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Chapter 3: The Temple of All-Consumption

Turn 72: The Erky Affair

“Now wait a minute,” said Luger. “This is all happening too quickly. Let’s think about what we're going to do before rushing to confront the Air Temple. I think we should find out what the Water Temple's forces are up to before we do anything. For all we know, they could be about to assault the Air Temple themselves and I, for one, do not want to be caught in the crossfire.”

“Erky,” added the cleric, “I cannot help but wonder why you are in such a hurry to return to the Air Temple in such a state. Surely, you'd rather arm yourself before going into battle. Not far from here is a room full of fine weapons and armor and I think it would be prudent that we at least make an effort to get you some armor and weaponry before going into battle. I propose that Syll turns Danton invisible and Danton sneaks back the way we came to see what he can find about the Water Temple forces. If you're willing, Danton, perhaps you could return to the armory we camped in last night and see if there is armor for Erky. I left some dwarven plate which might have to do if nothing else is available.”

“One way or the other, I say we crush the Air and Water temples. Once that is accomplished, the Doomdreamers are sure to take notice and possibly send forces to contend with us. That will be our cue to move against them. Before we do, I think we should take this opportunity to return to Rastor to restock supplies and hear any news about any comings or goings in the weeks that we've been here. To be honest,” continued Luger, weariness evident in his voice, “that spectre left me... diminished. I had planned to add the heavenly fires of Heironeus to Syll's fireballs at our next encounter, but now I feel that I am unable to channel such awesome energy. It is very humbling to have such a pitiful dead creature cause me so much distress.”

Erky shook his head vehemently while Luger was speaking. When the cleric finished, the gnome blurted out, "I'm telling you we have a real opportunity here to get to the Air Temple, but once those gargoyles are found dead, things will get a lot harder--if not impossible! I guess if Danton can go really quickly to look for these water people and collect equipment, then it might still be okay, but anything more than an hour or two, and I think our chance will be lost!”

Danton took a deep breath. “Like Luger, methinks we should not rush headlong into a course of action. Particularly if I can be turned invisible, I am willing to reconnoiter the Water Temple assault force. I would truly like to know where it is and what ‘tis up to. P’raps I can overhear some choice conversation. If the Water Temple is simply waiting to waylay Fire Temple stragglers and hath no designs, as yet, on the Air Temple, well, then we’ll have to decide what is the best strategic move: attacking them or the Air Temple. However, if it becomes apparent that they plan to attack the Air Temple, then methinks we should let them do precisely that – and shadow them such that, once the two sides engage, ‘Delchin & Company’ show up and finish what they hath started. I am also willing to return to the forge to find a weapon of masterwork quality for Erky here. Good gnome, you need only tell me what weapons suiteth you best, and I shalt endeavor to find them.”

“But,” added Danton, “regardless of our decisions and before we do anything, however, I would have Erky tell us all that he can about where we can find the Air Temple’s altar – as well as any other details, such as traps, guardians, etcetera – that he can provide. After all, ‘tis purest logic to assemble an insurance policy. Erky, the plain fact is that tomorrow you may die … as might any of us. If you can point us in the direction of the Air Temple altar, ‘twould be meet and good to do it now before any knowledge dies with you. Believe me, good gnome, whether it be tomorrow or not, we will see the Air Temple’s altar destroyed. I am an amateur cartographer – as much out of necessity as anything – and so I can transcribe your directions and make for us a map to follow.”

“There is one other thing to consider,” said the scout, “and that is our tremendous luck in finding our present room. We must needs give thought to making this room our more-or-less permanent hideout in the Temple of All-Consumption, and therefore ‘twould be desirable to hide this room from view. P’raps Erky or Syll hath a conjuration to create a permanent illusion over the hallway where the stairs be. I would not wish for the Water Temple – or anyone else – to find it.”

“I can't remember all the details,” said Erky, “but I know the Air Temple is really close. I already told you what I can remember of what it looks like, and I think we can get there by going straight down the long hall from here and then down either one of two different halls going the same direction after that. I know this because I was hauled to the Air Temple down one hallway and then dragged back down a parallel one later. I remember each had a few doors and such along the way, but all you really have to do is stick to the long main halls and you can't help but come to the Air Temple before long. If there were any traps or the like, I never saw 'em.”

“When it comes to weapons,” said the gnome, “I can use a mace or short sword pretty well, and most any type of armor that is my size will work. This chain shirt has pretty much had it. I'll do what I can to help, with or without new equipment, but I think it's a mistake to delay going to the temple."

“Upon reflection, I doth agree with Luger's caution,” said Sparhawk. “We art doing the exact thing that wilt get us into trouble in this temple of doom - rushing in imprudently into dangerous situations sans intelligence. No man mayeth justly label me ‘coward,’ yet I doth not wish to go to mine grave because I hath acted unwisely or hath played the fool.”

“Luger and Erky are both right, each in their own way,” said Danton, bending to rummage through his pack and make space for several items he had removed the previous night. “Let us therefore split the apple. I wilt leave immediately to reconnoiter Kelashein's band and learn what I can learn. I shalt go alone, and if good Syll can render me invisible 'twould be appreciated. But, regardless, I am going. We need intelligence, and we need it fast. I shall gather it or die in the trying. If Fate is kind, I shalt return with knowledge that shalt simplify our decision-making.”

“I wilt not be gone for more than an hour, or an hour plus one-half at the most. After that, leave me to mine devices. Odds are, if I hath not returned by that time, I shalt not be among the living anyhow. Then you wilt have to keep your own counsel as to your next move, but mine advice is to listen to Erky and to assail the Air Temple altar. The Velunese hath a saying that, ‘one in the hand hath more worth than two in the bush.’ We hath a guide to the Air Temple altar and, for the moment, we hath the luxury of surprise. If too much time is squandered, we wilt have neither. Of course, given mine own absence, p'raps I'd defer to Syll,” he comment with a grin at the elf, “whose chess game showeth that, while he lacketh the history and nuance of the game, he maketh up for it with a keen mind and intuitive tactics.”

Sparhawk shot Danton a foul look and pulled the scout well away from the others, saying, “I would speaketh with thee about the strategy thou proposeth. I would not have thee lost on some foolhardy adventure! Giveth me a moment of thy time before thou trapest off into the den of evil.”

Once the pair was standing near the top of the stairs and several dozen feet away from the others, Sparhawk motioned wildly and yelled, “Damn fool . . . this is nonsense . . . think more carefully.”

In hushed tones, he quickly added, “I am not so sure about thine friend. Something is nagging at me. He is all too strongly pushing us to attack the Air Temple.”

Then again loudly, “Look I doth not care what thine skill is, I wilt not hath thee leave us . . . !“

And again quietly, “Look, I am not saying that he even knows what he is doing. He mayeth be charmed or similarly magicked. I just feel that we art walking into a trap and would rather deal with the water forces before we blindly follow him.”

“Just forget it!” Sparhawk finally yelled. “Do as thou wishes!”

The paladin then stalked back to the others and on past them towards the open window looking out on the south slope of Mount Stalagos. “I must think and pray on this for a few moments before we maketh a rash decision,” he said as he walked past Syll, Luger, Tenaris, and Erky. “Please indulge me, mine companions. I knoweth that time is of the essense, but I walk by Heironeous' commands. I wilt pray for a moment whilst the rest of thee decide on our course of action.”

While Sparhawk knelt by the window and prayed, the others continued speaking, Danton rejoining them, an inscrutable expression on his face.

“Erky,” said Luger, “I can assure you that we will destroy Temple of Air. We have already destroyed the Temples of Fire and Earth both of which were more powerful than the Air Temple. This temple has cost us gravely, but it has also made us strong. You will be safe with us and you will have your revenge on those that have tormented you for so long.”

Danton dropped his pack loudly. “I am persuaded not to rush off into oblivion, but what is the proffered alternative? Correct me if I am in error, but doth not we require intelligence on Kelashein's strike force, in any event? And, if so, am not I the one best suited to obtain it? There is, of course, the problem of seeing in darkness, for I am no cat, and mine eyes wilt not see in total- or near-total darkness. P'raps there is some magic that can aid me in this regard. The fungi man hath sold us ‘vision enhancing’ potions, which might aid me. However, after seeing the effect of their healing potion on Sir Sparhawk, I am a bit reluctant to try it.”

“It is too bad we cannot capture and kill one of the Water Temple's fish headed warriors and plant its hacked up body in the midst of the dead gargoyles,” said Luger with a smirk. “The obvious assumption by the Air Temple would be that the Water Temple killed their pets.”

“Not a bad idea, I agree,” said Danton, “but methinks Kelashein won't be goaded so easily.”

When Sparhawk finished his brief prayer, he turned, muttered, “This simply must be done, Heironeous,” and concentrated on Erky (Use Detect Evil ability—detects a very strong aura of evil from Erky). The feeling of strong foreboding and powerful evil that Sparhawk discerned from the gnome was such a jolt that the paladin took the time to double-check. When he was certain of the results, he stood up, and motioned for Danton to join him.

Leaving the others once again, the scout made his way over to the window.

“What is thine opinion regarding mine earlier point about thine friend? Is he to be trusted?”

“In truth, I doth not know,” said Danton. “He seemeth especially agitated and forceful, but as to why I doth not know. He hath suffered mightily from these folk, that much seemeth undeniable, and he may desire revenge ... and quickly. Then, too, p'raps he hath been driven mad by the experience. Finally, there is the possibility that he could be charmed or in some way twisted to the Air Temple's purposes. While I doth not discount this, methinks it unlikely. Still, 'tis best that we keep an eye on him and make sure that, whatever his motive, he doth not compromise our mission.”

“I fear the situation is much worst than that,” said the paladin, describing the palpable sense of malice he detected when concentrating on the gnome.

“Well,” said Danton as he struggled to grasp all the implications of Sparhawk’s words. “Either Erky hath gone over to the dark side ... or this isn't Erky. None of you hath known him, but I can vouch for him -- he wast not evil when last we met. His recollection of events in Hommlet is too precise for me to think that this is some sort of clone. Or, if it is, it must have been created after sucking knowledge from Erky. And why on Oerth go to such trouble? To keep him in this dungeon in chains in the event that the same heroes of Hommlet would arrive in this foul place, hundreds of miles thither, so that he might lead us astray? 'Tis too absurd even to contemplate. “

“No,” said Danton, still thinking out loud, “this is Erky, surely. What hath happened to him, I doth not know. Mayhap he can be cured…” he trailed off, looking grimly at the gnome, “but if not -- or if not quickly, which is to say immediately -- we must needs slay him. We cannot take him with us, and we art not dragging around an enemy, even bound. To leave him would be folly, even bound and gagged -- for bindings can be cut, gags can be lifted, alerts can be raised, and information can be imparted. He not only knows us, he now also knows our mission. Even the chance that he might rat on us is unacceptable and requisite of extreme measures by us. We must tell the others. I shall go and engage Erky while you impart this new knowledge to them.”

While Danton chatted idly with Erky regarding the duo’s previous adventures together in the Sunless Citadel, the other party members joined Sparhawk by the window, using the pretext of receiving additional healing from the paladin. When Sparhawk related what he had discerned, and Danton’s suggestion that the gnome might have to be killed, he encountered immediate skepticism from all three of his listeners.

“Hold on a moment here,” said Syll. “First off, Luger do you have a spell to detect a charm? I don't, but I agree that the gnome is acting funny and just might be charmed. At any rate, I ain't so sure about his advice anyway. Attacking the Air Temple now is an option, but only one of several. We definitely need to find out if something is wrong with Erky, but if it could be just a charm, why on Oerth would we just kill him?”

“Let me discuss with Erky his devotion to Ehlonna and the magical powers he derives from that,” commented Luger. “The state of his spellcasting abilities might tell us something about his present nature and beliefs.”

Tenaris was the most doubtful of all. “Are you sure about this? This Erky is a bit odd, but evil? Let's not do something rash if we aren't certain. Why didn't you say something sooner, anyway? We've been around the gnome for 12 hours, and it's only now that you say something?”

“Danton is looking pretty agitated over there,” commented Syll, “like he wants to say something. Why don’t I go spell him talking to Erky, while he comes back over here? But let’s not do anything hasty, alright?”

If Erky had any suspicions regarding the party’s reasons for isolating him with a single handler while the group as a whole spoke in private, he did not show it. When Danton rejoined the bulk of the party, Tenaris restated her doubts on Sparhawk’s assertions for his benefit.

“I doth not wish to do anything rash either,” said the scout. “And I am not eager to kill Erky. I am open to any and all suggestions, provided they do not unduly imperil us, but we simply cannot leave this room without solving this problem ... one way or another.”

Scratching his chin, Danton added, “Is it possible that Erky could be wearing some item that either radiates evil or that permits others to control him ... and vicariously transmits their own evil designs? Could a spell cast upon him make him evil, or at least give him the appearance of evil? I am grasping at straws here, but however this is resolved, one thing is certain: Sir Sparhawk, you must immediately attempt to divine evil amongst every person we meet henceforth in this vile pit. If you see your own dear mother approaching from down the corridor, you must try to detect it even upon her. We all must needs prompt Sir Sparhawk in this regard so that this responsibility doth not lie upon him solely.”

“I agree on the precaution, but let's be careful on the execution, hmm?” said Tenaris firmly and with evident bitterness in her voice. “Just remember how badly things went the last time someone in the group started haphazardly throwing around accusations that others were ‘liars and thieves’."

Sparhawk scowled at Tenaris. “Milady, I doth not usually attempt to discern the goodness of the friends of mine friends, only when I hath suspicions like now. Mayhaps I should cast it on thee as well, as I hath not done to now? A simple thanks wilt do next time.”

Looking away from the woman, who appeared taken aback by his comments, Sparhawk mused aloud, “We shalt attempt to discern the source of his evil as a precaution against slaying thy friend, if truly this is still thy friend. If he is as evil as I feel, he shalt be slain and sent back to the keeper of his soul for his reward of service. We shalt prevent his escape and prevent an alarm from being raised.
Do not discuss our grand strategy any further. It is a good thing we hath not made up our minds as of yet.”

Although Danton had only known Tenaris for a little over a week, he recognized the dangerous look on her face that Sparhawk’s comment had produced. He hoped to get in a placating comment, but was not fast enough.

“Well, sure,” said the elf woman acidly. “Why not? Test away! Maybe you better check Syll too, since you know we elves tend to be evil to the core. And then maybe you can make some threats, throw a few insults around, and tell us either we or you have to leave the party. That would be a great idea!”

Danton groaned inwardly and shook his head.

There followed a moment of awkward silence, during which Sparhawk and Tenaris glared at one another. Then the paladin gave a slight bow and said, “I knoweth not of what thee speaketh of elves. Regardless, I shalt not put thee to the test. Milady, please forgive the anger that caused me to respond to thee so impetuously. I usually doth not treat ladies in such a manner. I hope the use of mine skills accords with thine wishes in the future.”

Sparhawk’s words and gesture were clearly not what Tenaris expected, but they seemed to drain the anger out of her. “Don't worry about it,” she said with a faint smile. “Sorry about the outburst. I get a little hotheaded sometimes. Anyway, if there really is something bad going on with this Erky, I'm glad you thought to check him. I just want us to be sure, that's all.”

Danton sighed loudly. “Let none of us get carried away or say things that we might regret. Our group's last falling out was caused by misperception, but the underlying issues here art serious business. Let us remember: Sir Sparhawk hath detected great evil emanating from Erky. Though I may chide our paladin from time to time and cause him grief in mine own way, I hath never doubted his honor or sense of mission ... or his finely attuned sense for detecting evil.”

“Tenaris,” he continued, “prithee do not blow this up into a reprise of the last incident. No one hath said word one to impugn you or Syll. No one. And, so long as I live, no one yet will. The issue here is Erky. That he emanates evil is not to be doubted or gainsaid. Only two questions remain. First, why doth he emanate evil? And, second, what can be done about it? The two questions are, of course, interlocked for the most part.”

“As I hath said,” stressed the Velunese a note of obvious annoyance creeping into his voice, “I am open to any suggestion regarding these two questions. Dear Tenaris, doth you have any suggestions? Because, in candor, I doth not. If evidence can be obtained by conventional means, I am your man. But if such evidence lieth only inside the heart of a man, well, I am not psychiatrist, priest or soothsayer. Neither am I possessed of magicks. So I am desirous of an answer, while lacking the personal means to obtain it. Yet one thing is certain: if we cannot answer either of the two underlying questions, methinks we art faced with a grim reality: We take Erky with us, we leave him secured, or we kill him. If we art truly in the dark as to Erky's condition, the first two options are plain folly. That leaves only the swift stroke unseen ... and I shalt administer it, yea and for friendship's sake. I shalt accept the burden of guilty conscience, if such must follow.”

Tenaris looked as though she had been physically slapped, but Danton pressed on, “But I hath not lost mine best friend in this awful pit ... and then returned, against all mine senses, to walk blithely into disaster. Death and disaster may find me before all is done, but I shalt not lightly and knowingly carry the means with me. So rather than grumble amongst one another and toss about baseless complaint, let us work together to solve the problem. Or, by the gods,” he hissed, gripping the hilt of Rat’s Tail, “I shalt solve it mineself ... and now.”

“Canst one of thee magic-users hold him so that we canst ascertain where he carries some evil necklace or is some way charmed into evil or is simply a demon from the dark side in some recognizable disguise?” asked Sparhawk.

Visibly stung by Danton's words and pointedly ignoring him, Tenaris looked at Luger. “Yes, Luger, can you do that? We could ask Syll too if he were not over there keeping Erky busy while we speak.”

“I can attempt to hold him, and can attempt to do so twice this day,” replied the cleric. “If he shrugs it off, then he will know what I've done and may respond with his own magic, so we must be prepared for his reaction. I would prefer to not kill him, as he may have much more useful information to give us. Considering his condition when we found him, I do not doubt that he considers the Air Temple and their allies his enemy. If he is not possessed or otherwise magicked, I shudder to think to think what torment would drive his soul to disavowal his goddess. I fear that he has succumbed to Tharizdun or some lesser evil. He may retain some of his true nature and hold no grudge against us or our cause, or he may wish to lead us to our deaths to gain favor with his new masters. I am willing to try to hold him if we are agreed. I do not think he is going to volunteer the information we seek otherwise.”

“Luger, I am willing to allow interrogation of Erky,” said Danton, “but, because he wast once mine friend, even that must have its limits. Not that I am assuming you would push the boundaries of decency; that, I fear, is mine own problem. But there is the additional limit of time. For events in this temple are in motion and we surely do not have time for an extended effort to solve the ‘Erky problem,’ particularly if such includes interrogation.”

Danton again sighed loudly. “I am increasingly nervous about the state of things. There art too many balls in the air. Things art in motion. Enemies art near. And I fear that too much delay or leaving too much to chance shalt doom us all.”

He looked at Tenaris, who steadfastly refused to return the gesture.

“So, if I hath spoken harshly, I hope I can be forgiven for it. We art a solid team, and we must act as one.”

Looking back at Luger, he added, “I do not object to your attempting to magically hold Erky, Luger, and if he resists, we slay him. That, at least, will end the matter. But how wilt holding him avail us in learning what ails him? Can he speak while held? If so, can you detect lies when spoken? Because, if not, then methinks any information you ply from him wilt not be trustworthy -- which ultimately wilt leave us in the same situation as we currently are. From where I am standing, untrustworthy information is frankly no better than no information at all. One cannot wisely rely on it.”

“Holding him will allow us bind him and keep him from casting evil spells at us when he realizes we are on to him,” said Luger. “I do not have the power to discern lies from truth this day, but I hold out hope that once Erky realizes that he does not have our trust and we are wary of him, he will be more forthcoming. If you'd rather, we can simply confront him directly without committing an act that may be considered an attack. He is unarmed and outnumbered. Does he deserve to be treated honestly and forthrightly?”

“Keep in mind,” admonished the cleric, “he may or may not have been turned into something evil from his time here, but he should at least know that we will not treat him as his captors have. I will not condone any sort of torture on this poor soul, but if he proves that he is our enemy, then I have no reservations to putting him out of his misery.”

“As the Baklunish say,” finished Luger, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend...If Erky seeks revenge upon his captors and means us no harm, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt considering your past experience with him. If he has turned to evil by the torture of these fiends, perhaps he can be brought back into the light by our kindness and friendship. I would be willing to give him the opportunity and am willing to try to guide him thus.”

“'Tis difficult for me to imagine speaking in such abstractions to Erky,” said Danton. “Shall we confront him and ask if he is ‘evil’? Without attempting to wax existential, I find mineself wondering if those who are evil truly understand themselves as such. I suppose we could ask him about something more concrete, such as his present worship of Ehlonna or whether he is consciously allied with the Air Temple ... or some other force within Mt. Stalagos. But, again, if we hath no way to discern truth from falsehood, what good will it do us? We hath Sir Sparhawk's discernment that Erky is evil, correct? If we art convinced of the truth of that -- and I am not sure how it can be in error -- well, then what can Erky tell us that would convince us to let him live through the day's end? We don't have another day to spent so that Heironeous can grant Luger the power to detect lies.”

“Like you, Luger, I won't torture Erky, not even for valuable information. But, unlike you, I am not disposed to believe that kindly words or the preaching of the gospels of Heironeous is going to change Erky's dark heart -- at least not in any reasonable timeframe. The more the matter is discussed, the more I am inclined to think that we hath little choice. Erky must die. The only other abstract solution I can think of is if you spellcasters can ‘imprison’ him in such manner as takes him outside the reach of corporeal men. For instance, I suppose we could bind him and gag him with great firmness, place him in some obscure corner or atop something, and then turn him invisible. But, even if we did that, can he not conjure some means to escape his bindings? Or p'raps someone capable of seeing the invisible wilt happen along and free him? Can we really take that chance? In mine heart, I doth not think so, alas.”

“I disagree,” said Luger firmly. “Whether Erky is a cleric of Ehlonna or some dark power, he will comprehend the results of Peter's abilities. I would confront him with the fact of our findings and let him explain himself. You all showed more faith in the mushroom man, whom we knew nothing about. This gnome deserves at least as much consideration. A fallen priest or paladin can atone for his fall from grace and return to his deity. From Nanoc's recollections of your companion Xaod, you have seen this yourself. We do not know what has happened to turn your friend thus, but I think he deserves at least a chance to recover his former goodness. I can offer atonement to Erky if he is willing. I can help bring him back to the light of Ehlonna with the help of Heironeus.”

“In sum,” concluded Luger, “I think we should try to ascertain where the Water Temple's forces are, but stay close to our new hiding place for another day. I will pray for Heironeus to provide me the method to aid Erky in his atonement and we will confront him thereafter.”

While Danton and Luger debated what should be done with Erky, Tenaris pointedly moved to stand next to the cleric. She still refused to look at Danton or speak to him, but her position and body language made it obvious that she shared Luger’s views on Erky. Sparhawk remained silent as well, looking back and forth between Danton and Luger as they spoke.

Danton sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time. “If the balance of opinion is that we wait until the following morning, to allow Luger to replenish his spells, I wilt not gainsay it. I do not myself advocate it because I fear that time is not on our side and because I fear that the end result wilt differ little from our present circumstance. But if the majority wishes to wait, then I shalt not oppose it.”

“Hmm,” said Tenaris airily, “Luger and I both favor waiting, plus Syll made it clear he did not want to do anything precipitous—that’s three out of five, right there…”

Any other words the woman might have said were cut off when Sparhawk suddenly withdrew Caladbolg from its long sheath on his back and stalked down the narrow chamber towards Syll and Erky.

Screaming at the top of his lungs, “Though art a foe of Heironeous in thine dissembling evil!” the paladin bore down on the gnome. “Thou must pay the price for thine betrayal of good! There is no other way! Go to the darkness where thine soul hast already plunged! I release thee from the agony of seeing the light of Heironeous in this world!”

While all the others stood frozen in shock and Erky quailed in terror in front of him, Sparhawk slashed Caladbolg right through the badly damaged chainmail shirt the gnome wore and plunged the blade through the gnome’s chest twice in rapid succession (surprise round attack: 11+12=23, 14+7=21; 2 hits; 13, 15 damage). As the blade cut into the gnome, a strange sensation of weakness and wrongness crept over Sparhawk, but it was not enough to prevent him from continuing to hack away at the gnome.

(DM’s note: Sparhawk has just lost his paladin status. This includes the following abilities: detect evil, divine grace, lay on hands, divine health, aura of courage, smite evil, remove disease, turn undead, spellcasting, and the ability to call a special mount. Caladbolg has also lost its special properties and is now once again simply a +1 greatsword.)

[Initiative: Tenaris: 25, Danton: 21, Luger: 20, Sparhawk: 13, Erky: 11, Syll: 7]

Danton shook his head and looked at Luger. “So much for 'detect lie,' alas. By the gods, if there is a temperate Furyondian in all the Oerth, I hath not met him! At least they craft good wine.” As Sparhawk slashed away at Erky, Danton watched the gnome closely and walked closer to the pair, but took no further action—at least for the moment.

The same could not be said of Tenaris, Syll, and Luger. The cleric held forth his lightning bolt symbol of Heironeous and strode forward, shouting, “Stay your hand knight of Heironeus! This person has not proven himself our enemy and deserves the right to explain the change of his aspect. Justice must be meted by compassion and I demand it of you!”

While Luger spoke and moved as if to interpose himself between Sparhawk and Erky, Syll and Tenaris took a more direct approach—the two elves literally flung themselves at the paladin, seeking to drag him away from the gnome (opposed grapple check: Tenaris: 7+3 strength bonus +2 ‘aid another’ bonus from Syll efforts=12 vs. Sparhawk: 15+4=19; Tenaris/Syll grapple attempt fails).

As the two elves tried in vain to restrain him and Erky continued to back away, Sparhawk shouted, “"Thou art a crafty devil fluent in the ways of deception and subterfuge. Thou wouldst lead us into evil and betray us, as thou hast played on the emotions of mine friend and ally.  Erky mayest hath been a pleasant gnome in life, but thou hast taken him o'er or assumed his visage. I wilt not be swayed by thy false, lying manipulations. Die!"

The extra weight of Tenaris and Syll holding him back slowed Sparhawk for several moments, allowing Erky a moment of breathing space. The gnome, his eyes wide in terror, still backed away without speaking. However, although his mouth did not move and he did not speak, strange words nevertheless emanated from the gnome’s vicinity:

“All work and no play makes Erky a dull boy! Time for you to die, paladin! Die! Die! Die!”

At this moment, Sparhawk finally managed to wrench his body about with such force that it sent Syll flying off the paladin’s left side to crash into a wooden table, while at the same time Sparhawk’s right elbow smashed into Tenaris’ face, sending her flying as well. Even as the elf woman crashed onto her back on the ground with a metallic clang, Sparhawk ran Erky through (attack: 15+11=26; hit; 12 damage).

“Did you hear that voice?” yelled Sparhawk after Erky fell lifelessly to the ground. The paladin ran his blade through the gnome’s body one more time for good measure, then turned to look at Danton and Luger as they approached cautiously. “You see, I hath been proven aright! All of us, including mineself must be on an ever greater alert than before. We hath barely averted disaster by following the ruse the demon hath laid before us. Be on thine guard and trust each other. Friendship wilt keep us alive as much as a strong arm and stout heart. Be as wily and clever as thine enemies and as the heroes of old." 

When Tenaris and Syll got to their feet, with the former wiping blood off her face from where Sparhawk’s elbow had smashed into her mouth, and the latter trying to clean off the blood from Erky that had splattered him during Sparhawk’s initial assault, it appeared that friendship was the last thing on either of their minds.

“Peter!” said Luger, still in shock at what he had witnessed. “No rash attack was necessary! He was just one gnome! We had the situation under control!”

“No!” said Sparhawk vehemently. “You heard the voice! I hath done the right thing uncovering the evil, slaying that evil, and preventing greater evil from happening to the group should we follow the demon or allow his subterfuge to continue and reinforcements or aid to come and help him to slay us!

“I did hear a fell voice amidst all the screaming and fighting,” said Danton, moving to assist Tenaris in wiping the blood off her face. But when he drew close, she pushed him away roughly.

Luger bent to examine Erky’s body. The gnome was clearly dead. His chain shirt had been shredded and blood was everywhere. But when Luger looked closely (healing proficiency check: 9+16-2=23), he noticed something strange on Erky’s exposed stomach. Using a bit of the gnome’s clothing to wipe away the blood, he recoiled in shock when he caught a clear view of the exposed flesh underneath: in the middle of Erky’s abdomen was a small demonic face—a pair of eyes, an angular nose, and even a little mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth.

“You see!” proclaimed Sparhawk when he saw the unmoving face on the gnome’s stomach. “’Twas a creature from the nether realms!”

“You don’t know that,” said Syll hotly. “That whole episode was just brilliant—and thanks soooo much for the heads up about what was coming,” he added sarcastically, even as he continued to wipe Erky’s blood off his skin and clothing.

“I actually had an option for dealing with Erky that I thought we would discuss further,” said the elf. “I can do a charm spell, and assuming it worked, he would have told us anything we wanted to know. I don't care for killing unless absolutely necessary, and I think that in the future we need to have at least a semi-unanimous decision reached before we attack someone. I would have liked a chance to weigh in on this one a bit more. Given what we’ve just discovered,” he said, pointing at the gnome’s stomach, “something was clearly very wrong with Erky. Maybe we would have ended up fighting him in the end anyway, but I would have liked to try to get information from him first. And maybe, just maybe, there would have been some way to separate that thing from his body without killing him. While Sparhawk was murdering Erky and splashing his innards all over me, it looked like Erky didn’t want to fight, and that voice we heard clearly wasn’t his. I think whatever this thing was that was grafted onto him was the source of the whole problem, but now we’ll never know for sure.”

“By the way, Pete,” continued the elf, his tone light, but his glare firm, “if you ever do anything like this again, I'll charm you.”

“Thank thee for explaining mine reasons for slaying that evil beast,” said Sparhawk, glaring back at Syll. “As for thine ‘jest’ about using thine magicks on me . . . well, I wilt consider it just that - a jest. I wilt not deign to threaten to use mine sword to control thine actions, for t'would not be honorable to maketh threats that I intend not to carry out nor against companions and good and noble adventurers.”

“As for submitting mine actions to a committee of magic-users thumbing through their spell books and fiddling around looking for just the right spell to ply evil creatures for their true identity in the midst of evil creatures, I doth propose a . . . manlier . . . approach,” said the paladin, his own words dripping sarcasm. “I hath done what the situation required I do. I did not enter this hell-hole to bandy about and play footsy with evil creatures. This ‘Erky’ was an evil creature seeking to trick us by playing with Danton's emotions and was leading us into a trap 'fore I hath discovered his true nature. Indeed, I maketh no apologies.”

“And finally,” said Sparhawk, leaning over towards the physically smaller elf, “Mine mother and father, and mine best friends, calleth me ‘Peter’. Most people honor my years of training to be a knight with ‘Sir Sparhawk’ or ‘Sir Peter.’ No one hath before named me ‘Pete’.”

“Yeah, whatever…Pete,” muttered Syll, turning and walking away from the paladin to continue cleaning off blood. Tenaris followed him.

Sparhawk looked back and forth between Danton and Luger. “So, what is our agreed-upon strategy regarding these other temples? Shall we discuss our strategy?”

Once they were out of earshot of the others, Tenaris whispered to Syll in elven:

<<Can you believe what we just witnessed? This self-proclaimed holy man declares an unarmed gnome evil and strikes him down without mercy even as the rest of us are discussing a course of action? I see pure madness in his eyes when I look at him, and I no longer trust a thing he says. Before, I was inclined to go along since Danton was so sure we had to do something, but after that...this man is completely insane, Syll. If I say anything to Danton, he will only shout at me again, but I am telling you that one of us may be next. After all, how can we refute one of the madman's pronouncements that we are evil if he tries to kill us before we even have a chance to defend ourselves?>>

<<For my part,>> said the woman firmly, <<I am never turning my back on him again. If he comes after me, I will not go down without a fight. And if I see him off in private conversations with Danton and Luger, I will have my blade at the ready. My nights of sharing watch with Danton are over. Much as I enjoyed his company, there is no way I am ever closing my eyes again while Sparhawk is awake. From now on, Sparhawk and I share guard duty. If he attacks me, I mean to see it coming.>>

<<I don’t know if he’s evil, or just an idiot,>> said Syll. <<But this whole thing has me about ready to decamp this place for good and go back to my old smuggling gig. There aren’t enough four-letter words in all the languages of the world to cover this one.>>

Although Sparhawk was anxious to move on to discussion of other subjects, Luger did not simply let the subject of Erky drop. “That gnome was a friend to Nanoc, Mauser, Telemachos and Danton,” he said, “and I believe he deserved a chance to redeem himself. I cannot help but wonder at your sudden impulse to slay him, Peter. I fear that you were not acting alone and that you may have been influenced by Caladbolg. While I am pleased that you have found such a mighty weapon, I would like to know more about it. If the sword is predisposed to slay evil at all costs, this must be taken into account in our planning while dealing with the evil that seems to dwell in every corner of this temple.”

“Because,” concluded the cleric, “sometimes it is neither tactically wise, nor morally appropriate, to charge and slay every being of evil intent that we come across, whatever our personal feelings about what they do or do not deserve.”

Sparhawk held up both hands and said, loudly enough for the elves at the other end of the chamber to hear, “Peace, friends! Do not forget that we are united in bonds of companionship against the foes out there, not here. Stay thy anger so that we might thwart the forces of evil that array against us and accomplish our mission. Trust and friendship, as much as force of arm and courage of heart wilt help us to do this together.”

The elves ignored the paladin, and Danton said, “I know not what more to say about all this…unpleasantness, but it changes not the fact that we require more knowledge before we act, and plainly said knowledge shall not now come from Erky. I mean to perform my reconnaissance and then return to you all straightaways. And please, in mine absence, no more harsh words amongst companions.”

"Danton, thou mayest creep about for information,” said Sparhawk, “but I fear for thine life. To avoid any dissembling evil again, I propose some passwords
among our group. We might get separated or some evil creature attempt to assume our visage. It might be something as simple as ‘lemon’ or ‘alemug’ or the like. Let us have a couple in case they are overheard and compromised. Do not trust anyone who appears in the visage of a lost loved one or the like. It is not truly the person, for no such person would be in the temple. Let us have peace and continue on our mission together!”

No one responded to the paladin, and Danton merely shouldered his pack and moved towards Syll and Tenaris on his way to the exit from the chamber. When he drew close to the elves, he withdrew his flaming short sword and extended it hilt-first to Tenaris.

“Mine lady, take this flaming blade as a gift. I doubt I shalt ever wield it with a surer hand than yours, and, more importantly, it giveth me great pleasure and security knowing that it may yet save you from a bad end. Feel free to rename it as pleases you, but, in the giving, I christen it Maicarya, which, in the elven tongue as ‘tis known to me, meaneth ‘Lady’s Blade’. Accept it, lady, and may it serve you well.”

Tenaris took the blade, but said nothing. Syll muttered something unintelligible but then proceeded to cast an invisibility spell on Danton.

“And to you, lady,” said the Velunese even as he faded from view, “I give one last ‘command’ – should I not return, live long, fair child of Celene, and forget me not in the centuries that run. For if death be mine lot, I shall spent eternity thinking of none other than you … and such is hardly a bad end.”

And with that, Danton moved to the door, opened it, and walked through the portal, shutting the door behind him.

***

Once outside the room, Danton did his best to put all that had just transpired on the other side of the door out of his mind and force himself to concentrate on his planned reconnaissance, for he knew, invisibility or no, that one lapse of concentration in this place could spell his death.

Danton made his way back down the two flights of stairs and out into the long east-west corridor. From there, he retraced his steps all the way back east down the hall until he came to the series of doors and abandoned rooms that would eventually lead to the spot where he had overhead Kelashein speaking to one of her minions the previous evening. When he came to the hallway leading up to that particular door, he went into full stealth mode (move silently: 15+22=37).

Upon reaching the door, Danton placed his right ear up against it (listen: 11+8=19). For a long time he could hear nothing, except for the faintest lapping of water on stone, but just when he thought the area beyond the door might be abandoned, his ears caught the sound of feet moving on stone, along with faint voices speaking in a language Danton did not understand, but that he thought (intelligence check: 14+3=17) might once again be that of the kuo-toa.

Given that it sounded like there were at least a half-dozen of the creatures present, Danton did not think it prudent to tempt fate by opening the door. Instead he simply waited and listened. Eventually the creatures he assumed were kuo-toa moved beyond the area on the other side of the door, the sound of their footfalls fading off to the west. But just when Danton was again considering opening the door, the sound of footsteps could be head again, as the kuo-toa apparently retraced their steps. After a time, Danton concluded that the creatures must be walking some sort of patrol, and he decided to move on.

Retreating back to the main east-west hall once again, Danton went east once more, making his way back to the room where the party had fought the two ceiling-hugging monsters. Looking carefully for any sign of the one that had escaped (spot: 16+10=26) and seeing no trace of it, the Velunese made his way quickly across the room. He made the conscious choice of avoiding the dark passage where the surviving monster had fled and instead made for the narrow hallway the party had used previously. When he reached the far side of the room, he also came to the last of the torches that lined the walls. In the hallway beyond this room was only darkness.

Hoping that the darkvision brew sold by the so-called “mushroom man” would both live up to its name and not make him sick, Danton withdrew and guzzled the vial of dark liquid he carried. He then took several steps into the dark corridor and stared down its length. Although he had feared the nausea and dizziness that assailed Sparhawk when the paladin drank the mushroom man’s healing potion, there were no such effects. Instead, Danton was amazed to see the outlines of the dark corridor—its walls, floor and ceiling—appear before him. He found that he could somehow now see a good sixty feet down the narrow hallway. However, the outlines of everything he saw were a bit blurry (-2 penalty on spot and search checks). Never having experienced darkvision before, he did not know if this was a normal characteristic of the ability or an unfortunate side effect of the mushroom man’s concoction.

But, blurriness or no, the potion did allow Danton to see in the dark, which enabled him to make his way down the hallway without having to use his magical torch or any other light source that would give away his presence. At the end of the hallway, he examined the closed door (search: 19+15-2=32, listen 3+8=11). Finding nothing, he opened the door and moved into the large cavern beyond it, shutting the door behind him.

Seeing no reason to linger in these caverns and run the risk of stumbling onto more of the nasty sonic reptiles, Danton quickly ascended the slope to the ledge overlooking the lake. Once he reached the area where natural light entered the cave system, he realized that the potion he had consumed had indeed made his vision blurry, for even standing on the ledge in the clear mid-morning sunlight, his eyes still could not focus properly.

“Dratted potion-maker and his cursed side-effects,” he muttered.

From there, Danton made his way back into the darkness and through the rest of the long system of caves and tunnels, taking the time to climb down and up carefully when he reached the spherical area where the party had fought the first of the sonic monsters. When he came to the area where the group had encountered the mushroom man, he slowed even more (move silently: 14+22=36), not wanting to chance an encounter with the man while he was alone. Finally, well over an hour after he had left the rest of the party, Danton came at last to the first area he associated with the former Fire Temple: the large chamber with the four obelisks, the floating red orb, and the fire elementals.

However, much had changed since Danton had last been in the area. There was no sign of fire elementals, and the red orb no longer floated in the air. Instead, both the orb and the four black obelisks were smashed to rubble scattered about on the ground. There was no sign of anyone about. Again not wanting to enter an unexplored area on his own, Danton avoided the northeastern passages and instead made his way up to the second ledge overlooking the lake that the party had discovered. From there he ascended the stairs that lead to the room filled with noxious smoke. Here nothing, apparently, had changed, for the smoke was as thick as ever. Between it and the blurriness of his vision, Danton could see almost nothing. He made his way through the room as quickly as he dared, taking care to steer well clear of the area with the pit into which Sparhawk had fallen.

Once he had exited the room and the coughing and hacking that threatened to give away his presence to anyone who might be about had ceased, Danton continued northward through the caves of the Fire Temple. By the time he came to the great double doors that lead to the temple’s ruined altar chamber, Danton had still encountered no one. Even the bodies of those enemies the party had slain days earlier were gone.

But it was when Danton came to the doors of the Fire Temple altar that he received his greatest surprise yet: someone had excavated their way into the ruined chamber. The doors were now fully open, and piles of stone ran along both sides of the long tunnel leading up to them. Someone had dug a path back into the wrecked altar chamber. Danton followed this path, eventually entering the chamber itself and climbing up onto the rocks. Because of the amount of space that had been cleared, it was now possible to walk across the rubble throughout the cavern.

As best Danton could tell, the excavations inside the actual chamber had been intended to locate a particular object or location, or perhaps several objects or locations. The area around the ruined altar had been cleared, as well as several other areas between the altar and the southern double doors. But whether those doing the digging had found what they sought, Danton could only speculate.

With this information, such as it was, obtained, Danton turned and began retracing his steps back through the abandoned Fire Temple, wondering where Kelashein and her forces were and what they were about.

***

It was nearing mid-day when Danton, once again visible, finally returned to the party’s hidden redoubt looking out on the southern face of Mount Stalagos. He thought he caught a flash of relief on Tenaris’ face when he returned, but she looked away quickly, and he could not help but notice that she and Syll were waiting and resting well away from Sparhawk and Luger.

As the party ate a cold lunch, Danton related all that he had seen in his explorations, emphasizing that there had not been the slightest sign of Water Temple forces in the former Fire Temple area.

After lunch, Danton asked Syll if he might have a moment alone with Tenaris. The ex-smuggler shrugged and wandered off to gaze out the window on the surrounding countryside.

“I hath already apologized for mine sharpness of tongue earlier, Tenaris,” began the Velunese. “I now do so again, but it is also obvious that there are now, once again, larger problems plaguing our little group. I care not for Sparhawk’s dogmatism and his rash acts—this latest one least of all. But I do consider him a friend and, if nothing else, our group must maintain cohesion or we are all lost.”

“You are entitled to your view of the paladin,” said Danton in a placating tone when he saw the woman was about to protest, “and you need not become the man's friend. But some basic trust must exist, or we are all doomed.”

“The man is a psychopath,” said Tenaris angrily.

"Bigger things art at work here, Tenaris, as you hath pointed out to me,” continued Danton, ignoring the comment. “Let me be frank. If I hath had mine druthers, after the initial sundering of the fellowship, I would have whisked you off to see the Oerth with me and made it mine life's duty and pleasure to bring you happiness, adventure and high culture. But 'twas you who convinced me that more wast at stake, that we could not leave the quest. I trusted in your wisdom, and, candidly, I followed you because ... well, because I adore you.  If you were to leap into a chasm, I would do all I could to stop you.  Failing that, I would leap in after you, even to knowing death.” 

"Our current situation is no less grave than it wast on that day that you convinced me to return to this vile place. So let us hold this party together, you and I, and see this quest to an end, so I might yet spend mine days showing you the wonders of this wide world in which we live."

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” asked Tenaris rhetorically, her tone softening. “But that is because I trust you, not because I think that man over there to be anything other than a lunatic. For your sake, and Syll’s, and even Luger’s, I will hold my tongue and try not to let Sparhawk provoke me again with his snide words, but I will not trust him with my life or anyone else’s.”

Danton drew breath to protest, but Tenaris waved him off. “That is the most you can hope to obtain from me for now, Danton, so please let the issue drop. And…thank you for this blade,” she added, patting the short sword now belted to her armored side. “It is indeed a fine gift. Ventanarix can be wrathful and unpredictable, but she is not incapable of gratitude.”

And with these words, Tenaris pulled Danton in close and kissed him full on the lips. The Velunese did not know if it was her kiss or the lingering effects of the mushroom man’s potion that made his head spin, but nor did he care.

***

Both while Danton was absent and after he returned, Luger spent most of the day either trying to talk to Sparhawk about his actions or in quiet meditation, trying to calm his own spirit and throw off the effects of the ghostly touch he had suffered the previous evening. By nightfall, Luger could feel that the full force of Heironeous was with him in this effort and when he sensed the lingering shadows of the touch of the undead lifting from his body and soul (fortitude saves: 10+11-2=19, 15+11-2=24; both succeed), he knew that the Invincible had indeed chosen him for some larger mission in this awful mountain and that he must be whole in order to complete it.

After announcing his restoration to his companions, Luger proceeded to use minor spells to heal the last of his own physical wounds. Later, at the vehement insistence of Tenaris, it was Danton and Syll who took the first watch, followed by Sparhawk and Tenaris herself, while Luger stood guard over the party during the last hours before dawn. Syll remained in a foul mood, so he and Danton played no chess this night. On the second watch, Sparhawk tried to speak with Tenaris, but she refused to respond.

Once Sparhawk and Tenaris were asleep, or, in the case of the latter, was engaged in the deep meditation that elves substituted for sleep, Luger set to work on the path that he knew Heironeous had set forth before him. He first used a knife to remove the small demonic face from Erky’s dead body (healing proficiency check: 20+16=36; success). The cleric then set the pearl he had recovered from the underground lake on Erky’s chest and called on the power of Heironeous (Cast Raise Dead). As Luger watched, the terrible wounds that Sparhawk had cut into Erky the previous day closed up—not completely, but enough.

Before long, Luger could see Erky’s chest rising and falling, and then the gnome’s eyelids fluttered open.

As all this was happening, Luger withdrew Geistblatt and cast several more spells on the gnome (Detect Evil, Detect Chaos, Detect Law, Discern Lies). Much to his relief, Luger detected a strong aura of lawfulness from the gnome, with only fading traces of chaos and evil. When Erky’s eyes opened, Luger helped him to sit up against a nearby wall.

“Welcome back, Erky,” said the cleric. “You have what few people receive—the opportunity to return to the light. We know the true nature of what you had become, but not the why or the how of it. What led to your fall from favor with Ehlonna? And whom would you serve now that you have been given a second chance?”

Although it took the gnome several moments to grasp the enormity of everything that had happened to him in the last day, when he finally did, the words flowed from him in a torrent:

“Most of what I told you before was true, Luger! Everything up to the point when I arrived at this nightmare of a mountain! But instead of taking me to the Air Temple and then the gargoyles like I said, I was hauled straight to the island in the inner lake. There, in some kind of vile temple, someone literally fed me into the mouth of some kind of horrible machine, a huge mass of metal tubes, gears, arms, wheels, and blades. I was pushed or pulled inside and every party of my body was cut and torn. The pain was unbearable, and I prayed for death.”

“But somehow,” continued the gnome, “I did not die. Instead, after cutting me to pieces, the machine put me back together again and spat me out. I passed out then, but when I awoke later, I had this horrible thing on my stomach…”

As if only realizing something, Erky looked down at his midsection, only to see that the face that had been there was gone. Deep scars remained from Luger’s knife work, but that was all.

“You got rid of it?” he asked.

Luger only nodded.

“Oh, praise Ehlonna! It was awful, Luger! The thing could speak, but usually it only whispered, dark, terrible, unspeakable things in my head! I tried to resist it, not to listen to what it said, but over time…I found I could not. I…I…started to like the things it said…the things it made me do. I was kept out there somewhere on the island and made to…do…things. That continued until a couple of days ago, when the man who had fed me to the machine weeks—or maybe it was months--earlier, returned. I learned that his name was Hedrack, and he said there were intruders in the mountain and that I would lead them into a trap. He took me to the gargoyles and told them to beat me, which they did, and then had them chain me up. The man then whispered to me so the gargoyle’s couldn’t hear, and he told me that if anyone came to rescue me, I must lead them straight to the Air Temple, where they would be disposed of…”

As the words poured forth from Erky, the power of Heironeous told Luger that the gnome now spoke the full truth.

“When I saw that it was Danton who came,” continued Erky, “the one who had rescued me from the Sunless Citadel, I wanted to scream to him to get as far from the Air Temple as possible, but I couldn’t—the voice in my head was too strong. I could only watch and listen as it made me try to lead you all to the temple as Hedrack had ordered me.”

“What do you want to do now, Erky?” asked Luger when the gnome fell silent.

“I want what I have always wanted,” replied the gnome. “To go home. After a year imprisoned in the Sunless Citadel and who knows how many months here, I just want to go home.”

Luger spent the hours that followed in quiet conversation with the gnome, discussing ways he might seek to atone for his evil actions—performed against his will—while in the Temple of Elemental Evil. When the others awoke, they were uniformly shocked to see that Erky somehow lived and even more stunned when Luger asked him to relate the true version of his story once more. Danton his vision now restored to its normal acuity, nevertheless rubbed his eyes to be sure that it was really Erky who sat before him, living and breathing.

“There is a nearby village called Rastor,” said Syll after he had heard the story. “If you can make it down there and find a woman called Tymerian, she owns a shop that can outfit you with whatever you need to get far from here.”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 73:

Please send postings for Turn 73 by the end of Friday, October 12th.

Current date/time/location: 17 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: Danton’s dark vision potion, Luger’s pearl from the dark lake

FOES DEFEATED:

Active party members listed in bold.

This Chapter:

Entire Campaign:

Current Status of the Party:

Danton

AC: 16 (17 vs. one opponent)

Hit points: 47/47

New XP: 400

XP total: 41,061

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, unknown potion (acquired Turn 66), 2 vials of unknown liquid #1 and three vials of unknown liquid #2 (Turn 66), 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

AC: 21

Hit Points: 82/82

New XP: 400

XP total: 38,411

XP needed: 45,000

Spell Selection:

Level 0 (6): Detect Magic (x3), Light (x3)

Level 1 (5+1): Detect Evil (X1), Bless (x1), Protection from Evil (Domain)

Level 2 (5+1): Hold Person (x2), Bull's Strength (x1), Silence (x2), Aid (Domain)

Level 3 (4+1): Searing Light (x3), Dispel Magic (x1), Divine Power (Domain)

Level 4 (3+1): Restoration (x1), Discern Lies(x1), Holy Smite (Domain as 10th level)

Level 5 (1+1): Flame Strike (Domain)

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: 400

XP total: 25,580

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) (1 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: 400

XP total: 19,660

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

Gold: 0

Silver: 0

Tenaris

AC: 23

Hit Points: 57/57

New XP: 400

XP total: 19,440

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, Maicarya (flaming short sword +1)

Gold: 174

Silver: 30