By midmorning you are all back in the Temple of Tyaa...where you battled the death knight.
It is a 20' X 30' room, with two locked doors leading out of it: one in the east wall, and one in the south wall.
"Gonna do somethin' with the clay guy upstairs?" Furgh asks absently, as he goes over to check out the southern door.
He hears nothing through it, and notes no traps.
"I hope the clerics brought Protection From Evil spells this time," Zanax comments.
"Not that I knew that it was needed, but it's not one of Skerrit's blessings," replies Kal.
"Hlarn, Sasha, Taris?"
"Let us check out the torture chamber to make sure no one is trapped there."
"Has this been the normal starting place lately?" asks Kal.
"No, but this is where we last left off. Where some of the party met and defeated the Death Knight."
Zanax turns invisible and awaits one of the thieves to check for traps.
Making sure swords are loose in thier scabbards, Sian says, "Did we ever have a comment on making us weak of heart people a little less likely to run away?"
Furgh is not quite able to pick the lock. Kailar steps up, but it defeats him as well.
"Not going to be caught without one this time, I brought one of the normal kind, and one of the 10' variety," says Taris, regarding the protection from evil spells.
Zanax smirks. "Well, at least there's one intelligent member in this party!"
"Hey, I got a 20 footer as well," Furgh says, with a grin. "Guess that makes me one too."
"Braggart!" Zanax says with a sly grin. "But, yes, Furgh...that was a good idea."
"No, there are cloaks that would help, but we have none," Kadlian says to Sian, about the ranger's propensities to run off in terror...
Hlarn comments, "We don't have any protection other than blessings, prayers, and our protections from evil for aiding our resistance. Such protections help with any spells cast our way. I have a remove fear spell that hopefully I can cast on someone before they run too far away, or, alternatively, it can protect someone from fear for ten minutes if cast before hand."
Hlarn checks the depth. You're several hundred feet below the Roc area.
Furgh glares at the lock for a moment, as if personally afronted, then grins at Kailar. "Strong magics bar this door. Definitely strong magics."
"Someone, cast knock."
"We could always try the other one...." Furgh offers, at Kadlian's suggestion, pointing to the eastern door.
"Yes, we could, but then we would not be checking the torture chamber for any victims."
"Ah... true." Furgh replies. "Ya'd think they'd want folks in their torture rooms."
"Stupid door," he adds, glaring at the portal in question.
"Hold on a sec..." Zanax says, as he concentrates on seeing what's on the other side of the door.
Zanax looks up after a moment "There's just a passage running south."
"The Death Knight told Hlarn that was where the torture chamber is. And all I said was that if you have a knock use it. Kailar, Agulhas or Rage?"
Zanax raises an eyebrow at Kadlian "And you believe everything a Death Knight tells you, I suppose."
"I know I do!" Furgh adds hastily. "And call 'em Sir, ta boot."
"It's that whole 'Die' thing," he adds in a stage whisper. "Hard ta disagree with that sorta thing."
"No, but according to Hlarn, the Death Knight had no reason to lie. Hlarn, you did say he was an honorable man before his death, correct?"
"Alive he may have been honorable, but what influence has this place of evil had on him? He knows that you are 'good' and may be attempting to lure us into a trap," says Kal.
"As Hlarn recounted, the death knight was here against his will. But, what matter is it. We need to explore all the paths. And Kailar will get us in."
Hlarn shrugs. "So he seemed. He was lord of this castle before rebels took it and his life from him. By his account he was probably a harsh master, but he also seemed to have a knightly outlook on life, for he was greatly bothered by the dishonor of his current state, and even more so by Talia dishonoring him with only a sentry's duty. Also he seemed to be a true servant of his diety, who I know to be a god of law, although not one of good."
"That is what it said, but why is it here? Did it do something to bring it to its present state? I don't trust it, its not natural..."
Hlarn smiles. "He seemed trustworthy to me. I would probably call him a friend if we had met under different circumstances. He was a proud warrior. Harsh and undoubtably cruel while alive, but honest none the less. It was not his fault that he was made into a death knight, and he disliked his state and his current mistress. After all, he could have killed Kadlian and me if he wished, but chose not to. He wouldn't have killed Kailar either if not for him attempting to cast a spell and thus invoking his commands to protect himself and the passage. Lord Black desired only an end to his damned existance, and we did him a service and provided it."
Hlarn corrects Kadlian though, "But you are wrong, he didn't say where the torture chambers where, only that Talia keeps other prisoners and occassionally tortures them. He didn't know anything about who might be held though."
Kal regards the gnome, "Why not just smash the door down? Save Kailar's magic for when it's really needed. If anyone's on the other side, they would have heard us by now."
"Okay, Hlarn can you and Gnarsh open the door, then?"
"I don't even know the spell." says the gnome.
"Maybe you could shrink it?" Furgh offers with a shrug. "I can't do either."
Zanax suggests, "Kailar, maybe this would be a good time for you to use Wraithform to unlock the door from the other side and scout the torture chamber."
"Excellent idea, Zanax. Thank you."
There is a keyhole on this side of the door.
"So the question still remains, do we need to got through this door or should we try the other one?"
"If not now, when? We will need to bypass this door at some point. If none of the mages brought a knock spell with them, then we can try the other door. Neither Rage nor Agulhas has answered."
"Do you want me to slide under it or are you going to break through it?"
"Well, even if we do choose to go through this door, Kailar using Wraithform won't help. There's no key or unlocking mechanism on the other side. Did you guys ever find any keys?"
"I guess if the mages don't have Knock, maybe one of our druids could affect the wood of the door or the stone around it..."
Kal tries to break the door down...without success.
Rage finally casts knock, and the south door pops open.
Before you runs a passage, south for 20'. After that is a flight of stairs heading...down.
You trot down the passage and go downstairs.
At the bottom of the stairs is a 10' square landing. Three 10' long passages run off of it: east, south, and west. There is a door at the end of each passage.
Here to greet you at the bottom of the stairs are three ogres. They smell even worse than Gnarsh.
Kadlian grins as he draws both of his swords in a fluid motion.
"Hlarn, Zanax, it is time to go to work."
Kadlian kicks out at the first ogre, both of his swords flashing at the brute.
Hlarn charges into the fray, axe flying. "Careful, they might be magi. Strange that common ogres would be in such an area."
Zanax curses slightly, as he opts for his Holy Avenger instead of the Frost Brand. As he strikes, he uses the sword's Dispel Magic on the ogre to try and remove the possible illusion.
"Sasha or Taris, if any of them start casting spells, cast a silence spell on a rock and toss it to me."
Sian says, "Well it looks like I will take the east door. Kal grab the west and everyone else keep an eye on the other one. Don't want to be surprised by something coming out of them."
The ranger and the grugach move into position.
Kailar casts Detect Invisibility and scans the area. He detects nothing unexpected.
With a clanging clash of weapons, Kadlian, Zanax and Hlarn meet the three ogres. The humanoids attack with gleeful expressions on their ugly mugs. Life in this part of the dungeon has not been too interesting, of late. Unfortunately, their joy is likely to be short-lived...
Kadlian nails the first ogre with his frost brand, as he sidesteps a swinging club. He follows up with his flame tongue, which is not alight, opening up a second wound.
Zanax connects rather easily with his avenger, killing the second ogre on the spot.
Hlarn dodges an incoming attack from the last ogre, and then takes the monster down with two mighty chops of his axe.
Only the ogre that Kadlian is battling remains, and he is badly injured, when the south door opens.
Out charge about a score of skeletons. Behind them, you see a troop of troglodytes, bringing up the rear.
Zanax draws his Frost Brand in favor of his Holy Avenger. He yells, "Someone bar the east and west doors! Rage, Aggie, we could use some fire support!"
"Hey if you hadn't noticed I havn't moved." says Sian.
Zanax moves to attack the first wave of skeletons.
"Hlarn, Zanax and Gnarsh, hold the front while I finish this brute. Sasha and Taris, see what you can do about the skeletons. Kailar, Rage and Agulhas, use your best judgment on taking out the troglodytes. I have a feeling that this will not be the only reinforcements..."
"Troglodytes?!" Furgh mumbles from somewhere in back. "Eeew!"
"I got it!" he calls cheerfully. "Keep the flames to a minimum, please."
Agulhas attempts to make quick work of the skeletons with a flash of the illumination wand. "Light's on!" he shouts as a warning before yelling "Telanias!"
"I'll fireball the lizards."
Kailar casts a spectral force of a fireball in the middle of the trogs.
Rage waits to see the effect of the Kailar's fireball before she casts her spells.
The wand, a web spell and an illusionary fireball all go off.
The skeletons are destroyed.
The troglodytes all drop, believing themselves to be dead...except for the ones who are ensnared in Furgh's web. They hang there, thinking that they are dead.
The last ogre also drops, and Kadlian makes sure that it is really dead.
All of the enemies are done for.
You wait for a few more minutes to see if anything else shows up, then move forward and stick the trogs just to be sure.
Through the south door whence the undead and troglodytes came is a room (20' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 20' south; door in middle of south wall). This is a guardroom/barracks hall. In here are lots of pallets and many small coffers, plus junk. Searching, you find a grand total of 360gp, a scroll and two potions.
Kadlian smiles. "Well done everyone. Kailar, Agulhas, Furgh and Rage, excellent initiative and judgement."
Furgh chuckles. "Well, that was int'restin'."
He glares at Agulhas. "See. It works for you. But would it do anythin' when I try it? Nooo!"
He grins.
"Furgh, please spike the door behind us. Let us see what these folks were guarding. Everyone ready?"
"Feh!" Furgh mumbles. "I should see about startin' up a booth sellin' iron spikes outside this place."
Zanax interjects, "Hold on a sec and I'll see what's on the other side..."
Zanax concentrates to see the other side of the door.
After a moment, Zanax gives a sign for everyone to hush up. He then points to the door and whispers "Torture room...one woman torturer, one man guarding this door, one prisoner strapped to table...someone have a Silence spell handy?"
Zanax then draws his Frost Brand and turns invisible.
Furgh had started to do as told, but stopped after Zanax commented on the folks on the other side of the door, deciding that the noisy hammering can wait.
"They gotta be deaf not ta have heard us already, but why tempt fate, neh?" He grins. "We elves are always overly cautious, donchaknow."
"They don't look like they know we're here, but we have to hurry!" Zanax whispers harshly.
Rage whispers, "Can yu give us positions?" she asks. "I suggest we try to take the woman alive, she might have information we can use. The guard, I do not think will."
"She's Lady Mistress Hildanna, the temple torturer...and he's Bruno, the eunuch. He's just on the other side of this door and she's just beyond him."
"Do any of you know the paralyzation spell? Then we could take the woman alive. Paramount is to protect the prisoner."
"I'll hit her with the chicken wand." Furgh offers, holding up the wand of fear. "Can't hurt," he adds with a grin.
"No!" Zanax whispers harshly. "We don't want her running off through the other door."
"Hlarn, Sasha or Taris, cast the silence spell on a rock on the other side of the room. Then when we open the door, throw it to the far end of their room."
"Zanax, you have the guard. Sian and I will protect the prisoner. If no one has a paralyzation spell then we are going to see if any of the clerics has a hold person spell. If not, then I do not know what we can do."
Zanax whispers impatiently "If no one has a spell, then overwhelm her with sheer numbers before she gets to the door on the south wall. Quickly, now! She's castrating the prisoner! Furgh, the door, please."
"Gnarsh, Kal, Hlarn and Taris, knock her down and sit on her if need be."
"I can try to charm her." says Kal.
"What do you need to do so? How close and what chance will it work?"
"All I need is to call upon Skerrit, and it's up to him if it works. If I can see her, I should be able to try it."
"Then do it. Gnarsh, Taris and Hlarn will have to tackle her without you."
"Sian, you and I need to make it to the far door."
Zanax holds his hand up "Hold on...it's weird. I detect no evil from the torture room...Kailar, can you detect illusions? This may be a trap, but we need to save that man. Just be wary..."
"Then use your sword to dispel it."
Multiple people hit the door, and it flies open.
You see another room of identical dimensions (20' X 30': 10' east, 10' west, 20' south) to this one. There is another door in the middle of its south wall. Obviously a torture chamber, going by the furnishings, there is also a bed in here. The sheets are bloodstained.
There are three people in here: a woman and two men. One of the men is short, very fat, but also very muscular. He wears plate and shield, and holds a glowing broadsword. He watches the door facing you.
The woman is a striking sight. She stands tall, is stunningly beautiful, and has long, jet black hair. She wears a merry widow (black, of course, with red lace trim) with cut-away cups; black seamed stockings; thigh-high, stilletto-heeled leather boots; bicep-length black leather gloves and a leather belt. On her belt is a coiled whip.
The second man is a prisoner, bound naked and gagged to a table. The woman is bent over him, and has just castrated him with a blunt spoon.
Zanax rushes in, followed by Kadlian and Sian, with Gnarsh, Taris and Hlarn bringing up the rear. Kal casts a spell, but the woman, looking up and unhooking her whip, seems to be unaffected.
Bruno is expecting you, it seems (even though he was not right up at the door). Zanax becomes visible and lands an easy hit with his frost brand, and Bruno yelps, as he chops at the paladin hard with his broadsword. However, the paladin's stoneskin saves him from the bite of the glowing blade. Zanax connects again, badly dinging Bruno's plate mail. The eunuch swings again. This time the blade penetrates, and Zanax takes 10 hit points of damage. To finish off matters, suddenly a shower of sparks shoots out of a ring that he is wearing, engulfing Zanax, and shocking him for 13 hit points.
Kadlian and Sian, meanwhile, have positioned themselves at the south door.
In the middle of the room, Hilda squares off with Gnarsh, Taris and Hlarn. Her whip cracks by Taris' ear, as he swings his longsword. The blade slashes her thigh slightly, and causing a run in her stocking. The whip cracks again, and only his stoneskin saves Taris.
Gnarsh, after casting a covetous glance at Bruno's glowing broadsword, attacks Hilda with his faithful old blade, putting a run in her other stocking and drawing a string of curses from her. She lashes out at him, and impales the half-orc with one of her stilletto-heeled boots...but again a stoneskin saves him.
Hlarn completes the festivities with two chops with his axe...one of which gets through.
Back with Bruno, Zanax has his hands full. Bruno fans on his first attack, but the paladin lands a lucky hit, leaving Bruno looking none too healthy. Bruno connects next time, for 13 hit points. Zanax next skewers him like a shish kabob on the blade of his frost brand. Bruno spits blood, but sill manages to activate his ring again, and Zanax is shocked for 9 more hit points. Unfortunately, the electricity is conducted down the blade of the sword and back into Bruno, and he is killed.
Hilda, meanwhile, flicks her whip and it coils around Taris' neck for 11 hit points. The half-elf, unable to breathe, begins to choke, and suffers a further 12 hit points as a result. Gnarsh misses with his broadsword, and this time Hilda, kicking him again, nails him in the groin for 5 hit points. This spoils Gnarsh's second swing. Hlarn nails her again, once.
Taris, helpless, suffers another 19 hit points as his face turns blue. Hilda simultaneously kicks Gnarsh for another 6 hit points, but this time the half-orc clobbers her for 9 hit points, followed by a second hit for 11 more. Hlarn then finishes her off.
Hilda drops to the floor, blood spewing out of her, and the strangling grip of the whip relaxes, releasing Taris.
All is quiet.
Besides the bed and the table upon which rests the now dead prisoner, you also see in here a shelf holding numerous vials and jars, and two chests.
Zanax breathes a sigh of relief, as he scans the area for evil, and detecting none. He shakes his head sadly as he looks at the dead prisoner.
"Anyone recognize him?" he asks.
He is not familiar to any of you.
"That definitely wasn't a illusion." says Sian, as he keeps an eye on the next door.
Rubbing his aching wounds, he continues, "That short guy was tougher than I thought! Let's secure the area first and heal Taris, Gnarsh, and myself. Then we can decide if we want to press onward."
Zanax lays on hands on Taris for 18 hit points. He then casts Cure Light Wounds on Gnarsh for 8 hit points.
"Burp," says Gnarsh, by way of thanks.
"Use whatever goodberries we have left, first, then the spells."
"Kailar, Furgh, start checking the chests. Rage, would you please examine the shelves and see if you want anything from them."
"Kal, Equinox, guard the north door. Sian and I will guard the south one."
Kal takes the north door.
Equinox offers his 8 goodberries to Zanax and then announces: "I have one Cure Serious Wounds spell and 4 Cure Light Wounds available. Any takers?"
"How 'bout this poor fella on the table?" Furgh says, indicating the torture victim.
"He's dead, Furgh. Cure light wounds will not do him much good now," replies Equinox.
Rage looks to Hlarn, "What about a deaths door spell and then some healing? Won't that help?" she says.
Hlarn replies that it is no use if the person is already dead.
Sasha chuckles softly, nodding. "Indeed. I also have some curing. I believe most of you are in need. I will be more than happy to lay hands on any of you," she says with a smile.
Rage eyes the cleric but says nothing.
Equinox casts Detect Magic on all the vials, jars and chests and other things.
On Hilda, her merry widow, thigh-high Willystomper boots, gloves and whip all radiate magic.
On Bruno, the broadsword, ring and a potion that he carried all radiate magic.
Gnarsh snatches the sword.
"Mine," he says with a glare.
On the shelf, 12 of the 18 vials radiate magic.
The jars on the shelves contain various appendages from various creatures. There are 20 jars.
Kailar, meanwhile, has checked the chests for traps and found none. They are unlocked, so you open them.
The first chest contains 3000sp, 3000ep, 40 gems (50gp ea.), and a pair of brass knuckles.
The second chest contains 2500ep, 500gp, 150pp, 19 gems (100gp ea.), a Vampirella makeup kit and a sleazy nightgown.
Nothing in the chests radiate magic.
When you are ready, you open the south door.
Through it is a 10' wide passage running south for 60'. At the end is a locked door, and in every 10' section on either side are more doors. All 12 of these latter doors are barred.
"No arguments, Gnarsh. You will be a better fighter with a magical sword," says Kadlian to the half-orc. "Hlarn, Gnarsh, Zanax, are you three healed enough to continue? If so, Zanax, would you check out each door? And Kailar, would you spike the southern door?"
Hlarn nods. "Didn't even get touched." He offers a cure light wounds spell to anyone who still needs healing.
"Woohoo!" Furgh says, happily, as Kailar gets spiking duty.
"Let's open one up." Furgh says, going over to the nearest barred door, quite willing to do so, if no one objects too strongly.
"Let Kailar spike the far door first. And before we open anything up, I want Zanax to check behind them. No nasty surprises..."
"Ain't gonna be no lights behind these." Furgh says. "And ya might as well knock, if yer gonna pound a spike into that other."
Kailar pounds, as Zanax detects and concentrates.
Down the west side, he detects evil through the first and last doors. His clairvoyance shows only darkness.
On the east side, he detects evil through the third door (from the north). Again, all he sees is darkness.
Through the south door he detects more evil, and sees more darkness.
"Let us open the first door on the east side. After that, we shall tackle the first door on the west side."
Equinox says: "That sounds like a plan. I will watch all the other doors as you open this one."
"Not alone, though. Taris, Hlarn and Gnarsh will watch with you. Zanax, Kal, Sian and I will be at the door."
Hlarn takes up position near the exit, ready to block anyone who tries to bolt for freedom. "Be careful everyone. Probably undead, or something else that doesn't need light to see by. Be ready with that light wand. Mages, stay near to Rage as she's protected against evil. It will help you resist any fear we might encounter."
Hlarn is prepared to cast remove fear should anyone go running away.
Equinox goes and stands near Rage.
Kadlian chuckles. "Um, that would be the door behind you, I believe. I thought we should open a door where there was no evil so that if we had to fight a prolonged battle, we would have a place where there was only one entrance to get to us."
Hlarn looks around, focusing on the situation. With a frown he mutters something like, "You try and have perfect clarity when your soul is on another world typing at a terminal."
"Hold on! I need some major curing before we go any further. I used my healing on Gnarsh and Taris," Zanax says.
"Oh, I thought you were not injured. At least, when various folks asked the question, you did not respond."
"Equinox, do you have any more goodberries for Zanax? After that, we can cast some cure spells on you..."
Zanax takes 8 berries from Equinox and eats them, being healed for 8 hit points. "Thanks, Equinox."
"How serious my dear Zanax? I have one cure serious and four cure lights ... I would be quite happy to fix you up, dear boy," Sasha smiles, moving closer to Zanax, hands stretched out ...
Feeling slightly better, Zanax smiles back sweetly at Sasha, wincing in pain occassionally, "I'm afraid, my dear Sasha, that I will require more than just a cure serious wounds. Perhaps even more than a cure serious and cure light wounds would suffice, though."
"Oh I'm so sorry, I had no idea you were so badly injured!" Sasha exclaims in dismay. She gently touches Zanax, running her hands very lightly over his entire body while praying softly to Isis. When she is finished praying, she kisses his wounds tenderly and begins to pray again.
"Egads," Furgh mumbles, blushing furious, and looking somewhere else during the proceedings.
Zanax is healed for a further 22 hit points. Kal next casts a 'cure light'into the paladin, for 7 more hit points.
Sasha looks at Zanax, her eyes still filled with concern. "How are you now Zanax? Will you be able to go on or do you need more healing?" she asks softly.
Agulhas grins at Furgh and says, "Aachh. You know, I'm feeling a little banged up, too." He rubs his arm dramatically and smiles warmly to Sasha.
Kadlian chuckles at Agulhas' comment, chokes and then begins to cough, straining to keep himself quiet.
Sasha smiles, still keeping her hands on Zanax. "I'll be with you shortly Agulhas," she says sweetly.
Agulhas loses his nerve, blushing and raising his hands in front of him.
"No, no. I am in perfect health."
He shakes his head with some embarassment. "I was merely joking with you. Thank you none-the-less."
He smiles sheepishly at the lady.
Sasha smiles in understanding. "I understand completely and don't mind the joke. Clerics of Isis understand that noble men need some ...encouragement and appreciation at times." Sasha winks at him.
"I got a wound that needs healin'!" says Gnarsh to Sasha with a leer, pointing to his crotch.
Sasha smiles at Gnarsh. "Indeed? I thought you had said you were not wounded. I'll likely be out of spells after Zanax and Argulus, but I"m sure we can lance your cyst there .... may I borrow someones knife please?" Sasha asks softly, looking perfectly serious.
"Errr...never mind. I feels fine," Gnarsh says hurriedly.
Zanax chuckles, wincing slightly with each laugh.
Sasha doesn't look convinced. "Really Gnarsh, if you have a problem, it should be attended to. It could grow worse and parts could start falling off on you and all ... " she says quite clinically.
Zanax smirks. "Sasha, it looks like the temple will looking for a new torturer. Perhaps, you'd like to apply for the job."
Sasha regards Zanax seriously for a moment then shakes her head, laughing softly. "I would of course never work for the temple, but don't be fooled by appearances. We are taught much at the Temple, Isis is Mistress of many trades, and I do know a bit about torture."
She grins at Hlarn.
"Here these probably should fit you." Sian says holding up the thigh high spikes. "I think you would probably look pretty good in them."
Sasha actually blushes, but reaches out to accept the boots. "I was kind of thinking the same thing ... but hesitated to make my claim on these. Thank you."
"If we weren't a bit busy just now, I would even put htem on right now ... alas .. it will have to wait." Sasha says regrettfully, stowing the boots in her pack for now.
The healing taken care of, you open the first east door. It opens into a 10' square cell. The place is filthy...the floor covered in excrement-smeared straw. Chained to the back wall is a middle-aged man. His once fine clothes are in tatters. His features are drawn, his skin a deathly grey, merely hanging from his bones.
"Aaaaaa!" he cries out weakly, evidently mistaking you for employees of the Temple.
Sasha puts a finger to her lips, indicating the man should be silent.
"Hi, I am Sasha and we are here to rescue you." she whispers to the chained man. "And yes, I am a little short to be a Storm Trooper."
"But...your kinky black patent leather armour..!"
"Quiet! Do you want to bring the owners of the Temple down on us? We are here to rescue you."
"Furgh, see if you can unchain him. Equinox, please see to any wounds he may have. And keep him quiet."
"The rest of you, are you ready to confront whatever is across the hallway?"
"Maybe those guys back there had keys," he muses. "Gimme a sec..."
He hurries back to the torture room, to see if either the torturer or the other guy had a ring of rings. Furgh returns with a key, and unlocks the man.
"Don't worry," he says, doing his best to keep the guy calm. "We elves are naturals at this sorta thing. My names Furgh."
The man cowers, glancing fearfully at Sasha.
Equinox approaches the chained man, "My name is Equinox, I am a Druid of Thor, and I can help heal you of some of your obvious aches and pains if you will let me." Then, if the man agrees to let him, Equinox will cast cure light wounds on him.
"Kal, I am out of Goodberries, don't you have a few left? This man seems to be malnourished, and one goodberry would do him a whole lot of good."
Kal reaches into a pouch and hands one goodberry to Equinox, then goes back to watching to see if the man's cry brings any temple guards.
Sasha backs up, not wishing to upset the poor man ... but will stand ready to do some more healing if the goodberry isn't enough to help the man.
She whispers to the man, "Do not be alarmed, it is only so that I can 'fit in' here - a disguise of sorts. I am a cleric of Isis and would help you if you allow," she says softly.
"Good gods girl," Furgh says, grinning slightly. "Yer even scarin' me. I'm sure there's gonna be plenty more needin' aid down here," he adds, indicating the other cells. "Maybe save what ya got, 'til we know what's behind doors number 2 through 8."
"Got food?" croaks the man.
Kadlian looks over his shoulder. "Give him some food and water. Just try and keep him quiet. I will leave Taris to stand guard over you three while the rest of us explore the other rooms."
"Here, take this berry," says Equinox walking closer to him, "this is a magic berry that will help you not feel hungry for a while."
He takes it and eats it.
"Got water?"
An invisible Zanax hands the man a waterskin.
Rage looks around and says, "Got milk?" with an eye to Sasha.
"Thank you Kal and Sasha. I am ready to continue. Did someone heal Taris, by the way? I don't think I did a thorough job on his wounds." says Zanax.
"Taris, come here. I will use my healing spells on you."
Kadlian casts one cure light wounds followed by another. Taris is healed for 14 hit points.
Zanax regards the man for a moment before he scans the room for evil and secret doors. He will then turn invisible and guards the hallway to the room.
With the man taken care of for the moment, you open the door on the west side of the passage.
In this 10' square cell - even filthier than the first, if that is possible - is a troll. It is emaciated and hungry, and not chained. It leaps to attack Kadlian.
The ranger hits it first, though, plunging his longsword deep into it, followed by his non-flaming flame tongue. The troll in turn scratches at him, but Kadlian's stoneskin saves him. It does not save him from its bite, though, and he suffers 3 hit points of damage.
Sian loses his cool and shoves the invisible Zanax aside to get at the troll. He easily nails it with his frost brand, and the humanoid drops.
You torch the body.
You open the next door on the east side. Beyond is a deserted cell.
Back across the passage, you open the next west door. In this cell, chained to the back wall, is a human female. She looks to be a teenager, and she is naked and filthy.
"Help!" she says.
"Now that was fun. Too bad we don't find more of those toads. They all need to be flamed," growls Sian, concerning the troll.
"This place really needs to start leaving young women alone. You would think that they would pick on men more," Sian states as he moves in to check on the girl.
"It is all right. We won't hurt you. We will get you out of this place and make sure you don't have to ever come back," Sian says to the girl.
"My hero!" she says with a smile.
"Now it is all right. My friend here, Furgh," Sian says, motioning to Furgh, "is going to release you and take you to another room. He will take good care of you."
"Furgh, please bring those keys here and free her. Then help her back to the other cell with that man. We shall use that room to put those that we free until they are all freed. Sasha, Equinox, Gnarsh and Taris will help guard that room. If anything does come from the north, Taris and Gnarsh can hold it off long enough for the rest of us to get back and assist."
"Kad, I would suggest you add Argulhas to protecting them. He has sufficient added firepower to help deter any attacks till we get there," Rage says. "Or me, but I suspect my wall of stone spells may be better if we get attacked."
Kadlian hesitates and then nods. "Okay, Agulhas go with the young girl and help."
Rage looks to Argulhas. "If you have detect evil or invisibility, now might be a good time to use them," she says to the man.
Furgh does as told, puting his cloak around the young girl's shoulders, so she doesn't have to sit there naked, he will talk to both of them, doing his best to keep them calm and quiet.
Kadlian slips his cloak off his body and tosses it to Furgh. "Use mine instead. And save yours for the next victim."
"Now, let us check across the hall."
Kal watches for temple guards.
The next two cells - through the second door on the east side and the third door on the west side - are both deserted. In the third cell on the east side, though, is a wraith. Fortunately, thanks to Zanax, you knew beforehand that there was trouble here.
It launches itself at you all.
Zanax slashes at it with his Frost Brand.
Kadlian slashes it with both of his swords as he comments, "Figures that I sent Agulhas away when he is the one with the wand of light."
Rage shakes her head, and casts two spells with of magic missiles into the creature.
Her spells are faster than the warrior's swords, and she manages to blow the undead into the oblivion before it or they can strike.
Searching the cell, you find nothing, so you continue opening the rest of the doors.
The next five cells are all empty. Finally, you come to the last cell door on the east side, and again recall that Zanax detected evil through it. This time you get Agulhas down here with his wand, just in case, and then you open the door.
In this cell is a wight.
Agulhas releases his wand as it comes at you, and promptly blows it away, too.
After searching its cell and finding nothing, you open the last cell.
In this cell is a xorn.
"Yum!" he exclaims, lumbering towards you. "I smell cold forged steel!"
Zanax tells the party, "I ran into a pair of these down here before. They weren't able to get within 10' of me due to Votishal's blessing and eventually got bored and left. Kadlian, what do you want to do, attack or wait it out?"
"Keep it from getting out of the cell. Then we can close the door again and leave it."
Zanax moves to block the advance of the xorn as he shuts the door.
Sure enough, the xorn stops dead in his tracks.
"Not fun!" he says, looking unhappy, as you close and bar the cell door again.
"There must be some magic involved to keep it inside. The others were able to pass right through the floor!"
"That was what I was thinking." Kadlian turns to the others, "Rage, Agulhas, Kailar, if Zanax cannot hold it, throw every magical missile you have at your disposal. And then shift to lightning bolts. All I know about these creatures is that they are quite dangerous and they can move through stone very easily."
"How about cold based spells?" Rage asks, preparing to cast cone of cold on the critter. "Or a transmute rock to mud?"
"The transmute spell would probably affect it since it seems to have an affinity to stone. I am not sure a cold based spell would do anything. I am just guessing here, based on what we know about stone golems."
"If anyone knows anymore about these creatures, chime in now."
Hlarn shakes his head. "Its an earth elemental of some sort is all I know. The rock to mud spell would probably harm it."
Hlarn moves up alongside Zanax.
Kal maintains the back guard.
However, nothing happens for several minutes, and so you decide to continue. The south door is locked, so you call Kailar in to perform the honours. He opens this one without difficulty, and you look south...down a 10' long passage. After that, it opens out into a chamber. Standing before you, though, are two beautiful young women in very revealing black gowns. However, their deathly pallor and fangs give their true identities away...
Spotting the vampires, Furgh quickly pulls his head back into the cell, and clutches at the garlic.
"Bloody vampires," Furgh says with disgust, as Kailar scuttles back from the door.
"I hope there aren't more of them out there or this could get ugly."
Sian moves over towards Aggy and keeps himself in front but off to the side so nothing can get to him.
Furgh is happy to be back looking after the two rescued prisoners instead of facing either of the vampires. The man, Furgh learns, is one Burkus Fildrip, a merchant from Strabath. He was captured by orcs while travelling through the Borderlands on business.
The woman is named Lorelei, and was a mercenary on another trading caravan which was attacked in the mountains north of Valam by the forces of the Temple. She tells you that she was taken prisoner. From what she has heard and seen, she expected to be sacrificed to Tyaa in the near future...
"Thank you for rescuing me," she says.
"Hey! It's what we do," Furgh says, with a bright smile. "Well, that and whack the bad guys, I suppose," he adds. "They seem ta have this thing about sacrificin' innocent folk. So we're tryin' ta dissuade 'em."
"There any more prisoners down here?" Furgh asks.
"Not anymore, I guess," she replies. "They don't go through that south door very often."
Furgh looks briefly sad, then glances out into the hallway to see what's up.
Zanax yells, "Aggy! Now would a good time to use your wand!" Zanax then draws his Frost Brand, awaiting Aggy to first blast them or for the vampires to advance.
The vampires do advance, and he and Kadlian find themselves fending them off with their weapons.
"Begone evil creatures!" Hlarn shouts as he raises his holy symbol. "Sasha, try also!"
The vampires ignore the dwarf.
Sasha nods, already readying her holy symbol as Hlarn makes his attempt. She does not wait for him to finish before holding her holy symbol high and invoking the name of Isis, "By the power vested in by the Great Isis I command thee back to the realms from which you came!"
"The Great Who??" giggle the vampires maliciously, as Sasha as usual fails to turn the undead.
Equinox, standing back near Rage, casts Faerie Fire on the two undead creatures and on as much of the surrounding area as possible.
Kal also casts 'faerie fire' at the vampires and guards the rear.
The vampires light up.
Taris also tries to turn these creatures, trying to avoid looking at them.
Both women shriek, turn and run back into the chamber.
Rage casts cone of cold at the creatures, and a ray if icy motes strikes them across their backs, hurting them slightly.
The turning broken, they turn and rush back at you.
"Agulhas, use your wand as many times as it takes. Zanax, Hlarn and I will try to hold them off."
"This shouldn't take too long," Furgh says to the ex-prisoners thankfully. "Cover yer eyes for a second, there's gonna be a bright light."
"Go Aggy," he mumbles.
"And after this, we get our new friends out of this place. No more exploring."
"Just protect me if things go bad!" calls the mage nervously. He activates the wand.
"Sian and Gnarsh will take care of you."
There is a flash of light, and the vampires scream.
Kadlian plunges his longsword into one of the vampires as she lunges at him, but then he feels her chilling touch, sucking the life force from him, and doing 9 hit points of damage. He nails her with his flaming shortsword and she staggers before resuming her assault.
Beside him, Zanax clangs his frost brand off the wall in a shower of sparks as he misses. He dodges her outstretched hand and tries again, this time connecting. She screams again, and suddenly the paladin finds himself staring into her eyes.
"Don't hurt me," she whispers, "My lover-to-be..."
Zanax lowers his sword, drops the blade, and moves forward to embrace her.
Furgh mumbles a spell.
Hlarn turns to Kailar, "Check for their master! He might be around and invisible!"
Kailar sees nothing invisible.
Hlarn then quickly says a few words, withdrawing from reality for a moment. While in that state he casts Protection from Evil, Aid, Bless and Prayer on himself and returns to normal time to begin attacking the vampires.
However, Kadlian and Zanax are blocking the dwarf's way to the vampires. No matter, as suddenly there is a noise overhead, and the xorn drops out of the ceiling, to land on the floor in front of Hlarn and Gnarsh.
"Cold steel! Yummy!"
There is another flash as Agulhas releases the wand again. The vampires are destroyed.
You turn on the xorn, who again finds himself foiled by a protection from evil spell, this time Hlarn's.
He starts to sink into the floor, grumbling as he does so.
"Damn!" exclaims Kadlian, upon feeling the touch of the vampire. "Zanax, get a hold of yourself and pick up your sword! Hlarn, hit the xorn. Agulhas and Rage, use magic missiles."
Zanax wakes from his trance. He comments, as he retrieves his Frost Brand, "Boy that was un-nerving. I mean, I've read about the gaze of a vampire overpowering one's will, but it's definitely not the same as experiencing it!"
Kadlian tries to swing at the xorn as it sinks into the floor, but Agulhas and Sian are in the way, and so he doesn't.
Zanax comments, "Are you sure you want to antagonize it, Kadlian?"
Zanax will attack the xorn if Kadlian decides to attack.
Gnarsh has no such problems with indecision...
"GRRRRRRRRR!" he says, and chops at it with his new sword, carving out an enormous chunk of xorn flesh with two chops and killing the monster in the process.
That finally done with, you look around.
Reopening the cell in which the xorn was originally found, you find that it is filled with lots of loose stones. Under these, you find a pile of goodies: 250ep, 1750gp, a vial and a horn.
Taking these, you inspect the chamber where the vampires came from.
It measures 30' square, with 10' wide passages running out of the centre of each wall. There are two coffins in here. Looking down the passage, to the east you see that this one ends after 10' at a door; to the west it runs for 50', turning north after 40', with a door in the north wall, 20'-30' section; and to the south the passage turns southwest after 10'.
"Thank you, Gnarsh. And well done."
"Nice sword," comments the half-orc, as he trims his ear hairs with it.
"Hlarn, we have to destroy the coffins so that the vampire's cannot come back, correct?"
"After that, we head back to camp. I need a rest."
Zanax scans the room (especially the coffins) for evil.
"I believe if they are destroyed by light, they will not reform. But I guess there's no use taking any chances. Zanax draws his Holy Avenger and puts down his shield. Taking it two handed, he rears back to impale the coffin, but stops to ask the party "Any chance they're trapped?"
"Of course. I was just going to suggest we throw some oil on them and burn them. Of course, that was after Kailar and Furgh had a chance to check them for treasure."
"Don't look at me!" Furgh says. "There might be vampires in there! I ain't gettin' nowhere near 'em."
"'Sides," he adds. "I'm s'posed ta be guardin' the rescuees."
"There are no vampires in there." Zanax states matter-of-factly. "I detected no evil from the coffins."
Furgh merely snorts. "Says you."
"I'll stay way over here, thankyouverymuch."
Kadlian sighs. "Kailar, would you please check the coffins for traps and secret compartments?"
He detects none.
Opening the coffins, all you find inside each is dirt.
Zanax liberally sprinkles a vial of holy water in each coffin.
"Destroy them, then. I would suggest we burn the coffins and maybe throw some holy water on the ashes just to make sure they cannot ever be used again."
"Then, we get out of here."
"Oh, and can I borrow someone's cloak? I am so cold..."
"Jeeze Boss. No time ta play martyr." Furgh says, as he tosses Kadlian's cloak back to him. "Ya shoulda kept 'er."
Kadlian chuckles and wraps it around himself. "I did not anticipate getting touched by a vampire."
You set fire to the caskets and then administer more holy water to the smouldering remains.
Furgh leads the way back as far as the golem room. From there, you exit the Temple and return to you secret hideaway. It is late afternoon by the time you get back.
Rage looks around, "Shall we rest up tonight and move out in the morning? I think that we are making good progress."
She looks at the two people who have been rescued. Pointing to the woman, "You're a merc, eh? What are your skills?"
Kadlian nods. "Sir and ma'am, I am Kadlian Lun'Folard, the leader of this group. We can escort you back towards the Keep if that is where you wish to go. But, we head back down tomorrow morning and it is not safe to leave you here. And I would suggest that you do not come with us."
"Hlarn, Kal, Taris, Equinox and Sasha, please see to the wounded."
Kal looks at all in the party to see the extent of their wounds and responds to Kadlian in elvish, "Are you or Sian in need of healing?"
Furgh chuckles.
Kal frowns (and responds in elvish as his norm..), "Tho you may be an elf, you don't walk the forest as do these rangers."
Furgh looks up, a concerned look on his face.
"What?!" he gasps, keeping the conversation in elvish as well (though not his norm). "Ya mean all us elves don't go for the forest frolickin' thing?! And here me, a wood elf and all. Don't let the guild find out."
He grins, then sighs slightly. "I tell ya, though, Kal ol' chum... Right, 'bout now, I'd take a nice damp forest over this dingy stone room in a heart beat."
Kal nods in agreement.
Kadlian replies to Kal, "Yes, I do. And if you could restore what the vampire stole from me, I would appreciate that as well. I can no longer cast spells..."
"The ability to restore that which is loss by the undead is not granted by Skerrit, not even to his forest walkers. The best I can do is to heal your physical wounds..."
"Ah, well, I did not expect that you would be able to fix that. I suspect that even Hlarn or Sasha cannot deal with that issue."
Kal casts 'cure serious wounds' on Kadlian.
"Thank you, Kal."
"I'm a heroine," the woman replies to Rage. "I'm...looking for work."
"Hey!" Furgh replies, cheerfully. "Maybe our Mr. Merchant here'll pay ya ta escort him back ta Strabath?"
He grins over at the man in question, then asks. "What is it ya sell, anyway?"
"Horse saddles, and tack."
The elf only smiles at this, then looks back at the others. "Hey, anyone got some clothes that'll fit Burkus here? He moves funny, those rags he's got'll probably be fallin' all over the floor, embarassin' the lot of us."
"And you are from Strabath, sir? How were you captured and when did it occur?"
"Yes, I'm from Strabath. They jumped us after we'd made a camp for the night. We were about a half a day east of Valam...just myself and two bodyguards. Foolish of me, I realise now, to travel with so little protection, but I'd thought that the Baron had cleared the area. I was taken on August 26th. What date is it now?"
"It is now October 8th. I am sorry that you were held so long. Had we any idea that there were still prisoners, we would have made a push to get down there sooner."
"As far as the Baron goes, I would appreciate it if you did not mention us to the Baron or his men. We are not on good terms right now."
He nods.
Kadlian turns to Lorelei and chuckles. "And you would want to work with us? Are you sure?"
"You saved my skin, didn't you?" she replies. "In return, I'll work for you for free for one year. All I ask in return is that you take care of my mundane needs."
"Yes, we saved your skin. But, you owe us nothing for that. We did not save you because we expected to get any material gain out of it. We saved you because you needed help."
"Nonetheless, I am glad to have an extra blade fighting with us. However, you will have to subject yourself to some questioning by one of our priests to satisfy our paranoia. We cannot take the chance of having someone in the Temple infiltrate our ranks."
Her eyes widen, and she looks insulted.
"Never mind, then," she replies coldly, before turning to the merchant. "I'd be glad to escort you home."
Rage laughs at Kadlian. "I like your spunk, lass," she says to the woman. "I'll hire you to work for me and protect me," she offers.
She declines.
"If I'm not to be trusted then I don't want any part of you."
Rage shakes her head, "As you wish lass, but I would pay you well for your efforts."
She then turns to Kadlian. "We must work on your approach and delivery. Furgh can probably help you with that."
Kadlian shakes his head. "Sorry. I tried to be honest with her. We are a paranoid bunch out of necessity and it is not meant as an insult. Those that have joined this group have had to go through the same tests."
"Still, I understand her sentiment. Most of you expressed the same reaction. Lucky for us, you decided to put up with the insult."
"So, how do we avoid getting a spy amongst us without going through the procedure that Hlarn came up with?"
"And, miss, I did not intend to insult you."
"Sometimes, Boss," Furgh says. "Ya gotta take the risks."
He shrugs. "Its part a being the good guys."
Kadlian sighs heavily. "I thought we took enough risks just being here."
Rage looks at Kadlian, "I think that there is a difference between those who come to this group, and those that we rescue. It seems that this woman over there, who I still would like to hire, was imprisoned, and from the looks of it tortured a bit too. Somehow, I do not think that she works for the keep."
"Perhaps I have been here too long. My first thought was a plant. That may not be fair, but that is what I worried about."
"Make 'em earn distrust, not the other way around. You rather do it your way, then yer gonna have ta get used ta alienatin' folks who might a helped ya. You don't trust them, why should they trust you, neh?"
"We put you through it. And Equinox, Taris and others who are no longer here. Why did they trust us enough to put up with it?"
Furgh grins. "Maybe they had other reasons for lettin' it slide? And me, I'm just an easy goin' sort. Don't offend easy. Its an elf thing."
Again a shrug.
"But this ain't nothin' new. Been discussed many times before."
"Maybe I am in a more receptive mood today. Humor me."
The elf raises one eyebrow, then shrugs.
"When ya greet someone with suspicion and distrust, ya gotta expect its what they're gonna hand back ta ya. Such things gonna piss most folks off, ta some degree. 'Less they got other reasons, its often gonna be more'n they're willin' ta swallow, ta boot."
"There's magics for scryin' a person's inner self. We got some of 'em available here." He spreads his hands. "I'd never use 'em, and I know lots a folks, good, trustworthy sorts, who'd probably punch me out, and toss my pointy eared behind out in the gutter, if I even suggested usin' it on them."
"Too much distrust and suspicion, in all the worlds I've seen, for most folks, that they'd go outta their way ta take on more a the same for someone they don't know, who obvious ain't willin' ta give them an even shake."
"I always figured the good guys were s'posed ta be above such things. When push came ta shove, we're the ones who's supposed ta be willin' ta give someone a chance, for no other reason that someone aughta."
"But, you guys been hangin' around all that badness lurkin' in this place so long, ya start ta adopt some a the suspicion and distrust yer foes toss about. Maybe its neccessary. But it certainly is unfortunate. And perhaps a little sad."
"Was why Juliana left. Almost lost us the gnomes too."
He grins at Taris.
"Either that or that darn pointy helmet you was wearin'."
He turns back to Kadlian. "I'm sure there's been other instances too."
He shrugs again.
"But don't worry," he adds with a grin. "I like ya anyway."
Kadlian looks at Furgh. "Perhaps I should have let you do the talking. I seem to have a knack for insulting people."
Furgh just sort of sighs slightly. "Ya, well. Not like its the first time. Doubt it'll be the last. Instant distrust'll do that sorta thing."
He shrugs. "Price ya pay."
Kadlian sighs. "I guess you can look at it that way. Or just chalk it up to intense paranoia. When everyone is out to get you, it just makes sense."
"Miss, before you and the merchant leave, will you take some food and supply yourself from our stores? We can give you a sword and we may have some armor that might fit you."
She nods.
"I'll handle it," Furgh says. "We're the same size."
"Thank you, Furgh. And get her a few weapons, if we have anything she can use."
He shuffles Lorelei off to get her some proper clothes and the like.
"I know I've asked this before," Furgh says over his shoulder, to no one in particular. "But why is it we always head on in the mornin'? Not like time a day makes no never mind down there, and if those folk keep normal sorts a schedules, we're as like ta catch a few nappin' if we're down there durin' the evenin' hours, neh?"
He grins. "'Course, I suppose we're as like ta find 'em in the middle a some ceremony or other, but ya can't have everythin'."
"Because I like my sleep."
"Bah!" Furgh replies, with a grin. "Not like none a that beauty sleep's been helpin' ya none."
Kadlian plumps his hair a bit and bats an eye. "Oh, I do not know about that. I have gotten a few offers as of late."
"Ha!" The smaller elf retorts. "Offers from the livin' dead don't count." He grins. "Even if they was wearin' skimpy outfits." He winks.
He holds up one of the tubes of makeup from the kit.
"Ya know... a bit of blush, and maybe a highlight or two... do wonders."
"Rage, Sasha, what do you think?"
Rage raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.
Furgh just sort of chuckles.
"What look, pray tell, are you trying to achieve?" Sasha asks of Kadlian.
Furgh looks back down at the kit and frowns in disappointment. "Not like this stupid thing doesn't have an overabundance a reds and blacks."
He shakes his head.
"That lady obviously didn't need fancy tools ta torture folks. Bad makeup was more'n enough. These people must be stopped before these fashion atrocities can spread."
Kadlian laughs. "Yes, that is why we are here. To stop the fashion atrocities. Think of it as a side benefit."
Furgh roots through his pack, and gives Lorelei some of his extra clothes.
"Advantages a not bein' a big muscle bound type."
"Thanks!" she says.
Furgh leads the girl off to a corner of the room, and they talk quietly.
Suddenly she kisses him.
"Eep!" Furgh sputters, as his face grows a close colour approximation to his hair. "Uh... I mean...yer welcome... uh... lets see about a uh... sword or somethin'."
She smiles.
"Kad I am going to go talk to Betty and Anette and find out if they have heard anything about carvans getting hit again. If the baron is doing any of the clearing he is claiming to be doing," says Sian.
"Hold on a second, Sian. You can escort the lady and gentleman out to the road and perhaps to a farm where they might be able to get mounts. We can give them enough money for that expenditure."
Kadlian says across to Lorelei, "Sian will try to help you and Burkus some mounts so that your journey to Strabath will be quicker. There is still danger out there. Until we clear this place, it will likely continue to be dangerous."
"Shouldn't be a problem. Might just take some of those merc horse that seem to be hanging around. Would do them some good to walk around this forest looking for us. Makes avoiding them a little easier," says Sian, smiling "Kal, want to join me? I might need a little help with getting the horses."
Kadlian nods. "Okay, but be back before morning. We head back downstairs. We are getting close, I can feel it."
After giving the former prisoners some food, clothing and equipment, Sian departs with them for the outside world.
He returns some five hours later, to report that it is a lovely, mild autumn evening outside, and that the stars are shining brightly. Burkus and Lorelei are on their way. He visited Betty and Annette as well. They told him that all remained quiet in the vicinity of Borderland Keep, though there were rumours of gathering tribes of humanoids in the mountains north of Valam.
At some point during the evening, Furgh examines the scroll found earlier that day, but to no avail.
"Ain't a mage scroll," he says, tossing it back in the pile.
Equinox reaches over to the pile, picks up the scroll and tries to determine if it is a Druidic scroll.
He cannot understand it, either.
Kadlian shrugs. "Hlarn, Sasha or Taris, care to try?"
"Oh, and we shall need to identify the magical items at a later time. Not tonight, though."
Hlarn shakes his head. "You will need to go to Sandas and seek out Verona, the High Priestess of Tyr. Ask her to have her god restore you to power. And despite your objections, you are going to do it now. The longer you wait, the worse it will be for you and anything you learn down in the temple will be wasted."
Hlarn hears no objections. "Go now Kadlian. If Rage teleports you it will only take a day or two of our time." Hlarn is quite stubborn about this.
Kadlian sighs. "Rage, if you come with me, could you teleport us to Sandas and then back in the same day? If not, then the rest of you go down without me..."
"I can do that in one day. There and back again is not a problem. However, funds may be a problem. I can only teleport so much weight, and coins are very heavy. We should take the gems and jewlery instead," replies the mage.
"Just shrink the Boss ahead a time," Furgh says, with a grin.
"It is more than just shrinking the Boss," replies Rage, "But that is something we will have to do on the trip over."
"Then load his pockets up with gold first then," Furgh offers.
"Excuse me?"
"Hmmm... Good point. Okay, I guess we shall go, then. While we are gone, Agulhas, please identify the magical items we found, especially Gnarsh's sword."
"Um..." Furgh says. "That Verona lady ain't exactly in for bargain pricin'. This could cost ya a bundle."
He sighs slightly. "You don't wanna know what she was askin' me for spells far less difficult."
"Okay, so what is the going rate? If this is too expensive, I shall skip the restoration. I can always relearn the skills later."
Hlarn shakes his head. "Obviously your head is not one made for counting gold. How much does it cost to train to your old level? Probably 12,000 crowns or more. And how long would it take to do that? Two weeks to train, and months maybe before you relearned your old skills. And all during that time we are absent your newly gained healing skills, which might make the difference between another death in the party, sapping more gold."
"Its much better to heal the wound while its fresh. If you were a young Strider or Scout it would be different. You could easily relearn how to string your bow faster again, or master the art of drawing your sword without accidentally fumbling the blade, and the training costs are cheap and reflect the basic skills. But such was not the case, and the skills you have lost now took a long time to perfect. Time we don't have for you to relearn."
"Now stop arguing and get healed, before I cart you off over my shoulder. Now that would make a tale worth telling back home."
"Yes, sir."
The dwarf laughs. "Besides, you don't want to let your lack of skill slow the party down, postponing your service with Leslie do you?"
"It would not matter. I still have eight and a half years before that occurs."
"Dunno... just warnin' ya it might be a lot," he shrugs. "But hey, its only money. Lots a that floatin' about."
"Hey!" he adds. "Maybe ya can ask her if she really is workin' for the Black Keep, while yer there?"
He grins mischievously.
Hlarn is thinking along similar lines.
Hlarn nods. "I'd take at least 20,000 gold worth of gems and jewelry. It shouldn't cost more than that. The spell is of the most powerful order, but we've only paid 10,000 to have a member brought back to life, and it is of the same power."
"I shall bring a little more than."
Hlarn smiles. "While you are there, can you do me a favor and ask a question or two? Tell her that the soul of one of the Temple soldiers fingered her as an agent of the Temple, and ask how that might be possible. I was under the impression that the dead couldn't lie while being questioned, but perhaps that is not so. But ask the question carefully. You don't want to offend her, for she might not then heal you. Also if you could be so good as to inquire about the health of the Tyr priest that works in the Borderland Keep. I worked during my off time helping around that temple, and since our exile I've not heard of him."
"Maybe Rage should ask the question. I seem to have gotten in a habit of insulting people unintentionally."
"You want me to ask the a priestess if she is in the pay of our foes? I will ask it, quite delicately, I think." the mage says. "Or perhaps I will visit that friend of yours, the arch-mage, Ray Jay."
Hlarn shakes his head. "No, I'm not asking you to ask any such thing. I am sure that she is not. What I am asking is how the spirit of one of the Temple priests could say such a thing that is obviously a lie. I had thought the dead couldn't lie when being spoken to, but if such is not the case it would be good to know. I asked my own patron, but he was not sure of the answer, and was not as powerful as Verona is. So perhaps she will know. Also Verona would probably wish to know that her name is being slandered."
"You might want to ask her all these questions after you have been healed. Wouldn't want to piss her off. Or you could always just ask if dead people can tell lies. And if so how being as we were led to believe that they couldn't."
"Yes, that is the best approach. I am still going to let Rage ask the question. Whether or not we ask before or after the healing will be dependent on the circumstances."
"Rage, when will you be ready to depart?"
"Tomorrow," replies the mage, "Once I memorize the spells."
"Just for future knowledge I am going to be ready to train again. As I am sure Hlarn is also. Then if I could beg Rage to teleport me to the pools I would be able to take full advantage of them," states Sian.
"I would like to see that Sian, a nice grovel would do wonders," the mage replies, a twinkle in her eye.
"A good beg typically requires groveling as well. So, perhaps you can practice and if you are a real good boy I will help you," the mage says, teasing the ranger.
Hlarn shakes his head. "No, not yet for me. I can feel the need to train creeping steadily closer, but not yet."
"What are these pools that you speak of Sian?" asks Kal.
Hlarn comments. "A magical pool, like the one here the increases your intelligence. But this one increases your skill. Also there is a wall in the Megadungeon that if you touch the right color panel (Hlarn tells you which color) you will gain in skill also. No training even needed. But touch only that color. If you touch the other one first you will only become more beautiful. Once you touch one tile, the other type doesn't work for you. Also there was yet another pool that made you stronger and tougher once you drank from its water. A useful thing to help your fighting ability."
"When next we have a free moment Rage can teleport you to these magical places if you wish."
"I'll think about it. Thanks."
"And speaking of the pools, that reminds me of the people who showed them to us. Can we try scrying again for Occa?"
Kailar tries his luck again with the crystal ball. This time an image forms of Occa, and he sees the other members of that party, too. They seem to be exploring a large maze of underground tunnels.
Once again, then, the night passes quietly.