Unfortunately, this plot isn't a major concern and gameplay quickly dumbs down to all out D&D shenanigans. Depending on your point of view this may or may not be a good thing. TOEE follows the latest 3.5 D&D rules to the extreme and as such will send your mind leaping with bi-speckled joy or suffering severe vertigo depending on whether you are into true-RPG or pseudo-RPG (for example, naughty rule benders such as Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate). This is most evident in the distinct lack of character interaction and side quests that are subdued under the weight of a 176 page manual.