Drusor's Bane

Mar 20th - 23rd

The party are in their new home in the heart of the Olshay Range, five thousand feet up they look down on the clouds. The demonic engineer continues to create Morikand’s sky castle whilst the rest of his friends use the demonic ship as temporary refuge. Vetrick scouts the surrounding area and discovers the tracks and footprints of creatures he knows nothing about. These, he muses, are no ordinary animals.

Headlock, the orc priest of Elena, uses stoneshape to fashion a shrine which he buries thirty feet into the rock on the edge of the plateau. When he completes the shrine he notices words appearing suddenly, punched into the ceiling by an unknown sculptor. Headlock’s acute spirit sense reveals demonic influence.

I AM BACK

The rest of the party consider the strange message. Vetrick suspects the re-emergence of Asigoth and nobody disagrees with him. That night they sleep uneasily, aware that an enemy is close. Xaian Lau and Gila, the two martial artists, take the first watch. When Xaian spots a couple of rats trying to get into the ship he launches a well-aimed throwing dagger that hits the first rat. The rodent is semi corporeal, a magical trick of projection.

The clattering of the thrown dagger inside the sleeping quarters is enough to wake the rest of the party. Morikand casts detect demon and realises Asigoth is close. Without warning the demonic assassin is amongst them, he materialised in the middle with a pair of jet-black katanas in his hands. Morikand realises that he cannot cast for at least another minute but his friends are quick to take the offensive.

Headlock casts bless before swinging Wrathstar at the killer. Asigoth parries with the blade and the priest’s hammer is unmade! It shatters into a million shards of black glass before evaporating into nothingness. Horror stricken the rest of the party realise what power Asigoth now wields; two void blades capable of utter destruction.

Vetrick is committed to his attack and as soon as the demon’s blade turns it aside the greatsword vanishes along with the demon bound into it. Asigoth survives the first barrage of blows and counterattacks swiftly. A deft flick of the first sword catches Headlock unaware, the priest is obliterated before their eyes! Gila and Vetrick avoid another couple of attacks and all continue to press their five-to-one advantage. They know that Asigoth will soon run out of defences. Indeed when Xaian Lau flicks a throwing dagger at the demon Asigoth does not defend and is cut by the powerful throw.

Gila’s timing is perfect. The deadly quarterstaff smashes into Asigoth’s midriff and punctures its soul. Asigoth screams. The demon is on its knees and howls like a wounded puppy, his eyes now a pale pink instead of vibrant crimson. There is no more fight left in him and he teleports away before Gila or Graz could deliver the final death blow.

"Is he dead?" Xaian Lau asks.

"Not likely," Gila remarks, "he will lick his wounds and rebuild his soul. We have not seen the last of that one."

Next morning Morikand creates a pentacle on the plateau floor. He summons a demon from the Plane of Blades and is confronted by a corpulent man with a blacksmith’s hammer and a sour disposition. After some initial taunts Morikand manages to bind it into a service; to build Vetrick a greatsword. Later he casts true name – the demon is called Avarak the Furnace Master. Avarak suggests that he needs a forge and an unearthly fire to create the blade.

Morikand summons a second demon from the Plane of Pyres and binds it to Avarak’s service. It is a small imp-like creature with a mastery of fire.

That night a wandering mountain elf called Aldanor Carlomin joins the group. A paladin on a rite of passage he is welcomed by the party.

It takes Avarak twenty four hours to produce the greatsword. When Vetrick takes possession of it the Furnace Master disappeared, his service complete, however Morikand keeps the imp and sets it to work on the castle. The blade is identified by the demonologist as Gar Avarak.

Meanwhile Graz uses his sorcerous quiver to enchant the paladin’s arrows. The party now discuss taking the fight to Korven with Gila’s suggestion that they use Dorik Luckwarden to get to Drusor and perhaps persuade him to help them. Dorik is enthusiastic about the idea and convinces them all that he can get them to see his brother.

Drusor Luckwarden has made massive gains in the war with Korven. His army surrounds the citadel of Morganth on the border to the Bretonian heartland where Korven rules. As Morikand steers the ship into the clouds he can see the siege mapped out below. Smoke rises from the walls as Korven’s forces try to repel the irrepressible army of Drusor.

It is decided to land the ship a mile from Drusor’s tent and walk in. His army is made up of a core of Erenlanders and Khulans with a smattering of Drenai throughout the ranks. As the party, led by Dorik, move through the engineers and reserves heads turn. The troops can see the resemblance to their leader.

At a huge tent on the battlefield Drusor and his generals make plans to take another city. When Dorik and the party enter the tent Drusor dismisses his men. Dorik and Drusor embrace but Drusor’s disposition towards the others is not good. He accuses them of treachery and dishonour, a charge Vetrick throws back in his face.

Vetrick and Drusor square up to each other, their tempers rising. Not even the conciliatory Dorik or the calming influence of Graz Tak can blunt their anger. The two men are bitter rivals but few could suspect what was about to happen. With his anger at its peak Vetrick snaps; his new blade, Gar Avarak, is unleashed and he lunges at Drusor.

Graz Tak reacts first. He knocks the blade from Vetrick’s grasp in an attempt to diffuse the situation. But Gila is under no illusions about where this fight is going; he is upon Drusor Luckwarden as soon as the Drenai’s trademark twin greatswords are drawn. Gila uses the technique of distraction – a skill unique to martial artists – to feign an attack. When Drusor is drawn to it Gila strikes. A small mistake but it sees Gila’s staff crack Drusor’s head in two, the deadly quarterstaff quaffs the soul eagerly and voraciously.

When Drusor’s empty body falls to the ground Dorik screams in anguish and turns his blades on the killer of his brother. Gila deflects each blow methodically, calmly, his senses tuned to the bodyguards who are rushing into the huge tent. Escape is impossible. Even if they defeat the bodyguards an entire army will be right behind them. But Gila is calm…calmer than he has ever been.

Gila spins to kick Dorik in the face as Morikand kicks him in the sword arm. The howling guards are almost upon them but Morikand’s slow buys them vital seconds. His next kick is lethal, the demonologist snaps the neck of Dorik Luckwarden with a skilful attack.

Gila concentrates on the staff, he invokes the demonic influence from within, calling on the demon from the Plane of Darkness to aid him. Instantly an impenetrable shroud of blackness envelops the tent. Squeals of terror fill the area but Gila can see! He drags Luckwarden’s body and shepherds his friends into a corner of the tent. The guards lash out wildly, maiming each other in the blind panic.

When Morikand is certain everyone is present he activates the magical coin and they are instantly transported to Gresil’s library in the heart of the Abyss. The great librarian greets them warmly as usual but Morikand does not wait for pleasantries; he realises that he needs to go back to his ship immediately. Using a pentacle of travel he is able to drag them all back to Grayhawk and aboard the Seagull before Drusor’s army even realise what has happened.

The ship soars high into the clouds and they pick through Drusor’s body for equipment. Both greatswords are magical and the paladin Aldanor takes one and Vetrick takes the other (blessed by Elena). Amongst the rest of the equipment is one of Illeum’s rings (the Necras) that is so familiar to Graz Tak and Morikand. Another ring is present, a tough mail shirt and an amulet called Tahaal. Morikand can sense demonic influence on this item.

As they penetrate the clouds the group surround the fallen body of Grayhawk’s greatest warrior and decide how to divide the spoils…