First experience at Epic D&D in 4th edition

Myself and the gang will be running a D&D 4e Game this Saturday night (April-18-09) this will be the groups first experience at epic level

I will be running the Delve Bahamut's Shame from the dungeon delve book.

Backstory

As the story goes, worshipers of Bahamut and worshipers of Gruumsh spent years warring. As the dead piled up, a Bahamut faitful crafted a weapon of devastating power. Most of the invetor's peers balked at its use, but some felt it was justified. Those few who used the weapon were twisted into mad, dark beings by its corrupting power. The rest of Bahamut's flock locked them and the weapon away in a dungeon prison.
The dungeon and its terrible secret were long forgotten-until a group of rakshasas happened across the ancient tale. Now they seek the weapon for their own designs.

Character Hook
Each character has some sort of connection, either to the item or to the rakshasas, most want to make sure the weapon does not fall into the wrong hands (like the rakshasas). Each character is aware of the other characters to a degree, some may have even worked together in the past.

Why Get Involved?
Good - This weapon is too powerful for mere mortals, it must be protected and ensured it does not get into the wrong hands.
Evil - Your familiar with the Rakshasas involved, you manged to piss one off and hate to see a weapon this powerful in his hands, when it can be in yours.
Guy with the Gun - Sounds fun, lets go.

Game Start
The game starts up after the party has already introduced one another, and have been traveling for 3 days towards this lost prison.

Players - Class - Roll
Jared - Bard - LEADER
Korey - Ranger - STRIKER
Dave - Sorcerer - STRIKER
Helen - Swordmage - DEFENDER
Eric - Barbarian - STRIKER
Deryk - Undecided
TJ - Undecided
Jeff - undecided

Altered Rules
This being an epic game, i have decided to alter the rules just a bit.
Instead of receiving normal magic items, players get the following slots avaible
22,21,20,18,18
They can drop any slot for any item of equal or lower value

History
Another rule i am doing is that since the party is unaware of each other, they are assigning history DC values to certain background items about their character. Again because all players are epic they should instantly know anything that is DC10, at this level even children are aware of who you are, they might not know you by face but songs and poems are written about you.