The dragon raises its head in a soundless roar as attacks cut, pierce, and disrupt it from all sides. Valeros takes a wing, Peri causes bones to crack, and Haris thrusts his sword through an eye and deep into the creature's brain. With a shudder, it collapses and falls still.
A metal band slips free from a horn on the dragon's head and slides across the floor. When it comes to a stop it shimmers and changes, becoming a grey formless hat. The dragon changes as well - its limbs twist into strange broken angles, its scales vanish in great patches, and those that remain lose all luster, its eyes become white and sunken. What is left appears like an old dessicated corpse.
The gnome/monster howls in rage, pacing within the small circle and cursing in a foul language.
The woman, if indeed that is even an accurate description, listens to the howling and smiles. Looking to Garinol she laughs softly, "Sounds like Koth'Vaul just met Kurtulmak."
Getting to her feet, she looks to Kalkamedes. "I am sorry about your friend here. I was never much good at sleep-casting, but I had no choice. I cannot free him from his condition while imprisoned within this circle. I will explain, but allow me to do so when all of your companions have gathered here safely."
Dispatching the last crawling hand is no challenge for the group at this point, and no further danger exists, excepting the lashing your ears get from the gnome/monster cursing and screaming from the other circle.
Once the group has assembled near the southwestern circle, the woman tells you her story...
"My name is Sulianna." She begins. "I am what mortals call a ghaele, a celestial being of the azata. That creature in the other circle is a glabrezu demon named Koth'Vaul, and to understand how we both came to be here I should explain the history of this place."
"A millennia ago, during the reign of the runelords in ancient Thassilon, a conclave of powerful thaumaturgists known as the Thrallkeepers experimented with calling forth all manner of horrors to further the cause of their runelord overlords. Thinking their techniques flawless, the Thrallkeepers summoned numerous otherworldly creatures and attempted to force them into servitude. Thousands of years later, the Thrallkeepers are now long since gone, but several of their forgotten projects yet remain, lurking in ancient, abandoned vaults such as this place, the Black Edifice. Koth'Vaul is one such forgotten conjuration. The Thrallkeepers imprisoned him for centuries, however, ravaged by time, the binding circle that holds him is now decaying and will soon break. Once he is free, there will be nothing to stop the demon from unleashing his unique brand of terror on your world."
"A month ago, I came to the Black Edifice with the intent to destroy Koth’Vaul before he could complete his escape. Unfortunately, with the protective runes that bound Koth’Vaul already breaking down, he was much stronger than I anticipated. His undead servants surprised me, forcing me into his reach. We battled for two days and three nights, but I could not destroy him. Weakened, I was forced to withdraw and seek shelter within this circle."
"A few days later I sensed Kalkamedes traveling near the Black Edifice. As soon as he came close enough, I reached out to him with a plea for help. Koth’Vaul, however, used his own limited powers to dampen the magical link, blocking full communication. Kalkamedes walked on by, never cognizant of the dueling forces that had touched his mind. His subconscious must have remembered something though, for that is the only explanation for his return. That he made it here in this condition is nothing short of a miracle, and I suppose I have you to thank for it."
"I understand breaking circles such as this is often foolish for mortals, but I hope you can see the truth of my story and aid me in the completion of my quest."
"I heard that, Lady." The sword replies to Peri.
While Sulianna is intrigued by Kalkamedes sword, she does not think it is relavant to her situation.
Kilian and Garinol eventually break the circle. Once she is free, Sulianna admits that she is too weak to deal with Koth’Vaul on her own, and that she cannot heal Kalkamedes until the demon has been dealt with since a part of his magic is also responsible for the Pathfinder's condition. However, she does see the potential within your group to deal with him in another way. Using a fraction of her remaining strength, she grants Garinol the ability cast a banish spell to conclude what you started.
"Even though this is not as effective as destroying Koth’Vaul completely," She explains, "it at least spares Varisia the chaos that would ensue should he break free. Thanks to the summoning circle’s magic, this spell should easily send Koth’Vaul back to the Abyss."
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"I do hope someone will explain to me what's going on at some point." She adds, standing and brushing dust from her outfit.
"Well, while you where all speaking to the angry Gnome over there, I found another magical circle holding a wounded elf woman. I tried to call you over without alerting the Gnome something was going on, but we where attacked by the undeads. I couldn't get past this hand", giving the thing a solid kick, "so I fell back into this circle. I figured that I should try to heal her as I couldn't do much else, and she, that is Sulianna, awoke and said that she, and the Gnome had afflicted Kalkamedes some while ago trying to call to him for aid. Our brave warriors dispatched the undeads, and here we are. Could you help me to banish the Gnome?"
Walking with Sulianna (hopefully), Kalkamedes (hopefully), and the others, "Bloody hell! What sort of demon is that! Hum, now the whole exorcism spell makes sense. I wasn't certain why we would be sending a Gnome to Abadar's orderly realm, but to imprison this beast for eternity, I get."
Lots of chanting. . . spellcasting. . .
As Garinol performs the spell, Koth'Vaul chuckles at him.
"This is a minor setback, Garinol. It's only a matter of time before someone calls me back to this pathetic little world. If you are still alive, I will hunt you down. All of you."
"Oh, shut up already, you overgrown lobster." Sulianna tells the demon. "Feel free to return whenever you like. I'll be waiting, and looking forward to a rematch without the interference your musty friends."
The demon growls, and is about to say something else, when Garinol's spell completes and he is snatched away from the world and hurled back to the abyss from which he came.
With no more concern than if she had just tossed out smelly garbage, Sulianna turns to Kalkamedes and touches his forehead with her fingers. He opens his eyes, blinks a couple times, and looks around. "What? Who are you and where are we? Did Sheila send you?"
Sulianna explains and apologizes to Kalkamedes, and puts in a few good words on your behalf for your efforts in aiding and rescuing both of them from the situation. Kalkamedes sword, Gamin, surprisingly, adds its voice in support as well, though when he describes the heroic actions of all involved along the journey to the Black Edifice, he leaves out Haris' name.
A look around the caves discovers a few treasures of note, and soon the group returns to the surface and begins to make their way back to Kalkamedes cabin.
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"I'll certainly give it a try, my friend."
"Sir Kalkamedes, finally. And you Mistress Sulianna, thank you as well.", taking a knee and kissing her hand.
"Mr Kal, can I speak with you a moment.", walking to the side away from the others for a moment. "Mrs. Heidmarch did send them, but I actually came on the behalf of Lady-Knight Ollysta Zadrian, and all of the Shining Crusade to ask you to return to the fold. I have spoken with Gamin, and I am aware that you had once been a strong warrior of the Light. We, and the world, need your help. This demon is just one of many. They say that the Wardstones that held the Worldwound back have fallen. Evil in both Mendev and in Lastwall grows strong. Many are suffering, and we could really use a champion. Ollysta Zadrian has asked me to offer you the opportunity for reinstatement of your honor, and that she will personally speak to the heavenly hosts to reinvest their grace and gifts upon you, as their champions once more, if you agree. . ."
"On a personal note, I was truly hoping you and Gamin, of course could tell me about, well Gamin? I have never met a truly wondrous person/item before, and am very intrigued. How did he come to be?", taking out his pathfinder journal.
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"Mistress Rowanna, how are you feeling after that blow, and my magic? Healing well, so far. Did you need any assistance with Zarta's ridiculous requests of you?"
After removing the restraints, everburning torch, and ropes from Kal and returning to the group, I'll step besides Peri, looking of into the distance as she does, "So, "Little Fox. . .?"
As you walk, Kalkamedes draws forth Gamin the Misforged and examines its cracked blade. "The so-called Gatesmiths, an informal brotherhood of talented dwarves at Riddleport’s Gas Forges in its earlier years, crafted “The Gaminuecron” to be a blade of legend; however, a flaw appeared early in the forging, and the smiths found themselves unable to salvage the blade, discarding it and starting anew. For two centuries, Gamin passed from one dissatisfied holy warrior to the next, and eventually Gamin saw use as little more than a training blade in a lesser fighting academy before being locked away. Several years ago, I liberated it during one of my expeditions. We had much in common: a failed paladin and a broken blade, both imperfect, but each striving to be more than we were."
Looking the blade over with a wistful gaze, Kalkamedes nods in silent agreement and looks to the party.
"Gamin is fiercely loyal to me, as I am the first wielder to ever truly look past his shortcomings and see his potential. However, since my decision to retire from an active life of adventure, the sword has started to grow sullen. It does not grow old or tired like a human does, and shouldn't spend my retirement on a wall or in a chest. Should one of you desire, I believe it would serve you well. If not, please take it back to the Grand Lodge and find a suitable hand to carry it."
After a moment of consideration, and a little smooth talk from Peri, Kalkamedes tells his story. [b]"As you know, I was a paladin of the Silver Crusade for several years, and I did my best to live up to the organization’s ideals, but I could never quite follow their code when the temptation to cut corners was at its strongest. I am ashamed to admit that I often resorted to using underhanded tricks: ambushes, faking injuries, and luring opponents into traps. Although I was always fighting for the cause of the weak and downtrodden, whenever a just cause was truly on the line, I could not resist the temptation to lie or sneak in order to get the job done. Of course I knew these actions were a slippery slope not only for me, but also set a pooor example for the rest of the order. Rather than bring my superiors and colleagues into disrepute, I decided it best to resign and go my own way."
EPILOGUE
You return to the cabin having made powerful, lifelong allies. Sulianna accompanies the group until the cabin is in sight, then departs for Elysium, but not before promising a favor in return for your assistance. Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch expresses visible relief upon seeing the Pathfinders return and offers them heartfelt thanks for their patience and hard work. Kalkamedes is also grateful, and spreads word of your deeds to his long-time Pathfinder colleagues.
THE END