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League of Assassins - Conclusion
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 859245" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 40, “Deciphering clues and the Black Sun Church”, July 9th, 1019, 8:30 P.M.</strong> </p><p></p><p>Mojo returns to the carriage to get Lono and Darrius. Cassie, Cheran, Lono, Mojo and Serita then meet in one of the rooms at the Mallet & Hammer Inn. The three from the stealth team describe the events from the ILA ceremony and the clues as to the target identity locations. </p><p></p><p>They quickly conclude that the final one, to “Finish the day with a drink,” with the speaker then drinking a very full tankard is an obvious reference to The Full Tankard, a tavern in the east outer city down near the docks. Lono comments “Hey, isn’t that the place we had Narg’s bachelor party two months ago?” <em>(Note 1)</em>. Mojo answers, “Yes, I’m surprised it’s still standing.” Lono interjects “Yeah, you’d have thought they would have condemned the place after we left” </p><p></p><p>Next they discuss the clue “Have supper with the most powerful fighter in the city”. A debate ensues as to the meaning of the word “powerful”. They decide that if the reference is to political power, then Queen Jennifer is clearly the target, or if “in the city” means residency, then the reference is probably to either Colonel Tenbar or Lord Kindor. They also consider that the reference is to Narg, as the unofficial leader of the Silver Moon. Cassie points out “It doesn’t matter, since we know where all four are having supper tomorrow. That’s the night of the bidders dinner for the auction.” They then ponder the need for even tighter security at the dinner than previously planned, if the ILA anticipates getting into the dinner as well. </p><p></p><p>They discuss the clue “At noon, cast your eyes near the tallest tree.” “Where we went with Sir Phillip’s ship?” Mojo asks. Serita says “That was too far away. The tallest tree around here is just north of the city, near the Druid’s meeting place. That was the tree that was going to originally be cut down, until Sir Phillip found them that other one up river.” “Wasn’t the other one taller?” Mojo asks. “Yes, but it was also so older and was starting to die. Better the cut it down than the one near the city has another century or two of life left” Serita replies. “Enough talk about trees,” Lono interjects.</p><p></p><p>They then discuss the meaning of the first clue, “Look to the sun at dawn”. “What could you see looking to the East?” Serita ponders. Mojo says “Maybe they are planning to do something at that time.” Cassie brings up the fact that the person stating that clue was wearing an unholy symbol of Hextor. “Hextor!” Serita exclaims. Lono says “Yeah, does that mean anything to you?”</p><p></p><p>Serita, the Jawlt Council Minister of Religions, says that “Hextor is one of the Lawful Evil deities worshiped by the Church of the Black Sun. That church was formed nearly two centuries ago and was originally comprised of worshippers of a Greater God, two Lesser Gods, two Demigods and an ascended hero. The King Kohlorahooh was a devout follower of that church, and it flourished during his reign. That ended in the year 1005, when we came along and took out the church’s main sponsor” <em>(Note 2)</em> The church suffered another impediment simultaneous to that, as the ascended hero of that church known as the Death Deliverer was defeated here in Jawlt by the Liebercrantz Adventurers. “My original team,” Mojo interjects. Serita says “Yes, that defeat severed his influence in the church <em>(Note 3)</em>. </p><p></p><p>During the subsequent two years both demigods of that church experienced serious setbacks. The temple of the Spider God was destroyed by the Liebercrantz Adventurers <em>(Note 4)</em>. The clerics of Spider God then attempted to reestablish two abandoned temples of theirs here in Phlooredah, but were stopped both times by the Silver Moon Adventurers”<em>(Note 5)</em> Cassie interjects “I remember. That’s when I joined up you guys, since one of those temples was near my hometown in the Aldorn Lordholding.” Serita continues “That ended the Spider God’s involvement with the Black Sun Church. The followers of the demigod Loviatar were also impeded by the Silver Moon’s shutting down of their secret slaving operation, which had been the Black Sun Church’s primary source of income <em>(Note 6)</em>. </p><p></p><p>With the three lest powerful deities of that Church having suffered defeats the lesser god Nomog-Geaya decided to exert his influence to strengthen the church. During the summer of 1008 his clerics attempted to summon the god to the mountaintop city on what is now Silver Moon Island. It was through the combined forces of the Silver Moon, Lord Kindor and a Warrior Maiden of Ukko named Ilma that the god was defeated and forced from this plane, which also ended his involvement with the Black Sun Church <em>(Note 7)</em>. “And we got to keep the Island,” Mojo quips. Cassie interjects “Yes, and aligned ourselves with Kindor, as a township in the Jawlt Lordholding” <em>(Note 8)</em>. </p><p></p><p>“Didn’t the Black Sun Church take on a low profile after that?” Cassie asks. Serita replies “Yes, the Greater God Nerull and other Lesser God Hextor both apparently felt that this region of this world was more trouble than it was worth, added by the fact that their church’s membership had declined significantly.” “Well sure, they sacrificed most of their followers’ lives trying to bring that god here,” Mojo comments. Serita continues “Yes, but that changed in the year 1010, after Lord Toronas disappeared following his failed assassination attempt against Kindor” <em>(Note 9)</em>. Loviatar’s clerical leaders then became the chief advisors to King Matthan. Loviatar then became the predominant deity in the Black Sun Church, and sought to increase its popularity throughout the continent. </p><p></p><p>This came to a head in 1012, when they had Matthan overstep his authority as King by attempted to annex the Eldamar and Kralt Lordholdings as his own. He succeeded with Eldamar but was forced to withdraw from Kralt. The Lordholders of the Jawlt, Zalpar, Aldorn, East and Kralt Lordholdings then withdrew all of their forces from the King’s Army, and issued him a stern warning to stay within the limits of his authority.<em>(Note 10)</em>. Growth of the Black Sun Church was curtailed to the four Lordholdings that Matthan then directly controlled. That lasted until this past year, when Queen Jennifer was elected to succeed Matthan as Phlooredah’s ruler and he and his advisors simultaneously lost control and influence over both the Eldamar and Thenossia Lordholdings <em>(Note 11)</em> The influence of Loviatar has gone downhill since then. Add to that the fact that we just beat the crap out of one of Loviatar’s top clergy members a few minutes ago, and she won’t be returning to them if I have anything to say about it.” </p><p></p><p>Cassie then interjects. “You left out the Black Sun Church’s biggest stumbling block, Nerull’s abandonment of it.” Serita adds “Right Cassie, you were part of that mission. A few months ago the Silver Moon undertook a quest for Nerull in exchange for him agreeing to sever all contact with this world” <em>(Note 12)</em>. The Black Sun Church now consists of only followers of Hextor and Loviatar. With Loviatar on the decline, most remaining followers are now worshipping only Hextor. There is even talk of abandoning the Black Sun name altogether and renaming it the Church of Hextor.”</p><p></p><p>“So where are they in the Jawlt?” Darrius asks. She answers “They no longer have temples or a cathedral in the Lordholding. Their church in Jawltorn consists of only a small two-story building in the west outer city, not far from the northwest gate.” Mojo says “Hold on. The ‘Look to the sun at dawn’ probably means that building.” Serita comments “Could be. They have a black sun painted on the front of the building.” “We should scout it out,” Lono comments. </p><p></p><p>They stay at the inn a few hours more. Tenbar tells them that in addition to Ladies Darlene and Khorram, 14 other foreigners were arrested coming through the nearby gate this evening. These people have been told that the Jawlt Army received information about foreign assassins coming through an east gate of the city that evening to assassinate King Matthan. He has apologized to these people for the inconvenience, telling them that they are probably innocent and just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but will still need to be held until after the King has left the city the following week. “Good cover story, but why Matthan?” Mojo asks. Tenbar replies “In case any of these guys really are assassins and manage to get away. We don’t want to put ideas into their heads to attack anybody who we actually like.” </p><p></p><p>Cassie, Darrius and Lono decide to go rejoin the other members of the stealth team. She flies them back to Room #506 of the Magical Stone Inn, where Blip and Aradyn have been waiting and resting for a few hours. It is almost midnight when Charen and Mark finally arrive. They explain that they were arrested by the Jawlt Army as they entered the southeastern gate of the city and were then taken to the Cockatrice Inn for questioning. It appeared that a significant number of assassins who attended the funeral entered through that gate and were also arrested, and at least three were killed attempting to escape. Narg saw Charen and Mark when they arrived at the inn, but had never met Charen before and did not recognize Mark under his disguise. When they finally got a chance to speak to Narg, several hours later, Mark whispered his identity. Narg then managed to sneak them out of the building. </p><p></p><p>They all discuss the clues to the items. Blip is sent out invisibly on her broom to scout out the Black Sun Abbey. The others decide to get some sleep, with Aradyn & Cassie staying in #506, Mark & Charen going to room #406, and Lono & Darrius heading down to #306 (with Lono picking the lock, as that is the rented room they currently don’t have a key for). </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><u>Notes:</u> </p><p>1 = Module #107, “The Wedding”; 2 = Module #1, “Search for the Rod of the Seven Parts”; 3 = The Salem, N.H. Group’s Module #14, “Temple of the Black Sun.”, the Death Deliverer also known as the Son of Pohjola ; 4 = The Salem, N.H. Group’s Module #18, “Chagmat”, from Dragon Magazine #63; 5 = Module #8, “Return to Chagmat” and Module #25, “Chagmat III”; 6 = Module # 11, Clearwater/Slaver Series, using TSR Modules A2, “Secret of the Slavers Stockade” & A3 “Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lord”; 7 = Module #34, “Fall of the Black Sun Gods”, which used TSR Module #I1, “Dwellers of the Forbidden City”; 8 = Module #35, “Gelorynth Interlude”; 9 = Module #45, “Attack on the Silver Moon”; 10 = Module #50, “Go Tell the Army They’re Fired”; 11 = Module #98, “Retake the Island”; 12 = Module #109, “Leave it to Nerull”.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 859245, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 40, “Deciphering clues and the Black Sun Church”, July 9th, 1019, 8:30 P.M.[/B] Mojo returns to the carriage to get Lono and Darrius. Cassie, Cheran, Lono, Mojo and Serita then meet in one of the rooms at the Mallet & Hammer Inn. The three from the stealth team describe the events from the ILA ceremony and the clues as to the target identity locations. They quickly conclude that the final one, to “Finish the day with a drink,” with the speaker then drinking a very full tankard is an obvious reference to The Full Tankard, a tavern in the east outer city down near the docks. Lono comments “Hey, isn’t that the place we had Narg’s bachelor party two months ago?” [I](Note 1)[/I]. Mojo answers, “Yes, I’m surprised it’s still standing.” Lono interjects “Yeah, you’d have thought they would have condemned the place after we left” Next they discuss the clue “Have supper with the most powerful fighter in the city”. A debate ensues as to the meaning of the word “powerful”. They decide that if the reference is to political power, then Queen Jennifer is clearly the target, or if “in the city” means residency, then the reference is probably to either Colonel Tenbar or Lord Kindor. They also consider that the reference is to Narg, as the unofficial leader of the Silver Moon. Cassie points out “It doesn’t matter, since we know where all four are having supper tomorrow. That’s the night of the bidders dinner for the auction.” They then ponder the need for even tighter security at the dinner than previously planned, if the ILA anticipates getting into the dinner as well. They discuss the clue “At noon, cast your eyes near the tallest tree.” “Where we went with Sir Phillip’s ship?” Mojo asks. Serita says “That was too far away. The tallest tree around here is just north of the city, near the Druid’s meeting place. That was the tree that was going to originally be cut down, until Sir Phillip found them that other one up river.” “Wasn’t the other one taller?” Mojo asks. “Yes, but it was also so older and was starting to die. Better the cut it down than the one near the city has another century or two of life left” Serita replies. “Enough talk about trees,” Lono interjects. They then discuss the meaning of the first clue, “Look to the sun at dawn”. “What could you see looking to the East?” Serita ponders. Mojo says “Maybe they are planning to do something at that time.” Cassie brings up the fact that the person stating that clue was wearing an unholy symbol of Hextor. “Hextor!” Serita exclaims. Lono says “Yeah, does that mean anything to you?” Serita, the Jawlt Council Minister of Religions, says that “Hextor is one of the Lawful Evil deities worshiped by the Church of the Black Sun. That church was formed nearly two centuries ago and was originally comprised of worshippers of a Greater God, two Lesser Gods, two Demigods and an ascended hero. The King Kohlorahooh was a devout follower of that church, and it flourished during his reign. That ended in the year 1005, when we came along and took out the church’s main sponsor” [I](Note 2)[/I] The church suffered another impediment simultaneous to that, as the ascended hero of that church known as the Death Deliverer was defeated here in Jawlt by the Liebercrantz Adventurers. “My original team,” Mojo interjects. Serita says “Yes, that defeat severed his influence in the church [I](Note 3)[/I]. During the subsequent two years both demigods of that church experienced serious setbacks. The temple of the Spider God was destroyed by the Liebercrantz Adventurers [I](Note 4)[/I]. The clerics of Spider God then attempted to reestablish two abandoned temples of theirs here in Phlooredah, but were stopped both times by the Silver Moon Adventurers”[I](Note 5)[/I] Cassie interjects “I remember. That’s when I joined up you guys, since one of those temples was near my hometown in the Aldorn Lordholding.” Serita continues “That ended the Spider God’s involvement with the Black Sun Church. The followers of the demigod Loviatar were also impeded by the Silver Moon’s shutting down of their secret slaving operation, which had been the Black Sun Church’s primary source of income [I](Note 6)[/I]. With the three lest powerful deities of that Church having suffered defeats the lesser god Nomog-Geaya decided to exert his influence to strengthen the church. During the summer of 1008 his clerics attempted to summon the god to the mountaintop city on what is now Silver Moon Island. It was through the combined forces of the Silver Moon, Lord Kindor and a Warrior Maiden of Ukko named Ilma that the god was defeated and forced from this plane, which also ended his involvement with the Black Sun Church [I](Note 7)[/I]. “And we got to keep the Island,” Mojo quips. Cassie interjects “Yes, and aligned ourselves with Kindor, as a township in the Jawlt Lordholding” [I](Note 8)[/I]. “Didn’t the Black Sun Church take on a low profile after that?” Cassie asks. Serita replies “Yes, the Greater God Nerull and other Lesser God Hextor both apparently felt that this region of this world was more trouble than it was worth, added by the fact that their church’s membership had declined significantly.” “Well sure, they sacrificed most of their followers’ lives trying to bring that god here,” Mojo comments. Serita continues “Yes, but that changed in the year 1010, after Lord Toronas disappeared following his failed assassination attempt against Kindor” [I](Note 9)[/I]. Loviatar’s clerical leaders then became the chief advisors to King Matthan. Loviatar then became the predominant deity in the Black Sun Church, and sought to increase its popularity throughout the continent. This came to a head in 1012, when they had Matthan overstep his authority as King by attempted to annex the Eldamar and Kralt Lordholdings as his own. He succeeded with Eldamar but was forced to withdraw from Kralt. The Lordholders of the Jawlt, Zalpar, Aldorn, East and Kralt Lordholdings then withdrew all of their forces from the King’s Army, and issued him a stern warning to stay within the limits of his authority.[I](Note 10)[/I]. Growth of the Black Sun Church was curtailed to the four Lordholdings that Matthan then directly controlled. That lasted until this past year, when Queen Jennifer was elected to succeed Matthan as Phlooredah’s ruler and he and his advisors simultaneously lost control and influence over both the Eldamar and Thenossia Lordholdings [I](Note 11)[/I] The influence of Loviatar has gone downhill since then. Add to that the fact that we just beat the crap out of one of Loviatar’s top clergy members a few minutes ago, and she won’t be returning to them if I have anything to say about it.” Cassie then interjects. “You left out the Black Sun Church’s biggest stumbling block, Nerull’s abandonment of it.” Serita adds “Right Cassie, you were part of that mission. A few months ago the Silver Moon undertook a quest for Nerull in exchange for him agreeing to sever all contact with this world” [I](Note 12)[/I]. The Black Sun Church now consists of only followers of Hextor and Loviatar. With Loviatar on the decline, most remaining followers are now worshipping only Hextor. There is even talk of abandoning the Black Sun name altogether and renaming it the Church of Hextor.” “So where are they in the Jawlt?” Darrius asks. She answers “They no longer have temples or a cathedral in the Lordholding. Their church in Jawltorn consists of only a small two-story building in the west outer city, not far from the northwest gate.” Mojo says “Hold on. The ‘Look to the sun at dawn’ probably means that building.” Serita comments “Could be. They have a black sun painted on the front of the building.” “We should scout it out,” Lono comments. They stay at the inn a few hours more. Tenbar tells them that in addition to Ladies Darlene and Khorram, 14 other foreigners were arrested coming through the nearby gate this evening. These people have been told that the Jawlt Army received information about foreign assassins coming through an east gate of the city that evening to assassinate King Matthan. He has apologized to these people for the inconvenience, telling them that they are probably innocent and just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but will still need to be held until after the King has left the city the following week. “Good cover story, but why Matthan?” Mojo asks. Tenbar replies “In case any of these guys really are assassins and manage to get away. We don’t want to put ideas into their heads to attack anybody who we actually like.” Cassie, Darrius and Lono decide to go rejoin the other members of the stealth team. She flies them back to Room #506 of the Magical Stone Inn, where Blip and Aradyn have been waiting and resting for a few hours. It is almost midnight when Charen and Mark finally arrive. They explain that they were arrested by the Jawlt Army as they entered the southeastern gate of the city and were then taken to the Cockatrice Inn for questioning. It appeared that a significant number of assassins who attended the funeral entered through that gate and were also arrested, and at least three were killed attempting to escape. Narg saw Charen and Mark when they arrived at the inn, but had never met Charen before and did not recognize Mark under his disguise. When they finally got a chance to speak to Narg, several hours later, Mark whispered his identity. Narg then managed to sneak them out of the building. They all discuss the clues to the items. Blip is sent out invisibly on her broom to scout out the Black Sun Abbey. The others decide to get some sleep, with Aradyn & Cassie staying in #506, Mark & Charen going to room #406, and Lono & Darrius heading down to #306 (with Lono picking the lock, as that is the rented room they currently don’t have a key for). [U]Notes:[/U] 1 = Module #107, “The Wedding”; 2 = Module #1, “Search for the Rod of the Seven Parts”; 3 = The Salem, N.H. Group’s Module #14, “Temple of the Black Sun.”, the Death Deliverer also known as the Son of Pohjola ; 4 = The Salem, N.H. Group’s Module #18, “Chagmat”, from Dragon Magazine #63; 5 = Module #8, “Return to Chagmat” and Module #25, “Chagmat III”; 6 = Module # 11, Clearwater/Slaver Series, using TSR Modules A2, “Secret of the Slavers Stockade” & A3 “Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lord”; 7 = Module #34, “Fall of the Black Sun Gods”, which used TSR Module #I1, “Dwellers of the Forbidden City”; 8 = Module #35, “Gelorynth Interlude”; 9 = Module #45, “Attack on the Silver Moon”; 10 = Module #50, “Go Tell the Army They’re Fired”; 11 = Module #98, “Retake the Island”; 12 = Module #109, “Leave it to Nerull”. [/QUOTE]
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