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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 1708434" data-attributes="member: 41">Coldeven 7, CY 59491—It is always darkest just after the last light is extinguished.The distinctive spice and ink smell of Greyhawk’s sage’s quarter appears just before Gwendolyn does.  Her teleportation causes the candles to flutter momentarily, casting dancing shadows across the faces of her companions.  Gwendolyn’s eyes are wide and her cheeks flushed.“The Demonomicon!” she says.  “We’ve won!  We can stop this madness!”Prisantha looks at Heydricus, who looks at Dabus.  Dabus shrugs.“It is a book of true names!” Gwen says, laughing.“Yes,” Dabus says.“Grazz’t gave it to Iggwilv before the birth of Iuz—she transcribed the true name of her son into the book!  The Demonomicon has Iuz’ true name!”There is a long moment of silence.“Had,” Jespo says.-----Gwendolyn isn’t speaking to the Liberators.  Prisantha, Heydricus, Jespo, Lucius and Dabus crowd around Pris’ crystal ball as she spies upon the Great Adventurers’ Crusade.“My god,” Prisantha says.“Is it bad?” Jespo asks.“They cannot . . . oh dear.  Their spells are not functioning.”“Magic items?” Heydricus asks.“Hard to say, but no one is glowing.”“Wow.  That’s bad,” Heydricus says.“And their teleportatives aren’t working at all.  There are many demons.”Dabus leaves the room.“Keep your eye out for survivors,” Lucius says.  “The Iuzians will want to capture as many as they can, for torture.  We can free them later, if they can survive long enough.”  He follows Dabus, and is joined by Jespo Crim.Heydricus places his hand on Prisantha’s.  “Keep watching,” he says.  “Try to find Belvor.”-----“In Tritherion’s eyes, the whole world does not outweigh a single soul.”  Dabus has finally cornered Gwendolyn in the narrow passageway that runs beneath Nevond Nevnend’s main stairwell.  It is very late; Gwendolyn is in her nightgown and holds a candle in one hand.  Dabus, as has been his habit since his death, does not sleep, and wears his ceremonial garb at all times.“You self-righteous as-holes make me sick,” Gwendolyn says. “My righteousness does not come from my self.” “We could have won.  We could have killed him, we could have bound him.”“Such a thing could not be done without imperiling the soul that did it.”“That’s my choice to make, you hypocritical prayer-grubbing lackey.”“You were under the influence of the book, and I think you still are.”“I’m going to burn your face with this candle if you don’t clear the passage, Dabus.”“I am resistant to fire.”Gwendolyn narrows her eyes.“I know you think we were wrong, but I would not have you sacrifice yourself—the souls of the just will never be the playthings of the Old One.  This world was not always, nor will it always be—it is an ephemeral shade, reflecting poorly the majesty of the Heavens.”“Poetry?  You’re pathetic.”  She pushes past him.“I am sincere,” he says as she goes.-----“I feel . . . epic.”  Heydricus is flexing his muscles and regarding himself in a full length mirror.  Prisantha and Jespo sit together nearby, poring over a list of names.“Avelarch,” Jespo says.  “A fighter, I believe—an old adventuring companion of Murlynd.  Nystul spoke highly of him.”“Yes, Murlynd was present,” Pris says, “But I did not see him perish—of course, he was with Drawmij’s band, so he’s probably dead.”“Otto?”“Dead.”“Do you feel epic, Pris?” Heydricus asks.“No, Heydricus,” she says.  “I think it’s only you.”“I feel epic, sometimes,” Jespo says.  “But I know in my heart that I am not.”“Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself, Crim.  You’ve been kicking ass lately,” Heydricus says.“Serten, Sigby, The Unnamed and Yrag are all confirmed killed,” Pris says.  “Mordenkainen, Bigby, Otiluke and Tenser were not present.”“They’re smart.  They fled the plane,” Heydricus laughs.“What about D—?  Oh, you know who,” Jespo says.“Daern?”“Yes.”“Dead.”“How about that Hennet fellow?”“Unknown.”“Jozan?”“Captured.”“Kermit?”“Kerwyn.  Dead.”“The other Boon Companions?”Prisantha shakes her head, and places a hand on Jespo’s hand.Heydricus puts his arm across Jespo’s thin shoulders.  “Today is the 8th of Coldeven.  Two years ago today, we lost our first companion to the Temple, a happy little hobbit named Whistlin’ Pippin.”“Yes, you’ve mentioned him,” Jespo says.“Today is the day that I remember the fallen, Jespo.  The longer you live, the more of those you’re going to have.”-----Cochraine and Reine are at each other’s throats again.  Heydricus has asked for wills for all the Liberators, and the two top Tehna bureaucrats cannot agree on the proper language for the resurrection clause.Lucius has been seen in the vicinity of Prisantha of late, whispering into her ear, and receiving replies in return.  When they defeat Iuz, he reckons, the world is going to be short a few dozen powerful adventurers, and the political climate should reflect that.  Prisantha agrees, and the two of them are hashing out the how.Dabus prepares a gate to Mount Olympus, and the Liberators teleport across the length and breadth of the Flannaes to retrieve their loved ones and family.Heydricus sends his gaggle of orphans through the gate first, led by the remnants of his most fanatical followers.   Prisantha convinces her grandparents that they are going on a “special magic vacation,” entrusted into the care of loyal Anon.Jespo arrives with his mother in tow, an intractable hag who lets no opportunity to berate her son, his companions, or their surroundings pass.   After the first fingernails-on-chalkboard pass at polite conversation, Prisantha silent still charms the woman and has done with it, suggesting her through the gate (but not before forcing her to agree that Jespo is a good son).  Fräs sends an alley-cat along with Jespo’s mother, a battered-looking Tom she claims to have befriended while homeless in Chendl.Gwendolyn brusquely introduces the Liberators of Tenh to a trio of younger sisters (none of which possess her beauty, but all apparently in full possession of her sense of entitlement).  The three caw and complain, but are eventually lured through the gate by the handsome Anon.Hastur sends no one through.  Lucius is not present.-----Jespo stands next to Heydricus as the gate closes.  “Do you think it is strange, Heydricus?  We are probably now the most powerful adventurers in the Flannaes . . .”“Except for the members of the Eight that fled.”“Except for them, yes.  But for all of our power, we could not have filled a poor man’s scupper with our loved ones.”Heydricus thinks and shrugs.  “Lots of people love us, Jespo, we save folks.”“Yes, but they don’t know us, do they?”“Well, that’s the life for you,” Heydricus shrugs.  “When you think about what we do for a living—- who would want us around all the time?”</blockquote>

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