Tarsakh 14 1371 DR, Year of the Unstrung Harp

Prologue

Deep within the stone walls of Helm's Hold, the orc leader named Brazer walked through the Hold's long narrow hallway. The orc's eyes glanced at the statues of Helm, the god of vigilance, in disgust. He reminded himself to order the men to "improve" the statues' appearance.

Standing at six foot, Brazer wore well made leather armor given to him by his chieftain many years ago. Over his left eye was a thin purple scar, given to him by the one of the clerics who had died defending the church. Brazer walked by a pile of mutilated corpses, wondering if all of the clerics had called out to their god before he and his men ravaged the temple.

Brazer grinned as he turned the corner. With the aid of his human spies (who were later disposed of by his troops) in the temple, as well as Neverwinter's un patrolled sewers, Brazer and his group of sixty of his best warriors, comprised mostly of orcs and hobgoblins invaded the temple. And this would only be the first in many victories to come, the orc said to himself.

Just as Brazer turned another corner, an orc approached him with caution. "Lord Brazer, we found something that might interest you. It has told us that the clerics here in Helm's Hold have chained it up for many years."

"Helm's Hold," Brazer asked, raising an eyebrow. "I think you mean the Hall of Gruumsh."

"Right sir, the Hall of Gruumsh," the orc repeated as he led Brazer into the altar room. More statues of Helm were erected in the four corners of the room, and tapestries depicting Helm's symbol; an upright gauntlet with an eye in the middle. In the middle of the room, stood a stone altar with a red book placed upon it. A summoning circle was drawn on the floor behind the altar.

Standing inside of the circle, a marilith, a demon who appeared as a somewhat attractive looking, six armed woman, with a giant snakelike tail that coiled around her body. All six of the demon's arms were chained to the floor. The marilith's eyes turned to the two orcs.

Brazer stood there, intrigued. The demon stared at the orc, saliva dripping from her small fangs; her eyes crying to be free from its prison.

"My lord," the demon growled in a low voice," I am Gargana. Those loathsome Helmite priests imprisoned me many years ago. If you release me, I promise to serve you."

The orc leader knew little about demons. In his youth, a shaman once told him that demons were scheming and would betray you at any moment. Yet, he also imagined the devastation Gargana could make if she were released into Neverwinter.

"What do I have to do?" Brazer asked.

The demon's lips twitched in a smile. "Just read the words in the leather-bound book that's sitting on the altar." Brazer nodded and walked over to the altar. He opened the book to the third page. It took him a moment to translate the text, the words were written in old elvish, in what appeared to be blood.

As the orc read from the book, his words echoed through out the room. The summoning circle vanished, and the demon ripped off her chains.

Throwing the chains aside, Gargana's eyes stared at Brazer once again. The orc began to think that the demon had deceived him, and was about to end his life.

Then the demon chanted a word in the abyssal language and reached all six of her arms behind her back and presented Brazer with a beautifully crafted double axe. The shaft and the blades were colored black, with a flame design etched all over the shaft.

"For freeing me," Chaohinon growled. "Now, what is your bidding?"

Brazer took the new weapon into his arms, as if he was cradling a newborn child. Like many orcs, he was specially trained in using the double axe. After hearing the demon's question, Brazer answered," We will destroy the city of Neverwinter, brick by brick."