Black Mountains

cy 4863 - Janos 20th - 22nd

As the dust and debris settle there is no sign of the hundred demons that attacked the party. Arvial, the son of the noble born Calandrin, is at the centre of the devastation. His power caused nature to destroy the demonic force led by Xalvar Nightsbane – Illyanth’s night chancellor. There is no sign of Xalvar but Taryn Bzar knows he has not seen the last of the half demon.

As they continue north west Taryn studies the black diamond once more. The priestess Herla is more than interested by the artefact and once she touches it realises that it was created by her master – the God Malakar. Once hearing this insight Taryn gifts the gem to her and they proceed on their journey always alert, the ranger believes that it is only a matter of time before Xalvar regroups and attacks again.

That night Fuls Brett creates a defensible bunker and they post guards throughout the night. Herla casts glyph of warding at the entrance and Karnak casts wyvern watch above. The attack comes after five hours of sleep. The walls of the elemental begin to bleed, blood seeps down and covers the guards. Soon everyone is awake. Fuls Brett senses a demon has occupied the space where the elemental had been. He urges everyone outside immediately…straight into an ambush.

As they exit the mouth of the cave four rapidly growing balls of fire hurtle towards them. The party dive for cover as four massive explosions erupt at the mouth of the cave.

Taryn rolls to safety, his inner fire deflecting the heat of the magical fireball, he smothers Arvial, effectively saving the boys life. Herla also is unharmed, Malakar’s black heart absorbs the magic. Fuls Brett, Karnak, Dietrich, and Rakalam are not so lucky – the fire consumes them instantly.

Todgem and Calandrin are charred, injured but alive! Four small demonic imps can be seen ahead of them. Taryn is already charging, followed rapidly by Todgem and Calandrin. The imps have no time to react. Taryn and Calandrin butcher one apiece whilst Todgem uses his magical dagger to fell the other two.

There is no time to mourn their fallen comrades. A screeching call to arms can be heard from the ridge high above them. Herla casts animate undead and turns her fallen comrades into zombies, which follow her. Xalvar Nightsbane calls in more reinforcements – more demons descend from the blackened skies; not imps this time though, these monsters are large and dangerous, their crimson eyes containing powerful souls.

Taryn leads them down into a narrow gully between two cliff faces. Sheltered from above the gully is accessible from only one point. They hear the demons perched above them, like gulls following a sailing ship, Taryn realises that they are trapped.

Herla begins immediately to build a shrine to Malakar. Suddenly three travellers hurry into the gully seeking protection from the swarm of demons overhead. The Cutter, an assassin, Vajan Wolftongue, a martial artist, and Earl Caldera, a Malakarian priest are thankful for the sanctuary. Herla realises that each of the newcomers is half elven, half demonic. Only the fact that there is a Malakarian amongst them stops her attacking them.

The predicament becomes clear when Xalvar speaks; "You will never see another dawn!"

Herla casts glyph of warding on a zombie and sends it out into the clearing. It is hit from above by demonic bolts, the undead is obliterated within seconds.

The party sit and discuss tactics. The Cutter slips out of the gully and sneaks up above them. Within minutes he finds himself in the company of Xalvar Nightsbane with demons all around and above him. Xalvar does not slay him. He hands the assassin a parchment (with Illyanth’s seal in wax) and says; "Hand this to the child and I will let you live."

The Cutter returns to the party who dismiss the parchment as an obvious trap. Herla hands it to one of the zombies. Between them they hatch an escape plan. The Cutter and his two half demon friends will return to face Xalvar thus distracting him enough so that Calandrin and Arvial and the others can slip away. Taryn plans to sneak away to get within longbow range of the meeting with a view to taking out Xalvar.

So the three half demons climb up to face Xalvar. The demons are close, intimidating and frightening. The night chancellor is suspicious and it soon becomes clear to him that The Cutter has tricked him. Meanwhile Calandrin leads the rest of them out in a hurry, he hugs the rock face in an attempt to get cover.

Taryn Bzar looks down the shaft of a longbow arrow. In his sights is the tall demonic chancellor who stands menacingly before his companions. He breathes deeply before he lets the shaft go.

Xalvar senses something is wrong. Before he can react the arrow thunders into the side of his head, flames spew from the awful wound. Damage that would take down a dragon merely causes Xalvar to scream and spew fire. The three half demons jump Xalvar, unconcerned that Taryn continues to shoot from distance they engage the screaming demon. Two more arrows thunder into Xalvar’s groin but the chancellor refuses to go down.

Above the demons scatter like frightened crows. Half their number chase Calandrin and half head straight for Taryn.

Xalvar wrenches both katanas from his shoulder scabbards; enraged by the damage he decapitates Caldera and Vajan before they can offer any resistance. The Cutter ducks away as a third arrow finds Xalvar’s groin; the assassin hopes to kill the half demon by surprise. Fire erupts from the belly of Xalvar. Slowed and in pain the chancellor struggles on. The Cutter seizes his chance and drives his longsword up into the wounded groin; Xalvar screams and lashes out wildly – the blade slices through the assassin’s heart and kills him instantly.

Taryn Bzar is only aware of the target. Fifty maniacal demons hurtle towards him but he concentrates only on the crouching and wounded chancellor. Just one more shot he thinks. Sweat drips into his eyes but his focus is the screaming half demon two hundred and fifty yards distant. Just one more shot. Forgoing his own safety Taryn draws what should be his final arrow; the demons are almost upon him, red eyes fixed on his throat, teeth slavering and drooling as they aim for his soul.

As the arrow flies he rolls down and to the side. Miraculously no talons or teeth find his flesh. With incredible agility he leaps to his feet and prepares to face impossible odds; only to see the demons evaporate into smoke, the stink of sulphur the only evidence of their appearance. In the distance he sees the remaining demons that were chasing Arvial vanish in a similar fashion. He stares to the ridge and Xalvar Nightsbane – the chancellor is no more than a cloud of noxious vapour, the remnants of his fire that have taken his soul.

As Taryn smiles he hears the jubilation in the voices of his companions. Joy echoes around the valley, bounces off the rock and reverberates for miles. He wonders at the irony of the sound. This is no place for joy he muses as he makes his way back to his friends…