It was morning of the next day and Ragdinolin went over in his mind their plan. It was bold to be sure, and risky, but he could see no other way. Jaha, Dennizon, Freedom, Phoenix, and Ledocteur were going to create a ruckus, fighting their way towards the prison camp which Jaha had been able to roughly estimate in location. The four men would fight their way through with sheer force protecting Ledocteur who would attempt to heal their battle wounds and fatigue as well as that of the weary prisoners when they finally reached them. Meanwhile, he and Albertus would make their way to the temple being constructed where they would place bags of explosive power they had feverishly worked to make late into the hours of the night. The hope was that the bulk of the Char forces would be drawn to the fighting men while he and Albertus placed the bags at the foundation stones of the temple and after retreating to a safe distance would ignite them with magical balls of fire. In the inevitable ensuing chaos they hope to combine then with the others and make their escape, with the prisoners in tow, to the horses which would be safely hidden some distance away.

Ragdinolin was well versed in the arts of magic, second only to Albertus, and he knew how to defend himself. The problem was they could not afford to draw attention to themselves too early and must therefore rely on speed and stealth to reach their desired goal and not jeopardize their mission. Ultimately Ragdinolin was not entirely happy, and had made it known, with what would hopefully be the outcome of their mission. His argument had been that the Char were right beside a rock quarry and would just rebuild the temple assuming they were successful in their plot. Even now he couldn’t help the resentful frown creeping across his face as he stood beside Albertus who was watching the other group make their way to the Char city. Voicing his thoughts Albertus spoke, “There is simply no other way Ragdinolin. In this way we at least buy ourselves more time to come at the Char with more forces. Left alone they could finish that temple in a matter of months and wreak unknown devastation on not only Kryta but us. You know this to be true.” “I do” he replied feeling no better at Albertus’ words, “but I still feel as though what we try to do today will be the equivalent of nothing more than a mosquito bite against these cursed Char.” “That may be true, but the mosquito can carry deadly consequences in its bite. We can only hope that our sting will carry with it an infection that will weaken the Char enough for perhaps The White Mantle to send their forces out to assist. They have not come this far out before, but when they see they too are in danger I dare say Confessor Dorian will finally act to assist the Ascalonians.” Ragdinolin said no more. He knew that Albertus’ words were true and he could not be persuaded otherwise but his logic told him their actions would not be enough just the same.

Suddenly a commotion sprang forth in the city before them. The city, as they called it, was nothing more than a bunch of huts constructed of leather hides and steel poles with the occasional building made of stone from the quarry. He had not heard of anyone being able to penetrate into the Chars’ homeland before and therefore had no idea if this was the measure of their cities back home. He didn’t discount the possibility but somehow doubted they had made such a successful campaign if this were the measure of the architectural abilities. He watched now as the Char abandoned their posts running to where the other group was no doubt engaging them and grimaced as he heard the clang of metal upon metal. The battle had begun. Turning his eyes towards the temple he could still make out the outline of Char standing guard there and silently hoped they too much join the Fray. Suddenly he saw a band of Char run the opposite way of the fighting and heard a horn’s shrill peal. What on earth was going on he wondered. A few minutes passed and then a much larger group of Char was seen running back in the direction of the fighting. They stopped at the temple and there was one Char in particular making wild gestures with his hairy hands apparently arguing with the Char standing guard at the temple. They seemed reluctant to leave their posts and the animated Char apparently did not like that. Suddenly the angry Char lifted a spear and thrust it at one of the temple guards. He fell down and did not rise. The other temple guards apparently needed little more encouragement than this and fell in line with the angry Char and his company. Then the entire group set off at a run towards the fighting.

“Now is our chance!” Whispered Albertus fiercely. They slipped out from behind the cluster of rocks they had been watching from and began to slip stealthily towards the camp.

Ledocteur frantically tried to keep up with healing his companions as they were pelted with arrows and barely deflected throwing axes and the deadly swings of the Char they were moving through. He had been optimistic at first when a small group of Char had engaged them and found them more of a challenge than expected. After immediately losing three of the members to Jaha alone who stood only a bit shorter in height than the Char themselves they had taken off running blowing a horn of retreat. His party had immediately sets off at a run trying to take as much ground as possible during this unexpected reprieve. Their fortune had been short lived though for they had run into a blockade of Char up the pathway who seemed intent on stopping them in their tracks. They were led by a grizzled looking Char who carried a huge two-handed hammer that looked as though it could break a man in two. Ledocteur didn’t think he would be able to do much for the man hit by that monstrous thing.

“Watch yourself!’ he yelled as Freedom got too close to the beasts hammer and very nearly took the hammer in his side. Jaha had thrust his shielded arm in front of the blow saving Freedom but Ledocteur heard a loud snap has Jaha’s thick arm broke under the force of the blow. Despite the pain he must have been in Jaha kept his calm and dropped the heavy shield, swinging his sword methodically dispatching another Char behind him with his broken arm hanging loosely at his side. Ledocteur tried to make his way to Jaha to heal the injury but was cut off by another beast swinging wildly at him as he jumped in front of him. Ledocteur fell to the ground and rolled towards the beast, tripping him with his body but feeling a rib break as the beast’s heavy foot dug sharply into his side. Dennizon turned and drove his sword into the fallen beasts chest and offered his hand to Ledocteur to help him up and drag him out of the way of another charging Char before Phoenix was there slicing the beast diagonally across the chest from shoulder to hip before spinning around and running another Char through the belly.

Ledocteur tried to get his bearings in the chaos around him and struggled against the splitting pain in his side to keep up as the group tried to force their way through the Char ranks. Freedom swung his sword wide and lopped off the head of a Char fitting his bow and then swinging low afterwards to sever a leg from yet another. Slowly they pressed forward, and Ledocteur thought to heal his side when Phoenix yelled in pain as he was hit in his sword arm by a stray arrow. Running to his side, Ledocteur lifted the arrow from the wound and sent waves of healing power through the arm, watching with satisfaction as the wound healed with only the slightest scar.

Suddenly Jaha was yelling that he could see where the prisoners were being held and Ledocteur peered in the direction he was looking. Sure enough, there in a wooden enclosure sat several haggard looking men bound in chains hand and foot but cheering at the top of their lungs towards their would-be rescuers. Seeing their goal so close by the men seemed to gain courage and they pressed harder against their assailants. Dennizon fought forward dispatching two char with his blade as Freedom shook off one Char, ran his sword backwards into its gut before head butting another Char who came to his front with the intent to take him while occupied.

Phoenix was lost from sight temporarily in a mass of Char but it was Jaha who caught Ledocteur's attention. With his broken arm still hanging limp at his side the big man faced off with the leader of the Char and his massive hammer. Jaha swung his sword and it was parried off the hammer. Two great swings, side to side, came at Jaha who deftly evaded them despite his own mass. Ledocteur ran towards Jaha, intent on healing him, when again he was distracted, this time by Dennizon. The Councilor was currently engaged by no less than five Char and he had lost his sword and had just taken a hit to his stomach with a nasty looking axe. The blade had penetrated his breastplate and was stuck there. Dennizon used his shield to deflect the five sets of weapons coming at him and stuck with his fist at the muzzles of the Char while trying to grab at their weapons at the same time. Ledocteur spared not a moment and ran towards him already beginning the incantation to heal him. Dennizon took hold of the axe imbedded in his stomach and with a heave wrenched it free and began to fight back with it. In his rage he immediately struck one Char in the jaw that wildly swung out in pain and stuck another Char next to him with his hammer. The two Char fell and Dennizon turned to face those remaining with a wild look in his eyes. Ledocteur reached him then and finished his healing words. Dennizon yelled his thanks and turned back to engage the remaining Char with renewed intensity, his wound now healed.

It was at this point that the Char facing Jaha, their apparent leader, bellowed out in their native language and pointed a massive finger at Ledocteur. Although the words weren’t understandable the message was. He was ordering his comrades to get the healer, to get Ledocteur. Ledocteur spun around just in time to avoid a charge aimed directly at his back. He fell to the side and watched as Freedom appeared and took out his assailant. Then came another Char, this time it was Phoenix who intervened cutting the Char short. The great Char leader bellowed in rage and turned to Ledocteur himself, charging with his hammer held high above his head. Jaha saw this and turned and swung violently at the beast, the Char swung back but missed as he swung wide. Jaha struck out with his sword and sliced the leaders arm before ducking down and slicing at his hamstring. Ledocteur yelled out his encouragement and watched as the leader tried to charge him again. This time Jaha cut at his back, again wounding the great beast. Enraged and bleeding the Char leader turned on Jaha and swung his hammer again catching Jaha in the right shoulder and throwing him to the side but not off his feet. Jaha turned, obviously in great pain, and ducked to avoid another blow of the hammer. Then the Char reached out his great hand and grabbed Jaha by his broken arm and twisted it into a most unusual direction. Jaha fell to his knees in pain, crying out has his broken arm was crushed and twisted in the powerful Char’s grasp. In a panic, Ledocteur threw himself forward, picked up a sword that had been dropped and rushed the Char. Seeing his approach the Char released his hold on Jaha and turned to face the healer. Ledocteur was not a swordsman and swung the sword wildly; throw his arm out of socket in his enthusiasm. He spun around and grabbed the injured shoulder in pain just before turning his head in time to see a huge hammer flying towards his face. The impact threw him into instant blackness and he fell remembering no more.

Jaha watched as Ledocteur fell. The healer had been wearing a chain mail coif which had been crushed inward with the mighty hammer blow. Jaha saw blood spray from the newly inflicted wound and Ledocteur fall motionless to the ground, obviously lost. With a scream of rage he lifted himself in great pain and ran full force at the offending char. He hit the beast with all of his force and the two of them toppled to the ground, the Char losing his grip on his hammer as he fell. Jaha rolled to the side in pain and winced as he hurried to the dropped hammer. With a great heave he lifted the monstrous thing with his one good arm and turned back to the Char who had raised himself up and was charging. With all of his might Jaha swung the beasts own hammer and struck it dead on in the left temple. The Char veered to the right and stumbled before turning back to face him. He stumbled towards Jaha two steps before falling in a heap on the ground, dead.

Albertus wondered at their extreme fortune. It seemed the entire city of Char had run off to confront the intruders in their midst. They had reached the base of the temple with not a single incident and were now placing the bags of power around its base. With a nod he signaled to Ragdinolin that he had finished to which he received a similar nod showing that the other sorcerer had finished with his placement as well. The pieces were set, it was time to act.

“Come, we must fall back and ignite these things now!” he shouted and they both ran off towards where they had watched before the battle had started. They reached a sheltered area and turned back. With a look and a nod Albertus gave the signal to commence. The two men began their incantation and waves of heat began to course from off their bare hands. Soon they were ready and each man launched fireballs the size of cannonballs at the temple where they had placed the explosive powder. Upon contact the bags ignited and there was a terrific explosion and a huge plum of dust went up into the air. It seemed that for a brief moment the sounds of fighting stopped as everyone no doubt turned to see what had happened. Albertus watched as the dust and smoke cleared and felt his eyes widen and despair fill his heart. The temple was barely scratched.

“It didn’t work!” cried Ragdinolin in disbelief and disgust. “The temple is still intact! It didn’t work!” Albertus didn’t know what to say, he rushed through thoughts of what could be the cause, recalculating his careful measurements of the powder the night before of which he had been sure would do the trick. It could have been an error on his part, but he doubted it. It should have worked. “It should have worked” echoed Ragdinolin at his side. “We must go back, there might be some powder left and we can try again” he said slowly knowing full well that there should in fact not be any powder left after that explosion. But then, to make matters worse, Ragdinolin pointed out what he already saw for himself.

As predicted, they had drawn the attention of the Char. Five of the beasts now approached the temple, inspecting the damage and trying to discern its cause. They looked around clearly trying to find the culprits. Albertus and Ragdinolin ducked behind the rock so as not to be seen. Feverishly Albertus racked his brain for the best course of action, but it was stopped short by Ragdinolin. “There is only one thing left to do.” He said grimly.

Dennizon gasped for breath and ran towards the wooden enclosure holding the prisoners. As predicted the explosion set off by Ragdinolin and Albertus coupled with the fall of the Chars’ leader had caused several of them to run off to investigate. The remaining Char had dispersed in all directions, clearly afraid and not sure of what to do without the guidance of the leader anymore. He reached the enclosure with Phoenix, Freedom, and a badly hurting Jaha at his side. He raised his sword and struck at the lock to the enclosure, pleased to see it break away. Swinging the door open he looked inside. A smile coursed across his face as he took in what he saw, or rather who. There, wearing rags and chained to the floor sat Umores, Zakaire, and Xanthus along with several other prisoners of whom he did not recognize.

“I only have one question.” Umores said immediately to Dennizon. “Does this mean I can start hefting around a staff again instead of these damnable rocks?” Dennizon could not help but laugh out loud before speaking. “If you are able old friend, we could use the help. Are you fit to walk” “We all are” shouted Zakaire enthusiastically, “These beasts kept us in decent shape considering that they needed us for manual labor.” “Aye” agreed Xanthus, “Had it not been for that I doubt we would be here today for this timely meeting.” Dennizon wasted no time and set about breaking their bonds. All told there for twenty one prisoners they had set free.

Then each of them clustered together and stepped cautiously outside. There were still no Char, but instead Dennizon saw Albertus hurrying up to them looking distraught. “Albertus” Dennizon shouted looking around with a puzzled look, “Where is Ragdinolin, where are the Char?” Albertus heaved a heavy sigh and looked Dennizon squarely in the eye. “Ragdinolin is at the temple, the Char are there.” “What of Ledocteur?” Albertus inquired looking questioningly around. Dennizon merely shook his head. “But, that makes no sense, wasn’t he supposed to come here with you?” Asked Freedom referring again to Ragdinolin. Dennizon looked at his friend closely and saw that Albertus seemed deeply troubled. “What has happened my friend?” Albertus looked at the men, took in the rescued prisoners, but no joy lit his face as it had Dennizon’s. “Our plan didn’t work. The temple remained largely unscathed after the explosion. Ragdinolin is going to finish the job.” “You mean that temple we have been forced to build?” Asked Zakaire with a puzzled look on his face. “The very same,” Albertus said looking around him quickly, “But we have little time, we must escape this place or we shall all be lost!” “Why, what do you mean Albertus? Do we not go to assist Ragdinolin?” Freedom asked obviously confused by Albertus’ vague answers. “What Ragdinolin does only a mage can do. We must escape lest we die here this day though; there is little time for talk!” Albertus replied hurriedly with little of his usual patience. “Very well, we head for the horses; there should be enough for only a few of us to have to ride double!” Dennizon shouted as he started at a run and waved the others to follow.

Ragdinolin refocused his power to increase the strength of the shield he had erected around himself. He stood in the center of the temple and was surrounded by every remaining Char in the city. They snarled and beat at the transparent blockade but to no avail. Ragdinolin knew he could not hold the shield at such strength for long, but he also knew he wouldn’t have to.

When the power had failed to break apart the temple Ragdinolin and Albertus had come to agreement that it must be protected by the same magic that it would allow the Char to wield. With that sort of protection it would not fall to any mere explosion. Ragdinolin knew that and Albertus had agreed. Against Albertus’ wishes Ragdinolin had told him that they must use the power of the temple to destroy it once and for all. Albertus had warned that it would mean putting themselves in the path of death most surely, that there was a reason the magic had been forbidden, and he knew it to be right. It had taken him far too long to convince Albertus that one of them had to go to the others as planned so that the prisoners could be led to safety and that of the two of them, Albertus must survive. The old sorcerer had vehemently disagreed and threatened to incapacitate his friend to stay his plan. But Ragdinolin was not as weak as that, and Albertus knew it. He had finally accepted to provide Ragdinolin protection and help in reaching the temple before meeting with the others. Albertus must have been worked up because he strode right up to the temple and the five Char already there and stood stock still as they charged him. Only, when they reached him they hit some sort of wall of electricity and were riddled to bits by the currents blasting through their bodies so violently. Albertus had again tried to stay and help, convinced he should, but Ragdinolin had pressed him to go saying he could come back when he had secured the prisoners. Albertus had to have known there would be no coming back judging from the look on his face. Ragdinolin had tried to assure him that he would follow shortly thereafter but he knew that Albertus had not believed him. He had watched from the temple beneath his shield as the old sorcerer had hesitated and, he thought, very nearly rushed to help him in his task. He had thanked all that was good when Albertus had instead, very reluctantly, run off in the direction of the rest of their group. As soon as he was sure that Albertus was well on his way Ragdinolin had wasted no time in beginning. His plan was to use the ancient runes inscribed on the temple itself, which were in fact incantations of forbidden magic to summon the power necessary to destroy the temple. Even now he felt power far beyond his own mortal abilities pulsing through him, amplified by the temple’s innate powers.

As the power increased and filled him beyond any normal limits Ragdinolin began to understand why this magic had been banned and why his ancestors had wanted to erase it from memory. Such power could move mountains, it could do anything, and he knew what it must feel like to be God. The dread at recognizing this power for its potency filled him even as the allure to wield it and attain unheard of power did as well. Thoughts, unbidden, of himself sitting on a throne ruling over the whole of the world filled his mind. Glory and power unmatched, all backs would bend before him. Surely he did not want to destroy a conduit to such prowess, such ability, such raw power? Ragdinolin shook he head and tried to shake these thoughts from his head. This power was evil. Nor was it ever meant for the hands of man. It was too terrible, too enticing. Slowly he began a rhythmic chant and transparent, bright lights began to dance around him. The air crackled as if with electricity and the ground seemed to buckle and shift as with an earthquake. Outside of his shield he vaguely noticed that the Char were no longer beating at his shield but were instead screaming in their guttural voices and falling over each other trying to run. He dimly felt himself wonder why they ran. Why did they wish to escape such exhilarating energy? Suddenly his eyesight began to change. He saw the world through different eyes. No longer were the colors around him the dull brown of the surrounding landscape. Instead he saw things in brilliant hues of white, blue, purple, and colors for which there is no word for they were normally not seen. He looked at his outstretched arms and marveled as the flesh seemed to melt away and be replaced with blinding light. What a glorious thing he thought! The impurities of his flesh were burned away and had been replaced with a glorious visage like unto the power he was wielding! He finished his incantation and watched as the flashes of light in the air around him began to spin faster and faster until he was engulfed in a beautiful whirlwind. He barely noticed that his shield began to pulsate and rather than drop shattered into millions of pieces passing through the Char outside with complete ease, killing them instantly. The whirlwind grew in intensity and size and grew further from him. He was no longer a separate entity, no, he was this whirlwind and his presence consumed all around him. The light continued to grow and grow until its brightness was all that he could see. The thought briefly passed through his mind that this was the end as he let himself free, enveloping all around him.