Queensday, 18th of Moons, 721IA

“You’re lucky you didn’t read the book,” said Myraeth as we walked in. Aretha and I looked at each other a bit doubtfully. “It is a Vaucuous Grimoire,” he said tapping the book lying on his counter with a long finger. Apparently our faces were blank so he explained, “Reading from it usually clouds the mind, not really impairing your thoughts, but loose of common sense and rash and foolish decisions have been known to be made by people who were documented reading from such books.”

We joked for a moment about selling it in some magic item black market. Eric wasn’t totally amused by that notion (even as a joke) and we agreed to destroy the cursed book. I wasn’t utterly happy about burning a book… but I could see the reasoning and was not about to argue over it.

Before shattering the diamond-jar upon the wall of the courtyard in the former abode of the Kollotis family, Eric decided to go and check upon the statue of Seginal Fesbon… not like it was going anywhere, but apparently his instincts were right. At the base of the statue something opened up to reveal small niche into which a circular object might be inserted. We all knew what we needed for that.

Eric insisted upon breaking the jar. “What if something dangerous comes out?” he asked. “It won’t be,” I said, but handed it over. Hefting the jar in his hand he looked at us, “Don’t you want to take a step back… just to make sure.” We all shock out heads ‘No’, “It’ll be fine Eric. Just smash it already,” I said and watched as he turned around and threw the jar upon the wall.

The jar crushed into the wall of the house and smashed into countless tiny diamonds, sparkling in the morning sun as they fell to the ground. I’m sure Menon’s eyes followed the diamonds to the ground… at least for a heartbeat, after which a form materialized in front of us. His face had elfine features, but it was shorter and much more muscled than any elf I’ve ever seen. He had silver white hair, but it were the eyes that I recognized. I’ve read of such beings, celestial beings called Eladrins; and he, with the constantly changing color of his eyes, could only be a Bralani. “Thank you for freeing me,” he said.

“Of course,” I replied but I wasn’t sure he was listening to me; he was looking around with a mask of concentration on his face. “We figured a despicable man such as Seginal Fesbon could only do evil…”

“There are two Evils here,” he cut me short. That got our attention. “One of them is corporeal, with him I might contend,” he said in a result voice.

“We want to help you,” said Eric before the Bralani could turn around to fight the evil he sensed. The Eladrin looked us over and nodded, “Come with me then.”

The Bralani quickly made his way up the stairs, and we did our best to catch up. As we crossed the seventh floor we saw outside on a roof-balcony two huge dog-like creature. Before they could react, or any of us for that matter, the Bralani raised his hand and from it shot out a lightning bolt, hitting one of the dogs straight in the chest. The dogs rushed us, and one of them managed to get close and spewed fire from out of his mouth singeing Aretha, Eric and Maxim, but in short order the hell dogs were dealt with and the Bralani moved on, as if he didn’t even miss a step.

He moved outside of the main floor to a small balcony, and as he turned to face a doorway that I couldn’t see, I saw him take a fighting stance and start sparring with some creature I couldn’t see. My educated guess said it was the evil he sensed, the horned demon Taunel spoke about, the earthbound demon from the diary. The balcony was small, and with the entrance being a bit circular, it was impossible for anyone other than the one standing in front of the doorway to fight the demon. Nonetheless, some of our small party went up there to try and help the Bralani in any way they could. Lyne has somehow managed to wriggle into the room behind the demon and started bothering him from behind with his amazing punches; Aretha and Eric stood on either sides of our celestial ally and were ever ready with their healing wands to heal him when the need arose. And indeed it did.

I couldn’t really see what was happening up there, only that the back and forth battle between the demon and the Bralani took some time to be determined. With the healing help we provided, as well as Lyne’s efforts from behind the demon, the demon finally fell. “It is done,” he said looking at us.

“What about the other Evil?” asked Eric, but the Bralani shook his head. “It is something that even I cannot face.” Hearing this from the Bralani made us exchange nervous looks.

“Where will you go now?” I asked him, and he asked me where we are. “Ptolus,” said I (he doesn’t even know where he is!) and he nodded. “Then this is where the Malkuth is,” he said and we nodded pointing the way for him. He started to levitate of the ground and I asked him hurriedly “What is you name?”