At the Crystal River - which is the natural border between the Shield Lands and Furyondy - the devastation and carnage seem to abate. The poisonous nature of the battle seems to exist only within the region of the battlefield itself. Sorcery seems to return to some kind of normality, although Luther experiences great difficulties with his power words. Each time he casts them there seems to be a primal response from Greyhawk, as though it groans under the intense pressure of his sorcery.

Thousands of refugees flood west from the Shield Lands. They are a desperate race and the party are soon accosted by a young teenaged knight who recognises Anstran. His name is Tollimar. Anstran urges him to take his people to the relative safety of Furyondy and beyond, declining the young man's offer of help, saying that his quest is more important.

During their march a group of farmers rush from their village. They implore Anstran and his friends to look at a unique sight. Their investigations reveal a massive, heavily wounded dragon called Mosharnis. The beast has been saved by Nature but dies slowly in the forlorn village. Luther attempts to utilise his power words upon the dragon to heal it but the Maelstrom takes the creature suddenly, enveloping it in a black nimbus before obliterating it. Luther is as shocked as the party, who discuss the merits of his primal sorcery. Luther does not listen, he verges upon Primal Mastery of the Nine Words and only one more power word - "The Door" - eludes him. They continue on foot.

Shortly they can see the mountains either side of the Gap of Veluna. There is a mile wide corridor of molten lava spanning it. Luther senses his chance to master his art - an accomplishment only three men before him have ever done in the history of Greyhawk. Without heeding the advice of his companions he attempts to open a door to Niole Dra and the palace of Curevar. As the power builds within him he uses the focus of the word and Greyhawk groans once more. A portal of dark mist opens before him and his friends stare in astonishment. The portal opens fully and Luther stares down the throat of the Primal Maelstrom. His scream is banished by a loud rushing sound as he is drawn quickly into the closing portal.

Luther vanishes out of existence.

Anstran, Hyuga, Dismet and Nazir stand helpless. Their hearts hang heavy as their good friend disappears. They stand motionless for half an hour and only move when they are disturbed by an Imperial horseman who arrogantly asks them their business. Hyuga unleashes his greatsword at the man in anger. The horseman can only watch in horror as his entrails spill out before him.

Nazir, the archmage illusionist, decides that to reach Niole Dra safely he must take command of the situation. He uses his simple sorcery to allow each member of the party to fly. Within an hour he is satisfied that each one has mastered the art of magical flight and leads them over the mountains of Ulek and down into the capital of the west. In less than half a day they find themselves at the gates of Niole Dra...the journey was a silent, sombre affair. Their attachment to Luther spanned several years and his passing hangs heavy in all their hearts...

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