A/N: I still make no money from the wonderful world of Avernum/Exile, which remains the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software. I promise to return to the game unharmed the following persons: Athron, Erika, Hawthorne and various imperial sorts; and places: Athron's lair, Erika's tower, the hidden path, Black Spire, the second tower, the platform, and the royal spire.
Being heroes to all of Avernum was satisfying for a short time, before the companions started more seriously on their work. After a great deal of investigating, they learned that the dragon Athron lived somewhere in the twisted cave passages known as the honeycomb. At last, they found a cave, and a mysterious barrier which prevented progress, until they noted a very narrow ledge which allowed their passage.
"This has to be it," said Ansel. "Only a dragon would bother with that, don't you think?"
"Better be careful," said Brother Theo. "May be a dragon who doesn't like people like Pyrog was."
They entered the cave, finding a gallery lined with statues, terminating in a thirty-foot wall of sheer marble studded with runes and spikes of some sort.
"We won't be able to climb that," said Brynja, "but there might be a way around. Let's look."
After fighting their way past what was apparently the defenses of Athron—drakes and living statues, they entered a huge domed chamber, and saw for the first time, the dragon Athron. To say that she was an awe-inspiring beast would not be an overstatement. She was fifty feet long, tip to tail, and all of it was muscle, armor-like scales, and enormous claws and teeth.
Fortunately, although she was clearly displeased by the intrusion, she had not yet decided to attack. Instead, she looked curious. She seemed willing to speak with the companions, at least for a little bit.
"Forgive us for the disturbance," said Ansel, who had learned that it was best to be polite to dragons, "but may we speak with you?"
She blew a plume of acrid smoke from her nose, and then said, "If you must. I live here. Alone."
"Why do you want to live here alone?" said Duncan.
"I do not wish the company of the lesser creatures," replied Athron.
Relieved that the drakes they'd slain were undoubtedly 'lesser creatures', Ansel said, "Would we qualify as one of those lesser creatures?"
She peered at the group, and said, "Yes, you look like the foolish mortals which have overrun these caves. My siblings tolerate them. I shun them. Fool Motrax welcomes them, the humanoids, the fools and thieves," said Athron, her voice rising as flames came out with the words. "I do not wish to see you. I do not wish to deal with you, or hear your foolish babblings. I wish you to go. If you have business with me, speak it now. Otherwise, to stay is to provoke my wrath."
"Are there other humans in Avernum you admire?" asked Jynx.
Athron laughed, and replied, "What nonsense! Only Erika has enough power to even deserve my notice, let alone my admiration."
"We are adventurers and heroes," said Brother Theo, "is there anything you might teach us?"
"I will tell you a secret, a great secret, which no humans in Avernum know. There is another race in the underworld, an ancient and powerful race, which has slept for many centuries. But soon, soon they will wake up," said Athron. "That is all I will say of it. One day, if you survive the tumult to come, you will learn much of them."
"We are trying to find a password to the portal to the surface," said Ansel. "Khoth suggested to us that you might know this."
"I scry the world above, to find what the humans are planning. As I watched the king above, he was told part of the pass phrase for the portal you seek. The first syllable is Kro," replied Athron.
"Excellent," said Brother Theo, jotting this down in his journal. "We have completed many difficult quests. Might we trouble you to share some of your considerable wisdom with us?"
Athron smiled briefly, and said, "I am secluded, but I am not uninformed. Your actions are considerable, for humans, and they harm the Empire. This pleases me, therefore I will reward you."
Athron then began to recite a sequence of magical words, and then recited them again. Rudel and Jynx, looked at each other, recognizing a powerful spell, and they were able to learn it. After expressing immense gratitude for the dragon's time, they departed.
"I think it's time to talk to Erika," said Ansel.
"Should we deal with Hawthorne, or look for that exit for Scimitar first?" said Duncan.
"Let's deal with Hawthorne first," said Jynx. "Strike quick, before they get a chance to know we're coming."
As they traveled, Ansel said, "You know, one of these days, we're going to have to find a faster way to get around Avernum."
"You're right," said Jynx. "We'll figure it out one of these days, I'm sure."
Finally, though, long journey aside, they reached Erika's tower, and using the key, made their way in the side door with the key they'd gotten from Erika on their first visit.
Ansel said, "We would like to help you strike against the Empire."
"Very well. Now that you have contacted Aydin and acquired the brooches, you should find the portal. I know that the pathway there is well hidden to the northeast of here. Find it, and travel to the end. Once you reach the end, you will come to a platform surrounded by lava. Step on it, and I will come to you and send you to your destiny. Be sure you are well-prepared."
"What do we need to be prepared for?" said Duncan. "That'll help us be prepared."
"Be prepared for a fight," replied Erika. "The biggest of your lives."
"We will be ready," said Jynx, with a smile almost as feral as one that might have appeared on Erika's face.
"Then we must go," said Ansel, "to meet again soon."
The companions left, getting into the stolen giant boat again, and began searching for the swampy ledge with a secret passage as they had been told. It was the second ledge they found which turned out to be the one that they were seeking, and they began the path to destiny.
As they traveled, they found the way blocked by a mysterious tower, and they approached. Within, they found themselves under attack by invisible creatures which revealed their location by summoning all manner of weak facsimiles of monsters. When the battle was finally over, they were able to take the time to examine a huge, elaborate fresco on the north wall of the tower. It depicted mighty warriors and flame-shooting mages stroming through caverns, incinerating everything in their path: sliths, demons, dragons—all fell before the onslaught.
A brief search revealed the small depression Aldin had described to them in one corner of the mural. Ansel inserted the seal, and for a moment, nothing seemed to happen but a soft chime, and he removed the seal.
"Hope that worked," he said. "Or this adventure will have come to an end."
"It will work," said Jynx. "I hope."
They moved nearer the portcullis, where a large wooden wheel had a chain wrapped around it several times before the chain disappeared into a hole in the floor. There were strange, possibly magical glyphs on the wheel. Putting shoulder to it, Duncan and Ansel turned the wheel, and the gate opened slowly and noisily.
No sooner had they gotten through than they found themselves under attack by more of the invisible things, but they overcame quickly, as the numbers were much less than had been outside.
"Now, let's keep moving," said Ansel.
They continued past the tower, finding the path blocked with lava.
"I'd rather not cross that if we don't have to," said Jynx. "Let's see if there's another way."
A search revealed another concealed passage, and they slogged through a swamp before finding their way blocked by a second tower.
"This must be the right way," exulted Ansel.
They entered the tower, and found the place filled with demons and imps, though this battle was quite easy for those who had defeated Grah-Hoth. Then they saw the barriers. The marble gallery on either side were blocked by a huge wall of sparking, blue magical barriers. The choking smell of ozone filled the room.
The barriers looked stronger, as though some sort of energy were continuously replenishing them. As the companions drew nearer, the ritual Khoth had taught them sprang to mind. They performed the short series of chants and hand motions. Truly, it was a simple spell, but the effect was most dramatic. The barriers faded slowly away. Soon, they were no more than a few sparkling motes of light. Moments later, even those were gone, and the path was clear to continue.
They continued down a twisting passage, twice assaulted by easily defeated groups of demons which teleported in, and then they came to a great wall which blocked their progress.
"Another barrier?" said Ansel. "I thought they said there were two."
"We'll just have to go in and see what's there," said Jynx.
As they neared, they could see that there was a massive stone gate, not of recent construction, but perhaps a century old. It was blocked by a purple shimmering wall of energy, and set into the floor in front of the barrier was a mosaic of the royal seal of the Empire.
"The only way to keep going is through it," said Brother Theo, a hand up in an effort to ward off the intense heat. "I think the royal seal will get us through."
They stepped forward, and the purple field engulfed them, hot, but not burning. The royal seal glowed, and they reached the other side safely. They continued, flying over a black chasm, and then could see the platform ahead. But in the way, there were several horrible demonic creatures, basking in the heat of the lava.
Ansel was prepared for fighting, but as they approached, the demons bowed to the group.
One demon hissed, "Erika sent word that you were coming. You may pass and claim your vengeance. Step on the platform." With that, the creatures descended into the lava, gone from sight.
"I guess we're ready, then," said Duncan.
"Yes," said Ansel. "Let's go."
Finally, they had reached the end of this long, torturous, heavily guarded passage. What they found here was almost anti-climactic: a large stone platform protruding from the caldera. Still, they performed the ritual to summon Erika.
With a puff of sulfurous smoke, Erika appeared. "Well done. You found it," said Erika, smiling eerily. "This is a powerful place. The pentagram here is not for keeping things in, but sending things out. It was created as a teleportation booster, to aid the Empire. It is a powerful thing, and commensurately well guarded."
Erika grinned, showing many teeth. "And now, this powerful weapon will be turned to point into the heart of the Empire! Become ready, and when you are," she said, gesturing to the brooches, "I will send you to the surface. And then our revenge against the Empire, revenge for all the lives they have ended, may begin!"
"We are ready to strike back against the Empire," said Ansel.
"Excellent. Wear the brooches," said Erika.
The companions put the brooches on, only Rudel being without one, but Duncan's arm was around him.
Erika pointed north to a second platform, and said, "Walk to the platform to the north. Slay King Hawthorne. When you do, I will try to bring you back. Move fast! Strike hard! The heart of the Empire is well guarded indeed."
They stepped into the pentagram. Erika began to chant, slowly at first, then faster. The air crackled, as if unable to hold all the energy coursing through it. Then, with a flash, the northern platform began to glow with an angry red light. Jynx turned to see what else Erika had to say, but she had gone.
"Draw weapons, and let's go," said Ansel. "Only one chance to do this, so let's do it right."
They continued, and suddenly found themselves inside a castle. Shaking their head, they blinked, trying to clear their heads. The teleportation made them feel very dizzy. Eventually, they made sense of where they were—within a lovely gallery full of paintings and statues of various powerful men and women from the Empire's past. Through a window at the corner of the room, they could see they were high up in a spire in the middle of a large city, on the surface again.
"We're in the Royal Spire!" said Brother Theo with awe, for this was the most carefully guarded structure in the world. It was from this Spire that the Empire was run. The Emperor lived in and ruled from this spire. True, the emperor left here sometimes, but not often.
"I hope he's here," said Jynx, "because if he isn't ..."
"We'll die for nothing," said Ansel. "He will be, the old bastard. Let's go."
A gasp from the west drew their attention then, as a serving girl dropped her pitcher and fled.
"Damn it, we've been seen," said Ansel. "We've got to move."
As they started up the steps in search of the Emperor, they heard angry guards behind them, running up stairs, shouting, drawing weapons, and preparing spells.
Any other time, the companions would have loved to spend time looking through the rooms, searching for loot. Instead, with the Spire alerted, and angry guards chasing, they continued their flight through the Spire in search of Hawthorne. As they neared the top of the Spire, there was a moment of panic, fearing that the Emperor was not there, and the effort was in vain.
But as they reached the top of the Spire, the chamber they entered was the most beautiful place they had ever seen. However, there was no time to appreciate this. There was only a moment to spare a glance at the large windows with a panoramic view of miles of city and countryside. But more than anything else, there was Hawthorne. The cruel lord of the Empire, master of the known world, architect of the plan to cast the Avernites into the underworld, and he stared at them across the table.
Hawthorne didn't look the least bit scared. Perhaps his confidence came from the guards surrounding him. Perhaps it had never occurred to him that these commoners—criminals all by his decrees—could ever affect him. It mattered not, though. As the companions entered the chamber, Hawthorne began to cast a spell. And with that, the battle for vengeance, for both the small group present and all of Avernum, began.
At long last, Hawthorne fell to the floor. The powerful magical shields around him had been pierced. He tried to control the energy, but the blows had made him too weak. He lost control of the energy. He tried to get up and run. It was too late. There was a flash of light. And Hawthorne, cruel master of the Empire, was ashes. The ashes started to blow out the open windows, and no one would ever be able to raise him from the dead.
Angry shouts could be heard from throughout the tower. The enemies were coming, as the companions realized they were trapped, soon to be overwhelmed by angry Empire soldiers. They set themselves for a brave, final battle. Then, as they prepared for death, there was a flash of light, and a portal appeared in the corner of the room. Uncertain who had created the portal or where it left, they hurried into the portal to avoid the alternative—a fast, messy death.
Spears flew through the air like hornets. Fireballs scorched the area around them, and summoned beasts filled the throne room. But just as the devastation reached the companions, they faded out ... and reappeared in Avernum.
Back on the platform, and Erika was there. She greeted them with a gleeful expression on her face.
"Well done, adventurers, well done! Today, you have dealt the Empire a great and lasting blow!" said Erika. "Hawthorne was an excellent leader and a wicked one. His death is a great loss for them. But it is only the beginning. Much fighting remains. But the battle has begun, and begun well, and we have you to thank!" She bowed to them, grinned, and disappeared.
They looked at the road they must travel back. It was a long road, and a hard one. But then, everyone in Avernum had a hard road to travel. Now, though, the journey could begin.