The World of Telvar

There are several stepping stones in this process:
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1) Observatory/Base Camp construction. This is for closer access to Tan-El
than we already have and for slowly securing a path of access to the city.
It is between Middle and Tan-El.
2) Removal of the Behir. Despite the fact that this might otherwise be
just considered a "threat" to be taken care of, the Behir is of such power
that its removal is considered imperative for future expeditions.
3) Occupation of a section of the city (say, the Gate House, or the old
Ogre territory, or the Castle), with total "scrubbing" of every square inch,
following.
4) Clearing of farm-land and setting of guarded lands about the city.

"Threats of Tan-El by The Sphinx"
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1) Ghouls, the Undead everywhere, loosely aligned.
Comment: With GP and Sacrol gone, other undead must be removed slowly,
after other threats are dealt with, and as we sweep the city.
2) Ants NE in city. Must come up with ways to kill off colony.
3) Demonspawn Castle They have been removed, at least to a great
degree. If they return, we kill them, until they don't return anymore.
4) Bugbears more than we would guess. Need to be removed, but we can
probably scare off a lot of them. some have already left.
5) Golems gotta watch for "large city-disrupting force"
6) Mites many tribes. must be removed. 2 tribes down, some more to
go, not a huge challenge.
7) Hidden, dormant things (lots)

The major threat remaining is the Ants. We hope to bend the Golems to our
will ultimately.

Forces of Supernatural/Pure Evil in Tan-El
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1) Tellah. Librarian of the Tan-El Library. His powers are greatly
addled, but his immortality/invincibility appears to still be in effect. He
is sponsored by an Unnamed evil deity, and during his life he killed good
deities Devas [and Edwin claims it says he defeated "two planetars," though
he didn't kill THEM and make headresses out of their feathers, but this is
speculation and hear-say] and thousands of other people. He admits that the
story is true, but maintains that his motivations are different from the
story that is contained in the library. The sponsorship by the evil deity
appears still to be current, since the binding magic we do not think
actually prolonged his life, but was just to limit his powers.
Doesn't like us, but has to put up with us. He can use his powers to
protect the library, and there is some thought that arousing his ire could
cause him to be released.
Divination: Very powerful creature.
"To shatter the retardation of the powers there is beyond your reach"
Some winner auguries about doing various things to Tellah:
"Partial success would result in the deaths of thousands of innocents."
"Vast disappointment will surround any unlikely survivors."
"Only vast disaster will result."
"Wounds will be nursed with the small comfort of disturbing answers."
Even worse is that all of this, especially the first two, would occur in 30
minutes or less....

2) Evil ooze of Tyner's tower.
Behind a heavily hybrid-trapped door is a being of pure evil in some kind of
black, highly magical tar (The Alchemist didn't like the sample of the
"essence of pure evil" we brought him; we still have it, in a nice lead
box). Whether the being is confined, free, alive, dead, happy or unhappy to
see us is unknown. The essence has leaked down from the uppermost level(s)
of the pagoda-like tower into a lower level. It does not appear to have had
ill effects on the lower level, other than a big stain on a carpet. Despite
everything else being maintained in glorious condition by magic and golems,
this stain has not been cleaned. The doors that lead upward are the trapped
ones, as is another door we have not been in. I just noticed the Alchemist
specifically said "the essence of a being of hideous evil, encased in tar."
3500 years or so has passed since anyone other than us visited the tower.

3) The Castle's Lawful Evil force.
It does not consist of Undead, Kobolds, Behir, or Mites, was not released by
the destruction of the GO. It IS supernatural evil. It is clear that
several combo portcullises and bronze (not brass) doors in the castle are
either holding back the LE force or are in some way involved with holding
it/them back. Auguries of opening them:
"Many would be mourned."
"Much grief would result."
Not quite Tellah-level, I know, but they were "vastly dominant" in the
Castle, and there was a much larger chance of disturbing them. The
creatures as a whole (including dead GO) are "vastly powerful." This could
actually imply a level of power above Tellah's. Khahoatep, whose coins we
have recovered quite a number now, greatly altered the Castle. The
alterations are unknown (probably secret) though strange holding cells were
built, involving distilled water and great panes of glass. It is not clear
whether the water system connects to the castle or not, but the main prisons
for Tan-El were under the castle. These bits of information may be relevant
or not... :)

4) GP/Sacrol. Destroyed.

Now the important question: Why are there so many forces of supernatural
evil in the area? The GP/Sacrol was probably "neutral evil," in the force
of its control, anyway. The Castle's force is lawful evil. We don't know
about Tyner or Tellah, but the creatures are clearly evil of some kind.

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So, now we march on, hoping that the efforts are not fruitless, and that all
of these forces of evil may be neutralized (and hopefully/or) destroyed and
our plans for colonization may continue.

Also of note: Tan-El is the "Tunn-el" city which leads to another city, the
capital of its civilization, high in the mountains. A tunnel leads there.
We have not been there, but it is commonly called the City of the Gods, or
the City of Gold, etc.

Kyle/Alegra