This is a tale to relate the retrieval of the Elixir of Purity from the depths of Hythloth, and of the valorous deeds performed during the quest. 'Twas early in the morning of May the Ninth when the call was sent out for warriors and mages to gather at Kazola's tavern. Rhysart the Hermit had learned of the location of the Elixir of Purity, and he needed assistance to retrieve it. This elixir was needed to treat the white bolt and provide it with the potency to strike at Mordread. A mighty host was gathered at Kazola's tavern and was directed to Hythloth. Numerous individuals from Yew were part of this force, as well as members of the The Royal Guard of Britannia, the Yew Rangers, and KOS. The atmosphere was somewhat poisoned by the murder of Training Dummy by Hades, and the general buffoonery of KOS, but the quest was too important to be forgotten. The gate opened and the battalion of about 20 warriors left.

The foul dungeon was dark and dank, but with the aid of minor spells and potions we were able to find our way about. Sulfurous fumes filled the hellish place, making the air thick and the walking difficult. Undaunted the force set off for the deeper regions where the elixir was likely to be hidden. Various minor monsters fell before the combined powers, but the disparate group became disorganized and small groups splintered off. A small corridor presented a particular problem. Some mage had magicked it so that if you stepped in the wrong place, you would be teleported back to the beginning of the hall. A much experimentation, a path was found that led through the maze. Snaking down a few more passageways we came to a doorway, an almost palpable sense of evil lurked behind it. Undaunted we pressed ahead, and almost met total destruction.

The room was dark and smoked filled, and a giant bloodied pentagram bespoke foul deeds done, and the promise of more to come. We piled in the room, and disturbed a few of the hounds of hell that were resting there. They were quickly dispatched, but not before sounding the alarm. Their fiery barks woke the chamber's guardian, and our force was thrown into great peril. A mighty Daemon arose from the pentagram, night black, and reeking of hell. The air grew thicker with the smell of fear as the Daemon tore into our ranks. Worse yet, dissension reared its ugly head. As the Daemon struck, the black-robed Matrix Sirrion of KOS let out a laugh and cried, "Let them die, then loot them." The Royal Guard of Britannia made a stand against the Lord of the Abyss, but were struck down to the last man. To their credit, KOS also attempted a stand, ignoring Matrix's order. Magus Sirrion and Tartman were cut down. Most of the party was now scattered, some fleeing back down the corridor pursued by the Daemon, others pinned in the room by new swarms of hell hounds. One of these swarms found me on the edge of a group and attacked. Pinned on all sides, and choked by smoke, I was pulled down and killed as well. I joined a large group of ghosts who could do nothing but watch as our numbers dwindled. When a new swarm of hell hounds appeared and attacked, all looked lost. Kazola had fainted in the smoky air, and Rath and St. Angelica attempted to preserve her while holding onto their own lives.

They managed to revive her, and tide began to turn. Cyrak had regained the room, and re-inforcements including Dark Sol, Sarzek Talic, Pyanfara Chanur, and Alex arrived. They reported that the Lord of the Abyss had finally been slain, and helped clear the room of the hell hound pack. Sarzek Talic ressurected me, while many other ghosts left by a gate. I re-equipped, the fighting having been so intense that my body had been uninterrupted. We quickly filed out of the room, not trusting that the evil contained within would be content to rest.

Passing many a room filled with monsters, we began to despair of ever finding the elixir. Our numbers had regrown from the nadir experienced in the Daemon's lair, but we were still not as strong as we had begun. After fruitlessly breaking my pick on a chest, we were at a loss as to the chest and elixir's location. At this point we were joined by Andrew, who reported a room filled with fire elementals that surrounded a red, glowing chest. We took heart at his words, as the chest seemed unusual enough to spark our interest. We enterred the room via a teleporting square, and extinguished the fire elementals within. Upon felling the last elemental, we opened the red chest, expecting to find the elixir.

It was not to be. We were too late, as some beast had claimed the prize before us. The old-styled writing and claw mark on the note pointed to Azhur the Dragon, the disgruntled one-time henchman of Mordread. Azhur had broken free of Mordread's control, but his current motives remain unknown to us. He has sworn vengeance on Mordread for trapping his spirit, but what he will do after he is free is unknown. Without the elixir, our spirits sagged, as we thought that all our battles and losses were for nought.

Worse yet, Azhur did return to taunt us with his success. He called out in that raspy voice of his, "Foolish hu..mans.... You seek the elixir of purity? Well... I have it.." When we beseeched him for it, he replied, "It is mine, and I need use of it. For what reason would I give you it? I need it in my fight against Mordread.. Yes..." We suggested he deal with us, since we had a common foe, but he is wary and filled of contempt for humans, "I do not trust you hu..mans. You are vile.." Considering the behaviour of many in the land, it should not be surprising that he has developed this attitude. He held up the elixir, and proclaimed the white bolt from the Hart was of no use without the elixir. However he no doubt realized that the counterpart to that was that the elixir was equally useless without the bolt. Azhur considered this and said, "I must see Rhysart though..." Many were leery of taking the Dragon to Rhysart, but we felt we had no option. Lamenth provided a rune to Rhysart's cave, but Azhur, wary of gates after some of Belgarion's tricks, casted it himself.

Rhysart was startled to find so many visitors coming into his cave, and even more startled to see the head of the black dragon as it poked in. Azhur retracted his wings and entered the hermit's domicile. He found a comfortable spot in one of Rhysart's animal pens, and its unlikely the deer will ever feel quite the same about the place. Rhysart and Azhur began to discuss the elixir.

Azhur agreed to hand over the elixir, giving it to Kazola, telling her to, "Bring it to the hermit with haste." She did hand the elixir over to the somewhat stunned hermit. Azhur's presence still made the hermit a little jumpy, but he thanked Azhur, "I am flattered, I mean...first killing me, then helping me." Azhur's lips curled as he responded, "You know the old tale that evil would turn against itself in the end?" The Dragon did seem to relish the thought of Mordread's fall. When Ashaon offered that this would be the start of a joint battle against Mordread, Azhur demurred, "This is all I can do to interfere.." Who knows what controls Mordread might still have, or what motives still lurk in the heart of a dragon.

Rhysart took the elixir over to his desk, where he kept the white bolt. Rhysart, with hope in his old voice, said, "I will now pour the elixir over the bolt, and we will have the ultimate weapon against that Lich." He continued, "This bolt, crafted from the antlers of the White Hart, will join with the powers of the elixir of purity." He then poured the elixir over the bolt, and a fire burst forth. The bolt had changed from white to red, and it emanated a power that warmed the room. Azhur, uncomfortable in the close confines of the crowded cave, decided to take his leave. He left with one last begrudging comment, "Dare I say this.. Good luck hu..mans."

The quest completed successfully we gated back to Kazola's tavern to celebrate. The mention of ale did seem to interest Rhysart almost as much as our arrival with the elixir. The celebrations at the tavern contniued into the night, and the tales of our victory grew in the telling.

Rhysart now plans the last phase of the quest, the assualt on Mordread. He has proclaimed that the Bolt of Virute will not kill Mordread, but only make him vulnerable to our attacks. He will again need our assistance to defeat his mortal foe. As for Azhur, who knows what his next step is. Once freed from Mordread's bonds he may again withdraw from human activities, or perhaps he has plans for us yet ...