Preparations continue for the next day with the last vestiges of Mandrigan’s troops heading for the battlefield. Solman is the last member of the court left and he makes the final contingencies for the war. He informs the party that it is the king’s wish that they stay away from the battlefield for as long as possible, as the opportunity to assassinate them would be great.

Eventually Solman gathers Anstran, Hyuga, Dismet and Manix and takes them to the king’s barge. The weather is dreadful. Torrential rain has caused flooding throughout Admund Fort but they leave everything behind, wondering whether any of them will see the castle again. It is a melancholy crossing, with Solman trying to keep the party isolated from his men so as to give Anstran and his companions time to think of what they must face upon the Festival of Rakshasha. When they reach the mainland fresh horses and an entourage of fifty knights await them. Still raining, they head to the north.

Along the way they are greeted by Xerix, the tiger lord friend of Anstran, who speaks briefly to the duke before hurrying on his way. By evening they reach the encampment and Mandrigan awaits them. The assembled warriors are eager to fight, yet Hyuga is most distracted of all. His spiritual visit on the 6th day of the Bear saw Skarvik and Isulan tell him of a mighty sword they have waiting for him. The mighty barbarian cannot rest until he has investigated the gods’ words. He takes his leave of his companions and is joined by Nazir, a young illusionist who wishes to accompany the Knight Protector of the West.

Amidst the hordes of soldiers and thousands of tents is a leafy copse. This dry shelter seems to have been overlooked by all the soldiers and Hyuga and Nazir enter the copse with eager anticipation.

Skarvik stands before them. His presence is overbearing as he hefts a large silver greatsword. Hyuga instinctively senses something is not right. The sneer upon the god’s face indicates only one thing. A trap !! This realisation brings great fear to the young illusionist, Nazir, who is aware of Isulan, bearing a great black blade, entering from the other side of the barbarian. Nazir backs away, unable to move a muscle.

The gods exchange a brief glance and a short nod. They erupt into violence and attack Hyuga with blinding speed. Hyuga unleashes his greatsword and is faced by a rapid, highly skilled assault by the two gods. Nazir gapes in horror, unable to comprehend the frightening speed of the gods’ movements. Centuries of knowledge and skill are thrown at the barbarian, who swerves away from one cut, deftly parries another, ducks beneath a third....

Nazir watches as Hyuga turns every blow - taking each blinding slash with an almost methodical patience. Suddenly, without warning, Hyuga turns defence into attack and his twisting blade disarms Skarvik and pulls the greatsword across the god’s face in a swift, fluid, expert motion. Crimson blood pours from Skarvik’s face as his blade clatters around Hyuga’s feet. The stunned god pauses for a brief, unbelieving second and is forced back by the artistry of Hyuga’s swordplay. Without a blade Skarvik ducks away from one cut but is caught by a vicious oblique strike that ploughs through his skull and fells him like a falling oak.

Both Nazir and Isulan stare motionless in disbelief as Skarvik’s blood pools around them. The god’s physical body disintegrates as they all realise that this death has banished Skarvik from Greyhawk for exactly one hundred years. Still tasting the fire of adrenaline in his veins, Hyuga turns to Isulan, who merely holds up a salutary hand and vanishes from the copse.

Hyuga bends and deliberately folds his massive hand around the hilt of Skarvik’s silver blade. The power throbs through it as he realises that it is a temple to the god - albeit a portable one. He also realises that because of his actions and the defeat of his enemy, Skarvik is unable to exert any influence over Hyuga whatsoever. A grim smile crosses the barbarian’s face as Anstran, Dismet, Solman, Mandrigan and Manix crash into the copse to investigate the scene of the commotion. They stare in awe at the sight of Hyuga, Skarvik’s sword in one hand and the blood of the vanquished god oozing down his other hand and onto his own mighty blade. Nazir creates a visual illusion of the events and all salute the phenomenal courage and skill of the barbarian.

News spreads quickly through the camp and there are chants and songs as Hyuga passes. Cheering sounds across the valley as Marakand, the barbarian disciple of Nature greets his friend. Kyrena is present also, her appreciation of the man all too difficult to hide. Mandrigan calls for an immediate celebration and the forces of Admund Fort take to wine, beer and song for the rest of the night.

Kyrena prises Hyuga away from his army of admirers and the two of them spend an intimate night making love in the disciple’s tent....

Eventually the day arrives. Since the banishment of Skarvik the rain stopped. Even as the Festival of Rakshasha arrives there is not a cloud to be seen. One minute after midnight there is a sharp crack of thunder and all present line up at the top of the hill to look down upon the valley battlefield. The lightning strikes a single rock and a solitary figure can be seen at the base of the rock.

Anstran’s senses tingle as he feels the spirit of the figure trying to decide which side of the hill - and therefore which army - to join. He releases the Blade of Gaxx from it’s scabbard and hoists it aloft. The figure turns to it and instinctively makes his way towards it.

To the party’s amazement they see the silhouetted figure is actually Luther ! There are distinct differences in their friend, however, who seems to possess the most unnatural eyes and flowing, evil demeanour. He greets his companions and tells of his torture in the Abyss.

When dawn breaks the two armies are lined up atop their hilltops and face each other menacingly. Anstran, Hyuga, Dismet, Luther, Manix and Nazir join Marakand and his barbarians. Their role will be to go where they are needed into battle. The two armies come together like the tide crashing against a harbour wall. Before long Marakand sounds the charge and Hyuga and Anstran are first into the thick of the action. The godslayer’s blade sings. That song is a song of death.....

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