Demon's Winter: Part 7 - SSI/US Gold

.....Directly east of Jacanth we found a small, mountainous
island with an inlet containing a healing pool. We sailed back
out of the inlet and continued east where we found another
larger island. Anchoring the boat on the shoreline, we started to
explore.

We walked into the mountains and through onto a sandy beach with
buildings around it. To the northwest was one containing a small
room full of maps showing a volcano south of the island and the
Dark Chapel that the Ancient One had mentioned to us on an island
to the south of that.

Back outside and along the beach to the south, a ship lay at
anchor on the inland sea. Guarding it were two mountain giants
and a Titan - a huge figure wielding a huge, shining sword. Lone
gave a battle cry, at least that's what I think it was, and we
attacked. Within a short space of time, the ship was ours.

We sailed back towards the entrance and, leaving the ship, walked
along the beach to the east. A short bridge led over the water to
a small island and a bell tower. Just inside the entrance was a
short corridor. Two rooms led off, one north, one south. In the
north room was a skeleton mage called the Bellkeeper; a powerful
assassin, he had been hired by Eregore to keep watch over the
bell tower. He screamed threats at us and attacked. Lone and I
killed him and as he breathed his last, we felt a cold force fly
past us, followed by the ringing of a massive bell to the west.

In the south room was a dog, obviously the Bellkeeper's pet, but
at the end of the corridor was something far more important - a
huge bell. On the wall above the bell were some runes and,
squinting at them slightly, Clarence translated them. "'Ring
bell at midnight'" he said. "But how?" asked Fidget. "We're
always asleep at that time - it seems impossible to stay awake
that long."

Confused, we returned to the outside of the dungeon. To the east
of the island a small path led into the mountains, and at the
end of it we found a small hut. Inside, an old peasant woman
greeted us. Smiling, she waved her hand to encompass the interior
of the hut with its sweet-smelling herbs. "Please stay. If you
wish, you may sleep here in comfort" she offered. Izzy smiled at
her. "I accept, on behalf of myself and my companions" he said.

We settled down and were soon sound asleep. But suddenly, we woke
to the screeching of an owl outside.  Everything was still and
quiet, the moon seeming suspended in the heavens with a magical
feeling to the air. But there was no sign of the old woman.

Collecting our weapons, we walked outside into the darkness.
Fidget looked up at the sky and gasped. "It's the middle of the
night. Quick, let's go to the bell and ring it!" We hurried down
to the bell tower and rang the bell. The sound of angels crying
opened up from the heavens, then everything went quiet again.
Lone frowned. "Now what?" he said. "Nothing's happened!"

Despondently, we walked back outside, having no idea what to do
next. Boarding the ship, Clarence suggested we set sail to the

south as we hadn't yet explored in that direction. Leaving the
ship on yet another small, sandy beach, we had walked just a few
steps when we noticed a gate, standing open, inviting us to
enter. With a chuckle, Izzy said, "I bet this was shut before we
rang that bell!" and, with Lone leading the way, we entered.

A short way down the corridor, a voice from nowhere spoke. "Only
those who worship Malifon may enter this temple. What is thy
name?". Quick as can be, Izzy replied "Jesric". "You may enter,"
said the disembodied voice.

The corridor led deep into the mountains into a small room which
was completely bare. "This is strange," said Izzy. "Where's the
temple?" We explored every inch of the room, then returned to the
corridor. To our surprise, where there had previously been a bend
in the passageway there was now a crossroads. To the east was
a healing pool but south another passage beckoned us deeper into
the mountain.

Soon we came to a small, square, sand-filled room with its walls
painted to depict a desert landscape. Two huge salamanders leapt
out of the sand! Defeating them, we walked to the south end of
the room and a passage suddenly opened in the east wall as the
doorway, through which we had just entered, vanished. Through the
new exit a bridge led over a small stretch of water and split,
one piece going north, one south.

As we explored the area, we discovered that the whole place was
a series of transporter rooms, each with its own climatic
characteristics. After the desert room, we found one with walls
of fire, twenty feet high, guarded by a fire elemental; another
was bitterly cold as magical snow fell onto us and an ice demon
surveyed us with its cold, blue eyes before attacking. Soon we
had mapped the area, apart from one section. In one seemingly
normal room, a purple haze filled the north wall. I tried to walk
through it but failed and none of the others had any better luck.
But on the side wall was a crystal eye. Lone pointed out the
carving above it. "'Only high priests allowed past this point,
show identification'", he read. "I wonder...." and reaching into

his tunic, he drew out the heavy amulet we had taken from Jesric
after he died and held it in front of the eye. Then he smiled at
us as the mist slowly dispersed and we saw a corridor leading
north.

Thus we entered the main part of the High Temple, with its high,
engraved ceiling and wide hallways. The size of the building
dwarfed us (with apologies to Fidget) and made me feel very
vulnerable and helpless. To the left, a doorway led into a
room of dreams and to the far southeast was a beautiful
cathedral, guarded by three orange spellbinders - giant snakes
which moved hypnotically before us. But the octagonal room to the
north, with its crystal floor decorated with geometric designs
and inscribed 'Only the right path will bring rewards' seemed
more promising. We discovered that the north, west and east walls
were not solid, though they appeared to be at a cursory glance
and, remembering the inscription on the floor, we went east ...
right.

Once through the "wall", we found a corridor going north with two
doorways. The first one led into a room inhabited by a demon
lord, selected by Malifon to watch over Eregore and make sure he
did his job. Killing the demon lord and his two attendant hounds,
we entered a second room whose cracked walls still bore evidence
of a complex spell which had once been carved there. It appeared
to be the God Rune for breaking a binding and Izzy pointed out
the places where the apprentices would have stood to cast the
spell.

The second doorway from the main corridor led into a room
containing a large crystal ball. To my amazement, the voice of
the Ancient One issued from the crystal, assuring us that we were
doing well but that we must go on, for Malifon had gained control
of the Shard of Spring and was planning to destroy it. All of us
knew that if that happened the world would be plunged into
deepest winter!

Hurrying, we had just rounded the corner of the next corridor
when a voice rang out - it was Eregore! "So, you have found me,"
he cried from the northern end of the room we were about to enter
as his followers, a collection of highwaymen, thieves, fighters
and mages, watched with evil eyes glinting. He pointed at us.
"Destroy the infidels!" he shrieked, and the motley crew advanced
towards us....

@~To be concluded in the next issue of SynTax.