Quest to find a True Cleric and Return of the Old Gods!

The Dragon Armies are once again looking for a Blue Crystal Staff; heroes are questing for evidence of the old gods and a true cleric; the Seekers are tired of waiting are seeking new gods; and a dark power arises in the Khalkist Mountains. What does all this mean?

(( OOC - For the event on Mar 15 please sign up below with the character you plan to use. Please note what side they are on (and maybe why they care about the gods return). Level will not be important! Remember Good and Neutral clerics will not start with spells, but please make it known in the sign up that you want to play a cleric.

DM Puff D ))

(( OOC - One week to go! Just a small note about Good/ Neutral/ Evil characters and the Quest:

Yes - You can take your Evil or Neural character on the Quest; however Evil/ Neutral characters will have a different perception of events than Good characters present. For example: Just because a Good character sees something - or picks something up - does not mean that your evil character will either see the object or its effect.

The preview for this quest went really well; there were evils present! Someone was killed and then Resurrected! Knowledge of the old Gods is returning it seems to Krynn! See you next week.

DM Puff D
))

The Heroes met at the campsite on the east road from Solace. They spoke about the happenings last week and how the story of Arwany's healing and resurrection of the man, Orton Kelm, on Prayer's Eye Pass was getting around town. It would not be long before people would come looking for Arwany; those looking for a Blue Crystal Staff.

As they were speaking the party was attacked by a group of the hooded beings that frequent the road east. They threw off their robes and attacked. The creatures looked like dwarf sized lizards, or possible humanoid dragons. In death the creatures turned to stone. The party fled to the Plains from their and encountered a white stag. The stage lead them south to a tribal village.

While staying at the tribal village Arwany got separated from the group following an attack by the dragonoid-creatures that Seros called Draconians. From there the party searched for Arwany, lead by the white stag, until they came upon the ruins of Xak Tsaroth. Making their way through the swamp to the army camp they encountered many more Draconians, and other Dragonarmy humanoids, who all seemed to be looking for the Staff.

They finally found Arwany again inside an old temple in the ruins. She was asleep and seemed perfectly at ease in the place.

--- end of part 1 ---
(( Part 2 will continue next week same time, Sunday morning. ))

Arwany communed with Mishakal and then knew that they had to go deeper into the ruins of Xak Tsaroth, down deep below ground.  To the ruins of the old Palace wherein lay the object of their quest.  Ancient wisdom written on 30 platinum plates; the goddess gave her disciple the knowledge and she had the companions to complete this important task.  

The heroes found the passage down and found the Hall of Ancestors, then got stuck - surrounded by humanoids and Draconians -  for a time in the winch room before running for the sewer pipe.  They got split up sliding down the pipe but eventually all met up again with the aid of Bupu, a strange little Gully Dwarf that took a liking to Julinee.

With the help of Bupu the heroes found the entrance to the Palace and entered to do battle with the dragon: Onyx.  They found her asleep and as they were deciding whether or not to attack Arwany found a small chest with the Disks inside.  Instead of attacking they decided to go back to the door and flee.  But - before they could get away the dragon awoke and she was mad!

The heroes fled the palace as fast as they could and managed to get away.  The dragon screeched a loud and terrifying cry!  She alerted everyone to the presence of the heroes!

Bupu managed to get the heroes out of the lower city and into the passage back to the surface.  Where she was tragically killed in a battle with a gelatinous cube.  As Julinee held her, weeping for the strange little dwarf, Arwany called on the power of the Staff and a holy light engulfed Bupu.  Bupu then got up and asked what happened.

The heroes then found a hidey-hole in the rocks of the passage; a place they could defend against other denizens of the passage to discuss what to do next and have a brief rest.

---- end of part 2 -----
((Part 3 - the finale - will be next week, same time Sunday morning.

To all players that participated: please feel free to add your stories here as well. Remember - do not RP the trip to Xak until after we finish.... thanks! ))

The heroes made their way to the surface and came out in the swamp near the Plaza. Arwany communed with Lady Mishakal once again and instead of fleeing with the Disks she was to enter the Temple again to perform some rite. The party did encounter some resistance from the Dragonarmy troops but it was light and poorly coordinated.

Outside the Temple they were confronted by the Dragon, Onyx, who swooped down at them from the sky. After a brief battle the wounded dragon took to the air and fled.

Inside the Temple the statue of the goddess light up once again in the blue light and Arwany moved toward her, up the stairs finally placing the Blue Crystal Staff in the hands of the goddess. Her hands closed around the staff and it became part of the statue once again. At that point the statue and Arwany were engulfed in a holy light and when Arwany turned around everyone noticed she now wore a glowing amulet around her neck. She explained that this was a symbol of her faith.

Now the heroes needed to exit the temple, leave the swamp and get the Disks back to civilization. After a brief divination by Adana (listening outside) they could tell that they were being surrounded by Dragonarmy troops. They decided to try an invisibility spell to sneak by, but they only got so far and a battle ensued. The heroes were victorious but could not saviour their victory too long; Onyx waited on the roof of a nearby ruin and swooped down. She was wounded, angry, but she had to get those Disks back - for the Dark Queen.

The Heroes managed to kill the dragon this time and with her death the Dragonarmy troops went into disarray. Many fled into the swamp, leaving their posts. From out of the ruin then came the Gully Dwarves and the slaves that were kept below to do the work. The heroes could not leave them behind and so after a tearful goodbye to Bupu they lead the freed slaves through the swamp.

After a few battles that finally found the Hunter's shack again and he was able to outfit all of the freed slaves in fur clothing (paid for by Arwany, Julinee and Adana). After a meal of deer stew they sat down to work out how to get the freed slaves to Crossing and then to Caergoth.

Currently, Arwany is the keeper of the Disks - although they are very heavy for her and Seros helps her carry them.

(( And of part 3 - the finale - thanks to all who participated. ))