Although the chain-devil possessed an unholy aura that caused an unnatural fear in the Company, they were able to shake off its effects and defeat the creature.
At last, the Company came to what they thought was the top of the spire. Powerful, deadly traps attempted to prevent their exploration, but Sebastian�s keen eye found them all, saving the Company from slow, agonizing deaths in the Banevault. One trap, however, Sebastian did not find soon enough. While exploring a room that he been blasted by magical fire, Sebastian contracted a powerful disease, the effects of which manifested immediately. The half-elf was sapped of his very life energy, and collapsed to the floor, barely able to move. He was able to call out that he saw, in a pile of dark, decomposing rags, what appeared to be a short metal rod with a beautifully crafted dragon�s head. The Company had no time to retrieve the object, however, as they were immediately beset upon by a dozen powerful, shrieking wraith-like creatures, who moaned with an unnatural wailing that sent chills down to the very core of their beings. Jeremi and Cirend stood fast at the doorway, attempting to vanquish the incorporeal undead. Jeremi called upon the power of �ton to turn the creatures away, but although he prayed with all his might, the wraiths kept coming. As they struck with their wispy, undead hands, Jeremi and Cirend could feel their life force being drained away. As they reached the point of near-collapse, Uso used his arcane magicks to finish off the creatures. Sebastian, nearly spent, fished through the rags and drew forth the rod, which was later confirmed by Yaeshla to be the sealing rod, capable of sealing off the Banevault. Yaeshla also mentioned that the third piece of the missing staff of shards should have been in this room. She remembered being sundered here and broken into three pieces. Someone, or something, had made off with the third piece. It must be further into the Banevault. But where?
With Cirend and Jeremi at the point of near-death, there was nothing more that could be accomplished this day. Both rested, and with the help of divine healing magic, all members of the Company were eventually restored to full health. However, each day spent resting in the Banevault meant prolonged exposure to the vileness that seemed to seep into their very bones. How long would they be able to remain in this dreadful place before they, too, succumbed to the corruption that had turned the beloved prophet, Danar, to evil?
Contemplation of the salvation of their souls would have to wait, however. The Company needed to find the missing piece of the staff of shards. Searching the rooms at the top of the spire, they found nothing that would indicate where to go. Eventually, looking up, they spied a circular opening in the sealing. Could there be another level?
Going up through the opening, they did indeed find another level, as well as a series of helmets that turned out to be controls for a large construct located somewhere else in the Banevault. Despite their continued exploration, the mysteries of the Banevault were only growing bigger. For what purpose did Danar build the construct? Where was it located? Was Danar still in the Banevault? Where was the missing piece to the staff of shards? What of the dragons, the hellspawn creatures, and the existence of the otherworldly realms? Could they all be related?
