They met a strange, young boy on the way out of Ember. He was standing, back ramrod straight and eyes staring forward, unseeing until they were right before him. As Sarina knelt before him, his eyes widened in horror,

"It's you… you're the one who will destroy Ember!"

He prophesised that Ember would be destroyed by her. That all of its surviving inhabitant's would be slain save for him, but only on the bizarre condition that Bishop handed over his prize dagger. Surprisingly, Bishop did hand over his Dagger, but only after some fierce argument and biting insults to all present.

Chilling prophesy aside, there was something… odd about the boy. Something that made Sarina believe his words without question. The air around him crackled unseen with powerful magic, and his stare saw far beyond that what was in front of him. Perhaps he really was a Seer. She only hoped his mysterious powers had misread Ember's future, for the villager's, and for her own sake.

They found the mountain described to them by the woman in Ember, and confirmed by Bishop's exemplary tracking skills. It was home to an intricate cave system at its peak, with several well-guarded Githyanki Watch posts on the way up to the summit. As well as a tracker, Bishop also proved himself an adept archer, picking off enemies with well-placed arrows and occasionally artfully stabbing with twin daggers if any Gith came in too close.

"He may be a shit, but he's damn useful to have around." As Khelgar succinctly put it.

With Khelgar and Casavir on the frontal assault, Neeshka, Bishop & Elanee picking off flanking enemies, and herself, Qara & Grobnar firing off spells and arrows from a ranged distance, they proved a very effective fighting unit. Although she conceded, Casavir and Khelgar did take the brunt of the damage up front. Her healing spells were still mediocre at best, meaning a lot of time was spent healing them after each fight. What they needed was another fighter or warrior to help them take the heat, or even better, a dedicated healer to constantly work on keeping them from injury. Perhaps one day when all this business with the Gith was over, she'd train how to be a proper healer. Right from when she was a youngster, she'd focused her magic on elemental, destructive spells. She'd only use small to medium healing powers when things got desperate, which had never really been the case in sleepy, safe West Harbour. Ever since this ridiculous quest had started for the silver shards however, the little healing magic they knew had been in more demand than ever before. Casavir and Grobnar were both in the same predicament, they had some healing powers, but they were secondary to their main roles in battle. Plus with Qara being the incredibly talented sorceress that she was, there was little need for two of them to cast destructive spells. They wouldn't be fighting the Githyanki forever she concluded, and healers were always in demand wherever they went…

After a few hours battling through the watch posts, they were finally stalking through the entrance to the Githyanki hideout at the summit. As well as a rescue mission, Sarina thought it felt like an ending of some sort. She'd finally get the answer to why the Gith were chasing her, hear in their own words why they had caused so much death and destruction to retrieve their silver shards.

If the Githyanki left her alone after this confrontation, perhaps she'd be able to return home to West Harbour. They'd all get to go home if they succeeded here. It was a pleasing thought, though of course she'd miss her close companions (save Bishop, the new hire was a colossal prick). But Shandra would be rescued and go back to her farm to rebuild, Khelgar could finally train to be a monk, whatever was hidden in Jerro's Haven could fester there for somebody else to uncover.…

Their quest was nearly over.

Time to finish what they started in West Harbour.

No sooner than they were all through the entrance, a horribly familiar face stood in their path. It was the Githyanki mage that had killed Amie, all those months ago back in West Harbour. It was flanked by at least a dozen Gith warriors, and posed archers. Recognition flitted across its green, mottled face, as though it too knew this confrontation was a significant one for the both of them, "Zeeaire has foretold your coming, Kalach-Cha. She has sent me here to end you."

"I'm surprised you're talking to me, you didn't give my best friend Amie that chance back in West Harbour. Do you remember?" She spat, fighting to keep her rage under control. Her fingers itched to burn it where it stood, just as it had burnt poor Amie without a second thought.

"I enjoy knowing my prey, Kalach-Cha. I find it sweetens the taste of their death. Zeeaire allows me this luxury."

"Stop calling me that name, what does it even mean?"

The Githyanki shook its head, as though disbelieving at the level of stupidity before it; "Kalach-Cha is the brand given to one who not only steals a silver sword, but destroys the sword to hide the crime and then impudently carries its shards."

Sarina could feel the rage building ever higher, flames danced through her fingertips and began to encircle up her arms as her fists shook. She sensed movement close behind her and tensed. She recognised Casavir as he quietly moved behind her and put his hand lightly on her shoulder, trying to calm her wordlessly. She almost shrugged it off, feeling her rage instinctively re-direct to him, but quickly accepted it as it was meant. It wasn't a controlling gesture, he knew she wouldn't find the answers she wanted if she lost control.

Feeling the rage settle to a more manageable level, she wiped a hand down her face, "I didn't take the sword Gith, and I certainly didn't break the sword into pieces. I gathered the other shards to try and find answers, find out why you were hunting me."

The Gith seemed to be getting equally enraged, gesturing wildly and spitting as it roared; "You lie, Kalach-Cha! You gather the shards to use their power, nothing more. I can feel the stink of your corruption, mixed with the energy of the shards you possess. You taint them with the filth of your kind."

"That's not true. Why won't you listen?!"

It drew a staff from the scabbard on its back, motioning the many Gith warriors behind it to forward the attack. The gith had obviously decided to answer no more questions. She'd have to get answers from another.

"This is done. You will pay for your crimes Kalch.."

It was interrupted by a dazzling Fire Burst, Sarina cast channelling all her rage, grief and frustration into one white hot spell.

"This is for Amie, you fucking bitch!"

A wall of fire from Qara sprang up around the Gith's feet, burning them from below as the Burst bloomed flame around them. Her companions charged forward, unharmed by the flames, cutting down the Gith as they tried to fight back through the chaos. Sarina fought her way up to Amie's killer, losing all her sorcerer's instincts to fight from a distance. The Gith was badly burnt but still fighting fiercely. As it turned to Sarina, she raised her Staff over her head and brought it crashing down on its skull with all her strength. She thought she'd feel a rush of relief as it fell to the floor, head crushed, a sense of justice perhaps, but nothing came.

Once the last had fallen, Casavir walked quietly over as the others scavenged the corpses for anything useful. He motioned her to hold out her right arm, eyebrow quirked in question. As she held it out as asked, he took it gently, and began to heal a cut she didn't even realise she had received during the fight.

"Do you think I was irrational, killing that Gith as I did?"

It was more of a statement than a question. He flicked his eyes to up to hers, guarded as usual.

"I understand the anger, and the need for retribution for losing those you love, my lady. I really do." He paused, as he considered his next words. "But you need answers, and you won't get those if you kill the Githyanki on sight. Hear their words, find out their motives, otherwise you'll never know the truth."

She nodded, slowly pulling her now healed arm from him. "Thank you."

They made their way deeper still into the intricate cave system, dispatching the small groups of Gith resistance along the way. The Githyanki were saving the bulk of their force for a large attack, only throwing a token show of force to slow their progress through the mountain. Neeshka stopped dead in her tracks at the front of the group, growling uncharacteristically as they came to an end in one of the tunnels. In the passage ahead, there was a devil, bound by a summoning circle, being tormented by three Succumbi. It calmly watched them as they approached then dispatched the attacking Succumbi, smiling knowingly as though it thoroughly enjoyed watching its tormentors get slain.

Neeshka hissed in Sarina's ear, "Careful, there's something strange about this one - 'Mephasm', I think he's called, from what I remember. He's making my skin itch."

She gave a small nod in assent before stepping toward the circle, hands together behind her back to feign confidence for the encounter. She'd never had dealings with a devil before, or even a full demon for that matter. Probably had been very lucky in that respect up until that point. The devil regarded her calmly, before pursing its black lips and speaking softly;

"Well met, I am most grateful for to you for ridding me of those nuisances. Regardless of your intent here, you're actions have benefited me. I wish to help you in return, if you would allow it."

"Your offer most likely has a great many catches, and I have precious little patience."

Its smile didn't falter, though its eyes shone annoyance, perhaps it thought it could trick them a little more easily.

"You see mortal, I am not here by choice. I was bound to this circle by the Githyanki... old enemies of yours, I believe. Once bound, I was forced to shape the barrier you see ahead, to prevent any trespass."

Sarina studied it, considering the options. Magical barriers could be very difficult to dismantle without the original caster, they needed the devil to dispel it and he knew he possessed what they wanted. He obviously knew he already had the upper hand. Everyone knew there was always a catch when dealing with devils and demons, always. The Devil lowered his eyes, feigning modesty.

"Similar to the Githyanki portals, this barrier exists outside this plane. It has been shaped into an extradimensional wall through which nothing may pass. It cannot be dispelled, but my presence here feeds it and allows it to maintain its shape. If you were to banish me however…"

"Well, devil?"

"You can banish me by speaking my true name... and of course, I will need your promise that you will use it only to banish me."

The only way to pass was to free him, obviously not something she relished the thought of. If only there was some other way to dispel the barrier without freeing its contents entirely. An idea sparked in Sarina's head and she smiled wickedly, feeling quite pleased with herself, "Mephasm, I command you to join my party and kill all those who oppose me!"

It howled in laughter at her poor attempt, as flames from the hells leapt through the portal widening at its feet. Mephasm continued laughing as the binding circle disintegrated like ashes in the wind.

Whoops

"Goodbye Mortal, we will meet again soon."

He disappeared suddenly, leaving them staring at the blank space where it had stood. She cringed at her own stupidity as the others turned to stare at her incredulously. Of course the devil would find a way out of doing her bidding, what was she thinking trying to trick one?

Bishop broke the uncomfortable silence by laughing almost hysterically, "I can't believe you tried to bind him to fight for you. That was by far the stupidest thing I've seen in a long time. Bravo."

Her cheeks flamed, red as hells fire, "It might have worked!"