The Queen of Swords

Corum and Rhalina are enjoying their lives together in the wake of his victory over Arioch, the Knight of Swords.  Lord Arkyn, a god of law, now holds sway though his power remains weak.  The arrival of Jhary-a-Conel reveals the precarious situation despite Arioch's defeat.  Though their god is banished, the forces of chaos still dominate the plane.  They have called upon the Queen of Swords, Xiombarg, to provide support for eradicating the only nation allied with the forces of law.  Corum, Jhary, Rhalina and her retinue sail to Lywm-an-Esh, an idyllic kingdom, that must hold against the forces of chaos.  Sadly, they are not prepared, having lived in peace for too long.  Lord Arkyn suggests that Corum and company travel to the planes ruled by Xiombarg and recruit aid from the City in the Pyramid.  Of course, if Xiombarg discovered that the being who banished her brother was traipsing through her realm, she would surely kill him.  But the risk must be taken or chaos would destroy Lywm-an-Esh.

Jhary-a-Conel introduces himself as the Companion of Champions.  He is entirely self-aware of his various existences in which he finds himself a sidekick to the likes of Corum, Elric, and others.  This doesn't sit well.  It gives a sense of inevitability to the story.  I've done this many, many times and I'm still in the game, always siding with the hero.  This story is just one big deus ex machina, foretold by the mysterious forces of balance.

Corum makes more extensive use of the Hand of Kwll and the Eye of Rhynn, but somehow fails to use them enough.  Whatever the currently summoned allies kill are doomed to be his next batch of undead allies.  If he just spent his time summoning more undead allies as his current ones killed his enemies, he should be able to overcome almost any odds.  One supposes that his reticence to even use these powers explains why he does adopt such a strategy.

The City in the Pyramid proves to be a Vadhagh enclave that had traveled the planes long ago and got stranded in a plane now ruled by Xiombarg.  Corum is understandably ecstatic to find he is not the last Vadhagh after all.  The city is a technical/magical marvel.  It has force fields and flying ships.  If only they had some specific materials, they would be able to bring the City in the Pyramid back to their home plane and aid the folk of Lywm-an-Esh.

Entertaining.