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Chapter 3: The Temple of All-Consumption

Turn 64: The Water Temple

“Both faith and logic would dictate we explore the hole,” said Sparhawk, “for after all, wert else wouldest thou hide an entrance to a Water Temple except in water?”

“I agree,” said Danton, “with two caveats. First, we cannot go until Tenaris is feeling capable -- we art all in generally good health, but until her weakness passes, we cannot go. Alternatively, if we cannot wait, I wilt remain with Tenaris here until the group returns.”

”I can control the water for another forty minutes or so,” commented Luger, “and I can cast the spell once more today if need be. We can always recon the tunnel to see how far it continues before committing to it. We may find it just leads to the lair of that dead creature.”

“To tell the truth,” mused the cleric, “I'm more concerned by the fact that Nanoc and all other corpses from the past couple of days have been cleaned out. Who exactly would do this and who would have fought all those guards and dogs? When I first saw all those bodies, I thought maybe Nanoc had risen and slain them, but then I do not think Nanoc would carry away the giant and chimera.”

”I suppose it is possible that the denizens of this foul place have enough sense to remove such things before disease spreads, but why were those other bodies left? Does the cleaning staff only work every other day or simply clean the tunnels in sections?” asked Luger with a shrug.

”In any case,” he added, “Those guards were killed by fire and blades. If that doesn't point to followers of the Fire Temple, I don't know what does. I very much fear what an evil priest might do with all of those bodies - especially Nanoc. This place just keeps getting better and better...”

“Nanoc's missing body is a bona fide mystery,” replied Danton, “especially under the context. If the body had simply been missing, I would have chalked it up to either some foul carrion-munching beast or, worse, to capture by the enemy. Now, methinks 'twas not eaten but was, for certain, captured ... the question is by whom?

I suppose there is another option, as hath been mentioned: could Aseneth have returned and raised her former lover -- and then the two of them battled against foes? Hmm. But there wert also arrows among the slain, and neither Nanoc nor Aseneth would seem to use arrows. The mystery deepens.”

”And let us not also forget,” continued Danton, “there is also the matter of Mereclar's claim that ‘word from above’ instructed him to grant us free passage. Frankly, methinks such word was given by enemies of the Earth Temple, who delighted in that temple's destruction and who hope that 'Delchin' -- at the command of the sultry Princess of Blackmoor -- wilt cause further woe to their enemies. This much seemeth plain: we hath been granted free entry because our presence seemeth useful to someone else's own purposes. Most curious.”

”As to the hole in the southern wall, why not take the balance of you -- leaving me with Tenaris for the present -- and simply do what Luger hath mentioned: conduct a quick recon? Luger hath spoken mine own thoughts: methinks the hole leadeth to the foul water-woman's lair, and she might hoard treasure there. If it leadeth to a larger complex, then return and we shalt all go together.”

Danton looked down at this point to where Tenaris still half-sat, half-lay in the boat in which she and Danton had crossed the lake.

”What sayeth thou, O Lady of Winter, mine most Terrible Princess, She-Who-Is-Not-To-Be-Named, mine mistress Ventanarix, Cruel Dominatrix of Blackmoor?”

Danton could not help but notice that Sparhawk scowled visibly at this comment, but then his attention was drawn back to Tenaris, who said:

“All I know is I'm not even sure I could lift my sword right now, much less fight with it. Ugh.”

“Yea, thou art correct to hazard that the hole may simply be the creature's lair,” said Sparhawk with a shake of his head. “We shalt see. I shalt be willing to go with Luger and Syll. If it is simply the mermaid's lair then we shalt loot it and be done with the business.”

“All right the, let’s roll,” said Syll, scampering back up the wall of the cavern using his temporary spider climbing abilities.

After Danton helped Tenaris out of the boat and onto the rocky ground, Sparhawk and Luger removed the party’s equipment from the boat and then pushed it back out onto the water. Although they would still be able to walk on the surface of the lake for the same amount of time as Luger continued to hold down its level, it seemed a wise precaution to take the boat along on their scouting mission.

With Syll providing cover from overhead, the paladin and cleric walked along the edge of the lake, pulling the boat behind them with a rope attached to its front, until they reached the tunnel leading south. Ducking slightly, the pair went through a fifteen-foot long tunnel that would normally have been filled with water. They then emerged into a second cavern, the bottom of which was completely filled with water. The cavern was roughly oval in shape, running fifty feet east to west and twenty-five or so feet north-south. Judging by the damp areas on the walls above, the cavern would normally have been almost entirely filled with water, with only a small air-filled area near the top, but now the water level was much reduced.

"Good,” said Sparhawk when he saw that there were no other obvious exits. “I am relieved that all of you wert correct in assuming this foul hole wert only the inhabitance of the wicked sea-creature.  Still, best be on thy guard of anything untoward.  Mayhaps, there is an angry denizen wishing to exact its foul revenge on us for our good deed or for traps she hath laid.  Let us quickly search this place for anything useful and be off." 

High up on the northern wall was a ledge that jutted out into the cavern. Normally it would have extended just above the surface of the water, but now it was a good eight feet above Sparhawk and Luger’s heads. When Syll came through the tunnel and into the cavern, he crawled up the side of the wall to where he could see what, if anything, was atop the ledge. As soon as the top of the outcropping came into view, the elf called out:

“Hey! There are a couple of guys up here in manacles! They look like they’re in pretty bad shape!”

The two human males Syll saw were both dressed in damp rags and had long hair and beards. One lay motionless on his back, while the other sat with his back against the cavern wall and stared blankly across the cavern. Both were held in place by heavy iron manacles connected to chains and spikes that had been pounded into the ledge. The man sitting up whimpered softly at the sight of Syll, but otherwise neither one reacted to his presence in any way.

Hearing Syll’s words, Luger cast a Detect Evil spell, and concentrated on the ledge and the area around it. Sensing nothing untoward, he called out:

“Can you see any way to free them?”

Syll jumped off the wall and landed lightly on the ledge. Neither of the chained men reacted.

“It looks like there are locks on both sets of manacles? Did you find any keys when you looted that thing in the lake, Sparhawk?”

Holding his torch in one hand, the paladin opened the small pouch he had taken from the dead creature with his other hand. Inside were four large pearls, what looked like a potion vial, and a large metal key. Sparhawk removed the key and held it up while Syll crawled back down the wall to take it from him. The elf then made his way back up to the ledge and used the key to unlock both of the catatonic men. Although the one sitting against the wall grunted and drooled a bit, there were no other reactions.

Taking advantage of his Detect Evil spell, Luger concentrated on the remaining items Sparhawk had taken from the monster-woman in the lake. None of them gave off any fell emanations.

Although the two men did not resist in any way and although both were thin and light from obvious borderline starvation, it was still a difficult task for Syll to carry them down the wall one at a time and hand them to Sparhawk, who deposited each man in the boat. While the elf and paladin were occupied with this task, Luger took possession of the dead creature’s belongings from Sparhawk, examined them in the light from the paladin’s torch, and then cast two more spells, Detect Magic and Read Magic. The first spell showed that both the presumed potion and the runed bracers were magic. The second incantation allowed Luger to read the runes on the bracers, and he saw that they proclaimed the glory of Kord, god of strength. Making a mental note of all of this, the cleric turned his attention back to Syll and Sparhawk when the other two had the pair of catatonic men in the boat.

"Something to keep in mind gentlemen: Danton's concern for Tenaris, though truly heart warming,” he said sarcastically, “presents a problem for us. If Danton is going to rush to her side in the middle of a skirmish every time she falters, it could have serious repercussions for one or all of us. I would suggest that in any battle plans we make, we take this into account and assign Danton to fight—or whatever it is he does—alongside Tenaris so as not to leave one of us open to attack should he suddenly decide to leave our side to tend to his woman."

“There is a strange interplay between Danton and the lady, methinks,” said Sparhawk. “What strange sexual game they play is beyond me. They should spend a bit more time on battling the forces of evil and reveling in the chastity that Heironeous gifts us than flirting incessantly like a barwench and drunken customer. I also hath wondered whether Danton wouldst seek to protect the lady in battle, whatever the tactical imprudence of the moment. We wilt see I suppose, for good or ill.”

Syll laughed. “Man, you don’t get out enough, Sparhawk. If you’re upset by the cheesy banter between those two, I hate to think how you’d react if we ever took you to the West End Cantina in Woodstock!”

“I would never set foot in such a place!” bellowed the paladin. “But please, Heironeous, grant Danton and Tenaris the chastity to remain pure in thy eyes and show them the light of goodness.”

"Amen,” agreed Luger, “but I wouldn’t count on it. Honestly, if I did not think Tenaris' sword could aid us, I'd suggest Delchin and his mistress go away from here and leave saving the world to the men. I do not wish to cause more strife by confronting the happy couple with this, but from a tactical standpoint, we need to take this weakness into consideration."

Even Syll nodded at this point. “We’ll have to take it into account in our planning, I agree. We should avoid assigning Danton any role in which it might be crucial for him to take other actions in a situation where Tenaris might come to harm. Otherwise it seems clear what would happen. But for now, let’s get the blazes out of here before all our magic wears off and we end up trapped in here by floods of returning water.”

***

While the others made their way back across the lake and through the passage to the south, Danton tried to find a place for himself and Tenaris to hide out of immediate sight of anyone who might emerge from either of the two tunnels leading off to the east. Normally this would have been virtually impossible because the ‘beach’ on the eastern end of the Dark Lake was so small, but now, because of the lowered water level, there was a ‘dry’ area at the northeastern end of the lake where the pair could stand or sit and have some degree of cover from both tunnel entrances.

After the others had disappeared through the watery passage, Danton spoke in low tones:

“So, mine Dark Lady, perhaps you might take advantage of this brief respite to tell me more of life in Celene and the artistic and cultural accomplishments of the high elves. Surely the poetry, painting, sculpture, drama, and the like must be beyond compare.”

“I feel like I’ve been run over by an ox-cart, Danton,” breathed the elf, who sat weakly with her back against the rocks of the cavern wall. “If anyone’s going to be doing any talking, it’ll have to be you.”

“Very well,” said the scout, pausing for a moment to think of a story that might show him in the best possible light. “Since you hath expressed interest in Verbobonc, Furyondy, Veluna, Ket and the other countries surrounding Celene, perhaps a tale of the adventures of Danton Verbrugge in Ket might speed your recovery.”

“Sure,” said Tenaris with a nod. “Anything to take my mind off how rotten I feel.”

“There came a time during mine stay in Ket in the employ of the Velunese state…really only a few months after I’d been there … that I finally got an opportunity to make a valuable contact in the Ketite ministry of war. The man wast a logician by trade, and he wast a civilian, not a soldier. I imagine that logistics is a pretty boring thing to think about day in and day out, but, as I’m sure you know, Tenaris, ‘tis a critically important thing during war.”

“I suppose,” said the woman softly. “Elven armies tend to live off the land.”

“Indeed?” asked Danton. “You must tell me how such a feat is accomplished, but as you are weakened, that shall be a tale for another day. In any case, mine old mentor used to say that an ‘army travels on its stomach,’ and methinks that’s true enough. At any rate, I became aware that this logician used to frequent a tavern, and so I occasionally met him there … ‘coincidentally,’ naturally … to develop rapport with him. I also took the opportunity to shadow him and got to know all his important locales, such as his church, his home … and his mistress’s home.”

Tenaris looked for a moment as if she wanted to say something, but then reconsidered and remained silent.

“…that sort of thing. Well, I took the liberty of hiring a minor local wizard who had the ability to ‘record’ events by way of an ensorcelled crystalline cube, and I snuck this wizard and his cube into the mistress’s home one evening … where the logician wast duly recorded in flagrante with his mistress. With the cube as evidence of the same, the next time I met the logician in the tavern, I explained to him the benefit of cooperating with me. ‘Twas in that way that I gained regular reports and insights into the Ketite ministry of war … and the logician kept his marriage and reputation.”

“If his wife had any brains, she would have known anyway,” said Tenaris. “She should have gotten rid of such a pathetic man. Or,” added the elf with a slight smile, “she could have simply removed the offending part of his body. That’s what Ventanarix would do, don’t you think?”

Danton was taken by a coughing fit and felt a sudden need to go and check the two passageways to be sure no threats were near.

***

Not long after Luger, Sparhawk, and Syll returned, the water level in the Dark Lake returned to normal, leaving the party, the two boats, and the two men that had been rescued from the other cavern all crowded together in the small stretch of rocky shore that remained when the water came back.

It was clear that the party would have to make a decision what to do with the two catatonic men, since it was obvious that, unlike Rolf and Gerd, the two hunters the group had rescued from the clutches of the Earth Temple, these men were in no shape to make their way out of Mount Stalagos on their own. For now, the two men remained in the bottom of one of the boats, while the party plotted its next moves.

“Aside from the decision that must be made what to do with these men,” said Danton, “we art left with an additional choice: do we take the northernmost tunnel with torchlight beyond or the southernmost tunnel with natural light? Mine thought is that we should go the route of torchlight, primarily since such an area must be occupied. A torch only burns for so long, after all, and someone must light them. So if we are looking for people to capture, interrogate and kill, that seems the best bet. The only caveat is that we ought to be in good health when we enter the corridor, so our Dark Princess must be fully reinvigorated.”

Sparhawk exchanged glances with Luger and said, “A question or two before we plunge into this hole. What is our plan? Art thou going to continue to assume the role of Delchin? What wilt be our marching order? Art we agreed on a point at which we shalt fight if they art suspicious? More than one question, I admit, but I am just trying to anticipate the choices we may face. We did well back there on the lake and want to continue this path of success.”

“Good questions, Sir Sparhawk,” agreed Danton, “and there is no easy answer, methinks. Mine continuing ruse as 'Delchin,' servant of the exquisite Princess of Cruelty, might serve us well ... or not. It hath gained us reentry into the temple, and the trogs upon which we stumbled gave us a wide berth. That is true enough. But if we art entering the Water Temple and if they hath been advised of our role in the destruction of the Earth Temple, they might fear our presence and attack right away.

Ultimately, the best answer to your question would require knowledge that we doth not possess: exactly who hath told Mereclar to permit our reentry and for what purpose? Because we doth not have this information, the continuing 'Delchin' ruse can only be a gamble. Given to the right person, it might open further doors. To the wrong person, it shall bring immediate violence or, perhaps worse still, calculated ambush in force. And, bear in mind, though we hath Sparhawk's able swordarm, we art without Nanoc's axe. Meaning no offense to our knight, Nanoc is not easily replaced, and I doth not fancy a pitched battle wherein we must face rank upon rank of concerted opposition as we hath done at the Earth Temple and the bridge.”

”On the other hand,” continued Danton, “if we chose to discontinue the 'Delchin' ruse, who would we claim to be? Yet another group of outsiders wandering about the temple complex? That might seem too incredible to be believed. Yet, if we claim to be insiders, from what temple shall we claim to have originated? And can we prove it, or wilt our ignorance unmask us? On balance, methinks we should continue the 'Delchin' ruse until it runs its course. That way is hardly without risk, as I hath explained, but I see no better alternative. What do you two think, Luger and Syll? And what is thy bidding, mine Lady of Dark Design?”

“I agree on using the 'Delchin' approach until we have some specific reason not to do so,” said Tenaris. “Although it would probably be more effective if any rabble we run into see more consistent groveling to Ventanarix on the part of all her underlings...”

Sparhawk rolled his eyes and sighed audibly.

“But,” interjected Syll, “what happens if we try the ‘Delchin’ bit with someone who doesn’t buy our story and insists on taking us to the authorities, such as they may be in this foul place? If we couldn’t talk our way out of it, what happens then?”

“Laying down mine sword to be eaten alive in this wretched hive of scum and villainy is not exactly an idea that I would hold close to mine breast,” said Sparhawk, welcoming the distraction from Danton and Tenaris. “I wilt take mine chances wielding Justice and performing mine humble role in saving the world and ridding it of evil.“

”We should do so wisely and only as a last resort however,” continued the paladin. “Let us align ourselves, mages, fighters, and healers so that we have the best defense possible in case the foul demons figure out our ruse and try to ambush us…or,” he paused, chuckling at the irony of what he was about to say, “arrest us and take us to the properly constituted authorities of this Temple of Doom.”

“Methinks I agree with Sir Sparhawk,” said Danton. “Once the veil hath been pierced -- or hath met firm skepticism -- methinks we shouldst take our chances, then and there, at a violent solution. Mine thinking is that, on balance, waiting for further enemies to show up in greater intensity probably isn't wise. I can actually conceive of circumstances where it might not be such a bad move -- a higher-up could conceivably be in league with this mysterious benefactor of ours within the temple and might, on this basis, actually smooth over the impasse -- but methinks 'tis not worth the gamble.”

”Besides,” said Danton, flashing his best devil-may-care grin, “at a bare minimum, out-and-out violence doth not necessarily disabuse the 'Delchin' ruse. We hath destroyed the Earth Temple for its impertinence, so why stop now? After all, Delchin the Despicable grovels for no one ... save, p'raps, his high-maintenance Dominatrix of Dread.”

Tenaris smiled at this comment, but Sparhawk looked as if he might be sick.

“While in the other cavern, I had a chance to analyze these bracers,” said Luger. “The runes name them Bracers of Kord. Since Kord is a god of combat and strength, if I had to guess, I would say these bracers are likely imbued with enhancements to strength or fighting prowess. Perhaps Tenaris can regain some of her lost strength by wearing these.”

The cleric handed the runed bracers to the woman, who looked them over and then began to strap them onto her arms.

“Peter also recovered four pearls and a potion from that horror in the lake. Perhaps Syll could take, identify, and make use of the potion, while the rest of us each take a pearl. They are rather large and should bring a good return outside this hell-hole.”

“Finally,” said the cleric, “I will continue to look for evil while the effects of my spell remain. Let us be on our way while the spell remains available to us.”

“Nicely done, good Luger,” said Danton. “And methinks you art correct regarding the bracers -- they would be most appropriately placed upon Tenaris, especially under her current straits.”

“I do feel a bit better—stronger now,” said Tenaris in amazement as she stood up, looking back and forth between the bracers on her arms and the other party members. “I’m still not in the best shape, but I think I could at least walk and hold a sword now. How effective I’ll be, I don’t know, but I think I can at least be mobile.”

“You are sure of this?” asked Danton with obvious concern.

Tenaris nodded. “We can’t just sit here for days waiting for a full recovery.”

Sparhawk withdrew Justice and said, “Enough talk, let's go!”

“Very well,” said Danton, “let us determine what lies ahead and then decide what we can best do for these poor abused sods in the boat.”

"Sirs,” said the paladin with a bow. “I am pleased to go first and shalt lead, but if our good guide here believes he canst move more steathily and wants to lead, I hath no objection. Otherwise, Justice and I shalt lead and see where this tunnel leadeth." 

With Sparhawk thus taking on the role that Nanoc had previously performed and accompanying Danton at the vanguard of the party, the others followed behind. Tenaris walked slowly, and a bit unsteadily, behind the scout and paladin, followed by Syll and, finally, Luger.

The northeast tunnel, from which faint torchlight emerged, ran for roughly forty feet, twisting gradually more and more towards north. When it finally opened up into a very large cavern, the source of the light was evident. All along the walls of the roughly rectangular room—fifty feet wide and perhaps seventy feet long—were burning torches in sconces.

“I sense the presence of evil nearby,” hissed Luger as the group reached the entrance of the cavern.

The northern part of the room had three round tables and some chairs. It looked as though the tables had previously had mugs, weapons, and a couple of large trays of food on them, but now they were all turned on their sides with their flat surfaces facing towards the party. The central portion of the cavern had a pair of wooden practice dummies with considerable wear. The southern end had a pair of archery targets mounted on the wall and there was another tunnel in the southeast corner that appeared to run off to the east.

Standing behind the tables were nine human males in the helmets and banded mail that seemed to mark many of the garrisons within Mount Stalagos. All had bows drawn and arrows nocked. To say the least, it was obvious that they were somehow aware of the party’s approach.

“Halt!” shouted one of the men. “Don’t take another step our you’ll get feathered!”

Danton and Sparhawk paused in the entrance to the cavern. “Count yourself lucky, fool, that it is Delchin the Despicable that you threaten and not mine Lady of Dark Design! We mean to pass through this chamber. You can either profit by this or be destroyed. The choice is yours.”

“Delchin?” asked the man, recognition of the name evident in his voice. “We heard about you! You’re the guy they say destroyed the Earth Temple!”

“Indeed,” said Danton. “Uskathoth offended me and was killed for the slight. There was also the matter of a certain payment from Tessimon of the Fire Temple, who wanted the Earth Temple razed in any case…” (Bluff: 7+9=16)

“Fire Temple assassins!” screamed the man behind the table. “Let fly, boys!”

[Initiative: Luger: 22, Syll: 21, Danton: 20, Tenaris: 16, Soldiers: 10, Sparhawk: 4]

Almost before the garrison commander had finished shouting his order, Syll had fired off a volley of magic missiles, which flew faster than the first arrows fired by the soldiers, and slammed into the officer (11 damage done), turning his shouts into a gurgle and blasting him back against the far wall of the cavern, where he then slid lifelessly down the wall and out of sight.

Luger was just as quick, casting a spell to assist Sparhawk even as the paladin rushed forward to take on the soldiers (Cast Aid: +1 to attack rolls, +1 to saves vs. fear, and +7 temporary HP for Sparhawk).

As Danton, Tenaris, and Sparhawk tried to rush the tables, the first arrows flashed past and into them. Danton dodged two shafts fired in his direction, while two more clanged harmlessly off Sparhawk’s breastplate. Tenaris, hobbled by her weakened condition, was not so fortunate, and an enemy archer hit her with a lucky shot—striking her in the torso just below her left arm. The woman screamed in pain, and nearly stumbled, but somehow continued to run behind Danton and Sparhawk.

When he reached the tables, Danton rushed around the northernmost end of the makeshift defensive position and struck down the first soldier he encountered on the other side (attack: 8+9=17, 15+4=19, one hit, 6 damage). Sparhawk took a different tactic, rushing up to the very center of the enemy line and then swinging Justice over the table in front of him in a wide arc, smashing the bow of one of the men on the other side and then cutting him down in a welter of blood (attack: 14+10=24; hit, 11 damage).

With a third of their numbers thus dropped in a matter of seconds, most of the six remaining soldiers discarded their bows and drew blades to face the attackers who were now in their ranks. Tenaris reached the line of tables moments later and engaged one of the soldiers, albeit to little effect. It was then that Luger’s second spell exploded in the very midst of both attackers and defenders, engulfing the entire northern two-thirds of the enemy line in a flash of white light (Luger cast Holy Smite: 19 area effect damage in a 20 foot radius).

Danton had seen a brief flash of light before Luger’s spell exploded in a flash of brilliant white, and he used the fraction of a second warning he had to leap and roll out of the way before the holy fire swept over the area where he had just been standing (reflex save: 17+8=25; success). Without the benefit of such preternatural reflexes and speed, both Tenaris and Sparhawk were caught completely within the explosion of white light, but it had no untoward effects on either warrior. The same could not be said of the four enemy soldiers caught within the wave of light, all of whom were burned to ash where they stood, their screams echoing off the cavern walls.

Off the two stunned soldiers that now remained, one was dropped almost instantly by Syll’s second salvo of magic missiles (10 damage done), while the last man, clearly panicking now, fired off a wild shot at Sparhawk with his bow. However, the man’s hands were shaking so much that the arrow missed the paladin by a good two feet. Caught off guard by having all the foes in front of them eliminated in the blink of an eye, Tenaris and Sparhawk stood in shock while Syll used one last salvo of magical projectiles to drop the last soldier (Cast Magic Missile: 11 damage).

“What in the world was that?” asked Danton as he picked himself up off the ground.

“The power of Heironeous,” said Sparhawk reverently. “These men lived foul lives of reproach against the ways of the Invincible. His burning light hath slain them that their souls might suffer the torments of the Underworld and no longer enjoy the light of the world above. Truly, this is a great day.”

“I hath received the impression it could burn us too,” said Danton doubtfully.

“Those of pure heart may stand unharmed amidst the maelstrom when the power of Heirouneous is unleashed,” said Luger, “as was demonstrated by Peter…and Tenaris.”

"Let us continue and seek out the grotesque and twisted fiends of the Water Temple,” said Sparhawk excitedly. “Let us show them too the very real presence of Heironeous' goodness and truth that burns their bodies and very souls. This was only the beginning.”

Danton was somewhat taken aback by both Luger and Sparhawk’s sudden vehemence.

“Fine,” said the Velunese finally. “But please, at least let us have no shouting, ‘Ye minions of evil, meet my swift blade Justice!’ or ‘An avenger of Heironeous is upon ye!’ That sort of thing may have its place, but it is not here, for it would ruin our ‘Delchin’ ruse entirely.”

In the immediate aftermath of the short fight, Danton had expected the entire Water Temple, assuming it lay ahead, to come down on the party’s heads, but when several minutes passed and no reinforcements arrived, it appeared that the battle had gone unheard. While Luger removed the arrow from Tenaris and healed her wound as best he could (Cast Cure Light Wounds: Tenaris +7 HP), Danton searched through the wreckage that had apparently previously been a guard post of some sort (search: 17+13=30).

Aside from the wrecked and overturned tables and bits of crockery, there was little to be found. Each of the dead soldiers wore finely made banded mail, carried a wooden shield, a bastard sword, and a longbow. Each soldier also wore the familiar inverted Y pendant, but all nine pendants worn by these men also had a blue-green square dangling behind the Y. It appeared that each man had also carried a small vial full of bluish liquid, but two of the vials had been broken during the fight, so only seven remained.

“These are surely healing potions,” said Danton as he distributed them amongst the party, allocating one each for himself, Syll, and Luger, and two each for Sparhawk and Tenaris. The scout also collected the nine pendants with the colored squares behind them.

“Good eye,” agreed Syll. “These are potions of cure light wounds.” (spellcraft: 17+9=26)

Once the party started moving again, the reason why the battle with the guards had gone unheard became apparent. The tunnel leading out of the guard post ran north and east for over 200 feet, gradually twisting more towards due east as it went. Torches in sconces hammered into the tunnel walls provided a continuous source of light. When the tunnel finally opened up into another cavern, no one was present.

This cavern was not as large as the guard post, but it still extended forty feet from northwest to southeast and almost as great a distance from southwest, where the party entered, to northeast. Two ways out of the cavern were visible, a tunnel leading north and another to the east.

The cavern was dominated by a massive throne in its southern end. The throne was made of white and pink shells, coral, and bones, and it sat atop a platform of green marble with blue streaks. Two empty silver platters sat on the small stands in front of the monumental chair. Flanking the throne on either side stood a four-foot tall gray statue of a fish-headed humanoid with a spear.

“Oh, no,” groaned Syll, “not the Blibdoolpoopians!”

“Of what dost thou speak?” asked Sparhawk in confusion.

“See those statues?” asked the elf, every tone of his voice betraying annoyance, not at Sparhawk, but apparently at someone or something else. “Those critters call themselves Kuo-toa. They’re just about the most obnoxious little buggers on the planet. They’re kind of sahuagin wanna-bes—thankfully not the toughest monsters around—unlike real sahuagin, but still a real nuisance in large numbers. I’ve seen ‘em swarm and sink a ship before. Normally I might wonder what the heck they would be doing inside a mountain leagues upon leagues from the nearest ocean or sea, but since we’re apparently nearing the Water Temple, I think we can guess.”

“Why hath you referred to them as Blib-dool-whatevers?” asked Danton.

“They worship some slimy sea-deity called Blibdoolpoop or something like that,” grunted the elf. “It’s about as pathetic as they are, but they can still be trouble—we must be cautious.”

Other than the throne, there was really nothing to search in the cavern, and no one was inclined to mess with it for the moment. Looking down the tunnel to the east, the party could see that it ran for only twenty feet before opening into yet another torch-lit cavern. From what could be seen from here, this next cavern was somewhat larger and roughly square, about sixty feet to a side.

The western portion of this next cavern, which was mostly visible from the party’s current location, had apparently been turned into a kitchen, with a fire pit and numerous crates, bags, barrels, and foodstuffs piled upon tables and cabinets. A pot boiled atop the fire pit, and the smell of a fishy stew wafted down the short tunnel to the nostrils of the party members. The rest of the parts of the room that could be seen from here were filled with long wooden tables and benches, enough to seat at least thirty comfortably.

A clear area in the north corner was roped off and apparently served as a fighting or wrestling ring about fifteen feet on a side. No other exits were visible from here, but the southern and eastern portions of the room were not fully visible from the party’s current vantage point, and those parts of the room might have one or more exits.

Wanting to see what was off to the north before entering the apparent kitchen/dining area ahead, Danton nodded for Sparhawk and the others to follow him towards the other passageway. Scanning ahead (search: 8+13=21), the scout saw only a tunnel that appeared to wind roughly north for twenty-five feet before opening up into another chamber of some sort.

With no one to be seen here either, Danton motioned for Sparhawk to enter the tunnel. The paladin did so without hesitation, but with his very first step, he passed right through the floor of the cavern and fell out of sight through the stone.

While Danton and the others stood in shock, Sparhawk fell for a good fifty feet, bouncing off the nearly vertical wall several times on the way down. Eventually he crashed to the ground on his stomach at the bottom of the deep pit, badly battered and bruised by the long fall (18 damage taken).

As the paladin groaned and rolled over onto his back and tried to pick himself up, he saw sudden movement on the other side of the pit. Some sort of huge insectoid creature had been startled by his crashing fall and was now moving rapidly towards him.

[Initiative: Sparhawk: 16, Carrion Crawler: 14]

Although banged up, the sight of the nine-foot long green insect moving towards him spurred Sparhawk to rapid action. In a flash the paladin was on his feet with Justice in hand, and he quickly called on Heironeous to heal his battered body (lay on hands: +12 HP). As the insect threw itself at him, Sparhawk also managed to scream:

“It’s an illusion! I have fallen into some vile trap and am down here with some nasty insect!”

The bug or whatever it was had eight long tentacles near the front of its body, and it lashed out at Sparhawk with all of these, as well as attempting to bite him. Although the paladin managed to block the monster’s teeth with his blade, no less than four of its squirming tentacles came into contact with his skin. As each one made contact, it secreted some sort of noxious substance onto the paladin (four fortitude saves required: 10+9=19, 15+9=24, 16+9=25, 17+9=26; all succeed). Although few other men would have been able to withstand the paralytic effects of the resin the tentacles secreted, Sparhawk somehow managed to shrug it off.

[Initiative: Tenaris: 27, Luger: 20, Syll:18, Danton: 14]

Hearing Sparhawk mention illusion, but unable to see anything other than the apparent floor of the tunnel leading north, through which the paladin had disappeared, Luger’s first act was to attempt to eliminate any illusion that might be present (Cast Dispel Magic: 13+7=20). When he targeted the spell at the ‘floor’ of the tunnel to the north, that ‘floor’ disappeared immediately, revealing that nearly all of the surface of the forty foot long tunnel had been an illusion. Only a narrow strip of real floor on the eastern side of the tunnel remained, and the rest of the party could now look down into the fifty-foot deep pit where Sparhawk was fighting for his life against a huge green centipede-like creature.

As the others watched, the paladin managed to cut a long, nasty gash all along the side of the insect (attack: 15+9=24; hit; 12 damage), but the bug took the hit and continued to press the paladin back against the side of the pit, striking him with two tentacles (two fortitude saves required: 4+9=13, 11+9=20; both succeed) and biting him with its teeth (hit for 5 damage).

Once the illusion was dispelled, Tenaris was the quickest to act, throwing a javelin at the insect, but missing the mark. Luger acted next, firing off a blast of sonic energy at the hindquarters of the bug (Cast Sonic Burst: 6 damage), and blasting away part of its body. However, it was Syll who finished the creature, driving three maximum-powered magic missiles into its head (15 damage done), causing the head to explode all over Luger in a blast of green ichor.

“Get him out of there, quickly!” said Danton to Luger and Syll. “There is no telling who hath heard our latest mayhem!”

In a matter of moments, Syll had cast a levitation spell on himself and was floating down into the pit to cast the same spell on Sparhawk, who was wiping bits of the bug off himself and his equipment. The elf recovered Tenaris’ javelin, cast the second spell, and then he and the paladin floated back up and out of the pit.

“As thou canst see,” said Sparhawk when his feet were back on solid ground, “the vile creature hath slimed me.”

“That’s what ya get with a bug hunt,” quipped Syll.

“I begin to understand what Nanoc related regarding the…how shall we say…occasional shortfalls in thy trap-detecting skills,” added the paladin, with a wry look at Danton.

“Everybody’s a critic,” muttered the Velunese, “though I am sorry about that. I must confess I had not anticipated a trap of such clever nature in such a location. Quite diabolical actually.”

“Heads up!” hissed Syll. “We got company!”

The elf’s words drew the attention of the other party members to the far side of the pit trap, where now stood two figures. The first was a stern-faced human woman with green hair and a crown of coral on her head. She wore ochre robes, just as Danton did, and carried a long mace. The second figure looked like a larger, living version of the statues that stood next to the throne in the room the party had been about to leave. The bipedal fish-like creature was just over five feet tall and wore a shell-and-fish decorated vest and a long blue-green robe. A number of coral and gold rings pierced its ears, nose, mouth, and scales.

“Who are you that dares enter the Water Temple uninvited?” shouted the woman from across the pit.

“Here we go again,” said Syll under his breath. “Try to do a better job of pulling the wool over their eyes this time, eh?”

Remembering how badly the guards in the outer chamber had reacted when he claimed to have been in the employ of the Fire Temple, Danton carefully modified his ‘Delchin’ ruse to eliminate any such references this time.

“I am Delchin the Despicable!” he shouted. “I serve the Great Lord of the Dark, and his Mistress of Despair, Our Lady of Oblivion, the Princess Ventanarix of Blackmoor!”

“Your reputation precedes you, Delchin,” replied the green-haired woman. “You are the destroyer of the Earth Temple!”

“That fool, Uskathoth, sought to bar my way, and he paid for it with his life!” spat Danton. “Mine sortie into this region wast to recover a lost relic from the Earth Temple, but they resisted our recovery efforts and wert resoundingly and appropriately thrashed. I then departed and reported mine results to the Princess of Pain, who promptly communicated with powers beyond mine mortal ken and learned the relic remained within the boundaries of the Temple of All-Consumption.”

“And this is your ‘Princess of Pain’?” asked the woman across the pit, pointing her mace at Tenaris.

“I am not finished!” shouted Danton. “And you had best lower that weapon while you still can! The Dark Princess is furious at the delays engendered by the stupidity of the Earth Temple and she hath accompanied us into the Temple on what is now a search and destroy mission: search out the relic and destroy any who oppose our recovery effort!” (bluff: 13+9=22)

“Really?” asked the woman. “And, having destroyed the Earth Temple, what are your views of the remaining three?”

Danton sensed (sense motive: 7+7=14) something in the woman’s question and the tone of her voice that suggested both danger and opportunity in answering her question.

“We hath no quarrel with the Water Temple,” he began, making the easiest, most obvious point immediately, “and we hath had no contact with the Air up to this point…”

“And Fire?” prodded the woman eagerly.

“That bitch Tessimon tried to hire our services,” said Danton, going for broke, “but I serve only the Dark Lady, and she would never lower herself or her followers to serve the ends of the likes of Tessimon.”

The green haired woman smiled broadly. “I am pleased to hear of your views…and those of your mistress, Delchin. I believe that she and I must talk at length, for the downfall of the Fire Temple and the ascension of the Water Temple are at hand. If we pool our resources in a joint expedition, we may hasten the coming of the New Order—to our mutual benefit.”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 65:

I don’t know if it will affect your plans at all, but Syll and Sparhawk’s levitate spells are still in full effect. All other spells cast during the turn have expired.

Please send postings for Turn 65 by the end of Friday, August 10th.

Current date/time/location: 13 Kolovoz; approximately 1200; The Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn: 7 potions of cure light wounds

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: none

FOES DEFEATED:

Active party members listed in green.

This Chapter:

Entire Campaign:

Current Status of the Party:

Danton

AC: 16 (17 vs. one opponent)

Hit points: 40/42

New XP: 360

XP total: 28,811

XP needed: 36,000

Equipment: 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, 3 waterskins, 27 days trail rations, hooded lantern, gold ring engraved with the name Karakas, 1 sap, 1 metal key from Yusdrayl, Everburning Torch, old journal, 8 iron triangles with upside down ‘Y’ inside,1 inverted ‘Y” pendant in a brown triangle, new journal, notebook, pen, ink, parchment in sealed waterproof box, pipe, tobacco, metal box, whetstone, six packets of tinder for lighting fires, gold inlaid dagger, Journal of Geynor Ton, a folded piece of parchment with a note addressed to someone named Festrath, spider pendant, a disguise kit, letter to Master Dunrat, ochre-colored robe, potion of love, a dozen vials of lantern oil, masterwork thieves’ tools, Rat’s Tail (Rapier +1), silver and gold brooches, bracers of armor +1, potion of hiding, pouch of unknown dried herbs taken from the home of Tal Chamish, emerald pendant, a small ebony troglodyte statuette, a curved dagger, six sticks of incense, an emerald pendant, potion of invisibility, boots of elvenkind, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, tattered dwarven book, pearl from the Dark Lake, potion of cure light wounds, nine inverted Y pendants with blue-green squares behind them

Gold: 1744

Silver: 1430

Luger

AC: 20

Hit Points: 60/60

New XP: 360

XP total: 26,161

XP needed: 28,000

Equipment: heavy mace, light x-bow, dagger, 20 bolts, chainmail +1, large steel shield, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, 5 torches, hooded lantern, 3 oil flasks, flint & steel, 25 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 flasks holy water, 3 healer’s kits, backpack, cleric’s vestment, traveler’s clothing, 3 waterskins, bedroll, iron triangle with upside down ‘Y’ inside, eight cockatrice feathers, scroll of cure disease, Geistblatt (ghost touch longsword +1), 5 vials of Furyondian Fire, cloak of resistance +1 (+1 to all saves), potions of enlarge, reduce, nondetection, 2 silver and 2 gold brooches from Woodstock, tattered black cloak with burning eye emblazoned on it, note from Master Hedrack to Master Uskathoth (in Draconic), one large triangular metal bar, 2 emerald pendants, upside down pyramid symbol, book on history and worship of Elder Elemental Eye cult, two inverted Y pendants in brown triangles, scroll with remove paralysis and protection from elements, Oamarthis note, 3 books: The Worship of the Elder Elemental Eye, A History of Evil Cults, and The Temple of Elemental Evil, two metal keys (one taken from Oamarthis and the other from the goblinoid), dwarven waraxe, steel shield, set of dwarven-sized full plate armor (all of these taken from Oamarthis), Aseneth’s House Torquann dragon ring, ring of jumping (+30 to jumping checks), 3 iron triangles with inverted ‘Y’, three black cones made of some unknown substance, a black scepter decorated with a half dozen violet gems, metal scroll tube, two inverted ziggurat pendants; potion of cure light wounds, pearl from the Dark Lake

Spell Selection:

Level 0(6): Detect MagicX2, Read Magic, Purify Food/Drink
Level 1(4+1): Detect Evil, Protection From EvilX2, Bless, Domain: Protection from Evil

Level 2 (4+1): Gentle Repose, Silence, Domain:

Level 3 (3+1): Domain: Magic Circle Against Evil

Level 4 (2+1): Control Water, Domain:

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 7 of 7

Gold: 689

Silver: 446

Syll

AC: 14

Hit Points: 32/32

New XP: 360

XP total: 13,330

XP needed: 15,000

Equipment: Ring of Protection +1, Cloak of Resistance +1, Urrtarr’s spellbook, Scroll of: magic weapon, Masterwork Longsword, backpack, 3 water skins, 25 days rations, bedroll, magnifying glass, 2 flint & steel, 10 candles, map/scroll case, parchment, ink & pen, mirror, oil flask, 40 arrows, clothing, longbow, 1 dagger, sack, 50’ rope, chalk, 5 torches, storm whistle, 5 bells, gold brooch, lamp, black cloak, inverted Y pendant, rose quartz gem, ring of climbing, bracers of health +2, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, scrolls of Pyrotechnics, Melf’s Acid Arrow, Protection from Fire, Animal messenger and stone shape, Summon Monster II, Change self, Enlarge, Sleep X2, Wand of Monster Summon I (8 charges), potion of water breathing, potion of cure light wounds, unknown potion from the Dark Lake

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6)

Level 1: (7) (5 used)

Level 2: (5) (4 used)

Gold: 3806

Silver: 442

Sparhawk

AC: 17 (19 when using longsword/shield combination instead of great sword)

Hit Points: 28/39

New XP: 360

XP total: 7,410

XP needed: 10,000

Equipment: backpack, water skin, 4 days rations, bedroll, tent, 2 daggers, masterwork great sword (Justice), longsword, composite longbow, 1 quiver with 20 arrows, ink & inkpen, 50’ silk rope, whetstone, 1 vial holy water, half plate mail, large steel shield, 2 candles, signet ring and sealing wax, gilded warhorn, chalk, 2 mirrors, flint & steel, 5 pitons, 20 pieces parchment, 2 empty sacks, silver holy symbol of Heironeous, Everburning Torch, black cloak, inverted Y pendant, gauntlets of dexterity +2, potion of cure light woundsX2, pearl from the Dark Lake

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (1): Cure Light Wounds

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 6 of 6

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 0 of 12

Gold: 625

Silver: 430

Tenaris

AC: 22

Hit Points: 33/39

New XP: 360

XP total: 7,190

XP needed: 10,000

Equipment: longsword, chitin full plate mail, large steel shield, masterwork morningstar, 5 javelins, 2 troglodyte spears, inverted Y pendant, 27 days rations, potions of cat’s grace, levitate, spider climb, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, cloak of resistance +1, black robe, Bracers of Kord (exact powers unknown), potion of cure light woundsX2, pearl from the Dark Lake

Gold: 525

Silver: 430