At Level 21, with two stars and a dark green rank, Liam was more powerful than he’d have allowed himself to dream of just three months ago. In fact, there were Adventurers in the 2024 Panini sticker collection who had worse stats than Liam, especially when you took into account his ownership of the Hazel Wand of Syceus, a ring of Freedom of Movement and a Staff of Long Reach. One manifestation of this power was that he could travel without fear through regions that previously would have been terrifying. The mountain path to Grendwrack Castle on the Fourth Plane of Wickedness had an austere beauty that Liam could enjoy, since the many predators who would have devoured him had he come here when starting at college were no higher than Level 12 and easily dispatched.
The nearest portal was two day’s walk from the castle, at a monastery from where they had purchased supplies. From there, they had taken a narrow, single-file dirt path through gorse bushes and firs until entering a valley high on the left-hand side, up above the tree line. With the sun descending at Liam's back, there was an orange tinge to the mountain peaks around him. According to Lord Azanth, as soon as they reached the pass that was about a kilometre ahead they would see their destination, Grendwrack Castle.
Two winged creatures leaped from a cave high up on mountain on the opposite side of the valley. Birds? No, they were far too big to even be eagles.
‘Gargoyles,’ Kate was looking through the telescope.
‘Looks like they are hungry,’ said Aengus without concern.
The flying monsters were making straight for the group. Liam tightened his grip on his staff and as the gargoyles flew across the valley towards him, blasted one at long range with a Magic Missile. Although the relative contribution of +20 Magical Attack from the Wand of Syceus was less now that he was level 21, it was still noticeable that the power of his main spell was enhanced; his dark green rank also boosted the attack strength of his spells. On being struck by the searing bolt of blue-white light, the incoming monster veered and dropped out of control for several seconds before frantic beats of its wing restored its equilibrium. Moments later Liam sent the wounded gargoyle into a death spiral having struck it with a second Magic Missile. In the meantime, the other gargoyle failed to get close thanks to Kate’s Magic Missile and his brother’s Shock Wave.
This was the last encounter before they reached the pass: a shoulder between the mountains to either side. It was windy here and Liam had to blink away the tears that came as a result of the blasts of cold air he faced into as he crested the rise. Already in shadow, Grendwrack castle was on a rocky outcrop halfway down the slopes on the far side of the pass, to the right of a valley, and it was well situated to control the route up to the pass. Any army passing this way would be leaving its supply lines to the mercy of those in the castle. Yet to delay and to try and take the castle would be costly, with the natural height of the rocks reinforced by tall, grey walls and a grim keep. There were no other towers, just a plain circuit of walls that followed the irregular but broadly rectangular shape of the outcrop, so the keep stood out like a single fierce tooth.
‘Good, we can make it before sunset,’ said Aengus, leaning forward into the wind as he set off on the path down the slope.
‘Don’t we have time for a break?’ asked Kate and with Liam’s legs immediately responding to her words, he hurried to catch up with his brother.
‘Hold on. Let’s just have a quick break and a snack; it was a hard enough walk up to the pass.’
With a somewhat disapproving expression, Aengus shrugged. ‘Not long though, it will be dark soon.’
In fact, their final, hurried scramble over bare rocks towards the castle took place after sunset, in a twilight that was deep purple. The path ended at a narrow crevasse that was almost jumpable. On the far side was a drawbridge, currently raised in front of a portcullis. There were lanterns on the walls and their yellow light gleamed on the helmets and spears of about a dozen guards.
‘Hail the castle!’ shouted Liam.
‘Who is there?’ a distant voice carried to them from above the gate.
‘Three Adventurers from the Plane of Life.’
There was no immediate response to his call but Liam felt a great wave of relief pass through him as the chains of the drawbridge began to rattle and with a deep groan the iron-clad, wooden platform began to be lowered. Good, soon he’d have a chair to sit on and hopefully have some hot food too. If not, they had their own supplies.
A tall sergeant clad in full length chainmail greeted them under the arch of the entrance and after asking a few questions in a severe tone of voice, softened and gave them a broad smile. ‘It’s always good to see a party of Adventurers. We’ve a lot of monsters around here that need clearing back. Maybe you can even destroy the stone necromancer for us. That would give us a month of peace before he respawns. The warden will be keen to meet you. He’ll issue you with quests and assign your quarters. Follow me.’
As he crossed the courtyard behind the soldier, Liam began to feel uneasy. Grendwrack Castle had the atmosphere of a prison. They were here to ask about the warden’s Staff of Binding, not to quest and level. And if, for some reason, they made enemies of these people it might be dangerous. The walls were high, over twenty metres. Thirty or forty guards were stationed up on the wall walk and no doubt there were more in the keep or the barracks that they were currently passing.
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It wasn’t the physical environment alone that was intimidating. The guards were not facing outwards, against a potential threat from gargoyles or whoever the stone necromancer was, they were all facing inwards, watching as the three friends walked beneath them.
Do you feel like I do?
I do not. For I am a former demon, now crisp, and my feelings are unique.
I mean, I feel as though those guards are watching us with suspicion.
The only soldier within range of my telepathy, the man leading us, is of sufficient level that I cannot read his thoughts.
Would you ask Kate to take a look at the keep through the Telescope of Revelation?
Although I do not take such requests kindly, I see the merit of your idea under the current circumstances.
A moment later, Kate drew the telescope and looked up to where the stars were beginning to appear, then, twisting the front tube to adjust the focus, brought the lens down to examine the keep in front of them.
‘Nothing,’ she muttered.
Up a flight of stairs like a ramp to the keep doors, the tall tower blocking the sky. Then in to a narrow corridor that was austere, undecorated stone. Another door – thick, covered in iron strips – and a wider hall, lit by lanterns, with two guards leaning on their spears. Six doors. Through one of these their sergeant continued onwards without greeting the guards. They glanced at Liam with the unconcerned eyes of men who had seen dozens of Adventurers come and go.
Anything?
For sheer apathy and boredom these guards would provide an example that few could match.
Stairs up. Skipping a landing to go up again. And now a room with chairs, a table, an unlit fire and a lantern in each corner that their guide sparked into life. Through the smoky glass of the lanterns, the room was tinged with orange and filled with shadow.
‘Please, take a seat. I’m sure the warden will be with you soon.’
Relieved as Liam was to rest his legs – a full day of walking, mostly uphill, took its toll – it was an uncomfortable room to be in, somewhat claustrophobic and again suggestive of a prison with its one window, high up in the wall and too narrow for anyone to pass through.
Nor was it only a short time that they were kept waiting. At least, though, they were visited by a servant and the debris of a meal of crusty bread and cheese covered the table when at last the warden joined them. He entered the room in a hurry, shook hands – urging them not to get up – and took the seat at the head of the table near the fire. Beside him, two helmeted, female guards in chainmail stood on either side, hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
Although his castle was harsh and warlike, the warden gave Liam a very different impression. Small, plump, and carefully dressed, his soft voice seemed better adapted to an intimate soiree than to shouting orders in the heat of battle.
‘Adventurers. Very good. What level are you?’
‘Twenty-one,’ Aengus gestured to Liam, ‘twenty and twenty.’ He had pointed to Kate and then himself.
‘Twenty,’ the warden was surprised. ‘You won’t get completion rewards for any of my repeatable quests, they are too high level. You must be here for the stone necromancer quest?’
Quest: Defeat the Stone Necromancer
A necromancer has been gathering the bodies of gargoyles. Rumour says she is attempting to raise an abomination: a monstrous undead gargoyle. Investigate the caves to the northeast of Grendwrack Castle and thwart the plans of the necromancer.
Reward: Quest completion, minor magical item
Accept: Yes / No
Automatically, Liam accepted the quest, although at the same time, he looked over at Kate.
Kate put both of her hands on the table. ‘We’re actually here to have a look at your Staff of Binding.’
The warden’s mouth opened and closed. ‘My Staff of Binding?’
‘That’s it.’
Liam admired Kate’s directness. He’d have offered something by way of explanation and would certainly have used the word “please”. But Kate’s tone of entitlement seemed to be effective for the warden got to his feet. ‘I see. I’ll bring it down to you.’
I cannot tell you much about the thoughts of this man, but I can tell you this, he is lying and intends to flee.
Now that Lord Azanth had group Telepathy, there was no delay in communication and both Aengus and Kate sprang to their feet. Liam, who was closest to the door, stood in the way of the warden. Both of the guards drew their swords.
‘What’s this?’ the warden asked Liam. The ruler of the castle was striving for a tone of surprise and outrage, but he fell well short.
‘You know what it is.’ Liam’s intuition was that the warden knew perfectly well that the Staff of Binding had been used by Earl Clarance to undo the restraints on the titans. And his curt response proved effective.
‘It’s not my fault. I had no choice.’ The bluster of the small man collapsed as he turned rapidly from Aengus to Kate and back to Liam, eyes moist and mouth twisted in a kind of appeal. ‘Earl Clarance is level one hundred. And he said the staff was needed to complete a rare quest.’
‘You maggot,’ said Kate.
Scowling now, the warden folded his arms. ‘You do realise I’m level thirty-four? These guards are level eighteen. The keep is filled with my soldiers. You can’t come here and insult me. Nor can you judge me. In my position you’d have given him the staff too. I had no idea he planned to release the titans.’
‘Of course. I understand. And when you realised,’ Liam strove for a placatory tone, ‘didn’t you want to stop him? Why didn’t you tell someone?’
‘Who? There’s no authority above Earl Clarance. And just look at him now, leading the most powerful Adventurers in the fifteen planes, he’s unchallengeable.’
Kate shook her head. 'Men like that always think so. It is their biggest weakness.’
A long moment passed and then the warden took a deep breath. ‘It’s insane what he’s doing.’ The warden gestured to his guards and pushed past them back to his seat. ‘And I want my staff back. Let’s talk.’