Bäzíel's Message to the Party

"Peace Clara, my cleric, and peace be to you, her companions. I come to you with ill tidings, news of peril that will affect the world as you know it. I am Bäzíel Ästerí, queen of stars, goddess of light and wisdom, and servant of the Ä'Mäním and the Yom'Ätíq. Hear now my tale.   Long ago, the Ä'Mäním, through the power and authority of the Yom'Ätíq, created the deities. These are the gods, goddesses, and demi-gods and demi-goddesses you all know. And some you do not. There was one who was special and ranked far above the others. He was Pereiän, and he was charged with the lights of the world. He became consumed with the power of the Feiros, the wondrous crystal that powers the great Toikō. He tricked its guardian, Ouphäntés, and stole the Feiros shrouding the Toikō into darkness.   Realizing what he had done and the great doom that was now upon him, Pereiän would use the Feiros to gain allies. He broke 4 small pieces from the Feiros, each one turning a different color as it broke free of the whole. The red stone he named Roumpíní, the green stone he named Smärägdí, the blue stone he named Zäfeirí, and the clear stone he named Daimäntí. The Feiros that remained continued to shimmer with different colors as before, although diminished into more of a glow rather than a radiance. He would give one of the four stones to each of the people groups. The stones had power, but not like the Feiros. He found that he could control the stones, and to some extent all those who possessed them and yielded to their beauty. His possession of the Feiros gave him some power over the elements, but he could not control the Feiros directly. It would give him power, but it would not yield to his desire to control it. The stones’ power can only be harnessed if given willingly by the previous owner, or if the previous owner is dead.   He had his most success with the fey, as they were the most susceptible to the Feiros‘ power. It was to a certain band of hobgoblin, called the Telkí, that he entrusted the Roumpíní. Through it he controlled them, and through them he controlled the rest. They were organized, powerful, and cunning. They sowed fear of other races into the hearts of fey creatures. They also unified the fell races against the power of good.   To the humans he gave Zäfeirí. He found their desire for control to be their downfall. They would use Zäfeirí to control others, and when that failed, to dominate them.   To the dwarves he gave Smärägdí, for their weakness was greed. They used Smärägdí to improve their craftsmanship, which now gave them the power to work even the most stubborn metal. Their eyes turned to their work and they cared not for the problems of the world or others, but only in the wealth of their craft and in what others would give for it. These dwarves darkened and became the Düergär. The other dwarven kingdoms had little to do with the selfish and corrupted Düergär.   To the elves he gave Daimäntí. Most of the elves shunned Pereiän, for they sensed something not right in him. They called him Näpel, the Fallen.   The other gods finally began to realize Pereiän’s treachery. Hexfäs came to the cavern to check the Toikō, to see what was leading the peoples on the path of immorality and evil. He found the darkened Toikō, and the collapsed form of Ouphäntés. Hexfäs was not able to revive Ouphäntés, though he was still alive. Hexfäs gathered the other deities together in a council. By this time Pereiän was able to sway some of the other gods, which prevented the council from acting against him.   It was not long after the council that a new race was discovered. The dragonborn fully embraced the power of good and seemed to know that Näpel was the real enemy. They swore oaths to bring Näpel to justice and sought to brighten the world that had been darkened by his treachery.   Now the end is drawing near. Näpel is gathering his forces for a final showdown with the power of good. The Telkí have amassed a massive army of fell races, and plan on completely destroying all forces of good and the innocent. The only way to stop the annihilation is to gather the 4 stones, restore the Feiros, and then set it back into its place in the Toikō.   I will aid you when I can on your quest. Clara may call me, and I will come as I can. These words will be burned into you. You will not forget them.   This is the crossroads. The paths ahead lead to great peril. The path home leads to the ruin of all. May Yom'Ätíq be with you."