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Chapter 3: The Temple of All-Consumption

Turn 71: Erky’s Tale

[Initiative: Luger: 23, Syll: 19, Tenaris: 18, Enemies: 9, Danton: 8, Sparhawk: 8]

“Unless I miss my guess,” said Luger as he unsheathed Geistblatt and began casting a spell (Divine Power: Base attack bonus raised to +9, +9 HP, Str raised to 18HH). “these creatures are either gargoyles or some sort of demonic spawn. Either way, I doubt they're going to be impressed by anything Delchin has to say considering the fact we've freed their prisoner.”

“I'd like to avoid a fight here if we can!” hissed Syll. “I've used up most of my magical firepower. Delchin, maybe you can talk us out of this one. I say we fight these guys as the last resort.”

The smuggler drew his longsword and turned to face the three winged creatures, but took no offensive action, at least for the moment. Tenaris drew her sword and shield and took up a defensive position in front of most of the others.

“Alas, but Luger is correct,” said Danton as he saw the three creatures take flight and launch themselves towards the party. “So, let the violence and bloodshed commence!” he yelled as he drew Rat’s Tail.

”Keep behind me, good Erky,” he added as he dropped the semi-comatose gnome to the floor. “You wert nearly lost, partially on mine account, before, so let it not be said that I failed you twice ... at least not so long as I live.”

“Brave Danton and all, get thee behind me!” yelled Sparhawk emphatically as he drew Caladbolg and began backing slowly away from the three creatures and towards the fairly distant exit to the chamber.

"If thou shalt have a fight, demon-spawn, thou shalt get one!" the paladin shouted across the chamber.

The three creatures flew across the room and slammed into Luger, Sparhawk, and Tenaris at full speed. Each attacker tried to grab hold of its armored foe, but the two smaller creatures failed in their efforts to grasp and lift Tenaris and Sparhawk off the ground. However, the larger red creature with the one broken horn slammed into Luger so hard that it knocked the cleric off balance and succeeded in lifting him off the ground. The monster then flew out over the pit and dropped the cleric into it. Luger crashed down into the bottom of the 15 foot deep hole (8 damage taken) and found himself lying amidst a veritable sea of bones, smashed and broken bits of armor and weapons, and scattered lengths of chain.

When the three creatures flew in to attack the party, Syll joined Sparhawk in hacking at the one that had gone after the paladin (attack: 8+5=13; miss), but he was unable to strike the flying creature. Sparhawk, despite his lingering nausea and dizziness, was more successful with Caladbolg.(smite evil attack: 17+12+3-1=31; hit, 11+7-1=17; hit: 21, 14 damage).

As Syll aided Sparhawk, so Danton did with Tenaris on the third flyer (attack: 9+10=19, 16+5=21; 2 hits: 5, 2 damage), dishing out a couple of minor cuts as the beast flew by. The elf warrior struck the creature as well, but while Rat’s Tail at least did some damage, however slight, Tenaris’ blade had no effect whatsoever.

Danton had intended to loan Erky his flaming short sword for the battle with the creatures, but the gnome was still lying on the ground, so the Velunese tossed the blade to Tenaris instead.

“Try this, mine Lady of Despair!” he called out as Tenaris dropped her own blade and caught the enchanted short sword.

Danton and Tenaris had only long enough for this quick exchange of weapons before the flying monsters were on them again. The big one that had dropped Luger into the pit had now rejoined the two others and all three came diving in again, flying in formation, this time targeting Sparhawk, Tenaris, and Danton. On this pass the creatures managed to grab hold of all three of their intended victims, and Danton and Tenaris quickly found themselves dumped unceremoniously into the pit (Danton: 3 damage taken).

Sparhawk was grabbed as well, but as the creature that held him flew over the pit and let go of him, the paladin managed to get in one wild swing with Caladbolg in the brief fraction of a second that he hung in midair near the monster (attack: 11+12-1=22; hit; 11 damage). The blow was a glancing one at best, but the flier in question was the same one Sparhawk had struck previously, and this time the paladin’s greatsword sliced one of its wings clean off. Even as Sparhawk crashed into the pit (4 damage taken), so did his attacker, slamming into one of the pit walls before falling to the bottom, where it lay unmoving.

Now alone with Erky outside the pit, Syll fired off one of his few remaining spells (Cast Ray of Frost: 4+5=9; miss) at the large red flier, but his shot of cold did not even come close to its target.

Even as the rest of the party was literally raining down into the pit around him, Luger cast a second spell to boost his combat abilities (Cast Protection from Evil: +2 AC, +2 on saves versus evil creatures) in anticipation that the monsters would press the attack once they had dumped everyone into the hole. When the two remaining fliers moved out of his sight once again, the cleric followed up by draining a potion (drink enlarge potion: +50% in size, +2 strength). As Sparhawk, Danton, and Tenaris were picking themselves up off the floor of the pit, Luger grew to nine feet in height, with all of his equipment growing proportionally.

Syll’s second Ray of Frost struck the mark when one of the fliers rushed at him (attack: 13+5=18; hit; 3 damage), but a second later the creature grabbed hold of the elf, turned and flew over the pit, and dropped him into it (7 damage taken). Syll crashed to the ground between Tenaris and Danton, who had to scramble out of the way to avoid being hit by the flying smuggler. A moment later, the other creature dropped Erky into the hole as well. The gnome hit one of the sides on the way down and then lay unmoving amidst the detritus at the bottom of the pit.

Having dumped the entire party into the pit, the two remaining creatures might simply have departed, but they did not, choosing to continue the attack instead. When the pair dove down into the pit, the party members clustered close enough together to be able to protect one another’s backs, but not so close as to risk striking one another with their weapons. Syll zapped one of the creatures again (Cast Ray of Frost: 17+5=22; hit; 2 damage) just before it slammed into Sparhawk, using its teeth, claws, and horns to bite, cut, and gore the paladin (hit 3 times for a total of 11 damage). However, as the monster tried to gain altitude to fly out of the pit and make ready for another pass, Sparhawk cut it down mercilessly (attack: 12+12-1=23, 17+7-1=23; two hits; 12, 13 damage). Hit twice, the creature crumpled and crashed to the bottom of the pit, just as the other one had done.

“Feel the power of Caladbolg!” screamed the paladin triumphantly.

The third flier, the larger red one, attacked Luger. It struck the cleric with both claws, along with its teeth and its single remaining horn (28 total damage taken). The onslaught from the huge creature staggered Luger, and he bled profusely from multiple wounds, but he still managed to use all of his strength enhancements and his unusually great size to dish out a fair share of abuse in return (attack: 15+16=31, 18+11=29; two hits; 14, 7 damage). Danton (attack: 7+10=17, 11+5=16; two hits; 3, 5 damage) and Tenaris piled attacks onto the huge red creature as well. The elf woman’s efforts with Danton’s flaming short sword were particularly impressive—she hit the creature twice, and set parts of its body afire with both strikes. It was only with the greatest of efforts that the monster managed to fly back up and out of the pit after suffering so many grievous blows during and after its attack on Luger.

Incredibly, the monster still did not withdraw. The party watched it loop once around the pit before it dove at Luger again. The cleric swung the magically enlarged version of Geistblatt that he carried twice in quick succession (attack: 15+16=31, 11+11=22; two hits; 8, 12 damage). A fraction of a second later, Tenaris hit the beast with the flaming short sword, slicing through its armored abdomen and setting its entire center of mass alight. The monster’s momentum still carried it into Luger, knocking the cleric off his feet, but then it crashed into the ground and rolled across the pit, settling in one corner where it continued to burn.

“Wow,” said Tenaris to Danton as she watched the dead creature continue to burn. “This weapon is far superior to Rat’s Tail. I hate to say it, but I think you’re crazy to keep using that little rapier when you have a weapon like this at your disposal.”

The woman handed the blade back to the scout hilt first and then went to ascertain Erky’s condition.

“Let us escape this pit and flee from this place quickly!” said Danton, himself amazed at what the flaming sword had done. “Methinks we should flee down the unexplored, westward corridor, though if the group wishes it, we can also check the door from which these horrors emerged, but first we must escape from this hole into which we hath been dumped. Syll, can you…”

“’Fraid not,” said the elf. “I’m all tapped out. We’ll have to climb out the old-fashioned way.”

Matching action to words, the unarmored elf scampered up the side of the pit and climbed carefully over the spikes at the top that extended down towards the bottom of the pit precisely to make it more difficult to climb out (climb: 13+11=24; success). Once topside, the elf tossed down his ring of climbing so that the next person could use it. Tenaris caught the ring and went up next. She too made the climb up the rough walls and over the spikes seem like child’s play.

Danton followed quickly, determined to match the dexterity of the elves as best he could (climb: 19+13=32; success). Although he was sure he could have made it up the rough walls, which provided plenty of hand and footholds, even without Syll’s ring, the magical aid made the ascent truly easy, and Danton was highly pleased by the smile and nod of respect he received from Tenaris when he cleared the spikes and landed lightly on his feet next to the elf woman.

Taking advantage of his gigantic size, and that of his equipment, while they lasted, Luger carefully placed Erky, who remained unconscious, into his pack and then used Syll’s ring to begin his ascent (climb: 17+7=24; success). The cleric had no illusions about being able to match Danton and the elves, and had it not been for Syll’s ring, he might well have fallen several times, but thanks to the ring, he too made it out of the pit without further injury.

Sparhawk was far from being an expert climber either and his heavy armor made the task far from easy, but between taking things slowly and patiently and the magical enhancement of the ring of climbing, Sparhawk climbed out of the pit and over the spikes (climb: 20+8=28; success).

“Nice bit of magic there, eh?” asked Syll rhetorically as he took possession of the ring once again. “Now, let me and Danton have a look at that room these guys came from and then let’s get a move on.”

The room from which the three flying creatures had emerged was roughly similar in dimensions to the prison where Erky had been held. Although such hardly seemed possible, it was even filthier than the crude prison had been: literally filled with garbage to a depth of a foot in most areas. There was cloth, wood, metal, bone scraps, feces, uneaten food, and all manner of other, unidentifiable items everywhere. The walls were smeared with black and brown matter that neither Syll nor Danton wanted to examine closely.

“I ain’t rooting through that,” muttered Syll.

“Nor am I,” agreed Danton, feeling sick just at the smell emanating from the room.

“So, where to from here?” asked Tenaris when Danton and Syll rejoined the group.

“I am concerned about ending up betwixt the hammer and anvil,” said Danton. “Kelashein's minions on the one hand and the Air Temple bad boys on the other. Mayhap Luger or Syll canst use magic to hide us temporarily ... or remove us to some ethereal place ... and we can allow the evildoers to happily annihilate one another whilst I shatter Syll in a game or two of chess and our good paladin re-learns how to keep his lunch down.”

“Dizziness or no,” said Sparhawk, “I still slew two more of those horrors than you did, o’ he-of-the-barbed-tongue.”

Danton ignored the comment and continued. “'Twould be mine preference that we made ourselves temporarily invisible or ethereal. After all, if Kelashein hath arrived to annihilate her enemies, why not let her? Maybe she'll do our dirty work again and smash the Air Temple altar. But if magicks doth not exist such that we can be made invisible or ethereal, then methinks we'd best escape to some area where we can hole up for a bit and rest. Then, once we art at full health -- which is to say that Sir Sparhawk's nausea passes and Syll and Luger's magicks art at full complement -- methinks we should become the 'hunters' and not the 'hunted'. In other words, we should find Kelashein and ambush her.”

“I haven’t got jack for spells,” muttered Syll.

“Nor have I,” added Luger. “We must find more mundane means to hide and rest. Let’s simply get out of this area as quickly as possible. The Water Temple forces may be close behind us and we are in no shape to fight them right now.”

“Very well, then,” said Danton. “We go west and away from the Water Temple folk—at least for the time being.”

With Erky now lashed to Sparhawk’s back now that Luger and his equipment had returned to their normal size, the party moved back through the metal double doors and out into the long east-west corridor. Danton and Sparhawk led the group off to the west. Eighty feet past the pit chamber, the party came to a set of stairs on the southern side of the corridor leading upward to a landing twenty feet away. Off in the distance, the end of the long corridor was finally visible a hundred feet away. There appeared to be a large set of wooden double doors at the end of the long corridor, along with halls running north and south just before the doors.

With no real idea which route would most likely lead to a safe place to rest, Danton opted to check the stairs immediately to his left. He and Sparhawk led the way up to the landing, where the stairs turned to the west and went another twenty feet up to a second landing. Danton could not help but notice that all of these stairs were covered in dust and showed no sign of use in a very long time.

At the second landing, a closed wooden door blocked the way forward. With the others still on the first landing, Danton and Sparhawk ascended to the second one, and the Velunese put his ear to the door (search: 17+15=32, listen: 19+8=27). By this time, all of Luger’s magical enhancements from the battle with the flying creatures had faded and the cleric felt exhausted by all he had endured during the very long day.

Spotting no traps and hearing nothing from whatever chamber lay beyond the door, Danton motioned for Sparhawk to open it. The door opened easily, and beyond it was a dark, irregularly shaped chamber that ran due south. It was sixty feet long and varied in width from fifteen to thirty feet. It had clearly been carved from the stone of the mountain by humanoid hands at some point in the past. At the far southern end of the chamber was a single open glass window, beyond which only darkness could be seen from the doorway in which Danton and Sparhawk stood, even with the help of the light from their enchanted torches (Sparhawk spot: 14+2=16;failure, Danton spot: 5+10=15; failure).

The scout and the paladin moved deeper into the room, towards the far southern end, while the rest of the party followed behind them (Syll spot: 15+4=19; failure, Tenaris spot: 6+2=8; failure, Luger spot: 11+4=15; failure)

As Danton and Sparhawk passed through the room, they saw several old, dusty benches, along with a table or two and a handful of empty weapon racks. Otherwise the area appeared completely empty. When the duo reached the window at the southern end of the room and looked through it, they were amazed to see the night sky and, looking down, the south slope of Mount Stalagos.

Danton looked at the size of the window, through which anyone in the party could climb fairly easily. He then spun about and smiled broadly. “We hath finally discovered a way in and out of the mountain that doth not require bandying words with a garrison of miscreants!”

Everyone in the group realized the importance of this discovery, but any celebration was cut short by the sight Danton and Sparhawk caught of the shimmering form gliding down from the ceiling of the chamber towards Luger. The scout and the paladin shouted warnings, but it was too late. The ghost or spirit drifted down over Luger and extended an appendage to touch the cleric’s chest, its incorporeal hand moving right through his enchanted armor (hit for 6 points; energy drained 2 levels; -2 to all skill and ability checks, -2 to all attacks, -2 to all saving throws, -2 effective levels, loses two most powerful spell slots; in 24 hours must make 2 fortitude checks or lose 2 character levels permanently).

[Initiative: Danton: 22, Tenaris: 17, Syll: 16, Spirit:16, Sparhawk: 9, Luger: 4]

As the shock of the creature’s touch still burned through Luger, the rest of the party rushed to his aid. Danton slashed Rat’s Tail through the insubstantial form of the ghost or spirit (attack: 18+10=28, 20+5=25; two hits, 7, 2 damage; second hit has no effect). He thought the blade might have had at least some effect, but it was difficult to be certain. Even as the Velunese was slashing at the creature, Tenaris was fumbling at his side to draw the flaming short sword from its scabbard, realizing that her own longsword, however well made it might be, would be useless. Syll had come to the same realization about his own weapon, but he could rectify that situation, at least temporarily, and withdrew and cast a spell from a scroll on his longsword (Cast Magic Weapon).

And then the spirit tried to touch Luger again. By some miracle, or perhaps the divine intervention of Heironeous himself, the cleric was able to stagger backward, just out of its reach. A second later, Sparhawk slashed Caladbolg through the entire length of the insubstantial creature’s form, first down and then back up through the ghost or whatever it was (attack: 19+12-1=30, 15+7-1=21; two hits; 16, 12 damage; second hit has no effect). The first swing did seem to rend the ghost’s shimmering form, but the second strike had no visible effect whatsoever.

Of all the party members, only Luger carried a weapon truly effective against the incorporeal undead, and Geistblatt earned its name once again as the cleric backed away from the ghost, slashing wildly as it followed him (attack: 20+10=30, 13+5=18; 2 hits; 11, 11 damage). Each strike from Geistblatt caused the mouth of the spirit to move in a silent scream. After the blade struck the thing the second time, the undead’s entire ‘body’ flickered in and out before finally disappearing with an audible crack—the first sound the creature had made during its entire assault on the cleric.

“It struck me…a chill…” said Luger weakly as his knees buckled under him and he slipped off his massive, heavy pack and dropped it to the ground. The cleric then sat down heavily with his armored back against the wall for support.

“I daresay we now know why no one hath used these stairs or this room in a good long time,” mused Danton with a shiver. “But since none but we know that the spirit hath now been destroyed, this should make for a decent place to rest…as well as a new secret route in and out of the mountain…if I can cover our tracks in the dust on those stairs.”

With the assistance of Sparhawk and Tenaris, Danton did his best to obscure the party’s tracks up the two flights of stairs. Once this was accomplished and the entire party was back inside the narrow room with the window, the trio used wooden benches to barricade the door—which lacked a lock—as best they could.

In the interim, Luger had used what little magic remained to him to heal the bluish-black spot on his chest where the ghost had ‘touched’ him (Convert Detect Magic X2 and Light X2 to Cure Minor Wounds: +4 HP). This shrank the size of the dark spot, but nothing could drive away the chill that had sunk into the cleric’s very bones from the moment the undead touched him.

When the party was finally able to turn its attention to Erky, Sparhawk withdrew one of his healing potions (cure light wounds) and poured it into the gnome’s mouth. The small figure choked and gagged for several moments, but the potion did finally bring him around. When the potion took full effect and the gnome was strong enough, Danton helped Erky sit up.

“Good, sir, and friend of Danton,” said Sparhawk, addressing the gnome. “Thy meeting us here is not accidental. 'Tis the fate brought about by the good blessings and providence of Heironeous that we should come to thine aid in thine desperate hour of need.“

”I am pleased,” continued the paladin, “that mine potion hath restored some of thine health to thee. I hope that soon you shalt wield a blade against thine former captors and other evil foes. We shalt save thee, and thou wilt share in the glory of our victory o'er evil!”

“When you art ready,” added Danton to the gnome, “we would hear your tale in its fullness. Frankly, I hath wondered for some time about your disappearance in Hommlet, and I thought the cult could be involved. But, I must confess, by ‘involved,’ I wast thinking that they caught and killed you somewhere in the vicinity of Hommlet—not that they apparently dragged you for many, many miles and across forest and hills to this vile temple. If this is indeed what happened, I would like to hear of it. But first, as you recover your strength, let me tell you something of our travels—and answer your question regarding our former comrades, Mauser, Telemachos, and Nanoc.”

Danton proceeded to relate an abbreviated version of the party’s travels since he had last seen Erky months earlier in Hommlet, describing the party’s activities in the area around Hommlet, its trip to Erky’s village, and the trip south to Woodstock and through the Kron Hills. The scout related with sadness the losses of Nanoc and Telemachos, as well as that of Karzak, whom Erky had never met, along with the fact that the group had never seen any sign of Mauser since he separated from the party in order to return to the Sunless Citadel. Conscious of the presence of Tenaris, Danton was careful to leave out any mention of the debauchery he had engaged in while passing through Hommlet and Woodstock. The scout brought his story to a conclusion by describing the party’s activities inside Mount Stalagos, emphasizing its efforts to destroy the four elemental temples.

By the time Danton finished, the hour was growing very late, but everyone nevertheless gathered close to listen as Erky told his own story.

“You may recall,” began the gnome, “that night when we arrived in Hommlet, you and Telemachos stayed at the Inn of the Welcome Wench, while Nanoc and I went to Terrigan’s.”

“I remember,” said Danton quietly, thinking back with a heavy heart to the argument he and Nanoc had earlier that day over Erky’s place in the party.

“Nanoc ended up playing some kind of drinking game with a huge armored man and a halfling,” continued Erky. “I found it entertaining for a time, but after a while I got bored. After Nanoc passed out, I decided to go outside for some fresh air. It was a warm night and I was feeling good finally being so close to home. After our conversation earlier in the day, I had decided to strike out on my own for home the next morning. But before that, I wanted to see a bit more of Hommlet, so I decided to take a walk down by the river. I had been strolling along the northern bank for fifteen minutes or so when I sensed someone was following me.”

“At first I thought it might be Nanoc—that he had recovered his wits and was trying to catch up to me—but then several figures materialized out of the darkness, and none of them was Nanoc. I sensed trouble, but before I could do anything, someone hit me with a stunning spell and I was immobilized. The next thing I knew, someone put a sack over my head and I was being hauled off. They didn’t take me far, not that first night. After a walk of less than ten minutes, I was taken inside a building and down a set of stairs—into a cellar or the like. From the dust in the air and the noises I heard the next day, I eventually realized I was being held in a mill of some kind.”

“Some time the next morning, a man appeared in the cellar. I didn’t see him, but I could hear his voice. I think he cast another spell of some kind on me. I don’t know what it was, but somehow it made me trust him, and he asked me questions, about what I was doing in town, who I was with, and so on. I hate to say it now, but I told him everything I knew…at the time it somehow seemed the right thing to do.”

“Charm spell,” muttered Syll. “You didn’t really have a choice.”

“When the man found out I was a cleric of Ehlonna,” continued Erky, “he grew enraged, saying I would pay for that ‘sin’ a thousand times over. I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but now I do. Anyway, a few nights later, the man and his associates smuggled me out of the mill and out of town, again with a bag over my head. Somewhere on a road outside of Hommlet, they met up with another group of people, who took possession of me like so much cargo and locked me up in the back of a wagon.”

“There began what must have been weeks of travel,” said the gnome. I was locked up in the wagon except for the short times when they let me out for a few minutes to take care of physical necessity, if you know what I mean. We traveled for a long time through a forest and I saw hills and mountains a couple of times when I was able to get the bag off my eyes—suffering a beating every time, of course.”

“Eventually, I could feel the temperature drop and I knew that I had been taken underground. The bag was finally removed from my head and I found myself in the company of a group of men and women in strange black and yellow robes. They brought me through some kind of underground complex and eventually turned me over to those gargoyles you fought back there.”

“The biggest of those creatures—the one with the broken horn—called himself Claagingred. He was the self-described ‘Master of the Pit’. He and the other two gargoyles organized fights in the pit for the amusement of all who passed through the area. They would drop prisoners into the pit and force them to fight or starve to death down there. From what I could tell, they ranged about the surrounding countryside, kidnapping people and bringing them into the mountain to fight. Most didn’t last long—the only reason I did was because of my healing abilities—that and the fact that someone had told the gargoyles I deserved ‘special’ treatment.”

“Special treatment?” asked Sparhawk. “What sort of special treatment?”

“Special treatment in the sense that they wouldn’t let me just die,” said Erky. “I’m a decent fighter, but I couldn’t win every time. I lost more times than I could count, and nearly died, but they never let me. Every time I felt myself drawing close to the other side and hoped my torment would finally be ended, those cursed gargoyles would fly down into the pit, pull me out, and have someone provide just enough healing to keep me alive.”

“And that has been my life for what feels like years, though it may only be months,” finished Erky. “Chained to that wall whenever I wasn’t fighting in the pit, dreaming of freedom and praying for death in equal measure. I had thought my imprisonment by the goblins of the Sunless Citadel a nightmare, but it was as nothing compared to this—nothing! I…I….”

Erky’s body shook and he put his head in his hands. “I can speak no more of it, not tonight,” he whispered. “I feel utterly exhausted…drained, but before I sleep, let me tell you one other thing…I believe I can take you to this ‘Air Temple’, if you would like. When I was first brought here, I was taken to a place—not too far from here—a large room with a great, high dais made of white marble. The walls of the place were covered in images of whirlwinds destroying people and towns, and the very air of the chamber seemed to whisper in my ears like an evil voice. This place can only be the Air Temple of which you have spoken.”

Erky’s eye’s narrowed and his voice hardened. “Let us go to this Air Temple as soon as we have rested and destroy it utterly. I don’t know that I’m up to continuing with you after that, but I can at least have my revenge on everyone in this foul place by doing that much!”

This last statement seemed to drain all the energy out of Erky, and he rolled over onto his side and fell asleep—or passed out—it happened so quickly that it was difficult to be sure which had occurred. Luger had hoped to ask the gnome whether he knew anything of Mauser’s fate, but that would have to wait until morning.

"Take thine rest, Erky,” said Sparhawk quietly, “for tomorrow wilt allow thee to unleash hell against thine captors and evil-doers. From what thou hast said, it would appear thou art a doughty fighter with an array of talents.  You are most welcome to our companionship." 

“If he could really take us straight to the Air Temple, that would let us strike a blow at it—or try to recruit it against the Water Temple,” mused Syll. “I had been thinking to focus on taking the fight straight to Kelashein next. I think our firepower, quite literally, will be devastating to the water dopes, and I’d like to rescue those guys we had to leave behind. But now I’m not sure if we should do that, or make for the Air Temple like Erky said.”

"I hath looked forward to springing our trap on the forces of Water,” said Sparhawk. “We couldst look over Danton’s maps and and consider the best way to spring the ambush. Clearly a fireball would be most appropriate for the

water-dwellers,” he said with a nod and a smile at Syll. “Blast them to hell, and then we shalt mow down any survivors with the light and arms of Heironeous.  When we strike, let us try not to expend all of our spells and strength, for there mayeth be more of them in another group, and of course there is no end to the creatures that emerge from the Oerth in this hellish place." 

“This, at least, was mine thinking,” continued the paladin. “But with Erky’s knowledge of the Air Temple at our disposal, “mayhap we should reconsider and save the ambush of the watery forces for later. It is a difficult decision, but perhaps things will be clearer in the morning. For now, let us hole up and rest as much as we art able to in this Temple of Foulness and Uncleanliness.  I shalt take whatever watch is necessary to protect all of thee and allow thee rest."

Because Tenaris had fallen asleep part way through Erky’s story, Danton decided to let her rest, along with Sparhawk and Luger, while he and Syll took the first watch. The elf woman, the paladin, and the injured cleric could sort out the latter two watches amongst themselves.

Although there was much to consider, Danton and Syll agreed to postpone any further discussions until morning. In order to remain awake, the elf used a dagger to scratch out a crude chess board on a small wooden table that was mostly intact. At the same time, Danton used ink to color half of the metal pieces he had collected from the forge and then wrote out a list of what each piece represented. It was by far the crudest chess set that either the Velunese or the elf had ever used, but it was better than nothing.

(DM’s note: in the absence of any kind of ‘gaming’ or ‘chess’ skill, I am going to use opposed intelligence checks to determine the outcomes of any matches that may take place. If we were talking about cards or other games that involved bluffing or other skills/abilities to a greater degree, I would probably work out some combination of checks, but for chess I will make it straight opposed intelligence checks. If any of you have other ideas, I am open to suggestions.)

Danton and Syll ended up having enough time to play two matches before they were both exhausted and woke Tenaris and Sparhawk to take the second watch. In the first match Danton opened with one of the classic strategies used by the renowned Keolandish chess master Karpov, only to forget one critical move and be forced to watch helplessly as Syll picked off his more powerful pieces one by one before isolating and pinning down his King and Queen. Checkmate followed soon thereafter (Opposed intelligence check: Syll: 18+1=19 vs. Danton: 5+3=8). All in all, it was an embarrassing defeat, and particularly galling for Danton given that it seemed that Syll employed no grand strategy; rather the elf seemed to make up his approach as he went along. Danton was only too glad that Tenaris was fast asleep rather than watching the one-sided competition.

“You see how he’s sleeping with that sword like it’s a woman?” asked Syll, pointing at the sleeping Sparhawk with his right thumb. “I always thought paladins were weird, but this is a bit much.”

“Indeed,” said Danton with a quiet laugh. “I mean, I love a fine blade as much as the next man, but actually loving the blade as Sparhawk would seem to do is a bit much. But Furyondians are a strange lot. I could tell you a story or two about Telemachos and his mother that you would likely never believe…”

The second chess match was far more competitive. Danton shifted to another of Karpov’s famed strategies, the Knight’s Gambit, and succeeded in forcing Syll onto the defensive fairly early on. However, after losing a Rook and a Bishop, the elf recovered via a series of daring moves with his own Knights. In the end, even though Danton felt increasingly certain that he was the more skilled and experienced player, Syll succeeded in forcing a stalemate (Opposed intelligence check: Syll: 17+1=18 vs. Danton: 15+3=18). Throughout both games, Danton groused about Syll’s ‘luck’, but the smuggler’s only response was, “I’d rather be lucky than good any day, kid.”

Much to the party’s relief, the entire night passed without event. Although Luger was up for the final watch well before the sun, by the time the other’s awoke, rays of sunlight were hitting the south slope of Mount Stalagos and lighting the room in which the party had spent the night. As the party awoke, Erky used his own healing powers to heal his remaining injuries, while Luger took care of the rest of the party. The cleric was still fighting to throw off the effects of the ghost’s touch from the previous night, but his powers, though reduced, were still considerable (Convert Detect EvilX2 and BlessX2 to Cure Light Wounds: Danton +6 HP, Syll +7 HP, Tenaris +10 HP, Sparhawk +10 HP; Convert Silence to Cure Moderate Wounds, Convert Bless to Cure Light Wounds: Luger +27 HP). Sparhawk, whose dizziness and nausea had passed during the night, used his own healing powers to heal his remaining injuries (Lay on Hands: +15 HP), and before long, the party was in top shape—save for Luger’s lingering weakness caused by the spirit.

“We’ve got to make for the Air Temple right now,” said Erky firmly when everyone was gathered around a cold breakfast to discuss what to do next. “Those gargoyles were affiliated with the Air Temple in some fashion, and I’m sure that the whole temple will go on alert once someone discovers they’ve been killed. But if we go right now and make straight for the altar room I told you about, I’m sure we can get there and destroy it—or negotiate with them if that’s what you’d rather do—before anyone realizes something is wrong. Then you can deal with these water people later. But whether you want force or diplomacy, we’ve got to go to the Air Temple now.”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 72:

Please send postings for Turn 72 by the end of Friday, September 28th.

Current date/time/location: 16 Kolovoz; approximately 0800; The Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn: none

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: Luger’s enlarge potion, Syll’s scroll of magic weapon, Sparhawk potion of cure light wounds

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: 47/47

New XP: 1050

XP total: 40,661

XP needed: 45,000

Equipment: 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, 3 waterskins, 30 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, 3 iron keys from Fire Temple forces, inverted y pendant with red diamond background, map of Fire Temple area, letter from Hedrack to Tessimon, flaming short sword +1, unknown potion (acquired Turn 66), 2 vials of unknown liquid #1 and three vials of unknown liquid #2 (Turn 66), dark vision potion and healing elixir from the fungal forest man, masterwork dagger, sack of random bits of metal intended to be used as chess pieces

Gold: 1202

Silver: 430

Luger

(Energy Drained 2 levels: fortitude checks to determine whether this is permanent due in 14 hours; currently -2 to all skill and ability checks, -2 to all attacks, -2 to all saving throws, -2 effective levels, loses two most powerful spell slots, -2 effective levels;

AC: 21

Hit Points: 78/82

New XP: 1050

XP total: 38,011

XP needed: 45,000

Equipment: masterwork heavy mace, chainmail +1, masterwork large steel shield, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, flint & steel, 30 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 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 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 and one large diamond shaped metal bar, 2 emerald pendants, book on history and worship of Elder Elemental Eye cult, one inverted Y pendant 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,  Aseneth’s House Torquann dragon ring, ring of jumping (+30 to jumping checks), 1 iron triangle with inverted ‘Y’, three black cones made of some unknown substance, a black scepter decorated with a half dozen violet gems, metal scroll tube, one inverted ziggurat pendant; potion of cure light wounds, pearl from the Dark Lake, contagion, greater magic weapon, bracers of health +2, unknown potion (Turn 66)

Spell Selection:

Level 0 (6): Detect MagicX3, LightX3

Level 1 (5+1): Detect Evil, Protection from Evil (Domain)
Level 2 (5+1): Hold PersonX2, Bull’s Strength, Silence, Aid (Domain)
Level 3 (4+1): Searing LightX3, Dispel Magic, Divine Power (Domain)
Level 4 (3+1): Summon Monster IVX2, Dismissal, Holy Smite (Domain as lvl 10)

Level 5 (1+1): Both spell slots currently lost due to energy drain
Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 7 of 7

Gold: 295

Silver: 0

Syll

AC: 14 (15 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 43/43

New XP: 1050

XP total: 25,180

XP needed: 28,000

Equipment: Ring of Protection +1, Cloak of Resistance +1, Urrtarr’s spellbook, Masterwork Longsword, backpack, 3 water skins, 30 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, 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, ring of feather falling, wand of fireballs (13 charges; caster level 6), unknown potion (Turn 67), unknown suit of chainmail

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6) (0 used)

Level 1: (7) (0 used)

Level 2: (7) (0 used)

Level 3: (5) (0 used)

Gold: 3404

Silver: 42

Sparhawk

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

Hit Points: 60/60

New XP: 1050

XP total: 19,260

XP needed: 21,000

Equipment: backpack, water skin, 30 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, masterwork 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 wounds, pearl from the Dark Lake, gold-inlaid black urn, Tessimon’s jewelry box, golden orb set with amber, Book of the Dark Eye, Caladbolg (barbed great sword +1), unknown potion (turn 66), two dark vision potions and one strength enhancing wafer from the fungal forest man

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (2): Protection from Evil, Divine Favor

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 6 of 6

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 5 of 18

Smite Evil used today?: NO

Gold: 0

Silver: 0

Tenaris

AC: 23

Hit Points: 57/57

New XP: 1050

XP total: 19,040

XP needed: 21,000

Equipment: longsword, chitin full plate mail, large steel shield, masterwork morningstar, 5 javelins, 2 troglodyte spears, inverted Y pendant, 30 days rations, potions of cat’s grace, spider climb, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, cloak of resistance +1, black robe, Bracers of Kord (strength) +2, potion of cure light woundsX2, pearl from the Dark Lake, short sword +1, large steel shield +1, two strength enhancing wafers and one healing elixir from the fungal forest man, Masterwork longsword

Gold: 174

Silver: 30