The Circle of Fire

Both Moshan and Jeran stand before Shadazaar and read the Dark Prophecy he has handed them. The battle continues in the distant - sounds of death and destruction drift into their consciousness but it is as if they are removed from it. Shadazaar is polite and friendly and offers them an explanation as to the nature of the final battle from his own perspective. He believes that he and Cedron are drawn from the Unmaker's vast background of destruction. Indeed, both he and the leader of the Unmaker's force were destroyed by the Unmaker directly, thus setting them both apart from any other creature on the battlefield in that they do not possess a soul. Furthermore, Shadazaar believes that he and Cedron will possibly succeed in gaining a soul if they follow the Dark Prophecy through to its ultimate conclusion.

This knowledge has set both Shadazaar and Cedron against each other. He informs the two friends that Cedron has infiltrated the citadel on the first day of the battle and is presently searching for that which is mention in the Dark Prophecy itself - 'The Jewel of Nine'. The revelation that Cedron, Grayhawk's most formidable sorcerer, is abroad and moving around the citadel unhindered is a shock to Moshan and Jeran. They decide to retreat back to the palace to root out this man and, eventually, confront him.

Moshan and Jeran take their leave of Shadazaar and make their way up the supply routes that lead directly to the front line and the constant fighting. The information gained from the ancient dragon lord disturbs them and they move silently back. Jeran is halted, however, by a telepathic scream of such anguish that he fears something dreadful has happened. It is Kareel's voice in his head. Her pain is obvious and as he informs Moshan of her terror the Eldrych spy is already moving towards the enclave of Beremoth.

The demon lord's forces surround him. A sea of undead skeletons, shambling ghouls and the dangerous Krulgin face the two mortal men. Moshan draws the great black demonic blade and commands it to shroud them from enemy sight. They both feel the dark cloak of sorcery descend upon them enabling them to move with confidence through the ranks of the undead. In the very centre of the horde is a vast circle. At the perimeter of this circle are several huge wooden structures which are suspended the broken souls the great demon has tortured. Amongst them is Kareel, her body scarred and shattered, her eyes haunted by pain and fear - the deeper, unseen scars on her soul are evidence of her ordeal.

Moshan and Jeran enter the circle. Beremoth turns to face them, his eyes penetrating and his anger plain to see. As one of his great eyebrows raises he rams his sword into the stone - a fountain of flame surrounds the edge of the circle, effectively trapping the two me within the wrath of the demon. All need for stealth has gone now. Moshan instinctively rushes at the towering demon as Jeran knocks an arrow in the mighty darkbow.

Beremoth moves with inhuman speed. As he runs his hand unleashes a ball of flame that hammers into Jeran. Flames burst around the Marraq but the heat tears into his soul, not his flesh. The elf falls to his knees as he suddenly understands the nature of the pain the poor young thief feels. Beremoth is upon the onrushing Moshan before the Eldrych spy has had chance to set himself. A many-tendrilled whip lashes forward. Arching backward and snapping the blade up to parry, Moshan somehow manages to deflect the main force of the blow away from him. Two of the cruel tendrils, however, tear into his face and the Eldrych spy ducks back and away from the frightening demon, blood gushing from a severe wound. The sheer power of his blade keeps him from falling.

Jeran lifts himself from the pain of his wounds. His darkbow sings a familiar tune as two arrows hammer into the massive chest of Beremoth. The beast grunts and staggers back allowing Moshan to swing a vicious blow across an unprotected flank. The demonic blade tastes the soul of a demon lord and exults in such power. Moshan is suddenly buoyed by the taste of such power and feels strength and vitality flood back into him via the sword. Renewed vigour and strength urge the Eldrych spy onwards. Several more arrows pierce the demon's flesh until - almost innevitably - Moshan finds a gap in the great brute's defences. A crushing blow so powerful that it shakes the foundations of the plane and all upon it. Beremoth's final breath is an anguished, terrible scream that eclipses all sounds - even those of battle. As he falls so too does the circle of fire surrounding them. The hordes of undead and demons surround them...

Jeran falls to his knees in pain. Kareel, barely alive, stares in dismay at the forces of dread all around. Surely, in their moment of victory, Moshan and Jeran face a cruel and ironic death at the hands of the undead hordes. Moshan, however, has other ideas. His sword humming with the power gained from Beremoth's soul he turns that power outward. Demons and undead, he realises, follow the strongest leader and with the absence of anything resembling such a thing forces the power of his blade out. At that precise moment Karim arrives in the shape of a beautiful golden eagle. As he lands he becomes human, but can only marvel at the power and control of Moshan's sorcery. Eldrych arrogance surges through him as he scatters the hordes before him, sending them fleeing in abject terror.

Karim examines the two fallen friends. His grave appraisal of their condition spurs Moshan into further direct action. Channeling the great power of the blade out once more he first touches Jeran, the Kareel, and the blade relinquishes some of that power into the healing of their souls. Karim urges haste and uses subtle sorcery to transform Jeran and Moshan into eagles. Between them they are able to carry the stricken Kareel high over the battleground and into the relative safety of the palace. As soon as their feet touch the cold stone they are human again and already moving into the throneroom, where Lorlucan awaits.

Moshan informs them of Shadazaar's earlier information regarding Cedron's infiltration of their citadel. Armed with this information Lorlucan pushes his power out through the living walls of the citadel, and in particular the palace itself. He quickly informs them that Cedron is present and immediately urges the living rock to close any and all exits from the immediate vicinity.

Cedron is trapped.

One hundred other guards, chancellors and military leaders are amongst the one hundred incarcerated within the living walls of the palace. One of those men is Cedron, ruler of the hordes of the Unmaker...ancient emperor and god slayer....master of the Nine Arts of Magic. Karim and Moshan share a concerned look, wondering that if it is not them all who are trapped within the mighty Cedron's reach. Lorlucan - through contact with the living rock - is able to track Cedron's presence, if not his exact whereabouts, and a game of cat and mouse develops.

After several hours of testing and searching Cedron realises that there is no hiding in a room that is impossible to escape from. He steps from behind the mask of his disguise and all eyes fall upon him as he moves deliberately towards Moshan, Jeran and Karim. The ancient sorcerer moves with an almost inhuman grace. Karim is stunned by the overwhelming presence of the man and realises that this is power personified. Eyes cold and black study the elements of Promethian prophecy. There is no emotion....no fear...no humanity....

"I am Cedron," he says simply....