The Fight for Gresil's Library

May 8th - 10th

Morikand Bitchpiss gathers the party to his demonic ship, The Seagull, along with the Echeronian assassin Kassorik. His destination is Gresil’s library though this time he uses the special coin to transport the entire ship as well. The Plane of Gresil is small and Morikand finds himself moored in a harbour with hundreds of other ships. From these ships comes the most precious cargo – books. The harbourmaster and Gresil’s workers move the tomes up into the library itself. Soon a small demon takes their names and ushers them into the library itself.

Gresil is as warm and friendly as ever as he greets them. Gila, however, notices the silk scarf around the librarian’s neck, the stain of Muziel is all over it. He questions Gresil who reveals that it was indeed a gift from Muziel. Gila manages to take a look at the scarf but has no intention of handing it back; instead he vanishes it with his ability to shift space.

Gresil is upset. He does not listen to Gila’s claims that the scarf was meant to control him and will not listen to their claims that he is in danger. Nothing they say will convince him that Muziel is not up to something so Vetrick uses his primal ability to project a few memories into Gresil’s mind; a few reminders of what Muziel is capable of.

Despite even this graphic display Gresil cannot be swayed and tries to remain impartial. When a junior librarian interrupts them and speaks to Gresil everything changes. Gresil’s face darkens as he listens to the junior’s report. With a heavy sigh he turns to the party.

"It seems Muziel has shut off this plane by sorcery that is beyond me; no one can come in or out! I am sorry to have doubted you."

Gila says; "We must sleep and recover our strength."

Next morning they all join Gresil for breakfast. A servant informs them that an emissary of Muziel has come. Gresil is accompanied by the entire party as they enter the reception area.

Korven stands before them. Surrounding him are ten demons, Dracorian Guards from the Plane of Terror. Korven himself is calm, possessing the arrogant demeanour of a man who has just won a battle.

"The terms are simple," he says carefully, "there is but one gate open on this plane. If Vetrick and his companions use it then the blockade will be lifted…if not then I will burn this entire library and everyone in it. You have two hours."

With that the demonologist turned to leave but Jahick had other ideas, infuriated by the man’s tone and lack of respect she casts wall of fire to separate Korven from his guards. Korven merely grins and walks through it without flinching.

Morikand and the rest of the party return to Gresil’s summoning room to discuss the situation but soon events overtake them. Gresil informs them an hour later that the library burns, this fire is Void Fire unmaking everything it touches.

Morikand and the rest of the party leave Gresil and make there way up a small hill where Muziel’s gate has been placed. The portal resembles a spherical storm, a contained maelstrom of wind and lightning. Once there they debate whether they should enter the portal.

They are not there long before the Dracorian Guard – the ten bodyguards of Korven – attack. From nowhere they appear wielding void blades and fall onto the party savagely.

Tihs Revom twists away from one of the deadly blades at the last instant although as it brushes his armour it is destroyed, shattering into a million pieces before vanishing forever. There are other similar narrow escapes although Kassorik, the Echeronian, catches a blade full in the face and is unmade before a scream passes his lips.

Gila turns defence into attack with a blistering whirlwind attack – his deadly katana crushes four of the Dracorians in the blink of an eye. Morikand, Vetrick, Xaian Lau and Jahick catch the sword arms of their attackers and struggle is fierce to avoid the deadly blades.

With his hands round the wrists of two demons Morikand casts steal the soul and consumes one of the demons instantly. Suddenly augmented by the demon’s power he lashes out with his foot and disarms another, the blade falls to the floor at Tihs’ feet. The thief, secreted in the shadows, tries to take the void blade but recoils when he realises that if he even grips the hilt he will be unmade.

Gila receives a punishing blow to the midriff; his demonic armour absorbs the brunt of the attack and is unmade in the process. In his anger he lashes out at the Dracorian who parries him deftly and on contact with the void unmakes the katana! Gila falls back and takes out his demonic quarterstaff and slaughters the demon that destroyed his blade.

Jahick launches magic missiles into the face of a Dracorian Guard before Xaian Lau cuts it down. Vetrick finishes off the last remaining Dracorian and the party breathe a sigh of relief.

Gila uses his primal sorcery to fold space between themselves and Gresil, he deposits them all in the librarian’s study where Korven – now without a guard – holds Gresil in a strangle hold. On seeing the party Korven slices open Gresil’s throat and discards him before unleashing a katana from its scabbard.

Korven is incredibly quick. On this occasion it is his skill with the katana that overshadows his talent as a sorcerer; Korven is a grandmaster of the blade and jumps amongst them confidently. Morikand casts spell turning as Korven executes a whirlwind attack. Each one of them avoids the void blade but Korven is relentless. From his free hand sprays a fan of black liquid that Xaian Lau and Jahick manage to avoid by a well-timed dodge.

The party press their attack on Korven who turns every blow with ease. He spins back onto the attack and thunders a two handed blow under Gila’s defences. No bladesman anywhere in the world would stop such a strike; Gila is cut from right shoulder to left hip, as the blade exits Gila Mangolita shatters into a million shards that evaporate into nothingness.

Korven has little time to enjoy his success. Morikand twists a kick that knocks the katana from his grip, before the blade hits the ground Xaian Lau is upon him – a student of Vohaas she cuts him deeply in the abdomen. A blow that would cut a normal man in two merely brings Korven to his knees. As he clutches at his ruined stomach Xaian Lau hits him again and blood sprays everywhere. Vetrick pounches and opens Korven’s skull with Scar, the blade that maimed Malakar. Incredibly the demonologist staggers back and vomits blood but Vetrick will not be denied. The next blow is fatal and Korven falls dead next to his deadly katana.

Xaian Lau considers picking up Korven’s blade but as her hand hovers close she realises that if she even brushes against it she will be unmade. The party’s attention now turns to Gresil. The librarian still bleeds from the gash in his throat but Morikand senses that he is not dead, somehow suspended by some time trickery that prolongs his life even at the very moment of his death.

Morikand and Vetrick sense the flames have gone. Though the damage is extensive both men turn their attention to the fallen demon…