The Thanks of Erdan

As you arrive back, it appears as if Erdan has been busy. The main worship area of the Cathedral has been cleaned and the altar restored. Erdan is praying at the altar when you enter.

My friends, welcome back. It is great to see you have returned alive and with the Seal of the Seasons. I will return it to its proper place shortly. There is much to be done and time is short. You have saved the Citadel and for the moment, this part of the world. With the destruction of the force that was camped here, the islands in this area are free from threat for the first time in decades. I cannot reward you with gold or silver, the items you have recovered here, are yours to keep. I do bestow upon all of you, the title of “Savior of the Citadel”.

Unfortunately, I do have more to ask of you. These tasks will not be easy and certainly will take time to complete.

Leenia, my daughter, as the Keeper of the Seasons, I appoint you an Acolyte of the Seasons. You must spread the word the Citadel has risen again and convince others to return and take up the mantle as a beacon of hope that good has returned to the world. To further our goals, you must collect the 4 pieces of the Rod of Death and Rebirth. They have not been brought together for centuries, yet their power will aid you, and through you, all of us.

Mara, many of our brethren have been absent from this world for too long. Portals to the Fey have been closing since the Darkness began. Even now, I do not know if even one still exists. You must discover what has been closing them, reopen them and convince our brothers and sisters to return and aid in the coming conflict.

Finally, Alexander, my task to you may be one of the easiest of the group, since it begins with the very core of who you are. You must research, and if necessary, refound the Harpers. For a thousand generations, the Jedi… Sorry, wrong fantasy. Since near the dawn of recorded time, the Harpers have been the ones holding the candle in the darkness. They have always been a small, disparate force dedicated to doing what is right, at any cost. They fill many of the rolls, from tactical advisor to assassin, whatever must be done will. I do not know if there are any Harpers left in the world, but if there are, you will certainly be welcomed as a brother to them and if not, you must find other brothers to join with.

Do any of you have any questions?

As the High Priest of the Citadel, on occasion, I have been granted a short audience with Melf’s ghost. Upon your departure, his crypt was one of the first places I visited. His guidance has always proved advantageous to the Citadel. He spoke of you, the Saviors, and said you would be seeking Stephen.

Long ago, the tales of Stephen Amber fascinated me enough that I spent a great deal of time researching his legends. The first thing you should know is the Amber family is not from this plane of existence. They are from a plane that touched the Fey, the way the Fey touched Idera. This plane was small by our standards, and was a land of fear. Magic was outlawed and punishable by death. The Amber’s, being a family of wizards, could stay and give up the core of their being, or flee and flee they did. For time immeasurable, they wandered the planes, until they finally found Idera and settled here. With lifespans many times even that of an elf, and magic more powerful than any wizard here, they could have ruled this land. Wisely, Stephen, being the head of the family, would not allow it. Instead, he confined them to their massive mansion with only him having contact with the outside world. What has happened, or continues to happen inside the mansion, is anyone’s guess. It is my suspicion that great works of magic have occurred there but with the passing of so much time, anyone still confined there will almost certainly be insane. What became of Stephen is anyone’s guess, but from my communion with spirits not of this world, I believe he was imprisoned there, by his siblings, when he returned from creating the island.

The mansion is only 2 days travel by boat. If you have a map, I will be happy to show you how to get there.