Xanthir Vang is gone, but no one is sure which spell he used to vanish. Did he plane shift to the Abyss, or did he use teleport or dimension door to travel somewhere else in the Sanctum? Or did he simply cast invisibility, which would mean he is still nearby? Nor decides to use Xhotl's scent ability to investigate further. Tentatively, he rides her into Vang's chamber. As Xhotl draws close to the circle inscribed in the chamber's floor, however, there is a bright flash of light. Elaryan and Eovan are momentarily blinded; when their eyesight returns, the halflings and Xhotl are gone! And at that moment, Vang reappears. They were cramping our style, anyway , says the Worm that Walks in a rasp, slithering voice. Now that we are alone, perhaps we can strike a deal. "What kind of deal are you speaking of?" asks Elaryan. Why not make strike the same agreement as before? Only this time, you agree to kill Jerribeth, and I shall be your patron. Elaryan glances at Arueshalae, who seems torn. Suddenly, the sorcerer yells out, "No deal!" and begins to cast.... Meanwhile, Arthas wakes up in unfamiliar canyon. Sitting on a nearby rock is Peace Through Vigilance, the spirited gold dragon servant of Iomedae, who first introduced Arthas to his faithful mount. "For someone who doesn't need to sleep," says the dragon. "You sure do dream a lot. This time, there's no need to let Hubris be your guide. Just follow the bodies." Arthas wakes again, this time truly. He is in the same canyon from his dream, this time with Hubris. Nearby lies the body of a basilisk and beyond that, the open doors of the Ivory Sanctum. Arthas leaps into the saddle and begins to race down towards it. As Peace Through Vigilance promised, there is a convenient path of vanquished foes leading down hallways to his destination. At the end of a series of rooms, the paladin discovers a battle already in progress. Elaryan, Eovan, and Arueshalae are frantically battling a hideous, flying spellcaster, one that seems to be composed entirely of worms. With a prayer to his father, Arthas draws his bow. Seeing the approaching paladin, Xanthir Vang changes tactics. He somehow casts greater invisibility and mythic cloudkill simultaneously, filling the hall with poisonous gas as he flies around undetected. Next, as the party scrambles, he summons several babau and a huge fire elemental. As these minions distract Arthas and Hubris, the Worm that Walks harries the companions with spells like spiked pit , fireball , and mythic magic missile . Soon, the party is separated and confounded. Eovan is slain by the babau, and Arueshalae is hedged into a room away from the primary battle. Running low on spells, Elaryan is forced to transform into his Mythic Beast form, even as Arthas and Hubris retreat from the encroaching cloud of noxious vapors. Suddenly, Arthas is struck struck from behind with a beam that causes him to vanish entirely. Completely alone, Elaryan races towards the Sanctum's entrance. Halfway there, he encounters Vang, whom the sorcerer can only see thanks to Angazhan's baleful eye . How odd , says the Worm that Walks. That was only supposed to be a simple enervation ray. Something about your friend's divine nature must have changed it. Still, it does give me an idea... With that, he reaches forth a teeming hand and touches Elaryan with a silver tuning fork. Everyone who played gains 500 XP. Jack
