It wasn't until Telfenham led the group to the plane of Stygia that he noticed just how much Velentham was suffering. His son stumbled in the ice and cold that swirled about the plane endlessly, snow sticking to his face as his eyes looked out with an ever present glow. He knew there, on the fifth plane, that his son would not make it farther without incident. It was all the more painful knowing that within the center of the plane, frozen but omniscient was Levistus.
Levistus, the demon lord of the fifth level, knew immediately that there were intruders to his plane. He knew immediately what they were, and his ire rose like a black snake coiling about his frozen heart. His mind raced with no trouble to the mind of three of his Bladereavers. "Kill them all."
Velentham stumbled, his foot sinking through a drift of snow and to his knees. "Son, we must continue." With a word, Telfenham lifted the trio into the air. Still, Velentham's head seemed to droop with exhaustion, causing his father to sigh inwardly. This would not bode well.
"Telfenham!" Gilean shouted.
The elder Celestial looked up in time to see the dark shape of three beings cutting through the ice like black flames.
They neared the light dwellers with their rapiers drawn, one in each hand. Nothing was seen of their faces, as their cloaks rippled behind them. In flight, they were slowed by nothing. They did not feel the cold that bit hard. They did not feel the sting of icy air on their faces. They only heardthe constant hum of the direct connection with their Lord, Levistus. They closed the gap with astonishing speed. They needed no special spells to see their quarry. They were guided by the all knowing mind of their Lord and knew exactly where to strike.
Telfenham pulled out his thin blades. "Ready yourselves!" he called out in a booming voice. As though driven, Velentham pulled out his swords. The slumping of his body vanished, and he stood strong and straight. The first Bladereaver was cut in two easily with a swing from Velentham, and the second found his end on the tip of Telfenham's blade. The elder Celestial turned to see Gilean upon the ground, the last Bladereaver standing over him with his rapiers held aloft. His eyes went wide in horror.
Levistus snarled in rage. The Bladereavers were nothing for these light dwellers, and indeed, when the crazed Celestial drove through the back of the last one, he cursed the fact he was frozen in ice. Immediately, he called for every Bladereaver in the plane. This would end. Now.
"We have to go! Now!!" Telfenham grabbed Velentham by one arm and lifted Gilean with the other. His sight told him they were in deep trouble, as a dark ring of Bladereavers formed all around them. The distance would be closed in a matter of moments. He fled as hard as he could, racing for the apeture in the ground that would open to the rocky slopes of Malbolge below. They made it with seconds to spare, Telfenham's eyes burning with frozen tears. The scream of the Bladereavers into their minds scattered Telfenham, but drove Velentham near to madness.
