Aftermath

Mayor Norvel's office openly criticizes the watch for not being up to the task of stopping The Bastards of Erebus. They point out that the city would be in much worse shape if they mayor had not requested The Children of Iron Crown to solve the banditry problem. That Iron Crown can't solve it's own problems with its illustrious institutions of order is recognized as a failing of monumental proportions, an indication that discipline is lacking, but a problem the city is especially capable of handling, thanks to the teachings of Vlaakith. The watch commander for the Freeman's Ward is charged with incompetence and executed the next morning. His family is deported, simply thrown outside the city gate. The feeling is that this will certainly solve the problem.

While the party recovers from its wounds, Vivia quietly organizes a small funeral for Tor Silverkind. Part of the story of The Children of Iron Crown's defeat of The Bastards of Erebus is Tor's inspiring humming before being cut down by the tieflings. Rumor spreads about Tor's funeral. A procession from the Craftsman's Ward to The Necropolis on the other side of the city is arranged, thanks to an old borrowed horse from one of the Child's uncles and a borrowed cart with a wobbly wheel. Several bards from The Cloud Theater join the procession, attracting quite a bit of attention.

As the procession moves slowly through the city, stopping occasionally to adjust the broken wheel, a small group of Iron Crown citizens begins to follow, humming along with the bards. The bards keep it solemn, but also foster a more celebratory spirit for the fallen hero. The procession grows larger as it moves through town, also attracting the attention of the city watch, who fidget nervously at the unauthorized procession. As the funeral procession reaches the Temple Ward, the city watch stops it at the gate, announcing that the group is in violation of the law and that they are guilty of engaging in an unlawful parade without the correct permits.

The humming gets louder and several in the crowd, which now has over fifty people, yell at the watch to leave them alone and go do their job. The watch captain looks on shocked and astonished, not sure whether to order his men to fire on the angry crowd with their crossbows or to let them through. The situation is diffused when an older man in dark armor, standing atop the wall, motions for the watch captain to allow the procession through. He is later identified as Patronicus Drendane, a high ranking signifier from The Order of the Scourge.

A few days after the funeral, the town returns to normal and talk moves on to other matters, mostly about entertainment and the theater.

Story of Destor

Destor was once an adventuring monk in a prime material world. He was good friends with Doraedian Mythlord. They both had a love for nature, Destor his jungle home far to the south, and Doraedian the deep elven forests to the west. They traveled on many adventures, fighting tyranny and evil. Over a couple of decades, their adventuring party changed composition many times, as brave heroes fell and new ones took their place. Yet Destor remained unscathed through almost every trial, and as his friendship with Doraedian grew, the elf also remained unharmed.

For a short time they both retired, Doraedian running a temple to the elven gods and Destor running a monastery deep in his jungle home. The domestic life was not for them, and eventually they started up their company and traveled the planes, settling in Iron Crown. Back when the city-state was a military outpost, just getting started. They were able to satisfy their desire to settle down by helping the young city thrive, while at the same time taking part in adventures to other planes from this central location. Back then, it was said, planar conjunctions opened more frequently and there was more opportunity to travel, although this also meant fighting horrible monstrosities that entered the astral.

Destor's excellent luck continued and on one adventure with Doraedian, he came upon the Starstone, a powerful artifact that could turn one into a god or destroy your soul forever. It seemed to be luck of the draw, and many a brave adventurer had ended their career during this period by touching the Starstone. Destor touched it of course, and never one to be without great luck, instantly became a living god.

Destor returned to Iron Crown where he quickly attracted followers. Initially they built him a house of worship  in the temple ward, but a series of calamities made it clear that good luck from Destor came at a price, usually bad luck visited upon ones neighbors. His temple was relocated underground, where the threat of seemingly random mayhem was lessened. Over time, with his temple out of sight and his worship a mixed blessing, the number of Destor's followers dwindled.  Over the subsequent two thousand years, the old temple district was abandoned and a new one built above it.

A small Destor cult kept the faith alive until thirty years ago, when the rise of Vlaakith resulted in a scourge of many smaller religions. Only his old friend Doraedian remained a Destor worshipper, whispering a single prayer to his old friend each night, along with the elven gods of his ancient home world pantheon. Destor is dying. It's a bitter experience for a god, but nothing lasts forever.

A god slain before his prime might create a giant explosion, ripping a hole in time and space, devastating entire cities, or taking down an entire world. A god who dies with a whimper fades away, perhaps with unusual events surrounding his passing, but in most cases it's not a noteworthy occasion. Regardless of how a god dies, the flesh and blood of a god has great power according to Requiem for a God, an ancient tome on the topic. As Doraedian Mythlord explains, it is Destor's wish to have his body used in such a fashion, to create an artifact that may turn the tide against the devil worshipers of Iron Crown. Or perhaps Destor will still live with the recounting of his tale by a charismatic bard? Luck is on his side.

Descent to Destor

The mission: Travel to the Temple of Destor and return a holy relic that might prove useful to the cause. It’s located within a ziggurat in the temple.

The client: Doraedian Mythlord, the leader of the elven community in Iron Crown.

Payment: Each party member was given a Cloak of Elvenkind in advance.

Details: The temple is under the Temple Ward, off the Avenue of 1000 Gods. Access is through an abandoned shrine to Shevarash (Elven god of vengeance).  Only an elf can open the temple door. This leads to the sewers and to an ancient bluesteel door, an entrance to Ghul’s Labyrinth.  This leads to the ancient temple district of Old Iron Crown. Here you will find the Temple of Destor.