The Adventures of Brandar Odaron
Book 1: The Hidden Continent
Chapter 34 The Fall Of Demon Modeus
Boom! …
Brandar activated the giant-strength power the very instant he put on his magic necklace. Then something told him to turn around. But whether he noticed a shadow or heard a sound, he could not later recall. And just in time he beheld a Gress raising a mace with which it meant to smash Brandar’s head. But the Gress went wide-eyed when Brandar caught the mace in one hand and effortlessly jerked the weapon from the creature’s grasp. Then Brandar, with bare fist, struck the Gress such a terrific blow that the monster was knocked half-way across the room, sailing over the heads of its fellows only to fall lifelessly with a thud upon the floor.
The other two Gress, holding large curved swords, were taken aback at the loss of their leader and were momentarily at a loss as to what to do. But when they had gathered their wits one turned and ran while the other made to cleave Brandar in two. Yet, Brandar deftly avoided the strike, and using the mace smashed the beast on the side of its ugly head, killing it instantly. Then he threw the mace so hard into the back of the fleeing Gress that the creature was sent sailing to smack head-on into the wall by the door, where it slid down, smearing blood on the wall, and then lay dead in a heap upon the floor.
Boom! …
Thinking no more of Gress nor any other monsters coming to the vault, Brandar turned his attention upon the portcullis, but found that he could but barely bend the bars even with the greatest expenditure of energy, despite the magic of his necklace. So he activated the Fire-Breath of Daram’s Ruby, not kenning the importance of this act, and with it smote the portcullis near the ceiling. But the fire-breath had no effect. So then he tried a lightning-bolt, though this too did no damage.
Greatly frustrated, therefore, he decided to try one more magic, not expecting it to work, but thus used the sunbeams from his eyes along the top of the portcullis, whereupon the bars there were melted like a candle burned by a torch. Then Brandar used the Sunbeams to melt the bars all the way round, grasped the portcullis, and tossed it aside.
Boom! …
Triumphantly Brandar entered the room, went straight to his sword, which was not in its scabbard, and thus glowed with a silvery aura. And Brandar took it from the hook by which it was hanging, then pointing it up and raising it high he shouted a battle cry: “Bei dyhtig giegeh!” Which is: “This day is victory!” in ancient Northron. With that, the blade flashed as if responding to a word of activation. Then he noticed its scabbard, with its belt, his own belt, among other scabbards piled up in the nearby corner. So, he took it up and sheathed Beliscaertos, but did not yet buckle on the belt.
Unknown to Brandar, his voice had echoed throughout the ways of those dungeons and rose up even into the Castle. And when Modeus heard it, at the very moment at which Tomas had struck him with a lightning-bolt as he stood above the gate, but which did him no harm due to invisible magic armor, instantly did he ken that Brandar was loose in the tunnels beneath the Castle and had somehow gained entry into the treasure-vault where was the great sword Beliscaertos. Yet, having no servants to send against Brandar, he must go himself, and therefore went swiftly from the parapets above the gate, intent upon slaying the Northron.
Boom! …
Brandar next gazed upon the wealth in that chamber. And there were other great blades hanging upon the walls, and shiny armor scattered about or thrown into corners, along with spears and staves, and scepters and wands, and much in the way of silver and gold, and of jewelry and precious gems strewn here and there, or piled in the middle of the floor. Yet, he decided that he must first get new clothes ere examining things further. So, he went to the outer room and donned garments fit for a king; for everything therein was of fine make. But he cut out the small hidden pocket of his ragged trousers, used the pocket as a sheath for his precious little knife, discarded the old trousers and placed the knife in the top of one of his new boots. Then he strapped on Beliscaertos and went back to the inner chamber to inspect the items there. But from that hoard he chose two things only, besides his necklace and his sword; a helmet and cuirass, both made of silver, yet knowing not at that time that they were magical.
Boom! …
Now, the helmet and cuirass were both intricately engraved with Elven lettering and many strange runes, among other symbols, covering all of their outer surfaces. And the helmet had ear-guards in the shape of swept-back wings, but only a small fixed visor, and no nose-guard. Yet, it was secured by a rather heavy though short length of silver chain which went under the chin. And the cuirass, with separate front and back, had the same sort of wings on its breast, along with the same kind of chain used as hinging and for fastening it on. But due to the wings, Brandar assumed that the helmet and cuirass went together, and thus he selected them as his only armor.
Then he went again into the outer room with a mind to put on his armor and go forth from there to impolse his vengeance upon Modeus. He thus put on the cuirass and girt his sword. But ere he put on the helmet, he suddenly realized that the Pearl of his necklace had given him the powers of its sister Gems, including the Fire-Breath of Daram’s Ruby, though Daram was not present. Then was he all the more convinced that Srabos was besieging the Castle, and that Daram, at least, was also nearby, likely just outside the front gate. This meant that the other two Northrons were likely also alive and well, and were perhaps even now outside with Daram, else their swords and necklaces would also have been brought to the Castle and stored within the vault.
This revelation gave to Bandar great strength of heart, so that he was more determined than ever to go and slay the Demon Lord, though it cost him his life. So, he turned and gave a salute to the statue-forms of his countrymen, then set the helmet upon his head; expecting to go next in search of Modeus.
Boom! …
Suddenly his mind was flooded all at once with such far-reaching mystical knowledge that he was made dizzy, and so swerved, and kept himself from falling by taking hold of a nearby table, whereupon he removed the amazing helmet, at which the infusion of knowledge ceased. And he could not remember it all, though he recalled enough to be altogether delighted with it, and wanted more.
Naturally, Brandar gazed in wonder upon this marvel; a gift from the Gods. And braving to wear the helmet once more, seeing its worth, his mind began filling with a deep knowledge which otherwise he could never have conceived, nor could have learned in a normal lifetime. And he found that the dizziness went away as he got used to the influx of lore, coming as if it were flashes of wild and furious lightning in a sudden summer storm. Neither was there any pain. But in just a little while he had acquired all that the helmet would give. Then did he ken that the knowledge was of the spells from the discipline called “Elemental Magic”, as practiced by the Wood Elves of Eastwold, and by the Dwarves of Anaurian. And while he was given a vast store of that knowledge, he understood thereby that it was not the lore of all magic.
Nevertheless, he was astounded by the power and variety of spells imparted by the helmet. And he lost himself in testing them, forgetting for a while where he was, and why he as there, despite those booming noises. Yet, the magic was so wonderful! And he delighted in them.
Boom! …
Here, he summoned a little ring of light which danced about the room. Then he created a small thundercloud which he made rain upon the floor. And he encased one of the dead Gress in a block of ice, such as Flaven had done to the evil Mage Striglis. Yet, he then recalled a spell which made him stop and remember how he came to be standing where he was.
He turned and entered for the last time the inner room where he placed a reversing spell upon each of the be-stoned forms of his friends. Then did his fellows’ flesh and their garments and their armor, each in their turn, change in but moments back into their normal forms, whereupon the three men fell to the floor, all of them dropping their swords, and all of them cold and sick, unable to speak, but alive and whole.
Then Brandar wept for the third time in those dungeons, seeing here his friends coming back to life. But these were now tears of joy. And he later said that the tears he shed there had cleansed his tortured mind of the madness of his imprisonment.
Boom! …
After a while the three removed their helmets and found their voices, at which they thanked Brandar many times, explaining to him that they knew all about Brandar’s captivity, for they were awake in the days and nights they had spent as statues, though unable to move or to speak, nor even to get sleep, though they could rest their minds as if sleeping perforce, from sheer mental exhaustion. Thus, they had guessed that the magic of their swords had kept their hard stone forms from being destroyed while also keeping their swords and necklaces, and even their clothing, from being ripped away from them. Yet, it must also have kept their minds quite alive within the stone, so that they were going mad. But Brandar laughed kindly at them, even through his tears, and with that, the four of them began to be healed of their insanity.
Boom …
Needless to say, the three regarded their apparent years in the dungeon as something of a long and horrible nightmare. Yet, they pitied Brandar more, as they had not been tortured. And they were disturbed by his change in appearance, though they said nothing of it at the time. For now, what they wanted was sleep. So Brandar led them all, with swords in hand, to a place where they could sleep without fear, though no Durwolc nor any other enemy were seen in the intervening passages, nor in any of the chambers by which they passed on the way. And the three slept for many a long hour, despite those so irritating booming noises.
Boom! …
Meanwhile, Brandar spent time seeking for more ways up into the Castle, coming across a few Durwolc, here and there, whom he swiftly dispatched; hiding the bodies, though noticing that no alarm had yet been sounded. And due to this, he surmised, half mistakenly, that the Sereghran’s siege was going well, and that Modeus must be wholly occupied with the defense of his Castle.
Boom! …
Indeed, Modeus was concerned with the Sereghran, and had emptied virtually all of the forces he had been keeping within the Castle, to go and do battle outside. But Brandar would learn only later how much the Sereghran there were sacrificing.
*****
Modeus left the parapets determined to find Brandar and cruelly slay him. But he berated himself for not doing away with the tall Northron long ago. And it was too late to send Minions forth to capture him, as all of them had been sent to fight the Sereghran. So, Modeus cast a spell of scrying to seek for Brandar, owing that his dungeons were so vast that he could not possibly search them in time to turn his thoughts back to the struggle outside.
But lo, Modeus was hindered from discovering Brandar by even the most powerful of his magical arts, for there was a beneficent presence within the Castle, here in the heart of the Darkness he had wrought with the aid of the UnderLords themselves. And he was amazed and angered all at once. But striving for three hours against the presence, he found that it always prevented him from moving his mind’s-eye whither-so-ever he wished. And he could not therefore discover where Brandar might be.
Boom! …
So wrathful did this make the Demon Lord that he lost all better judgment, and was all the more determined to find and slay Brandar when elsewise he could have gone out from the Castle and seen to the defeat of the Sereghran, and thus secured victory that day. Yet, in this can be seen the hands of the Gods, as the vile Demon forsook the defense, and lay in wait for Brandar in the Castle’s Great Hall; knowing, by the ways of his Castle, that the insufferable Northron would at length find his way there.
Then Modeus wrought for himself a covering of deep shadow through which Brandar could not see him, although neither could the Demon sense magic outside of the covering. And that was the gravest mistake Modeus had yet made, as it explains why he did not sense the coming of one who could bring about his everlasting doom. No, not the mighty Duke Flaven, the great Veiled Wizard, nor some other Mage, but someone very much more powerful than any user of magic among Men.
*****
Boom! …
When the three restored Northrons had slept enough, and had been fed as much as they could eat, where they ate like ravenous beasts, Brandar led them back into the treasure-vault where they took on new garments and armor, but bore away nothing more, though keeping their swords. Then did Brandar lead them by a confusing way which he had discovered, and took them at length to a cavernous hall he guessed must be in the very center of the Castle, upon its ground floor. And as there were but few lamps along the walls, the place was dark, and very musty, though also seemingly quite empty.
Boom! …
A bright and glaring flash and shower of sparks suddenly shot up from the far end of the hall, together with the issuing of much black smoke. Then a great blast of fire struck the four and would have incinerated them had not each of them been holding their swords upon entering. And when the smoke cleared, here was a hooded and shadowy figure sitting upon a large throne on a low dais, and from whence the flash and flame had come. But this one was so dimly lit that his features could not be seen beneath his hood. Nevertheless, the four Northrons rightly kenned that he was Modeus the Cruel, so as one they raised their swords and sent lightning-bolts at the Demon, expecting that their combined strikes should at least wound him. And while all four lightning-bolts impacted upon the Demon, the normally destructive bolts did to him no harm whatsoever. Then did Modeus laugh a deep and throaty laugh, just as he had laughed at the Wizard Flaven clinging to the jagged stone ledge at the edge of the lava-filled mote, ere Brandar’s cry.
*****
Boom! …
Spell after spell Flaven tried, but could not open the gate. And while Tomas was there to guard him, so many flying monsters would attack them from above that Flaven must at whiles forego the gate and defend himself. Then Strabos rode up to the bridge, desiring to know what was taking so long. But he was suddenly lifted from his horse by a huge Drake. And when the King slew the Drake with his own magic sword he was dropped from a great height, and fell hard upon the ground amongst the enemy east of the bridge. Yet, by the magicks that he possessed, he shook off the fall, but must fight alone with the enemy all around, and would not long stand, magic or no, for there were also many enemy Mages there, attacking him with magicks of their own.
Seeing this, Farus and the Kith, and what remained of the Royal Guardsmen, in a brave charge to save the King by magic and daring, and sheer brute force, carved a way to Strabos and thus brought him back within the ranks of the Sereghran. Yet, the King’s forces were now suffering so many losses that he and his rescuers must turn immediately to fight against the most deadly of the enemies, in an effort drive them back.
Boom! …
Of the twenty-four Northron Kith who had come into the Deel, thirteen lived to engage in that charge, but only five of them had made it back with the King. And Brandar’s eldest daughter was slain in the effort, as was Alak’s only son. Yet, out of a hundred Guards who had entered the Darkness with Strabos, less than thirty were left to aid in the rescue, while eleven only remained now, to stand beside their King.
Boom! …
Then something happened which changed the entire conflict, as unlooked for out of the Darkness, high above the Castle, a blast of energy smote upon the tallest tower and shore off its top with a mighty explosion, louder even than the booming noises, which ceased in that instant. Then a hole opened in the Darkness, and through it a clean shaft of sunlight shone upon the Castle, while the hole began to grow rapidly larger, and continued to expand; allowing warm sunlight to illuminate everything below. And with that, all of the fighting came to a halt, then all the combatants pulled apart, gazing upon this wonder, where the Sereghran were infused with new vigor, while the enemy surrounding them were smitten with fear. And soon the hole grew so wide that the entire Castle, its walls, and even the mote, were bathed in sunlight, while fluffy clouds could be seen in a clean blue sky above.
Then were the Durwolc dismayed, with many cowering in fear. And next, the mighty Red Dragon, Raudrogos, flew through the ever-growing hole, followed close behind by many other Dragons in colors of orange and gold, and also of white. But there came also wide flocks of great Eagles, and Hawks and Doves, and many other kinds of birds. Then of all things came magnificent winged Unicorns, who would shoot mystic force from their horns. But yet other winged creatures there were of various and fantastical sorts, such as winged Lions and flying Bulls, and strange but fell beasts which the Sereghran had never seen before. And as the hole grew wider, bringing light where darkness had been, all of these creatures attacked the Minions of Modeus, and the Devils and Demons, and the wicked enemy Mages, and the foul Durwolc scurrying away, and all of the evil Dragons and Drakes and other winged monsters. But the sunlight itself destroyed many among the enemy who cannot abide the light, such as Trollo, who were turned to stone, and Beasties, who melted down, and Vampires, who were burned to ash, and other creatures that changed into wisps of smoke or vapor that then soon dissipated upon breezes coming in through the ever-widening hole. Thus was the tide of battle turned, so that the astounded Sereghran won the day.
Consequently, as the hole continued to grow larger, and the Sereghran’s allies of the airs continued their assaults upon the enemy, all of the Durwolc fled, while the vast majority of other monsters there were routed, and then mercilessly destroyed, for the passing of the Darkness brought with it the passing of the evil will which had been driving the monsters to bloodlust. And what gatherings led by Minions there might who feared not the light were rapidly dispatched by the great Red Dragon, so that death was meted out to all who remained and would not flee.
And that is how the Crusade came to an end. Yet, Modeus was not there. And when at last the Darkness was gone, here it was midday, and the last of the battles of the Defender’ Crusade had been won. So, most of the remaining Sereghran gathered before the bridge while what few of the enemy who had survived were fleeing into the Mountains, pursued by Eagles and the Unicorns, and the winged Lions, and all of the Good Dragons but for great Raudrogos, who simply kept circling above the Castle. And there also after the fleeing enemy went a band of Sereghran who could not resist joining in the pursuit.
With the coming of daylight, the flames of the mote were largely quelled. Then Flaven cast a new spell upon the gate, at which the arch above the gate broke and fell down even as the gate’s doors were rent open. And all of the Durwolc who had been stationed behind the doors, frightened by the destruction of the arch, and alarmed by the light, beheld a blood-stained army of Sereghran staring angrily at them from across the mote, and so fled swiftly. seeking hiding places in the depths of the dungeons below.
Of course, a large portion of the bridge was no more. And, while the flames had died down, the mote was yet filled with vaporous and bubbling lava. Thus, the Sereghran could not cross into the Castle. And Strabos stood nigh upon the broken ledge of the bridge, with Flaven and Tomas, and Daram and Khalen, and the remaining Kith, together with Farus the Herald. And there they pondered how best to cross the mote so as to enter the Castle in search of the maker of their sorrows. But none of them could say just then what next must be done. Then Raudrogo came down to land nearby, and he spoke to Srabos, saying: “Hail, noble King of Sunthakis. Well it is to see thee living and in good health. But wherefore now is Aetas of Baerakis? Is he yet sailing upon the Waters of the North?” “Alas, good Dragon,” said Strabos, “Aetas fell beneath the Darkness some days past, and has been buried nigh to the sea which he loved. But grateful are we here for the daylight which you have so graciously brought to us, and saved us thereby. For this do we thank you, we who remain.” “Ah,” said Raudrogos. “Sad tidings that. I would have words with both ye Kings. Yet, such are the ways of Esaereh, these days.
“Modeus hath lost this fight. And the fleshly forms of his Minions are slain, so that their spirits have gone back to the nether realms from whence he summoned them. But the flesh of the Demon Lord is not yet slain. And whilst he strides upon the face of the world in such shape, the Sereghran shall never be shed of him, nor free of strife in Arzultaur, for this one you name Modeus is an ancient and surpassingly mighty Demon. Once, he ruled over armies of Durwolc more vast than these, long ere your Founders had sailed so bravely through the Mists and arrived upon these lands. Therefore, let us enter this keep and seek him out. And mayhap we shall at last destroy his flesh, so that his spirit must thereafter be stripped of its strength and the Demon is therefore vanquished in this Age, if not evermore.”
But ere Strabos could ask how the mote could be crossed the Dragon leapt over and tore off the doors of the gate and threw them across the chasm. Then did he let out a great spout of fire-breath into the sky ere stomping his way into the Castle, followed by the King and then the others. And, true to the prediction that Tomas had made, they found the Castle nigh deserted, and thus had little difficulty clearing it of remaining Durwolc and all other monsters they happened to encounter therein.
Naturally, the Dragon could not fit into many places. But he merely took to tearing up walls and caving in roofs and bursting through doors, to make his own path through the stronghold, while Sereghran Soldiers occupied the path behind him. Thus did they come at last to that hall, now crumbling and burning, in which Brandar and his newly-restored countrymen were striving with the Demon Lord.
*****
Boom! …
Ancient in evil was Modeus, the aforementioned Demon Aeftan, the powerful servant of Asgahan who strove against the Gods of Old when Esaereh was young, even to the Elves, long ere the Age of the Dwarves, and longer still ere the rise of Men in the world. But lo, when the Gods had defeated Asgahan, the cruel Modeus was held within the circle of the Mists, and his former power was taken. Yet, by the time of the Dwarven Age he had wrought for himself a new form, and gathered to himself other dark powers. And he bred more Durwolc to serve him, and summoned the Minions to aid him in the carrying out of his dastardly plans. Thus did he make himself Lord of Demons upon the Hidden Continent, where ever would he seek some means of escape.
Thus did he laugh at the coming of the Sereghran into his Darkness, then at the Wizard Flaven at the bridge, and at the four Northrons with whom he now fought, here in his throne-room, where he deemed no mortal Man may defeat him. And while he was not as great as once he had been, he was yet surpassingly strong, all the more so as he had faced no god-like foe since his imprisonment within the Mists. And all the lightning from Tomas standing upon the broken remains of the bridge had done him no more harm than would a flea-bite to a crocodile’s back. No, he had left the parapets when he heard Brandar’s cry of victory, and had sensed the magic of protection given by the Northron’s brand being activated by Brandar’s touch upon it. Yet, neither was he hurt by the four lightning-bolts sent at him from the four Northrons who had made their way to his hall.
So, he laughed at Brandar, and again when the four struck him once more, and a third time, as well. But, tiring of this play, he raised a finger from which he meant to send a bolt of his own, and so mighty that it could not be denied. Yet, the Demon was suddenly halted by the sound of the explosion that shore off the top of the high tower above the hall, at which it fell on the roof, caving it in; falling with much debris to the floor between the Demon and his foes. And the Demon’s booming noises came to a halt as well. But the incredulous Modeus beheld through the hole in the roof the ever-expanding opening that had been made in his Darkness, then sensed the coming of the Good Red Dragon Raudrogos, along with the Eagles and Unicorns, and the many another flying creature. Thus did he ken that his purposes were foiled, as he had indeed sent the last of his forces to the fields of battle before the gate, and discerned that his armies would be so weakened by the sunlight that they could not possibly defeat the last of the Sereghran.
Of course, both the Demon and the Northrons were surprised by this event, though Brandar assumed that the explosion signaled the breaking through of the Sereghran. Therefore, as the Demon rose with a howl, where the new light showed forth his hideous face, Brandar began to assail Modeus with the most powerful magic he had to hand, while being joined by his fellows, so that even this mightiest of Demons must perforce put up no small effort at defense, for it seemed to Modeus that the light of the Suns was a mystical living-thing that was drawing the very life from his flesh, weakening him, and which may even destroy him. So, terrible was that fight now, where walls were thrown down, and yet more openings blasted from the roof. And all wooden things in the hall caught fire. But, while each spell cast by the Demon was countered by a spell sent from Brandar, using his enchanted helmet, so too did Modeus sent a counter against spells cast by Brandar, and against the magic of the Northron’s Brands, and also of their necklaces. Thus was a violent sort of stalemate reached; the noise of which was heard by Raudrogos, who led Strabos and his companions there to.
The Dragon tore through the roof and the wall at the entrance, and peered through the great gap he had made, while Strabos and Flaven, and the Last Three Northrons, made their way over the rubble. And they were at a loss to see Brandar alive and well, and also their three lost countrymen restored, but were no less surprised to have come to witness a fierce battle raging in the throne-room. Then they joined the fight, so that the Emissaries were once again united, where Tomas called out hardily: “Hail, Warlord Odaron. Well met you are, beyond long lost hope!” But Brandar replied, even as he fought: “Hail to thee, good General. Well met are you, as always to hand at need.” And next Strabos came and stood near Brandar, saying: “Hail, indeed, my friend. Good it is to see you alive. But it seems that your stay with the enemy has not done you ill, after all. You seem as bold as ever."
Brandar himself laughed, even as he continued to fight, and said to Strabos: “T’is good to see you, my Lord. But as for my stay with the enemy, I am come even now to repay the good Modeus for his kindness. And much praise have I for his provender.”
Behind Strabos came Flaven, followed by the King’s surviving Guards, along with a few of the Men of Agereis led by the Second of Ardour, whose name was Barkar. And behind these came the remaining Kith, though Brandar was too busy to notice. And when these had entered, Raudrogos let loose a spout of fire-breath that traveled along the crumbling ceiling nigh all the way to the other end of the hall, where was Modeus fighting to remain free of capture.
Thus, when Modeus beheld the fire-breath above his head he was stricken with a deep and numbing dread; a fear he had not felt since the Elden Gods had captured him ere the making of the Enchanted Mists, for he kenned then that the presence of the Red Dragon made his foes more powerful than he. And with that, he sent up a blinding flash with a dense cloud of smoke and ran headlong to ascend a stone stairway to his right, which climbed spiraling through the tower whose top had been destroyed.
Pursued by the Seven, the Demon at length ran out upon a high floor, now exposed to the sky. And he quickly cast a spell upon himself by which he may fly like a vulture, and so leapt from the rough edge flying the east, whereupon the Dragon spied him from below and swiftly rose up to give chase. Brandar however ran across that floor followed by his countrymen, then by Strabos and Flaven. And to the amazement of all, Brandar leapt himself over the edge and flew in pursuit of Modeus. But he would later admit that he knew not why he would do such a foolish thing, saying: “I acted on impulse, where it simply occurred to me that I could fly like an eagle if I simply wished it so, though I cannot say how such a thought entered my mind, for I had not called upon my magical helmet to give me such power, of which I knew nothing ere that very moment.” Yet, it afterwards became well known that the cuirass he wore was magical, and obeyed his every whim, including giving to him the ability to fly at will.
Then Brandar caught the Demon by the legs in mid-air and there pulled him down to the top of a great watchtower that lay upon an outer wall of the Castle, and which also overlooked the mote far below. And there did Brandar do battle with Modeus, hand-to-hand, and magic-to-magic, as the Kith came and stood beside Strabos and Flaven atop the broken tower, not so far away that they could not plainly see the struggle. Yet, the fight on the tall watchtower was not long to last, where the Demon soon threw Brandar back with a tremendous blast of flaming energy, then wheeled about intent upon fleeing east once more. But the good Dragon was there, having just alighted nigh to the edge of the watchtower, hence blocking the Demon’s way. And Raudrogos pointed his massive claw at the wicked Demon’s chest while voicing strangely-formed words in a tongue which even that ancient Demon could not know.
Thus was Modeus trapped. And he turned with a mind to strike again at Brandar and slay him once and for all; hoping then to escape to the west. But here was the Northron already upon him, instantly driving Beliscaertos to the very hilt through the Demon’s chest; cleaving the evil-one’s heart in two.
There stood Brandar and Modeus face-to-face, with Brandar two-handed holding fast the grip of Beliscaertos. But the world had suddenly become still and calm. And Brandar, in his rage, gazed for a moment into the wide-open eyes of this most evil of foes, then withdrew Beliscaertos and spun about, and made ready to deal out yet another sword-strike. But Modeus merely stood and regarded Brandar in wonder, amazed that a mortal Man had so easily slain his flesh, while dark blood began flowing from his wound. And with his last thought Modeus turned once again to deliver a curse upon the Dragon, kenning that Raudrogos had cast a spell for the making of an opening within his invisible armor; leaving him vulnerable to the Northron’s blade.
Yet, the Demon found that he had now no breath with which to utter his curse, while the Dragon looked upon him with a mixture of disdain and disgust, saying: “Meet now thy doom, Aeftan.” Thus did the Demon know that he was done-for; hearing his true name, and feeling his flesh die.
Modeus fell dead upon his back with his eyes open to the sky. Then slowly did a dark shadow rise from his body, growing to become a vast thing of malice, taller even than the Dragon, and which wailed an unearthly cry of rage. And the shadow thing was the disembodied spirit of the Demon, now reaching out as if to grasp Brandar with huge claws. Yet, with only the slightest wisp of a breeze from the east, the shadow began to shift and then to disperse, and thereafter dissolved slowly away, like smoke from a chimney disappearing into a clear blue sky. And the long wailing cry grew ever weaker as the shadow was disappearing. Then did the evil spirit wisp away to the west, and was at last no more, and the sound of it came to naught.
There stood Brandar and the Dragon over the lifeless body of Modeus. But across the way the watchers took to cheering and shouting with joy. And Strabos said: “All hail the slayer of the wicked Demon Modeus! Brandar Odaron, Demon Slayer!” But Tomas said: “Hail the slayer of Modeus! The Warlord Odaron, Lord of the Forest, and King of all the Dunjilar!” Then Flaven said: “Praise be to Brandar, mighty among Men. May his name be sung through all the wide world!” And more blandishments would Brandar receive as news spread among the survivors.
Now, Brandar spoke to the Dragon, saying: “Hail Raudrogos, Dragon of the Cliff! Well met you are, coming in the nick of time. Much thanks do I owe you in providing that opening in the unseen armor of Modeus, for do I not guess rightly that such is how I was able to slay him?” “Verily,” said the Dragon, laughing in his turn, then saying: “Well met indeed. But thine own praise is not undeserved. Together have we slain the flesh of Aeftan, the Demon whom you named Modeus the Cruel. And his spirit is much diminished thereby, mayhap so much so that never again shall he trouble the world of living things." And he paused for a moment, but then said: “Well it is. Very well. Now shall all the Sereghran have the peace of which they have dreamt for so very long, and have paid for it in blood many times over.”
Then did the two notice the people across the way, cheering. Brandar next lifted up the body of Modeus, and, raising it high over his head, strode over and threw it over the broken wall, so that it fell to the magma below, and was thus wholly consumed. But when the corpse landed in the mote, a great rolling thunder occurred, though no storm-clouds were anywhere to be seen. And by this did Brandar ken that the Gods had given to him their blessing. But that watchtower was so placed that many of the surviving Sereghran within the grounds of the Castle and outside beheld Brandar’s act. And at the sound of the thunder they all let out such a shout of victory that it was later reported to have been heard all the way to the River Kelebros.
Subsequently, the Dragon flew away southwards. And with that Brandar came down from the watchtower to meet with the other Northrons and his friends, and his only remaining daughter. And that was a sad moment, as there Brandar learned of the deaths of his other offspring, and Alak of the fall of his son, and the other Northrons the demise of others of the Kith. Thus was the joy of the reunion of the Seven dampened by the loss of so many of their children. Neither was the victory, as great as it was, widely celebrated by the People, due to the number of those who had fallen both upon land and upon the waters, and would thus not return to their kin. For out of the wide forces which had passed through the Deel, less than one Division by count remained to march wearily to their homes.
Nevertheless, it was a great victory, after all. And every Soldier and Mariner and Brigadier who returned from the land of the Demon Lord were named “Survivors of the Deel”, and deemed worthy of everlasting honor and esteem. They received much adulation upon returning to their Lands. And ever afterwards did they receive the gratitude of the People of Arzultaur, with many of them later sung about throughout the known world.