The Dead of Night

15th Bear cy 2143

As night falls the expectant survivors feel a distinct change in atmosphere. It becomes severely cold and their dread is felt by every member of the group. Anstran senses the coming of large spirits as Padrivar - the vampiric high priest of Isulan - leads twenty other vampires towards the group.

Padrivar falls upon the group and they butcher all the elves and knights that remain before the fight with Anstran, Hyuga, Dismet and Luther begins in earnest. Slowly the ferocity of the battle begins to swing in the party's favour and only Padrivar remains. His skill and sorcerer prove a struggle but Luther casts a Torren upon an axe and hurls it at the vampiric priest. The axe cleaves through his defences and Padrivar is obliterated by the power of the void.

At the start of the day almost half a million troops squared up to each other. Now only eight remained: Anstran, Hyuga, Dismet, Luther, Mandrigan, Grimstock, Solman and Nazir. Exhausted, cold and injured they watch wearily as virtually every peak on the four horizons erupts in a fury of smoke and lava. The very earth shakes and they begin to wonder just what else they must endure. They do not have long to wait for an answer.

Descending to the valley are two strange looking individuals. One wears a dark robe and cowl to cover his face and hefts a scythe in his bony right hand...The Grim Reaper. The other man wears an iron mask that obscures his face. He addresses the survivors with a regal tone: "Time is now dead. Your fate will be decided by the All-father and his enemy...let your answers be as truthful as your courage."

Two figures appear. One is shrouded in darkness - The Unmaker - whilst the other is a sagely old man - Promethius. The man in the iron mask gestures for the two newcomers to make a choice. Promethius points to Anstran and disappears. The Unmaker points to another figure descending the hill and he too vanishes. All eyes stare upon the stranger. To their horror they realise it is Isulan. Hyuga's hand tightens around Godslayer but the two chosen protagonists are ushered into the centre of the valley to commence the final, most telling battle. All eyes are upon the scarred, soul-damaged Ishiaki master as he lurches into the centre. His opponent stands tall with the perfect physique of a god and an arrogance to match...he sneers at Anstran.

Suddenly the two combatants come together and their swords clash with frightening speed and power. The spiritual combat that cannot be seen is just as important as the physical duel and each fighter realises that it will be settled by one small mistake. Anstran appears not to suffer from his apparent injuries as the trade lightning fast cuts and ripostes. When the mistake occurs it is so small as to be almost unnoticeable. Isulan lunges a fraction of an inch too much to one side and the Ishiaki smashes Karamatsu's katana into his face. Blood plumes as Isulan is forced back into desperate defence. Seeing his opportunity Anstran does not relieve the pressure and surges forward skilfully. The crimson flow obscures the vision in Isulan's right eye and Anstran decapitates the god instantly, banishing him to a plane that is rapidly being consumed by the Maelstrom.

Anstran collapses to his knees and the volcanoes erupt even more. The universe sighs an almost audible sigh as the party feel that the worst is now over. The event proves too much for Grimstock, the ancient archmage, who collapses and dies as his friends watch helplessly. Suddenly all eyes are on Hyuga, who cradles the dead body of his beloved Kyrena...tears line his face as he stares sorrowfully at his friends...

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