The Star Stone

When there Merklynn humorously tells them if they want answers about the map they should have used Arzon’s staff of knowledge. The staff reveals everything to Arzon, a story of 10,000 years ago in the early days of Science. A meteor crashed near the settlement of Gravestone Bay, investigated by the military and Tech-Colonel Fiesel they discovered the elements of the meteor that functioned much like an EMP and reversed the effects and laws of science, something Fiesel called the Reversal Effect. He persuaded his superior to let him build a bomb to use against any would be hostile nations. Not long after the Government fell into a coup and the Doomsday Weapon was long forgotten, the new Government destroying all records of it save this map.

Arzon asks Merklynn if it is possible the meteor can reverse the Age of Magic and restore the Age of Science but his question and argument are ignored, the wizard returning them to their fellow Knights with teleportation.

Soon the Knights reach Meteor Peak by horseback, Feryl transforming to fox form to lead them through the barrier of thorns. Leoric uses his staff of wisdom to find the cap stone for the meteor case in the overgrown vegetation formed about it over the thousands of years, Cryotek using his staff to grant him extra strength to remove it. They open the silo like hangar and find the huge bomb but before they can do anything else the Sky Claw attacks. Fleeing the effects of Cravex’s staff, Ectar and Feryl stagger into two vehicles in the hangar both of which come to life at their touch. Fearing the Spectral Knight’s new vehicles Darkstorm uses his staff of decay but hits a strut holding the Doomsday Weapon. Galadria throws herself in front of the beam to stop the strut being entirely destroyed. Cryotek comes to her aid and finds her alive but very near death. Enraged he hurls himself at Darkstorm but is cut off as Lexor’s staff of invulnerability is used on himself to act as a blocker for Darkstorm. Cindarr prepares to finish the Knights with his staff but is struck by Ectar in the Lancer Cycle.

Meanwhile Arzon has found the bomb activation switch and is prepared to throw it when Leoric talks him down. He says that they could end pain but pain is a part of life, would you deny a child life to save the mother pain. Arzon sadly agrees, respecting Leoric’s wisdom over his own knowledge. Arzon leaves the decision to Leoric who tells Feryl to use his vehicle to destroy the support strut. The Sky Claw tries to cut Feryl off but he hears Merklynn’s voice telling him to turn and face the Darkling Lords. His trust in the wizard is rewarded as one of the symbols on the vehicle comes to life, a hand unleashing a fireball that strikes the Sky Claw. The machine spirals out of control into the bomb and collapses the already weakened strut. With only minutes to get out before the hangar collapses all the Knights flee, Darkstorm cursing Mortdredd and Virulina as they leave.

Leoric and Darkstorm argue outside, Darkstorm declaring Leoric weak for not wanting top use the bomb. Leoric says he would have used it to heal and Darkstorm to rule, both would have justified their use of the device but on that scale concepts of right and wrong no longer matter. Darkstorm warns Leoric his weak attitude will destroy him and takes his leave.

The issue ends with an emotional image of Arzon and Leoric watching a mushroom cloud like explosion where the hangar has collapsed, Arzon admitting Leoric was wise to destroy the bomb that whatever their motive of origin some weapons are too powerful to ever be used.