Malak and Elaryan regain consciousness in strange prison. The entire structure is made of porphyry, a purple-red gemstone. the bars of their cells are forged from cold iron, there are no torches, and the guards are all babau demons. The heroes have lost all of their equipment and are dressed in rags. Their hands are bound with warlock shackles which prevent spellcasting. As the companions are gathering their wits, they hear voices carrying down the hall. Evidently, they are being bartered for. The voices grow closer and resolve themselves into two demons. A kalavakus demon named Uruk is their captor, and he is trying to convince a half-nabasu to purchase them. As the half-nabasu peers through the bars in Elaryan's cell, the sorcerer recognizes him. This is Nulkineth, whose army of ghouls infested the Temple of Elaryan in the Hellmouth. He still carries his battle aspergillum, the one which dripping its enchanted, Stygian fluids. Nulkineth recognizes Elaryan at the same time. "Ho ho, elf-thing," he says. "I remember you! You and your friends fought well against me and my minions. Perhaps this is what I need to finally defeat Gelderfang at Battlebliss!" Elaryan and Malak have no idea what a Gelderfang or a Battlebliss is, but they agree to fight for the fiend, if he will free them in return. Nulkineth replies that a victory at Battlebliss (which is an arena) will make him so wealthy that he will grant their freedom... but they first must defeat the reigning champion, an incubus named Gelderfang. Having reached an agreement, Nulkineth pays Uruk for the two heroes and leads them out of the prison. The adventures soon discover that they are in fact in the middle of a huge, porphyry city named Alushinyrra. In every direction they look, the city rolls out as far as they can see-- a sprawling panorama of purple domes and yawning plazas. Demons, half-demons, tieflings, and undead walk the streets, daemons ply the canals, and dragons and winged fiends fill the air. Nulkineth leads them across the city to a huge arena. where he provides them with simple weapons and a few healing potions. Then he leaves to place his wagers, and the heroes wait in the tunnels beneath Battlebliss. Eventually, they are escorted into the arena proper to face Gelderfang. The huge incubus has four mighty arms, each wielding a different weapon, and it is clear that he is the crowd favorite. Malak transforms into a dragon, Elaryan assumes his hybrid wereboar form, and the battle begins! Gelderfang is a fierce opponent, and Malak is soon overpowered. The draconic disciple tries to keep his distance, pummeling the gladiator with his breath weapon, but is eventually cornered and beaten, falling into some quicksand. Elaryan wades in to save him. Gelderfang has been critically wounded, but now only he and Elaryan remain standing. Worse, the quicksand that Malak sank into is filled with green slime, which quickly begins to eat away at both heroes. As the incubus charges toward the elven sorcerer, Elaryan acts in desperation, casting a fireball on himself! It is a risky tactic, but it works. The green slime is burned away, and Gelderfang falls. The demonic crowd boos and yells, as Elaryan quickly retreats from the arena. Suprisingly, Nulkineth is as good as his word. He removes the brands that mark Elaryan and Malak as slaves, before leaving himself. Elaryan is left with the body of Malak and few options. Soon, however, the manager of Balttlebliss-- a cambion demon named Irmangaleth-- arrives bearing Gelderfang's equipment... the party's spoils for defeating the incubus. Elaryan sells trades this equipment for a raise dead spell for his friend. The next starnight, the two heroes return to Uruk's tower to investigate the circumstances of their other companions. Uruk reveals that does indeed own a halfling, a small ghoran, and a seizing human. He is willing to part with them for 1,000 gp apiece. Lacking the necessary funds, Malak and Elaryan retreat to the inn to discuss their next move. Everyone who played gains 5,000 XP. The party's Notoriety in Alushinyrra is now 10.
