Chapter 3: The Temple of All-Consumption

Turn 69: Sonic Boom

“We have come to the temple well stocked and have power to spare for healing and cures. Do we purchase your silence or do we simply destroy you like Uskathoth, Tessimon and very soon Kelashein?” asked Luger loudly.

Danton shot Luger a dark look and whispered, “Let's not be too hasty, mine good cleric. Any offer of assistance in this dark place is not one that we should spurn too easily. If the wicked offer it, the assistance surely comes freighted with their own designs and intentions. But what of it? We shalt control our own destiny in this regard.”

For some reason that Luger did not understand, Danton accompanied this last comment with a wink at Tenaris, who flashed the scout a smile in response.

”Yet, do not be surprised if this voice cometh from a source more neutrally aligned in the moral order of things,” added Danton. “After all, many beyond the purehearted of Heironeous's ilk would like to see an end to this foul pit, which consumeth good, neutral and evil alike.”

Speaking more loudly, Danton called out, “Can you tell us who thou art? And, regardless, howsoever is it that you hath wares to offer in the midst of this place?”

"If your friend wants a fight, he can have one,” replied the voice. “But it would seem to us the height of stupidity to fight one another when we all have no love for the Doomdreamers. Suffice to say we were betrayed by them long ago, and we would enjoy few things more than to see them brought low. Information or supplies will cost you, but our silence will not."

Sparhawk chuckled. “Well, why not? After all, we cannot trust anything we hear in this foul temple anyway. Ply them with coins and other sundries, and we'll gather up our information and decide what use we shalt make of it. What is thy story? How wert thee betrayed by the Doomdreamers? What need hath thee for coins anyway? What potions doth thee hath to offer for a price? How canst thee strengthen mine arm that wieldeth death to evil? Doth we need to defeat all the elemental temples to attack the Doomdreamers? Canst we bypass them? Wilt the temples be summoned to the aid of the Doomdreamers if they art attacked? Oh, and one more question, wilt thou be willing to join forces to gain thy revenge? Surely that is better than waiting for occasional adventurers to get this far and toss thee some gold thou canst not spend in this pit?”

As he rattled off all these questions, Sparhawk threw a very large quantity of coins into the fungal forest. However, only some of the paladin’s questions received answers from the disembodied voice.

"If you have a greater key, you can enter the Outer Fane without fighting the remaining temples. If you have a master key, you can enter the Inner Fane without fighting the remaining temples. We cannot anticipate if the other temples would be summoned to aid the Doomdreamers if they are attacked--simply because they have never been attacked before. We will not join your assault—we prefer to act indirectly."

Somewhat nonplussed at the partial answers, Sparhawk said wryly, “I thank thee for all of thy answers and good advice.”

“We would have your assistance, as much as you can provide,” said Danton. “Name your price for the various services you've mentioned -- strengthening our arms, aiding our sight, and healing our wounds -- and we shalt endeavor to pay it. And, as mine comrade hath already begun questioning, can we purchase further knowledge from you, too? If so, a few questions immediately cometh to mind. Which is the best way to the Air Temple from here? With what challenges -- traps, enemies and obstacles -- wilt we have to contend to gain the Air Temple? And, also, is it true that the Air Temple ranketh next to last in terms of the elemental temples' power?”

Like Sparhawk before him, Danton tossed a large quantity of coins into the fungus. As he looked into the dark corridor to the south, he could see no path through the fungi. They filled most of the space, growing on walls, floor and ceiling. To get through them would clearly require some combination of hacking a path and pushing one's way through with brute force.

"We can offer you three doses of each of the three items we mentioned,” said the voice. “Each dose will cost you 150 gold. Follow the main tunnels west to reach the Air Temple. You would have to go around a Water Temple outpost, through the southern entrance complex, and then into the Air Temple complex. We do not know the details about the Air Temple that interest you, but we know it was always reputed to be weaker than the Fire and Water temples."

“Buy his wares at your own peril,” muttered Luger under his breath. “I will not. Information is another matter.”

Throwing more coins, Luger said, “We have crossed one of the bridges to the Outer Fane with a greater key. There was no apparent key hole on the door. How do we use the key to open the correct door? Will the door magically provide a key hole when the correct key is brought to it? Which door did the bridge guarded by Oamarthis and his pet chimera lead to? How do we use the greater and master keys? Does the method present itself when the correct key is brought near the right door or does the key need to placed in a specific location on or around the door? Are all of the bridges to the outer fane guarded?”

Speaking in a lower voice to the party, the cleric explained his thinking, “If the Earth door is nearby, then we should be able to gain entry to the Outer Fane using the triangular bars formed into a greater key. Before we try that again, I'd like to know how to use them. It may be as simple as having the right key for the right door. What sort of wicked mind gives keys to it minions, but places the doors within their enemy's territory, anyway?”

Sparhawk and Danton each whispered in one of Luger’s ears:

“Thy caution is commendable and entirely warranted,” said the paladin, “but let us gain intelligence and strengthen our allies prudently. It would be unwise not to accept succor from unanticipated . . . and even unseen . . . allies, whatever their motives mayest be. They mayest not be pure of heart, but Heironeous works through the wicked - I am living proof of that axiom. If the counsel proveth false, we shalt disregard all of it and pursue our course, except mayhaps to return and deal justice to yonder fungus-hidden foes. Do not forget that we art attempting to stop the end of the world.”

“You shalt naturally keep your own counsel on such matters,” hissed Danton, “but I advise that you also purchase these wares. Mayhap you can call upon the powers of Heironeous to detect evil or poison on the potions we receive? I knoweth that your reluctance is not based upon money, which doth none of us any good in this hole, but, rather, upon prudence and suspicion. I am a man born of suspicion, and so I understand your heart. But methinks 'tis best to alienate no potential ally and to take succor and aid where're Fate dictate it may be found.”

In response to Luger’s series of questions, the voice replied, “Place the correct key at the spot on the correct door with the same shape, and it will open. All of the bridges to the Outer Fane are guarded, but we do not know which one this ‘Oamarthis’ protected.”

”Good Syll,” said Danton, “methinks that you and I hath the greatest collection of coinage for the bunch. Thus, if you art amenable, I suggest that we split the cost, which I calculate should be some 1,350 gold pieces. Others may also contribute, if they art of a mind, but our coffers are the most ample.”

”Mine mind is made up regarding our path,” continued Danton. “I wast strongly inclined to go westward and to avoid the fungi-filled corridor. After speaking with this being -- or beings -- I am even more inclined to follow that path. The fungal corridor seemeth to me to promise only hazards. Plus, if these disembodied voices play us for fools, then, as Sir Sparhawk hath suggested, we can return to this place, brave the corridor, and deliver some righteous vengeance on their sorry arses. Methinks a fireball, for instance, would find much to incinerate in that fungal way. Yet, frankly I am optimistic about this aid and advice. Let us take it and begone. The Air Temple awaits.”

At the mention of the word fireball, a wild, excited look flashed across Syll’s face, almost as if he were imagining the entire fungus-filled corridor going up in flames.

Seeing Syll’s expression and guessing at his thoughts, Sparhawk whispered to Danton, “Please do not encourage Syll in such a thing just yet. Methinks he is a bit quick on the draw with this newfound, powerful weapon, though later it just mayest be necessary as thee sayeth.”

Danton slapped Sparhawk on his armored back. “Mine good paladin, I am the very picture of prudence, so fear not. Howsoever, I shalt have to tell you one eve the story of Mauser Gregorus, our companion of old who wast the exact opposite of prudent -- indeed, at times even the word ‘reckless’ fell well short.”

Danton glanced at Tenaris, who stood somewhat back from the others, and lowered his voice.

“As for tales of mine own recklessness, I fear that they shalt not be forthcoming, not in present company at any rate. I doth not doubt that I could make you blush, Sir Sparhawk, particularly given the retrograde and oppressive dogma that your church espouses. P'raps o'er a mug of beer one day, we can trade bawdy and exaggerated tales of our sexual prowess. But, then, that beggeth the question: art thou still as ‘pure as the driven snow,’ as the commoners sayeth in Veluna?”

Danton’s comment provoked a prolonged coughing fit in Sparhawk. When it finally subsided, the paladin, his eyes wide, stared at Danton in shock.

“Um . . . well . . . of course I am pure if I understand thy metaphorical meaning. I need not sully mineself with such unmarried corruption. And, no offense, but mine ears and heart hath no need to listen to thine own bawdy tales. Mayhaps, we canst discuss thine courageous exploits with thy friend, Nanoc, and how the two of you thwarted evil. Two proud, powerful, heroic warriors - now there is a story to hear.”

“O, Heironeous!” whispered the paladin. “Thine ways are mysterious indeed. To put me in such company as this!”

“Relax, mine friend!” laughed Danton. “Instead of telling you of mine exploits, I shalt instead relate the bawdy tales of Karzak Dragonslayer and the halfling girls of Woodstock!”

Sparhawk looked as if he might faint.

"If you recognize the symbol of Heironeus,” said Luger loudly, bringing a sudden end to the Danton-Sparhawk interplay, “then you know that as a priest of Heironeus, I will act with honor and will not break my own word.”

As the cleric spoke, he uncovered his own symbol of Heironeus and step slightly forward.

”To that end, I would like to speak with you face to face and I give you my word we will not attempt to subdue or destroy you as long as you agree to the same. It would seem that we share a common antipathy for the minions or Tharizdun. We have more money if you have more information to sell."

Movement could be heard from multiple places in the fungal forest, and moments later a tall human male appeared from between a pair of large toadstools. The man had dusky skin, short black hair, and wore hide armor with what looked like human skulls mounted on either shoulder. His eyebrows were the thickest anyone in the party had ever seen. He handed six small vials and three wafers of some sort to Danton in exchange for the gold Danton had promised for the items and had gathered up from those others who wanted to contribute.

Three of the vials, which the man described as healing elixirs, had a brownish color liquid, while the other three, which he promised allowed one to see in the dark, held a gray liquid. The brown wafers supposedly provided extra strength. As the man gave the explanations for all of the items he handed over, it was obvious that his voice was the same one that had come previously from the corridor to the south.

“Good,” said Luger. “Now, what sort of guards are posted at the bridge to the Earth door and what sort of welcome can we expect when we breach the Outer Fane?”

“Keep your coins,” said the man in hide armor when Luger moved to hand him more money. “We do not know the answers to these questions. We have never been inside the Outer Fane.”

“Well, then, I got some questions for ya,” said Syll. “What can you tell us about the prophecy of the champion of elemental evil? What are the names and natures of the three leaders of the temple? We understand that the Doomdreamers have some sort of negative effect on your mind. What is this and how can it be overcome or avoided? Who told the people at the bridge that Delchin the Despicable and his companions were to pass unhindered? Who killed the people at the bridge? How can the Doomdreamers and the three clerics be destroyed?”

Syll too made to withdraw more coins, but again the man shook his head.

“We have never heard of such a prophecy. We know the leaders of the Doomdreamers only as the Triad—if they have individual names, we do not know them. There are many stories of their powers—but we have not encountered them directly. We have no knowledge of these other events to which you refer. Now, unless you have other questions, we should all be on our respective ways.”

The party members looked about at one another, but no one could think of additional questions, at least for now, and the man turned and walked back into the fungal forest. The party could not help but notice how the growths seemed to part to allow him to pass, only to close back together in his wake. There were sounds of movement from other parts of the corridor to the south for a time, followed by complete silence.

“Luger,” said Danton, “can you not determine whether these items we hath purchased contain poison?”

“Not today,” replied the cleric, “I did not ask Heironeous to gift me with such powers today.”

“No worries,” said Syll. “I can do it.” (Cast Detect Poison)

The elf examined all three types of items the party had purchased, and found no signs of poison on any of them. Danton then divided the items, handing two of the strength enhancing wafers to Tenaris and one to Sparhawk, two of the vision enhancing vials of liquid to the paladin and keeping one for himself, and allocating the healing elixirs to Syll, himself, and Tenaris.

As Danton distributed the items, Sparhawk tried one last time to persuade Luger to accept some of them. “Luger, Heironeous hath chosen to bless us with this unforeseen aid. I am sorry the succor did not come in the form of a legion of his knights riding white horses dressed for battle in shining armor, but he canst work in other ways. The lady here is living proof of that aid. Accept the aid and use it to battle yonder forces of evil so that we mayest smite the foes of Heironeous together!" 

Luger again refused, and the others accepted his decision.

“So,” said Syll, looking at Sparhawk, “don’t you paladins all have some kind of ‘detect evil’ ability? Are you using it? I would be curious to know if you detected any evil coming from the fungus or that dude with the skulls.”

Sparhawk blushed visibly. “Heironeous does grant me such a power, but I fear that with all the…er…euh…distractions of our conversation, I hath forgotten to use it.”

“You forgot?” asked Syll incredulously. “Yeesh, you need to smoke ginko leaves or something if your memory is that bad. Well, next time a bit more attention might be worth our while, eh?”

Changing the subject quickly, Sparhawk said, “So, shalt we continue the ruse as Delchin and the Lady whose name thou shalt not utter and all that? Or, dost

thou prefer another ruse, threats, or simple assault?" he asked Danton.

Before Danton could answer, Luger interjected, “Peter, I think you should cover up your holy symbol once more and restore the evil accouterments so that the goodness of Heironeus isn't recognized by someone more hostile towards us.”

Matching up actions to words, Luger covered his own holy symbol of Heironeous under his armor and tunic. With clear reluctance, Sparhawk followed suit.

“Let us continue as ‘Delchin, the Dark Lady, and company’ for so long as it serves our purpose,” said Danton. “Oh, and speaking of purposes,” he added, lowering his voice, “hath any of you a chess set?” he asked the other men.

“ A chess set?” bellowed Syll. “What in the world do we need a bloody chess set for in this place?”

“I hath mine purposes!” hissed Danton, “and prithee, lower your voice!”

“I might as well ask for a paladin’s mount,” said Sparhawk ruefully. “I sense I now hath the power to summon one, but this be not the place for such a thing.”

“All this talk of chess and ponies is just lovely,” said Syll, “but let’s try to retain a little focus, shall we? Remember, we now have a new enemy who is as good at sneaking as Danton, and who nearly killed Sparhawk. It is a sure bet that he will be back and out for more blood. He was probably Tessimon’s boyfriend, and he was mad ‘cause we skooshed her and Danton ran off with her knickers.”

“When he comes back, it might even be on the same watch, so Sparhawk needs to be twice as careful and try to keep his back to the wall when he’s on watch alone. Next time he might not be so lucky. We need to actively search for the guy, and actively defend ourselves against him. That means you need to be twice as thorough with your searches, Danton, and we need to watch for hiding places, and we need to search our campsites as carefully as we can, and possibly strew something noisy around the perimeter as an alarm.”

“And finally,” added the elf, “I would still like to investigate that orb, and I think we could have a good chance to sneak back and eavesdrop on the Water Temple goon squad. I bet I could pick them off with a fireball or two.”

Several of the others shook their heads, but it was Luger who spoke. “I believe Heironeus wants us to continue our cleansing of the elemental temples. The Water Temple minions deserve death, but it is their altar—and that of the Air Temple—that should be our targets. Destroying all the elemental centers of power should soften the Doomdreamers before we assault the Inner Temple.”

“Luger’s thinking matches mine own,” said Danton. “The Air Temple should be our next target.”

Because only Syll favored returning down the eastern tunnels to take on the Water Temple strike force, the party continued to the west. After walking for only sixty feet or so, the group entered another larger cave, which ran roughly southeast to northwest and was fifty feet wide and seventy feet long. Occasional faint creaking and rumbling sounds could be heard coming from the floor, sounding like stone on stone. The floor in the cave sloped downward towards the northwest. Three distinct tiers, each about two feet high, descended towards the northwest as well. Each of these was like a high step, positioned one third of the way through the cave from the next one. The walls and ceiling here were smooth, except for a light ripple pattern running down their lengths. The floor was also smooth except for the three tiers, which seemed to be the result of fairly recent setting.

No one knew what to make of this strange geology, but the creaking noises made the party uncomfortable, and they moved quickly down and through the cave. Beyond the cavern, the tunnel continued to the west, angling slightly south and then due west for eighty feet before it widened into yet another cavern. In this new chamber, the floor sloped down sharply about 20 feet toward the center of the cave, which was roughly circular and fifty feet in diameter. On the other side, the floor sloped back up equally sharply to where another tunnel could be seen on its northwestern side. The ceiling of the chamber was domed, and from the lowest portion of the floor to the highest portion of the ceiling, the distance was about fifty feet. The effect was that the cave resembled a hollow sphere. In the southwestern portion of the cave, there was a ledge at about the same level as either exit.

As the green and yellow-orange light of Danton and Sparhawk’s enchanted torches shone across the spherical cave and fell on the distant southwestern ledge, the party members saw sudden movement, but before anyone could react, a wave of sound washed over the group, playing havoc with nerves and sensory systems (reflex saves: Danton: 1+8=9; failure: 23 subdual damage, Sparhawk: 10+5=15; success; 11 subdual damage, Luger: 15+6=21; success: 11 subdual damage, Syll: 6+5=11; failure; 23 subdual damage, Tenaris: 5+5=10; failure: 23 subdual damage). The sonic assault was so sudden and so overwhelming, that even Danton, who normally could avoid almost any long-range attack, was staggered by it. Luger and Sparhawk were the most resistant, but even they felt nauseous and unsteady on their feet.

Standing on the ledge on the far side of the sphere, the source of the sonic attack was visible in the torchlight. There stood a vaguely reptilian monster that was about nine feet long, walked on two legs with a stooped frame, and had large claws for hands, and an almost tube-like head that was featureless except for large ear structures on either side. It had a round, toothless maw, from which it had emitted the awful wave of sound that washed over the party.

[Initiative: Tenaris: 25, Luger: 23, Syll: 21, Danton: 12, Enemy: 6, Sparhawk: 5]

When Tenaris recovered her balance, she immediately half-jumped, half-climbed down into the bowl of the room and began to rush across it, evidently with the intent to climb up the other side and take the fight directly to the bizarre reptile. At the same time, Syll reacted as virtually everyone else would have expected him to do, launching a ball of fire across the open space and blasting the entire ledge where the reptile stood with magical fire (Cast Fireball: 16 area-effect damage in a 20 foot radius around the creature).

Luger launched his own magical attack across the chamber, seeking to sear the creature with Heironeous’ holy light (Cast Searing Light: attack: 5+9=14; hit; 21 damage).

While Danton too would have preferred to pepper the monster with long-range attacks, he would not allow Tenaris to face the beast up close on her own, and he thus climbed down into the bowl after the elf woman (climb: 7+1=8; failure). Unfortunately, so fixated was he on Tenaris, that he attempted the steep slope more quickly than he should have, and he stumbled and fell headfirst into the pit, rolling down the side and banging himself up badly (6 damage taken).

Seeing Danton take such a nasty fall, Sparhawk was more careful as he descended into the bowl (climb: 15 –5 =10; success). Even though his heavy armor made the task very challenging, the paladin managed to reach the bottom of the bowl without falling, and he quickly hauled Danton to his feet.

It was at that moment that the creature belched forth another wave of sound. The destructive harmonics now went well over the heads of Danton, Tenaris, and Sparhawk, for the creature targeted the two foes above that had burned it so badly (reflex saves: Syll: 2+5=7; failure: 22 subdual damage, Luger: 18+6=24; 11 subdual damage). Syll took the brunt of the attack and collapsed into unconsciousness. Luger bore up better, managed to stay on his feet, and countered with a second blast of the Invincible’s holy light (Cast Searing Light: attack: 19+9=28; hit; 21 damage).

While the exchanges of devastating sonic and magical firepower took place over their heads, Tenaris, Danton, and Sparhawk tried to climb up the ledge on which the sonic monster stood in order to take it on directly. Tenaris made the ascent with such ease that Danton could hardly believe his eyes as he followed her. Every foot of the ascent was a struggle for the Velunese, but this time he managed the climb without falling (climb: 9+1=10; success). Unfortunately, the same could not be said of Sparhawk (climb 5 –5=0;failure), whose twin greatswords extending so far above his head from their positions on his back caught on the stone near the top, shaking him just enough to cause him to lose his grip and fall backwards, all the way down into the bottom of the bowl (9 damage taken). He crashed onto his back and slid for a good six feet.

When the monster’s mouth again formed into an ‘O’ shape and it shot forth a third wave of sound, Danton, Tenaris, and Luger were all in its path (reflex saves: Danton: 3+8=11; failure: 21 subdual damage, Tenaris: 11+5=16; success: 10 subdual damage, Luger: 1+6=7; failure: 21 subdual damage). For one moment Danton, who had just managed to get to his feet atop the ledge, felt his ears popping and then welcome unconsciousness ended the awful pain that seemed to be shaking his body apart.

Across the chamber, Luger’s legs collapsed out from under him under the sustained sonic attack, but he managed to retain consciousness. He was frantically considering which spell he might next fire off at the awful beast when he saw Tenaris finally manage to close with it. The elf woman’s longsword flashed up and down, and suddenly the fight was over. Syll’s fireball and Luger’s own attacks had apparently so weakened the monster that a single slash of Tenaris’ blade was enough to finish it.

When the fight was over, Luger examined Syll (healing proficiency: 16+13=29) and could tell almost immediately that the elf would be fine, given time to recover. Apparently the attack used by the strange reptile had only a stunning effect and did no permanent damage. Taking the time to move down into and up out of the bowl very carefully (take ten climb checks), Luger eventually climbed up onto the ledge where Danton lay and came to the same conclusion regarding the Velunese (healing proficiency: 3+13=16).

Judging the ledge where the creature had appeared to be the most defensible spot in the room, Luger had Sparhawk help him move Syll down the bowl and up onto the ledge so that the party could rest and recover together. After an hour or so, during which Tenaris fretted constantly over both the smuggler and the scout, Syll and Danton came around. Each had an awful headache and could not stand for a long while, but as the hours passed, everyone in the group gradually felt better.

By the time the party judged that it had to be mid-day in the world outside and the group had a cold lunch, all of the effects of the sonic attacks had worn off—with the exception of the bumps and bruises Danton and Sparhawk had suffered in their respective falls into the bowl. While Sparhawk took care of his own injuries (Lay on hands: +14 HP), Luger converted other spells to healing for Danton and himself (Convert Silence and Shatter to Cure Moderate Wounds: Danton +11 HP, Luger +12 HP).

With everyone once again in very good shape and with no one, except perhaps Syll, anxious to wait around for Water Temple forces to show up, the group started moving once again, climbing carefully down from the ledge and into the bowl and then up the northwestern side where the exit tunnel lay (take ten climb checks).

As the party moved down the tunnel, which ran in a northwesterly direction, Syll spoke quietly to Sparhawk. “If we can figure out how to ‘bond’ that new blade to you like Danton said, I vote we do it as soon as possible—who knows what powers it may reveal! Justice is a nice blade and all, but if Danton’s right, this Caladbolg is some kind of artifact. You gotta start using it and see what it can do.”

Sparhawk did not respond, but the elf’s words made his mind focus on the barbed greatsword once again, and his thoughts began to race. What decisions he would reach, only time would tell.

Forty feet beyond the spherical room, the tunnel split, with paths running westward and eastward. Danton and Sparhawk led the others down the eastern path, which angled first southeast and then curved northward before coming to a dead end. The scout found no signs of any hidden doors or tunnels (search: 13+13=26), so the group backtracked to the intersection and then went west.

The western tunnel widened to nearly thirty five or forty feet in some areas and stretched on and on in the darkness. After well over a hundred feet it turned northwest and narrowed to twenty feet in width. Somewhere off in the distance light from a source other than the party’s magical torches was visible for the first time in a long while. After walking for another two hundred feet or so, the party came to another intersection of a sort, and the source of the light became apparent.

While the tunnel opened up into a roughly triangular shaped intersection and then turned sharply to the south, another short branch of the tunnel ran off to the north and, after only thirty feet or so, opened up to fresh air and sky. A strong, fresh breeze blew in from what the party could now see was a ledge similar to the one where they had camped the previous night. A rock formation stood near the middle of the ledge, looking a little like a rearing serpent. A few old pots lay amid some rocks off to one side, suggesting that someone might have camped or eaten here long ago.

Standing on the edge of the ledge, the party members could once again look out into the center of Mount Stalagos. This ledge was considerably lower than the previous one had been, and it was only twenty-five feet down to the dark waters of the lake in the center of the mountain. From here, only two bridges across the lake were visible, one far off to the north and east, and the other a similar distance off to the west. As always, no activity of any kind was visible on the lake itself.

“This might make another fine spot for a camp,” said Danton ruefully, gazing at Tenaris, “but since nightfall is still many hours away and the kuo-toa could be about, let us move on.”

“The fresh air is nice,” agreed Tenaris, breathing deeply and gazing out at the clear sky above Mount Stalagos.

The path to the south descended sharply, running for a hundred feet before opening up into a large cavern. Only the faintest shafts of natural light penetrated this far from the ledge overlooking the lake at the far end of the tunnel, so once again the party was forced to rely on its magical torches. This cave was irregularly shaped, and ranged from forty to nearly a hundred feet from side to side. Its walls were made of some dark mineral that glistened with traces of iron ore. The walls were rounded with a faint ripple pattern and did not appear to have been worked by any tool. Yet it was clear that they were not natural caves either.

Aside from the tunnel through which the party had entered, three other potential exits were visible. In the southeastern part of the room two tunnels were evident, close together, one angling slightly north of east, while the other ran almost due south. Perhaps most interesting of all, set into the westernmost part of the cavern wall, was a closed wooden door, the first sign of any real ‘civilization’ that the party had seen since leaving the Fire Temple.

“If that fungal fellow spoke true,” said Danton, “yon door likely leads to the mountain’s southern gate and the Air Temple beyond. Since we may want to be fully rested and prepared before taking on the forces in either locale, perhaps we shouldst first survey these other areas for valuables or information.”

No one disagreed, and Danton made for the eastern tunnel, which angled gradually northeast for fifty feet. It then opened up into a truly bizarre cavern. The chamber ran from northwest to southeast and was thirty feet wide and a hundred feet long. Its walls were rounded and fairly smooth except for a ribbed pattern like ripples on water, clearly untouched by pick or shovel. A dead human, dressed in black and wearing an inverted Y symbol with a small silver and white circle attached to its bottom by two light chain links, lay in the center of the cave, his body twisted and his guts splayed as though he exploded from within.

“Ohhh, that ain’t right!” groused Syll. “What in the world could do that to a guy? I think I’m gonna lose my lunch. And what’s with these weird walls that look more like frozen waves or something than a cave?”

“Tis unfortunate that Karzak is not here,” mused Danton. “He knew much of stone work, though this cavern might have puzzled even him, for I discern not a single mark of tools or shovels anywhere.”

“Look,” said Tenaris, examining the body more closely, “even his equipment has been burst or shattered.”

The elf woman was right. When examined up close in the light of a torch, everything that the man had carried, from clothing and armor, to a sword and bow, appeared to have exploded at the same time he did.

“This man died no more than a few days ago,” said Luger (healing proficiency check: 19+13=32).

“I have a baaaad feeling about this,” muttered Syll.

As the party moved forward, everyone shared Syll’s sense of foreboding. It was obvious to all that the cavern had not been shaped by nature. The cavern eventually forked, with part of it turning south for fifty feet before ending, while the second part bent northeast for sixty feet before it too turned south and opened up into another, larger cavern. This second, also irregularly shaped, dark cave had a slight, curving bend in the middle. It was at least a hundred feet from west to east and eighty from south to north. The walls were smooth and rounded with a ripple effect along their surface. In the middle of the room was a pit, partially also with rounded, ribbed sides, that was filled with sand in the bottom.

When the party first came into the cavern, one part of it, off in the north and east was not immediately visible (listen checks: Danton: 7+8=15, Sparhawk: 17+2=19, Luger: 19+4=23, Syll: 15+4=19, Tenaris: 17+2=19).

In other circumstances, the party might have been caught off guard, but so on edge was everyone in the group, that all of them heard the faint sounds of movement from around the corner—the part of the chamber that could not be seen from the cave entrance. When, seconds later, not one, but two reptilian monsters of the sort they had encountered earlier came around the bend in the cavern, everyone in the group was horrified, but not surprised.

[Initiative: Luger: 19, Sparhawk: 16, Syll: 16, Tenaris: 15, Creatures: 7 Danton: 4]

“Oh, shit!” yelled Syll, his legs feeling weak at the mere sight of the creatures.

Hoping against hope that these monsters were inherently evil and not simply natural predators, Luger prayed to Heironeous to smite them before they could attack the party (Cast Holy Smite: 21 area-effect damage in a 20 foot radius around the two creatures). When the flash of brilliant white light exploded around the two creatures, one was caught fully in the explosion while the other, somehow sensing what was coming, managed to move far enough away from the other to avoid some of the power of the holy light. However, it was quite obvious that the light did affect the creatures and that they did not like it one bit.

Syll cracked off a fireball a second later, also hoping to catch both of the creatures while they were still fairly close together (Cast Fireball: 21 area-effect damage in a 20 foot radius around the two creatures). Syll’s projectile struck dead center on the first of the two monsters—the same one that Luger had burned so badly—and the flames coursed the nine-foot length of the creature’s body. It still stood, but it was clearly in very bad shape. Unfortunately, the second, more agile, creature again avoided the worst of the attack and jogged lightly away from the other so that they could no longer both be targeted at the same time by magical attacks.

“For Heironeous!” screamed Sparhawk, throwing caution to the wind and drawing Caladbolg as he rushed into the cavern, around the sand-filled pit in its center and towards the closest of the two creatures—the one that had been so badly burned by Luger and Syll (attack: 19+10+2 charge bonus=31; potential critical hit: 2^nd roll: 16+10+2=28; critical hit: 31 damage). Wielding Caladbolg in battle for the first time, Sparhawk could feel power and strength coursing through his arms and the long barbed blade. He brought the blade down on the neck of the reptilian sound creature with a mighty two-handed blow, severing the head as easily as he might have split wood with an axe.

Tenaris was right behind Sparhawk, but she was forced to halt her charge when he stopped to slay the first of the monsters, for the space on the side of the pit in this area was so narrow that only one person or creature could move along it at a time. It was just after Sparhawk had killed the first creature that the second one fired off its first sonic attack. Because of the way it had moved and the angle, it was able to catch the entire party in the field of the now-familiar stunning attack (reflex saves: Syll: 1+5=6; failure: 18 subdual damage, Tenaris: 20+5=25; success: 9 subdual damage, Sparhawk: 9+5=14; failure; 18 subdual damage, Luger: 5+6=11; failure, 18 subdual damage, Danton: 7+8=15; success; 0 damage).

Although some of the party members were staggered more or less than others by the sonic attack, only Danton managed to avoid it entirely, by running south into the room and heading around the sand-filled pit in the opposite direction from the one Sparhawk and Tenaris had chosen. With few truly powerful spells left, Luger cast one on himself to boost his strength (Cast Bull’s Strength: +2 Strength) and then rushed off after Danton.

Taking advantage of the fact that all four of his associates were still some distance away from the sound creature, Syll was able to hit it with one more fireball before any of them drew close to it (Cast Fireball: 20 points of area-effect damage in a 20 foot radius around the creature). This time, much to the elf’s satisfaction, the monster was caught dead center by the blast and set alight, much like the first one had been.

Instead of targeting Sparhawk and Tenaris directly with its sonic attack, the monster pointed its snout at the ground at their feet before emitting more waves of sound. The sound struck the ground and reverberated upward, affecting not only Sparhawk and Tenaris, but also Danton and Luger, who were coming up behind the creature (reflex saves: Sparhawk: 20+5=25; success: 12 subdual damage, Tenaris: 5+5=10; failure: 25 subdual damage, Danton: 2+8=10; failure: 25 subdual damage, Luger:18+6=24; success: 12 subdual damage)

Given the close confines and the fact that the sonic attack now echoed up from the floor of the cavern itself, it was almost impossible to avoid, and all four of the party members attacking the monster felt as though their insides were being shaken right out of their bodies. As if that were not bad enough, the sonic waves caused the ground underneath their feet to ripple and deform, throwing them of balance and threatening to dump them into the sand-filled pit (reflex saves: Sparhawk: 17+5=22; success, Tenaris: 14+5=19; failure, Danton; 19+8=27; success, Luger: 11+6=17; failure).

Although both Danton and Sparhawk were able to maintain their footing and leap clear of the areas of the floor most affected by the sonic weapon, Tenaris and Luger were not so lucky, and both found themselves effectively dumped into the pit of sand in the center of the cavern (Luger: 2 damage). Each went in more or less feet first but the impact was still painful. Once in the pit, both Luger and Tenaris, in their heavy armor, began to sink quickly into the sand.

“Tenaris! No!” screamed Danton, abandoning all thoughts of attacking the monster. The scout slipped his pack off his shoulders and began to rummage around in it in hopes of finding a length of rope to throw the woman before she disappeared into the sand.

Across the cavern, Syll observed everything that transpired. With only Sparhawk left in the fight against the remaining monster, the elf made a quick decision and withdrew the twisted wooden wand he had recovered from the Fire Temple garrison.

“Sparhawk!” he yelled. “You got one chance to kill that thing! Otherwise, you better be fireproof, ‘cause I’m shooting!”

Although the monster sensed what was coming and tried to back away, it was not fast enough. The mass of fire struck it dead center, knocking it back into the far wall of the cave, where it collapsed to the ground in flames (reflex saves: Sparhawk: 18+5=23; success; 11 damage, Danton: 2+8=10; failure, 22 damage).

Fortunately for Sparhawk, he had heard Syll’s warning, and as soon as the monster knocked Caladbolg aside and then moved off to try to avoid the fireball, the paladin spun around and leaped in the opposite direction, avoiding the worst of the explosion that killed the monster in a flash of fire. Danton was not so fortunate, for the scout was so preoccupied by the sight of Tenaris sinking into the sand and his own futile efforts to find a rope, that he had completely lost track of the larger battle and never registered Syll’s warning. The wave of fire swept over him, igniting his hair and skin on fire. The pain was so sudden and so extreme that the scout collapsed into unconsciousness even before his body fell to the ground.

While all of this was happening, Tenaris and Luger were scrambling to avoid being pulled down into the sand (Luger ‘swimming’ check:16 +5 -16 encumbrance penalty =5; failure). Both were wearing and carrying so much gear that it was almost impossible to keep on the surface of the sand. When Tenaris realized this, the woman quickly drained a potion and then flew up and out of the sand pit. She was unable to maneuver, and simply drifted up to the ceiling, but at least she was no longer in any danger of drowning in the sand.

Because the same could not be said of Luger, Syll cast Levitation on himself and then jumped and floated down into the pit near the cleric. Just as Luger’s head was about to go under the sand, Syll touched the cleric and cast a second Levitation spell on him. The pair then floated up to the ceiling just as Tenaris had done. Once everyone was safely out of the pit, Sparhawk was able to remove the silk rope he carried in his pack and throw it up, first to Luger and Syll, and then to Tenaris, and pull each of them down to the ground on the side of the pit. Tenaris allowed the paladin to do this only after he had verified that Danton, while badly burned, was still alive.

Once he was on the ground, Luger healed Danton’s burns with one of his most powerful spells (Convert Stone Shape to Cure Serious Wounds: Danton +20 HP) and did the same for Sparhawk with a less powerful spell (Convert Hold Person to Cure Moderate Wounds: Sparhawk +11 HP). The healing magic brought Danton around, and, although he was still unsteady from the sonic attack of the dead beast, the party was able to get him on his feet and get moving. Although the group clearly need to rest and recover once again, no one wanted to do so anywhere near the caves where the awful sonic reptiles apparently resided.

The group quickly retraced its steps around the sand pit and back through the two misshapen chambers until they came to the empty cave with the door in the western end. There, with multiple directions in which to flee if enemies should approach, the party stopped to rest and recover. It was still far too early in the day to sleep, but they could at least sit and lie down to recover from the sonic attacks they had suffered.

While Luger and Sparhawk sat in quiet conversation about all that had transpired of late and Syll read and re-read several of the books, scrolls, and letters the party had recovered in the temple, when Danton felt up to moving around a bit, he found Tenaris standing guard at the base of the tunnel that led up to the ledge overlooking the lake above. Seeing that the woman had removed her armored breastplate to be free of its weight while she recovered from the ordeal with the sonic creatures, Danton began to casually massage her neck and shoulders while the two conversed. Tenaris did not object, and Danton would have been content to pass the remainder of the day in such a fashion, had not obnoxious reality, in the form of Syll, Luger, and Sparhawk, intruded some indeterminate time later.

“C’mon, mister masseuse,” said Syll, “we’re burning daylight, or whatever passes for it down here, and who knows how far away the Air Temple still is.”

With Sparhawk and Luger standing right behind Syll and exchanging glances, Danton stepped awkwardly away from Tenaris, who scooped up her chitin breastplate and put it on

This time making for the opening in the cavern on its southern wall, the party stepped through into the first chamber clearly worked by humanoid hands that they had seen in a long time. The large, rectangular shaped room was forty feet from north to south and nearly a hundred feet from west to east. It had obviously once been a vast forge. A number of fire-pits, barrels, tables covered in dusty tools, weapons racks, form molds, troughs, and other metalworking implements were scattered about the chamber. A skeletal form lay splayed near the entrance the party had used. The only other way out was a set of closed iron doors on the western wall. Hammer and anvil symbols were carved into each of the metal doors.

As the party moved into the forge area, many of the blades in the racks scattered about the room began to shake and move, apparently of their own volition. Seconds later, a large number of weapons flew through the air and gathered in a veritable cloud of blades on the opposite side of the room. In the middle of the cluster of weapons was a semitransparent face with glowing red eyes, like coals in a forge. From somewhere, indistinct sounds of metal striking metal could be heard, and a gust of unexplainable heat swept through the chamber.

[Initiative: Sparhawk: 18, Blade Spirit: 13, Luger: 12, Syll: 11, Danton: 10, Tenaris: 9]

“Hold, spirit!” yelled Sparhawk, brandishing Caladbolg. “Be gone from this place!”

(turn undead check: 11+3=14; able to turn undead of up to 4 HD; turning attempt fails)

Although the others in the party were impressed by Sparhawk’s bold gesture, apparently the spirit was not, for it sent six different swords and knives flashing through the air to slash at the paladin (hit six times for a total of 29 damage). The weapons moved so quickly and with such deadly accuracy that Sparhawk was badly cut by the cloud of blades that suddenly surrounded him.

Pulling forth his holy symbol from under his tunic and armor, Luger attempted what Sparhawk had failed to do: use the power of Heironeous to drive off the spirit that animated the weapons (turn undead check: 3+0=3; able to turn undead of up to 5 HD; turning attempt fails).

With few spells left of any combat utility, Syll fired off a ray of frost at the spirit, more to see if the spell would have any effect than in the hopes of it doing much damage (Cast Ray of Frost: attack: 6+5=11; miss). Unfortunately for the elf’s experiment, the spirit dodged away from the beam of cold that he fired at it, and the ray struck the far wall harmlessly.

Danton and Tenaris moved around the cloud of blades in an attempt to attack the spirit itself. Both the elf woman and the scout managed to ‘hit’ the spirit with their blades (Danton attack; 19+9=28, 9+4=13; one ‘hit’ but no effect), but to no effect; the blades simply passed through the spirit without doing anything. Even the enchantment on Rat’s Tail seemed to make no difference. All the failed attacks really did was to draw the attention of the spirit, which floated forward and tried to come into contact with Tenaris, who backed away.

Now brandishing Caladbolg in one hand and his holy symbol in the other, Sparhawk tried again to force the spirit to withdraw (turn undead check: 2+3=5; able to turn undead of up to 1 HD; turning attempt fails). Sparhawk truly believed that Heironeous would help him to drive away the ghost and its blades, and was stunned when the weapons continued to slash at him (hit 4 times for 21 damage). Bleeding from at least a dozen different wounds, Sparhawk staggered backwards and nearly dropped both his holy symbol and his blade.

“Get back, Peter,” said Luger firmly. “This spirit is beyond you, I fear. Only I, with Heironeous as my ally, may drive it away.” Trying to calm his own fears, Luger held forth his holy symbol once more and tried again to channel the holy power of the Invincible (turn undead check: 19+0=19; able to turn undead of up to 11 HD; success; turning damage: 17—able to turn up to a total of 17 HD of undead).

The lightning bolt symbol that Luger held forth glowed like the sun at noon, and the brilliant light was too much for the malevolent spirit. The blades that had been just about to finish Sparhawk fell to the ground with a clatter, while the spirit itself disappeared up and through a crack in the ceiling.

“Oh, I feel terrible,” grunted Sparhawk as he collapsed to the ground with a loud metallic clang. “I need a vacation.”

While Luger tended to the paladin, the others had the chance to look around the forge more carefully. One thing they noted almost immediately was that besides the thick layer of dust, the room appeared to be very well preserved. Evidently the blade spirit had kept away intruders and thieves, for the racks were filled with weapons and armor, many of which appeared to be of masterwork quality. Blades and axes of all shapes and sizes were available, as was every type of metal armor, from banded mail to full plate. For those who were interested in metal weapons or armor and did not already have masterwork or magical gear, this forge offered the opportunity for an upgrade.

________________________________________________________________

Notes for turn 70:

Please send postings for Turn 70 by the end of Friday, September 14th.

Congratulations on all of your characters earning enough XP to go up a level! Please do the level up changes and send me both the changes and updated copies of your character sheets before or with your next postings.

Current date/time/location: 15 Kolovoz; approximately 1900; The Temple of All Consumption

Items gained this turn: 3 healing elixirs, 3 dark vision elixirs, 3 strength wafers

Undivided Loot previously gained: none

Items used/lost/destroyed/sold/left behind this turn: Danton 438 gold, Syll 338 gold, Luger 100 gold, Sparhawk 557 gold, Tenaris 337 gold, Tenaris’ potion of levitation

FOES DEFEATED:

Active party members listed in bold.

This Chapter:

Character	Foes Defeated	Percent of Total	Most Powerful Defeated
Danton	7/131	6%	Salamander Blackguard (CR9)
Luger	20/131	15%	Blade Spirit (CR9)
Aseneth	9/131	7%	Uskathoth (CR7)
Sparhawk	6/131	4%	Elite Fire Temple Fighter (CR8)
Syll	49/131	38%	Sonic Reptile (CR8)
Tenaris	10/131	5%	Sonic Reptile (CR7)
Karzak	8/131	7%	Troglodyte Cleric (CR6)
Nanoc	22/131	17%	Oamarthis (CR8)

Entire Campaign:

Character	Foes Defeated	Percent of Total	Most Powerful Defeated
Nanoc	112/390	29%	Oamarthis (CR7)
Danton	28/390	7%	Salamander Blackguard (CR9)
Luger	47/390	12%	Blade Spirit (CR9)
Aseneth	34/390	9%	Mind Flayer (CR8)
Karzak	14/390	4%	Troglodyte Cleric (CR6)
Sparhawk	6/390	1%	Elite Fire Temple Fighter (CR8)
Syll	51/390	13%	Sonic Reptile (CR7 )
Tenaris	10/390	2%	Sonic Reptile (CR7)
Telemachos	51/390	13%	Spellcaster in Inn (CR7)
Xaod	5/390	1%	Chatrilon Unosh (CR6)
Erky	6/390	2%	Twig Blight (CR1/3)
Mauser	23/390	6%	Shadow (CR3)
Spugnoir	1/390	0%	Grell (CR5)

Current Status of the Party:

Danton

AC: 16 (17 vs. one opponent)

Hit points: 39/42

New XP: 4680

XP total: 39,191

XP needed: 36,000

Equipment: 6 daggers, light crossbow, studded leather armor, quiver with 33 bolts, bedroll, backpack, flint & steel, thieves picks, 3 waterskins, 30 days trail rations, hooded lantern, gold ring engraved with the name Karakas, 1 sap, 1 metal key from Yusdrayl, Everburning Torch. old journal, 8 iron triangles with upside down ‘Y’ inside,1 inverted ‘Y” pendant in a brown triangle, new journal, notebook, pen, ink, parchment in sealed waterproof box, pipe, tobacco, metal box, whetstone, six packets of tinder for lighting fires, gold inlaid dagger, Journal of Geynor Ton, a folded piece of parchment with a note addressed to someone named Festrath, spider pendant, a disguise kit, letter to Master Dunrat, ochre-colored robe, potion of love, a dozen vials of lantern oil, masterwork thieves’ tools, Rat’s Tail (Rapier +1), silver and gold brooches, bracers of armor +1, potion of hiding, pouch of unknown dried herbs taken from the home of Tal Chamish, emerald pendant, a small ebony troglodyte statuette, a curved dagger, six sticks of incense, an emerald pendant, potion of invisibility, boots of elvenkind, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, tattered dwarven book, pearl from the Dark Lake, potion of cure light wounds, nine inverted Y pendants with blue-green squares behind them, 3 iron keys from Fire Temple forces, inverted y pendant with red diamond background, map of Fire Temple area, letter from Hedrack to Tessimon, flaming short sword +1, unknown potion (acquired Turn 66), 2 vials of unknown liquid #1 and three vials of unknown liquid #2 (Turn 66), dark vision potion and healing elixir from the fungal forest man

Gold: 1202

Silver: 1430

Luger

AC: 21

Hit Points: 73/75

New XP: 4680

XP total: 36,541

XP needed: 36,000

Spell Selection:

Level 0 (6): Detect Magic (x4), Light(x2)

Level 1 (5+1): Protection from Evil (Domain)
Level 2 (4+1): Aid (Domain)
Level 3 (4+1): Dispel Magic (X1) , Divine Power (Domain)
Level 4 (3+1): Summon Monster IV (X1), Control Water (X1),
Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 5 of 7

Gold: 585

Silver: 446

Syll

AC: 14 (15 versus one opponent)

Hit Points: 37/37

New XP: 4680

XP total: 23,710

XP needed: 21,000

Equipment: Ring of Protection +1, Cloak of Resistance +1, Urrtarr’s spellbook, Scroll of: magic weapon, Masterwork Longsword, backpack, 3 water skins, 30 days rations, bedroll, magnifying glass, 2 flint & steel, 10 candles, map/scroll case, parchment, ink & pen, mirror, oil flask, 40 arrows, clothing, longbow, 1 dagger, sack, 50’ rope, chalk, 5 torches, storm whistle, 5 bells, gold brooch, lamp, black cloak, inverted Y pendant, rose quartz gem, ring of climbing, bracers of health +2, 1/3 of Oamarthis gems, scrolls of Pyrotechnics, Protection from Fire, Animal messenger and stone shape, Summon Monster II, Change self, Enlarge, Sleep X2, Wand of Monster Summon I (8 charges), potion of water breathing, potion of cure light wounds, unknown potion from the Dark Lake, ring of feather falling, wand of fireballs (13 charges; caster level 6), unknown potion (Turn 67), unknown suit of chainmail, healing exlixir from the fungal forest man

Spells per level per day:

Level 0: (6) (2 used)

Level 1: (7) (7 used)

Level 2: (6) (2 used)

Level 3: (4) (4 used)

Gold: 3464

Silver: 442

Sparhawk

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

Hit Points: 1/51

New XP: 4680

XP total: 17,790

XP needed: 15,000

Equipment: backpack, water skin, 30 days rations, bedroll, tent, 2 daggers, masterwork great sword (Justice), longsword, composite longbow, 1 quiver with 20 arrows, ink & inkpen, 50’ silk rope, whetstone, 1 vial holy water, half plate mail, 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 woundsX2, pearl from the Dark Lake, gold-inlaid black urn, Tessimon’s jewelry box, golden orb set with amber, Book of the Dark Eye, Caladbolg (barbed great sword +1), unknown potion (turn 66), two dark vision potions and one strength enhancing wafer from the fungal forest man

Spell Selection:

Level 1 (1): Endure Elements

Turn Undead attempts left on current day: 4 of 6

Lay on Hands healing points left on current day: 1 of 15

Gold: 114

Silver: 430

Tenaris

AC: 23

Hit Points: 45/48

New XP: 4680

XP total: 17,570

XP needed: 15,000

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 +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

Gold: 234

Silver: 430