Day Nine

We passed through the mysterious one way portal to the unknown and arrived in a desert of black sand. There were mountains in the distance and red lightening piercing the sky. Nothing else could be seen. Victor told us that we had arrived in Banehold, the realm of Bane. We took this opportunity to rest.

The next 'morning,' we readied ourselves and discussed plans on how to get out of this place. Before we left the spot of arrival, we noticed a demon charging us. Our sorcerer recognized it as a Glabrezu, a humongous entity with four arms, two with blades for hands and two with pincers.

Victor suggested that we don't attack it right away and instead let it talk.

The Glabrezu stopped before us and did indeed speak. It offered us whatever we could want in return for service to it. Victor warned us to not head any of its words, they were all lies and it was trying to trick us. We attacked it.

The fight was hard. Most of our attacks either missed or were repelled by its thick skin. We did little damage to it. Then, the demon stopped the fight and again offered us the chance to serve it. We refused. Our cleric said, "I have sworn an oath to serve Lathander. I shall never serve you."

At the mention of the name of the Morning Lord, the Glabrezu went insane with rage. It leaped at the cleric and attacked him fiercely. When the blows stopped, he was almost dead (3 HP). The rest of the party took that opportunity to strike the distracted demon. The cleric healed himself (up to 17 out of 25 HP). The attacks mostly failed.

The Glabrezu again attacked the cleric with each of his arms. The four attacks killed the cleric of Lathander (-10 HP). The demon then ran off, its rage expended.

The party stood around the body of their fallen comrade, wondering what to do. Some wanted to try first aid, but he was beyond any help.

But then a portal appeared behind the body. The party sensed an aura of beauty and goodness emanating from the portal. Hilda picked up the cleric and they went through the portal. Victor stayed behind.

They found themselves in a beautiful realm. Before them lay a lake and beyond it were mountains. Two enormous figures stood there, across the lake. They heard in their minds a request to swim across the lake. They did so and found the water to be holy. Their bodies and minds were healed. They climbed from the water at the feet of the two figures. They were the gods Tyr and Lathander.

Lathander revived his cleric. Tyr explained that Bane is attempting to enter the material world and take it over. Lathander told us that we are the chosen few that must stop him. One of us will eventually find the power with which to combat him and kill the god. We have certain tasks that we must accomplish first. The first task is to claim the Pendant of Abyssal Warding, an amulet that wards off demons.

We asked about Victor. Tyr said that though he is a vampire, he is on their side. He is a devoted servant of Tyr. He is to be trusted. We will be returned to the world and will see Victor again soon.