Stage 1 Minimum Level: 1903 Location:Raloheim (Streets) (2, 8) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You enter the Raloheim Streets and your heart immediately sinks at the hollow moans of zombies drifting on the stale air. You find Cavanda standing in a small courtyard with her shining longsword drawn. You hear her sigh with relief at the sound of your voice, 'It's good that you're here Warrior. This place is infested with Zombies, though I did hear some cries to the north east, go see if there are a survivors still alive.'

Stage 2 Minimum Level: 1903 Location:Raloheim (Streets) (9, 2) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You battle your way through the ruined streets of Raloheim, Zombies lunge at you but you manage to find one portly survivor in a small plaza shoving zombies away from him with a long broom. The man blinks at you in astonishment, 'Oh my, you spoke. You're... you're not a Zombie?' You smile at the kindly but frightened face and say, 'No, I'm not. What happened here, are you hurt?' The man chuckles merrily, 'Oh I'm alright. I found this broom is most effective at keeping these smelly rotters at bay.' He then gives a small sideways glance but quickly starts speaking again, 'You look a brave sort. Would you mind helping us out?' You nod at once and say quickly, 'What do you need?' The portly man beams at you happily, 'I was the Mayor Raloheim before the Zombies popped up and turned the whole town. I'm aware that nothing can be done for these poor people, but I know who's responsible for it! Beneath our feet is a temple to the Death God. A Priest has risen within the Undercrypt and sent these vile Zombies upon us for some Gods forsaken reason. I want you to find this treacherous Priest and put him down like the vile dog he is. There is a problem, between Raloheim and the Undercrypt lay the Gloom Caverns. The Caverns are a dark network of caves filled with evil. For you to kill the Death Priest, you will have to first brave the dangers of the Gloom Caverns.' 'Obviously we couldn't have evil creatures crawling up from the Gloom Caverns wandering the Raloheim at night, so we locked the Gloom Caverns away with an enchanted Iron Grate. If you would help us and destroy 48 x Hungry Dead I'll go get the key open the way to the Gloom caverns for you.'

Stage 3 Minimum Level: 1903 Location:Raloheim (Streets) (9, 2) Required Item: None Required Kills: 48 x Hungry Dead	The Portly Mayor shoves a zombie away with his long broom, 'Have you destroyed the Hungry Dead yet?' They Mayor grins at you, 'Well done my friend. With their numbers thinned down, the rest of us will have an easier time of it. Now I'll go open the Iron Grate for you, and you can enter the Gloom Caverns and start your hunt for the Death Priest.' Return to Cavanda and tell her what's happening.

Stage 4 Minimum Level: 1903 Location:Raloheim (Streets) (2, 8) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

Cavanda cuts down a Zombie with her shining longsword, 'Did you find anyone alive?' The Paladin nods, 'That's excellent, so are there any more survivors?' You explain the the Raloheim Mayor mentioned that there were other survivors in passing, but he wants the Death Priest responsible for sending the Zombie plague slain. You also tell her that the Temple of Death is actually beneath the village, to get there we'll first have to traverse the Gloom Caverns which the Mayor will have unlocked by now. Cavanda looks at you oddly, 'A Death Priest destroying a village with a plague of Zombies? That does not sound right. The Death Priests do not spread death, they get more than enough business with folks dying without making more of it. Those who follow GorGulGol are different, but I've never heard of a Death Priest actively killing someone without being provoked first.' She looks at the walking dead that shamble through the ruined square around her, 'We might have a rogue Priest on our hands. We should check this out. Meet me in the Gloom Caverns (Corridors) and we shall put an end to this horror.'

Stage 5 Minimum Level: 1904 Location:Gloom Caverns (Corridors) (15, 15) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You find Cavanda in a dark chamber staring at the walls. Cavanda grits her teeth, 'Actually yes. These creepy hands that reach out the walls. I can't tell if they are a curse or actually spirits bound into the rock. It is a subtle but important distinction. A curse is just magical energies that simulate the effect of these Clutching Hands, but if they are spirits then they will feel intense loneliness and rage at being reduced to such a simple construct. If they are bound spirits then these Clutching Hands will have a small Inscribed Bone which anchors the incantation of undeath to the rock. Kill 60 x Clutching Hands and bring me an Inscribed Bone if they have one.'

Stage 6 Minimum Level: 1904 Location:Gloom Caverns (Corridors) (15, 15) Required Item: Inscribed Bone Required Kills: 60 x Clutching Hands

Cavanda waits for you to return, 'Did you take out the Clutching Hands and find an Inscribed Bone?' The Paladin frowns, 'I wish it weren't so. This proves without a doubt that the Clutching Hands are spirits bound into the rock walls. When they are destroyed they feel the pain of death but cannot actually die, they just reanimate deep in the rock and in their rage they try to get at the living and the cycle just starts over again. I've read about such vileness but never actually witnessed such cruelty. We should delve deeper into these Gloom caverns, this Death Priest must answer for such horror. Meet me in the Murk and we shall continue our hunt.'

Stage 7 Minimum Level: 1905 Location:Gloom Caverns (Murk) (2, 11) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You find Cavanda breathing heavily as if she is fresh from combat. Cavanda gives you a weak smile, 'I was dispatching those Grim Lurkers as I traveled through the Murk and got careless. One of them got me good, it's then I realized that the foul thing has poison under it's talons. I need you to bring me some Lurker Blood as it will be the only antidote to the poison. It's the favorite trick of Necromancers by making the creatures own blood protect it from it's venom. This also makes it harder for a poisoned and wounded victim getting the antidote, making their creation all the more deadly.'

Stage 8 Minimum Level: 1905 Location:Gloom Caverns (Murk) (2, 11) Required Item: Lurker Blood Required Kills: None

You find Cavanda shivering in the cold Murk, 'I hope you got that Lurker Blood...' Cavanda grimaces then drinks the foul smelling liquid in one gulp. Throwing the potion glass away she gags and falls to her knees as if to retch... She waves you away as she gasps for breath, 'I'm alright Warrior. Ingesting such darkness is never a pleasant experience. But I feel strength returning to me slowly. I'll be fine, meet me in the Depths. Together we shall face whatever vileness the Death Priests have for us.

Stage 9 Minimum Level: 1906 Location:Gloom Caverns (Depths) (2, 2) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

Cavanda stands proud with her longsword shining in the dim light of the Depths. She points her blade directly at a figure dressed in a black robe. Cavanda stares at her opponent, 'He is a Monk of the Undercrypt. He thinks I shouldn't be here. When I mentioned that I wasn't alone he stopped and waited for you to arrive.' The cowl of the Death Monk turns towards you. You feel him stare at you for a long moment, he then steps towards you. 'I don't see how you could have survived against our creatures. That is of course, not important. I shall approach the Guardian of GorGulGol and petition for you and this Paladin of Sahria to be slain.' At his words a dim memory flickers, you say. 'The Guardian, does he materialize before an Altar of Skulls?' The Death Monk takes another step towards you, 'What do you know of this?' You grin stupidly and say, 'Oh, you'd be surprised. Maybe I'll go see the Guardian myself. Where is the Altar?' The Monk gawps at you in consternation, 'All those who come before the Guardian and are not in service of GorGulGol, die... You can't just walk up to him and say "hello"!' You draw you weapon and say cheerfully, 'Oh don't worry about me. I'll just go take a peak at this Altar. Save you a trip with all that petition-for-our-death.' Cavanda stares at you and in open bewilderment she says, 'Warrior, none can approach the Guardian of GorGulGol and live. What the Monk says is truth.' You step into the darkness of the Depths and say over your shoulder, 'It'll be fine. Me and the Guardian go way back, bosom-pals and everything. Oh, if you happen to hear some screaming, just ignore it...' Search the Depths for the Altar of Skulls.

Stage 10 Minimum Level: 1906 Location:Gloom Caverns (Depths) (15, 8) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

A familiar Altar made of skulls looms out of the light less Depths. Your first instinct is to run from the foul altar, but when a hooded figure manifests before the Altar you know it's too late. The figure is dressed in a simple night black hooded robe. Dread wells up in your chest as you feel the Guardian gaze upon you. Suddenly being here doesn't seem like such a good idea... The Guardian of GorGulGol folds his arms before his chest, his bone fingers creak as they move. 'So you again approach the Altar of GorGulGol Mortal. It is fortunate that you do so, there is a wrongness nearby that concerns me greatly. You may be Mortal, but I found in the past that you are most efficient in carrying out your duties. I wish to make sure that the wrongness is not the Undead that are present here in the Depths. Bring me the Mortal Remains of the Dark Shade so I may examine them, death awaits.'

Stage 11 Minimum Level: 1906 Location:Gloom Caverns (Depths) (15, 8) Required Item: Mortal Remains Required Kills: None

The dark robed Guardian of GorGulGol looms over the vile Altar of Skulls. You feel his gaze follow you intently. The grim certainty haunts you that the Guardian at a whim, can rip your life essence straight out of your body and cast it screaming into the dark unknown that lies behind the veil of this mortal world. The Guardian steps silently towards you, 'You approach the Altar of GorGulGol Mortal, do you have what I ask? If not, things may not go well for you...' The white bone fingers of the Guardian take the Mortal Remains of the Dark Shade. The Guardian nods slowly, then turns without a word to the Altar of Skulls. He carefully rests the remains on the cold Altar and murmurs to himself for a short while. You blink is surprise as the Remains suddenly burst into bright red flame and for a moment you could have sworn that you heard a sigh drift through the air around you. The Guardian chuckles to himself, then turns back face you. Your heart freezes and it takes all your strength of will not to simply turn and flee. The Guardian intones slowly, 'I am relieved to find nothing untoward within the Dark Shade. The wrongness must be found in the fabric of this Realm. Or maybe the one nearby... When I saw you I actually feared that our old adversary had found a way to break through his Elemental Locks again. Although... I'm not sure his prison is actually around here.' You manage to raise you head and see the Guardian actually glancing around the small chamber with genuine confusion. You try to swallow, but find you throat dry with fear. With great effort you just manage to croak, 'Mount Volmar is many leagues from here.' The Guardian freezes at the sound of your voice and his cowl turns slowly towards you. For a long moment he gazes at you as if measuring something... You are taken aback when without warning, he crosses both his bone hands over his chest and bows to you. There was significant ritual in the gesture that you are completely unaware of. A feeling of dread creeps over you as the Guardian of GorGulGol straightens up and his bone hands fall to his sides with a gently ruffle of his dark robes. The Guardian intones grimly 'You should leave now and take great care Warrior, for I fear the path laid out for you is not without trial... Death awaits.' You should return to Cavanda. .. ... As you walk through the Depths back to Cavanda, one thing haunts you. At the end, the Guardian of GorGulGol didn't call you Mortal, but for the first time called you by your proper title. You don't know why, but you are certain that something is very very wrong...'

Stage 12 Minimum Level: 1906 Location:Gloom Caverns (Depths) (2, 2) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You return to find Cavanda glaring silently back at the Death Monk. When you enter the small cave she points and shouts (a little too shrilly) at the Monk, 'See I TOLD YOU the Warrior would RETURN!' Cavanda stares at you, 'Yes, yes. I'm fine...' The Death Monk glowers at you from the depths of his dark robe, 'You lie, you never approached the Altar of Skulls. If you had you would be in the Deathlands now.' The tone of the miserable cur grates upon you, you say as calmly as you can. 'I did speak to the Guardian, I did a task he asked of me and came back. I got the 'Death awaits' and everything!' The Death Monk visibly stiffens at these words, 'You heard the Dark Benediction... impossible! Tell the truth. You're lying about being in the presence of the Guardian of GorGulGol.' You look at the Death Monk in amazement, 'Why would GorGulGol need a Guardian? Who's he afraid of?' The Death Monk gawps at you, 'Wha... what... by the Gods tell me you know... GorGulGol is more than just the name of the Death God.' The Death Monk stares at you in utter consternation, silenced by your stupidity. You shrug and then see Cavanda also looking at you sideways. She says slowly, 'Err you do know what GorGulGol means right?' Frowning you replay, 'It's just the name of the Death God.' The Death Monk gasps and flaps his arms in frustration, 'I don't believe it. How can people not know the simplest things.' He then calms down and says as if he's speaking to a small child, 'Gor is the Dwarven word for End. Gul is the Elven word for End and Gol is the Orkish word for End. You see, all the eldar races acknowledged that Death is the end for everyone, for all who live. None can escape him. He waits for us all. It's not just the Death God's name, it's the word that encapsulates the very notion of Death itself! That's also the reason the G's are capitalized when it's written down, to emphasis the three separate ends.' You vacantly stare back at him... With that the Death Monk flaps his arms about in frustration and storms off muttering petulantly to himself. Cavanda looks at you with real concern, 'I thought you had died! When the screaming started that miserable Death Monk got all smug saying that GorGulGol sounds like he's having fun with your friend.' You smile back at your friend and say, 'I told you to ignore the screaming when I left.' The Paladin bursts in laughter, 'I thought you were joking, I'll shall know better next time. Come on, we'd better catch up with that little wretched Death Monk before he gets up to some real mischief. Meet me in the Undercrypt (Mausoleum).'

Stage 13 Minimum Level: 1907 Location:Undercrypt (Mausoleum) (2, 9) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You enter the cold Mausoleum and find Cavanda yelling incoherently at the Death Monk. The Paladin suddenly draws her sword and for a split second you think she's going to just run him through. The Death Monk obviously thought the same and yelps in fright and rapidly steps back. At the pathetic sound Cavanda stops and mutters something venomous under her breath, she sheaths her blade. The young Death Monk breaths a sigh of relief and points at you. In his high pitched voice he whines, 'You don't scare me. You've just been lucky as you're with a Paladin of Sahria. But I'd wager that your boon of good fortune will run out soon enough. Sahria is well known for losing interest and leaving her followers high and dry when the chips are down.' You feel Cavanda pace to and fro behind you. Not surprising as the vile little toad is insulting her Goddess to her face. Then the Death Monk laughs at you both, 'How can you think to defeat the power of Death? You can't, but if you join with GorGulGol he rewards you for your loyalty.' Cavanda strides past you and grabs the little runt by his dark robes, 'I shall never bend the knee to an uncaring God. He is simply a function of creation and not worthy of adoration. He does not even care for those who adore him. GorGulGol is only interested in you for the short time you are useful to his plans. When that finishes, you will be simply cast aside. I don't know why you can't see that!' She lets him go and the Death Monk staggers back, flailing his arms in an attempt to stay standing. 'Well if you think your so powerful prove it, search the Mausoleum and slay the Bone Serpent (Elite) and bring me it's Fang Of Undeath.'

Stage 14 Minimum Level: 1907 Location:Undercrypt (Mausoleum) (2, 9) Required Item: Fang Of Undeath Required Kills: None

You return to find the sniveling Death Monk goading the valiant Paladin of Sahria. Cavanda clutches her sword hilt in a vain attempt to vent the seething rage that boils within her. The Death Monk sniggers and says, 'So, do you have the Fang Of Undeath?' Silence falls as Cavanda stops pacing and the Death Monk's idiotic chortles cease immediately, he just stares unbelieving at the large tooth resting in his palm. 'What have you done... the Bone Serpent was a powerful undead. It was made by... I must inform him of your heresy at once!' Without another word the Death Monk turns and flees down into a nearby spiral staircase. Cavanda blinks in astonishment, 'He's done it again! Right, now I'm gong to kill that worthless toad... Come he can't have gotten far.' Follow Cavanda into the Sanctuary.

Stage 15 Minimum Level: 1908 Location:Undercrypt (Sanctuary) (7, 6) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

Cavanda races down the spiral staircase after the wretched Death Monk and quickly leaves you behind. You think to yourself that she must have enchanted plate that allows her to move that fast! You run after her as fast as you can, the come to a sudden halt as you find Cavanda standing silently with her sword drawn staring at an enthroned Death Priest... Cavanda doesn't look at you, she simply says curtly, 'I'm fine, this Priest frightens me.' It's then that you look up at the Death Priest of the Undercrypt. He sits in jet black robes upon his stone throne and glares at Cavanda and whispers, 'Why are you here, Paladin of Sahrai?' Cavanda grips her longsword and address the Dark Priest, 'The Mayor of Raloheim tells us that you are sending a plague of zombies upon the town, we are here to stop you.' The Priest snorts is disgust, 'Oh please, do you think for one moment I'd send mere zombies if I wanted to destroy the town? I don't think so! Did you see my Bone Dragon in the Gloom Caverns?' The Death Monk then steps forward and wordlessly hands him the Fang Of Undeath then says, 'These fools think they can destroy death himself.' He then steps down from the throne and takes his place before his Lord. A bone hand grasps the Fang Of Undeath, then the dark cowl turns and stares at you silently for a very long time.' With a whispering sigh the Priest rises slowly from his throne and looms over the Death Monk, 'So Worvinell, this Warrior obviously bested the Clutching Hands, Grim Lurker and Dark Shade to get into the Undercrypt. They then destroyed the Death Siren and you decided that maybe you should have let me deal with him, before the Warrior went onto reduce my lovely Bone Serpent to splinters as well?' The Monk looks up at him, then at you. He plaintively opens his mouth about to speak, when the Dark Priest suddenly reaches out and grasps the young Monk with his other bony hand. You take a step back as you see the Monk give a silent and tormented cry. His skin goes gray then flakes and splits. In a blink of an eye he is reduced to dark ash which soundlessly crashes to the uncaring stone floor. The Death Priest then turns to Cavanda. He whispers conversationally, 'What do you make of this my dear?' He opens his bone hand and in it's palm rests a shining black onyx sphere. She gasps in horror and reels back in disgust, 'It...it's a soul stone! But that takes several Priests and a complex ritual to make one. You can't just do that by yourself at will... unless you're...' Priest steps closer to the Paladin, his shadow swallowing her in it's darkness, 'Unless I'm whom?' Cavanda clutches her throat and gasps in terror, 'You can't be him, the High Priest of GulGorGul was destroyed hundreds of years ago... it's impossible.' The Death Priest of GorGulGol turns and steps towards you. 'My Monk thought I was incompetent, the Paladin here thinks I'm impossible. What do you think I am?'

Stage 16 Minimum Level: 1908 Location:Undercrypt (Sanctuary) (7, 6) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

The Priest of GorGulGol towers over you. You stare for the first time directly into the depths of the cowl and see twin sparks of red flame flicker in the black eye sockets of a bleached white wolf skull. You blink in surprise... Cavanda stares at you wordlessly as the Death Priest returns to his throne. After a long silence the Paladin points at the dark robed figure and says in disbelief, 'How in all the Realms do you know this creature let alone call him your friend? You shrug, 'It's a long story actually, but I summoned him from his amulet prison and Virmalthorn helped Jamesina and I defeat the Dreadlord.' At the name of Jamesina, Virmalthorn stiffens and shifts on his throne. His bone fingers clatter lightly on the stone throne, 'Have you been back to Karthak?' he whispers. You shake your head. Virmalthorn chuckles, 'That's not surprising I suppose. I went back to check up on Jamesina, but she's gone missing.' He holds up his pale bony hand as you immediately begin to speak, 'No, she has not died. I can vouch categorically about that. I've searched the Tomes of the Dead and her name is not written in any them. I did some nosing about and discovered that she had been snatched by a weird Cult, I think she has been imprisoned by them. I came here to look for Jamesina as the Cult has taken over the entire town above and I would guess, are turning anyone who resists them into mindless zombies.' Cavanda draws her longsword and steps menacingly toward the enthroned Death Priest, 'Tell us the truth. You did this! Those zombies are your minions doing your work for GorGulGol!' Virmalthorn's fingers creak as he flexes his bone hands, 'As a servant for the Death God I am adept at Necromantic Magics. There are those who assume the worst of us so we have to protect ourselves against their... longswords. My Priests and Monks have summoned some creatures but these were confined to the Gloom Caverns. We even installed an enchanted iron grate to keep our pets from munching on the living. So no, those are not my zombies. If you hear of a city being devoured by Skeletal Dragons on the other hand, well, that'll be me.' Virmalthorn leans back on his stone throne, 'Might I remind you Paladin, that it is our task to ensure the spirits of the dead travel safely through the Shroud into the Land of the Dead? We are an essential function of creation or do you wish for the Shadow Lord to gather all the souls of the recently dead unto himself?' The Paladin bristles beside you, she then takes a deep breath and asks, 'So, how do you defend GorGulGol's hand in letting spirits of the dead being used to power corpses?' Virmalthorn leans forward, 'It's remarkably simple really. The Land of the Dead has two majestic continents that float on a sea of eternal fire. One is Paradise, the other is Hell. The God's of Light judge the spirit and we usher it to it's final destination. Hell is a place of eternal torment, so GorGulGol lets those nasty Necromancers use these damned souls in their Zombies as part of the torment. The souls in Paradise are safe from such indignities. You see, it's not GorGulGol that lets this happen, its the Gods of Light. GorGulGol can only operate within the boundaries of the agreement with the Light and he does so very well.' Cavanda stares at Virmalthorn, 'You're saying that Zombies exist in the Realms over a loophole in a divine agreement? Virmalthorn leans back, 'Yes, but you would be better keeping this to yourself. Your superiors in the Church would not appreciate this truth being made known. The truth is this. The Priesthood of GorGulGol serves the Light just as much as you do. But enough of these trivialities. Jamesina has been taken by a unknown cult and I assume is being held prisoner. We don't want our enemies having access to Jamesina if we can help it. I have received information of where the Cult is hiding. Join me and step through the Scarlet Vortex and we shall see where we end up. Hurry now, I don't know what horrors Jamesina is enduring.' Use the Scarlet Vortex and meet up with Virmalthorn.

Stage 17 Minimum Level: 1908 Location:Twisting Dark (Formless Mist) (14, 2) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You step through the Scarlet Vortex and enter a place of Formless Mist. The gray sands crunch beneath your feet and you instantly draw a breath of panic. The last place that gave you this feeling was the Shroud. You look around with a rising sense of terror for Cavanda and Virmalthorn. You see them talking close by, although Cavanda does have her longsword drawn. The Paladin smiles weakly at you, 'I'm sorry, this creature might be your friend. But I find it difficult to accept that a the High Priest of GorGulGol is trustworthy.' You start to open your mouth to say that Virmalthorn does take a little bit of getting get used to, but the Death Priest coughs loudly. 'It's alright my friend. I understand Cavanda's reticence but we must concentrate on more important concerns right now. Worvinell mentioned that you spoke to the Guardian. What did he say to you?' You shrug and say, 'He seemed to be worried about a wrongness he felt. He asked me to bring him the Mortal Remains of the Dark Shade so he could check that it wasn't something in the Undead.' Cavanda snorts, 'What could possible be wrong with Undead. It's all Necromantic sorcery.' You give her a sideways look then say, 'The Dreadlord didn't use Necromantic Magics to create his Undead. He used a single grain of Shroud Sand and strange spells that were centred around dark emotions. It was very clever actually, the zombies own hatred powered it's animation.' Cavanda stares at both of you, 'Who cares about that? A Zombie is a Zombie if you ask me.' At this petulant outburst by the Paladin, the High Priest of GorGulGol giggles. A strange high pitched sound that seemed to echo around his empty wolfs skull somehow. 'It matters my dear.' He whispers, 'Think about it. My Master works in tandem with the Light, a part of the design of the Gods themselves. The Dreadlord operates outside that design, usurping the position of GorGulGol. In doing so he directly defies the work of the Light and their authority.' Cavanda considers the words of the Death Priest, 'You're trying to confuse me. I won't have it! I just won't. You're pure evil. EVIL I say. Look what you did to that annoying Monk. You reduced him to ash and encased in soul into an Onyx Sphere!' Virmalthorn tilts his head, 'Didn't you wish to usher Worvinell into the Death Lands yourself?' The Paladin bites her lip, 'Well, yes. But I was going to do that with an good honest decapitation. Clean and quick. You... you torment him in that dark prison in your pocket!' Virmalthorn takes out the black sphere from the depths of his night black robe. 'That depends on what you want from your destiny. Does it not? I can use this Soul Stone in all manner of Necromantic creations.' He holds Worvinell's Soul Sphere delicately between his bony thumb and forefinger, 'I think I'll turn Worvinel into a 100 foot Bone Golem and he can crush a few cities of GorGulGol's enemies.' At these words the Soul Sphere shimmers with a silvery light. Virmalthorn sighs happily, 'Good lad.' He then returns the Soul Sphere carefully within his robes. Looking directly at Cavanda the High Priest whispers, 'Not everyone wants to bend the knee to the Gods of Light. GorGulGol rewards those loyal to him. Also I'm sure that you'd be grateful to have a 100 foot Worvinell at your side in battle. So I'll have less of the moral outrage please. I haven't even mentioned the amount of times that GorGulGol Legions have saved the mighty armies of Light, from obliteration at the hand of Demons and other unpleasantness.' Cavanda drives her longsword into the soft gray sand, 'What's the point of all that. Zombies are Zombies, plain and simple. Also, GorGulGol only came to our aid when all the Realms were about to be lost. He was just helping himself, nothing more!' Virmalthorn spreads his arms wide, 'You wish to know the point? Look where we are Paladin! This looks to me like the Shroud.' Cavanda visibly pales, 'What, you must be joking. This is the Domain of the Shadowlord?' Virmalthorn bends down and picks up a handful of gray sand, 'As the Warrior mentioned. The Dreadlord can make a Zombie with a single grain of these sands. Within this handful is a mighty army which could conquer a whole Kingdom. With a bucket, he could take half the world. Look about you Paladin, what could he do with the sand in this one Realm?' Cavanda stares around her with a growing realization of horror, 'But, the Dreadlord is safely bound in his prison under Mount Volmar is he not?' The Death Priest looks at her, 'I would truly hope so. Regrettably the information I received lead me here, to this particular part of the Shroud. It came from the very mind of a dying Cultist. He was trying to protect this secret, even to the cost of his life. What I don't understand is, why we are not being attacked by the Shadowlord's minions? He soon knows when someone has entered his domain without his permission. Something is very wrong here. We must gather some information and we can then decide a course of action. Luckily for us, this Realm is crawling with undead. Bring me a Minor Ghost from the Malformed Spirit and we shall see what the spirit has to say.'

Stage 18 Minimum Level: 1908 Location:Twisting Dark (Formless Mist) (14, 2) Required Item: Minor Ghost Required Kills: None

The Paladin glares at you was you approach. You avoid her eyes and go straight to the High Priest of GorGulGol, 'So Warrior, have you brought me the Minor Ghost?' Virmalthorn takes the tiny spirit from you and holds it on his skeletal hand. Cavanda watches him closely, 'What do you intend to do to it Priest?' His wolfs skull rises and he looks directly at her. With a whisper that sends a chill down your back he says, 'This...' He then crushes the tiny thing in his bony fist. It squeals in pain for a moment, then explodes in a dark puff of smoke. Cavanda gives a tiny squeal of shock then through gritted teeth she growls, 'Why am I surprised. You know only how to deal death to everything. Even your own kind!' To your surprise the Death Priest does not reply. He just stares at the Paladin with his fish clenched before him. The Paladin does not notice anything wrong she simply continues, 'Is anything sacred to you? Anything that is worth cherishing. Or does your Master demand that we all should be shuttled off into the Death Lands as quickly as possible?' You step closer to the Death Priest and ask him if he is alright. He slowly opens his bone hand to reveal blackened scorch marks and deep gashes that crisscross his fingers and palm. Cavanda snorts, 'Serves you right, the little spirit was just biting you back.' You glare back at the Paladin and she quickly falls silent. You ask, 'What happened here? Surely a minor spirit like that should not have done this to you.' Vilmarthorn stares down at his ruined hand, 'I... I feel pain. This should not happen to me. I am built of Necromantic magics. I should simply absorb the energies of a little spirit like that. But it actually did damage to me.' 'This can only mean that it is not made from pure Necromacy, something has warped it into something else... I should return back to the Undercrypt so I can recover from this. Go with the Paladin and find Jamesina. It's connected to this mystery, I'm sure of it. I'll find you when I've recovered from this... injury.' The High Priest of GorGulGol bows gracefully, turns and strides back to the Scarlet Portal. Cavanda's armor creaks slightly as she watches him go. 'I suppose that answers my question to, "is there anything worth cherishing" for Virmalthorn. This Jamesina must be a very special person. Who is she?' You smile at the memory of the brisk young woman stood in the misty streets of the Shambles back in Karthak. 'Jamesina is a powerful Seer. But unlike the many frauds and con-men that profess to such skills, Jamesina can actually do it. She was there when I freed Virmalthorn from his Amulet. They were forced to get on with each other due to the rising of the Dreadlord. I must say that Virmalthorn is much more grim when she's not around. I think that through the adversity of the Dreadlord they were forced to draw strength from each other and in the end, they became friends.' Cavanda bites her lower lip, 'So... Jamesina can actually see the future? Really, see it?' You nod, a bit confused. The Paladin of Sahria quickly draws her longsword, 'Virmalthorn is correct in one thing, we can't have our enemies having access to such a power. Seeing the future is the purview of the Gods. For them and them alone! Come on, we need to put an end to this Cult and find this Jamesina as quickly as possible. Meet me in the Narrow Path.'

Stage 19 Minimum Level: 1909 Location:Twisting Dark (Narrow Path) (4, 7) Required Item: None Required Kills: None

You enter another Realm of the Twisting Dark, this one is curiously small. It makes you somehow nervous. As if it's funneling you somewhere.... You find Cavanda standing on a small island surrounded by swirling mists, she's staring at a sinister figure dressed in long yellow robes. The Paladin circles the strange figure with frustration, 'I don't know. He's far to smug for my liking. He says he's waiting for us both to arrive. As for who he is, ask him yourself.' You watch as the yellow cowl turns toward you, 'Are you the Warrior who isss companion to the Paladin of Fortune?' You nod, but stay silent. The figure radiates a sense of power and certainty that causes you to pause. You feel the eyes of the strange figure take your measure, 'Ssso, you are here at lassst. You have walked the land and killed all before you. But you victoriesss ssshall now be your downfall. Enter the Twisted Castle (Gate) and meet your death.' Cavanda takes a step towards the strange figure. He simply turns to meet her and opens his arms wide, 'Ssstrike me down Paladin. Then watch asss your vaulted divine luck endsss.' You frown as Cavanda freezes and takes a step back. She points at the weird figure with her longsword, 'This... this ray of sunshine is a piece of work, I can tell you!' In frustration she kicks at the gray sand then falls silent. The weird figure hisses a sickly giggle then returns to the centre of the little island. Turning to you he hisses, 'I am the Emperor of Yellow. Enter the Twisted Castle (Gate) and face your fate. Or cut me down. Choose your path Ssslayer, but choose well.' He then steps toward you which his arms open and waits. Cavanda laughs, 'Oh, that's priceless that is. What did I tell you, piece of work this guy. What he failed to mention is, when I fist met him, he said he has taken control of both portals in and out of here. If he should die, they immediately collapse trapping us here to die of thirst... Oh, I'm sorry. It was a, "ssslow tormented death of thirssst". I wouldn't want to misquote his-yellowness here.' She then gives the Emperor of Yellow a low mocking bow. Cavanda straightens up, then giggles almost manically, 'But wait, it gets better because he did mentioned in passing, that he could be lying about taking control of the Portals. So I haven't then foggiest what to think now! As I say, piece of work!' You stare at the Emperor of Yellow, then say. 'It's a lie. No one can be an Emperor of a colour. That's insane. We must concentrate on getting Jamesina back. We can only do that by doing as he says. What do you think?' The Paladin frowns, 'We go on. meet me in the Twisted Castle (Gate) and we shall see what is there. How bad can it be?' You both turn and leave the Emperor of Yellow. He watches as the two human figures disappear through the Scarlet Portal, 'Jussst asss it wasss foretold...' he hisses mirthlessly to himself. You receive 42,615,756 Xp.