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Chapter 3: The Temple of All-Consumption

Turn 73: A Farewell to Erky

“Good and pitiable gnome,” said Danton, “'tis twice now that I hath played a role to your detriment. While such wast never mine intention, I recognize mine hand in what hath passed. And you hath suffered mightily for it. Thanks to Luger's deft hand -- to say nothing of incredulous and divine powers which I only dimly conceive -- you art again amongst the living. Again, I knoweth not how such miracles be accomplished, but I wilt not gainsay that which is plainly before mine eyes.”

Looking at the others, Danton continued, “Friends, mine feelings art as follows. First and foremost, methinks we must needs heal Erky to full health, arm him, and then let him leave this vile place. We cannot take him the hundreds of miles to his village in the great Gnarley Forest, but we can certainly spare him further agony in this awful place. In truth, my sense of regret is such that I propose to escort Erky personally to Rastor, lest he be waylaid upon the way. And I would do so alone.”

”Beyond that, 'tis time to rethink our general plans here in the Temple. As I hath told you, the Fire Temple hath been sacked, but I hath no good information to impart on the strike force sent by the Water Temple. Kelashein may well not be with them any further, and, at any rate, the sound of probable kuo-toa patrol seemeth to me likelier a sign of protecting a prized redoubt than a precursor to an assault on the Air Temple.”

”So,” mused Danton, “as I see it, our best options are twofold. First, we can attack the Water Temple patrol, both to disrupt and destroy it, and also to capture one or more of the kuo-toa and interrogate it. This, of course, presupposes the means to speak their watery language, but, having witnessed the dead being raised, I must believe that our spellcasters can surely conjure the means to speak our enemy's tongue. Such an attack might be worth trying, particularly if there art likely fewer enemies than once we thought. It might give us useful information on Kelashein's whereabouts and designs.”

”Secondly, we could simply continue on to the Air Temple and explore it, seeking their altar, as well as these keys to open the Outer Fane. In the doing, we might be able to have the beauteous -- and increasingly well-armed -- Ventanarix convince their leadership of another alliance. P'raps or p'raps not. Much depends on what we find. You all may have other ideas, and I would hear them. But, mine thought is that, first, I escort Erky to Rastor; second, we assail the Water Temple patrol and gain such information as we can; and then, third, we commence further exploration of the Air Temple.”

“I don’t know,” said Luger. “I have some concerns about attacking the Air Temple after what you've discovered and what Erky has told us. It seems that this Hedrack wants us to go to the Air Temple. For that reason alone, I am hesitant to go there. Now, I begin to fear that this Hedrack has rallied the Air and possibly the Water Temple to wait in ambush of us. I begin to think that we should work our way back to the Water Temple and assault it first. If the Water forces are patrolling this area then perhaps they have left their temple less protected. I think our enemies at least expect us to attack the Air Temple, so let’s disappoint them.”

While the others had rejoiced at Erky’s return from the dead, Sparhawk had been quiet and distant all morning. When he finally spoke, it was with a bitter tone that none of the others had heard from him before. “Air Temple, Water Temple, Air Temple, Water Temple, and so on and so on. What does it all matter? Let us just think and talk about it endlessly! Decisions to act, especially those against evil, are frowned upon by that dissembling liar himself, Heironeous.”

As the others looked at the paladin in shock, he raised his voice to a scream, “YES, THE FATHER OF LIES HATH REVEALED HIMSELF AT THE MOST DIRE HOUR IN THE TEMPLE OF ALL-CONSUMPTION! HEIRONEOUS REWARDS EVIL AND PUNISHES THE KNIGHTS WHO SOUGHT TO DO HIS WILL AND SLAY EVIL! 'TIS NOTHING BUT A FALSE GOD!”

Sparhawk punctuated this tirade by throwing down his lightning bolt holy symbol onto the dirt floor of the chamber.

”Do whatever thy will, ‘companionship’,” he muttered, his voice dropping in volume once again. “For, I careth not. I wilt join thee for mine own protection, if thou can stand mine presence. Do not worry about any ‘rash actions’ to slay ‘evil.’ For what is evil after all? Is it any different from good? It is all relative to me.”

With this declaration, Sparhawk fell back against the wall and slumped down to the floor.

Tenaris flashed Danton a look that said, without words, I told you so! The Velunese could not help but notice that she had her hand on the hilt of her sword.

“Think about what you art saying, Sir Sparhawk!” protested Danton. “You art a man of honor and courage. If you hath stumbled, well, you wert not the only one. If you hath been rash to act, well, I hath helped push you there. I am not a religious man, yet I respect the gods. I practice no doctrine or dogma, but I respect divine power when I consider or witness it. And, of late, I hath seen the power of Heironeous in spades. Witness Erky's resurrection from the dead! That is no mean parlor trick but a muscular power beyond the ken of man!”

Still assuming that Sparhawk’s words reflected some sort of guilt at his killing of Erky, Danton added, ”So too are a god's prerogatives beyond the ken of mortal men. But your incapacity to comprehend divine determination, while the source of understandable frustration, doth not vitiate the rightness of such determination. You hath chosen the harder path than I. You hath chosen to hew to the narrowest of ways and to be subject to the strict lessons of a stern god. That commandeth respect from me, even as it demandeth rigor, sacrifice, and even blind obedience from you.”

“Thou doth not understand anything!” screamed Sparhawk. “Heironeous the Liar hath stricken me of mine so-called ‘holy powers!’ I am a paladin no more!”

”I am no follower of Heironeous,” said Danton placatingly, “so p'raps Luger can make greater sense of what hath come to pass. But consider, Sir Sparhawk: you art a man on a mission, if ever I hath met one. Take away the mission, and you take away the man. Get back on your horse and face the enemy that you knoweth to be the scourge of all rightful things! Luger, do I not speak correctly?”

While Danton was somewhat confused as to what Sparhawk was talking about, suddenly everything was very clear to Luger, who said, “Sir Peter, do not despair and do not blame Heironeus for the weakness of men. You have fallen from grace, but I believe with all my being that you were deceived. The forces at work in this foul temple have contrived to weaken us, recognizing you as the force of good driving back their forces and smiting their minions with every step.”

”Do not let them accomplish their mission by giving in to the anguish you feel,” continued the cleric. “Heironeus has punished you for your weakness in order to humble you. You have vanquished the evil inhabiting good Erky, and Heironeus has undone the death of the innocent slain in the process. Heironeus will forgive you and accept you back into the fold if you atone for your deeds. Heironeus has granted me the power to offer you atonement, and only your reaffirmation of your God is required. Will you continue to feel sorry for yourself and foreswear your God or will you repent and accept His forgiveness?”

Sparhawk unstrapped Justice from his back and threw the blade down at Luger’s feet. “Here, cleric of a false god, take this weapon misaptly named ‘Justice,’ and see what luck thou hath with it. For mine part, I hath found none, at least from any divine sources.”

Sparhawk next threw Caladbolg at Danton’s feet. “Mayhaps thou canst fetch a goodly price for this, good sir. I thought it a gift, but then its powers wert taken away from me for smiting evil. 'Twas not a divine gift, but pure coincidence that caused it to fall into mine hands. Mayhaps thou canst even find a knight that canst somehow live by the impossible code of uncertainty that his god sets for him. Mayhaps his church wilt have some dogma to live by that the knights may know what is required of them.”

”As for atoning,” he said acidly, “I hath no desire to do so. I used to question how a man canst have so little faith when I read the story of Sir Thomas the Dubious, who hath needed proof for his faith. I accepted the creeds and faith I had been taught, and lived up to them to the best of mine ability.”

Sparhawk looked up at the ceiling of the chamber and shook his fist. “MAYHAPS, IT IS TIME FOR THEE TO ATONE, HEIRONEOUS THE FALSE! I SMOTE EVIL AS THOU DEMANDS AND HATH PAID DEARLY. YOU MUST ATONE! I MUST HAVE PROOF THAT THOU WILT REWARD THY KNIGHTS FOR DOING THY WILL, OR THOU WILT NO LONGER HAVE MY ALLEGIANCE! THINK ON IT!”

“Gee, why don’t we just tell everybody in the mountain exactly where we are with all this shouting,” muttered Syll. “That’d be real helpful.”

”Take away the mission and you take away the man?" asked Sparhawk rhetorically, looking at Danton. “Indeed, mine mission hath been ripped from me in a ploy of trickery. I hath no more god; I hath no more honor; I hath no more manhood.”

Sparhawk withdrew a dagger and gripped it tightly in his right hand.

”I hopeth that you art not thinking of depriving yourself of your manhood with that knife, Sir Sparhawk! 'Twould be the unkindest cut, I assure you,” said Danton.

“Put that dagger away and prithee give yourself some time to meditate and listen to the words of penance that Luger wilt speak to you. Do not let failure chasten you beyond reason. You art a man, after all, not a machine or saint. We all fail. Indeed, mine own life hath been a series of failings, 'twould seem. Do not be discouraged for you art a nobler man than I, committed to a strong and stern creed. The man who fails, and yet conquers still, emerges twice as strong in his faith. Caladbolg wilt be your blade yet.”

”Now put that dagger away,” repeated Danton. “Oh, if only I hath a bottle of Furyondian red to share with you.”

“Ok, man,” interjected Syll. “Enough with the showgirl dramatics! Bear in mind that you ended up in this position through thoughtless action and refusing to listen to the rest of the party. I obviously can't stop you from doing what you want, but why don't you sit and chill for a minute, and then chat with Luger about how to handle this? Prove yourself a man of courage and deal with this, but whatever you do, no more shouting!”

Tenaris shot Danton yet another I told you so look, this one accompanied by her mouthing of the word ‘insane’.

There was silence for several moments and then Sparhawk threw the dagger down at Danton’s feet. “I hath not even the courage to blot out mine sins and take mine life with honor like a man. I . . . I . . . “

The Furyondian shook his head and began weeping loudly.

“My friends, please give Sir Peter and me some privacy,” said Luger, motioning for the others to move off to the southern end of the chamber. When he and Sparhawk were alone, Luger held forth his own lightning bolt holy symbol and touched it to Sparhawk’s forehead. “Holy Knight of Heironeus: are you prepared to receive your God? His patience, like mine, is not infinite, and the fate of the world may rest on the decision before you.”

Sparhawk only sobbed and muttered, “I doth not know the right path at the moment, I just do not know.“

While Luger continued to try to reason with Sparhawk, the others conversed on other issues, each glancing back at the cleric and fallen paladin with regularity.

“P'raps,” said Danton, “while I provide escort to Erky, Luger canst, through prayer and such divine boons as Heironeous may grant, restore Sir Sparhawk to his normal, stoic, reliable and doctrinaire self. You two may then maintain our defenses whilst this spiritual healing is underway. Plus,” he added with a wink at Syll, “p'raps I can bring back a more orthodox chess set for our requisite grudge match.”

”I stand ready to bring you back something, as well, fair Tenaris, but I fear that Rastor hath little in the way of anything worthy of your touch or consumption. Still, if you would have something, ask away.”

“Surprise me,” said the woman, flashing a mysterious smile that made Danton’s knees buckle.

“If you want, Danton,” said Syll, “I can turn you both invisible for the trip. And, Erky, “if you want to wait in Rastor, we could escort you all the way home when we are done with our quest. We could see you right to your door.”

“Thanks, Syll,” said the gnome, “but I really want to go now. I’ve been away from home for so long, I just can’t wait any more.”

Off at the other end of the room, Sparhawk finally raised his head. “I suppose mine actions were a bit . . . rash,” he conceded to Luger. “And, that thine friend hath suffered grievously because of it.”

Suddenly Sparhawk was on his feet and walking towards Danton, Tenaris, Syll, and Erky. Once again, Tenaris’ hand went straight to the hilt of her sword as he approached, even though the paladin was unarmed—all of his weapons remained scattered about on the floor where he had thrown them.

Bending down on one knee in front of Erky, Sparhawk said, “Thou must know that I acted according to the dictates of mine knowledge and heart in mine quest to smite all evil from the earth. I am sorry for mine actions and offer mine neck to thee if thou wishes for just revenge. If not, I pledge I wilt do whatever thou demandeth to set this misfortune aright. On whatever honor thou deemest remains in mine heart.”

When Erky said nothing and Luger approached, Sparhawk added, “As for Heironeous, I . . . I . . . I hath questioned and angered mine God not only with mine precipitious actions, but with mine unspeakable, unutterable, and entirely regrettable words. Strike me down Heironeous, after I hath fulfilled mine pledge to this honorable and good gnome. But, forgiveth mine soul after Thou hast smote me.”

“Well,” said Danton with a sigh, “I think Sir Sparhawk hath made some excellent progress today, but I also think it's time we wind down now. Methinks, Luger, if you spend the day counseling Sparhawk, I can make a quick trip to Rastor, and then, by morn or so, Erky wilt be on his way to the Gnarley and the rest of us can continue our piecemeal assault on this pit of vermin.”

“Perhaps, if you truly must go alone,” said Luger, “you could seek out healing potions and herbs such that might be acquired in Tymerian’s shop. Potions of invisibility and the like are probably too few and expensive to hope for. I will relinquish all the gold that I have for this purpose. But I would council you to carefully reconnoiter Rastor fully before entering it again. We have dealt a significant blow to the temple, and hopefully its plans, in our short time here. There is no telling what their response may be knowing that we likely came to Rastor before entering the mountain. For all we know, Rastor may be under some sort of martial law or its inhabitants rounded up and brought back here for questioning or worse,” he finished with a meaningful glance at Erky.

”If you are caught by yourself,” said the cleric, “there is nothing we can do from here to prevent you from being fed into this diabolical machine Erky spoke of.”

“I will seek your goods,” said Danton, “but since I shalt be invisible, I may simply steal them.”

Throwing up his hands in a false placating gesture to Luger and Sparhawk, he quickly added, “Naturally, I am only kidding. I always make it mine point to pay fair market value for any good that I obtain.”

“Of course,” he added in a whisper to Syll, “what counteth as ‘fair market value’ varies considerably from place to place....”

“Now yer talkin’ my language,” said the elf approvingly.

“While you're sneaking around invisibly, you might give the orc village a quick look,” suggested Luger. “I would be interested to know if they have gone to any sort of alert in response to our actions inside the mountain. I pray that our actions have not disrupted the tenuous peace Rastor has enjoyed with its neighbors. Also, if you have to opportunity to acquire some bread and wine, I would appreciate it. I would like to share communion with Peter tomorrow morning. All of you are welcome to partake.”

“I…wish thee, Danton, a safe expedition and speedy return,” said Sparhawk, his voice unsteady. “And Erky…I wish thee safe travels all the way to the repose of thy home. I wilt fulfill any wish thou hath of me as soon as I am able. I suppose I wilt use the time to make mine atonement to mine angry God whilst the rest of thee cool thy heels and wait for our spy's return.”

Danton quickly gathered up all his gear, as well as Luger’s coinage, and he and Erky made their way to the window looking out on the south face of the mountain. As Datnon was preparing to depart, Syll explained that his invisibility spells would only last for an hour or so, so the pair would likely be visible by the time they actually reached Rastor, which lay six miles off to the northeast.

While Syll was casting the first invisibility spell on Erky, Danton had time for one last conversation with Sparhawk.

”If a day and a half passes and I hath not returned, do not come looking for me but, instead, forge on. For I am dead or incapacitated, and you all wilt best serve mine memory by reducing this awful place to rubble... and by protecting Tenaris from harm. I knoweth that you and she hath differences and that all is not on an even keel between you twain at present. But, believe me, she is a woman of the highest virtue -- spirited and strong-willed, to be sure -- and her life is worth a score of mine own. So, prithee, should I fail to return -- as well as in the interim -- see that no harm comes to her.”

“I wilt see it done, friend,” said Sparhawk. “I wilt protect the lady even unto mine own death, though she needeth little of mine protection from what I hath witnessed. Be at peace whilt thou art carrying out thy brief mission. It wilt be as thou wishes.”

After Syll turned Danton invisible as well, the scout approached Tenaris and, taking advantage of the fact that no one could see him, kissed her. The elf woman’s eyes widened in surprise, but she did not react in any way that would give away what Danton had done.

“Be careful,” she whispered, “…and bring me something good.”

***

Using whispers to keep track of one another’s locations, Danton and Erky made their way down and around the south and eastern sides of Mount Stalagos. One thing that became obvious fairly quickly was that the window from which they had emerged, which was protected from general view by a handful of trees and bushes, was very close to the large double doors that marked the main south entrance to the Temple of All Consumption and the path that led up to the doors.

Fortunately, as far as Danton could tell, no one was about on this morning, so he and Erky were able to make their way down and around the mountain undetected. Once they were in the foothills on the northern side of the peak, the terrain was much easier and they made good time towards Rastor. When the pair’s invisibility expired when they were still a mile or two away from the village, Danton pulled Erky into the trees off the side of the path and rummaged through his pack for clothing and other items to disguise his and the gnome’s appearances (Disguise checks: 20+5 (disguising minor details only) +2 (disguise kit)=27 on self, and 5+5+2=12 on Erky).

Although Danton’s efforts were far more effective in concealing his own appearance and identity than they were with the gnome, it would have to do. And, after all, Danton was the only one who would actually enter Rastor, and he judged he had succeeded in making himself look like an unkempt thug of the worst sort. Not long after returning to the path, Danton and Erky passed a pair of orcs going the opposite direction, but the humanoids ignored the Velunese and the gnome, who reciprocated the gesture.

Twenty minutes later, Danton left Erky in a copse of trees several hundred yards northeast of Rastor, the pair having made their way around the village before splitting up. Danton then made his way into town, seeking to approach Tymerian’s shop from the back, avoiding the town and its muddy paths as much as he could. There were a fair number of people about in the town, but as far as Danton could tell, nothing obvious had changed since he was last here weeks earlier.

Danton made it into Tymerian’s general goods shop without event and began gathering up items for Erky, including two weeks worth of iron rations, some extra clothing, a backpack, a bedroll, a canteen, and a shortsword. The scout was unable to find any healing potions or herbs for Luger, and pretty much all of the gear for sale was of rather ordinary quality. Much to Danton’s consternation, there was no chess set to be had either. There were a few bottles of wine—of a vintage Danton had never even heard of before—and, holding his nose, he picked up a half-dozen of those as well.

Almost everything in the store was of a utilitarian nature, and finding a gift for Tenaris was no small challenge. The Velunese finally settled on fine cuts of dried beef and cheese, figuring that he could at least offer the woman something different to eat for a day or two.

When Danton finally had everything he wanted and made his purchases with Tymerian, the dark-haired woman gave no sign of recognizing him as ‘Snake Plissken’, the man who had come through Rastor previously with a group of companions. Danton’s purchases ended up totaling eighty gold pieces, which seemed expensive to him, but he had no wish to draw attention to himself by haggling, so he paid and left.

Once outside the shop, Danton slipped around back and into the trees surrounding Rastor once more. He had originally thought he might linger in the village to gather information, but the place was so small that there were simply no idle knots of people upon whom he might eavesdrop or whom he might engage in conversation. He supposed he might make his way to the Gray Lodge and buy a drink, but now that he had accomplished his main goal in town, he suddenly felt inclined not to press his luck. He thus made his way quickly back to Erky and was relieved to find the gnome right where he had left him. Filling the newly purchased backpack with most of the items he had acquired, Danton handed it to the gnome, along with an additional 250 gold coins.

“Erky, it brings me joy to see you alive and en route to your home,” he said. “Though you hath a long way to go, methinks the third time is the charm and that you wilt not need rescuing again. And worry not about us in the Temple—I swear that we shalt destroy those who hath tormented and persecuted you, Hedrack not least. Indeed, upon the moment his death, I shalt personally inform him that mine blow is given for your sake.”

“Thanks, Danton,” said the gnome. “I just wish Nanoc, Mauser, and Telemachos were here too.”

“As do I,” said Danton. “Now, hurry to the Gnarley and take all pains and cares to move secretively, especially in this immediate area. Finally, do not be surprised if, one day, I appear on your doorstep with a bottle of Furyondian red and the most beautiful elven lady on mine arm—for I intend to show the incomparable Tenaris Glimmerdawn the Oerth after we leave this foul place, and I wilt start at your door. And if it should happen that Tenaris arriveth there without me, as a favor to me, treat her as she ought to be treated—as an elven lady of the very highest quality. Fare thee well, Erky Timbers.”

Danton and the gnome shook hands firmly, and then Erky turned and headed off to the northeast, saying, “I’ll be looking forward to that visit, Danton. This is two I owe you.”

***

After Danton left, Luger continued to speak quietly with Sparhawk, while Syll used the time to identify all of the magic items the party had accumulated the precise uses for which had yet to be determined (all ‘unknown’ items in the party’s inventory are now described in the inventory at the end of the turn). Luger had considered consuming the potion of nondetection he carried in hopes of preventing hostile forces from scrying the party or otherwise using magic to determine its location, but when Syll explained that this would only work for the one who actually consumed the potion and only for a short time, the cleric decided to save the potion for later.

When Danton returned, roughly three and a half hours after he had left, the scout did so invisibly, having used his own potion of invisibility to make himself unseen when he approached Mount Stalagos. Thus shielded from prying eyes, he had re-entered the mountain undetected, at least as far as he was aware. Once he was back inside the party’s hidden base and once again visible, the scout explained that all had gone well with Erky’s departure and that Rastor appeared unchanged. He noted that he had lacked sufficient time while invisible to explore the orc village and had not been inclined to go there alone and visible for all to see.

Although it was only mid-day, the party planned to rest for the remainder of the day and then, following Luger’s efforts the next morning to help Sparhawk atone for his intemperate actions and words, the group would move out once more.

After lunch, during which Danton presented Tenaris with the beef and cheese he had purchased and she shared these items with everyone else, the group had another discussion of its next steps.

”We need to find where Kelashein is,” stressed Luger. “I suspect this Hedrack has coerced the Water and Air Temples to unite against us and it is both of them who are waiting to trap us at the Air Temple. This Hedrack is either a Doomdreamer or at least in league with them, so I believe he has the authority to get these temples to work together. No doubt, they've taken an interest in us after our destroying of both the Earth and Fire Temples.”

”Of course,” he added, “knowing a trap exists may allow us to overcome it. Marching into the Air Temple, spells blazing, might just work. They would expect us to move slowly and carefully to be caught off guard. I do not think they would expect us to open the door and immediately unleash magical fire. We also have the option of gaining entrance to the Outer and Inner Fanes. I believe we have the keys to do so and we only need to find either the Fire or Earth doors. Of course, we have no idea what awaits us beyond those doors.”

“Luger, your concerns art well taken,” said Danton. “Given them, can you think of a reason why we ought not first attack the nearby Water Temple redoubt, with an eye toward not only slaying whoever lieth within but also with an eye toward capturing someone for interrogation? If it happens that Kelashein lieth within, well, so be it. We slay her, or mayhap we capture her and wring some information from her. But mine sense is that Kelashein is not there. Though 'tis admittedly pure speculation, methinks she hath either returned to the Water Temple proper or, in line with your own guess, she is waiting in the Air Temple to aid them against us.”

”But, regardless,” pressed the scout, “whether Air Temple or Water Temple, p'raps we should hit the redoubt first to maximize our potential well of knowledge. Besides, if we art going to hit the Air Temple, I'd rather we hath already cleared out those thugs from our rear ... for safety's sake. Then, depending on what we learn, we can either hit the Water Temple or Air Temple. How doth that sound?”

Danton added, “I liken this move against the Water Temple redoubt to removing the rook from one's flank as a prelude to chasing down the enemy queen. You see, dear Tenaris,” he said with a wink and a smirk, “the game of chess truly is an analogue to actual strategy and tactics.”

“In that case, I better do the strategizing, Danton,” said Syll snidely, “since I pretty much mopped the floor with you when we faced off across the board.”

“That wast luck and audacity, more than skill,” groused Danton, “and such luck and bravado inevitably go down to defeat at the hands of true strategy in the end.”

Before the debate over chess could go any further, Sparhawk said forcefully, “I wilt not ‘wring’ information from anyone. Slay them we may, but 'tis not permissible to do evil even for good purposes…I hath learned this lesson with divine wrath.”

“Fair enough, holy knight,” said Danton, “but we need broach the topic of ‘wringing’ only when there is a neck to potentially wring.”

“If you all want to hit these Water Temple guys, that’s okay by me,” said Syll, “but just keep in mind, it will probably let Kelashein know that we know about that route to her inner sanctum. And, I want to bring up one other thing. If I remember right, somebody told us Hedrack is a Doomdreamer and we read somewhere that they can mess with your head. If we are likely to go toe to toe with him, we need to keep in mind that he could have some mojo trick up his sleeve, and we need to be prepared to deal with that. Luger might have some sort of blessings to help us guard against that, but we need to have them in place before we get near him. I don’t fancy having a gargoyle stuck on or in my stomach, thank you very much. I don’t think the nice folks who make healing potions have anything for dealing with that one.”

“Oh, yeah,” added the elf, “there’s also the matter of all those blank spots and unexplored areas on Danton’s maps. I think we need to be a bit more thorough in our exploring and loot gathering. We know there are two other entrances to the Water Temple altar room, and if we poke around a bit, we may be able to find one and attack from a direction they don’t expect.”

With an entire afternoon and evening to be spent in relative relaxation, Danton, Syll, and Luger engaged in a series of chess matches. Sparhawk observed quietly, lost in thought, while Tenaris sat nearby cleaning her weapons and armor and only occasionally paying attention to the goings-on, mostly urging Syll to defend the honor of Celene by defeating his two rivals.

In the first three games, each of the three contestants played the two others one time (Syll: 12+1=13 versus Luger: 8+0=8; Syll wins; Danton: 13+3=16 versus Luger: 4+0=4; Danton wins; Syll: 15+1=16 versus Danton: 19+3=22; Danton wins). Syll and Danton each defeated Luger rather easily, perhaps in part because the cleric frequently paused to observe and speak with Sparhawk; Luger’s mind was clearly not fully on the game.

In the third match, Syll and Danton faced off again, and the Velunese finally scored his first victory over the elf, after nearly three hours of back and forth play that dragged on so long it finally caused Tenaris to lose all interest in the game. Annoyed at suffering his first defeat, Syll demanded a rematch, but when Danton agreed, the elf made a key mistake early on that cost him several pieces, and the Velunese swept the board in short order (Syll: 5+1=6 versus Danton: 20+3=23).

“As I hath said, Syll,” crowed Danton after his second consecutive victory over the elf, “strategy—as laid out by Grandmaster Karpov in this case—shalt always triumph over luck and improvisation in the end.”

“We’ll see,” said the elf, “we’ll see. I think this just ain’t my day…either that or you bought a luck potion from Tymerian and guzzled it when no one was looking.”

Much to Danton’s disappointment, rather than joining him for a victory celebration on the second watch, Tenaris insisted on sharing watch with Sparhawk again. Since she had made clear that Danton could not influence her views on the Furyondian, at least not in the short term, he reluctantly accepted her decision. Instead, after he and Syll had finished the first watch and he awoke Sparhawk and Tenaris for the second, Danton said quietly to the former:

“Giveth her time, and methinks all wilt be well, but if you push things too quickly, it could go badly. You art a noble man, Sir Sparhawk, and she wilt see this before the end.”

***

When morning came, Luger used some of the cheap red wine Danton had brought back from Rastor as part of a religious ceremony and breakfast in which he called on Sparhawk to atone for his transgressions and asked Heironeous to forgive the paladin’s missteps. After Sparhawk expressed his regret for his actions and his intemperate words of the previous day, Luger completed the ceremony by touching his holy symbol to Sparhawk’s forehead once again and appealing to Heironeous to restore the man’s paladin status (Cast Atonement—costs Luger 500 experience points).

When Luger finished, the cleric was visibly drained by the whole experience. He sat down heavily to rest, while Sparhawk hefted Caladbolg and marveled aloud:

“The blade doth accept me once again!” he exulted. “And I canst feel that mine other powers hath returned! Heironeous is merciful!”

“Just please mind your words and actions in the future, Peter,” said Luger. “I would prefer not to have to do that again.”

And so it was that on the morning of the 18^th of Kolovoz, after the longest period of sustained rest the party had enjoyed since entering Mount Stalagos earlier in the month, the group finally ventured out of its hidden refuge and into the corridors of the Temple of All-Consumption.

Once the group was on the stairs, Danton secured the door to the hidden chamber and then led the others down the stairs and into the long hallway at the bottom. From there, after Danton had again done his best to erase any sign of their passing, the party moved quickly down and across the hall, seeing no one else about, and into the series of abandoned rooms on the north side of the corridor.

As far as anyone could tell, these rooms remained unused and the party had no difficulties reaching the hallway that led to the door where Danton had now twice eavesdropped on the forces of the Water Temple. Once there, Syll levitated his feet off the floor and then Danton pulled the floating elf after him as he snuck lightly down the hallway to the wooden door at its end (Danton move silently: 3+22=25). Although the effort of moving and maneuvering Syll made a lot more noise than Danton would have liked, at least his enchanted elven boots silenced his own footfalls. Once the pair reached the door, Danton sat and listened for any sound that would suggest his and Syll’s approach had been heard (listen: 18+8=26).

Much as during his most recent visit to this spot, Danon eventually overheard sounds of what sounded to him like a patrol of kuo-toa moving past the door. Waiting until the sounds of their footfalls faded off to the east, the Velunese set to work on the lock on the door (open locks: 2+12=14; failure). Unfortunately, by the time the patrol could be heard approaching once again, Danton had made no progress with the lock. With Syll giving him a dirty look, the scout waited until the sounds of the kuo-toa drifted off to the west before trying again (open locks: take ten: 10+12=22; success).

This time Danton’s efforts were rewarded with a soft click. Once he knew the door was unlocked, he gave a thumbs-up signal to Syll and motioned for the others to be ready. When he heard the kuo-toa pass by once again—this time heading eastward once more—Danton waited until he judged they were at least thirty feet away from the door and then slid it inward and open it as quietly as he could (move silently: 6+ 23=29). When the door was open, Danton pushed the floating Syll through the opening.

As Syll floated through the doorway sideways, the area beyond came into view. The elf found himself floating in a hallway running west-east. It was twenty feet wide and approximately twice that in length. There was another door, this one open, on the north side of the hallway, and some sort of dock, along with the waters of the dark lake at the center of the mountain, were visible beyond the second door. As Syll was facing east, he could not really see what was off to the west, but as he looked east, he could see six kuo-toa warriors forty feet away heading into what looked like a larger chamber that the hallway opened up into at its eastern end.

Because Syll had floated into the hallway in complete silence, the kuo-toa to the east had no warning of what was coming their way until the ball of fire leaped from his fingers (Cast fireball). As the projectile flew down the hallway and grew in size, the sound of its passage through the air reached the ears of the fish-men and they spun about, but it was too late—the ball of arcane fire exploded into their midst (33 area-effect damage in a 20 foot radius).

Although the kuo-toa scrambled and leaped in all directions as the projectile struck, the force of the blast was such that all six were incinerated, their bodies sent flying against the walls, floor, and ceiling of the corridor as a wave of hot air washed over Syll.

Even as the fireball struck, Danton rushed into the hallway to look for additional foes and Syll lowered his feet to the floor (Spot checks: Danton: 4+10=14, Syll: 17+4=21).

Although Danton was focused on the area to the north with the dock, Syll looked to the west and spotted a lone kuo-toa entering the hallway.

“We got more company!” he called out.

[Initiative: Tenaris: 25, Kuo-toa: 17, Syll: 14, Sparhawk: 6, Luger: 4, Danton: 4]

While Tenaris led the charge of the remainder of the party down the north-south hallway towards Syll and Danton’s position, the sorcerer and the scout turned to face the lone kuo-toa who rushed towards them. As the fish-man charged, he also cast some sort of spell at Syll (Syll will save: 12+8=20; success). The elf felt himself under some sort of mental attack, but managed to shake off the effect. However, by the time he had done so, his kuo-toa attacker was too close to be targeted with a fireball, and the elf was forced to fall back on magic missiles. He launched four of the projectiles at the enemy spellcaster (17 total damage).

Although Danton had been slow to react, he finally whipped Rat’s Tail from its sheath and put himself between the kuo-toa and Syll, slashing at the fishman with abandon (attack: 5+10=15, 17+5=22; one hit; 7 damage). Seconds later, Tenaris was at Danton’s side. She struck the kuo-toa once, carving a nasty gash along his side. Between her arrival and the appearance of Sparhawk and Luger in the doorway, the lone kuo-toa apparently calculated the odds and decided in favor of fleeing while he still could.

As the kuo-toa turned and ran for the doorway leading to the docks, he left his back exposed to Tenaris and Danton, giving each an easy shot at him (Danton attack of opportunity: 4+10=14; miss). Unfortunately, both failed to connect, and the kuo-toa was through the door in a flash. The creature ran onto the dock and then leaped into the air and towards the lake. Four more of Syll’s magic missiles followed the fleeing kuo-toa; the fishman hit the water first, but the magic projectiles were right behind him (12 damage).

There was a series of great splashes as the kuo-toa and the missiles hit the water, but then only silence and ripples in the water. Danton, Tenaris, and Syll rushed through the doorway and found themselves on a narrow, fifty-foot long wooden dock that ran east-west just outside the doorway. Two large wooden rowboats, each about 15 feet long, were moored here, tied up to the dock.

While Danton and the elves looked down on the dark waters of the vast inner lake of Mount Stalagos for any sign that would tell whether the fleeing kuo-toa had been killed or had escaped, Luger and Sparhawk surveyed the two ends of the east-west hallway inside. To the east, they found a large chamber, roughly forty by fifty feet, that had only one other exit, a narrow twenty-foot long hallway that ended at a wooden door. Otherwise the area was empty, save for a certain dampness that apparently seeped in from the lake outside. The north wall looked as if it might once have had a mural of some sort, but the paint had almost all flaked or faded away.

At the western end of the hallway, Luger and Sparhawk found a single chamber, just over twenty feet to a side. A large blue-green square had been crudely painted on the wall above the archway that led into the room, and a netlike hammock was stretched across the southwest corner. A round chest, made of wood and metal but fashioned into the shape of a large clamshell, was in the northwest corner. Seeing no other exits and not wanting to touch the chest without letting Danton examine it first, the cleric and paladin rejoined the others at the dock.

“Any sign?” asked Luger as he joined the others in gazing down at the dark waters.

“No,” said Danton, “and I do not particularly fancy a swim to try to find the body.”

“I’m pretty sure I got him,” said Syll confidently. “I love it when a plan comes together!”

“So now what, ‘Delchin’?” asked Tenaris. “We smashed the Water Temple garrison here, but there’s no one left to question. And that last one might have gotten away, so there could be Water Temple reinforcements here before too long…”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 74:

Please send postings for Turn 74 by the end of Friday, October 19th.

Current date/time/location: 18 Kolovoz; approximately 0900; The Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn: 6 bottles of cheap red wine

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: Danton 330 gold, 2 bottles of cheap red wine, and a potion of invisibility

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: 700

XP total: 41,761

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, 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, potion of blur, 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, 4 bottles cheap red wine

Gold: 872

Silver: 430

Luger

AC: 21

Hit Points: 82/82

New XP: 700-500=200 net gain

XP total: 38,611

XP needed: 45,000

Spell Selection:

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

Level 1 (5+1): Detect Evil (X3), Bless (x2), 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 (x2), 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: 700

XP total: 26,280

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, potion of lesser restoration, ring of feather falling, wand of fireballs (13 charges; caster level 6), potion of protection from elements (fire), suit of chainmail +1

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6) (0 used)

Level 1: (7) (2 used)

Level 2: (7) (1 used)

Level 3: (5) (1 used)

Gold: 3404

Silver: 42

Sparhawk

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

Hit Points: 60/60

New XP: 700

XP total: 20,360

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), potion of cure light wounds, 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: 18 of 18

Smite Evil used today?: NO

Gold: 0

Silver: 0

Tenaris

AC: 23

Hit Points: 57/57

New XP: 700

XP total: 20,140

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