I was just guessing, but considering the long delay between D3 and Q1, I am probably mistaken. I think Gary not completing it was one of the reasons they gave it to somebody else.
I asked Paul if there was D3+ material. He confirmed there was, but I didn't ask for specifics.
Howdy Guys!
Yes, indeed the was material for D3+ but it essentially would have been the "Queen of the Demonweb Pits" as Gary envisaged it. Some of it occurs in Q1: The teleporter rooms and yochlol are Gary's concepts, as are the keys. Level 4 of ToEE is Gary's Demonweb and the titular pits are the four nodes. I have seen the keys and read the palimpsests, Level 4 plus the Fire, Earth, Water, and Air Nodes are Gary's D3+ or Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits.
The web (from the hand towel pattern) and the spider ship were Sutherland's. Dave told me he wanted the party to be in a situation where they couldn't possibly harm Lolth, couldn't get to her through all of the demons and spiders, and traps. Ultimately he saw this as a commando mission behind enemy lines, where the heroes snuck aboard a submarine, hiding and fighting guerilla battles, and forced to destroy it via sabotage. However, the development guys didn't think that was a fitting finale and changed it to a final, running battle against Lolth.
Other elements were created by other people, such as the drider, possibly Tim Jones', and spell alterations, Frank Mentzer.
As to D3, it is complete as Gary wanted it. However, there is no plot because Gary knew that depending on the player's interactions with the environment leading up to it would determine why they were there:
To avenge their loses versus the giants!
To hunt down the forces behind the giants!
To destroy the drow!
To destroy Eclavdra!
To destroy Lolth!
To destroy the Elder Elemental God!
To team up with the rakes to destroy the drow noble hierarchy!
To destroy the Fane!
To raid the riches of the Vault!
To explore the dark fairy underworld!
To free the enslaved masses!
To visit the dark fairy city of Erelhei Cinlu!
etc.
The climax could be in any number of situations. They could go down fighting in the Black Tower, meet their end in the city of Erelhei Cinlu, fight any number of noble houses, attack Ecalvdra at the House Eilservs estate, fight the Fane, engage Lolth herself, pass through the tapestry to the Demonweb, or have a the final battle against her in the hidden Temple of the Eye, or fight the Fane, engage Lolth herself, and pass through the tapestry to the Demonweb.
Back in 1984, our teen-aged group, led by my paladin, waged a guerilla war against the drow in the tunnels surrounding the city. Eventually, it became our mission to free every human or demi-human slave we encountered, even buying massive numbers of them in Erelhei Cinlu. It very nearly culminated in the final stand in the Black Tower but we made our escape. Finally, we decided to cripple the noble houses by destroying the Fane and Lolth, using a
limited wish to be ignored by evil creatures for the next 7 hours. We made our way to the Fane and wiped it out and then went on to Q1.
In my current campaign Eclavdra manipulated the party into attacking the Fane. The party teamed up with the rakes (who in turn were using the party to take down the nobles). However, at any time the party could have figured this out and made an assault against Eclavdra. In fact they did understand what was going on but helplessly went forward due to Eclavdra's machinations.
Here is the section of Campaign Journal where this transpires:
The Great Fane of LolthAs the party neared the center of the EGG an enormous squat, pagoda-like structure of the Great Fane came into view in the rusty-red light of the place. They could see the entire exterior was covered with many demon and spider statues. Open windows could be seen on every floor and before them rose the web like steps of black stone.
Oerul uttered and oath to Pelor, to bring light to this unwholesome place and to burn away it's evil presence, "Oh Great Pelor! By your Mighty Radiance destroy these foul people who dare to come and defile your people upon the face of the oerth who shelter under your light. May these people be destroyed!" Anders, then looked over his shoulder at Oerul, slapped Faela on the back, and said, "Ready!" Then Dorin, said, "Ready!" Then Morgond, and so on, until the company had declared it's commitment to the task and each other.
A few of the rakes, however, were having second thoughts and backed away a few steps. A stern glare from the bright orange eyes of their leader quickly steeled them for the assault. Up the stairs they went!
Once inside the massive building, they found the foyer of the place to be deserted! Walking to their left they could see an altar and a council chamber that they briefly glanced into from the foyer. Not even their footsteps echoed in the place as it was hung with long drapes of diaphanous material that billowed like cobwebs in the upper vaults of the place. Figuring the altar must be deeper within, the party moved down a wide center hall toward the heart of the evil Fane.
At the sight of this hallway, the rakes, Jelid, Nevid, and Lerim lost their nerve, turned and ran from the place. Nisylid, Derim's twin, stayed only after having been cajoled by his brother. Oerul, reassures the rest, reminding them of their success at the Lesser Temple.
Lorethin suggested they look in the opposite council chamber first but Lokari insisted they move on. The druid persisted, saying it would take only a second to take a look. Lokari and the rest of the party finally relented and stood in the central hallway awaiting Lorethin's reconnaissance.
The druid stole over to the doorway of the chamber and poked his head around the corner. Within the council hall at the end of a long stone table sat a strangely attractive drow female dressed in silver-embroidered black garments with a small black metal cap that allowed her silver hair to float free. Eclavdra! She smiled easily as her and Lorethin's eyes met.
The druid quickly ducked his head out of the doorway and hastily informed the party. The party girded themselves for a battle, established an attack rank, and moved in! Bristling for battle the party met the cool gaze from Eclavdra's violet colored eyes. "I was hoping you would show up", she said in lilting common speech. The party fidgeted with weapons, fumbled for material components and wiped away the beads of cold sweat from their brows. Eclavdra, the cause of all their troubles, pain, and grief over the last two years, sat before them only 20 feet away! She sat easily in a high-backed council chair reserved for nobles that sacrificed richly to Lolth. A piece of paper lay neatly before her on the polished stone table, the writing illegible at that distance. Her hands poised gracefully on the table, she remained perfectly still.
While some of the party, Zaelor and Lorethin in particular, have murder in their eyes, the rest of the party's bloodlust is chilled for the moment. Then Eclavdra spoke again, "I hope you are ready for the challenge that lies before you today." Lokari, in no mood for pleasant banter moved to the point and said, "Where have they taken our friends?" Eclavdra waved her hand in general toward the Great Fane standing around her and said, "Somewhere in the Great Fane. Charinida, Vlondril, and Inidil have taken them--"
Just then, Lorethin broke in and said, "You could have sacrificed them a long time ago. Why did you wait until now? Until we arrived?" Eclavdra inclined her head and with a coy smile said, "I think you are smart enough to know why I waited."
She glanced at Zuokar, who she had held captive and tortured beneath the Hall of the Fire Giant King, and saw the light of revenge in his eyes. Eclavdra leaned back once again, her hands resting easily on the table and asked, "Now are you going to attack me and waste your energies? Or are you going to save them for your real foe - The Demon Queen of Spiders?"
Lorethin, blurted in again and menacingly stated, "I have no quarrel with the Demon Queen of Spiders. It was not she that kidnapped the dwarven Crown Prince of the Lortmils". Again, Eclavdra replied, "If you wish to attack me that is your choice but you lack the strength to attack both the Fane and me. Do so and you will fail. Your friends
will die".
Oerul then queried, "Eclavdra, does this plan go higher than you?" Eclavdra replied, "Well, since you
are helping me, I can tell you it does not." Lokari, interjected and said, "What plan?" but Oerul ignored his question and continued to address the drow priestess, "I know that you wish to have Lolth defeated so that you can gain power--". And again Lokari interjected, "Lolth?" The party members began looking at each other as the window began to open upon Eclavdra's scheme.
Eclavdra smiled at Oerul, her white teeth like perfect matched pearls, "Very perceptive." A series of silent gasps passed through the group, their eyes widening at the realization of what they -- Eclavdra -- had them come to do.
Then Lokari said, "So where does this end Eclavdra? Do you invade the upper world again and call us to defeat you a second time?" The drow cleric replied with cool menace, "Perhaps, if you are still around but watch your tongue. You may have defeated my giant servants but it is
you who will be my servants now. I
will be Queen of the Vault of the Drow and you will put the crown upon my head!"
Lorethin, protested in disbelief, "And all of the drow will fall to worship the Elder Elemental God!?" Eclavdra turned to the druid and said, tilting her head as if to shrug off the importance of the Elder Elemental God, "If that is what gives me power." And then she smiled fiercely, looked from under her eyelashes with lust, and said with relish, "Because if I know your particular party, there will be no Demon Queen of Spiders left to worship."
"Hurry now. Not much time left."
Futures Bright,
Paul
