influence can be felt by all of the party (even those not versed in magic) but Morikand closes in casting project image and invisibility in the process. On the well maintained lawns the party can see six pentacles. Perched on a tower high above them sits a huge purple and brown dragon that stares down at them with piercing red eyes.
The Soul Compass merely spins wildly and Morikand is forced to trust his instincts and his skills as a demonologist. At the threshold of the palace he summons a demon from the Plane of Combat to go on ahead; he suspects that the pentacles will be triggered when movement is detected nearby. The demon is sent into toward the first pentacle and sure enough his fears are realised. A demon leaps from the nearest circle.
But Morikand recognises the slender Darklander that emerges. It is Vohaas! The demonic swordsman makes light work of the demon Morikand has summoned; three quick strikes and the demon of Combat is gone.
"Greetings, Morikand, I have been waiting for you. My name is Arrakaas."
The realisation that this demon is not Vohaas but his twin brother is a great relief. Morikand takes a gamble and un stoppers the vial for the second time that day; when Vohaas emerges the two demons face each other. It is obvious that there is a deep hatred between these two and Morikand quickly urges the party on beyond the ensuing fight.
As they reach the next pentacle a second demon leaps out and confronts them; a darkly beautiful elven woman called Harrakara. She smiles at them and weaves her magical charms upon them all. The whole group lunge at her apart from Vetrik who is completely disarmed by her beauty. Graz Tak, master thief and master swordsman, is not beguiled. He executes the perfect reverse strike on the demon that opens a wound from her groin to her shoulder. Her screams echo around the open palace as she is sent back to the Abyss.
As they head for the next pentacle Vohaas and his brother Arrakaas exchange the initial blows. Steel on steel rings out around the palace. Blant stares back and cannot even see the rapidly moving blades.
The next demon that leaps out at them is almost fifteen feet tall with gangling limbs and a vacant expression. Ykrik is from Havoceum, the Plane of Havoc; Morikand seems to know instinctively what the demons are called and where they come from although he hasn’t got time to study why.
Ykrik is instantly attacked, although Orbelain is mesmerised by the chaotic creature and aims a blow – mistakenly – at Gila the Muhaki. This demon proves little problem for the party; Graz Tak brutally slaughters it with a powerful strike through the midriff.
Another demon of Combat is summoned to go forth and, once again, another one of Lord Dread’s demons leaps out to face them. Ulhara is a tall humanoid with six tentacles protruding from it instead of arms. It wraps them around the demon of Combat and squeezes the soul from the attacker. As it sets itself to attack the party Morikand is half a step ahead of his companions. He launches a demonic throwing dagger so skillfully that it punctures the eye of the unsuspecting Ulhara and destroys its soul. Yet another is sent back to the Abyss.
Morikand continues his instant summoning and sends a demon of Combat up to the next pentacle, triggering it like the ones before it. A slender robed figure emerges with a pair of flickering daggers in his hands. As the Combat demon lunges Lord Dread’s demon slits it’s throat easily and stands before the party to taunt them. "I am Kazzar from Androlyne (the Plane of Killers) and I know you Morikand Death Dealer. I will slay you last!"
Kazzar leaps at the party who are taken aback by his speed and power. Graz aims a few blows that are easily turned aside; in fact Kazzar proves an elusive opponent and a quick one with a knife. His twin daggers flicker in and out of sight as they shift from the Astral Plane to the Ethereal Plane in his hand. Gila is the first victim of the terrible blades, as the icy steel plunges beyond the stoneskin the Muhaki’s strength is drained. Gila falls unconscious to the ground. Orbelain is next to fall to the icy blades and he too falls unconscious as his strength is sapped.
Graz Tak realises that Kazzar is a killer. But he too knows the art of death and when the demon makes a small mistake Graz puts the Blade of Pain through his ribcage and consumes its soul instantly.
With two of their number down Morikand and Blant Farrand discuss their next move. With only one pentacle left they are concerned about activating that before they continue. Despite this the dragon still looms above them and the two twin demons continue to exchange blows in one corner of the palace. The consensus is to lure the final demon from the last pentacle.
Morikand summons yet another demon of Combat and draws out a shambling mess of rotting flesh and vegetation, the putrid stench is almost unbearable. Grudger is from the Plane of the Fetid and dismisses Morikand’s demon with little effort. But Morikand is not without talent and throws his own power at the shambling beast. Grudger vanishes in an instant.
Blant meanwhile has studied the two unconscious friends but is unable to resuscitate them. "They’re out cold but still alive."
Morikand turns his attention to the dragon that looms above him. He instinctively knows the creature is called Trillz the Dark, a powerful demonic force from the Plane of Dragons; the force of the demon’s soul is overwhelming.
Morikand tries to bind Trillz into a service for him but the price is too much for Morikand. "I want the two unconscious souls," Trillz says, "give me them and I will aid you Death Dealer." But the demonologist will not pay that price and decides that Trillz must be dealt with. He prepares to summon another demon to deal with the dragon.
Meanwhile Blant and Graz Tak watch the two demons, Vohaas and Arrakaas, who are in stalemate as they match each other blow for blow. Graz Tak casts a scroll of magic missile at Arrakaas in an attempt to give his brother a small advantage. Unfortunately the missiles cannot penetrate their innate magic resistance.
Blant, Graz and Vetrik take the unconscious men into the shelter of the Great Hall where Morikand gathers himself for yet another summoning. This time he stretches his power to the Plane of Slaves and forces a demon through to aid him. Ritual summoning is safer than the instant summoning spells but there is not time for that so Morikand chances his arm. As soon as the corpulent, bald-headed demon appears Morikand knows he is in for a struggle.
In its massive arms the demon holds manacles and a spiked collar.
"More slaves I see!" booms the Slave Lord as he casts a casual glance over the two unconscious warriors, Blant Farrand, Vetrik and Graz Tak. He stands almost fifteen feet tall and looms over Morikand, his eyes pure red with hatred. He rattles the chains dangerously before the demonologist's eyes...