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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1292595" data-attributes="member: 8530">The former.  I originally started planning that module as my second "Epic".  I've now run five Epic-length modules (the latest being the frequently pimped "Chinese Take-out", played back in 2001) while that idea still remains in the development stage.     Oh well, here's the last numbered chapter in this Story Hour (an Epilogue still to follow):Chapter 34, “Audience with the Queen”, September 14th, 1019, 2:00 P.M. The Silver Moon Adventurers arrive at the palace of Queen Jennifer, located in the city of Karjjil Valley in the Thenossia Lordholding.   The palace is comprised of a large walled structure with a multi-story tower and several baileys with other buildings.  (DM’s Note: Jennifer’s place is modeled after Richmond Castle of Yorkshire, England, a picture of which can be found at the following link: <a href="http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/hq69/Pages/hist_dia.html" target="_blank">http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/hq69/Pages/hist_dia.html</a>  ).The adventurers are escorted into the Great Hall where the Queen awaits them.    She welcomes them and then asks for a detailed description of what transpired in Kralt.   Narg does most of the talking, giving a fairly accurate summary with Cassie adding in key details that he misses.   He concludes by telling her “Those Dragon Stalkers who you sent aren’t the most competent group in the world.”   She rhetorically replies, “I know.  Why do you think I asked you guys to go in there the day afterwards?” Mojo interjects, “Why did you appoint them in the first place?”   She answers, “Somebody needed the job.   Look, I gave you guys the most important places.  I appointed you to watch over Jawlt, where you live and several of you are political leaders, Thenossia, where I rule and you use to live, and Aldorn where the Lord is a close friend of yours who Cassie here has been named as a successor to.”  “Okay, that makes sense,” Cassie comments.    Jennifer continues, “The Elucidators are competent and reside on the border of  the East and Zalpar Lordholdings, so it made sense appointing them to watch over those lands plus the other central Lordholding of Kaloon.    That left the Cantage, Eldamar and Kralt Lordholdings to go to someone else.  I’m not really worried about Cantage, as it has its own 1,000 strong army and a fleet of ships to protect itself with.   Kralt and Eldamar are mostly forested lands where nothing much happens.  The only real major community in both of those Lordholdings is Eldamar City where the Dragon Stalkers live and are the local heroes of.    So it made sense to name them.  Yeah, I know, your spin-off team Da’Bears also lives in Eldamar City, but it is to both your advantage and mine for them to continue to have a  low profile for us to use for more clandestine operations.   Besides, from what you’ve said, the Dragon Stalkers at least tried to help this time, so give them credit for that.”   The Queen summons a scholar advisor of hers and asks him what he knows about the race known as Celestials, which this false god apparently was a member of.   The scholar says that he has heard of them but does not know any details and will need to research it further.   He adds that he was under the impression that all Celestials were Lawful Good.    Mojo comments “Well, this wouldn’t be the first time that a good guy was turned evil and sent to this world.  Remember last year, when the evil Arch Mage Morgarth turned out to be the possessed Mordenkainen  (Module #100, “Chinese Take-out”, the Story Hour of which is at the following link: <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28642" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28642</a> ).Cassie reiterates that she wants salvage rights to the debris pile in Gheldaylin, which the Queen now formally grants, writing this out and marking it with the official seal.    The Queen then says, “Now, I wanted to give you some type of reward.”   Mojo states, “Your praise is reward enough, Milady.”   Alton yells, “Oh shut up Mojo.  You weren’t the one wrestling with the god!”  Mojo mutters, “No, I’d rather be wrestling with the Queen.”  The Queen brings out a collection of sixteen magic items to give the party.  She explains that these were possessions of the former Halla Thief and Assassins Guild.   That Guild had attempted to assassinate both the Queen and King two months earlier  (Module #117, “League of Assassins”, the Story Hour of which is at the following link :<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37644" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37644</a>  ).  Jennifer states that she has retaliated by having the Guild eradicated.   The items consist of two broadswords, a shortsword, a hammer, a dagger, two rings, a pouch of sling bullets, a pair of gauntlets, a necklace, three potions, a protection scroll, a cloak, and a crimson rose.    The magic properties of each item are explained to the party.  Alton takes the rose, Mark takes the gauntlets, Cassie takes the dagger and one of the rings, Mojo takes the cloak and Nahmi takes the hammer.   Neither Narg nor Purge see anything they particularly want and suggest that the remainder be added into the collection of Party Magic.   Mojo’s player jokes that since Nahmi’s two weapons are now a hammer and sickle that he must be “Soviet gnoll”. Jennifer comments that she was glad that she didn’t have to also send in the Elucidators, as their mage Lynne is currently pregnant and her husband Ji-Do Kwan objects to her adventuring in that condition.  Narg comments that he was smart enough to let his pregnant wife Vallessa make that decision on her own, adding that “Since she no longer fits into her armor she’s more content to stay at home.”   Cassie comments “I’ll have Ji-Do’s twin sister Jamie (another character of Cassie’s player) talk to him.  She still adventured during her pregnancies.”  Mark adds, “She would have had to, she was pregnant more often than not.”  The conversation is winding down and Cassie says that they should prepare to teleport back to Silver Moon Island.    Mojo says, “Give me a few minutes, I need to go see somebody first.”  “And who would that be?” Jennifer innocently asks.   “A certain husband of yours,” is Mojo’s reply.   She replies, “He’s not around here.  He’s in his own section of the castle.”   “I’ll find him,” Mojo answers.   “You will not!,” she replies, adding “What is your problem?”Cassie interjects, “He objects to your being back together with your husband.”  Jennifer replies, “Why?  It’s just a political arrangement so that I can directly control his two Lordholdings in addition to my own.”   Mojo angrily yells, “Yeah, right, except that you’re also sleeping with him!”  She answers, “We are not!  Quite frankly, he’d probably prefer you to me.”   “Huh?” Narg states.   Jennifer walks over to Mojo, points her index finger against his chest, and says, “Look, Matthan and I have an arrangement.   I’m discreet about my boyfriends and he in turn is discreet about his boyfriends.”   Mojo has a shocked look on his face.  Cassie just smiles, having figured that out a very long time ago.Narg speak next, saying “Hold on?  Are you saying that Matthan’s playing for the other team?”   Jennifer replies, “Yes, but please keep that a secret.  That secret was what his brother Toronas and the High Priestess Pamela used to control his actions.”  Mark says, “So when he was courting you and those other two women…”   Jennifer responds, “That was only to give him an heir.   And it certainly worked in my favor, didn’t it?”   Narg glances around and says “Now that you mention it, this palace does look like it’s recently gotten a ‘Queer Eye’ makeover.”  Mojo finally speaks, yelling to the Queen, “You could have mentioned something about that to ME!”   Jennifer smiles and replies, “Ah, but it was such fun watching you get jealous.”  Once everyone is finished having a laugh at Mojo’s expense he feels a renewed sense of self-confidence and tells them, “You guys move along home.  I think I’ll stay here for a while.”    Jennifer says, “Yes, I think the General and I need to confer about a number of things.”  The others take the hint and teleport home.   Cassie finds her apprentice Hiroshi and works out arrangements to recruit a group of construction workers from his wife’s clan of miners from the orient for the salvage operation in Kralt.  Several weeks pass before Mojo returns to the Island.</blockquote>

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