THE SHRINE OF THE DEMON PRINCE
“You people seem to attract danger,” Mandi said as the last bar-lgura fell. “So you will pardon me if I assume more appropriate attire.”
The elf woman began weaving her hands above her head in an intricate pattern. As she gathered the magic to her, her body began to alter, subtly at first, her skin taking on a greenish tint, but then with frightening abruptness, she transformed completely. Where once a beautiful elven maid had stood, there was now a hunched, four-armed, reptilian…thing.
“An abyssal eviscerator?” Marius asked. “Interesting.”
“Their hide is thicker than the strongest armor,” Mandi rumbled in a gurgling voice.
“I’ll have to skin one some time and see for myself,” Sepoto muttered.
From their position on the floor of the cavern, they saw only two means to exit, both blocked by stout iron doors. Sepoto chose one at random, but when he tried the handle, he found it stoutly locked.
“Allow me,” Mandi growled. The form she wore certainly looked formidable, but Sepoto still doubted she would be able to force open the door if he could not. She surprised him by pulling a scroll from the robes she still wore, and read an incantation from it. A metallic knocking sound came from the door, and it swung silently open. A cramped tunnel led a short distance before emptying into a noisome pit, filled with bones, scraps of flesh, dried blood, tattered rags, and other things unidentifiable. A shaft opened in the ceiling of the pit. When no one else seemed inclined to investigate, Mandi sighed, and hunched down, squirming her way down the tunnel. When she reached the pit and looked up, she saw an iron grate covering the top some twenty feet above. She could hear hooting and growling coming from somewhere beyond, and the smell of animal musk was almost overpowering.
“Baboons,” Mandi said as she came back into the main cavern, “a lot of them, unless I miss my guess. Perhaps your lost friend is up there with them.”
“Maybe,” Sepoto said, “but it seems like there must be another way into that room.”
They tried the other door, and found that it led to a set of natural stairs which gave onto the upper level of the chamber. On the landing where they stood was another iron door, but across the bridge, set into the same wall as previous door, was another portal.
“That way,” Sepoto instructed, and the group hurried across the stone bridge.
Samson and Sepoto took the front rank, while Marius and Mandi stood some distance away, at the bridge’s center. Daelric was between the two groups, ready to offer his assistance wherever it was needed. At a nod from Sepoto, the dragon shaman opened the door. Six columns ran down the length of the room beyond, flanking a pit covered by a rusted iron grate. On the far side of the chamber was a stone throne carved with the likenesses of grinning monkey demons. A horde of wretched, horned and feral-looking baboons lazed about the far end of the room, but as the door opened, they all came alert instantly, their red eyes staring at Samson for a moment. Then they were in motion, the whole mob hooting and howling, surging forward like a single organism.
The apes poured over Samson and Sepoto, their fangs biting at any exposed surface. Both of the warriors flailed about them furiously, splattering baboons right and left, but there were just too many of them. In a matter of seconds, their comrades lost sight of them as they were buried beneath the monkey pile. Marius hustled forward, careful to stay clear of the mob of furred flesh and teeth. He began casting, hurling a bead of fire into the chamber, against the far wall. It exploded in a wave of flames that washed over the horde, but stopped just short of where he’d last seen the goliath and the goblin. Burning apes ran screaming here and there, setting others alight as they savaged each other.
Within the mass, Sepoto and Samson still fought, the dragon shaman bringing his acidic breath to bear on as many of the little demons as he could get. Finally, the mob began to disperse from around them, only to reform on the bridge beyond, moving right towards the others. Sepoto whirled, swinging his chain like a giant pendulum, sweeping apes off the bridge in a great arc. The mass fell apart again, with the few remaining survivors scampering away to safety.
A quick look into the chamber showed no sign of Urol.
“Do you think we should search it more thoroughly?” Samson asked. “There could be a hidden door or something we are overlooking.”
“The defensive wards we placed upon us are of limited duration,” Mandi said, shaking her head. “We should keep moving while we can. We will need all the resources at our disposal when we face the bar-lgura.
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Ilzytik heard the humanoids approaching his lair. Olangru had warned him that they would come, searching for their lost comrade. The bar-lgura had made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that they not be allowed to pass. The ceremony was not to be interrupted. He had locked the portal leading to the Hall of Howls and the shrine itself, even going so far as to hide the keys. The spirit naga had originally agreed to help the demons in hopes of increasing his own power, but he knew that if he failed in the task he had been given, it would mean his very life. When he heard the intruders just outside his door, he began weaving his magic, carefully crafting his deception and laying his trap.
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Sepoto swung the iron door wide, bracing himself for another attack. Thousands of bones were piled high in the corners and center of the room beyond, a grisly testament to past atrocities. The sound of bubbling water came from the dark western end of the chamber, where a pair of fountains stood opposite each other, filled by water pouring out of the fanged maws of large baboon heads mounted on the walls. In the midst of this charnel house sat a large, coiled serpent, but at second glance Sepoto saw that it was something more than that. Its head was that of a human male, with lank hair, and clouded eyes. Its skin appeared rotted and putrid, with bone and sinew showing beneath in places. An undead creature of some sort, the goliath thought. Cautiously, he advanced.
Back out on the stone bridge, Marius saw the creature as well.
“It’s a naga,” he said, “or rather, what used to be a naga. I wasn’t aware they could be reanimated as undead.” At that moment, the creature began to speak, or rather it began to chant.
“It’s casting a spell!” the seeker cried. “No zombie can do that! Sepoto, watch out!”
The warmage began his own spell, creating a hail of fist-sized stones that rained down on the naga, pummeling its already damaged hide.
At Marius’ warning, Sepoto lunged forward, his blade slashing, its spikes curving wickedly. It sliced right through where the creature’s neck was…or should have been. To the goliath’s amazement and consternation, it only passed through air. The image of the naga flickered momentarily, and he saw that it was but an illusion. The real creature lay beneath, whole and healthy, and several paces to the left of where the crusader thought it was.
Daelric craned his neck to see over Sepoto, and at that moment, his eyes met those of the naga. In that instant, he came to see the creature as a friend and ally, and could not understand why Sepoto was menacing it.
“Leave it alone!” he shouted to the goliath. “Can’t you see that it’s already been through enough? It means us no harm!”
“Yes, Daelric’s right!” Samson echoed from his position near the door, his eyes also locked on Ilzytik’s. “I can see that now. Sepoto, you must stop!”
“What in the bloody hells are you two nattering about?” the goliath growled, not turning his attention from the naga.
“He’s mad!” Ilzytik pleaded. “Please help me! I can’t face him alone!”
Daelric’s jaw tightened at the plight of his friend. He began a prayer, weaving a protective aura about the naga.
“The creature’s enthralled them!” Mandi shouted. “Pay them no heed! Destroy it!” She loosed her own spell, a lance of pure sound that rocked the naga back as it struck. Simultaneously, Marius conjured another hail of stones about the horror.
“I have no choice but to protect myself!” Ilzytik shouted to his thralls. “Close the door!” he called to Samson. “I’ll be able to handle the goliath. I promise not to kill him!”
Samson nodded, stepping forward and swinging the door shut, sealing Sepoto in, alone with the naga. Instantly Ilzytik’s eyes narrowed wickedly, and he spat out the words to another spell, sending two scorching rays of fire into the crusader.
“That’s the last mistake you’ll ever make,” the goliath grunted under the impact. He surged forward again, this time aiming true. Ilzytik’s head went flying, landing right in the middle of the north-most fountain.
When Sepoto opened the door again, he found a horrified Samson and Daelric staring at him open-mouthed.
“Barbarian!” Daelric screeched.
“Murderer,” Samson muttered.
“You two had better snap out of it, and fast,” the crusader thundered, “or it’ll be your heads on those walls instead of the monkeys!”
He stomped across the chamber to a large set of iron, double doors on the far side, and with a grunt of effort, hauled them open. Another pair of iron doors, carefully carved with the images of ape demons and burning landscapes, loomed in the wall opposite of the small room beyond. The walls and floor of the room were polished smooth, and two large statues stood in niches on opposite sides. Also made of iron, these sculptures depicted hulking, simian fiends, each one holding out an arm missing a hand. The statue on the right was missing its left, while the statue on the left was missing its right. Sepoto ignored them both, instead moving to the far doors and pulling on the handles. They didn’t budge.
“If I may?” Mandi said, entering the room. Once more she pulled a scroll from her robes, the diaphanous, silk garb incongruous on her abyssal form. This time when she read the spell, however, the portals remained closed tightly.
“Only a very powerful arcane lock could withstand my spell,” she said, puzzled.
“Perhaps the statues offer some sort of clue,” Marius opined, as he examined one of them closely.
“Maybe this will help,” Daelric said bitterly as he entered the room. In one hand he held Ilzytik’s head, while in the other was an ape’s paw made of iron, and dripping water. “I found it in the fountain while I was recovering the poor naga’s head, so that he might lie in dignity.”
Sepoto just rolled his eyes.
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The iron paw fit perfectly into the stump of the left statue, but the doors still would not open, which meant another key had to be hidden somewhere. The group searched both fountains, as well as the bone piles in the naga’s lair, but found nothing. They then began retracing their steps, searching first in the chamber of the bar-lgura’s, and then in the throne room where they’d encountered the baboons. It was there, behind the throne, that Mandi spotted a slight inconsistency in the coloring of the stone on the wall. Examining it more closely, she found a crack in the stone, which when traced, outlined a cleverly concealed door. A strong shove by Sepoto opened the door, revealing a small chamber that featured a pair of iron chests. Sepoto quickly set to work on the first one with a pry bar, forcing the rusted lid open. Inside, resting atop a mound of coins, was a left-handed iron ape paw.
Quickly, the company hurried back to the room containing the statues. Once the second paw was placed, the great doors swung easily open. A long hall lay beyond, lit by flaming brands held aloft by iron ape statues placed at even intervals on either side. Each of the ape statues had its head thrown back, as if silently howling at the ceiling above. At the far end of the hall, another pair of double doors, this time made from gleaming copper, stood closed.
Cautiously, Sepoto and Samson began walking down the hall, the dragon shaman eyeing the goliath suspiciously all the while. No sooner had they come abreast of the first pair of statues, than the sculptures each emitted ear-piercing howls.
“Damn!” Sepoto cursed. “Come on! They know we’re coming!”
He hurried on, and the others followed. As they passed each new pair of statues, they too began to wail. By the time the goliath reached the doors, the din was deafening. Expecting the portals to be locked, he shoved mightily at them, but they opened as if newly oiled, revealing a horrifying scene.
The huge chamber was watched over by five hideous statues. To the east and west stood four towering demonic apes in alcoves, facing a roaring fire pit in the room’s center. On the opposite side of the room was an even larger statue. Possessing the stout, stylized body of an ape, the sculpture had two stone tentacles where each of its arms should have been. Sprouting from its shoulders were two fanged baboon heads. The statue lorded over the room atop a great dais, staring out in frozen rage. Even more troubling to the group, though, was the sight of a small figure dangling from a chain suspended over the fire pit. Urol.
Daelric and Sepoto stepped a few paces into the chamber, trying to take in all of their surroundings. Sepoto heard the priest murmuring a prayer to himself.
“What’s the point in that?” the goliath asked. “You’re here already. Your prayer wasn’t answered.”
“It wasn’t that kind of prayer,” Daelric said resentfully. “You yourself said that the demon attacked you ‘out of thin air.’ The prayer I just invoked will prevent that. Nothing unseen can approach within forty feet of us without revealing itself.”
“Much good may it do us,” the crusader rumbled.
Just then, a shrill scream sounded from the hanging druid. The winch on the far east wall, which wound the chain, was slowly turning of its own volition, methodically lowering the gnome towards the flames. Sepoto cursed and started towards the winch. Daelric stared helplessly up at Urol as he dropped lower and lower. Suddenly, the young priest caught movement out of the corner of his eye. His spell had worked, but as Sepoto had stated, much good it did him. Darting around the opposite side of the fire pit from Sepoto came the bar-lgura. Olangru was on all fours, sprinting right for Daelric. The demon leaped, one great paw rising to strike. Daelric gasped and threw himself to one side, barely avoiding the pounce. Still, Olangru’s claws raked a deep gash in his leg as he rolled to his feet.
“Samson!” Sepoto bellowed. “Save the gnome!”
The crusader then took off at a dead run towards Olangru, calling up his own magic as he went. Instantly his chain sprouted twice the usual number of spikes, barbed and cruel. Invoking Savras’ name, Sepoto struck, ripping into the bar-lgura’s flesh. Olangru howled, whirling on the goliath.
“Why don’t you try picking on someone your own size this time?” Sepoto grinned menacingly.
Back at the doors, Marius watched the battle, tension filling him. He turned towards Samson, wondering what the dragon shaman could possibly do to help Urol. He saw the goblin quaffing a vial of liquid. As Samson threw the empty container to the floor, he rose into the air, streaking towards the gnome just as Urol’s hair began to smolder, and he screamed louder. Satisfied that there was nothing for him to do on that front, Marius turned back towards Sepoto and the demon, and began casting. For the third time that day, the warmage rained stone down on his opponent. Olangru slapped and hissed at the rocks as they pelted him, but he didn’t miss a beat in his cautious circling of the crusader.
Samson reached Urol just a few feet above the roaring fire pit. The dragon shaman felt his own skin begin to blister. Scooping the gnome into his arms, he flew towards the winch, the chain feeding out behind him. Once there, he dropped to the ground, carefully placing the weeping druid on the stones.
Olangru grinned, his tongue lolling from his mouth as he feinted at Sepoto, and then tumbled nimbly past the goliath, the spiked chain catching nothing but air as he moved. Once more on all fours, the bar-lgura loped towards Marius. Certainly the crusader was dangerous, but only at close range. It was the wizard that posed the greatest threat, and so it was his throat that Olangru would rip out first. The warmage gaped open-mouthed as the demon approached. Olangru leaped, but as he did so, a thin blue beam of energy struck him from Daelric’s outstretched hand. The bar-lgura stumbled, tripping over his own feet, and only managed to graze Marius as he struggled to regain his balance. When he finally managed to stand and turn, he found the goliath closing fast. He tried to leap away, but again his muscles betrayed him, and he was clumsy in his retreat. This time Sepoto’s chain struck true, ripping deep into the demon’s flesh. Across the room, Olangru saw Samson kneeling next to the druid, tending his wounds. Easy prey. He stepped back from the goliath again, intending to teleport himself over to the unwary pair.
“Not so fast,” a voice commanded from behind him. He turned and saw a winged, angelic figure hovering in the air above him. It was a gardinal, but how was that possible? How could a celestial be in this unholy place? Mandi could have answered that question, had she been so inclined. Little did the demon know that she had merely altered her appearance again, giving herself wings to carry her aloft. Now, as her acute insight told her that the demon was going to attempt a quick getaway, she struck, firing a barrage of arcane missiles at him. The volley confused Olangru, breaking his concentration just long enough. Sepoto swung for the fence, snapping the bar-lgura’s neck with a whip-crack strike from his chain.
The Legionnaires breathed a collective sigh of relief. The creature that had taken Anwar from them, and been responsible for the deaths of Thrisp and Basil was no more. The nightmare was over. Marius crossed the room to where Samson tended Urol. A minor cantrip from the mage’s repertoire shattered the chains that bound the druid. The two of them then helped him back to the others, where Daelric was busy healing the wounds they’d suffered. When he was done, Sepoto pointed towards the far side of the chamber.
“Samson, I want you to take Daelric aloft and investigate that area. See if there are any traces of magic there, something that might help us to find our way out of the swamp.”
“Are you certain?” Daelric asked, tentatively. “It may not be safe.”
“I’m not asking you to touch anything,” Sepoto snapped. “Just take a look around then come back here.”
Reluctantly, Daelric allowed himself to be carried by the still-flying dragon shaman. They circled the chamber, Daelric’s spell allowing him to search for other magical auras. They had just reached the large statue at the far side of the fire pit, when the priest caught the tell-tale gleam of a dweomer coming from within an offering bowl at the statue’s feet.
“There,” he said, pointing down. “Hold here for a moment so that I can concentrate.”
Samson obliged, hovering in mid-air while Daelric examined the aura. Suddenly, the giant two-headed statue ground into angry life. Its tentacles, despite being made of stone, swayed and writhed, and its two fanged maws snapped and gnashed before unleashing a bone-shaking howl.
“No!” Mandi breathed as she saw what was happening across the room. “Run, gnome!” she shouted at Urol, and she lifted herself into that air. Urol needed no further urging. He darted down the corridor, between the howling ape statues and through the door at the far end. Marius grabbed his ears as the statue’s howl filled the air, grimacing in pain and fear. Sepoto barely noticed. He was already starting across the chamber, but he knew he would be too late.
Daelric managed a single gasp as the creature struck, one of its tentacles ripping him from Samson’s grasp. It wound tightly about his body, squeezing the breath from his lungs. Then a second tentacle snapped at him, and he knew no more. Samson watched in horror as the priest dropped limply to the floor from the statue’s grip. The little dragon shaman knew that he had no hope of retreat, so he did the only thing that he could…he breathed. His caustic breath spewed onto the statue’s surface, pitting and scorching as it did. The creature howled again, and lashed out. One tentacle snapped forward, twining around the goblin and reeling him in. Samson felt several ribs snap beneath its crushing strength, and then he was hit again by another of the lashing appendages. He clung to consciousness with all his will, the mystical vigor of his dragon blood the only thing that sustained him.
Mandi was above the wall of flames, and she could see the entire tableau unfolding beneath her. Something was wrong with Marius. He still clutched his ears, and when the creature roared again, he spun towards the door and fled from the room. The elven wizard knew what it was that they faced. It was called a Lemorian golem, and it had been forged in the pits of the demon prince Demogorgon. They were known to serve his cults as focuses for their unholy rites and as guardians of their foul temples and shrines. It was likely that this thing commanded the bar-lgura, rather than the opposite. It was equally likely that it was the source of the unnaturalness of Fogmire. It had to be destroyed. She began weaving her magic, first hurling an orb of white-hot flame at the creature, followed by a powerful dweomer which slowed the golem’s actions considerably. Perhaps it would buy Samson a few precious seconds.
By this time Sepoto had closed the distance to the golem. As it continued to squeeze the life from Samson, the goliath struck. Huge chunks of the creature’s stony hide flew from each of his blows. It tried to strike back, but the massive tower shield the crusader bore fended off the attacks. All the while Mandi continued her own assault, hurling rays of fire, followed by arcane bolts. The combination of magic and raw strength soon brought the golem crumbling to the floor, and Samson rolled free, gasping for breath. Rolling to his hands and knees, the dragon shaman scrambled to Daelric’s side. The priest still lived, but only just. They had survived, but at what cost?
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Daelric and Samson’s wounds were healed, and they found Marius cowering amidst the bone piles in the naga’s lair, Urol by his side offering comfort. As for Urol himself, though grateful to his rescuers, he remained uncommonly quiet as they made their way out of the shrine. When they emerged into the jungle once more, they saw that the oppressive fog had lifted and sunlight streamed down through the canopy. Amella and Tavey were overjoyed to see them, especially Urol. The crusty sea captain even embraced him warmly and welcomed him back.
They made camp for one more night, then resumed their southerly trek in the morning. By the end of the day’s march, Urol had led them to a wide trail, which he recognized and informed the others that it would take them directly to Tanaroa. Two more days were spent in the jungle before they reached the fifty-foot high wall which guarded the southern peninsula of the isle. They were challenged by Maztican warriors who stood guard in towers on either side of the massive gates that pierced the wall, but the natives recognized Mandi and Daelric, and allowed the group to pass unmolested.
The company was welcomed warmly in Tanaroa, and spent several days there before being escorted on south to the village of Mora, which lay thirty miles away. From there, they were put aboard outrigger canoes paddled by Maztican warriors and set out for Farshore. The colony lay on a small island some twenty miles south of Mora. As the quest approached, however, it was obvious that trouble was afoot. Plumes of smoke rose into the air, and screams and the unmistakable sounds of battle reached their ears as they drew closer. When they finally spotted the harbor, they were at first relieved to see that the Blue Nixie was docked there, along with multiple smaller ships. This relief turned to dismay, though at the sight of another ship that certainly did not belong. It was a rugged looking caravel with violet sails, flying a flag with a stylized squid from its main mast. The pirates of the Kraken Society had come to Farshore…
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
