Elaryan and Malak are sitting in the taproom of their inn in Alushinyrra when they are approached by a shadow demon named Nezirrius. She reveals that she has been hired by a lilitu demon named Minagho to assassinate the heroes. Nezirrius does not typically provide her targets with forewarning, but she has learned that Minagho has fallen out of favor with Baphomet. If the party is willing to match the fee paid by the lilitu, then Nezirrius will betray her, leading the heroes to her lair. The only other stipulation is that she be allow to keep Minagho's body, to present to Baphomet. The fiendish assassin gives the party three moons to consider, which is fortunate, as they lack the funds to accept her offer. She tells them to bring give the money to the inn's barkeep, a coloxus named Coomundax, if they agree. She will then see them in three moons' time, one way or another. After Nezirrius teleports away, Elaryan and Malak discuss their options. They decide that their first priority needs to be reclaiming their equipment, regardless of whether they plan on accepting the assassin's offer. First, Elaryan tries to use locate object to find his staff, but it is out of range. He then tries to locate Malak's sword, Ashbringer , and is successful! The heroes rush out of the taproom in the direction indicated. A few blocks from the inn, they see an unfamiliar human walking towards them, holding Ashbringer . The stranger greets Malak as "little brother", and reveals that his name is Visalth. He claims that he shares a father with Malak, a "dragon king" named Amalacryx. Visalth then shapechanges into his true form, a towering red dragon. Malak asks for his sword back. Visalth replies that he purchased both the sword-- which he calls Fireskull -- and Malak's amulet from a succubus named Birgitte. He is willing to return it to Malak in celebration of his half-brother's victory at Battlebliss, and in exchange for letting him keep the amulet, which he says belonged to their father. Malak accepts this offer, on the condition that Visalth also fly him to Birgitte's lair. Visalth agrees to bring Malak and Elaryan to the succubus's doorstep, but will not cross her himself, for her power greatly outshines his own. The heroes hop onto the dragon's back, and he flies across the bay that separates Alushinyrra from the larger island of Alinythia. He descend to rocky shore, carefully avoiding the waves of the Midnight Sea. An army of skeletons guard the doors to Birgitte's lair, but Elaryan and Malak make short work of them. As the battle is winding down, the moon rises, and Elaryan transforms into a boar. After tying his porcine friend down, Malak asks Visalth for one more favor: to bring the skeletons' equipment back to Alushinyrra, and trade it for their friends' freedom. The dragon is willing, so Malak rests on the shore while his half-brother returns to the Porphyry City. Hours later, Visalth returns, bearing Nor, Lor, and Arthas. Nor and Lor have had their slave brands removed, but Arthas has a new one, shaped like skull with coins for eyes. A tearful reunion ensues once the moon has set and Elaryan returns to elven form. As the heroes are exchangin stories, Visalth departs. The companions enter the lair through two brazen doors covered in engravings of Zura, the Vampire Queen. They make their way down several hallways, defeating the sentries there, before entering a final chamber. This chamber has a river of blood, and is guarded by demonic mohrgs and caryatid golems. The adventurers slay the mohrgs and trap the golems, only to realize that they are being watched by Birgitte herself. The vampire's voice calls out from the shadows at the far end of the chamber: "Why have you disturbed my rest?" Malak steps forth to answer... Everyone who played gains 3,000 XP. Malak and Elaryan gain an additional 1,000 XP. Furthermore, discovering his origin counts as the fulfillment of a personal quest for Malak.
