Adventurers (Book II – Issue #4)

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The issue begins with Zydrak hailing the people of the expedition. Barak calls out questioning who Zydrak is – and Zydrak explains he is the essence of Baal on Earth. Zydrak goes on to say that he sees that they have freed Grundar, whom he had punished to eternal torment. Bladehelm challenges Zydrak to come down – and with a wave of his hand, Zydrak disintegrates one of the men from the expedition. Shadolok knocks an arrow and says he will never submit himself to the will of any man or god again – and unleashes a shot that strikes Zydrak through the base of his neck.

Zydrak falls over coughing for a moment, before yanking out the arrow and standing up again, smiling. Zydrak blasts Shadolok’s bow, decaying the wood in his hands. Nightwind tells Shadolok she has a plan as Barak calls out to attack.

The scene shifts and we see Sultar paying Helva another visit. Sultar draws more cards to have Helva read his future. From the card she reads that the City of Liam is vulnerable, and that the second card reads catastrophe. The third card is the hanged man upside down – indicating that only through an act of self sacrifice can Liam be saved. Sultar feels in his heart, he knows what this means – Oneida.

The scene cuts back to the Lost City where we see those from the expedition trying to defend and fight for their lives. Coron manages to distract Yerdik long enough that Zyrdrak’s magic causes him pain. Barak keeps telling the men to attack, despite Muldor saying they’re out numbered. Finally Barak realizes that they could regroup, per Muldor’s suggestion, if they initiated a surrender for now.

As Zydrak chanted about his victory and having people to worship him, Nightwind snuck up from behind and decapitated him. Barak immediately grabs Grundar and tells the deranged, self proclaimed “Man-God” to take them to the grail. Eyamma warned that the magic and chaos was stronger and that they could not stay much longer.

In the City of Ur, Thanatos gets a message delivered from a crow that is from Coron, giving an update of the situation.

Back at the Lost City, Barak snaps at Yerdik to do something for Aveinne, to make her more useful since she seems to have gone completely insane, carrying on about how they march to their deaths.

Yerdik marches off, frustrated and sees Coron. Coron informs Yerdik that once they succeed at this mission Barak has every intention of labeling Yerdik incompetent and a traitor and that he will be executed.

The scene shifts to the City of Ur, with Thanatos reading the conclusion of Coron’s report. Thanatos assures Kerrin that should Coron succeed, as he expected he will, that he will give Kerrin the honor of sending Coron to their loving god of death, Accuris.

Back to the Lost City, Grundar leads the expedition to the “belly of Baal” – where the city looks almost as if it’s made of part flesh and part stone. Everyone is taken aback by the sight before them, unsure what to make of it. Grundar refuses to go any further and makes a run for it – and the attempts to stop him prove to be futile. Barak barks the command to Muldor to get his troops moving, and Muldor corrects Barak by informing him, he’s only got three “troops” left.

Back at the City of Liam, Erikor holds another council where he reports that there’s well over 200 reports of Baal soldiers doing everything from beating on innocent citizens to being caught studying Liam’s defense plans. Still, there is nothing that can be done, it would seem.

At the Lost City, two of Muldor’s men attempt to open a door, before one of them decides to kick it down. The soldier is however attacked by a slime like creature that essentially devours and dissolves the soldier’s face before Muldor can save him. Barak approaches Yerdik and asks him to cast a spell that would only let Yerdik, Avienne and Barak see when they progressed further down. Entering the treasure room, one of the soldiers places his hands in a jug of water; only to have his hands and lower arms dissolve in the foul liquid. Avienne, Barak and Yerdik do not stop while the others from the expedition see if there’s anything that can be done. Yerdik casts his spell which throws everyone into darkness – except himself – leaving Avienne and Barak behind him.

However a voice speaks through the darkness, promosing light… and death. The room lights up and Zydrak is there, with the mutated apes, his severed head returned to his body.

Avienne manages to stay ahead of Yerdik, leading the way, saying that the Grail of Darkness calls to her. In the room, they encounter another of the “Man Gods” – the one that had been known as Diocoles. Diocoles tries to inform Yerdik and Avienne of the curse that the Grail of Darkness possesses, but Yerdik will have none of it and blasts Diocoles with some magic. He then turns to Avienne and tells her to pick up the Grail (in case there was a curse) – seeing that she lived, he took a line and strangled her, taking her life, then taking the Grail of Darkness for himself.

He doesn’t get two steps away before there’s a dagger in his back and Coron leans over and claims the Grail for himself.