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Chapter 3: The Temple of All-Consumption

Turn 77: Beggar’s Canyon

“I hath borne a heavy weight and paid a dear price for mine bonding to Caladbolg indeed,” mused Sparhawk, cracking his neck and stretching his limbs with a grim look on his face. “Though it is . . . difficult . . . I shalt willingly accept this gift of Heironeous as a blessing and as a test of mine fortitude and perseverence. It shalt also be a testimony of mine penance for mine . . . disobedience and questioning of his divine will. Though I hath been weakened in the process, I wilt become a stronger avenger of Heironeous' justice by assuming this burden and being bonded to this powerful ancient weapon delivered into mine hands by Providence.”

As he spoke, the paladin used Heironeous’ power to heal some of the wounds he had suffered during the running battle through the gate complex (Lay on Hands: +18 HP).

“Methinks you hath chosen the best path, Sir Sparhawk,” said Danton with a pat on the paladin’s shoulder, “though, obviously, your path is subject to the affirmation of you and Heironeous alone. As for our path going forward, we can either go north, through the Earth Temple, or we can go south, through the mines. I vote for the latter. I see no purpose in re-exploring the northern route once again. While the going there might be easier -- after all, we hath decimated a number of the folk who once lived there -- I cannot see to what end the journey, unless we wish to come at the Water Temple yet again.”

“More broadly,” said the Velunese, “I think I agree with Luger on the strategy going forward. Where once mine thought was that we shouldst destroy each elemental temple to its entirety, mine current thought is that we should breach the Outer Fane and deal a lethal blow to the center of mass -- Hedrack and the Doomdreamers. Thanks to Luger's commune with Heironeous, we hath a pretty good idea how to gain the Outer Fane. If we want to cross the southern bridge, then south 'tis. Moreover, we know that the Air Temple's altar chamber contained passageways to the west -- spatially indicating, at least to mine mind, that the mineshafts to the south of our current location might indeed eventually link up with the Air Temple ... and the southern bridge. So, mine vote is that we head south, going back into full exploration mode. If we find the bridge, we should take it. If, however, we run into the Air Temple's altar chamber and find that it is destroyable -- that is, without having to fight scores of enemies -- we might want to destroy it by way of prelude ... a sort of 'attack of opportunity’.”

“Yes,” said Luger, “the ability to receive clarity from Heironeus is certainly a welcome gift, though I must admit his answers have caused more grief to me than I expected. I had found myself believing Nanoc alive and looking forward to reuniting with the powerful man again to smite our enemies. The affirmation of his death is almost as bad as seeing him die all over again.”

Shaking his head sadly, the cleric added, “I am not against thoroughly searching the mines and whatever areas we encounter between here and the bridge, but I do not think we should dally overly long. The destruction we visited here upon the West Gate is sure to be noticed within the next day and then we may find more lions on our trail. Let us not allow ourselves to be caught unprepared for them.”

Because everyone agreed on the importance of moving as far from the gate complex as possible before the party’s violent re-entry into Mount Stalagos was discovered, the group moved out of the barracks area and back into the so-called ‘Blasphemous Hall.’

“We simply must take a ride in those carts I hath verified are still present at the entrance to the tracked area,” said Danton with a gleam in his eye. “It is such an obviously reckless, outlandish and dangerous venture that we simply must try it. I know Syll concurs without even asking him. Doubtless Lady Death would also give it a thumbs up.”

“O Heironeous!” moaned Sparhawk as the party turned the corner into the long north-south hallway that bisected the Blasphemous Hall. “What a group of adventurers I hath thrown mine lot in with! Somehow, I knew you were going to say that!”

“Just keep your head down, Sir Sparhawk,” said Danton blithely, “and maintain all extremities inside the cart so long as it is in motion. And if, nonetheless, you feel an overwhelming desire to yak, prithee vomit in the direction of Luger or Syll. Otherwise, you might stain mine cloak.”

As he reached the far end of the corridor, stepping over and around the bodies of fallen gnolls and men, and reached the door to what he had labeled the ‘Bin Room’, Danton opened the door with a flourish and bowed to Tenaris.

“And as for you, Lady Death, I shalt let you clutch mine arm and scream whene'er the cart goeth over a particularly steep incline. That's what boyfriends art for, amongst other things.”

Tenaris matched Danton’s smirk with one of her own and replied, “A ride in a cart through the dark? I will be driving!”

“In Veluna,” countered Danton, “we hath a saying about ‘women drivers.’ However, I wilt do you the courtesy -- seeing as how Maicarya lieth close at hand -- of not elaborating further.”

Sparhawk blanched visibly as he followed the others through the door. “I wilt probably not lose mine lunch because of ‘seasickness’ from the wild ride. Thine love banter, however, might causeth me to do so, and in that case, I most certainly wilt ‘yak,’ as thee puts it, right on thine cloak!”

The trip through the Bin Room was a short one and within a matter of moments, the entire party stood once again in the large room with the two sets of tracks heading off to the south.

“An interesting dimensional space problem, this is,” mused Sparhawk as he gazed at the two tracks, the one heading uphill and the other down. “I hath often been confronted with a choice of following a path to the left or right, or advance or retreat. Rarely, however, hath I been presented with a dilemma of going uphill or downhill on a wild ride, both of which doubtless present wonderful and unique dangers to mine health. Shalt I flip the coin and choose our path? Or, shalt we wait for Luger to call upon divine wisdom for our path?”

“Failing divine guidance or evidence that one track is superior to the other, I prefer downhill,” said Danton. “Who the hell wants to push an ore cart uphill?”

“My friends,” said Luger, “I'm afraid no further divine guidance will be forthcoming this day. I have only requested one commune with the Almighty for the day, as it is a very taxing experience to communicate with a god. There are, of course, less effective methods of receiving the guidance of my deity, but I have none of these available to me. In truth, I suspect the gods ‘departmentalize’ such requests and the questions of mortals are not always given the attention we might expect. The less righteous of the gods are not above misleading their followers in order to further their own goals on Oerth, but thankfully, Heironeus is a moral and just being. I am no miner, but is it possible both tracks go to the same place and provide the miners an efficient method to travel to and from the ore crusher? I would be interested to see if the tunnels intersect further on.”

“But having said that,” continued the cleric, “with our time short, I too would prefer the downward tunnel. This stems from my desire to not push a cart uphill more than anything else. Since it looks like we will need two carts, I think we should destroy the third cart so it cannot be used to follow us.”

“I think the third cart’s already in pretty bad shape,” commented Syll, looking at the overturned vehicle and its crushed wheels, “but I guess we could trash it further.”

“What will be our seating arrangements?” asked Luger. “I've no doubt Danton would prefer to keep a cart for himself and Tenaris, but I think it more prudent to place the more heavily armored of our group in the first cart, leaving Danton to share the second with Syll. If we do run into trouble, Peter, Tenaris and I will engage the enemies while Syll and Danton provide cover fire from behind. I can cast my light spells on the front and rear of the first cart and the rear of the second to afford us the most visibility around us.”

“Yes,” said Danton, “We should definitely destroy or debilitate the remaining cart. Methinks there is no need for anything dramatic, such as melting it to slag. Rather, we should remove the wheels and axles. That should be sufficient. And if that is beyond our abilities, then we should certainly render the brakes non-functional, if any brakes exist. Such would at least give any bold pursuer a wild -- and hopefully fatal -- ride.”

“As for who rides in which cart, alas,” said the Velunese, “but I wilt not gainsay what Luger hath said. 'Tis true I'd prefer to ride with Lady Death, but I trust that Sir Sparhawk and Luger wilt look after her. Although,” he added with a grin, “'tis more likely that 'twill be she who looks after you.”

“Oh, all this shameless love prattle hath made me nauseous already,” complained Sparhawk. I feel that mine breakfast is on the verge of making an encore performance. Danton, thine cloak, if you please!”

Judging by the contorted look on the paladin’s face, he was at least partly serious, so Danton moved hastily away from the Furyondian and forced himself to focus on business: “I personally think we should leave a fair distance between the carts, certainly enough to permit the second cart to apply the brakes in the event of a crash by the first. And, of course, that kind of stopping distance is going to vary, depending on how steep a particular slope is, etc. Plus, while we don't want to be too close, neither do we want the second cart to be too far, either, for obvious reasons. So I actually think the distance between the carts should vary depending on the terrain; steep declines require longer distances, an uphill section would not require much distance at all. If the front cart decides to take a side track, it's going to have to wait for the second cart to get in sight.”

“Given the need for moving far from here with some haste,” he continued, “my own sense is that we should diverge to search only those side passages that seem significantly distinguishable from the main tracked passage. Otherwise, I'm inclined to stay on the main track, at least until it becomes obvious that, geographically and spatially speaking, we're plainly out of bounds for where the Air Temple and/or southern bridge is. I can't see any advantage in searching off-shoots of mere mineshafts.”

Luger nodded. “From what we've seen so far, the mountain tunnels we have explored are close to the level of the crater lake. If we find this tunnel descends well below that, we may have to consider turning back and trying the second tunnel. Greedy dwarves may dig deep for shiny minerals and gems, but I have no desire to explore deep mines when our goal is here on the surface.”

“Very well,” said Danton, “then let us destroy that third cart and then be off on our wild ride. Should mine Mistress of Thorns plunge to her death, I would gladly join her. But first, I'd like to have a chance to save her from such an unkind and untimely fate! And, of course, to save Sir Sparhawk and Luger, as well,” he added hastily. “That goeth without saying, I trust.”

“Save me? Save me?” asked Sparhawk, his earlier nausea having faded—at least for the moment. “Only if thou misseth a trap as usual, mine keen-eyed friend! I shalt prepare mine bow for our wild ride. Something telleth me that swordplay shalt be ineffective against any possible enemies. But, what shalt save us from this hurtling cart, prithee?”

While Sparhawk, Syll and Luger pounded away at various parts of the third cart, smashing what remained of the wheels and axles, Danton whispered to Tenaris:

“After just seeing you in action, mine rose, methinks you art half-thorn and half-petal ... and not a bad combination that. Moreover, if in the future you wish to carry me off bodily to some secluded place, be mine guest. I am an equal opportunity paramour, at least when it cometh to Tenaris 'Strongarm'.”

Tenaris drew breath as if she intended to make some retort, but then Syll was approaching and she only smiled instead.

“Alright, junior,” said Syll with a nod towards Danton, “let’s get these other two carts at the top of that downhill slope and give ‘em a once over before we head out. Those guys can finish wrecking the third one.”

Danton and Syll physically maneuvered the two intact ore carts to the top of the slope and then inspected the wheels, axles, pumps and brakes of both vehicles. Neither was an expert with such things, but both carts appeared fully operational. By the time their inspections were complete, Luger and Sparhawk had all but disassembled the third cart, wrecking most of its key parts in the process. Luger then proceeded to cast his light-producing spells on the front and back of the first cart, and the back of the second one as he had earlier said he would (Luger cast Light three times).

“Hmm,” mused Sparhawk as he scratched his chin and looked at the two carts Danton and Syll had maneuvered into place. “X feet of light coverage on a cart traveling at Y leagues per hour. I should have listened to mine tutor when he discussed mathematics, but alas I hath always preferred history and epic poetry, among the other liberal arts, but I am guessing that the sum total of X and Y is a good maiming of mine limbs and torso, along with a fine assortment of colorful bruises to boot! To the mines, it is, mine fearless companions!”

After planting a quick kiss on Tenaris, Danton climbed into the second cart and moved as if to grab hold of the metal pole that controlled both the pump that drove the cart and the brake that stopped it. However, Syll was faster and leaped into the back of the cart ahead of the Velunese.

“I’ll be doing the driving here, kid,” said the elf. “You stand up front and enjoy the scenery.”

Danton grumbled, but only briefly. He then leaned up against the front of the cart and called out to Tenaris, Luger, and Sparhawk as they moved to clamber into the other vehicle. “Remember, if we find a finished corridor or chamber that doesn't appear like a rough-hewn mineshaft appears, I think we should check it. Second, if there is any significant light or sound, I think we should investigate; as a corollary, a strong smell may warrant investigation, but it really depends on the smell! After all, there's no need to simply wander into some gargantuan animal's cesspool or abattoir, but a perfumed odor or the like may be worth investigating. After all, it would be a nice bonus if I couldst pick up some eau de toilette or eau de parfum for Tenaris....Third, if there are signs of intelligent life or recent activity, we should probably have a look!”

“That sounds like a fair summation,” agreed Luger as he climbed into the first cart, “though I'm not too concerned about perfumes,” he added in a deadpan voice.

“Well, shalt we climb aboard as well and get our necks broken?” said Sparhawk to Tenaris. “Thine chariot awaits thee, milady. Mayeth I help thee aboard? Please alloweth me this one parting act of chivalry before mine death. 'T'would please this humble knight to be of thine service.”

Sparhawk offered his hand to the elf woman and smiled as she grasped it and then leaped easily into the cart.

“Hold on tight,” said Tenaris once Sparhawk was on board as well. The woman gripped the control rod with both hands and her eyes flashed wildly. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

Luger only sighed stoically, but Sparhawk muttered a quiet prayer and made the lightning bolt symbol of Heironeous over his chest. The next thing the paladin knew, the cart was in motion, quickly covering the short stretch of level terrain and then plunging downward so rapidly that his head spun and his stomach lurched in silent protest.

“This is gonna be fun,” said Syll as he released the brake and set the second cart plunging down the incline after the first. “C’mon, Danton, say it with me: I feel the need! The need for speed! Wahoo!”

As the two carts plunged down the incline, Danton did his best to keep track of the distances covered and note any irregularities in the tunnel through which they passed. Roughly a hundred feet from where the party had begun its wild ride, there was a rough, dark tunnel off to Danton’s left—the eastern side of the track. Danton thought he might have seen some sort of statue in the middle of the tunnel, but it flashed by so quickly that he could not be sure. The Velunese had doubts about whether Syll would have stopped to investigate in any case. With the track running ever downward, the cart was picking up speed rapidly. It was now going at least as fast as any horse Danton had ever ridden and Syll had yet to make any use of the brakes.

After what might have been another hundred or hundred and fifty feet, the track the party was riding curved, slightly, for the first time, angling just to the southeast. It was fortunate that the curve was not any sharper, for both Tenaris and Syll took it at breakneck speed and the wheels on the right sides of both carts briefly lifted from the track.

“I have got to get me one of these!” screamed Syll while Danton held on for dear life. The Velunese noticed that just past the bend, there was an opening in the tunnel wall on the right that sloped upward and, for a fleeting moment, he thought he caught a glimpse of the other track high up the slope, perhaps forty feet away.

Tenaris was screaming and laughing every bit as loudly as Syll as the pair of carts roared onward through the dark tunnel.

“Methinks I shall hath to modify that old Velunese saw about ‘women drivers’,” muttered Danton. “Tis the elves of Celene who should never be allowed in the driver’s seat!”

Ahead, Sparhawk’s stomach lurched again as the track reached another particularly steep spot and the carts accelerated still further. The tunnel walls were now whipping by with such blinding speed that it was almost impossible to discern much of anything. The carts ripped past two more tunnel openings on the left side, then past what looked like a set of stairs leading upward on the right. When Danton passed the stairs in the second cart, he once again thought he could see the second, upper track high up at the top of the very steep set of stairs.

Seconds later, Tenaris, Luger, and Sparhawk hit what was by far the steepest drop yet. “Heironeous preserve us!” yelled the paladin as he and the others plunged into what felt like freefall. “Oh what hath I done to deserve thiiiiiiiiiis?”

When the first cart simply disappeared in front of his eyes, Danton turned around to look at Syll, “This might be a good time for the brakes…” he began…just before the cart plunged into the abyss.

As the second cart plunged downward, Danton’s incoherent scream was drowned out by Syll’s wild yell, “Brakes? What brakes? This is incredible! Just like Beggar’s Canyon back home!”

His knuckles purest white from gripping the front of the cart so tightly, Danton tried to concentrate on the light from the back of the first cart, now well below him and Syll. Another tunnel whipped by on the left, but Danton could not see a thing in it as he and Syll plunged ever downward. The air roared past with such force that Danton’s hair was plastered back against his head and he had to fight the urge to close his eyes until it was all over.

Finally, after what seemed to Danton to have been an interminable plunge, he saw the first cart actually moving upward and then he and Syll too reached the bottom of the slope and began to move up a low rise in the tunnel—bleeding off some of the cart’s speed, but not much. The ceiling grew much lower, and everyone in both carts had to duck low to avoid being crushed as the carts roared through a very low and narrow portion of the tunnel.

Seconds later, the track went downward once again and the tunnel opened up into a truly vast cavern—at least a hundred feet to a side. From the light on the carts, the party members could see that the walls in this area had been scraped of their ore. The carts roared through the bottom of the chamber, but very high above, those who looked up could see what looked like the other track passing through the area above them on a high wooden bridge. Wooden ladders on the cavern walls connected the upper and lower portions of the chamber.

The party had only a few seconds to take in all of this, for moments later, the two carts plunged back into another narrow tunnel. This tunnel was quite short and then the track led into a second large chamber. The ceiling was high and domed, and the cavern appeared to be at least eighty feet wide and a good deal longer. Off to the east, Danton could see a rusty, overturned ore cart. He was looking that direction when he heard Tenaris scream wildly yet again and turned forward to watch as the first cart went high up on two wheels as the track turned sharply to the southeast.

A second later, Danton and Syll reached the same curve and their cart too went up on two wheels. The Velunese was sure the vehicle would overturn, but at the last moment, Syll threw his body against the right side of the cart, bringing it back down onto the track with a metallic crashing. As far as Danton could tell, Syll had still not once used the brakes.

“Oh, no, not again!” screamed Sparhawk as he saw another sharp turn coming up, this one as the track bent back to the south.

“Wait! What’s that?” yelled Luger as he looked off to the east of the track. Some very large shape on the edge of the magical light cast on the front of the cart was moving towards the tracks. Then a projectile of some sort raced towards the cart he shared with Sparhawk and Tenaris. There was a terrific explosion of sound and light and then Luger, Sparhawk, Tenaris and the cart were all flying through the air (reflex saves: Luger: 7+7=14; failure—15 subdual damage; Sparhawk: 3+6=9; failure—11 subdual damage, Tenaris:17+6=23; success—0 damage).

Amazingly, Tenaris managed to roll when she hit the ground and was back on her feet in a flash, but the same could not be said of Sparhawk and Luger. The paladin plowed into the ground head first, sliding along the dirt and stone for a good fifteen feet on his stomach, while the cleric was thrown onto his back only to have the cart smash into his side as it crashed on by him.

Danton and Syll were far enough back from the first cart to watch in horror as something exploded near it and sent the cart and its occupants flying off the track. Syll finally made use of the brake, bringing the cart to a jarring, teeth-rattling stop as quickly as he could.

Ahead, visible in the light from the front of crashed cart, was a gigantic humanoid figure at least a dozen feet tall. The creature had two ugly, brutish heads and wielded a club the size of a tree trunk in each hand. It lurched towards the spot where the first cart had crashed, raising its clubs and making obvious its intention to crush any survivors. Skittering along next to the giant was a five-foot long, three-feet high insectoid creature with two long antennae protruding from its head and a long tail whipping about behind its body.

[Initiative: Tenaris: 26, Syll: 17, Foes: 8, Sparhawk: 6, Luger: 5, Danton: 4]

Tenaris was on her feet and rushing the giant before Danton and Syll even realized what was happening. She closed on the monster and began hacking away at its legs and mid-section. Syll, still standing in the back of the second cart, aided the woman by firing off a volley of magic missiles at the huge humanoid (14 damage done).

No one else in the party was quite so fast. Sparhawk was still picking himself up off the ground when the strange insect-creature scuttled up to him. It tried to strike the paladin with both its antennae and its teeth, but he was able to get to his feet and get out of the way long enough to draw Caladbolg and counterattack (attack: 11+12=23, 2+7=9; one hit and one miss; 13 damage). The blade slashed through the thick armor of the insect and cut a nasty gash in its lumpy body (Caladbolg item saving throw: 20+12=32; success).

Luger was still sprawled on the ground when the giant, ignoring Tenaris in favor of dishing out abuse to a supine foe, began pounding on him with its two massive clubs (hit twice for a total of 28 damage). The blows from the massive weapons buffeted the dazed cleric back and forth on the ground, threatening to crush him in his own armor. Fortunately for Luger, Danton finally regained his wits, leaped out of the second ore cart and charged the giant in an effort to distract it from its efforts to pummel him (Danton attack: 6+10=16, 19+5=24; one hit; 4 damage).

The actual impact of Danton’s assault with Rat’s Tail was minimal, but as he ran around the two-headed giant, screaming and yelling as he stabbed at it, it did distract the monster long enough for Luger to get painfully to his feet, withdraw Geistblatt and have at the creature (attack: 6+10=16, 10+5=15; both miss). Unfortunately, between the ride in the cart, the crash, and the pounding from the giant’s clubs, Luger’s head was still spinning and he failed to connect with anything.

Fortunately for Luger, he had a lot of help. Tenaris continued to hack away at the giant, while Syll pounded it with a second volley of magic missiles.(13 damage). The creature bludgeoned Luger with both clubs for a second time (26 damage taken), even as the cleric slashed back and forth wildly with Geistblatt (attack: 9+10+2 flanking bonus=21, 2+5+2=9; one hit; 10 damage).

In order to focus so much on Luger, the two-headed giant had to turn its back to Danton, who took full advantage of the situation by sticking Rat’s Tail through a small gap in the crude leather armor the giant wore. The blade went right into the huge humanoid’s lower back, striking something vital and causing the monster to collapse atop Luger (Danton sneak attack: 14+10+2 flanking bonus=26; hit; 15 damage).

On the other side of the track, one of the antennae from the insect finally made contact with Sparhawk’s armor (item saving throw: 2+2=4; failure). To the paladin’s shock, as soon as the thin appendage struck his plate mail, the armor corroded and fell away from his body in a matter of seconds, leaving the paladin standing about in his undergarments. Even as the ruined armor was clattering to the ground around him, the insect bit the paladin on the left leg (hit for 2 damage).

Enraged, Sparhawk screamed out, “Heironeous take thee back to the abyss from whence thee hath come!” and smashed Caladbolg into the monster again (attack: 9+12=21, 8+7=15; one hit; 12 damage; Caladbolg item saving throw: 8+12=20; success).

Although the blow was a solid one, it was not fatal, and the insect continued to harry Sparhawk. With the giant down, Danton was about to rush to the paladin’s aid, but Tenaris grabbed him by the arm.

“Let’s let Syll finish this one, shall we? You wouldn’t want to lose your blade the way our friend just lost his armor, hmm?”

Such a thought had never crossed Danton’s mind, but Tenaris’ words made him hesitate long enough to give Syll a chance to fire off a third set of magic missiles. These crashed into the armored insect, and, combined with the abuse Sparhawk had already administered with Caladbolg, they were more than it could take (12 damage).

Once the insect collapsed in a pool of ichor, Sparhawk, still shocked at the disintegration of his armor, rejoined the others and helped them extricate Luger from under the body of the fallen giant.

“I think I begin to understand Danton’s critique of ‘women drivers’,” groaned Luger when the others finally freed the cleric and set him down against the cavern wall. “If only my enhanced strength and endurance had not given out at some point during that awful ride, I might have held up a bit better.”

“Hey, that wasn’t my fault,” countered Tenaris. “That big guy threw some kind of explosive at us. That blasted us off the track, not my driving. I was doing just fine, thank you very much.”

“Be that as it may,” said Sparhawk, his face pale, “that ride shalt haunt my dreams—or nightmares more accurately—for the rest of mine days. I do not think I shall ever set foot in a wheeled conveyance again.”

“Now aren’t you glad you rode with me?” whispered Syll to Danton in a conspiratorial voice. “We had a hell of a ride and you even got to walk, rather than crawl, away from it.”

When Danton and Sparhawk withdrew their magic torches to add to the light provided by the spells on the two carts, one of which was now upside down against the cavern wall, the party members looked about and gained a better view of their surroundings. Their long ride had come to a halt roughly in the intersection of four caverns. To the north and west was the large domed cavern through which they had ridden. Of to the northeast was what appeared to be a smaller cavern, while a third, wide tunnel ran southwest. Finally, the track the party had been following continued off to the southeast in what looked to be another fairly wide tunnel.

While Luger healed the grievous wounds he had suffered from the giants’ clubs (convert Summon Monster IV to Cure Critical Wounds, Detect Evil X2 to two Cure Light Wounds, Silence to Cure Moderate Wounds, and Hold Person to Cure Moderate Wounds in order to reach maximum hit points), Syll gave Sparhawk the suit of enchanted chainmail (chainmail +1) he had carried for a long time, but had never used because of its interference with his spellcasting.

“After all,” said the ex-smuggler, “You can’t go around smiting evil in your skivvies.”

The chainmail was clearly inferior to the platemail Sparhawk had worn previously, but it was better than nothing. Before Sparhawk donned the new armor, Luger healed his wounds as well (convert Summon Monster IV to Cure Critical Wounds; Sparhawk +21 HP).

By the time that Luger and Sparhawk were both on their feet and ready to move again, Danton and Tenaris had surveyed both the cavern to the northeast and the tunnel to the southwest since both could be examined, at least to a degree, without leaving sight of the others.

The cavern to the northeast was irregularly shaped, but fairly small, no more than forty feet to a side. It was empty save for a huge bed of old, damp straw in the middle, which Danton guessed had been the home of the giant, judging by the size and foul smell of the bed of hay. There were also bits of rusted metal about, which it was now obvious had been the ‘chew toys’ of the giant’s metal-destroying pet. The cave stank of feces and rust, and Danton had no desire to stay in the area long enough to poke through the foul hay.

The tunnel to the southwest ran for forty feet, widening all the way, until it opened up into a large cavern that was some sixty feet wide—from east to west—and much longer than that from north to south. Forty feet into the cave a pool of water ran all the way from one side of the chamber to the other. The sound of dripping echoed off the stone walls, and strangely shaped rock formations filled most of the cave.

The pool was only forty feet across, but the cavern appeared to continue beyond that, farther than the light from Danton’s torch could carry. The far side of the pool was actually a good dozen feet higher than the near side, so anyone who wanted to get to the far side would first have to swim across the pool, then somehow ascend ten or twelve feet of fairly sheer stone. Danton had no such desire, but he did give the chamber a once over (search: 16+15=31). There appeared to be little to be found, and the Velunese gave up before long, lingering in the cave only long enough to make out briefly with Tenaris, before rejoining the others.

Having found two apparent dead-ends, the party had little choice but to continue to follow the tracks off to the southeast. Although Syll and Tenaris argued in favor of putting the first ore cart back on the track and then continuing as the party had before, Luger and Sparhawk would have none of it, and even Danton blanched at the thought of another wild ride. In the end, the party righted the first cart and set it back on the tracks in front of the second one—in case a quick getaway proved necessary, but then, much to the disappointment of the elves, walked down the southeast tunnel, following the tracks.

As it turned out, even had the party decided to continue its ride, the end of the line would not have been far away. Past the four-way intersection, the tracks continued a slow curve to the southeast for eighty feet before entering a much narrower and lower part of the tunnel. This dark, small space ran for about sixty feet before the tunnel opened up again and the tracks finally came to an end at the edge of a long, narrow strip of dark, stagnant water.

There appeared to be some sort of narrow underground lake that extended north and south as far as the light from the party’s enchanted torches could carry. In order to follow the water to the north, the party would have to actually get into it, for it filled the entire width of the cavern, but ahead and off to the south the water ran alongside a narrow stone path. The water and the stone path were each about fifteen feet wide; together they filled the entire cavern. The stone was wet, slick, and shiny in the torchlight.

With no desire for a swim and nowhere else to go, the party turned south and began making its way carefully along the slick stone. Sparhawk led the way, followed by Danton, Syll, Luger, and Tenaris. The path ran slightly southwest for sixty feet, then turned due south. The party had just reached this bend when a dark shape lurched up, out of the water and onto the path immediately in front of Sparhawk. It was at least twelve feet high when it reared up from the path in front of the paladin. The thing had no real shape; it appeared to be some sort of formless blob, but it towered over Sparhawk and then shifted its mass forward as if to envelop him. Fortunately, the thing was not very fast and the paladin was able to move back and out of the way of its initial lurch towards him.

[Initiative: Tenaris: 27, Syll: 22, Danton: 16, Luger: 14, Sparhawk: 7, Blob: 1]

“Egads!” yelled Sparhawk. “Get thee all back! Yet another horror is spit forth from the bowels of the Oerth to assail us!”

“Everybody fall back!” ordered Syll. “It seems kinda slow, so let’s get back and torch it from afar!”

Everyone turned and moved back up the path as quickly as they dared, given the uncertain footing provided by the wet stone. When Sparhawk turned and ran, the shapeless mass lurched once more at his back, but it missed the paladin, and he was soon able to open up enough distance between himself and the thing that he need not worry about it overtaking him—at least for the moment. However, the sliding, oozing shape continued to follow the party back north along the stone path, single-mindedly pursuing its prey.

Once the group reached the end of the tunnel with the tracks, they stopped, and turned about while Syll and Luger fired spells at the blob pursuing them (Syll cast fireball: 29 area-effect damage in a 20 foot radius; Luger cast Searing Light: attack roll: 14+9=23; hit; 26 damage). The magical attacks both slammed into the oozing creature and burned away most of its mass with magical and divine fire. What little remained continued to slide mindlessly towards the party, but Syll finished it with two more minor spells (Cast Ray of Frost twice: 14+7=21, 12+7=19; two hits; 3, 2 damage). By the time the elf was finished blasting away at the creature, nothing more than a long stained area on the stone path remained to suggest anything had ever been there.

“I can scarcely believe the vile and disgusting beasts of the depths we perennially encounter in this pit of despair,” said Sparhawk.

“Well, we cooked that one but good,” replied Syll lightly. “It won’t crawl outta that water no more.”

“True enough,” said Danton, “but mayhap there are more where it came from. Let us depart from this area immediately—if not sooner.”

The party retraced its steps over the area where the remains of the ooze-creature were now burned into the stone, then continued past the bend and continued to follow the path south alongside the water. A hundred feet past the bend, the cavern split, with one branch angling southwest away from the water, apparently into some larger cavern, while another branch continued south alongside the water. Off to the south, the area of water appeared to grow larger, filling more of the cavern even as the width of the cavern expanded (spot: Danton: 20+10=30, Syll: 18+4=22, Sparhawk: 17+2=19, Tenaris: 9+2=11, Luger 2+4=6).

While Tenaris, Luger, and Sparhawk were preoccupied with the distant sight of a raised wooden track in the cavern off to the southwest, Danton and Syll both caught faint movement in the water off to the southeast. Neither got a good look at whatever they had spotted moving out of the corners of their eyes, but faint ripples in the water confirmed something was in fact there—or had been.

“We are, once again, not alone,” said Danton in a low voice. “Something moves in the waters to the south—near where the lake widens. It may be another of those formless horrors.”

“I dunno,” said Syll, “I thought I saw something smaller, but…I’m not sure.”

“Either way,” said Danton, “with tracks for ore carts visible off the other way, let us search in that direction, away from the water. Who knows, Lady Death,” he whispered to Tenaris, “mayhap we can find another cart for you to crash…”

“That was not my fault,” groused the elf woman again, even as she and the others followed Danton down the tunnel to the southwest. “I could have made that turn if that two-headed guy hadn’t thrown that bomb or whatever it was at us.”

“Heironeous preserve me from ore carts and the elves who driveth them,” whispered Sparhawk to no one in particular.

The tunnel to the southwest ran for only forty feet before opening up into yet another large cavern. The chamber was at least seventy feet wide from east to west and well over a hundred feet from north to south. Near the center of the chamber there was a wooden platform fifty feet off the ground. A crank-driven conveyer belt was on the eastern side of the platform, with small scoop-like attachments suggesting that it was used to convey materials from the floor of the cave to the top of the platform. Atop the wooden platform was a small wooden structure that was only partially visible from the floor of the cavern.

Running from the top of the platform on a sort of high wooden bridge was a set of tracks, also fifty feet off the ground. The tracks ran northeast out of the chamber and continued, still atop the wooden structure, through a wide tunnel that exited the chamber just to the west of the tunnel where the party had entered the area. When Danton shone his torch down the second tunnel, he could see that the raised tracks continued off to the northeast for as far as the light from his torch shone.

“What do you think?” asked Syll, looking at Danton. “Is this the end of the line for the second set of tracks we could have taken way back at the beginning? You know, the tracks that led uphill rather than down? Or is this something else entirely? I have to confess, during that ride I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to exactly where we were going, what with all the drops, twists, and turns.”

“I am not certain,” confessed the scout. “Perhaps this would be a good time to pause and update mine map, based on what I can recollect from the ride we hath had courtesy of you and mine wild rose.”

“I’m going up to the top of that platform to see what’s in that building,” said Tenaris, making for a wooden ladder alongside the conveyer belt with the scoops.

“Allow me to join you, milady,” said Sparhawk. “Though you doubtless do not need my protection, I am certain Danton will feel better if I am with you.”

“Tenaris, my rose, do not go inside or open any doors until I have finished mine map,” cautioned Danton. “While Sparhawk takes great pleasure falling afoul of every trap I leave intact for him to trod upon—‘tis a strange Furyondian predilection for self-inflicted pain that inclines him so, I believe—I would not want you to suffer such a fate.”

Tenaris laughed. “If Sparhawk likes traps so much, then, I’ll be sure to let him try the door first.” The woman ascended the ladder rapidly, followed by the paladin, who muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

While Danton sat down, withdrew the notebook with his maps and began updating them, Syll stood holding Danton’s torch and looking over his shoulder, offering periodic comments and suggestions. Luger leaned heavily against the base of the wooden platform, his thoughts known only to himself.

When Tenaris and Sparhawk reached the top of the platform, they could see that two more ore carts, both empty, stood upright near the center of the platform, in front of the small building. The building had only a single wooden door, which was wide open. Gazing inside the two windows on the front of the building and then through the open doorway, the fighter and the paladin could see that the structure was largely empty, save for a wooden table and three chairs.

[Tenaris spot: 4+2=6; failure, listen:8+2=10; failure; Syll listen: 3+4=7; failure; Luger listen: 12+4=16; failure, Danton listen: 14+8=22; success, Sparhawk spot: 16+2=18; success, listen: 4+2=6; failure]

“What is that sound?” asked Danton, looking up from his maps.

“What sound?” asked the Syll, looking up and around. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Like something moving through the air…” replied the Velunese, setting down his notebook and standing up. Syll held Danton’s torch up higher, but he still saw and heard nothing.

At that moment, Sparhawk and Tenaris finished their examination of the empty structure atop the platform. The elf woman went over to look at the ore carts, while Sparhawk walked forward to the northern end of the platform, where the single track moved off through the cavern. As the paladin gazed off into the darkness, he could hear Danton and Syll saying something down below.

Sparhawk held his torch up high, trying to see as much of the elevated track as he could before it left the cavern. And then he saw something that made his breath catch in his throat. Off in the distance, just entering the edge of his torchlight and flying well above the track—almost without a sound—and straight towards the platform where he and Tenaris stood—was a huge green reptilian shape that Sparhawk knew could only be one thing…a dragon.

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 78

--Please send postings for Turn 78 by the end of Friday, December 7th.

Current date/time/location: 19 Kolovoz; approximately 1200; The Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn: none

Undivided Loot previously gained: purple lamp, two scrolls from the table with the lamp, the cloak from Mereclar’s room, Mereclar’s studded leather armor, a set of lenses Mereclar had worn, the ogre’s massive club, and a morningstar the troglodyte spellcaster had carried, note from Hedrack to Terrenygit, golden dagger, coinage worth a total of 900 gold, a golden necklace, and two vials of Furyondian Fire oil

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: Sparhawk’s half plate +1

FOES DEFEATED:

Active party members listed in bold.

This Chapter:

Entire Campaign:

Current Status of the Party:

Danton

Hit points: 47/47

New XP: 330

XP total: 44,664

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, 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, 2 pink pearls, potion of cure light wounds, 2 dwarven scrolls found on the balcony over the dark lake, cloak of resistance +1, Fachish’s papers

Gold: 1025

Silver: 430

Luger

AC: 22

Hit Points: 82/82

New XP: 330

XP total: 41,414

XP needed: 45,000

Equipment: masterwork heavy mace, chainmail +1, masterwork large steel shield, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, flint & steel, 30 days rations, silver holy symbol of Heironeus, 3 healer’s kits, backpack, cleric’s vestment, traveler’s clothing, 3 waterskins, bedroll, iron triangle with upside down ‘Y’ inside, eight cockatrice feathers, scroll of cure disease, Geistblatt (ghost touch longsword +1), 5 vials of Furyondian Fire, cloak of resistance +1 (+1 to all saves), potions of reduce, nondetection, 2 silver and 2 gold brooches from Woodstock, tattered black cloak with burning eye emblazoned on it, note from Master Hedrack to Master Uskathoth (in Draconic), one large.triangular metal bar and one large diamond shaped metal bar, 2 emerald endants, book on history and worship of Elder Elemental Eye cult, one inverted Y pendant in brown triangles, scroll with remove paralysis and protection from elements, Oamarthis note, 3 books: The Worship of the Elder Elemental Eye, A History of Evil Cults, and The Temple of Elemental Evil, Aseneth’s House Torquann dragon ring, ring of jumping (+30 to jumping checks), . iron triangle with inverted ‘Y’,.three black cones made of some unknown substance, a black scepter decorated with a half dozen violet gems, metal scroll tube, one inverted ziggurat pendant; potion of cure light wounds, scrolls of contagion, greater magic weapon, bracers of health +2, potion of bear’s endurance, scroll of bless, hold person, and dispel magic, 2 pink pearls, large steel shield +1

Spell Selection:

Level 0 (6): Detect Magic (x3)

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

Level 2 (5+1): Silence (x1), Aid (Domain)

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

Level 4 (3+1): Summon Monster IV (x1), Sending (X1)

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

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 7 of 7

Gold: 448

Silver: 0

Syll

AC: 15 (16 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 46/50

New XP: 330

XP total: 29,183

XP needed: 36,000

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), potion of cure moderate wounds (X2), 2 pink pearls

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6) (3 used)

Level 1: (7) (7 used)

Level 2: (7) (1 used)

Level 3: (6) (5 used)

Level 4: (4) (0 available until can rest)

Gold: 3557

Silver: 42

Sparhawk

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

Hit Points: 49/60

New XP: 330

XP total: 23,263

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, 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, 2 pink pearls, suit of chainmail +1

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: 0 of 18

Smite Evil used today?: YES

Gold: 153

Silver: 0

Tenaris

AC: 23

Hit Points: 59/66

New XP: 330

XP total: 23,043

XP needed: 28,000

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), 2 pink pearls, longsword +1

Gold: 327

Silver: 30