What happens when Oerth’s paladins recover something they didn’t realize they’d lost.
Under the directed concentration of half a hundred paladins, the psionic cage sags and melts. Released from their bondage, the soul fragments soar down from the reaches of the cathedral, twisting their way past the arched supports of a ceiling that seems to reach nearly to Celestia itself.
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The deposed and returned high priest of Tharizdun tries to allay lingering suspicions. (sab)
“I will tell you all I know,” says Varachan, “but you must realize that the High Priest’s function is to manage the temple at large. The full details of what the Doomdreamers do in the inner fane are known only to them.
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In Greyhawk on business for Clement, Sir Geoffrey find the adventurers preparing for a final conflict with the Tharizdunians at Crater Ridge.
Brin was astonished at the changes in Greyhawk. She had never seen it before its destruction, but Willie assured her that its grandeur had been largely restored and very little augmented. Judging from its appearance, she could see why they didn’t bother; the jewel of the Flaeness was impressive enough merely put back as it was.
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Svengali looks for an explanation of his abrupt, unwilling sojourn on the Plane of Shadow.
Not a good time. Willie uncurled himself cautiously from Brin’s largely somnolent thoughts. She is finally resting.
Finally? her visitor asked. What does that mean?
It would be better to come back later, Willie said. Why have you come? You never have before.
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Brin struggles with duty and affection as Clement orders Hadrack relieved of his command and prevented from returning to Crater Ridge as the Hedrack persona – by whatever means are necessary.
“I’m sorry,” Brin said softly as Hadrack approached from behind.
Of all the things he thought she might say, he hadn’t expected that. “Sorry? For what?”
“For all of this. For telling the king. For you losing your command, as if everything else weren’t enough…”
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Klavicus suggests to Svengali that the Alpha may be serving as a conduit for Tharizdun’s return.
As Svengali suspected, when he returned, as abruptly as he’d left, Klavicus was waiting for him. “That was precipitate,” the balor remarked. “And not I assume, given the profanity preceding it, your idea.”
“Definitely not,” Svengali replied, sinking onto the dragonhide sofa.
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The melancholy truth about Hadrack is revealed, as the mental barriers he has erected to suppress his dual existence as Hedrack continue to crumble.
A few miles from the Three Feathers Inn Hadrack sat alone at the base of a diseased, fallen tree, his head in his hands, what was visible of his face in torchlight looking fatigued and defeated. Within sight but out of hearing Corwin, Dryden and the rest of Cuthbert’s once-upon-a-time Storm Riders stood in a tight knot talking quietly and urgently. As recently as a week ago the two groups might have been nearly invisible to one another, but the Crater Ridge blight had infected the forest; the cause of its rapid jump over so far a distance was the reason Hadrack looked so miserable, and his companions so disturbed. Brin had positioned herself with her back to the ranger, but Willie’s face peered over her shoulder at him, and she turned when the weasel jumped down and scurried toward Hadrack. The glances of ranger and cleric met for a moment, but her face was as expressionless as a death mask, and she quickly turned away.
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