The forces of Mandrigan and Angarad crash together in the initial test of each others' armies. Anstran and Hyuga exact a heavy toll with their phenomenal ability in combat. Dismet is always within the protective glance of the two veteran warriors and they carve a destructive gash through Angarad's infantry. As Karamatsu directs his troops from one hilltop so Mandrigan does from the other.

Eventually the two armies part like a vast sea. Any men too slow to retreat are cut down by the archers from both sides. The dead litter the field as the next wave prepare to attack. This force is spearheaded by the infamous White Legions. These Skarvikian troops were hand chosen for their prowess in war. Heavy cavalry flank to the right and Ygril's elven archer/warriors flank on the other side. They move ominously down to the centre of the field.

The White Legions are met by Marakand and his Ice Barbarians. Anstran and Hyuga stand beside the disciple of nature and together they cut down Skarvikians with a passion. The fighting is more savage now. Casualties begin to rise. The added problem for Mandrigan's forces is the deadly accuracy of Ygril's elven archers. Their skill is unequalled and Anstran and Hyuga are hard pushed to avoid the shafts as they litter the air like locusts.

There is a sudden unexpected wrench from the earth. The fighting becomes sporadic as an earthquake tears the ground to shreds and thousands fall to their deaths as Greyhawk screams in it's primal agony. The chaos offers opportunities to many and the killing does not abate. Luther finds himself stranded upon an island alone staring down the shaft of an elven archer who has him in his sights. His attempted power word merely causes the earth to groan once more and the archer collapses into the darkness of the Maelstrom. As suddenly as the ground opened it begins to close in again and the warring troops flee the killing ground once more. The second wave is over.

There is barely enough time to count casualties when Mandrigan's forces stare at a growing yellow cloud, charged with energy and slowly engulfing the opposing troops on the other hilltop. It has a massive magical potential and slowly envelops the whole hillside. It moves down gradually forcing Mandrigan to deploy weary troops once more. It eventually lifts to reveal a line of five thousand dark robed warriors. Mandrigan's troops stare in disbelief as each of the dark warriors seem to attract lighting from the gloomy skies. Hyuga and Anstran lead a spirited charge into their ranks. Their faces are orcish yet they fight savagely and count for many troops with their deadly spears and cleavers.

Without warning there is a sound of incredible volume. It is a booming thunderclap that heralds the arrival of five black tornadoes. The battle falters as these five whirling nightmares obliterate anything they come into contact with. Such is their destructive power that they seem to draw objects into them. The melee scatters and most run for survival.

Anstran and Hyuga, however, are caught by the most ferocious dark warriors and continue to battle even as the threat of the cataclysmic cyclones orbit their positions. Hyuga cuts left and right with frightening speed, every cut decapitating a warrior, until eventually he cuts them an escape route. He moves away, turning to Anstran to gesture to him. He is greeted by an awesome sight, one which chills his soul. Anstran is silhouetted against one of the mighty tornadoes, his whole body caught in it's fierce gravity. The Ishiaki's face is strained as Hyuga witnesses the horrific sight of his friend's clothes being ripped from his back and engulfed by the black winds. Anstran struggles for balance against the terrific force of the maelstrom. He feels his soul oozing from his back, the skin peeling apart as he faces obliteration. With one last desperate gesture he hurls the mighty Blade of Gaxx backwards into the maelstrom and there is an almighty explosion. Such is the force of the dark blast that the tornadoes are snuffed out even as a terrible wave of darkness consumes many upon the field from both sides.

Anstran stands awkwardly. The pain of his cratered back is nothing to the inner pain of his damaged soul. He glances around the mass destruction and realises that there are some notable absentees - Marakand, Lombiak and Xerix are amongst those who have ceased to exist. Luther and Dismet are also absent, although they have disappeared not been consumed. (Dismet has gone to Gorren's castle whilst Luther has descended to the dubious protection of Hell)

Both forces retreat to take stock of their beleaguered troops. Only five percent of the initial forces remain. Mandrigan stares in disbelief as Karamatsu pulls the remaining forces into some semblance of an attacking group. Hyuga and Anstran lead the troops down the hill once more.

As the two groups crash together all manner of tactics and deployment have disappeared. It becomes a savage brawl, the culmination of five hours of deadly combat sees the hardiest survivors cleaving each other apart with wanton abandon. Hyuga and Anstran are amongst the last remaining in the combat. Suddenly Anstran is alone...Hyuga felled by an elven arrow to the face lies and moans at the Ishiaki's feet. There is a sudden realisation that Karamatsu is before him. The last remaining Ishiaki exponents upon Greyhawk square up to each other before they erupt into violence.

The battle is as much about spiritual combat as it is about the physical side. They trade blows with equal skill until Anstran gains a small, yet telling, advantage. His spiritual attack upon Karamatsu's fulcrum is enough to unbalance the swordsaint and Anstran's sword bites critically through Karamatsu's skull. The remaining hundred elves and twenty knights gape in disbelief and exhaustion. Too tired to fight they merely stare as the Ishiaki grandmaster takes Karamatsu's mighty katana and heralds the arrival of Grimstock and King Mandrigan, the now undisputed king of the Shield Lands.

The ancient sorcerer heals Hyuga and Solman and the survivors watch as Anstran works an Ishiaki long attack upon the fallen body of Karamatsu. This technique consumes several hours and the feeling of impending doom is difficult to escape. Grimstock advises everyone to remain within the valley as the day is not yet over. As they watch Anstran the dark clouds begin to gather around the battlefield. The skies are suddenly filled with the beating of thousands of dragons' wings. The sky is blocked by their numbers and one purple dragon in particular descends carrying a purple robed minstrel. He dismounts and approaches Anstran...

"Maturity has brought you great power, Mystic," he says. "That power brings with it the responsibility of the world." With that he reaches out his hand and somehow wrenches a small jewel from his chest. "The destruction of the Ishiaki Master is merely the beginning of it. As the sun falls your true enemy will emerge and the battle of the circle of nine begins."

The minstrel tosses the jewel into the air and the is a thunderous explosion followed by a great orange flash of light. When they adjust their eyesight they realise that all the dragons have gone...The minstrel is nowhere to be seen.

Dismet and Luther return quickly from the lower planes since the Maelstrom is slowly consuming each one. The party wait for the sun to fall...

Back