CLOSED! Rhun's Greyhawk OMEGA Game (ToEE)

[CanadienneBacon]

Jinx, who had been in the middle of taking a hearty swallow of the Lord's excellent vintage, barely resists spitting out the wine mid-swig. Forcing himself instead to swallow the quaff and coughing into a fist several times quite hard, Jinx raises an index finger into the air. "Pardon me, good Captain, but being the old gnome that I am, I'm terribly sorry but I thought I heard you say you were chasing a group of bandits to the north and you lost them in the marshes. Terribly sorry, but naturally when you're as old as I am, it's quite understandable that one's ears give out. Probably what you actually said was, 'but we were facing a group of pandas to the north of here.' Most interesting. I have no idea what a panda is; is that some species native to this region? And they prefer a good swamp, do they? I say! Panda hunting!" Jinx, unable to stop himself from rambling, looks around at the group with wild eyes full of panic. "Just the ticket! Who else is up for panda hunting in the morning?!" Great Gadfly, he's been chasing after that group of bandits what as ran from the tower back to the cottage! Jinx sputters a second more then slumps in his seat.

 

[Rhun]

Captain Rufus gives the gnome an odd glance as Jinx rambles on. "No, master gnome. You heard me correctly. Bandits. I'm afraid they are quite commonplace these days."

 

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon stares at Jinx in bewilderment, blinking slightly more than usual, all throughout his bizarre tirade. When it is over it takes him a moment to snap himself out of the surreal trance that has been cast upon him by the gnome's words. Finally he turns to the captain. "We have been hunting bandits as well captain, how far to the north is this marsh you speak of?"

 

[Dichotomy]

Aeron, having been all but brooding ever since the group set out in the morning, drinks the strong wine with perhaps more gusto than is prudent. Showing a bit of the effects, he speaks without even waiting for Shoon's question to be answered.

"Neither of you happen to know much about the temple then, do you? There is clearly quite a bit foul going on there. There are dark clerics. And while we have yet to see them, I can only assume that they must have some form of divine power, or they'd not keep the bandits working for them in line. With your lore, do you happen to know whence they could be getting it?"

 

[Rhun]

Captain Rufus nods at Shoon. "The fens start just a mile or so past the village to the north northeast. I believe you and your companions rooted out the bandits operating out of the moathouse a couple of days ago? If that is the case, you've been into the marshes already."


As Rufus finishes speaking, Burne attempts to answer Aeron's questions. "Most of what I know, I've already imparted to you. When the Temple was beseiged, the dark power was so great that it prevented the Temple's destruction. The evil was locked away deep beneath the place. If things are as you say, I can only conjecture that these dark priests must be working to try to release the evil and rebuild their foul cult."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

"Which way did the pandas--I mean bandits--head off into the marsh when you lost them, Commander? I'm surprised mere bandits could outrun a man of your obvious prowess. Do you suspect the bandits made for a hideout unknown to your men?" Jinx recovers a bit from his earlier nervous tirade.

 

[Rhun]

Rufus finishes off his glass of wine as he looks back to Jinx. He smiles widely at the gnome. "When you are dressed in plate and mail, my small friend, it does not pay to go running through the marshes. As far as the bandits plan...who can tell? It is possible they were looking for their associates in the moathouse. Or perhaps they have a hidden lair there somewhere among the fens. Or they may have even been trying to flee the area...trying to skirt around our patrols."

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Ciaran, having been virtually silent, occasionally examining the sky, breaks his reverie with Captain Rufus' latest comment. "Ah, Captain, very good! We have been playing cat and mouse with the bandits for the last few days, us alternating who ambushes who. Now that your men are working to keep the bandits at bay, we can concentrate on our other, important task."

Ciaran sips his wine before continuing. "The Temple. You have confirmed my suspicions, my lord. The arcane sigils on the great doors prevent a great evil from getting out, not us from getting in. The dark priests--destruction of the sigils will be their goal. We have luckily found a new, greater threat before it grows in strength. Just as frost nips the first buds in the spring, we have the chance to protect Hommlet and everyone from something worse. Lord Burne, with your permission, I would like to suggest we investigate the Temple and leave the good Captain to stop the bandits. We should stop the priests who worship the Elements. Who would use the Elements to free Evil... an Elemental Evil."

 

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon nods importantly, "Well, I have come this far, I must finish what I have started."

 

[Rhun]

"Most certainly you should focus your efforts on dealing with this elemental evil. We have no idea how strong their cult has become, nor how close they are to freeing whatever is locked away within the Temple. The rumors that floated around after the Battle of Emridy Meadows bespoke of evil and chaos incarnate, but whether it is some great demon or something else entirely was never chronicled."

Burne snaps his fingers, and one of his guardsmen comes forward with a rolled scroll. The Lord Wizard takes the item and hands it to you. "I am giving you this writ to act as agents of the King's Justice, on my authority as investied in me by the Viscount of Verbobonc and as affirmed by good King Belvor IV of Furyondy. Mercy and quarter need not be given to these cultists. Deal with them as you see fit. This gives you the authority to pardon or execute based upon your own judgement."

Burne looks around at all of your faces. "I am sorry that we do not have the resources this far south to aid you more in your task. But whatever assistance I can provide is yours."