Culdat motioned everyone forward as it seemed safe. The rest of the group cautiously walked forward towards the far room, holy fire crackling from behind them as the skeletons waited with eternal patience and hatred. Approaching the room, a bright blue light emanateed from the eastern side of this rectangular room. 30’ to the North was the opposite wall, as it was 50’ wide East to West. On either lateral side of the room, there was a plain oaken door in the center of the respective walls, as was also an oaken door in the northern wall, which had been badly scorched from the initial lightning bolt. The point of interest of this room, besides the shattered bones on the floor, was the scource of the blue light to the East. There, suspended 5’ from the floor, was a bejeweled long sword behind a wooden desk. The blue light seemed to radiate from it aswell as a feeling of well being and peace that permeated from the room. Footsteps could now be heard stomping from behind the door to the North.
Seeing the fried skeleton bones and the scarred door, Humus felt a little more at ease. "I guess that Belgrius spell took care of them after all." Then noticing the blue light emanating from the sword, Humus paused. "Jardel, could that be the sword that you were talking about earlier ? It seemed to be the source of peace in this room. Culdat, maybe you should carefully check the area around the sword for traps. Be careful, I don't trust that desk. Jardel, maybe you could help Culdat inspect the sword. Also, when you get a chance, we might need your evil detecting powers to decide which door to take." All of a sudden, Humus heard the footsteps coming from behind the door to the North. "Caladan, Ashal, come with me. Position yourselves along the wall so maybe you can get the drop on whatever is coming. Da Ghiri and Belgrius, why don't you guard our rear - that wall of fire that Jardel put up will be ending before too long, and we will want to know when the skeletons arrive to finally meet their end." Humus then positioned himself off to one side of the northern door - so that anything coming through noticed him first.
Belgrius entered the room where his lightening bolt struck. Looking at Culdat to make sure he was not harmed, "Are you injured ?" After getting a response, he started kicking the bones apart from each other, moving the skulls to another part of the room by kicking them with his foot. Hearing the footsteps, he backed up to whatever available cover there was, taking hold of his holy symbol and prepared to turn undead if that is what was coming through the door. Jardel followed up the party into the room. The first thing that surprised him was the sense of serenity and peace permeating throughout the room, especially he guessed, directed from the bejeweled long sword hanging suspended. Speaking at full voice, as the booming lightning bolt must have woken even the deadest of dead herein, Jardel moved quickly towards the blade. "Humus, I do not know if it is the legendary sword of Regenwald Stormhand, but if it is I should hurry and get it, though I am wary of this being an illusion or trap. Yet my heart and soul confuses me with conflicting feelings here in this evil place. Can it be that this room has been purified and blessed - by whomever and by what ? perhaps even by this sword here ?" He watched Humus as Ashal and Caladan positioned themselves by the wall near the northern door, aswell as Belgrius grabbing his holy symbol for spiritual safety. "Everyone, whenever I grab this blade here, should it really be there, then I expect some kind of alarm or trap to go off, so everyone be prepared." Looking towards the door, behind which the footsteps could be heard, he attempted to percieve any evil influences emanating within range as his gaze also went over any details of the desk. Sheathing Caladans elven blade, Jardel steadied himself for an electrical jolt of magical force, running from the bejeweled long sword hanging 5’ above the ground through his gauntlet, up his arm and through his body. Expecting even the worst, like a pit trap beneath him, a teleport trap to hell, or a cursed blade, time was not an asset he sported now, so his left arm reached out, body facing the wooden desk, mumurred a few words of encouragement and blessing to Heimdall, hid his face behind the shiny shield and grasped the pommel of the new blade ...
Da Ghiri bowed briefly and moved to watch the corridor and the skeletons, though still attending to the coming footsteps as well. Ashal watched intently, as he positioned himself as requested by the wall near the northern door, with sword drawn. Culdat and Jardel looked closely at the sword hanging in air. Niether could see nor feel anything wrong with the sword or anything around it. Moving the desk for a better look, Jardel reached forward cautiously. Culdat moved to the rear door as suggested. Jardel's hand grasped the sword ... the torches were extiguished as if by a single, large wind snuffed them out, leaving all in darkness ... but only for a moment. A bright light flashed from the sword, nearly blinding all in the room, forcing all to slightly avert their eyes. Suddenly, a tall platemailed figure stood behind the sword, also holding the sword as Jardel was. Regal features show this man to be of royalty, but eyes bore the wisdom of the ancients, "I am Sir Regenwald Stormhand, Knight of Hiemdall. My minions have guarded this sword for centuries as it has waited for a wielder that was chosen by Heimdall himself. Jardel Jar’axel, you have been chosen to fulfill a destiny that only the purest of hearts and strongest of courage could fulfill. You must seek the Breath of Heimdall located within these caverns and give it back to Heimdall so that he may sound the trumpets of alarm against the evil that is rising, go now, there is much to do and more to come ..." the image spoke in a soft voice, then faded form view, releasing the sword to Jardel’s fingers, leaving everything dark once again. The torches flickered to life again as if nothing had really happened. The door to the North boomed open and a group of men in black robes outlined in crimson runes began entering, 6 in all, but only 2 managed to enter the room. They carried wicked looking maces and wore armour under their robes. Faces hidden behind dark hoods, their voices rose in an evil chanting. Jardel, Da Ghiri, and Ashal's hair stood on the backs of their necks as the evil in this room was in battle with the good.
After the initial blinding flash, Humus turned his primary attention to the door, but he also listened to Regenwald’s words. After regenwald vanished, the door in front of Humus had burst open. Pretty much expecting it, he didn’t even flinch. Looking at the attackers, he stressed the number of them so the others waiting against the wall ready to attack knew that more were coming, "So you SIX gentlemen want to test your skills against ours ? So be it." Humus yelled over his shoulder, "Jardel, come over here ! If you are not too busy admiring that shiny new sword, I have something for you to test it against !" Humus then raised his own enchanted blade and engaged into combat with the two that had already entered. Seeing and hearing the chanting of the hooded beings, Belgrius moved as near as he dared toward the chanters, staying just out of melee range. He made sure he was in front and not behind the other spell casters of his party so as not to catch them in the area of his spell. Then, aiming for the figure centered most, he cast a silence spell. As soon as he cast the spell he withdrew and prepared to defend himself with his flail.
Jardel let the power of the legendary sword engulf his arm and body. Visibly shaken by the timely retrieval of the sword he nodded his head in a short bow and charged across the room towards the entering priests. Waving his enchanted blade menacingly, words of truth, honor and glory were yelled at the evil powermongers. "Aye, Regenwald Stormhand. Thou sword shall be used as a tool of good and thy quest shall be continued ... even through immortality. Praise Heimdall the Protector ! Death to those who defile the laws of the crown and commit crimes against the good gods !" Reaching Humus in close combat, Jardel slashed away at the hooded figures with his sword and blocked out swings by the wicked looking maces. His primary target was the priest momentarily not engaged with Humus, valiant Ogre-slayer of Valmour. Through the visor of his helmet he barely noticed Belgrius casting a spell or the intruders murmurring arcane words, not being able to recognize the spells anyway. Caladan was a bit shaken by the sudden appearance of the ghost, but the door being opened and the attackers swarming in, helped him focus again. He grappled his sword and charged toward the attackers with Humus and Jardel "Hey, I might not be an Ogre-slayer or the Chosen of a God, but don't you forget me. I'm sure I can be of some assisstance to you. I hope these guys smell better on the inside than that harpy did."
The two priests that came through the door first were met by Jardel, Humus and Caladan. Initiative looked bad for the good guys as the priests were ready as they strode through the door and began swinging their wicked maces. Humus was struck a terrible blow to the head, causing him to reel back from the force. Jardel blocked the blow from the other priest with his shield. Caladan made a quick jab into the melee with his 2- handed sword taken from the Bloodknight. His aim was bad and he missed the priest. Belgrius moved closerto the warriors as did Da Ghiri. They both began chanting while walking. Belgrius cast his spell into the center of the priests, causing the immediate area to be engulfed in unnatural silence. Spells that they were casting were ruined except for the one in the back, who had been out of spell range. His chanting ended with a smile as all those in the group felt sickened by a new feeling from the room where the priests had come from, and the priest's in front had improved morale. Though, through Da Ghiri's chanting, the warriors in front, Jardel, Humus, and Caladan felt the effects of the sickness go away as soon as Da Ghiri had finished. Kethas gestured with his fingers and spoke the language of magic as missiles flew from his fingers striking and nearly killing the priest in front of Humus. Culdat remained in the back near Kethas as there was no room for him to join combat or slip past the priests. Kethas began chanting once again, throwing sand and rose petals into the air while pointing to the priests at the back of the group. Both priests fell to the floor in a slumber. Da Ghiri stood directly behind the warriors at the door while standing in a strange, yet effective looking fighting stance. Humus recovered from the blow to his head and swung his enchanted blade at the priest in front of him. The blow was barely deflected by the priest, saving his life. This priest tried desperatley to strike back but it was a weak attempt, missing badly. Jardel swung his newly found sword at the priest before him, killing him in one blow, giving room for another priest to step forward while another priest retreated back from the silence. The priest who stepped forward swung at Jardel, missing so badly that it threw him off balance leaving himself open to a stab by the Paladin. His sword went cleanly through the body of the suprised priest as he fell to the floor, blood pooling quickly as he slid from Jardel's blade. Caladan struck swiftly at the priest near Humus, ending the foul man's life as his lifes blood flowed from his newely decapitated neck. The one remaing priest in the next room began chanting horrific phrases again as he pointed at the group. Culdat looked back towards the green flame holding the skeletons at bay with a worried look, "The flames are begining to dwindle guys," he said. A booming laughter filled the air coming from the next room. A voice as loud and fear inspiring as only nightmares could provide boomed from the room, "Well done mortals ! You have come so far to meet only your death. You are right little one, the flames are dwindling, death seems immenent from all sides. My priests you have defeated, but those that lie beyond death await you ... not to mention me ..." the voice faded to a deep tremble in your bones as a terrifying sight beheld everyones eyes. Behind the remaining priests emerged to stand a creature the adventurers had hoped never to meet - Balazaar. Standing nearly 8' tall and as wide as an ancient oak, this creature had claws and teeth to rival those of a lion, with reptilian skin and wide set black eyes, he was a figure to behold. Two arms and two legs like a man, but with muscles that no human was able to aquire. Hoping that his silence spell has bought the fighters some time to move into combat, Belgrius moved to the back of the party again and out of the way of those who wished to enter the room. He was preparing a spell, which he explained to the party was a hold spell for the remaing priests. Taking mental note, he calculated the number of spells he had left and was determined not to dip into his few healing spells until the battle weary party required them. "Nice people we have come to visit !" When the wall of fire fails, Da Ghiri will move back to the door to try and prevent the skeletons from interfering in the battle, attacking open handed.
Seeing the demon appear briefly startled Humus, but he recovered quickly. "So that is what an actual demon looks like ?" Revolted at how grotesque it looked, Humus knew that creatures such as that could not be allowed to live. Hearing Culdat's cry that the flames were dying down, Humus shouted out to the others, "Maybe if we take the demon down, his spell on the skeletons will be ended. Anyway, he is the greatest threat. Throw everything you have at him ! We don't want him to gate another demon in !" Humus noticed that the last remaining priest appeared to be chanting something - and that he was between him and Balazaar. "Oh great ! Another one that wants to cast a spell. Jardel, Caladan, take on the demon, I'll try to stop the last priest and catch up with you." Running forward, Humus sliced at the priest. Jardel gathered his strength and courage, feeling the powerful blade tear through the evil priests like a hot knife through butter. Blood dripping from ‘Caliburn’, the sword hummed softly - somehow eagerly tasting the poisoned red fluid saturating the pure blade up to the hilt - accepting it’s wielder in his purposeful battle against Asmodeus and his minions. Strangely all sounds had suddenly vanished as he engaged into melee combat with the priests, leaving him momentarily deaf. This was a strange experience, a new one at that, not being able to hear the ringing of metal hitting metal, the screames of defeat and death or one’s own labored breathing from constant movement of stabbing, slicing and parrying. Upon noticing the giant in the next room - presumably Balazaar by the distinct demonic look -, words or sounds remained to be heard. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Humus mauled by a fierce mace swing. Quickly advancing on the giant, Jardel swung ‘Caliburn’ viciously, stemming his shield in a protective fashion. Slashing and swinging, stabbing and blocking, Jardel engaged Balazaar in the next room and danced around the demon, trying to find an opening in the defensive posture of the fiend. Within arms reach he finally heard sounds again. Thankful for this, his anger vented through loud and distinct speech. "BALAZAAR, you foul beast ! Now you meet your destiny in Jardel Jar’axel, devout Follower to Heimdall - Guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, forever wielder of ‘Caliburn’ - heirloom to legendary Regenwald Stormhand and first Slayer of Balazaar - demon from the Nine Hells. YES, I want YOU to know who is to be your last combatant in this realm, THE soldier of good who sent your body and life force back to the Abyss !" Hoping to taunt Balazaar and attract the focus of his attention, the holy knights plan was to become the pin-point of all attacks from the demon, herewith keeping the others from immediate harm and therefore alive. His heart was filled with joy and happiness, for this was the preliminary conclusion to Heimdall’s quest, the foremost thrill a fanatic follower as himself could ever achieve. To believe possible success lingered within reach, especially with legendary ‘Caliburn’ in his hands. What pride, what loyalty could he present to Heimdall ... barring survival and certain defeat of Balazaar first ...
Caladan saw the two priests fall to the sleep spell and ran into the room, jumping over the bodies of the dead and sleeping priests as he ran past a Priest. He tried to avoid getting in both Jardel's and Humus's way as he exited the silence spell. "DIE FOUL CREATURE, return to your own plane" Caladan attacked the demon in a charge jumping with the 2-handed sword lifted over his head, shouting "It is time this blade turns against the evil hand that once wielded it." Caladan tried to use his own body weight to inflict as much damage to the demon as possible. Caladan swiftly entered the room and charged the demon, closing in distance, he brought the heavy blade down to meet the demon, but the demon was ready and he grabbed the warriors arm and tossed him like a child to the floor. Humus charged the remaining priest, but not before the spell was completed. Humus and Culdat both were magically held by the priests spell. Da Ghiri jumped into the battle too and threw his net at the demon, attempting to ensnare the evil one. The net went flying over Balazaar's head, then dropped like a stone, covering the creature, and freezing it in place. He was now being held magically by the net. This gave Jardel a solid hit upon the demon, causing major damage by ‘Caliburn’. The wall of fire to the South died and the skeletons began advancing once more. Caladan stood up again and was near the priest by Humus as the priest was looking to bash the held Humus with his mace. Da Ghiri moved back towards the emerging skeletons to meet them hand to hand. From the door, Da Ghiri called, "As looong as the net is over him, the deeemon shouldn't be able tooo do anything. Would someooone like tooo help me with the skeletons ?" Belgrius saw the skeletons at the same time Da Ghiri called for help. Calling to Da Ghiri, "Let's take them out and scatter their bones". Thinking he could fight the skeletons better than the demon and keep them off the backs of the fighters, he advanced towards the undead bones. Saying a prayer to his god, he held his holy symbol in one hand and his weapon in the other. When in range, he tried to dispell or turn the skeletons. Fortunately for the party, Balazaar was netted by Da Ghiri. Standing stone cold, Jardel hacked away at the body and guts of the horrible creature with ‘Caliburn’. Placing hit after hit he hoped to defeat the creature before it either had time to react again or reinforcements joined in. This plentiful noise was sure to arrouse the attraction of more vile minions. Surprised at seeing Humus being magically held, Jardel judged it more important to defeat Balazaar than aid his companion - hoping that Caladan would gain the advantage of striking before the priest could slay the held cavalier. Yelling, Jardel commanded the others to attend to their defensive posture, in sight of the remaining skeletons advancing soon. Stunned by the demon’s strength, Caladan sat up and shook his head. "This is one strong fiend, we're dealing with here !" Caladan stumbled to his feet and saw that both Culdat and Humus were held and the last priest alive was about to bash Humus with his mace. Jardel moved quickly and hacked at the defenseless demon being held by the magic net, killing the giant demon with only two blows. Caladan took advantage of the priest's back turned to him and drew his dagger, calling to the god of war while charging the priest, stabbing him in the back doing minor damage, but distracting the priest from his inital attack. The priest turned with great pain in his shoulder to swing at Caladan, missing terribly due to his injury. Da Ghiri and Belgrius turned to the oncoming skeletons. With a prayer on Belgrius' lips, he held his holy symbol before him, causing the remaining skeletons to turn back towards the south, where they came from, disappearing into the "W" tunnels. The remaining priest began a strategic retreat towards the door to the east, giving Caladan an extra shot at him, but he missed, leaving the priest a chance to run for the door. He opened it and shut it behind him, leaving the party. He was heard shouting as he faded from earshot. Looking around the room, the group finally noticed it’s contents, an altar in the center of the room, dark tapestries with torturous events inscribed line the walls. Old blood was splattered all over the floor around the altar. The room's dimensions were exactly as the last, with only one door to the eastern wall.
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