Marilth Orb

Back at Mridsgate, the battered Defenders report back to the Prince. "He's the only one left," concludes Nolin after a long explanation. "I think if we can find a dwarf to undertake the noble responsibility of his task, we'll be doing something good." Splinder looks as if he might open his mouth to speak, thinks twice, and stays silent. The Prince looks doubtful.

"Will he need to eat? Because from what you say, the entire city is abandoned. We'd need thousands more of my people to fill it. As you can see," his voice is full of bitter irony as he gestures around him, "we're a little short of spare dwarves at the moment."

The Defenders discuss strategy mentally via mindlink while the Prince waits. After more than a minute of their silent conversation with each other, Prince Stern turns to Agar in slight annoyance. "So, do they do this a lot? Sit around and stare at each other?"

Agar whispers back, "You have no idea." The group immediately reinvolves the Prince in the conversation, and Stern resolves to announce Kellharin's plight and hold a tourney to find someone willing and competent enough to voluntarily assume his place as Guardian of the Ebon Door.

Nolin questions three dwarves who he saved during the siege. While finishing off the last of the ghouls, Nolin had cast detect thoughts, and had been horrified to pick up insane terror coming from a ghoulish meat wagon. The three still-living dwarves had been saved, healed, and now were in state where they could talk. They aren't able to give much information about the sack of Mrid, as they had been unconscious after being paralyzed. Nevertheless, they report that the King had been making his stand near the palace, and that the ghoulish army had been overwhelming. By their estimates, the force that attacked Mridsgate was merely a small fraction of the total army. "They've probably headed off to attack the ogrish city to our east," one of the refugees concludes. "Hopefully, they'll all be killed." Everyone exchanges worried glances; ghoulish ogres and giants can't be a good thing.

In the late afternoon, the group sorts through the treasure culled from the massive battle of Mridsgate. The most interesting items include the marilith's skimpy armored bra is beautiful. When Malachite and Mara examine it carefully, though, they discover the faintest tang of evil. As a result, Nolin examines it closely, comparing it to what he's learned from countless stories and legends. He quickly reaches an inescapable conclusion and looks up, excited.

"She's in there!"

"Who is?"

Nolin waggles all of his arms and body in an indescribably snaky and feminine fashion. "Her! It's a soul gem!"

Mara looks worried. "Let's smash it."

"Wait!" says Nolin. "I learned about this when we fought Mirata, all those years ago, back when she seized Cadrienne's body at the Academy of Flamecraft. We need protection from evil and a magic circle of protection acting as a trap. We'll need hammers to shatter it, and no one unprotected should be within hundreds of feet."

As soon as preparations are ready, it doesn't take the paladins long to shatter the priceless amber gem. When they do, the transparent shade of the marilith comes streaming out, ghostlike. She snarls in pure fury and slithers towards them, only to recoil when she touches the magic circle.

"Ready to die again?" asks Malachite. Looking at his friends, he adds with a grim smile, "I'll suffer no evil to live. But I will taunt it."

Nolin pokes his head up behind Malachite's shoulder and lifts something up into the air, waving it back and forth. "We have your bra!"

The ghostly demon fades as she plunges her essence into Nolin's mind, using hatred as a battering ram to force her way inside. She is repulsed by the protection from evil. Almost immediately, she changes her tactics as her form begins to waver.

"We can bargain. You are beset. I can offer you troops of indescribable power, with which to wipe out your enemies!" Her voice hisses persuasively. She tries to possess Galthia, but is driven back once again.

Malachite shrugs dismissively. "Got that."

Agar agrees. "Check!"

"Weapons of power, magical treasures galore!"

The paladin sounds bored. "Got that."

"Check!"

Her voice sounds desperate, as her will power keeping her alive begins to fade. "Riches beyond your dreams!"

He shakes his head sadly. "Got that."

"Check!"

Then Velendo leans close to the magical prison, his face open and guileless. "There is only one thing you can offer us that we don't have," he confides.

"What? Say the word, allow me to live, and it will be yours!"

Velendo smiles broadly. "One. Fewer. Enemy."

The marilith screams horribly as her concentration finally breaks. "Noooooooooo!" Her spirit dissolves into wisps of dream and ether, quickly dispersing in the chill cavern air.

Agar smiles with finality. "Check!"