The air grew heavy and there was a foulness in the wind. As forces gathered in the darkness and light, there was a crack of thunder and lightning in the sky. The blood of all those slain, from folk both foul and noble, drained upward into the night sky in a quintet of ichorous streams. As the lighting flashes faded, the Daring Friends gazed up to see that the blood had gathered above the horde and morphed into a massive, shifting image that morphed from a five-headed terror, into a single head with hellish eyes, and finally settled into a mortal portrait of a scaled hobgoblin, crowned with horns. The massive figure in the sky looked down, a sneer of triumph on its face. It was the face of Azarr Kul, warlord and high Wyrmlord of the Red Hand. It’s voice echoed through the night.
"Fools! In your defiance, you have brought yourselves ever closer to ruin! Had you fled this hollow safety, you could have cowered a few days more in the shadow of the Doom Hand, watching as we took back the lands that were once ours! Now, your blood feeds our great ritual—our dark queen, Takhisis of the five-headed doom, basks in your sacrifice. She tastes your feeble souls, she revels in your fear! We are the Kulkor Zhul, we are your doom, and tonight our warriors shall anoint themselves in her name, WITH YOUR BLOOD!" Dameron stepped forward to the edge of the temple stairs and held his Morningstar aloft in one hand and his shield, emblazoned with the symbol of St Aster, high in the other. "Behold, the horror that looms before us! Azarr Kul, warlord of the Red Hand, revels in his twisted triumph. But we will not be swayed by his empty taunts and boasts. For we stand in the light of St. Aster, and no darkness can quench that radiance. "You may have brought darkness upon yourselves, Azarr Kul, but we will not be consumed by it. Your ritual may have been fed by the blood of the innocent, but it will not satiate the hunger of your own soul. For you serve a false queen! "But we know the truth. We know that the true power lies not in darkness and fear, but in the light of protection and redemption. St. Aster's shield stands strong against your evil, and we will not falter. "You may have crowned yourself with horns, Azarr Kul, but we will not be intimidated. For we wear the crown of righteousness, forged in the fire of our conviction. And with every step, we draw closer to the truth that will set us free! "So come, Azarr Kul, bring your darkness. Bring your warriors. For we will stand firm, unwavering in our dedication to the light. And when the battle is done, and the dust settles, it will be your own blood that stains the ground, not ours! "For this I promise, St. Aster's light will prevail, and your darkness will be vanquished!" At the Morningglory Temple, the Daring Friends were joined by Captain Soranna, Father Derny, Kellin Shadowtuft, Delora, Avarthel, Captain Ulvert, Lionsguard Teyna, Rezyrius, two squads of soldiers, and four squads of Shining Axes. Gruffudd summoned the hero Dario from his tome. Balthasar used his Blackbird Pie. Manticores flew volleys of spikes at the soldiers and dwarves. Avarthal and Gruffudd cast Call Lightning and blasted two manticores. Mindbender Nurklenack blasted Shining Axes, soldiers, and Teyna with a Fireball. Spotting an invisible Wyrmlord Kharn, Camwise cast Dispel Magic removing all enchantments from the wyrmlord. Engaging the Wyrmlord Kharn, Captain Ulvert slashed into him. Shooting her crossbow Lionsguard Teyna hit a manticore. The militia soldiers threw their spears into the manticore. Wyrmlord Ulwai cast Thunderbolt on the dwarves, Captain Ulvert, and a militia squad, destroying the militia. Shooting his bow, Jaervellios dropped a manticore and hit another. Rezyrius disappeared. The Hill Giant entered the Blackbird swarm. Trying to blind the giants, Dameron hit Kharn with his Spiritual Hammer. Advancing, the Shining Axes threw their axes into Kharn and the giants. Wyrmlord Kharn threw a Fireball destroying a Shining Axes squad, Teyna, and a militia squad. Balthasar hit a giant with a Jar of Fire Ants and frightened it with his Imposing Glare. A Manticore hit the Shining Axes and Captain Ulvert with a volley of spikes. Delora lit up a Hill Giant with Faerie Fire and the Drellin’s Ferry fighters assaulted it. Wyrmlord Kharn stabbed Captain Ulvert with his spear. Gruffudd used his Staff of Wintry Demise to envelope a manticore, the ogre squad, and Kharn in an Ice Storm. Casting Call Lightning, Wyrmlord Ulwait blasted Dameron. Wyrmlord Kharn breathed fire at the Shining Axes and Captain Ulvert, put his spear through the captain’s chest, and drank a Potion of Superior Healing. With his Staff of Gravity Bending, Camwise sent Ulwai, Nurklenak, three hill giants, and the ogre squad floating upward along with the fountain water. Camwise dropped his gravity bending as Dario ran into the fountain with his holy grenade, blasting Kharn, Nurklenak, and a giant, killing the manticore, a giant, and a squad of dwarves. Wyrmlord Ulwai blasted Balthasar and the Drellin’s Ferry warriors with Thunderbolt and Dario with Lightning. Shooting his bow, Jaervellios hit a giant with an arrow. Appearing behind Ulwai, Rezyrius slashed into the Wyrmlord. A burning Hill Giant appeared as it swung at Balthasar. Wyrmlord Kharn’s Fireball blasted Dameron, Camwise, and Jaervellios. Advancing, Dameron cast Sacred Flame. The Ogre Squad hurled javelins at Dario, and the hero disappeared. Dashing to engage Wyrmlord Kharn, Balthasar caught him in his Gaze of Conviction and was stabbed by him. Father Derny hit the two giants with a Flame Strike. The Drellin’s Ferry warriors struck down a Hill Giant. Calling Lightning, Gruffudd blasted the ogre squad and destroyed Nurklenack. Breathing fire at Balthasar, Wyrmlord Kharn tried to cast a spell on Balthasar and stabbed into the Drakkenwhyte. Camwise struck the ogre squad with a Lightning Bolt. Wyrmlord Kharn shot a cone of fire at Balthasar, destroying the last squad of Shining Axes. Wyrmlord Ulwai tried to cast a spell at Rezyrius. Shooting his bow, Jaervellios shot the last Hill Giant with an arrow. Rezyrius slashed into Ulwai and was struck by her rod. The last Hill Giant swept his club into the Drellin’s Ferry warriors, knocking them prone. Dameron hit Kharn with his Spiritual Hammer and killed the last Hill Giant with Sacred Flame. Stepping into Gruffudd’s hunting trap, the Ogre Squad threw javelins toward Balthasar. Catching his breath, Balthasar slashed into Wyrmlord Kharn. Avarthel and Gruffudd blasted Kharn and the Ogre Squad with Call Lightning. Wyrmlord Kharn breathed acid on Balthasar and cast Unholy Weapon, stabbing Balthasar. Closing in, Camwise cast Haste on Balthasar. Wyrmlord Kharn surrounded himself and Balthasar in a Ring of Fire. Wyrmlord Ulwai tried to cast a spell on Rezyrius and drank a Greater Potion of Healing. Leaping over the wall, Jaervellios struck down the Ogre Squad. Dameron hit Kharn with his Spiritual Hammer and drained him with Draining Nova. After drinking his Scale Milk to heal and restore himself, Balthasar struck Wyrmlord Khan down. Captain Soranna commanded Rezyrius to attack Wyrmlord Ulwai along with the Drellin’s Ferry warriors, putting the last Wyrmlord down. Gruffudd cast Healing Word, reviving Captain Ulvert. The Red Hand horde was broken, its remnants breaking up into warbands and scattering into the surrounding countryside—but nothing that the Lionsguard couldn't handle...and the Baron's forces of Songdale could take care of anything that spilled out eastward. Lord Jarmaath, recovering from his wounds, invited the Daring Friends and other key members of the defense council to a great victory celebration that evening. After resting most of the day, the celebration began with a rousing speech in the temple square, where Lord Jarmaath publicly thanked each of the heroes by name and listed their deeds of derring-do, noting that without their help, many more would be dead and the city would be aflame! In thanks, Jarmaath bequeathed the Daring Friends the right of lordship over the lands around Vraath Keep, the Boarderwood, and Drellin's Ferry. After the speech, the exhausted Lord Jarmaath asked the Daring Friends to retire with him to Brindol Keep. There he spoke of the dark portents that Seyora of Morninglory Temple and the head of Harrow Morgola's House of Iron Will all agreed upon; that the souls of those who fell in the Battle of Brindol have been stolen in a foul ritual, drawn to the Fane of Takhisis in the Wyrmrest Mountains. Dameron shared that he too had seen such a premonition. The Daring Friends agreed to travel to the Fane of Takhisis and defeat Azarr Kul’s sire, Turgarun the Blue, Azarr Kul himself, and even Takhisis, if need be.
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