Volume 30
Ji Baran has been freed from his brief inprisonment in Tyre Bek's pocket dimension and has attacked the Keep surrounding the Temple of Altir. Meanwhile, the spirit of the Vampire Lord Volkenar has taken control of Traemin and has decided to make K'mael his first victim! Without magic to aid them, can K'mael and the gaurdians of the temple defend themselves from these two monsters?
Dorian (Cascade) and Mileena dil'Talri are a short distance away from the Keep as it is attacked. Mileena's sharp elven hearing allows her to hear the alarm and alert Dorian, who immediately dashes off to defend the Temple of Altir.
Meanwhile, Ji has scaled the outer wall of the Keep almost instantly, and only Dani stands between him and the inner courtyard. Although she was not expecting combat, she hesitates only a moment before engaging the intruder. (shown)
Unfortunately, even without the presence of magic, a single arrow is not nearly enough to take down a demon such as Ji. In mere moments, he destroys her bow and deals her a serious injury. Ji does not waste any more time with the injured elf, and launches himself into the interior of the Keep and at its other elven gaurdians. None can stand against him, and soon Ji is standing unchallenged before the gates of the Temple...
As Ji Baran is making his assault on the Temple of Altir, K'mael is helpless in Volkenar's grasp. Even Torlu can only stand by, promising swift vengeance upon the vampire lord should he kill the human mage, no matter that Traemin would also share Volkenar's fate.
Fortunately, Volkenar had forgotten about Tyre Bek, whose sudden intervention breaks the vampire's hold on K'mael. Torlu begins to attack as well, but K'mael calls him off.
"Ji is after the Book," he tells the troll. "We have to keep if from him. Nothing else matters."
After a moments consideration, Torlu agrees. He grabs K'mael and charges toward the Temple.