Rest in Peace Axe Brother

After searching the lower floor, defeating the necromantic nightmare and swiping two gems, the companions continued to the second floor of the strange tower to search for an escape.   A white, chill mist covered the floor of the upper level. More bluish fires cast their weird light all about the black marble. A gigantic throne stood at the southern end of the room. A demon-like winged man sat motionless upon the throne and stared through the only window in the tower.   Walker took the lead and examined a large marble table with three colored gems which maintained some connection to a flaming brazier on another nearby table. Walker then moved his attention to the throne and two large stone urns set on each side of the throne.   The hunter found a strange book on the arm of the throne. He handed the decrepit tome to Stensune who carefully read through the strange ledger. It appeared the owner of the tower was in the process of deciphering some strange runes before running into obstacles and needing to travel to some locale eerily named the 'Vale of the Dead' for further information. The book talked about the necromancer leaving behind safeguards against the scavenging of the tower. A warning Walker confirmed when he unstoped one of the stone urns.   Immediately a deadly swarm of necrotic bugs swarmed the party. Poor Humperdink was driven witless by fear and the outcome looked grim until Grahm's axe swept the swarm aside.   Taking the opportunity of a rare quiet, the party rested and recovered. The next morning, they returned to the mystery of the tower's defenses. Walker decided to attempt to alter the brazier's reddish flame by dripping the strange liquid found in the urn onto the table's blue gem. Unfortunately, that caught the attention of the winged demon who thus far had ignored the intrusion of the companions.   Battle raged as the hateful creature charged at the party. As his dwarven companions rushed to meet the demon, Walker finally turned the gold brazier's fire to blue, matching the other flames in the tower and he ran downstairs to check his work.   Grahm's axe and Stensune's blade cut deep into the stony flesh of the demon, holding back it's charge. But the creature's counter attack matched its ferocity and its claws slashed at the two dwarves with vicious strength. Stensune fell with a long gash in his thigh. Then one of the demon's talons found a weak spot in Grahm's armor. As his companions watched helpless and in horror, the creature separated Grahm's head from his shoulders and the dwarf fell lifeless to the black marble floor.   With Grahm dead and Stensune unable to rise, Heimdall and Humperdink prepared themselves to rush to battle.