The Risen Goddess (Updated 3.10.08)

[dpdx]

Yay! More moral/alignment ambiguity! Yay!

[/Special Ed]

 

[coyote6]

Now this is the way to run a Godswar. None of that silly "overpower" stuff. Just straight up strife in the heavens.

 

[(contact)]

Lathander and Solonor Thelandira are the two most prominent Good-aligned gods to join the pasoun so far. Arunshee is quite famous, but (probably) Evil.

(Actually, f-- that, she's definately Evil, but she's still cool in my book.)

Arunshee brought her daughter Eilistraee along, and Palatin Ermath brought her kids as well, Iiam (NE) and Hustare (TN).

So the pasoun is starting to look like some kind of a deific Springer episode-- two sisters reconciled, dragging along their scruffy kids with no daddies in sight. In fact, the only male is Palatin Eremath's Ex., but I guess they hooked back up now.

So who's throwing the first chair?

 

[Barastrondo]

Lathander and Solonor Thelandira are the two most prominent Good-aligned gods to join the pasoun so far....

So the pasoun is starting to look like some kind of a deific Springer episode-- two sisters reconciled, dragging along their scruffy kids with no daddies in sight. In fact, the only male is Palatin Eremath's Ex., but I guess they hooked back up now.

Whoa. That's a pretty big revelation as far as Lathander is concerned.

I mean, I suppose we should have guessed earlier (a male god of birth? Having the divine incarnation of birth take a male form is kind of like the universe mocking womankind...), but wow.

On the other (and somewhat less tongue-in-cheek) hand, it's interesting that a couple of chummy Lathanderites are apparently doing more to swing the Tar-Ilous back to the [Good] descriptor than their own goddess(es) have been doing of late. Is this the effect of suddenly realizing that the entire world isn't against you after all?

“Hey Thel,” Taran mumbles as he turns over. “We were at home, but old, and Nathè was smiling at me.”

That's because now you're old and feeble, she's still young and vital, and she's just decided that the time has come to thoroughly kick your ass and run off with the similarly still-young-and-vital Khuumar, you poor sap.

Or am I the only one (besides Khuumar) who still thinks she's gonna run Taran cruel?

 

[(contact)]

Whoa. That's a pretty big revelation as far as Lathander is concerned.

I mean, I suppose we should have guessed earlier (a male god of birth? Having the divine incarnation of birth take a male form is kind of like the universe mocking womankind...),

And Youth Athletics. Do not forget that Lathander is the Lavender-and-Rose Diety of Youth Athletics.

On the other (and somewhat less tongue-in-cheek) hand, it's interesting that a couple of chummy Lathanderites are apparently doing more to swing the Tar-Ilous back to the [Good] descriptor than their own goddess(es) have been doing of late.

Well, with Arunshee you would expect that running around doing her bidding might . . . sully . . . the soul. Ishlok/Palatin Eremath is kind of divinely indifferent to your current alignment, because her whole rap is that she sees the bigger picture, and knows where you're going to end up. And since you're either in the pasoun or out, she's got your soul no matter whether you help the old lady accross the street, or help yourself to her food stamps.

That's because now you're old and feeble, she's still young and vital, and she's just decided that the time has come to thoroughly kick your ass and run off with the similarly still-young-and-vital Khuumar, you poor sap.

And on the next Springer . . . "Somebody get me a potion of longevity, I'm going to beat my bitch!" . . . Have you or anyone you know been jilted because of old age or senility? Are they a retired epic-level fighter? If so, call our studios now!

Or am I the only one (besides Khuumar) who still thinks she's gonna run Taran cruel?

Well, its only you and Thelbar and Gorquen and Juron and Glim and Elgin and Heshaalth and every drow in the High Forest encampment.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Return to the Great Delve (... of DEATH!)

I've been re-reading the entire Risen Goddess thread. Such storyriffic goodness. A question:

Taran and Thelbar both believe that any further attempt to get into the Great Delve is beyond their means, with two dragons guarding the entrance, and make plans to vacate their base in the lake fortress. The decision is made to seek further adventure in the nearby valley [...]

Shortly aftewards, our heroes passed through a portal and ended up in Faerun. Any chance they will return to Oerth to tackle the Great Delve (... of DEATH!)?

 

[(contact)]

Re: Return to the Great Delve (... of DEATH!)

Shortly aftewards, our heroes passed through a portal and ended up in Faerun. Any chance they will return to Oerth to tackle the Great Delve (... of DEATH!)?

Hmm . . .

 

[(contact)]

71

71—The morning after the day before.

After meeting with Lathander’s Light of the Morning, Thelbar and Elgin Trezler are taken in a carriage from the temple to the Regent’s Solarium. There they meet with Caledni—the Court Wizard is a striking woman, tall and beautiful. Thelbar admires her for a moment before scanning her with his arcane sight. His spell reveals that she is relatively weak in the ways of magic, and a sorcerer to boot; a small, quiet part of his mind dismisses her outright. Elgin makes his introductions, and takes a seat on a windowsill.

“I am told that you spoke with the Light of the Morning today,” Caledni says without any preamble. She neither sits nor offers Thelbar a chair. “I am busy, but I can do no less than our own living saint, so I have granted this audience. Your request to meet with the Regent is impossible, however.”

“I am told that you are the woman I wish to speak with,” Thelbar says, mirroring her brusque body-language. “I will be as plain and direct as I can be. Cormyr cannot win this war. You must let the Eastern dwarves pass through your land.”

The sorceress raises an eyebrow. “You would come here and dictate matters of state to me, outsider?” Caledni looks Thelbar up and down, then turns to the window. “I find this difficult at best, Elgin. I expected better of you.”

Before Elgin can reply, Thelbar continues. “Make peace with the dwarves. The Kings Under the Earth will cast Sembia aside—they have no desire to conquer Cormyr. They are a colony first, and an army second.”

“So we hear. I don’t know how you come to decisions in your land, but in Cormyr, we do not determine the course of state on the word of adventurers. You do not know the aims of these Easterners beyond sell-sword hearsay, and neither do I. Nor do I accept your demand.”

Thelbar narrows his eyes, and fixes Caledni within his gaze. “You serve many masters, but none of them well. This is a courtesy, not a demand.”

“I see no courtesy in you, adventurer,” she retorts.

“Pearls have been cast before you, Caledni. Look to Lathander on the morrow, for the greatest truth you will ever hear shall come from Him. What you choose matters little to the world, and not at all to me. Farewell.”

As they leave the audience, Elgin says, “She knows only what she knows, and no more. Cormyr is glad to have you, if her rulers are not. Let us remember the common folk.” As they return to the street, Elgin waves his arm at the foot traffic. “If we fail, we may well be standing in New Sembia.”

-----

“So, let me see if I got this right,” Taran says, leaning on one elbow in bed. His unbrushed hair falls in rough tangles around his shoulder, partially obscuring the heavy fire scarring on his shoulder and chest. “Lathander joined the pasoun, his high priest said there’s going to be a godswar, and then you told the royal advisor she’s an idiot?”

“You have it exactly.” Thelbar says. He eats a spring apple, grimacing at each bite.

“They are an acquired taste,” Elgin says apologetically.

“Great,” Taran says brightly. “The people, they love us.” He gestures to Elgin. “And what are you going to do about your buddies? They’re not going to like it when they hear you’re running with us.”

“I will miss them,” Elgin says softly. “They will likely serve best as their gods instruct them. I cannot hope for reconciliation. In truth, I would be content with icy stares.”

“Yeah, sure,” Taran says smirking. “Okay, we go to this Delve, break the curse, then we split the loot between the two dwarven armies, break up their war and save Cormyr. Sound good?” He looks at his companions. “Good. You know who we should bring? Gorquen. I miss adventuring with her prickly ass. How long ‘till you’re ready, Elgin?” Taran sits up, and stiffly places his feet on the floor, grimacing as he stretches his back. “Come tomorrow, we’re going to be spitting blood.”

-----

The trio teleports to the party’s home in the Far forest, and Taran takes Elgin around to introduce him while Thelbar prepares spells and supplies for the party’s foray. As the sun falls, and the evening meal is cleared away, the group tells Gorquen of their current plans.

“And we want you to come with us, Gorquen,” Taran says. “We can’t do it without you.”

“I doubt that,” she replies, her suspicion plain on her face.

“Ishlok came to me in a dream and said you have to go,” Taran says.

“No.”

“Aw, come on, Gorquen,” Taran whines. “Sack up and get a pair. It’ll be fun!”

“It will not be ‘fun’,” Thelbar says. “But if we are successful, our effort will save thousands of lives.”

“I suppose I could be of some worth,” Gorquen hedges.

“Yeah, plus we’ll give you a tenth share of treasure,” Taran says.

“You’ll give me a quarter share!” Gorquen says indignantly.

“Okay, deal. Can you be ready in the morning?”

Gorquen pats her prized sword, a weapon consecrated to Palatin Eremath before her fall from elven grace. “I am ready now,” she says with a refined air.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

“Yeah, plus we’ll give you a tenth share of treasure,” Taran says.

“You’ll give me a quarter share!” Gorquen says indignantly.

First real laughter I've had all week. (contact) you've made my day, again.

 

[zoroaster100]

Good update, give us more!

Can't wait for how things will go at the Dwarven place for the adventurers.