After six days walking back to Lut Gholein, the group finally made it back to Lut Gholein in the morning, as their supplies were running short. Slaylie quickly parted with her new companions, saying she would meet them tomorrow, though she didn't say when nor where. Sela too left for the mercenaries' headquarters to receive her pay, and told them she'd meet them tomorrow morning at the tavern. The three friends went first to their inn and then Melissa left to her parents' home, Arcadio went to find Cain and ask for further information about the Seven Tombs and Welfor took their equipment to Fara.
"They should be ready tomorrow." said Fara as she examined the weary and dirty equipment Welfor had brought her.
"And... how much should it take ?" asked Welfor.
"I can't say before I finish working on them." answered the red-haired.
"Oh... Well, we'll come back to fetch our gear tomorrow then. Goodbye." said Welfor exiting the shop, wondering what to do next. He spotted the a tavern nearby and decided he could use a couple of drinks before going to meet Arcadio and Melissa.
Melissa faced a rather cold reception as her parents didn't hide their disapproval of her adventures. As soon as she could she excused herself from the table and went for a walk by the dockside with Melampo , who was very curious to hear in detail the group's heroic deed, and Melissa was more than glad to satisfy him, adding a good deal of her personal exploits.
"All in all, I still think the worst part was that stinking Maggot Lair, with all its disgusting bugs creeping everywhere." concluded Melissa shuddering.
Melampo laughed "Well if that's the worst you had to face, I could have done it myself." he commented.
"Of course not ! You'd still need my magical skills." said Melissa boastfully.
"I'm working on it. Just watch this." he said as he summoned a small bolt of electricity and shot it at the water, electrifying a fish swimming peacefully, which came floating to the surface, dead.
"Impressive." said Melissa truly. "I guess you aren't losing your time at Drognan's."
"Just don't tell Mom and Dad about it.." added Melampo worriedly.
"Don't worry, they won't find out through me." said Melissa reassuringly. They walked for a bit in silence, before Melissa realized how late it was already "Well, I've got to go meet with the others. You wanna come ?" she asked.
"Sure." said Melampo enthusiastically, and the two siblings headed to the meeting point, Atma's Sand Mug.
Arcadio went to the palace and was quickly led through the palace to one of the smallest rooms, where Lord Jerhyn, his guest Deckard Cain and Drognan were waiting for him.
"Ah, the hero returns. My friend, allow me to introduce Drognan to you, a powerful wizard and one of my most trusted advisors. He has important information for you." said Jerhyn.
"Indeed. I understand you are seeking Tal Rasha's Tomb. Well, after several weeks of research" the wizard emphasized 'several weeks' as if he were making sure he was being given all the credit he deserved "I may have found a clue on how to find it. Apparently, the great Vizjerei mage, Horazon, witnessed Baal's defeat and imprisonment and registered what he saw in his diary. If you can find his diary within his sanctuary you'll be sure to have at least a good lead to find Tal Rasha's Tomb.
"And where is his sanctuary ?" asked Arcadio.
Jerhyn looked slightly uncomfortable as he spoke "There's something I haven't been telling my people. Our main threat doesn't come from the desert, for Greiz seems to have everything under control, but from within the palace, where my guards have been fighting a losing battle against hordes of enemies who mysteriously attacked us from the cellars of the palace, slaying all the harem girls who had taken refuge in the Harem of my palace."
"It is most likely that those monsters came from Horazon's sanctuary, for he was renowned for having enslaved a great many demons. It is possible that he has lost control over his dark minions, or that he has simply been corrupted by the power he sought to control." said Cain happily.
"This theory is only strengthened by the fact that it is common knowledge that Lut Gholein was a former Vizjerei fortress. Horazon is likely to have set his sanctuary here, and the sultans of Lut Gholein built the palace over it." finished Drognan darkly.
"So you we only have to go to the cellars of the palace to find Horazon's sanctuary and read his diary to know where to find Tal Rasha's Tomb.
"And slay Horazon, for he probably still lives in his own dimension and has either lost his mind or is currently serving Diablo." said Cain delighted.
"Well at least it's a clue..." sighed Arcadio "We'll go to the cellars tomorrow your Highness." said Arcadio bowing to the young Sultan, who looked really grateful.
As he turned to leave Drognan told him to wait and gave him a golden long staff."It is for the Sorceress. It's one of my best staffs, so tell her to use it carefully."
"She'll be delighted. Thank you." said Arcadio who then left the palace and headed to the Sand Mug.
"Hey Melissa look what I have for you !" said Arcadio waving as soon as he saw her approaching with Melampo.
"A new staff ! Did you buy it ?" she asked awe-struck, staring at the object.
"Drognan asked me to give it to you." said Arcadio, though he felt a strange desire to tell the Sorceress he had bought it for her.
"Drognan ?" asked Melampo worried. "Why didn't he give it to me then ? He knew Melissa was going to lunch at our house.".
"He must have thought you'd break it. You can be so clumsy some times." said Melissa happily playing with her new weapon.
"I guess it runs in the family then." said Arcadio smiling as Melissa inadvertently dropped the staff, making it fall on the ground. Melampo however didn't seem very amused, and was still frowning, deep in thought.
Arcadio was going to question him about it when Welfor arrived. Arcadio waited for Sela to come as well before telling his friends what their new assignment was, and they agreed to meet in front of the palace the next morning.
The temperature in Lut Gholein usually dropped dramatically at night, so Melampo regretted having forgotten his coat as he walked past the deserted streets of Lut Gholein. As he walked down the street in front of tavern, not far from Drognan's shop he heard it.
"Finally ! I was wondering whether you'd show up."
Melampo sighed "I take it you haven't found the Tomb..."
"I didn't even find the valley. Then again the Horadrim wouldn't have chosen it if it were not very well hidden."
"Well, I may have a good lead for you. Melissa and the others are going down the palace to search for Horazon's temple. You'll just have to follow them. Besides they're heading to the Tomb too." said Melampo.
"Perhaps, but I have to get there before them. When are they going into the palace ?"
"Tomorrow morning. Can you follow them without being spotted ?" asked Melampo worried.
"Of course" and then Melampo was left standing alone in the empty street. The boy frowned... Whatever the circumstances, all this aura of mystery looked like a very bad omen...
The first room of the harem where Kaelan had led them was almost obscenely luxurious, despite the corpses lying on the ground and the stench of death.
"We managed to reclaim the harem, but the palace cellars are totally overrun with demons. You're on your own." he said, pointing to a marble stairway.
The group went down the stairs expecting demons, but instead were met with an amused, familiar voice "My, my, what a coincidence..."
"How did you know we'd come here." asked Melissa awed.
"I have my ways." said Slaylie nonchalantly.
"I'm sure." said Arcadio suspiciously. Sela too didn't look too happy to have the Assassin back by their side, however now that her arm had been healed, with her spear firmly in hand she felt that the smaller woman could be no real threat. Welfor, though, always the practical one, had seen what a useful ally Slaylie had been in the Viper Temple. As for Melissa, either she was too na'95ve to think the Assassin might wrong them, or she plainly trusted her.
"Anyway, I've been doing some explorations as I waited for you. The second floor is this way." she said and led them through a door on their right. The room was obviously filled with demons, mostly skeletons archers. They were quickly dispatched, and so they began their long march to Horazon's sanctuary.
After two floors of uneventful fighting the five warriors reached a strange gate. Actually it consisted only of two iron bars leaning toward each other, with a blue gem at their intersection.
Melissa touched it and a portal opened between the two pillars of the gate "Well, looks easy, doesn't it ?" she stated nervously, aware that every time she pronounced such a remark they had been in trouble the second after. And unsurprisingly a group of fast Invaders, four-armed creatures armed with sabers, surrounded them. Both Arcadio and Welfor had something to tell Melissa, but she was saved from being scolded as the monsters attacked. Arcadio easily ducked behind his large shield, but Sela struggled to keep her three opponents at distance with her spear. Welfor too lacking defensive items had jump to avoid being hit. Slaylie easily blocked the first attack with her katars, and twisted them, breaking her enemy's sword in two. Melissa had taken refuge behind Arcadio and was shooting ice and fire bolts at the Invaders. Arcadio and Sela had killed already four of them, but Welfor had just realized he was not facing a normal Invader when he blocked a blow with his axes and felt the burning heat coming from his foe. Slaylie was nowhere to be seen, but she was assisting Sela and Arcadio, slashing the unsuspicious Invaders with her katars. Finally Melissa hit the ground with her new staff and casted a ring of electrical energy which killed all the three remaining Invaders and stunned Welfor's opponent as well. The Barbarian took advantage and dealt a powerful blow on the Invader's chest, which collapsed with a last cry and exploded, sending guts everywhere across the room.
"Why is it so many monsters do that ?" asked Melissa sadly, trying to shake the blood off herself.
"At least you weren't in front of it when it exploded..." commented Welfor "Let's move... this place stinks." he said, and was the first one to enter the portal.