Some thoughts on the Greater Halls:
Fascinating stuff – love the soul demon illustration, the effects of the various portraits and the plate-armored dragon.
Even better are the revelations: “Y” grows more mysterious, which was more than a little surprising. Other initial questions (which I don’t expect answers for, btw, I’m just thinking out loud):
- Why doesn’t Malcanthet get a portrait? Y hates her, I realize, but half the subjects in the room seem to hate the other half, anyway (Orcus/Demogorgon/Grazz’t, Yeenoghu/Baphomet, etc.)
- Shad-Duan – no mention of this guy anywhere, that I can tell, though given his name and title he may have a connection with the Cult of the Long Shadow. Is he the shadow figure that was attached to the red-haired woman (Wee Jas?)
- The pit from in the Orcus-portrait vision is, presumably, Elluvia’s Pit noted in Afelbain’s diary back in #112. “Where her creatures will fly to I have no clue” – well, I guess he figured it out.
- The boy (presumably Dalt). But what’s the way he is trying to open? And who’s trying to stop him? The Elders?
- Who destroyed Dalt’s portrait?
- What’s Fraz Urb’luu’s connection here? Was he a secret patron of the Maures? Is the lost staff mentioned his? (I’m guessing not – the history doesn’t jibe, as I think his staff was lost after the Maures disappeared). Also, Shad-Duan’s portrait says the staff must be found for “your sire” to return. And Fraz is already back.
- The Elders, who I had written off as a bunch of mysterious dead guys, may still be around. And the Eye of the Elder does something besides its listed abilities.
- Who’s Ill? And why did the Maures consider her a threat?
- Kerzit gets a painting. That’s more evidence that it was no accident that Eli Tomorast was in Maure Castle with the Tome of the Black Heart. He was following a trail — but to what? He finds the book in a curio shop. It leads him to the Lost City of the Elders (I’m presuming that’s how he got there) and to Maure Castle. His journeys have also included the Forgotten Temple of T. and Rauxes (pre-calamity? Probably). What’s he after?
Lots to ponder. Can’t wait to see what happens next. My only concern is that my group will be into epic levels by the time this finishes out.
