Mandrigan spends the next few days listening to the counsel of Anstran, Hyuga and Dismet whilst the court of the king await the return of general Lombiak from the battlefield site. Hyuga goes out of the citadel where he meets Kyrena, his wolfish companion and a disciple of Nature like himself. She urges the barbarian to persuade the king to listen to the words of Vladek - the first disciple.

King Mandrigan agrees and within hours Vladek flies into the palace in the guise of a hawk. Vladek reacquaints himself with the party, who listen to the wise words of the ancient man carefully. Dismet decides that she would like to try to contact Gorren, to see if the demonic arbiter can settle the battle peacefully. Solman and Manic enthuse about the idea and go with Dismet to her chambers. She utters Gorren’s name and the three find themselves sat at the Oval Table in the presence of Gorren himself. To their horror they find Skarvik sat opposite them - who is equally shocked by their arrival.

Gorren takes the situation in hand and ushers the god into a side chamber before any harm is done. He then explains to Dismet that he is unable to intervene in the present situation, although he is not clear on why or who is stopping him. He suggests that they leave, since time spent in his sanctuary accelerates the time past on Greyhawk. They heed his advise and return to their rooms at the palace - even those short minutes spent with Gorren cost them ten days of Greyhawk time.

Back in the throneroom Vladek tells the king and his friends of his thoughts on Karamatsu, and of his probable tactics. He informs them that the Darklander’s dragon will play an active role in the coming battle and even gives them it’s location - on a mountain top on the southern edge of the Cairn Hills. Anstran and Hyuga exchange a hard look as the thought hits the simultaneously. They decide to go after Karamatsu’s mount. Luther joins them and they head for the harbour where they set sail immediately.

Within two days they have reached the hills and the disembark on fresh horses and speed south. Within two leagues Xerix, the sorcerous tiger king, reveals himself and helps to fend off any interested monsters that happen across their scent. After five days hard riding they reach the foot of the mountain, it’s top shrouded by clouds, and make a steady trek upwards.

They toil for three days on the peak and after breaking through the layer of clouds they reach the summit. Anstran is the first up to the pinnacle and as he stands he sees the monstrous creature sat upright. It towers almost one hundred feet above him and there is a dark, sorcerous intelligence about the beast. Anstran rips the Blade of Gaxx from it’s scabbard but the dragon is already moving it’s neck like a whip. From it’s mouth comes a blast of black, primal breath and the three men’s clothes and most of their equipment is disintegrated immediately. Naked, stunned and winded they struggle on. Hyuga, without a blade, decides to try and attract it’s attention as Anstran attacks with the Blade of Gaxx. Karamatsu’s mount is the king of dragons but he is confounded by the king of blades which does it’s incredible work on the beast. Anstran chops this way and that, setting a chain reaction in motion within the creature which results in it’s total destruction. He yells at his friends to jump but the dragon - and half the mountain - explode beneath them.

Anstran is able use his ranger knowledge to fall safely to the ground whilst Luther uses a more complex approach. The wordmaster removes his soul from his body as it falls and he watches as it pounds itself against the rocks. Hyuga is unable to break his fall and dies at the foot of the mountain. Anstran quickly collects the barbarian’s body and ushers the naked soul of Luther into a cave. The mountain continues to erupt above them and he calls out to Xerix for help. Anstran realises that although Luther’s soul is alive it needs to find a host body within days or it will perish. Without a body, the wordmaster will also not be able to use his sorcery to bring back Hyuga.

Xerix is briefed on the situation and as the mountain erupts above them the tiger eventually finds an inquisitive wandering nomad who came to investigate the explosion. Luther enters soul combat with the unconscious nomad and crushes him entirely. Now with a body Luther is able to use his potent Power Words. He quickly restores himself before uttering a single word that resurrects Hyuga. The three men find their horses, spare clothes and ride triumphantly back towards Admund Fort.

Their journey lasts for six days and as the night of the 6th day of the Bear arrives, they are on board the war galley in the middle of the Nyr Dyv...

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