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Chapter 4: A Deeper Darkness

Turn 82: The Chamber of Hate

Danton withdrew his maps and began updating them once again. As he did so, he looked up at the others. “Unless I miss mine count,” he said, “there art at least sixteen areas that we left unexplored since fleeing northward from the dragon. P'raps three -- the two storage rooms and the apparent latrine -- we canst ignore altogether, but that still leaveth thirteen unexplored areas.”

”Also,” he added, “I observe that we knoweth now where the Fire Door is, and also likely the Air Door. The former lieth to the west of the Outer Fane and the latter to the north. Accordingly, it may be that we hath only jogged through the northernmost quadrant of the Outer Fane. Of course, this is pure speculation, since the other doors might be closer or father afield ... and they might also not be symmetrical. Thus, we may have actually run through a third of the Outer Fane ... or p'raps a fifth or sixth. 'Tis all speculative.”

”Luger hath framed the question correctly,” continued Danton, “in its broadest strokes it is: do we continue to explore the Outer Fane in abbreviated form -- that is, examining its perimeter -- or do we backtrack and begin a more thorough effort at exploration? Frankly, I am a bit indecisive on this matter, though I know that Syll hath been eager to begin popping open doors and spending more time looking about.”

”Though I am wholly open to persuasion otherwise, I propose that we forego exploring the areas we hath passed by, with the exception of thoroughly exploring our immediate environs. That is, we should open these stone doors, if we can. Then, we should go back into the aviary and check the two doors that remain. If we find anything that piques our interest, we may as well pursue in that direction. Otherwise, p'raps we should take the eastern door from the aviary and continue moving in that direction, albeit in a less rushed and more exploratory fashion. What say you?”

Tenaris frowned and looked at Danton, “If there was a red dragon guarding the fire door, how come there's nothing guarding the air door? Or were those birds the guards? If so, while they were kind of nasty, they make pretty pathetic guards compared to that dragon.”

“The Air Temple is supposed to be one of the weaker ones,” said Sparhawk, “and so a weak guard mayeth not be all that surprising. I proposeth that we do a more thorough search and acquire intelligence so that we mayest be better prepared to face our foes in battle and emerge victorious. Lead the way, fearless scout!”

“Mine Lady,” said Danton, pleased by the mere fact that Tenaris was speaking to him, “you bring up a good point, comparing the lines of resistance at the fire and air doors. Your inference, I take it, would be that we wert expected to gain the fire door, and, thus, the Doomdreamers, or whoever, placed a dragon there to confusticate us. While plausible in the abstract, I am led to think otherwise for the following reason: the dragon room contained a horde of coins in the shape of a nest ... before the coily fool melted them to slag. This fact suggesteth to me that the dragon's lair was in that very room all along. To think otherwise would necessarily suggest that either the coins wert relocated in that room to serve as the dragon's bed or that the Doomdreamers regularly keep a massive pile of loot sitting unguarded on their doorstep. Methinks these possibilities unlikely. Thus, I am inclined to think as Sir Sparhawk hath suggested: the air door matches the relative weakness of the Air Temple.”

“That’s one possibility,” agreed Syll, “but here’s another: if Hedrack is smart, and I think he is, he knows that we have access to only two keys, earth and fire, and he could account for the other two—they’re still presumably in the hands of the Water and Air Temple poobahs outside. Given all that, Hedrack would know that the only people likely to get through the air and water doors are members of the Air and Water Temples. So why keep his best defenses at doors—Air and Water—that he knows we can’t use? No, if he were smart, he’d build up the defenses at the earth and fire doors and not worry much about air or water.”

“Be that as it may, while I always believe in pressing forward against evil,” said Sparhawk, “before we do so, I, for one, would not mind having more of those stone skin spells for an impenetrable defense. Not bad, mage. Not bad.”

“Thanks, Pete,” replied Syll with a smirk. “We aim to please. But what I really want to do is explore. There’s just got to be good loot around here somewhere.”

“Hold, good mage,” replied Sparhawk. “I doth not aim for a walk in the park, exploring every nook and cranny as a discoverer or cartographer. Mine plain meaning, for I am in Danton's verbose company too much methinks, is that we need to gather as much actionable intelligence, and gold and magicks if they art to be found, and move on as quickly as possible.”

”I do not think we should stay here,” said Luger firmly. “The room is empty, but weak or not, the Air Temple was the only temple we were forced to run from.” The cleric looked suddenly very pale and he dropped heavily to one knee before Sparhawk could rush forward to steady him.

“My injuries are severe,” said Luger through clenched teeth as he got up once more with Sparhawk’s help, “and I do not think I will survive another battle unless we can find some sort of healing. While I do not wish to look for more enemies to fight at this moment, I think our chances are better searching the rooms we've already passed rather than exploring further to be caught off guard again. The letter to Dunrat concerns me and I begin to suspect we left the moathouse too soon. Are we confident the clergy in Hommlet were successful in securing the ‘relics’ we encountered there?”

“We definitely need to know more about the Dunrat/Naquent thing,” agreed Syll. “I swear those names seem familiar.”

”We need to find out if more forces were sent back to Hommlet,” grunted Luger, “or if they've already returned with the relics. I too would like to find additional correspondence, which may contain useful information. We must rely on Peter's ability to sense evil and Danton's keen hearing. I do not think we will gain anything from finding the earth door and likely there are more enemies there waiting for us. If nothing else, we need to find the entrance—or entrances—to the Inner Fane.”

”Once I regain the magical blessings of Heironeus tomorrow,” added the cleric, “I will attempt to contact someone in Hommlet to see if there is any information to be had there. If the relics are on their way back, we will have to intercept them.”

Danton gazed back and forth at his various companions. While Sparhawk and Tenaris had held up pretty well against the lightning birds, Syll looked as if he were in almost as bad of shape as Luger.

“Luger is right,” said Danton when he reached a decision. “We must find some place to hole up. He is very near to death, and another epic confrontation could easily be the death of him. Indeed, until this moment, I confess I did not realize just how injured he is. Syll, too, looketh to me like he could also use some recuperation. Thus, I agree with Luger in that we should probably retrace our steps to find a place to hole up. I'd rather we went back into slightly explored areas to find such a place than to venture into the wholly unknown.”

Danton gazed down at his map once again. “Yes,” he said, scratching his chin, “let us head quickly back to the Dais Room and then hole up in one of the adjoining storage chambers. We can quietly move around the boxes in such chamber so that they better hide our presence from any patrol that might casually wander by. Let's face it: if there art enemies in active search for us, our chances of eluding them art slim. But we must chance it, or Luger is as good as dead ... and the rest of us wilt likely follow, if not immediately than by cruel attrition.”

“Assuming that we can sufficiently rest and regain strength,” he continued, “I propose that we then explore the three wooden doors immediately to the north of the Dais Room. Initially, I wast inclined to pass them by, but as long as we art in their neighborhood, so to speak, let us have a gander. If we find other routes worth exploring, we shall have to decide whether to explore them. But, if not, then methinks -- in line with mine original suggestion -- that we should hoof it back to the aviary to explore those two doors within, moving on eastward unless some good reason suggesteth otherwise.”

”In terms of our exploration, I am inclined to travel as stealthily as we can, avoiding combat unless necessary. I am also inclined only to take such items as seemeth either particularly valuable, magical or clue-worthy -- certainly including maps, correspondence and other documents. Methinks we should not exhaustively explore any place, unless it seemeth chock full of clues and the like, but we should instead move fairly methodically and steadily from one room to the next. What doth the rest of you think? “

While Danton was speaking, Luger converted the last of his available spells to healing for himself and Syll (Convert Flamestrike to Cure Critical Wounds: Luger +29 HP, Convert Detect Magic and Light to Cure Minor Wounds: Syll +2 HP). It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

“Sorry, you went on so long there, you kind of lost me,” said Syll when Danton finally finished. “What exactly is the plan—in twenty words or less, please?”

“Doth thou see, Danton?” asked Sparhawk rhetorically. “One canst say so much with so few words. Our elf friend here is the epitome of brevity.”

Danton laughed. “Sir Sparhawk, if 'tis brevity that you and Syll want, 'twill be brevity that you'll get ... in Bakluni haiku version no less.”

Danton paused for several seconds and then stood as if reciting poetry in a grand audience hall in Veluna City:

”Respite for Luger
Three portals crafted of wood
Then east, past the birds”

”There,” said the scout when he finished. “Brevity and culture, wrapped into seventeen syllables. 'Tis a shame I ne'er taught Nanoc haiku. Given his economy of words, it might have proven a useful skill.”

Danton smiled at Tenaris. “I rather enjoy speaking in haiku. P'raps, Lady Death, I'll craft one fitting of you some day.”

While Tenaris was inscrutable, Sparhawk groaned. “How many words must thou expend to brag about using only seventeen syllables? Admit it, mine friend, thou hast a tongue of many words. But, methinks that is not the worst fault to have in the world.”

“Let’s get on with things,” said Luger. “Now that I’m a bit healthier, we can do a bit of searching on our way back to rest in your storage rooms. We rushed too quickly up to this point and should spend some time retracing our steps and searching rooms for information. Our main goal right now should be to find this Hedrack to question and/or dispatch. Since the dragon was apparently under orders from Hedrack, it stands to reason that he is either in charge of the Outer Fane or has a lot of influence here and in the outside elemental temples.”

“Let us carefully begin to search the doors and rooms we’ve passed along the way,” added the cleric. “In addition to Danton putting his ear against each door before we go in, Peter can also use his inherent ability to detect evil as we consider closed doors, so that we at least have an idea if someone or something is waiting on the other side and how powerful they may be.”

“Very well,” said Danton. “Then, for the sake of brevity—and Sparhawk’s ears, which are so fatigued of hearing mine words—let us be about our business.”

Danton examined first the stone door on the west side of the hallway and then the one on the east side (search: 8+16=24, 11+16=27, listen: 12+8=20, 15+8=23). He found no sign of traps, nor heard any sound behind either door. Similarly, Sparhawk (Use Detect Evil Ability twice—no evil detected) sensed nothing untoward either.

As it turned out, neither door was locked and neither door went very far. Each of the pair of portals opened onto a very small room—only twenty by twenty feet—with nothing in it. Seeing only bare stone walls, Danton had Sparhawk shut each of the doors quickly and then the party moved off back south towards the ‘aviary’ where the group had fought the lightning birds.

“You know,” mused Luger as the party headed up the stairs towards the aviary, “I wouldn’t mind trying to spy on that wyrm to see if it is visited by Hedrack or if it contacts him somehow. I had thought that dragons could see invisible creatures but this one apparently cannot, and we might be able to take advantage of that and send Danton to spy on him when we go back that way.”

“That’s a common misunderstanding about dragons,” said Syll. “Of course, dragons and dragon-kin like me are usually spellcasters and there are some spells that let you see invisible creatures, so some dragons really can see invisible things—courtesy of their magic. But dragons do not have the inherent ability to see invisible stuff. Instead they have an ability that you might call ‘super senses’ or, as I’ve heard it referred to—‘blindsight.’ What that means is, dragons have incredible hearing, eyesight, and sense of smell. These senses are so good that if an invisible person gets close to a dragon, the dragon will likely realize the interloper is there—not because it can see him, but because it can hear him, smell him, and see little signs of his passage.”

“An intriguing theory,” said Danton from the front of the party as he reached the top of the stairs and looked out onto the aviary once again. “How wouldst you relate it to our own experience with yon red wyrm?”

“Well,” said Syll. “Blindsight only works at fairly close range. I think you were quiet enough that the dragon never knew you were there—until you started yelling to the rest of us, of course. I think you were far enough away from him that he never detected you. But some of the rest of us made such a racket that he was able to more or less pinpoint our location—well enough to hit us with the fiery breath anyway. When Pete here started yelling at him, well, that made it easy on the dragon too. But later, when we ran for it, he had a harder time. Sure, we were making noise, but so was the dragon by rushing and thrashing about to try to hit us. Blindsight is good, but it’s not the same as being able to see someone invisible.”

“So, If I understandeth you correctly,” mused Danton as he moved out into the aviary, “If I were—hypothetically—to spy invisibly on the dragon in the future, I should take pains to stay a goodly distance away from him lest he smell me or otherwise detect mine presence no matter how silently I might move courtesy of mine elven boots?”

“That’s ‘zactly what I’m saying,” said Syll.

Although the party intended to retrace its steps to the west and south, in accordance with Luger’s proposal, the group agreed to at least check the two unexplored exits from the aviary. Moving first to the east exit, Danton found no traps and heard no sounds (search: 12+16=28, listen: 14+8=22). Sparhawk sensed no emanations of evil within the limited radius he could search (Use Detect Evil ability—no evil detected).

The door was unlocked, and when Sparhawk opened it, the party members found themselves looking down a ten-foot wide torch-lined corridor that ran due east for eighty feet before ending at what looked like a closed wooden door on its north side and an opening on its south side. No one was about.

With consensus having been reached that the party would not go farther east until it had rested, Danton simply made notations on his map and then Sparhawk closed the door. The group then moved across the aviary to the door on its southern side. At this door, Danton (search: 14+16=30, listen: 16+8=24) found no traps, but he did hear sounds of activity from whatever chamber lay to the south. He thought he could hear someone moving about, but there were no voices to be heard. When Sparhawk concentrated on the door and the area beyond it to the south (Use Detect Evil ability), he discerned the presence of a single aura of evil, but it seemed very dim or weak.

The paladin whispered this discovery to Danton, who took note of it, but the scout was more intrigued by the fact that the door, unlike any of the others in this area, did not seem to have a handle, lock, or mechanism of any kind. When Sparhawk tried to push the door open, it would not budge.

“Let me try something,” whispered Luger. The cleric approached the door and, just for the sake of variety—and curiosity, withdrew the two triangular-shaped Earth Temple bars. The cleric combined them and then touched the single larger bar to the door. The effect was instantaneous—the wooden door slid quickly inward.

Beyond the door was a small, dark room. The only light came from the torches on the walls out in the aviary. But those provided enough light for the party members to see that they had opened the single door to a twenty-foot by twenty-foot chamber that stank of waste and sweat. A few bones were on the floor and two buckets were in one corner. A broom and mop sat in another corner. Huddling against the back wall were seven emaciated figures—four humans, two dwarves, and an orc. Each of these people shielded his or her eyes from the light and cringed away from the newcomers.

“Man, what is this? Some kind of prison? A slave pen?” asked Syll. “What a stench!”

Now that he could see into the room, Sparhawk realized that the dim aura of evil he had detected came from the orc in the chamber—which was cowering against the back wall just like the humans and the dwarves.

“Speak!” commanded the paladin. “Who art thou? Art thou prisoners here? What canst you tell us of this place and those who reside here?”

No answer came from the pathetic-looking figures at the back of the room, but their eyes did now seem to be adjusting to the light and several of them gazed back at the party more directly. One human male—whose age was difficult to determine given his long, mangy beard and his generally filthy condition—stepped forward towards the party and then opened his mouth wide. When Danton and Sparhawk looked closely, they could see that the man had no tongue—someone had cut it out.

The man gestured at his mouth until he seemed certain that the party understood his message. Then he pointed at all of the others behind him before looking back at Sparhawk and Danton and shrugging.

“’Twould seem he is trying to tell us that someone hath removed all their tongues, and that none can speak,” said Danton for the benefit of Luger and Tenaris, who were still out in the aviary and could not really see what was going on.

“But you can hear us—and understand us?” asked Danton.

The man nodded vigorously, as did several of the others behind him.

“You are prisoners here? Slaves?”

Once again a round of nods.

“Can any of you write? Are you literate? That might be a way you could communicate with us…”

The man shook his head, chagrin evident in his expression.

“Just our luck,” muttered Syll. “We finally find some people who could probably give us a ton of info, and they ain’t got no way to give it to us. But, be that as it may, we gotta, rescue these guys. We’ve left too many prisoners behind already and we can’t do it again. I can’t believe the things these Doomdreamer shitballs do to people.”

“Perhaps we can aid them, Syll,” said Danton, “but not at this moment. For we ourselves hath no way out of the Outer Fane right now. If we are able to find another exit not guarded by a dragon, we might be able to lead these poor people to it, but what then? They would never survive the mines on their own. Their only hope is that once we overthrow the Doomdreamers, we might lead them out of this place when we go ourselves.”

“He’s right,” said Luger from behind Syll. “We will liberate these people, but now is not the time. All we would accomplish by freeing them now would be to increase our own chances of discovery and to risk them getting killed by ogres, dragon fire, or who knows what else.”

Syll was at a loss, at least for the moment, as to how to argue with this logic, so he only sighed loudly.

“Keepeth your wits about you and stay alive for a bit longer,” said Danton to the humans, dwarves, and orc before him. “Unless any of you are warriors by training, you would only be killed should you join us now, but rest assured, when we leave this place for good, we will come to collect you. We may also return sooner for information—if we can devise a means by which you might impart it to us.”

Either the slaves understood and agreed with Danton and Luger’s logic, or they were simply too cowed to protest being left in the dark room. Syll insisted on providing them with fresh stocks of food and water and then the party members left the room and Danton shut the door once more.

“I don’t know whether you meant all that or whether it was just so much talk,” said Syll firmly to Danton, “but we are going back for them.”

“I must give some thought to means by which we might speak with them,” mused Luger. “They surely must know a great deal of information that would be useful to us.”

With all of the doors in the immediate area now having been explored, Danton and Sparhawk led the party west out of the aviary, through the guardroom where Sparhawk had slain so many ogres, and then back into the long hallway leading west. As the party walked, Danton led the way, with Sparhawk right behind him.

The paladin held Caladbolg in front of him as he followed Danton. His attention was half on the path ahead and half on the blade.

“What sayeth thee, mine ancient gift?” he whispered to the sword in the lowest of tones. “Wilt thou speakest to me in my mind's eye, or wilt thou simply bestow powers from above and then exact thine holy penalty as we join ever closer? Wilt thou speak?”

“Didst you say something, Sparhawk?” asked Danton, turning his head around to look at his friend.

“Er, uh, no,” stammered the paladin. “But now that we are speaking, I must reiterate that I see no value in searching through every possible nook and cranny such as a mess hall or kitchen thoroughly to cart off a barrel of ale or sellable mugs. But, letters or maps may be strewn about as our slain enemies rush to face and be defeated by Caladbolg or streams of fire and brilliant light, not to mention flaming swords and the infamous Rat's Tail, a dreaded name amongst evil humanoids and villains! However, studies and bed chambers doth seem to yield the most intelligence in most every circumstance.”

Danton looked around again to ensure that Tenaris was well out of earshot at the back of the party with Luger and then whispered to the paladin, “I must say, Sir Sparhawk, in reference to your last comment, that you art undeniably correct that boudoirs are excellent places to obtain knowledge, carnal or otherwise. Indeed, I have spent mine share of time in bedrooms and hath rarely emerged disappointed.”

The scout looked back at the elf woman again and then added, “However, mine present circumstances art such that pillowtalk seemeth a long, long way off. If it goeth much longer, I fear I may have to join one of Heironeous's retrograde and medieval monasteries. If one is forced to live like a monk, after all, I suppose one might as well be a monk, alas.”

“Good Danton,” replied Sparhawk as he and the scout, now walking side-by-side once again, continued down the corridor to the west, “I am thinking that thou art a demon in disguise sent to turn me from the path of good and righteousness with thy constant prodding towards the temptations of sin. Thou art in need of some repentance and renewal, mine friend. Methinks I wert sent to thee for a reason, to help thee reform thy errant ways. Mayhaps one of those slaps from thy love wilt jar thee onto the right path . . . as long as she doth not do so in her . . . uh . . . well . . . thou knows . . . uh . . . skivvies.”

Sparhawk blushed and turned away from the scout.

Danton grinned and slapped the paladin on the back. “Curse you, O’ Fate, for mine reformed self! If I had but an evening of the ‘old Danton,’ a case of Furyondian red, and a night in Veluna City to kill in your blushing company, methinks 'twould be I who would tutor you ... in the form of object lessons, naturally. But, alas, were I in Veluna City today, under present circumstances, mine goal would only be the public bathhouse -- for nothing more spicy than a cold, cold shower…indeed a frigid one... taken alone. I still might not be sober, however, which is at least something positive!”

“This is a reformed man I doth see before mine eyes?” asked Sparhawk doubtfully. “Surely the world hath been turned upside down. As mine favorite bard hath sung, ‘Foul is fair, and fair is foul.’ Mayhaps thou art revealing to me that some terms at least canst be relative when spoken by some. ‘Reformed’ indeed!”

“Sir Sparhawk,” replied Danton with a laugh, “I knoweth not what troubadours to which you lend your ears, but anyone who sayeth that ‘fair’ and ‘foul’ art alike is both blind and stupid. And, moreover, he hath never visited the halfling brothel in Woodstock, nor any other gentleman's house, I'll wager. I assure you, if your foolish bard had gone there, he would know all too well the difference betwixt fair and foul ... unless, of course, he prefereth his nocturnal activities blindfolded. When possible, for mineself, I prefereth all lights ablaze. I like to see what I am getting.”

“... er, that is, when I actually lived such a corrupted life, once upon a time,” Danton added lamely.

“A halfling brothel?” asked Sparhawk in shock, much more loudly than Danton would have liked. “Mine ears burn and mine spirit drops to even think about the awful dissipation occurring in such a house of ill-repute anywhere on Oerth that I doth not wish to speak of it anymore!”

Syll had overheard a fair portion of this discussion, particularly Sparhawk’s final references, and he looked at Danton and said, “If I have to listen to any more of this I’m going to puke. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in various dives myself—given that’s where those who deal with a smuggler are usually to be found—but come on! You’re really being an idiot, Danton. You keep this crap up and you’re going to get dumped. Honestly, Tenaris fell for a cultured gentleman; I don’t think she is so interested in a lechy bum!”

Danton might have fired back a comment of his own, but the conversation between the trio had already drawn the attention of Luger and Tenaris, who both looked as if they wondered what was going on. Rather than have to answer questions about what was going on at the front of the party, Danton turned around again and stalked down the corridor with Sparhawk—still blushing bright red—at his side.

The next unexplored areas the party came to were the supposed ‘latrine’ on the north side of the hallway and the door immediately across from it. Given that the party had just found prisoners in one foul-smelling room, Danton decided to give the stinking ‘latrine’ at least a quick look. The open doorway led into a dark forty-foot by sixty-foot chamber that smelled of urine and filth. The room had a half-dozen very large, empty metal cages. Judging by the cages, the nasty smell, and the old droppings that were scattered about, this stark chamber had to be the home of some sort of animal or animals—rather than the privy that Danton had thought it. There were no other exits.

The wooden door on the other side of the hall outside the ‘animal room’ seemed ordinary to Danton (search: 5+16=21, 20+8=28). He heard nothing from the other side of the door. Sparhawk, by contrast, detected (Use Detect Evil ability) over a dozen auras of evil somewhere beyond the door. Most of the auras were dim, but two were strong.

“Friend, Danton,” said the paladin, “I doth not know what to make of this, but it couldst be something important—and dangerous. I hath sensed many evil auras beyond yon door, two of them of significant strength. Shall we go in and have a look and vanquish whatever comes, or shalt we withdraw to face evil another day?" 

Danton looked at Luger and raised one eyebrow.

“I think I have one more fight in me today if need be,” said the cleric. “If there is evil beyond that door, it shall feel Heironeous’ cleansing fire.”

“I’m ready to light things up too,” said Syll.

“All right, here we go again,” said Danton. “Lady Death, make yourself ready!”

The scout nodded, and Sparhawk opened the door.

The room beyond the door was forty feet wide and sixty feet long. Stairs descended from the doorway down into the room, which was ten feet lower than the hallway outside. The room was ‘decorated’ like none other that anyone in the party had ever seen before.

Each wall was of black stone covered with two rows of vertically suspended men, encased in metallic cocoons so that only their faces and hands were visible. The height of the room, floor to ceiling, was about 20 feet, and four of these men were encased in metal, two above two, every 10 feet. It took a moment to register that all of these men were exactly identical. In the very center of the room set onto a narrow raised platform was a single large black gem. Light somehow emanated from cracks that lined the black stone. Other than the wall decorations and the platform with the gem, the chamber appeared to be empty.

[Spot: Danton: 15+10=25, Sparhawk: 20+3=23, Syll: 7+9=17, Luger:13+4=17, Tenaris:15+2=17]

“What form of evil is this?” asked Sparhawk in shock as he and Danton moved down the stairs and into the room. “Why art these men all the same and why in Heironeous’ name are they hanging from the walls?”

“They are the sources of the evil auras I hath detected outside,” continued the paladin as he moved about the room and his senses honed in on the evil around him.

[Danton will save: 1+4=5; failure]

“I know not,” said Danton, moving to keep Sparhawk ahead of him. “Get in here, all of you!” he hissed back at Tenaris and Luger, who were still standing in the doorway. “We dare not tarry in the hallway and this strange gem bears investigation! We must all stick together!”

Syll, Luger, and Tenaris proceeded down the stairs and towards the gem, where Danton and Sparhawk now stood.

“This jewel accounts for one of the two strong evil auras I hath sensed,” said the paladin. “But where is the other?” In an attempt to answer this question, Sparhawk began gazing about the room, focusing on different areas as he looked about.

Suddenly a cold, black cloud appeared out of nowhere all around the party. Sickening, nauseating waves of darkness rolled over everyone (fortitude saves: Danton: 16+4=20; success—6 damage taken; Sparhawk: 11+14=25; success—12 damage taken; Syll: 1+6=7; failure; 25 damage taken; Luger: 18+12=30; success—12 damage taken). Most of the party members were able to leap out of the dark cloud before breathing in much of its noxious fumes, but Syll was not so fortunate. The elf collapsed to the ground with a muted scream and a gurgle.

[Spot: Sparhawk11+3=14, Luger:12+4=16, Tenaris:5+2=7]

[Initiative: Sparhawk: 19, Luger: 18, Tenaris: 10, Danton: 5]

“What deviltry is this?” asked Sparhawk. “Who is attacking us? Show yourself, coward!” he yelled.

[Danton opposed charisma check: 14+3=17; failure]

[Spot: Luger: 9+4=13, Tenaris: 19+2=21]

Although Luger was transfixed by the sight of Danton killing Sparhawk, Tenaris suddenly screamed, “There!” and drew the cleric’s attention away from the horror of what he had just witnessed.

Tenaris was pointing towards one of the identical men in the cocoons on the walls and when Luger looked to where she pointed—at the farthest end of the chamber, he could see that the man’s lips were moving slightly. Even as Danton lunged towards Tenaris with a murderous look in his eye, Luger acted (cast Flamestrike: 35 damage in a ten foot radius), calling down Heironeous’ divine fire—the cleric’s most powerful spell—on the man on the wall at the far end of the room (caster level check to overcome spell resistance: 12+10 (caster level) +2 (spell penetration feat)=24; success).

Luger’s spell struck with such force that four of the strange cocoons on the wall were engulfed in the flames. Three of the four were burned so badly that they actually fell off the wall, crashing to the ground and shattering with an incredible racket of stone on stone. Bizarrely, amidst the sound of crashing stone, there was a high-pitched feminine scream. Then Luger and Tenaris saw—briefly—one of the strangest sights of their lives. One of the men that had been in a cocoon that had fallen from the wall struggled to get up even as Heironeous’ divine fire consumed him. As he burned and crawled across the ground, his form shifted into, of all things, a scantily clad, cloven-hoofed woman with a pair of demonic wings extending out of her back. She shrieked as Luger’s flames consumed her and she collapsed forward onto the ground, the fire burning her body to a cinder.

When the awful woman died, Danton, who had been about to attack Tenaris, suddenly stopped in mid-movement. Then memory, along with the full horror of what he had done, returned to him in an instant.

“Noooooooooooo!” screamed the scout, rushing to where Sparhawk had fallen. “What hath I wrought?”

Danton probed for signs of life, but there were none—his strikes with Rat’s Tail had been far too precise. Sparhawk was unquestionably dead.

While Danton collapsed to his knees wailing next to Sparhawk’s body and Tenaris moved to console him, Luger rushed to Syll’s side, seizing up one of the sorcerer’s healing potions and pouring it into his mouth (cure light wounds potion: Syll +12 HP). Syll coughed and spluttered as the potion went down, but then his eyes opened. He remained lying on his back and looked up first at Luger and then around the room.

“Who’s making all that racket?” Syll asked. “What happened? Did we win? Who’s that guy at the top of the stairs?”

Syll’s last question caused Luger’s head to jerk around towards the doorway to the north. Sure enough, standing there was a tall man, possibly of half-elven origins, wearing a black cloak. He had short-cropped brown hair and a scarred face; it appeared that he wore full plate armor under his cloak.

“Come with me if you want to live,” said the man with the scarred face. “Gather your wounded and your dead, and move like the wind. Hedrack and his lackeys will be here in a matter of moments!”

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 83:

Please send postings for Turn 83 by the end of Friday, February 1st.

Current date/time/location: 21 Kolovoz; approximately 1200; The Outer Fane of the Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: Syll’s potion of cure light wounds, several days worth of rations given to the slaves

Undivided items: none

FOES DEFEATED:

Active party members listed in bold.

This Chapter:

Entire Campaign:

Current Status of the Party:

Danton

Hit points: 32/51

XP total: 51,379

XP needed: 55,000

Equipment: 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor +1, quiver with 23 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, 3 waterskins, 25 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, 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, 2 dwarven scrolls found on the balcony over the dark lake, cloak of resistance +1, Fachish’s papers, letter from Hedrack to Terrenygit, potion of cure light wounds, Naquent letter to Dunrat

Gold: 1025

Silver: 430

Luger

AC: 22

Hit Points: 30/91

New XP: 675

XP total: 48,129

XP needed: 55,000

Equipment: masterwork heavy mace, chainmail +1, masterwork large steel shield, light crossbow, 13 bolts, 3 belt pouches, large bag, 50’ rope, flint & steel, 25 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), 1 iron triangle with inverted ‘Y’, three black cones made of some unknown substance, a black scepter decorated with a half dozen violet gems, metal scroll tube, one inverted ziggurat pendant; scrolls of contagion, greater magic weapon, bracers of health +2, scroll of bless, hold person, and dispel magic, 2 pink pearls, large steel shield +1, scroll with neutralize poison and silence, purple lamp (everburning torch), unknown magic morningstar

Spell Selection

Level 0 (6):

Level 1 (5+1): Protection from Evil (Domain)

Level 2 (5+1): Aid (Domain)

Level 3 (4+1): Magic Vestment (Domain)

Level 4 (4+1):

Level 5 (2+1):

Syll

AC: 15 (16 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 4/50

New XP:

XP total: 35,898

XP needed: 36,000

Equipment: Ring of Protection +1, Cloak of Resistance +1, Urrtarr’s spellbook, Masterwork Longsword, backpack, 3 water skins, 25 days rations, bedroll, magnifying glass, 2 flint & steel, 10 candles, map/scroll case, parchment, ink & pen, mirror, oil flask, 40 arrows, clothing, longbow, 1 dagger, sack, 50’ rope, chalk, 5 torches, storm whistle, 5 bells, gold brooch, lamp, black cloak, inverted Y pendant, rose quartz gem, ring of climbing, bracers of health +2, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, scrolls of Pyrotechnics, Protection from Fire, Animal messenger, Summon Monster II, Change self, Enlarge, Sleep X2, Wand of Monster Summon I (8 charges), potion of water breathing, potion of lesser restoration, ring of feather falling, wand of fireballs (12 charges; caster level 6), potion of protection from elements (fire), potion of cure moderate wounds, 2 pink pearls, eyes of the eagle (+5 to all spot checks), gauntlets of Kord (not worn), scrolls of blink and shield, unknown wand and potion from the battle at the western bridge complex

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6)

Level 1: (7) (7 used)

Level 2: (7) (5 used)

Level 3: (6) (1 used)

Level 4: (4) (4 used)

Gold: 3737

Silver: 42

Sparhawk

AC: 18 (20 when using longsword/shield combination instead of great sword)

Hit Points: -21/74 (DEAD)

New XP: 0

XP total: 29,303

XP needed: 36,000

Equipment: backpack, water skin, 25 days rations, bedroll, tent, 2 daggers, masterwork great sword (Justice), longsword, composite longbow, 1 quiver with 10 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, 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), two dark vision potions and one strength enhancing wafer from the fungal forest man, 2 pink pearls, suit of chainmail +1, cloak of resistance +1, unknown magic club

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (2):

Level 2 (1):

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 6 of 6

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 0 of 24

Smite Evil used today?: No

Gold: 333

Silver: 0

Tenaris

AC: 23

Hit Points:23/76

New XP: 675

XP total: 29,758

XP needed: 36,000

Equipment: longsword, chitin full plate mail, large steel shield, masterwork morningstar, 4 javelins, 1 troglodyte spear, inverted Y pendant, 25 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, 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, golden dagger, golden necklace, 2 vials Furyondian fire oil, slippers of spider climbing

Gold: 507

Silver: 30