Church of Pelor

Pelor, god of the sun, The Shining One, always has a home for the poor and the sick.

A Church of Pelor has existed on the northeast edge of Cambrea for scores of years. When Cambrea built their fortified perimeter wall, they were sure to include the Church within it.

In Cambrea there exists a nasty guild whose members call themselves the Rats. It’s the only Rogue’s Guild in the city, and they prefer to keep it that way. Their specialization is in assassinations and kidnappings, and it is rumored that its members are all shape shifters and the initiation involved becoming infected and irreversibly bound to the clan.

Recently there have been a couple of strange fires in Cambrea and two sections of town were burnt and destroyed. Blame is everywhere. Some blame the 'Rats', others blame drunken dwarves and some say the old red wizard has finally gone insane.

The Church of Pelor is on the northeast edge of town and was spared from these fires. However, in the midst of the chaos throughout the city, a band of rogues moved in, took over, killed the priest and several others, and kicked the rest out.

The Rats only grudgingly acknowledge that this gang was made up of their own members, but they insist they have been expelled from the Guild.

Shawn McIntyre has for many years been a exemplary citizen of Cambrea. He is from a well-to-do merchant family specializing in imports, fine and exotic foods and drinks, minor magical items, and fine art.

Shawn, however, was also secretly a member of the Rats wherein he recruited members for his own business. With his connections with the city and the merchant business, he learned much of use to her as a bandit leader, such as which merchants were shipping what goods, and where, and when the law was hunting the bandits. His Band grew bolder with every success until at last he and its members were able to easily sack and usurp the Church of Pelor, a peaceful enclave of holy folk.

Shawn McIntyre took up residence in the Church and had intended to continue his deep-rooted business. His misplaced motivation, of course, was the new underground route.

The band’s power was not destined to last, however. The bandits went over the line and made many enemies when they sacked the Church, and soon word of their depredations reached the ears of many. Within days of their overly bold move, a troop of Cambrea soldiers stormed the Church.

Mr. McIntyre, her lieutenant Fergus, and others escaped, but many bandits were killed or arrested in the raid. Many informants were rooted out, and much of the spoils were recovered, but rumors of remaining treasure quickly surfaced.

As the weeks passed and the chaos of the area continued to erupt, the Church of Pelor played host to squatters, treasure seekers, additional raids, ne’er do-gooders, or perhaps the restless dead priest and acolytes. Some who enter did not return. More recently, lights have been seen in the Church at night, sometimes accompanied by the noises of intruders.

Security in Cambrea was causing a huge drain on resources, and they had been unable to secure the crime scene. Lord Torlin Lorchester, in collaboration with the Council of Pelor, issued a reward for returning the Church to its rightful inhabitants.

Everybody had guesses about what’s going on in the Church, but nobody was certain exactly what. A rumor of treasure persisted.

The church was in fact a haunt for trolls and will-o-wisps, then the spirit Naga Arysile took up residence there after meeting and slaying Shawn’s sole surviving lieutenant, the Halfling called Fergus.

There was still treasure hidden in the church; Arysile was able to wring the truth out of Fergus claim the church as his private hunting ground.

The Naga had enlisted the aid of two will-o’-wisps who at times lured victims back to the church. Arysile kept any treasure his victims had, while the will-o’-wisps fed upon the victims’ dying energies.

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Circling the building, barricaded cellar, corpse in the fountain next to a large hole…. Smartass Calador threw some fairy fire in that fountain to screw with his companions’ heads. Then climbing up the belfry housing the mostly ruined campanile, dispatching two will-o-wisps, clearing the narthex and front entrance.

Down the nave they went, jumped by bandits led by a kayak-wielding villain. More holes, an unnoticed bat familiar in the clerestory.

Former Pelor priests, now mummies guarding the altar and apse. The south transept housing the library, the elaborate fireplace. To the north transept, cautiously, ARGH - - it’s the spirit naga Arysile! The battle ensues, he lasts too long, charming Roland. The group of the fisted triumphs, the plot comes together. Alred’s plot on Torlin, Shawn’s treachery. Mark (with the bad breath) and Todd attempt to take the letters and flee.

The head of the naga posted outside the church to explain the circumstance. Fane sent to warn Torlin, bring back the city guards. Into the cellar, to the crypt, goes the party…

Clues of black market trade, an undisturbed crypt, then, TROLLS. But juvenile trolls. Secret door discovered leading out of the church basement. Long, dark, difficult passage out of the city. Lift shaft, trapped, with adult trolls at the top…

Stupid Shawn thought he could do a black market business at the expense of Pelor. Shawn and his lieutenant Fergus interrupted by Arysile. Alfred fled, Arysile killed Fergus, the trolls killed Shawn, the fisted killed Arysile.

So far it makes sense, but why are there trolls here? They don’t usually venture this close to Cambria…… back     more details