The party consists of Dismet (also known as Alakanthia, Queen of Death) who possesses the power of the Void and has Rootvile flowing through her veins. She has just discovered her parentage (the daughter of Doctor X and Isula). Next is Hyuga, a massively built barbarian, veteran of the Battle of Shiboleth where he fought against Curevar’s army. He is the newest disciple of nature. Third is Anstran, a Shieldlandish ranger who after his exploits in the Battle of Shiboleth earned himself the title Duke of Warvik. He wields the incredibly powerful Blade of Gaxx, which was created by Curevar (using power from the Ring of Gaxx) to win the day at Shiboleth. His legacy is the spiritual ability which he possesses (early spiritualists were called Ishiaki and Anstran is being hunted by the other adept, the Sword Saint Karamatsu). Finally there is Luther Wordmonger, a thief who shares Dismet’s talent with the Void but who also is an increasingly potent exponent of the Power Words.

Their initial direction was to head to Warvik (situated in northern Shield Lands) and they were greeted in the icy plains of Stonefist by Marakand (another disciple of nature and ‘brother’ to Hyuga). He has several hundred barbarian warriors with him and agrees to escort the party to the edge of the Bluff Hills, where their southerly route can continue with some degree of cover.

Two days later the party enter the Bluff Hills and discover thousands of disused mineshafts and tunnels. At one stage this area was a great mining centre which, over the centuries, has been completely cleaned out. It is during their first night that they feel the strange presence of spirits. These could potentially be undead and each member of the part stands guard. At dawn they make haste and manage to alight the hills before the next sunset. As they leave the hills they are greeted by Aliodan (the brother of Curevar who’s brief is to watch over Dismet and bring her back safely to Niole Dra). Dismet conveys her apologies and says that she will not be travelling to Curevar in the foreseeable future. Aliodan takes his leave and departs, wishing them well.

Their intended route will take the skirting west across the tip of the Bandit Kingdoms and just beneath the Fellreev Forest, where they will descend into Warvik. They come upon a massive tiger, ensnared in a mantrap and snarling at anything that moves. Anstran talks to the beast and learns it’s name - Xerix - Tiger Lord of the Plains and one of the foremost predators of the region. Anstran persuades the beast that he can actually free him and heal the shattered bone. Reluctantly Xerix allows the ranger to cast a spell and the tiger walks free. Xerix vows to aid Anstran wherever he can and lopes off after food.

Two days later, during the dead of night, a strange visitor appears. He seeks out Dismet and introduces himself as Padrivar (he is a vampire lord and former highpriest of Isulan who was King Suliman’s night chancellor during the war with Curevar). The vampire says that he is paying homage to the Rootvile creature and informs her that she is now the queen of undead creatures and that he will serve her without question. Dismet is not sure, since the party are being hunted by both religions and Padrivar’s former connections leave her uncertain. Sensing the party’s nervousness, the vampire departs.

Three days past before they came upon a curious sight. Twenty apparently roguish-looking men had begun to roast alive what appeared to be a Skarvikian priest. Fuelled by intense curiosity they descended to the scene and once amongst the men they were promptly ambushed. There was a Skarvikian Highpriest and several other professional hitmen, along with sixteen warrior priests.

Hyuga reacted with phenomenal speed and cut down two before the melee had begun in earnest. He then disarmed the Highpriest of a very powerful mace before slicing his head apart with his massive greatsword. Anstran weaved a bloody path beside the barbarian, cutting down several of the warriors instantly with the Blade of Gaxx in ‘clean’ form (not the blackness of the Void). Dismet and Luther picked off those stragglers at the fringes of the fight as Hyuga and Anstran did the real damage.

Soon all twenty opponents lay dead whilst there were only minor cuts on the party. Dismet became curious about the mace and, after learning something of Rootvile from Padrivar, allowed several droplets of her black, insidious blood to defile the sanctity of the mace. She then picked it up and was startled by the next event.

She became engulfed in a glowing nimbus and she soon discovered that the mace was actually a Skarvikian altar and Skarvik himself was trying to summon her through to his palace. The Rootvile contamination was confusing the deity, however, and this allowed Dismet to call for help. It arrived in the shape of Padrivar, who assessed the situation immediately and summoned a powerful necromancer called Malibus. The plan was to let Malibus summon her into a pentacle that he created on the spot. At the vampire’s behest Dismet dropped the mace and at that instant Skarvik saw his opportunity. She felt the cold hands of the god on her shoulder (which was later marked by a white patch of skin) and could almost taste his victorious elation. Then, incredibly, Malibus’ sorcery managed to grab her back to Greyhawk and thwart Skarvik...

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