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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brian Compton" data-source="post: 3817786" data-attributes="member: 24898">I was thinking about this while looking at the various FR threads, and especially Rich Baker's comments yesterday.  I understand his feelings about the criticism to FR, but if he thinks the issue is that fans don't want 4E rules imposed on the setting, he's not listening.  No one (or, at least, very few) has a problem with a new rule set; the problem is how it's being implemented.  I know it's too late to bring changes to how things are going to happen, but here's an alternative that I've batted around in my head.  Thoughts and flames welcome.Mask tumbles to Shar and Cyric's plans to kill Mystra.  Looking to hurt both of them (Shar to see if he could take part of her power, Cyric because he still hasn't given up his hatred of him), Mask lets the information get to Mystra.  She decides that it is time to take on Shar and her Shadow Weave directly, but in order to do it, she needs to gather her strength.  First, she strengthens her ties with Lathander, who sees the threat that Shar poses.  Then she goes into seclusion, temporarily weakening the Weave (those things which magic preserves she allows to still work, not wanting a repeat of Karsus' Folly or to leave mages defenseless).  She sends dream messages to the Magister and her Chosen, as well as a few high-ranking clergy, to let them know what is happening and to trust her decision.  Lathander meanwhile sees the direction his church is going with the Aumanator "heresy" spreading, and he knows his followers must be united for the coming strife.  He also knows that, if he takes on Aumanator's role as the full light of the sun, he will be in a much better position to take on the Dark Maiden.  He too departs from his followers for a time, but lets all his high priests know of signs to watch for in the coming days that will mark his return.While Mystra is away, the followers of the Shadow Weave move to strike at their weakened Weave-using counterparts, and many mages are killed.  Some instead choose to convert to Shadow Magic, feeling that Mystra has abandoned them altogether.  (This would also help explain the events in the Shadowdale adventure).Cyric and Shar make their move, only to find that Mystra is no where to be found.  Then, in a flash of blinding light, both Lathander (now Aumanator) and Mystra return from their self-imposed exiles and confront the two dark gods head-on.  Cyric is captured and imprisoned, while Shar is weakened and loses some of her portfolio relating to the night- which Mask is only too willing to snatch up.At the time of Aumanator's return, the sun shines over the desert of Anaroch for a tenday without setting, severely damaging the city of Shade.  Likewise, anywhere there are hidden temples of Shar or Cyric, the sun shines to reveal these to the world.  The clergy of Lathander recognize these as the signs they were to await, and begin crusades against the clergy of both Shar and Cyric.  Not all of their followers are wiped out, but enough are that the two churches go into decline for some time.Meanwhile, Mystra's return brings back magic, but it still is not at full strength.  Only then does Mystra realize that her actions, while saving the Weave as a whole, have changed it in subtle and unforeseeable ways (others will say that Ao has intervened on the Weave to maintain balance between the Weave and Shadow Weave).  She examines it and then relates through her followers how to now tap into the Weave.  In time, all mages return to full strength.It could be better, I know, but at least it doesn't require wholesale deicide and a full-century jump forward.</blockquote>

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