The Cerulean Storm (novel)

2415
The Cerulean Storm
Author(s)	Troy Denning
Publisher	TSR, Inc.
Released	September 1993
Type	Novel
Binding	Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13	ISBN 1-56076-642-5
Series	Prism Pentad
Preceded by	The Obsidian Oracle
Followed by	none

“

The Thirst for Immortality... Rajaat: The First Sorcerer, betrayed by his champions at the moment of his paramount victory, imprisoned beyond space and time. Only Rajaat can return Athas to its verdant splendor. When Tithian of Tyr leads his former slaves to free the ancient sorcerer, does he want to restore the world- or claim it as his own? Before discovering the truth, Rikus, Sadira, and Neeva must conquer their own forgotten passions, a trial more perilous than battling the Dragon and all his enchanted fleets.

”

Plot

In the Hollow, Rajaat is informed by a Shadow Giant that Tithian is going to complete his end of the deal to release him. Rajaat dictates that he will grant Tithian the power of a Sorcerer-King if he holds up his end of the deal. He also goes on to list that he would like to kill the half-races(e.g. muls, half-elves, etc...) first then the new races. Part of how he is to return to the material plane requires the Sorcerer-Kings to be near the Dark Lens.

In Samarah, Tithian finds that the Balican Fleet is coming towards him. The Sorcerer-Kings and Borys had intercepted his message that Agis would meet Sadira and Rikus at this location. In order to cover his traces he uses the Dark Lens to kill everyone in the village as to stop any interrogation of their minds and hides in the village's well.

In Tyr, Rikus and Magnus are distracted when the Joorsh giants attack the farmlands near the city. They are looking for the Obsidian Oracle, but Rikus realize it is the Dark Lens. Sadira teleports into the fray and holds off the giants with a spell, but it won't last passed sunset.

In the Senate chambers the Tyrian politicians vote whether to give Rikus and Sadira a legion to help defeat the Dragon. The legion is to bring about the Dwarven prophecy(Created by Tithian) that Rkard , Neeva's son, would unite both races and lead a legion of Dwarves and Humans to kill the Dragon. When Sadira shows Wyan as proof that Tithian has been using Slavers to pay the Dragon's Levy the severed head summons a Shadow Giant to kill the politicians opposed to forming the legion. Sadira manages to save everyone before it's too late, but the damage is done. They are given the legion through threats and violence.

On their way to deal with the Giants before leaving Tyr; Rikus, Sadira, Neeva, Caelum, Rkard, and the rest of the legion are slowed when the bridge of Cloud Road is destroyed. Its soon apparent that the Wraiths from Borys's Citadel are to blame. The wraiths attack via a possessed trader and his inixes. During the fight Sadira is knocked unconcious and the Scourge of Rkard is damaged by the touch of the Gray.

In Sadira's mind she is drawn to the Gray by the wraiths. She uses her powers to destroy the gemstones containing the life force of the wraiths. One wraith barters for her to stop by showing her Agis. The way it did so betrayed that Agis is dead. She finds herself brought back to the material plane by Magnus's singing.

Rikus and the rest of the group meet up with the giants. Initially they are able to convince theIr leader Patch that Jo'orsh and Sa'ram told them that the Obsidian Oracle should be used to kill Borys. When Rikus mentions that Agis has the Dark Lens in Samarah, Patch attacks them saying that they are liars and that Agis died in the Bay of Woe. The fighting starts up with the group separating. After a time the group is able to kill Patch, but the Scourge of Rkard is broken into two pieces. Caelum tries to stop the blade from bleeding black sludge. He is successful, but his hand forms a black scaled covered mouth on its palm. It keeps saying release me when it is uncovered.

Rkard corners one of the giants. When the giant pleads for the Dark Lens, Rkard says he'll let the giants have it when he is done. When the giant says he has to return it or else the giants will become dumb, Jo'orsh and Sa'ram appear telling the giants to forget about the Dark Lens. That the giants have been misusing it for too long and need to learn to live without it as a crutch.

After Neeva, Caelum, and Rkard finish their morning ritual Sadira awakens. She tells the group about Agis's death and confronts Wyan. When the severed head admits that he lied and Tithian allowed Agis to die so he could get the Dark Lens Sadira slices him with the broken Scourge of Rkard. Rikus gifts Rkard with a piece of the Scourge when he realizes it is growing back.

In the desert, Templars of Raam and Sorcerer-Queen Abalach-Re attack the group. During the fighting it is revealed the Sorcerer Queen is after Sa'ram and Jo'orsh, who appear when she attacks Rkard. The mul child stabs her with the shard of the Scourge causing it to spew black ooze. The ooze touches Sa'ram forms into Rajaat, revealing that the sword has part of his essence inside it. Sadira twists the blade causing Abalach-Re to die. Sa'ram's body is eaten away by the ooze leaving a black pool of the liquid. Jo'orsh reveals that Sa'ram is dead and that the Rajaat image was from the Black, but not real.

At Samarah, Sadira and Rikus discuss how the Dark Lens might not be protected now that one of the Dwarven Knights is dead. The village is deserted and their scouts had died near the well. While the heroes investigate their legion cries out in horror, the Dragon sucking up their life force instantly. In the end all, but Sadira, Rikus, Neeva, Magnus, Caelum, and Rkard are left. Neeva, Sadira, and Rikus go to face the Dragon. Magnus realizes too late that an invisible Dragon is actually in the village. Borys takes Rkard and Magnus, knocking Caelum unconscious. By the time the rest of the group find the dwarf, the Dragon has fled to Ur Draxa. Rikus finds Sacha and Tithian in the well feeding on the blood of the Tyrian scouts that went ahead.

Using a silt schooner the group follows Jo'orsh, who is leading them to Rkard and Ur Draxa.

Characters

Heroes

• Sadira
• Rikus
• Neeva
• Caelum
• Rkard
• Magnus

Villains

• Tithian
• Wyan (Killed) - Is killed by Sadira after she finds out he lied to her about Agis's fate.
• Borys
• Rajaat
• Patch - Male Joorsh Giant from the Sea of Silt. His objective was to find the Obsidian Oracle that was stolen by Tithian.

Sorcerer-Kings

• Andropinis
• Nibenay (Sorcerer-King)
• Hamanu
• Abalach-Re

Spirit Lords

Borys's personal honor guard.

Locations

• The Hollow
• Samarah
• Tyr
  • Pauper's Hope
  • Rasda's Wall