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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 811776" data-attributes="member: 1210">Return to the Shining CityThe party appears in the house that Sheva, Angelfire, Sybele and Zeebo partially own.  They had been part of a mighty band of adventurers.  Together that group had invested in a home as their base of operations- an investment that provided a relatively peaceful existence for five years."I have work to do," the Mayor says.  He leaves at a fast walk.  He has to set things up for the Council.  He has made many promises to Lambollar the Purple.  Now he must try to keep them.  If I can get him deep discounts, we can get out of this relatively unscathed- and maybe even turn a profit, or at least minimize our losses.  Zeebo's going to have to lobby, and lobby hard, to get cooperation from the Council.He gets to the Council chambers but nobody's there; it's late afternoon, too late in the day by now.  He narrowly misses some of his companions at a club, and then, frustrated, he visits a fellow Councillor at home.  This time Zeebo is successful: the elven Councillor is home.  His name is Rillondar; he represents some of the grey elves in the northwest, a band of scholars and silverworkers.  He blinks his violet eyes in surprise at seeing the gnome coming to him late in the evening when he's at home, but the Mayor tells him it's urgent.Zeebo explains the situation, emphasizing the potential trade benefits.  "There's a lot of people in that fleet, and they probably have money to spend," he says.  Rillondar seems a little uneasy at first but is rapidly won over.Of course, the Council is large- there are over a hundred seats.It's late evening by now, but Zeebo keeps going.  He visits the Hammerhead embassy.  Vulker Hammerhead, Thane of the Hammerhead Halls, is on the council, and members of Zeebo's old band even traveled with his son at two points.  Fortune smiles upon him this time: Vulker himself is there- in town for Council business, as a matter of fact.  He makes an appointment for the next day and returns to the house.  Horbin, meanwhile, wanders town looking for a temple of Dexter.  They're usually very easy to find, but not this time.  He doesn't see any to Galador at all*.  Frustrated, he finally asks a passing elf lady, "Excuse me, where could I find a temple to Dexter?"With the sort of sneer only an elf can put on, the silver-haired female says, "We don't allow them here."  She really uses the sneer on the 'them'.Horbin's stunned.  He's never been anywhere where Galador wasn't allowed before.  In fact, the only place like that he's heard of is Strogass- the Dark Continent, far away to the east, controlled by the Dark Emperor, a powerful (and legendary) priest of Bleak, the Black Sun, the darkness that opposes Galador's light.  Strogass is the sort of evil place you'd expect that sort of stuff.  But here??  Tirchond, home of the grey elves?Horbin walks away, not sure what to think.  Red is having fun bullying beggars.  He intimidates a homeless gnome, asking where the action's at, and is directed to a pimp who offers him "something special" for the exorbiant fee of 50 gp for one hour.  Red laughs in his face, proclaiming that he "don't want no ho"- but he changes his tune when told, "You don't understand, she changes shape!"50 gp and an hour later, Red's a new man... but he's not entirely certain what it was.Orbius tries to scry Sybele's daughter Jezebel- to no avail.  He casts a discern location and discovers that she's nowhere.  My next move's obvious, he thinks, and casts a commune.How can we find Jezebel?  Wait.How long must we wait?  Unknown.What would it take for someone to be nowhere to a discern location spell?  They must not be anywhere.Who is responsible for Jezebel's disappearance?  Not certain.What are the names of the three most likely suspects at present?  Marius, the Master of Darkhold or Nigel.Where can we find Marius?  Unknown- perhaps nowhere.Who is the Nigel that is a suspect?  Angelfire's father.Where can we find the entrance to Darkhold?  You cannot, without a key.Where can we find a key?  Seek Zelman.Where can we find Zelman?  He wanders- now in Pesh.How long until the bile lords wreak their revenge on us?  Three days.Will they send servants or come themselves?  Servants.When these servants come, will Thrush turn against us?  No.What is the most powerful creature they'll send?  A deathbringer.What time of day will they attack?  9 a.m.As his vision descends back to a normal plane, Orbius considers.  He's heard Lester's constant stories of the Darkhold adventure, including Zelman.  He's a god, but the Eye figures that he knows enough about him to try to scry him, since Lester's met him before.  An instant later, Orbius gives a strangled cry.  "I'm blind!!" he screams."My eye!" Lester shouts.They go to the Temple of Coila to ask Sheva for help.  The temple is fairly large and obviously very well run.  Sheva tells them that surely the acolytes can help; when they meet the head adept, Krisic, he makes them pay 450 gp to remove the blindness.  Grumbling, Lester and Orbius fork over the money and the Eye's sight in restored.By this point it's late.  The party has dinner and then retires in the safety of the home owned by..."What did we call ourselves?" Sheva wonders aloud.  "The... Swords... something.""The Quickened Swords?" Angelfire tries.  "No, that was those other guys.""The Swords of Assistance," Zeebo says."That's right!" Sybele, Sheva and Angelfire all say together.Sleep comes easily and settles deep upon most of our heroes.  They pretty much all need it.  Horbin, on the other hand, has a terrible time falling asleep.  His god is not welcome on this island.  He can't get over it.  I mean, come on- he's heard of other religions not being allowed, but Dexter?Even he finally sleeps.*Think of Dexter as Galador's son and it all makes much more sense.  There's a whole little theology lesson in here somewhere concerning the faith of the Light (Galador, Dexter, Prayzose) and Bleak (Galador's nemesis/anti-God)... I'll try to find a link to it or copy and paste it in here when I have a few minutes.Next Time: Getting ready for the Bile Lords to strike!  Will Zeebo manage to pass his program in the Council?  And what will the Bile Lords send after our heroes??</blockquote>

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