Death Knight

The Questers instinctively knew that they had only a few seconds for preparations. Potions of Healing were swiftly swigged and soothing spells quickly spoken, as the ominous figure in its' black-and-gold armour strode unhurriedly to the edge of the plinth to look down at them.

Surya opened his mouth to address the undead knight, but it appeared uninterested in parlaying. One armoured hand lifted, to point at the group of Questers by the northern archway (everyone except Sack). "Fire." he said softly in Elvish.

A tiny red pinpoint of glowing light appeared  at the tip of his finger and streaked downwards towards the Questers. It was aimed directly at Kobort, who was as near to the centre of the group as made no odds. However, the nomad sorcerer had managed to erect an Interposing Hand spell just in time; the Fireball struck that rather than Kobort.

A massive wash of flames engulfed the members of the quest. Hildraft was next to Kobort, and was partly shielded by the edge of the Hand; Surya, already moving, managed to get out of the blast radius in time; Launcivos had his ring of Fire Resistance. Silustriana and Sigred were less fortunate, and were both badly burned.

Trailing smoke, Surya glared up at the armoured figure. "Will you not parlay?" he asked. "You never asked what we had come for."

A cold, metallic laugh rang from the dark helm. "You are after the crystal of course," the Death Knight said contemptuously, "no-one would endure the hazard of the guardian demons unless they were. " Surya tried again, "Why not go elsewhere. We wouldn't have to kill you, and you could be terrorising someone else..."

"I am Asildir, final guardian of the Kingmaker Crystal," replied the Death Knight. "I am bound here, by the powers that created me; I cannot leave nor allow you to take it." As he spoke Asildur was readying a longbow and fitting an arrow. Seeing negotiations had broken down, the Quest scattered, fearing a second Fireball, but such was not Asildur's plan.

Behind the Death Knight, Sack had cast the Invisibility to Undead spell taught him by the Renders of the Dark, and was using his Spider Climb to scale the plinth as quietly as possible.

Hildraft invoked Kord's power in the form of a mighty column of raging fire that engulfed their foe. When it faded, however, he was untouched. Surya strung his bow, preparing to cover the others, and Kobort unleashed his Lightning Bolt once more, groaning with frustration as the magic fizzled and died inches from the undead warrior.

Sigred squared his shoulders, lifted the sigil of Aderra that he wore around his neck, and in the name of his Goddess bade the spectre begone. More bitter laughter was his only reward. A similar lack of results marked Launcivos' casting of Disrupt Undead.

His bow now readied, Asildur began to rain black shafts down into the ranks of the Quest. His initial targets were the two Fae Mhor, and both Silustriana and Launcivos were shot down. As each arrow struck, a sizzling blast of electrical energy increased the already fearsone damage. Both Fae Mhor were dead before they hit the ground.

Retaliating, Surya sent four arrows streaking back the other way, and was satisfied to see some damage done; the Knight was not invulnerable. Kobort finally managed to get a lightning strike through the undead's defences, and inflict some more damage - not as much as he'd expected though.

At this point, Sack reached the top of the plinth and loped, silent and invisible, across the flat top to where the death Knight stood. With a sword in each hand, he fell upon the Guardian from behind, hacking and slashing.

Seeing this, Hildraft used his Wind Walk power to take him, too, to the top. Kobort cast Fly and, grabbing Surya en passant, soared up above the embattled death knight.

Spinning around to face the foe who'd struck him, Asildur dropped his bow and drew his greatsword from its' back-scabbard. With inhumn speed, he smashed a series of terrible blows into the half-orc, inflicting serious wounds. Undaunted, Sack retaliated, and the blazing Blade of the Sun, forged for the bane of the Undead, tore through the dark armour and send fragments of undead bone flying in all directions; for the first time, the Death Knight appeared seriously damaged. Arriving on Asildur's right flank, Hildraft hefted his axe and attacked; the Death Knight's armour defeated his best efforts. Above, Kobort released the Tellaran, who plunged down onto the back of their foe, pitching the dead warrior forwards to sprawl on the ground, and spoiling his attack - though Hildraft still receieved a nasty head wound that sent him staggering. Rolling deftly to his feet, the Tellaran joined the attack, Tormentor drawn. As his blows struck home, Hildraft noticed something; at each strike, the Crystal dimmed ever so slightly. In a leap of understanding, the dwarf realized that the Death Knight was dipping into the power of the Crystal to heal the damage they were inflicting on him.

The Death Knight staggered to his feet again, beset from all sides and clearly badly battered. He raised his greatsword, ready to attack again; but Surya was quicker, and dealt the Guardian his death blow.

With a clash and clatter, the plate armour scattered across the floor - empty. Asildur was gone.

The Sancrist Crystal was theirs.