Episode 86 - The Council of Eight

After a rough night our heroes are not quite ready for their council meeting in the morning. Pelor’s Hope is a lot different from any city we have been to this campaign so they must be on their best behavior when they meet their leaders. Plus, it is the only city that we know still exists, which means it is the worlds only hope. Unless Jaela’s town is cool. Who can say?

## **Story**

After waking up from their strange dream of dragons with sand in their pants (or scales) the party is met by High Cleric Orville of Pelor. He welcomes Jaela to the Council of Eight meeting as the Representative of the Faith. They ask if there is food and since there is they decide to go.

At the meeting there is a Representative of the Arcane named Zird from The White Spire. Harper tries to reinstate the Harpers as one of the nine families of Pelor's Hope but is unsuccessful as there is only one of him left. Even if Adira Harper is alive the Harper family isn't strong enough to remain a high house. The members of the council then basically fill out the quest log for the next while by explaining what shit is going down in this demon ridden world:

* There is a gaping hole into The Abyss where the city of Caer once stood.
* Mind Flayers have taken residence in the Swamps of Ichtaka.
* A demonic gnoll army wandering around, led by Yeenoghu himself.
* An ancient red dragon has taken up rule of Mastwick.
* Somewhere the Church of Bahamut is resisting the demons and maybe raising an army.
* A coven of witches is going around and keeping people safe.
* A cult of Orcus in Pelor's Hope is trying to open another portal.

They also mention potentially getting help from the Dwarves in Deephome and the elves in Galanthis.

There is a lot of debate about what to do in what order because Harper also really wants to save his sister. Eventually they decide to get the Church of Bahamut to help them fight the gnolls and they will also try to rescue Harper's sister. Also Zird is going to come with them.

## **Trivia**

* First appearance of Zird.
* It is said that Mind Flayers have taken up in The Swamps of Ichtaka, but seeing as how much time is spent there later with no mention of them, this plot point may have been forgotten about/dropped.
* First mention of Deephome *(I think)*.
* First mention of Galanthis *(I think)*.
* Origin of the joke that Nika and Jennifer Cheek are the same person named Girl, who plays Jaela and Aludra.

## **In This Episode...**

### **Cast and Player Characters**

* Michael DiMauro - *Dungeon Master*
* Tim Lanning - Lord Titus Harper
* Jennifer Cheek - Aludra Wyrmsbane
* Mike Bachmann - Thom Vidalis
* Nika Howard - Jaela

### **Non-Player Characters**

* High Cleric Orville of Pelor
* Zird the Arcane

## **Quest Log Updates (jesus christ)**

* [On-hold] - End the Demon Apocalypse by destroying the Demon Portal
	+ [On-hold] - Find the Demonomicon
* [Active] - Find Adira Harper
	+ [Active] - Investigate the "Devil" situation northwest of Mastwick
* [On-hold] - Find Bucky
	+ [On-hold] - Investigate the "Gnoll" situation southwest of the burning hole where Caer used to be
* ~~[Complete] - Speak to the Council of Eight~~
	+ ~~[Failed] - Get House Harper reintated into the Council~~
* [NEW][Optional] - Clean up Drunkeros
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Investigate the Mind Flayers in the Swamps of Ichtaka
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Investigate Yeenoghu's Army
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Investigate Pyre ruling Mastwick
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Investigate The Coven of witches
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Investigate the Church of Bahamut's army
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Stop the Cult of Orcus in Pelor's Hope from opening a second Demon Portal
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Recruit the assistance of the Dwarves in Deephome
	+ [NEW][Optional] - Recruit the assistance of the Elves in Galanthis

### **Quotes**

**"A new adventure... fucking begins. Bitch."** ~ *Lord Titus Harper*