With the brimoraks gone, the Knights in the chimera's former lair were able to take time to examine the beast's horde of treasure. The chimera had amassed a considerable wealth of coins, gems, precious silverware, jewelry, and several enchanted items that excited the members of the group. These items included a magical bag that could hold far more than its exterior dimensions indicated, which contained a library of useful books about the other planes.There was also a blank spellbook that could allow a mage to scribe spells in it without having to expend the usual cost of special inks and other materials, a quiver that like the bag could hold much more than it appeared capable of containing, a suit of armor that would permit the wearer to harm insubstantial creatures, a crossbow that imbued any bolt fired from it with flames, and two javelins that would cause lightning damage when they struck a target. There were also several spell scrolls and potions, and a number of arrows enchanted to harm magical beasts. One of the gems proved to be a special one that could be crushed to summon a large elemental of earth for a short period of time.
As Asami and Jiro were engaged in determining the properties of these things, an arrow suddenly flew through the opening in the wall. It landed harmlessly on the floor. There was a strip of paper wrapped around the shaft, which bore the message, "An old friend has arrived." The handwriting was Anevia's. The Knights immediately realized that this probably meant Aegon had reached the camp.
Pleased and heartened by the news, the Knights waited while Runa changed into the armor they had found, stowing her own armor in the magic bag. Zosta then took charge of the bag for the time being. While this had been going on Bohgong had been crouching in the opening, watching what lay outside the tower. The monkey barely managed to avoid an oncoming ball of fire sent by another brimorak. Zosta and Jiro noted that the other brimoraks were on the top of the wall, across the rooftop of the Citadel from the chimera's tower. On observing this, the group decided together that their first priority was to eliminate the rest of the brimoraks. When they had made up their minds and everyone was ready, they set off across the roof toward the wall where the brimoraks awaited them.
As Shim and Jiro descended onto the rooftop, they saw five shapes climbing down from another tower. These were five brimorak demons. Jiro suggested that the party members spread out to make it more difficult for the demons to catch them with a ball of fire. The brimoraks began to walk on air and ascend. Runa suddenly felt her new armor getting unusually hot. She summoned divine water and doused herself in an effort to cool herself. Jiro realized that the effect was a magical ability inherent to the brimoraks. Then the demons tried to dispel some of the magical effects protecting the Crusader Knights, and Asami felt her protection from fire dissipate.
On the previous night when Asami had retreated to her tent to examine the spellbooks Horgus Gwerm had given her, her attention had been drawn first to a partly burnt book that was locked. When she began trying to unfasten the arcane lock that protected it, a strange entity had invaded her mind and she had yet to find a way to expel it. This entity identified itself as Eldrazi Portheim, the former owner of the spellbook. Now, as Asami looked at the brimorak demons, Eldrazi robbed her of her will to cast a spell of his own. A ball of acid hurtled toward three of the brimoraks.
Just as Asami surprised her comrades with this spell they hadn't seen her cast before, three more figures appeared in the air overhead. But these weren't demons. One of the the three was Aravashnial, and when the Knights looked closely they realized that the other two people were Aegon and Darra, her severed leg still replaced by a new limb of glowing golden energy. The three new arrivals began to drop toward the rooftop, then slowed as Aravashnial used a spell to let them drift down like feathers. Darra dropped abruptly as one of the brimoraks dispelled Aravashnial's magic, but she landed in a roll that left her unharmed.
Zosta sprinted across the roof toward the demons. Runa paused and cast a spell on herself to protect herself from fire, which had the effect of stopping the heating she had been experiencing. Zosta reached the wall and vaulted up to attack a demon with her bladed gauntlets. Asami, released from Eldrazi's control for the moment, tried casting a spell of her own and hurled a ball of flame at the brimoraks, forgetting that such creatures couldn't be harmed by fire.
Three of the brimoraks retaliated by lobbing handfuls of flames at the Knights. Runa broke into a run. Jiro summoned an ancestral spirit to attack one of the floating brimoraks menacing Zosta. Other brimoraks drew their swords and turned them on Aegon and Shim. Asami decided that running across the roof was too slow and took flight, swooping up toward the walkway atop the wall. Jiro began to climb toward Shim's location.
As Asami flew above, Eldrazi took advantage of her again to hurl a globe of ice and snow at the demon facing Shim. Shim used his blade to cleave a second brimorak in half. Aegon followed by slaying another demon with his axe forged of cold iron. There were only two brimoraks remaining. One of them kicked Shim with its fiery hooves and slashed him with its sword badly enough that Shim was barely able to keep his feet. Zosta slew the second demon she had been battling. Then Runa climbed up the wall and slashed another demon with her sword. Asami took out her wand and sent missiles at one of the demons near Shim. In short order all five of the brimoraks had been slain.
One of the demons that had been walking on air wore a pouch, unlike its fellows. Asami pushed the floating corpse over to the walkway and emptied the pouch, finding gold coins, a ring, a wand, and a scroll. The wand held a curative spell so she handed it to Jiro. The scroll she kept for herself. After she revealed that the ring was meant to help the wearer be a more agile climber, Runa swapped a similar but lesser ring for that one. At Zosta's urging, Asami claimed the ring Runa had previously worn.
By this time Jiro had little healing magic left. The Knights decided to return to camp and recuperate overnight before making another assault on Citadel Drezen. Aegon then revealed that Cennami had sent a parcel with him, which contained seven adamantine cloak clasps formed in the insignia of Zosta's clan. Asami realized these clasps were magical and would help to protect the wearers from harm, but only so long as they were worn with the cloaks that Rhino had sent with Shim.
Zosta was happily reunited with Darra, and Darra shared with her the news that Zosta's adopted demon brother Rhino had now manifested wings! There was also news that Cennami's tribe might be planning to move on to the Worldwound, that the demons were starting to realize the Wardstones were no longer functioning; and that Aegon and Darra's former friend Abel, who had accompanied them to Kenabres, had apparently joined the demons' followers, much to Aegon's anger.
The Knights rested, and prepared to assault the Citadel again the next day. Their attempt to circumvent the front entrance had been less than successful, and they decided that tomorrow they would go in through the main gate, which appeared to have been barricaded. Reports told them that little sign of defenders had been seen other than a few brimoraks patrolling the battlements. Scouts like Anevia and Aron had been busy keeping those sentries distracted. They also heard news that the ruined chapel they had cleared and re-consecrated was now seeing use by Crusaders, and the valley occupied by the vescavors was now almost entirely clear of the abyssal insects.
Most of the group went to their beds feeling heartened by recent events, but when Asami returned to her tent she could only fret over how to free herself of the malign influence of Eldrazi. The entity had threatened her life if either she or Kirara tried to report its presence to anyone else. She could only hope a plan would come to her, or that her unusual behavior would attract the attention of her friends.
Next: part 35, Through the Gates of Drezen
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