The Caves of the Dead

cy 4863 Janos 26th - 27th

King Luthien Stormrider greets his nephew, Hosskal, warmly and invites his companions into the throne room. Immediately Brazer Silverbow uses his natural Marraq telepathy to get into the mind of the monarch. What he sees there is a genuine and honest man, a man with vast experience and an all encompassing control of the entire Kalador Forest. Brazer is certain that the king knows who they are even before Hosskal introduces them.

Taryn’s fears that the Kals will join forces with Elenoria are quickly dispelled. Luthien tells them that he refused Illyanth’s pleas for an alliance and informs them that no other kingdom will – presently – come to the aid of Valadain Raikos. The Godslayer stands alone against the might of the Elenorian horde. King Luthien also reveals what he knows of the queen’s motives (he admits to having spies inside the palace at Elenoria) – he believes she is pregnant from some arch demon and wishes to mirror the Bloodlines of Loramas. To ensure purity of that bloodline she cannot allow the remaining two of her offspring (Calandrin and Arvial) to exist – thus she ensure a pure bloodline emanating from herself.

Taryn suggests a council of kings and Luthien agrees; he sends his chancellor Aluthar to make the arrangements. The discussion continues over lunch at the king’s grand banqueting hall with the group divided on the best course of action. Arvial, however, is more succinct.

"We must sever the head of this particular snake," the child says profoundly, "if we are to be truly free we must go after Illyanth and kill her. If we do not then she will hunt us down for the rest of our days. We will never be free."

Taryn nods in agreement. The king is astonished by the young child’s perception but adds a note of caution. "It will not be easy to defeat her; she is, after all, the greatest living swordswoman on Grayhawk and her allies can be counted from the Abyss as well as from the elven contingent."

"Do you know of the Caves of the Dead?" Arvial asks.

Once again the king is shocked. "Of course – the ancestral burial place of Lord Kal himself, the first and true king of the Kals."

"Inside that tomb is the embodiment of the Kals strength," Arvial continues. "The five disciplines of the Kals (sorcery, necromancy, archery, swordsmanship, and telepathy) are represented – Lord Kal took his artefacts with him and the Kals guarded his tomb with five of the greatest exponents of each discipline. If we can get past these we can retrieve weapons that will help us defeat the queen."

"Incredible!" King Luthien says. "This child is correct, but there is a flaw in your plan. The Caves of the Dead will not give their secrets easily; many have tried and all have failed. It might be more prudent to go immediately to face the queen…it may well be an easier task."

"We will – of course – return any weapons when the queen is dead," Arvial says.

That evening Hosskal takes his companions – with the exception of Calandrin and Arvial – to meet some of his noble companions. He is well known amongst them. Many of the noble ladies flirt with them all night and whilst Taryn stays relatively sobre the others enjoy a night of revelry. Brazer Silverbow, a charming half breed Marraq, is an instant hit with the noble ladies out to gain favour and position. That night he takes three such beauties back to his room and is the last to rise next morning!

Next morning Taryn takes the party to tour the Temple District. The Kalador Forest is one of the few places on Grayhawk that has the four major religions in close proximity; the grand temples form an area all of their own and compete for the many worshippers who reside in the forest. First they find the Malakarian temple run by Kossrik, a vicious social climber with a dark heart and a darker attitude towards the party. Hosskal and G-Lest, both Malakar followers, remain in this temple for the rest of the day.

Taryn receives a warmer welcome in the three other temples. The Jarik temple is run by a Nadir high priest called Myrvian, the Elenian temple by a Kal priestess called Luthiel Dawnwarden, and the Willowstarrian temple by a wise old Kal called Bellian.

It is in Bellian’s company where Taryn discovers much about the mystery of Arvial’s mother. Both Brazer and Clytem successfully get into the minds of all the high priests but in Bellian’s they learn most.

"I was present at Arvial’s birth," Bellian says calmly though his mind is in turmoil at the memory. "It was a grave day indeed. He was born inside the temple; the mother was half Myrid and half something else – not demonic, not undead…something darker. Whatever infected her drove her mad. She wanted to slay the child as soon as she set eyes upon it. We had to kill her…there was no choice."

Later King Luthien Stormrider takes the party (via tree-like teleportation – to the Caves of the Dead. He has one last attempt to persuade them against the action but Taryn politely declines. When the king is gone the ranger lord asks Kasnar – the guildmaster thief agent of Viator – to find the King of Thieves and bring him to the entrance.

When Kasnar returns the news is not good. "He will not enter the Caves of the Dead."

Taryn shrugs. "It was as I suspected."

Taryn leads them through into the first cave. Brazer and Clytem can feel a mind awakening. They see an archery range with straw targets set at maximum longbow range at one side. Valdras is the first of the guardians of Lord Kal’s tomb; he hefts an ancient longbow.

The Kal archer offers them a duel. "If one of you can best me in a duel then you may proceed, but if you fail you will have to leave."

Clytem, the Marraq, steps forward. He stands at the range and the Kal smiles. "A Marraq…this should be some sport. Five shots each."

G-Lest casts warp wood on the Kal’s arrows, subtly altering their shape a fraction so that the feathers are slightly out of alignment. Meanwhile Brazer is inside the Kal’s head and can feel the confidence. The Kal called Valdras sends his first arrow forward. To his horror the shaft veers off and misses the entire target. Valdras is horrified. Clytem hits the outer ring but when the Kal misses the second shot panic sets in. Brazer sees the mind collapse but the victory is a narrow one – Clytem only just hits the target with three shots.

For a second Valdras considers turning on the party. Brazer Silverbow already has an arrow knocked and Taryn hovers behind the Kal menacingly. Valdras admits defeat and allows them passage to the next room.

The next chamber is set out like an arena. A large mat marks out a sparring area and at the perimeter are hundreds of weapons of all shapes and types. Some weapons are so old they have fallen out of use. In the centre of the mat is a Kal sat cross legged with a katana perfectly balanced across his thighs.

"I am Morvel," the elf says, "and I represent swordmanship. It is the discipline you must face if you are to proceed. Who amongst you will challenge me."

Calandrin moves forward and the two swordsmen circle around each other like tigers round cornered prey, their eyes intent and their katanas held loosely by their side. Brazer is inside the mind of the Kal and can feel the supreme confidence of a combatant who has sent many to his death. But in Calandrin he faces an opponent trained by Illyanth herself.

They come together in a blur of steel and the clatter of sword on sword. Attack and parry are too fast to distinguish. The Kal, however, has never faced such a quick opponent. Calandrin draws the blade across Morvel’s back, rips it down his spine and then across the Kal’s throat in one swift, mind-numbingly fast strike – a blow not in any master’s repertoire, a blow only seen by a select few swordsmen.

Hosskal lifts the dead Kal’s katana and the rest of the party help themselves to some other weapons from the racks, some replacing damaged blades but most just taking a finer weapon.

Through the next door the scene changes once again. A lone robed Kal sits by an open fire. Like the other guardians he has just woken. Brazer and Clytem try to get into his mind and are met by the stone wall defence of a master telepath.

"I am Voltian," he says pleasantly, "and I require a duel if you are to proceed. I see there are three telepaths her."

Arvial suggests that he may be needed in a further challenge – that of sorcery or necromancy – so Brazer, the novice telepath steps forward. Voltian is pleased and realises that he is in for an easy victory. Brazer however prepares his mind as the Kal explains what form the mental combat will take. "The sanest one amongst us is the winner."

Brazer has never fought mind-to-mind before but realises that the Kal’s mind will be dominant, indeed if the guardian strikes cleanly then it will be over very quickly. He feels the Kal’s mind as it strikes, the full weight of power of a telepath accustomed to centuries of combat. Brazer has only one hope. He deftly avoids the mental crush and finds himself inside the Kal’s head; he searches for the dark recess in every mind, the greatest fear that all beings have. A fear so profound that a mind will lock it away and never seek it.

Brazer opens that door in Voltian’s mind and – to his utter disbelief – finds himself stood there! It is too much for the Kal who realises that the moment of his defeat, and ultimate death, has arrived. His mental attack fades into nothingness as his heart stops.

At the other side of the cave another door opens to a dimly lit chamber…