The Joys of Diplomacy

"Are you sure this will work?" inquired Gharni.  "It seems a bit risky."

Azran pulled on his gloves and lowered his hood over his head so that only his mouth could still be seen.

"I have no idea if it will work and yes, there is some risk, but I promise to stop well before I'm in any danger."

It was morning in the Plaguelands, or at least what passed for morning there.  The sky was a sickly, bile orange but it was light enough for the adventurers to see what they were doing.  Azran, Gharni and Xlandria had slept the night at the Thalassian Pass and Azran had shared his plans to gain entrance while the trio had prepared for the day to come.

"Are you ready to test our new bond Xlandria?" asked Azran.

"I am, but are you sure you wouldn't rather have me here?" said Xlandria.

"Yes my dear.  I'm afraid this is going to call for Zhar'gore's specialties," replied Azran.

The warlock began to cast a summoning incantation and a few moments later Xlandria faded from existence.  A split second later a shadowy, blue creature with a nebulous form appeared in her place.

A deep, tremulous voice came from the apparition.  "What do you want from me?"  Though not angry, annoyance could be detected in its tone.

"Just a moment," responded Azran.  "Xlandria! Are you there?" shouted the warlock.

*I'm here Azran,* came an disembodied voice, *and I don't think you'll need to shout; I could hear you even if you whisper.*

Gharni let out a sigh of relief.  "I'm so glad it worked.  What is it like? Can you see us still?"

*It's rather hard to describe.  I can perceive you and what is around you, but I can't really ascribe a particular sense to it.  It's more like I just know.  As for what it is like, the best way I can explain it… you know how if you sit or lay wrong your foot or hand can go to sleep?  It's like that, but all over my body… and not painful, just the tingling feeling and no other sensation.*

Azran interrupted her description, saying, "we'll have to play around with this more later to see if we can derive a practical advantage from it beyond keeping you out of the twisting nether."

"This won't take long Zhar'gore," said Azran, addressing his voidwalker.   "I've need of your powers and your stamina.  After this you can return to the shadow plane."

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?" asked Gharni.

"Just be ready with some bandages; just in case."

Azran created a shield of Demonic Armor about himself and strode up to the massive pile of trees strewn across the entrance to Quel'Thalas.  The voidwalker followed him, stopping just behind him as he reached the barrier.  The warlock placed his hand against the nearest log at shoulder height and leaned against it as if it would open on its own with a slight pressure.  He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the coming effort.

"It is time Zhar'gore," said Azran. 

The voidwalker cast its shadowy appendages towards the sky and then vanished, leaving behind only a pair of bracers, which soon faded from existence as well.  Azran immediately cast a spell about himself allowing the voidwalker to be summoned back in an instant.  Azran then cast another spell upon his minion.  Azran now found himself with a temporary shield against all damage and his soul briefly linked to Zhar'gore, allowing the demon to take half of and damage Azran would receive.  This convocation of spells would not last for long so Azran did not hesitate.

In a flash Azran was surrounded by fire.  Wave after wave of pure fire poured off of his body as everything within his hellfire's radius was consumed in flames, including Azran himself.  His sacrificial shield was soon burnt away and Azran and Zhar'gore began share in the flame's wrath.  After a few moments Azran's spell completed but the debris in the Thalassian Pass remained.  Azran cast again, this time with no shield to buffet the flames.

Once again the barrier declined to immolate but as Azran placed his hand upon the trunk of the nearest tree he found it hot to the touch.  Not wanting to lose the buildup of heat, Azran re-summoned his link to his demon and cast his Hellfire for a third time.  When the spell was exhausted Azran summoned the fire again without waiting.  As the fires resumed the voidwalker burst into flames and and departed from the corporeal plain.  Azran now bore the full brunt of the infernal storm.  Azran shut out the pain to maintain his concentration but began to notice a sickening smell of burnt meat.  As his fourth volley dissipated he realized he could hear the popping sound of wood warping due to intense heat.  He closed his eyes and resumed his on slot, determined to bring down the lumber heap that stood in his way. 

Azran pushed on, now oblivious any sound but the roar of fire when something broke his concentration.

*AZRAN! STOP!* cried a voice in his mind.

Azran ceased his incantation and fell to the ground, his skin smoldering.   Gharni rushed to his side and dragged him away from the scorched ground  before pulling the stopper on a sweet smelling, red potion.

"Drink Azran!"  cried the huntress.  "If you die on me I'll kill you!"

Before the potion could reach his lips a flash of light cascaded from his form.  Gharni winced from the bright light and screamed, fearing that her lover had combusted into nothing.  When she opened her eyes she saw that Azran was still lying where he'd been, but his wounds were far less than she had previously thought.

"It's all right Gharni," said Azran in a soothing voice.  "You should know by now that I always keep a healthstone in my pocket."

*Healthstone nothing!* corrected Xlandria, still in a phantom state.  *You nearly burnt yourself to a crisp and would have kept going if I hadn't yelled at you.*

Azran gasped.  "The barrier!  It's still there!" he exclaimed.

*True, but not for long, have a look.*

Azran lifted his head and looked at the debris blocking the Thalassian Pass.  Several of the felled trees were on fire and it was rapidly spreading.

"Yes!  It worked!" Cheered the warlock.

Gharni gave Azran a disapproving look and then proffered the potion to him again.  "Drink now, then we'll see if you need any bandaging," she instructed.  "Then we're going to have a talk about risky behavior when you've made commitments to other people."

"Yes dear," he replied with a sheepish smile.