Disjunction

Mar 28th - 29th

The Seagull is in the midst of an unearthly battle. Somewhere in one of the six hundred and sixty six planes of the Abyss Morikand’s ship is lost. The demonologist watches as the front of his ship is blasted away by demonic power and he quickly casts demonic shield to envelop himself and the rest of the party. He descends into the ship and at the pentacle of travel he tries again, in desperation, to find the plane of Disjunction.

This time he lands in the middle of a vast sea or inland lake. Gone is the battle all around him. The plane resembles Grayhawk with blue sky, white clouds and a deep azure sea. The boat begins to list but Morikand raises it from the water realising that the demon bound into it is preparing to mend itself. Morikand rises into the clouds and surveys the horizons.

To the perceived north is a large fiery hole, a mile across, which seems to suck all life into it. Even from several miles away Morikand can sense the raw power of it and he decides to head to the nearby coastline. He uses the Soul Compass to locate Vohaas but he fails; Morikand’s instinct is that he has reached Disjunction.

As the coastline draws near they can all see an immense citadel, complete with harbour and thousands of ships. Larger than any citadel they have ever seen they are drawn to it and notice that there are gigantic sea creatures that swarm below. As a result the ships – like Morikand – sail through the air and land at the harbour. Morikand descends and is guided to a place in the harbour by a winged demon. An imp lands on deck and questions the demonologist but Morikand dismisses the creature without revealing anything.

There are humanoid creatures present but they are in the minority. A vast conglomeration of different species all thrown together in a huge walled environment, Morikand realises quickly that each member of his party carry one or more demons and as such they can blend in with the natives. Gila, Xaian Lau and Morikand go exploring and soon find themselves in what they perceive to be a tavern. Speech and language are unusual; most creatures use telepathy but there are several demonic languages that Morikand can recognise.

A waiter offers them drinks and tells them that they are in Sag’ranad the last free citadel of the plane. Morikand gets three tankards of a red gloopy liquid and soon realises that it is a concentrated soul liquefied. Gila and Xaian stare distastefully at the beverages but Morikand quaffs his without hesitation.

Darkness envelops the demonologist. All sound, taste, touch and sight disappear as his body takes in the powerful drink. Slowly, inexorably, his senses return so too does a new sensation. As he stares around the room he does not see shapes or features; instead he can see the burning power of the souls within represented by fire. The hotter the fire the more intense the soul. Reluctantly both Gila and Xaian follow the demonologist. They too experience similar pain followed by euphoria. All three feel more attuned to the place and more able to cope with the intense surroundings.

Morikand leads them to a shadowy table where a tentacled demon sits. The waiter has already informed them that information can be gained there. When Morikand asks for the creatures name it laughs; "You don’t want to be giving your name to anyone around here, Grayhawkian."

They learn that Sag’ranad is about to be attacked by Vohaas and his army. The last resistance to his tyranny has gathered within the citadel and prepares to repel the great hordes. Morikand decides that it would be wise to return to the ship and leave. At the harbour, however, the harbourmaster has other ideas. He requests Morikand sign his name in the log (in blood) something the demonologist is reluctant to do. Instead Morikand casts control demon but the harbourmaster is not tricked by the spell and becomes more insistent that Morikand signs. Morikand flips him a small gold coin (with a massive demon from the plane of Greed bound into it) – when the harbourmaster takes the coin his whole demeanour changes.

"Stay as long as you like," he grins and moves away.

Morikand raises the ship into the clouds and heads away from Sag’ranad. Before long he gets the feeling that there are demons close. Considering the ship is thousands of feet in the air this causes him some concern. Suddenly a massive fleet of invisible demonic ships – some not unlike the Seagull – become visible. Thousands of vessels inching towards Sag’ranad and the inevitable battle. Some carry thousands of Darkland-like warriors who carry katanas whilst others have grotesque winged and barbed demons as tall as houses.

Two emaciated humanoids board the Seagull and calmly suggest they are all now prisoners. Morikand explains who he is but they seem unimpressed. Gila stands in front of them and leans on his quarterstaff. "I am no-one’s prisoner," he states firmly. Again the two demons seem calm and point out the army that surround them. Gila shrugs. Eventually one of the demons makes a suggestion. "If you slay our best warrior in one-on-one combat we will accede to your wishes and take you to Vohaas. Fail and your friends are prisoners."

From one of the ships a slim dark-robed warrior lands on deck. One of the calm demons explains that this demon (true name Letcham) was trained as a bodyguard to Vohaas himself.

Gila knocks Letcham to the ground with an artful sweep and the two combatants exchange rapid blows. Gila realises that Letcham is an expert and his one small mistake is almost punished. Stoneskin comes to the martial artist’s rescue and although Gila is outclassed he is not beaten. He projects darkness around him from his demonic staff and forces the demon to fight blind. A sweeping kick knocks Letcham to the ground and a ferocious double strike crushes his soul.

True to their word the two demons lead the Seagull to the back of the fleet where a monstrously large vessel – with almost two thousand troops on board – awaits. Vohaas sits uncomfortably on a throne but beckons Gila, Xaian and Morikand into a private stateroom. As Gila walks past one of the two emissaries he strikes him viciously with a crushing blow that consumes his soul. Not one of the soldiers even blink.

"I see you have brought both ship and child," the arch demon says, "good. If you left either alone on Grayhawk then Muziel would have taken one or both, or at the very least exerted influence over them."

Vohaas explains that he – like Muziel – is a master of the primal art of Creation. Muziel has been systematically destroying all other primal sorcerers – particularly those that follow his own path – which is why Vetrick and the child Golnarn are in danger. He briefly explains that the four fundamental laws of the universe; Time, Space, Life and Death are the four Primal Constants. "These are the powers that Muziel can draw upon. As you have seen he is particularly skilled in the arts of Time and Space. There will be others who will show talent in other aspects which is why – if Vetrick is to have any chance – that I must mentor him."

Vohaas explains that a rogue general called Skyrd has raised a force against him. In a small bowl of water Vohaas demonstrates his mastery of Space and Time and displays Skyrd marshalling his troops. "When the battle begins I want you to take him out. Once Skyrd is dead then I will be master of this plane…do this for me and I will reward you greatly."

They agree. The battle is unlike anything they have ever seen. Raw power blasts across the water devastating whole regions of the citadel. Winged demons assault from the air as the ground troops move house to house. Vohaas opens his fist and says; "Prepare yourselves!" Morikand casts a few foxes cunnings before Vohaas closes his fist.

Skyrd is alone in a room but reacts instantly to the assault. Jahick (an Estallian Pyromancer), Morikand, Xaian Lau and Gila surround him and hack at the fierce beast. Skyrd is a master bladesman and even outnumbered he is able to cope with the multiple attacks. Just as the battle outside goes against him so the battle within is similarly failing. Morikand manages to control demon and forces Skyrd to lie flat on his face and place his hands behind his back. Gila executes the rogue general mercilessly.

They are soon back with Vohaas who rejoices in their actions. Gila takes Avenger (Skyrd’s katana) and Vohaas explains that it was created by him years earlier. They each discuss training. Xaian Lau and Gila are interested in learning the katana whilst Jahick wants to learn unarmed technique.

Vohaas tells them that some people have primal potential and never even know it. As a test he bends time and space and asks each one of them to simply find the fire. "I have put it beyond the reach of normal souls but if you have any potential you will find it."

Both Xaian and Jahick cannot find it, neither can Morikand but Gila reaches beyond time and space itself, finds the impossible recess where Vohaas hid the fire and caresses it. Vohaas smiles. "It seems I now have two students."

Vohaas explains a little about the plane of Disjunction saying that there are pockets of it that defy the normal laws of the universe. This was one of the reasons he discovered his talent for Creation and now – with the aid of these spaces of no time – he completes the training of three of the party.

Jahick learns unarmed combat whilst both Gila and Xaian manage to become exponents of the katana...their master one of the universe's greatest swordsmen. Morikand meanwhile experiments with a new spell. He shape changes into Muziel and tries to gain knowledge from the physical attributes of the Echeron Lord...