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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Endur" data-source="post: 2378548" data-attributes="member: 3346">The party returns to Hommlet without further incident.The party sells the miscellaneous gnoll weapons, armor, and digging tools to the town smiths for 500 gp.After the news gets out that the party defeated a Dragon, Hommlet throws a party in the Welcome Wench for the adventurers.  Uncle Joman pays for all of the alcohol.  Craven and Lenya notice several new employees have joined the Welcome Wench staff, to replace themselves and Maridosen.Craven’s parents Lilinda and Trevor, and Marli his sister, and nearly all of his other close relatives are at the party.  They are all very proud of Craven. Craven hears many times, that “Next time it won’t get away”, next time Craven will be a ‘Dragonslayer.’During the party, Canoness Y’Dey asks the adventurers to come by her office the next day.  She wishes to discuss matters of importance with the party as a group.Also during the party, Vesta dances with both Kerwyn and Lylamwyn and asks each of them if they will teach her magic.On a bright sunny day, the party (including Xaod) assemble around lunch time in Canoness Y’Dey’s office.The Canoness stands and speaks after everyone is seated: “I fought at the Battle of Emridy Meadows.  I was present at the aftermath of the battle, when the greatest amongst us cast spells to bind the Demon Queen of Fungi within her own temple.  I volunteered to guard the Temple of Elemental Evil, to make sure that servants of evil would not free the Demon Queen.  For years, Otto and I lived undercover in Nulb, foiling plot after plot, preventing the Demon Queen from being released.  I was there when Otto stabbed the Old One, and the Dark God’s black blood fell to the ground.  My tears were endless when the Old One inflicted wounds upon Otto that prayers could not heal.  I witnessed St. Cuthbert intervene and watched him drive the Dark God back to the black land in the north.  In our moment of triumph, I witnessed the greatest betrayal when Robilar freed the Demon Queen in exchange for three wishes.  I aided the Circle of Eight in banishing the Demon Queen from this dimension, but we were too slow to prevent the traitor Robilar’s escape.  “There are none now living that know more about the evil we fought than myself.“I will share with you my knowledge, in the hope that you can vanquish this evil once and for all.“I will not name the creatures of power I discuss, for names have power.  You will know who I mean.”The windows to the outside are dark.  It is storming.  Thunder and Lightning.The Canoness continues.“When we fought the Temple of Elemental Evil, the names of the enemy were many.  And there were great powers arrayed behind the lesser.  Elemental Evil was their design, power over all the elements.  They venerated the Princes of Elemental Evil.  Yet behind the Princes, Other great powers moved.  The Old One, Ruler of the Lands in Darkness, Terror of the World, gave his power to the Temple of Elemental Evil.  The Spider Queen, Goddess of the Legendary Dark Elves, also gave power to the Cause of Evil.  The Third Great Power was the Demon Queen of Fungi.  “Yet behind these powers there may well be others.  The Old One himself is but the son of the Six Fingered Demon Prince of Sorcerors and the Immortal Witch that ruled Perrenland a century ago.  “Speculation remains that the Scarlet Brotherhood may have been behind the disappearance of Prince Thrommel.  A group of Suel Necromancers known as the Seekers have long sought after ancient secrets and might have been involved in seeking out secrets hidden in the Moathouse.  The Reptile you found sounds like a Troglydyte, a race of underground Lizardmen that wish to destroy the surface world.“The amulets on the cultists you fought in the Moathouse were created for yet another dread being, the Elder Elemental Eye, one of the Elder Evils that is supposed to pre-date humanity.“And the black obex, the dark sun, and the obelisk seem linked to one of the Ancient Gods of the evil Suel Imperium.  Another Elder Evil that predates humanity.  The Destroyer of the World.  A being so terrible that the other Gods of the Ancient World banished it to a place beyond time and space.  “These are the terrors you may be about to face.“And yet, I might be overstating the nature of the opposition.  “Nulb lies abandoned, a ruin.  The Temple of Elemental Evil itself was destroyed in an Earthquake after the Demon Queen was banished.  All of the underground rooms were buried, all that is left is rubble on the surface that provides cover to a tribe of hobgoblins.“And Demons were driven from the Land when Canon Hazen used the Crook of Rao to banish the fiends during the Greyhawk wars.  Even if the cultists have returned, they will have few if any Demons on their side.“If the worst happens and you do find yourself facing the Dark God, have faith and do not hesitate to call for help from St. Cuthbert.  St. Cuthbert has answered the call for help before and he will continue to do so.  “So far, you have exceeded my expectations.  I hope you continue to do so.  I foresee great good coming from your efforts.“But do not make the choice that Robilar made, serving the Demon for your own personal gain.  Do not sell your soul for three wishes.  “Names have power.  And the Rituals of the Dark Gods have power.  Be very careful what you do when you enter the places of the enemy.  Simply uttering the name of a Dark God might be enough to activate a long-forgotten ritual, or to summon forth an avatar to your eternal sorrow.  Yes, the followers of the dark gods have some rituals that may not seem harmful, but all magic has a cost, even that which seems like it will grant you free wishes.”She was looking at Kerwyn when she uttered those last few words.The trip to Verbobonc takes six days.  The party arrives without incident and checks into an Inn.Lylamwyn works a deal with a member of the local wizards guild to identify all of their magic items for 500 gp.   +1 heavy mace.  +1 shortbow.  The other weapons were what you thought they were.  The 3 black spheres are Beads of Force.  The two brooches are Brooches of Shielding (90 points and 101 points).  The two cloaks are Cloaks of Resistance +1.  The Necklace is a Lesser Strand of Prayer Beads with a Bead of Blessing and a Bead of Healing.  The amulet is a Pearl of Power (1st level).  The half-full water skin contains an evil poison that slays and reanimates the drinker as a ghast.  The iron torch is called a Torch of Revealing.  When incense of dreaming is placed in the Torch of Revealing, it creates a 10 foot radius of violet light and chill air.  The torch can reveal specific, magically hidden objects within temples and shrines devoted to Tharzidun.The three cones are Incense of Dreaming.  This dark-colored incense is created by worshippers of Tharzidun for use in Torches of Revealing and other ritualistic uses.  The incense has no effect unless used in a specially prepared container (such as a Torch of Revealing).       Lenya is shopping for wands, Craven is visiting the Temple of St. Cuthbert, Belaver is visiting the local grove of the Old Faith, Raner is visiting one of his cousins who lives here, and Lylamwyn is trying to identify magic items.  Kerwyn, Toriah, and Xaod go to a bar.  Predictably, a bar room brawl explodes, but it has nothing to do with the PCs until a bottle flies through the air and hits Xaod.  Followed by several bodies that come flying through the air and hit Toriah.Xaod, although drunk, holds his own in the brawl. Kerwyn completely avoids being hurt.  Toriah is beaten bloody in the brawl, suffers several broken bones, and has to be carried back to the hotel by Kerwyn and Xaod.  Toriah heard one of the men who was pounding on him whisper into his ear, “The Guild says leave town tomorrow.  Return again to Verbobonc and you will be buried here.”</blockquote>

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