"If one of you clerics can cast Know Alignment or Detect Good/Evil, I'd appreciate it. Or you can just trust my detection abilities. There's someone inside this vial and I intend to release it right now. It radiates good, but just in case it can fool my detection abilities, I want a second verification and everyone prepared. Just don't look hostile at it when I release it!"
"Nifty!" Furgh says, excitedly, as he gets himself a front row seat.
Kal goes to Kadlian and says in elvish, "Shouldn't the human do this outside, who knows how big this thing is, and what might happen when releasing it in here."
"Perhaps Kal is right," Zanax says after someone translates for him. "Let's go back outside."
Zanax heads outside.
Kailar accompanies him.
Jerry, a little tired of debating with Sasha and Rage for the moment, follows Zanax out quietly. He turns and winks at Rage, and then walks out.
Hlarn accompanies him, casting Know Alignment on the vial also before you head out and is standing near Zanax's protection from evil aura.
The vial radiates chaotic good.
Zanax sighs. "Well, I guess we couldn't expect perfection!"
Hlarn comments. "Probably a djinn." Hlarn turns to the others, "If I were you, I would all come when we release the fellow. Djinn have the ability to grant wishes, and its possible he might feel grateful to us for freeing it, so have one in mind."
Hlarn smiles. "Or he might try striking us down in anger too before he realizes we are freeing him, so be prepared either way."
Jerry has his wand of force in hand in case the entity proves to be malicious.
In the end, then, you all troop outside into the forest with Zanax. It is a sunny, cool morning, with the temperature in the 40s. A flight of geese cruises by overhead, honking as they head south.
When they reach a clearing, and those who accompany Hlarn and Zanax are ready, Zanax uncorks the vial.
A cloud of gas explodes out of the vial. It quickly forms into the image of a large, muscular, hairless man with an earring. He looks like Mr. Clean.
"You freed me, man!" he says to Zanax. "For that I will grant you three wishes. Hurry up, though! You've got 30 seconds!"
Kal doesn't say a thing.
Jerry says, "she's gonna kill me, but.. I wish that Rage's past no longer bothered her."
"I will grant only the smirking one's wishes," says the djinni. "He has 26 seconds."
"Zanax, spare a wish for Rage. She deserves it," Jerry says.
Zanax frowns at Jerry, but says nothing.
"It would be most unwise to cast a wish at a person who will resist it. Great harm could be done," Sasha says, uncharacteristically serious and solemn.
"Or she would finally be free of her demons," Jerry replies in an equally solemn tone.
Rage glares at Jerry. "My demons, and I will free them in what manner I choose."
"I second Jerry's motion," says Equinox, "Her past makes her a pain in the ass."
"Equinox, no tact whatsoever, but that is what I was gently trying to say," Jerry replies, trying to convince Zanax to make the wish. "It would help her, Zanax, and it would aid the party as well."
Rage turns in a blur and with a smooth motion sends her bullwhip flying, the tip snapping and catching the druid's cheek.
"I have a thousand and one different ways to be a pain in your ass, Equinox. You would do well to remember that," the mage growls softly, her eyes blazing.
"And who says you never get to have all the fun, Equinox?" Jerry comments with an amused look on his face, well away from the whip wielding mage.
"Shut up, Rage," Equinox replies, "there is no need to threaten me or assault me just because you are a pain in the ass. Don't hit me again, with a whip or otherwise."
Rage glares at the druid. "You are beginning to bore me with your incessent prattle Equinox. You sit in judgement without knowledge," she says softly, evenly. "I suggest that you take your advice, and shut up," she continues, "For I do not believe in threatening people."
"MY incessant prattle? I have barely said a word in three days," replies Equinox. "Furthermore, I do not sit in judgment. The fact that I conclude you are a pain in the ass has nothing to do with my judgment of you, but is a conclusion I have drawn from my experiences of observing you."
"Ah, I have a chance then. Woo hoo!" Jerry says, with a wide smile on his face.
Kal pulls out a pouch of nuts, takes a seat at the base of a tree (say 30 or so yards away) and watches.
Gnarsh joins him.
Rage walks over to Kal and sits next to him. "Care to share some of those nuts?" she asks in elvish, grinning.
Kal passes the pouch to Rage, "Not going to smoke him?"
Rage takes a nut and thanks Kal. "Smoke who?" she asks as she crunches into the delicate and tasty meat of the nut.
To Rage, "Yeah, besides this could be more interesting." Kal passes the nuts to Gnarsh.
"Indeed I think that you are correct," replies the mage.
Stepping up behind Equinox, Sian growls. "You are still a new person here. You should watch what you say. If you had told someone to wish my personality to change because you didn't like it you would probably be in more pain than that little scratch she gave you.
"What both you and Jerry don't understand is that her past may be painful but it is hers none the less and makes her who she is. She is dealing with it in her way. Just because the two of you want to egg her on than you deserve all of her 'Rage'," Sian states with a glint in his eyes.
Rage looks at Sian with appreciation. "Thank you for your support and understanding, Sian," the mage says softly.
Equinox ignores Sian.
Sasha nods and smiles softly at Sian. "Exactly and very well said. We all have our difficulties and while we may want to interfere and 'help' it is best left to the individual. Rage has already made remarkable progress and continues to work at it. We would all do well to take a lesson from that," Sasha says softly, wishing with all her heart that folks settle down now.
"So being as she bothers you...you decide that she should have her personality changed so you can be happier. That is rich," Sian grumbles. "Gee, we should wish that we were no longer wanted or that we were gods for that matter."
"Now that would have been something, actually, Sian," Rage says thoughtfully. "I mean the part about not being wanted anymore. Though hopefully once this is over, we will have accomplished that as well. We can always take up our adventures in a new area if we fail to clear our name, I suppose."
"Yeah, wishing for that would probably get us captured," interjects Agulhas. "After all, once you are caught you are no longer wanted, are you?"
He chuckles. "Wishes. Go figure."
Hlarn looks at Zanax. "Wish that the next time any of us here die they be brought back to life fully restored and safe. Also wish that the holy avenger were altered to a blade you were more proficient in without the loss of any of its powers; are two of my suggestions for you," the dwarf says quickly.
Rage replies to Zanax, "Use the wishes as Hlarn suggests. For healing/life recovery."
"Whatever floats your boat, babe. Well, that ends my tenure as the good Samaritan," Jerry says as he finds a comfortable tree and sits down, leaning up against it with his arms folded in back of his head.
Rage's eyes flair briefly and then she begins to laugh. Long and hard. She shakes her head and walks away from the group.
"I am that close!!" Jerry says with glee as he shows a small space between his thumb and forefinger.
"Eighteen seconds," says the djinni.
After a few more precious seconds pass and other party members have suggested uses for the Wish, Zanax says:
"I Wish to have a complete map of the Raven goddess' dungeon we are currently clearing out."
"You got it, man!" says the djinni.
Zanax breathes a sigh of relief.
"I Wish to have our spent Rod of Resurrection appear in my hand fully charged."
"Hey, it's only a wish, fella! I can't work miracles! Ten seconds!"
Zanax sighs.. "I Wish to have the power to successfully Resurrect the next person I want to bring back to life."
"You're no cleric! Life's a bitch! Whee!!!!"
Freed, the djinn takes off.
"Smooth move, Zanax, you wasted two of three wishes. Great," Jerry says as he suns himself with his eyes closed.
Hlarn shrugs. "Wishes are fickle things at best, and when given by creatures of chaos, you can hardly expect better results. I know I've wasted a few wishes already."
Hlarn sighs. "I hate creatures of chaos. Oh well."
The dwarven warrior looks at Zanax. "Any sign of that map?"
Furgh waves cheerfully as the djinn departs.
"Ya coulda at least ask him his name," he says to Zanax.
He laughs. "Though I suppose he'd prob'ly a called that one a the wishes."
"One outta three, ain't too bad. Even if a bit borin'."
He too looks around to see if there's a map somewhere.
Zanax finds them tatooed across his backside.
Furgh laughs long and hard over this one.
Jerry laughs hysterically, "Now that's rich !"
Kal comments, in elvish, "At least he won't misplace it."
Kadlian sighs. "Oh, great, now I have to study his butt every time I want to figure out where we should go... Or worse, copy it off of his butt and onto paper. Sasha, perhaps you would prefer this job?"
Sasha chortles, unable to help herself. "Interesting .... very interesting," she says, her eyes still laughing.
"I'll volunteer to be the offical map reader ... " she offers, still grinning.
Zanax looks dubious. "Okay..." he says slowly. "But no peeking!"
Sasha grins. "No problem." She quickly takes her sharpest quill and a small jar of ink from her pack and proceeds to study the map. She follows the lines from corridor to corridor, making marks in the rooms that they have explored already ...
"I think we should check the accuracy of my markings on his bottom ... errr .. that is map. I may have missed some rooms that we have indeed indentified," Sasha says, studying her results critically. "It is a bit difficlut that the map is not flat .. and there are .. imperfections that are difficult to seperate from the actual map ..." she remarks, still checking her handiwork.
"Sasha, when you are finished, please let me know. I wish to study the paper map and plan out a strategy. We may hit the Temple later today depending on what I see."
Sasha looks up in surprise ... "Oh ... I was supposed to copy it to paper? I was making notations on the .. errr .. existing map ... shall I copy it to paper then?" she asks, mischieviously, her eyes twinkling.
Hlarn laughs. "Either copy it to paper, or we'll be forced to skin the paladin. Of course the hide would probably last longer than parchment..."
Kadlian chuckles. "Yes, please. You may want to look at Zanax's butt every time we need to consult the map, but I have no desire to do so. Besides, do you know how long it is going to take him to get his drawers down each time? We cannot wait that long."
Sasha grins. "Yes Sir, right away. You do have a point actually ... it would be rather akward for him to drop his pants all the time ... I can just see it now ... we are suddenly attacked and poor Zanax ... caught with his pants down as it were ... stumbling through the dungeon ... "
Sasha laughs and looks to Zanax.
"No offense dear Zanax .... and your bottom is quite cute actually ... some of those corridors go to interesting places indeed ... let's get this done then ... " she says, still grinning from ear to ear.
After awhile,Sasha calls out to the others, "Shouldn't be too much longer folks - it's coming along quite nicely ... though it appears some portions disappear into areas I'm not sure I want to explore," Sasha chuckles and finishes up her work as quickly and accurately as she can.
Finally, she displays her handiwork...
Kadlian studies the parchment maps. He points to the second one from the bottom. "This is where the temple lies. Looks like there are a bunch of cells or small rooms. The major temple does not look as large as I expected, but that must be it to the far right with the two secret doors. It might be wise to avoid entering from the main door, but enter though the secret door. What we need to do is figure out where that other staircase originates and then we could come in the back way."
Gnarsh looks at the maps.
"Already been down there, you idiot!" he says. "We couldn't get the doors open."
"We just need a knock spell. Besides, that was a few months ago and Kailar and Furgh and much more skilled now. I say we give it a try."
So, you trundle back to the secret room, where the clerics and spell casters finish their preparations.
It is early afternoon when you head back into the temple.
Going through the secret door found on the entrance level (that's the second map), you follow the winding passages down to the temple level.
You go to the first of the two secret doors which open off of this passage. Kailar and Furgh try their luck with it, but even with their increased skills are unable to find the trick to open it. They try the second door, at the end of the passage, but it is the same story.
"I can try to knock one or more of them open," says Rage, after watching the nimble fingered ones fail.
"We are?" Furgh says. "Oh, I mean, yes, we are, donchaknow."
He indicates the gnome. "I'm sure my distinguished coleague will agree, that that those doors were barred by powerful magics, if our skills were not enough ta open 'em up."
"We are possibly the two most skilled locksmiths in the world and this lock must be some sort of long forgotten artifact of tremendous power to be able to resist our skill," adds Kailar. "Do you want me to slide under to the other side and take a peek?"
"Let Rage knock it."
Zanax does his usual set of detections.
As he concentrates, and Rage prepares to cast her knock spell, the door opens.
As the map indicates, the secret door opens into a passage running east-west. Before you is a group of people. The person who just opened the door is a priestess...the same priestess whose sexual activities Kal used to observe. Beside her is a powerful looking man in gleaming chain mail, holding a glowing sword. Behind the woman is another fighter, in splint mail with another glowing sword. Behind the first fighter is an ettin.
Behind them all is a priestess, just completing a spell...
From behind you, around the corner and to the east, you hear the sounds of approaching footsteps.
Zanax detects evil...lots of evil.
The first segment...
"Mages, keep the spellcasters busy. Zanax, dispel whatever magic she is casting."
"Sian, Kal, Jerry and Equinox, guard our backs."
"Gnarsh, Hlarn, Zanax and I will take the front."
Rage starts to cast Ice Storm, centered on the priestess who just cast the spell.
Sasha doesn't hesitate and starts to cast a silence spell targetted at the priestess just completing the spell ...
Equinox starts to cast Chill Metal on all current opponents except the ettin.
Jerry, with his staff in hand, summons the "Thunder and Lightning" aspect of the staff at the opposing party.
Kailar starts to cast a phantasmal killer on the ettin.
Zanax reaches for his holy avenger.
Kal stands ready to attack the group approaching from the rear.
Drawing both swords, Sian moves to take on whatever first appears around the corner.
"Hope we don't have any friendly fire this time," says Sian with a grin.
Seeing the chaos of spells and swords about to erupt all around him, Agulhas first starts to cast mirror image on himself and then fly.
Hlarn immediately casts Withdraw.
"Looks like they're home," The voice of an invisible Furgh mumbles, cheerfully, as he starts his part in upcoming events.
The priestess completes her spell as you are starting yours, and a pillar of flames erupts all about you. Eight of you are caught in it, but fortunately Hlarn protected you all earlier.
However, Sasha and Rage are both slightly distracted by the flame strike, and hence their spells are ruined.
Suddenly two more Agulhas' appear, by the first one. He starts casting his fly spell.
Kadlian draws both swords and attacks the priestess who opened the door. Gnarsh is right beside him, attacking the fighter.
The ranger has an easy time with the cleric, as she is only lightly armoured, and after striking her with both longsword and flame tongue, she is left bleeding badly. Gnarsh likewise chops into the chain-clad fighter with ease, but the man lays into the half-orc with a stab for 14 hit points. Gnarsh strikes him again, while sidestepping the glowing longsword.
Zanax has out his avenger by now, and a golden glow fills the passage.
At the rear, two giants - a cloud and a fire - charge around the corner. The cloud giant slips on something, and skids to the floor.
Suddenly there is a crackle and a roar of thunder, as Jerry releases his staff. A forked lightning bolt strikes both giants. One takes more damage than the other.
A slight frost starts to form on the armour of the clerics and fighters in front of you.
Suddenly the ettin drops dead.
Sian jumps on the fallen giant, while Kal takes the fire giant. As the cloud giant scrambles to his feet, the ranger strikes him with a glancing blow with his frost brand while missing with his cutlass. The grugach stabs his spear into the fire giant, but then is clobbered for 16 hit points.
Agulhas rises up into the air.
Hlarn moves to attack.
"Time to make them toasty!"
However, with Gnarsh and Kadlian plugging up the doorway, he is unable to get in on the fun.
The high priestess is casting another spell.
"Not too toasty," shouts Equinox, "soon the clerics will begin taking damage from the cold and should not be able to cast any spells."
Equinox then casts Faerie Fire on the group of humans facing the party (not the giants).
Furgh appears, floating up by the ceiling near the corner, as he throws a dagger down the passage to the east.
"Hey, no fair hidin' back here," he calls cheerfully. "The parties 'round the corner."
Suddenly he drops to the floor behind the giants with a thump, and sits there for a moment, wondering what happened.
Hlarn shouts a command, "Sleep!" at the priestess but doesn't stand around waiting to see if it works.
The cleric falls to the floor, asleep, her spell ruined.
Hlarn then runs around the party to attack the larger of the giants, using his boots to be speedy as possible.
"Zanax, keep the holy avenger handy for any additional spells. Rage and Agulhas, take out that other priestess. I will take care of mine."
Kadlian again skewers the lightly armoured cleric. She is bleeding badly, now, but still takes up her mace...and misses the ranger. Kadlian then finishes her off with his flame tongue.
The remaining fighter moves in to attack him next.
Gnarsh, meanwhile, is having a good time with the other fighter, who fans. Gnarsh strikes him twice, and the man is in poor shape indeed. He still manages to chop into the half-orc for 7 hit points.
Zanax stands ready to dispel any hostile magic in the area. He also constantly checks for evil, expecting an invisible demon to pop up.
Kailar casts a spectral force of a cone of cold on the two giants to the rear. He then turns invisible.
The cloud giant is hurt. The fire giant is unaffected.
Kal continues to attack with his spear.
The grugach is knocked sprawling for anther 13 hit points, and misses with his spear.
Sian takes 19 hit points from the cloud giant, but manages to prick him with his frost brand.
Hlarn rushes to Kal's aid, and his axe thumps into the fire giant twice.
Suddenly the fighters and clerics light up.
"Bitch," says Rage and shouts. "Arughlas keep her busy with magic missiles," as she casts from her staff a globe of invulnerability.
Agulhas complies, altering his plan, and firing off a spells worth of magic missiles at the high priestess. The missiles pour into the prone priestess, waking her up.
Jerry levels his staff and says, "Want some?" as he fires again with the thunder and lightning. This time he strikes the giants, Kal and Hlarn with bolts. The grugach and dwarf each take 14 hit points. The giants are hurt as well...the fire giant to the point of being killed.
Suddenly Hlarn is attacked from the rear by a previously invisible and unheard human fighter, striking quickly with a glowing sword. He wears plate mail and a thick cloak, with which he apparently shielded the blade. The dwarf takes 22 hit points from two hits.
The enemy is again trying to cast spells.
"Sorry guys, my aim isn't great with this thing," Jerrold says with a sheepish grin.
Hlarn laughs. "No problem. At least you took out the one giant. A little pain on my part is worth that. Me and that fellow go back a ways."
Sasha points to the spell casting priestess and 'commands' her to undress.
The high priestess ignores Sasha. Instead, she fades out of view...
Equinox's chill metal continues to damage the fighters and cleric to the south.
Equinox casts Charm Person or Mammal on the now visible fighter. Nothing appears to happen.
"Kal, take out the giant," Jerry orders as he moves to help Hlarn.
Kal turns his attack on the cloud giant. Sian is taking a beating, being struck for 22 hit points while he misses with both of his weapons. Thanks to Hlarn's prayer, the grugach sticks his spear into the rear of the giant, and he is looking bad, now.
Hlarn looks at Kal. "The last giant is yours. Enjoy!" Swinging at the previously invisible fighter, Hlarn's face is all smiles. "My turn!" as he swings his axe.
The dwarf tries to dig in with his axe. The blade bounces right off the man's gleaming plate mail. The human laughs, and slices into Hlarn again for 12 hit points. Hlarn tries his luck a second time, and connects with a powerful hit. The sword bites again, though, and Hlarn is hurt for another 9 hit points. He finally strikes Hlarn a third time, for 9 more.
The dwarf is looking badly hurt.
To make up for his badly planned attack, Jerry rushes to Hlarn's side and slams the fighter that attacked him twice with his staff. There is a crack of thunder as he connects, and the fighter is hurt, but not stunned. Jerrold strikes him again, hurting him even more. But he again shakes off the stunning effect.
He is not smiling quite so broadly, now, though.
"Agulhas, keep hitting that priestess. Kailar, check for any other invisible creatures and warn us if you see anything."
Kailar turns invisible again
Kailar next casts detect invisibility and scans the area.
Kadlian meets the fighter coming at him. "Gnarsh, finish off that man. Then you can have the priestess."
"Shutup and practice what yer preach!" snarls Gnarsh. "If I wanted a sergeant t'order me 'round I'd a joined th' army!"
Stepping under his enemy's swinging sword, Gnarsh nails him again with his new broadsword, and the man drops.
"Rage, if you have something useful against the giants, do it. But, leave Hlarn, Sian and Kal out of it."
Kadlian, meanwhile, hits his adversary with his frost brand. He in turn is hit for 11 hit points. The ranger misses with his shortsword, and is missed in turn as well.
Rage unloads her magic missiles on the foes to the rear, targeting the cloud giant and then the new fellow.
One spell kills the cloud giant. She turns her next spell onto Hlarn's adversary. However, all five of her missiles are absorbed into a broach that he is wearing.
"Sasha, see if you can heal Sian or Kal."
Once Sasha has cast command on the priestess, she moves to heal Sian and Kal, going to whomever is closest first ...
Reaching for Sian as she incants her healing magic, she cures him for 3 hit points.
Zanax moves past Kadlian and the last fighter to the south, and looks around the corner. Gnarsh is beside him.
"Oh-oh," says the half-orc, as both he and the paladin are jumped by a fighter and a frost giant, respectively.
Hlarn recognises this fellow, as well.
Furgh still seems to be focusing his attention around the corner.
"'Spose its better then another one a those flame things," he offers optomistically.
"Furgh. What is around the corner?"
"Alright, no more Mr. Nice Elf," Furgh mumbles, miming pushing up his shirt sleeves. He takes another knife out and throws it down the passage.
He misses his target again.
Suddenly Furgh lights up, being the lucky recipient of a faerie fire spell.
Next, it becomes very quiet around the corner of the passage where Furgh is. This distresses the red-haired elf very much. Hlarn and Kal also find themselves within the field of silence.
"Classic pincer move. I just wish I knew how they got by us."
"Zanax, we need you to dispel the silence spell around the spellcasters. We need their magic."
"I'm a little busy right now, unless you want to take my place!" Zanax shouts back as he hacks the Avenger into the frost giant.
Zanax also uses the sword's Dispel Magic ability to eliminate any protection spells the frost giant may have on him.
The paladin lands a terrible hit on the giant while dodging a blunt instrument aimed his way. The avenger strikes again, and the giant is staggering while he howls in pain.
"Kailar, anything else you can toss at our adversaries, do so. Agulhas, web the back passage beyond Kal and Sian. That will give us time to regroup."
As usual, Agulhas complies with Kadlian. He casts his web as suggested.
The east passage behind you is blocked.
Kadlian shouts over his shoulder, "Agulhas, can you dispel the silence?"
"I could," returns Agulhas, "but not with my current array of memorized spells!"
After a pause, "Perhaps we should learn or begin to memorize the vocalize spell..."
Kadlian swears. "Alright, stick to your plan, but keep a magic missile or two handy for whatever is still around. This battle is not close to being done."
"Dang! I did not memorize it because I figured Zanax had it covered! I guess I'll just have to try and free him up!" Agulhas continues with his plan, but only casts one of his magic missile spells, opting to hold the other for any future spellcasters.
"Good idea. Not everyone obeys my orders to the letter."
"He's talkin' about me, y'know!" says Gnarsh with a feral lear. The half orc lands the first blow in his latest battle, before taking 10 hit points himself. he connects again, though, but is struck himself for 9 more in the process.
Kadlian continues to attack the man in front of him.
The elf-ranger gets hit for 9 more hit points. He strikes back, before taking another hit for 15 hit points. Missing with his flame tongue, Kadlian finishes off with a second hit with his longsword.
Agulhas' magic missile spell leaves the frost giant all but dead.
Furgh looks at the new brightness surround him with cheerful fascination, and laughs, though it makes no sound. He frowns slightly, tries to say something else, again to no affect, and looks slightly annoyed, though it quickly disappears, replaced by a grin.
He pulls out a small bottle, raises it in a salute to the unseen adversaries down the corridor, and downs it. Still saluting, he floats up into the air.
Sasha cures Sian some more...for 5 hit points.
Equinox casts Cure Serious Wounds on the nearest fighter type he can reach without putting himself in harm's way. Sian is cured for a further 9 hit points.
"Fireballs away."
Kailar casts an improved phantasmal force of a fireball centered on the frost giant.
Neither the giant or the two fighters are affected.
Hlarn continues his attack on the warrior, moving quickly about with his boots to try and make himself a harder target to hit. The dwarf is struck for 10 hit points, and leaves a trail of blood as he dashes about. He lands another thwack with his axe, but the man easily catches him again with his glowing sword, for 12 more hit points of damage.
Hlarn falls unconscious in a large pool of his own blood.
Kal attacks the fighter on Hlarn if there's room. However, that Jerrold is in the way. There is another crack as the druid connects, but the target is not stunned. Jerrold misses with his second attack. The man turns to take on Jerrold, next.
Suddenly a ball of light appears just above Furgh's head.
Rage casts a wall of ice spell to seal off the passageway where Furgh had indicated the foes were coming through. A wall appears in the midst of the webbing. She then take a scroll and read it, casting Summon Monster VI.
Back at the other end of the battle, Zanax suddenly feels an icy hand grip his heart. He gasps, and falters, then draws on some inner strength and fights the evil magic that has been sent at him.
Standing some 20' down the east passage, where it turns a corner to the south, is a regal looking high priestess clad in gleaming plate mail. She smiles a sad smile...then winks out of the paladin's sight.
"Sasha, see to Hlarn immediately. Sian, help Jerry out."
Kadlian continues to swing at the fighter in front of him.
Equinox's chill metal spell is making it hard for the ranger's adversary to grip his sword. While he fumbles with it, Kadlian connects with his frost brand. The shivering fighter is in poor shape, but he manages to swing his longsword, knocking Kadlian down 12 more hit points. Kadlian replies with his flame tongue, while the servant of Tyaa misses him.
The priestess who faded out of sight several moments ago fades back in...this time at the end of the passage to the west.
Zanax shakes off the remains of the spell as he checks down the east passage for evil.
"I am gonna kick your ass from here to Westgate for putting the hurt on Hlarn," Jerry snarls at the fighter as he double swings his staff at his present enemy.
"Kick my ass? Yer gonna kick the bucket in a moment, buster!" the man replies. He is quicker with his sword than Jerrold is with his staff, and Jerrold takes 10 hit points of damage. Jerrolds staff misses badly.
"Kiss wood, metal head !" Jerry says as he slams him again.
This time the stave connects, reducing the man's head to a gooey pulp. This causes him to die.
Equinox casts Cure Serious Wounds on Hlarn. The dwarf awakens with a groan.
Hlarn regains consciousness to find Equinox kneeling over him, having just cast some curative magic into him. While Hlarn is back up to 7 hit points, he is in no condition to do anything else but lie there unless more powerful healing is applied.
He sees that the man who cut him down a moment ago is himself collapsing to the floor, his skull shattered, courtesy of Jerrold and his staff.
Elsewhere, the battle continues unabated.
Furgh finds that he has levitated up and out of the silenced area.
Suddenly Kailar appears behind the chilled fighter that Kadlian is battling. A blade flashes, but somehow his target sees it just in time, and deflects it.
Kailar glowers, then speaks a word and turns invisible again.
After she completes reading her scroll, Rage starts to cast wizard eye from a scroll.
Suddenly, Agulhas' web spell which blocks the secret passage behind you vanishes. The wall of ice remains, however.
Gnarsh continues to have fun with his adversary. The half-orc is clobbered for 11 hit points, leaving him staggered and bleeding heavily. Nevertheless, his broadsword connects with the man one last time, before he is cut down.
The victor takes out a vial and prepares to drink it.
Zanax attacks the frost giant...or rather the frost giant attacks Zanax first. However, the paladin easily dodges the incoming club, and impales the monster with his avenger, killing it.
Zanax charges forward to attack the evil, using his ability to track it. He rushes to the corner as suddenly the high priestess reappears, reaching out to touch him. He dodges her, as suddenly another fighter appears out of thin air, to plunge his bastard sword into the paladin for 14 hit points.
"Deal with him, Valarian," says the high priestess, as she ducks behind her defender and back around the corner, turning invisible in the process.
"Yes, Milady Tibia," the man replies. He looks to be terribly strong, and weilds his blade with a skill matched only by the man who cut down Hlarn.
The wall of ice in the secret passage is holding the enemies behind you at bay. Kadlian fights by the door, while Zanax is down the passage to the east, facing Valarian by the corner.
Rage, belatedly realising that her wizard eye spell takes ten minutes to cast and that by then there will probably be nothing to send it to look at, cancels the spell. It vanishes from her scroll.
"Kailar, I need you to keep tabs on that priestess. As long as she is around, we are all in danger."
"Furgh, what did you see before the wall of ice went up?"
"Sian, take Gnarsh's spot. Agulhas, hit that man with a magic missile. Do not let him down that potion."
Sian moves up.
"Rage, we need more firepower. Kal, Jerrold, be ready for whatever is behind that wall, but use all the healing you have on Hlarn before that. We need him back on his feet."
"Already on it. I have summoned some help that should get here any minute now. Don't be surprised when it shows up," Rage says as she moves over and begins to cast.
"Just let us know when it arrives so that we do not assume it summoned by our foe."
"Sasha, Equinox, pull Gnarsh back and get back up."
"I will do as you say, Kadlian," says Equinox, "but I think it would be better if I were to cast Faerie Fire on that Priestess, instead."
"Next time she appears, feel free. But, we need Gnarsh and Hlarn back in action."
Suddenly a lightning bolt explodes into existance, striking the man who downed Gnarsh, just as he completes quaffing his potion. It is one of Rage's very best lightning bolts ever, and blows its target to pieces, before riccocheting off up the passage to the west. From that direction you hear a feminine cry of pain, as the bolt also struck the priestess who was up that way, ruining her spell.
Equinox casts his final Cure Serious Wounds in Hlarn. The dwarf is healed a further 14 hit points, but he will still be out of action for a week.
Kadlian continues to attack the man in front of him. The man is still having trouble with Equinox's spell, and his troubles are compounded when the ranger ploughs his frost brand into him. Summoning up his last reserves, though, he lands a glancing blow for 8 hit points. Kadlian then misses with his flame tongue and the enemy, enjoying the reprieve, slices open Kadlian's arm for 15 hit points. Desperate to finish things off for once and for all, Kadlian nails him a second time with his frost brand, and the man finally drops.
Kal casts 'cure serious wounds' on himself, for 8 hit points.
Furgh, meanwhile, still levitated, casts a spell. He then drops to the floor. Springing to his feet, and dashes over to the east wall of the passage and casts another spell. Suddenly the wall turns invisible, and you can see through it and into the rooms to the east. In the southerly one you see a man and a minotaur, peering through the southern door, which is ajar slightly.
"That's what was over there," he says to Kadlian with a grin, pointing to the people in the other room.
Suddenly the wall of ice at the corner vanishes, and you hear the running-clanking noise of someone in armour approaching.
Sasha, realizing there are no healers in the front with Gnarsh, Kadlian and Zanax, makes her way there. She casts her only cure serious on Gnarsh, for 2 hit points.
Gnarsh groans and sits up.
"Woah...what a frikkin' hangover," he mutters.
Kadlian changes his mind. "Sasha, just get Hlarn and Gnarsh stabilized. Unless you have a death's door spell, Gnarsh is out for the week. If you do have one, use it and then heal Gnarsh."
Zanax faces off with Valarian. The lord strikes the paladin easily for 16 hit points. Zanax in turn strikes him with his holy avenger. Zanax is chopped for another 13 hit points, as he lands a glancing blow against his adversary. Finally, Zanax is struck again for another 13 hit points, leaving him badly injured.
At this juncture another pillar of flame explodes, engulfing Kadlian. This time he is caught unprotected, with only his frost brand and his agility to save him. He suffers only 6 hit points of damage, as he jumps aside, finding himself against the south wall of the passage.
Tibia, standing over by where Zanax and Valarian are battling, winks out of sight again.
The minotaur catches sight of those of you still in the secret passage, and runs at you. He hits the invisible wall, and staggers back, shaking his head.
The fighter who is with him just shakes his head at his companion, and then runs through the south door, ready for a fight.
Someone is approaching down the secret passage from the east. A priestess is casting a spell from down the west passage. Zanax is battling Valarian before the door to the main temple, while evidently Tibia herself is lurking nearby. Out of the north door runs another fighter, with a minotaur staggering along behind him.
"Guess they are as dumb as they look," Furgh says wisely. "Last one a those I ran across 'caught the bad side of a beholder."
"There was another priestess over there somewhere too," he adds, pointing north. "Though she's a number'a spells down, now."
He winces slightly.
"Kailar, find that priestess. Rage, we need help. Kal, Equinox, Jerry and Sasha, Zanax and I need to be healed as much as possible. Rage, Agulhas, help Zanax with some magic missiles or he is going down as well."
You hear Kailar casting a spell.
Sasha, seeing Gnarsh is at least stabilized rushes over towards Zanax.
"I have one left .. I think Zanax should have it ... then I am out of healing .. "
"I have a potion of healing!" calls Agulhas. He hands it to Sasha as she passes by. "Administer it as you see fit," he tells the lady.
Sasha grabs it as she runs by, "Bless you Agulhas!" she says, continuing onwards ....
Sasha suddenly finds herself facing the fighter who just ran through the north door. She tries to dodge him and she does, as his broadsword raises a shower of sparks as it connects with the wall instead of her.
Kadlian moves to assist Zanax. "Jerry, Equinox, you are with me. Kal and Sian hold the rear in case that wall of ice goes down."
Sian, who had rushed up beside Kadlian per his instructions of a moment ago, turns and runs back to the rear again.
Kadlian finds himself face to face with the minotaur.
"Me got sore head! Me take it out on you!" he says, swinging his axe but missing. Kadlian attacks with his frost brand, easily connecting with the beast but hurting it only slightly. The minotaur tries to bite him next without success, before he feels the bite of the flame tongue.
Zanax staggers back from the onslaught, cursing something about his armor/shield, about non-evil fighters and how he'd rather be using his long sword right now.
Zanax lays on hands himself for 18 hps and then switches to his long sword to continue his attack.
Valarian comes after him, pressing the attack and striking with ease, wiping out all but two hit points of the healing that the paladin just gave himself. As Zanax drops his avenger and draws his longsword he is struck again for 16 hit points.
As Zanax falls, Valarian swings his sword one last time and beheads the paladin.
"Shall I create a wall of force to give us some breathing room?" Jerry asks as he follows Kadlian.
Kadlian smiles. "Yes, do that. Then we can perhaps get healed a little better before the next round begins. Just make sure you do it before the doors to the main temple and not after."
Jerry pulls out his wand of force and does as he was instructed. A shimmering wall seals off the entrance to the temple.
"Kadlian," replies Equinox, "I am no use whatsoever in a fight against Lord Valerian. He will squash me like a bug and I have no weapon that has any hope of piercing his plate mail. I suggest you permit me to cast my healing spells and go after Tibia, instead."
Kadlian hesitates and nods. "Heal me then. As much as you can."
Suddenly Kadlian freezes up solid, as the priestess to the west completes her latest spell. The minotaur, seeing his chance, laughs and decapitates the elf with his axe.
Equinox runs down the passageway, until he is standing at the start of the T-junction, just enough so that he can see both directions in the passageway running East-West. He starts to cast a spell.
Suddenly there is a feminine cry of agony as Kailar suddenly appears before the door to the temple. His shortsword is bloody. He stabs at an unseen target again...but misses. A third time and he connects again. There is another cry. It is Tibia.
Valerian turns and jumps to attack the gnome as Kailar flies upwards, but the gnome is out of the reach of his sword, and turning invisible as he flies back to the secret door.
Rage yells to Argulhas, "Cast your lightning bolt in the north corner, and send it down the passageway to the east, let's fish with lightning. Furgh, pull back a bit."
She then pulls out a scroll and casts Wall of Fire as to seal the passageway were the wall of ice just went down.
As she starts reading the scroll another fighter rushes around the corner...in silence. Kal finds himself facing him.
"Lightning bolt away!" shouts Agulhas, unleashing his lightning bolt. The bolt strikes the man in the chest, but he is not terribly hurt by it.
Furgh releases a spell simultaneously, and the fighter suddenly...slows...down...
The elf then rises up back into the air, casting another spell as he does so.
Agulhas then casts fly on himself before continuing.
A wall of fire springs up where the web and the wall of ice were...trapping the enemy fighter on this side.
"Who has the ring of wishes?" Rage calls. "We need it now. Fly, Furgh, to camp and wish that our group was healed and up to full strength. Then return with B-9."
"Feh!" Furgh calls, between incantations. "If I could fly, I'd be doin' so. Damn wench around the corner turned off my belt."
"'Sides." He adds, with a smile. "Time I got all the way up there, this'd all be over. No way I'm missin' out on all the excitement."
"Let me seal the breech in the line and then I can teleport Hlarn back to camp, if you want," replies the mage.
Hlarn smiles, standing up. "Sounds like a plan. Just hope I don't blow the wish, but I think I know what's needed."
He immediately falls down again and passes out.
Rage regards the fallen dwarf. "I'm the only one with the teleports. I'll go," she says, "But I will have to burn it from my spell book to get back, unless I word the wish correctly."
Then she remembers her staff.
Rage curses, "No. I have to send someone in my steed. If I leave, and my critters show up, they will be uncontrolled and can attack the party. I'll have to send Argulhas instead," she says, "He will not be able to get back to the group unless the spell is very powerful." She looks at him, "When I teleport you back, you must get the ring and wish that everyone in your group is returned to full health and ability. Come here," she says after he has cast his spells.
Kailar speaks up. He is now hovering above Rage's head.
"I'll go get the ring. What do you want me to wish for?"
Meanwhile, Kal attacks the fighter. The man barely sidesteps the thrust, but still catches the elf with his glowing longsword for 9 hit points.
Sian is almost there to help him.
Suddenly the wall of fire goes out.
By this time Equinox has completed his spell. Valerian, the minotaur and the fighter on Sasha all light up.
Sasha is battling a fighter. Jerrold finds himself facing the minotaur who just killed Kadlian. Valerian turns back and turns invisible. Equinox is in the secret doorway. To his right, down the passage to the west, the other cleric is casting again.
Rage is behind Equinox in the passage, with Kailar overhead. Agulhas is now flying, too. Furgh has levitated up to the ceiling.
Kal and Sian are facing the slowed fighter who came around the north corner.
The silence spell went out with the wall of fire.
"You bastard, you killed Kenny, err, I mean Kadlian!" Jerry says as he double slams the minotaur with both shots on lightning.
The minotaur drops dead after after one swat.
The outline of Valarian moves up to take his place.
Furgh's not smiling so hard anymore, as things are quickly ceasing to be so exciting. He begins to pull himself along the ceiling to the south exit.
Rage takes charge, shouting the following orders: "Argulhas, help Sasha out, burn that fighter. Furgh, do what you can do, help Kal and Sian. Kailar, good luck, wish that the party is restored to full life, health, and abilities. I'm on the cleric. Equinox, hold the door. Jerry, finish that man fast My friends should be here soon, I cast it almost three minutes ago."
As she finishes speaking, a phase spider phases in beside Rage.
Next, the north door in the west passage opens and out steps a rakshasa.
"Wow, remind me not to get on Rage's bad side!!" Jerry says to no one in particular. "Rage, honey, these your friends?" he asks over the din of battle.
"Indeed they are." she says as she directs her new allies.
Rage sends the phase spider against Valerian.
The spider phases out again.
Rage asks the Rakshasa to help Sasha, sending him against the fighter.
He smiles, and moves down the passage.
Kailar disappears.
With Kailar gone, Rage casts another lightning bolt down the west. The bolt goes off coincident with the priestess' latest magic. Sasha, Equinox and Jerrold feel their limbs stiffen for an instant, but then they fight off the effect. The bolt explodes down the passage, and blows the priestess to bits. Rage then turns her magic missiles on the fighter on Sasha.
As she does so, the man chops at Sasha with his glowing broadsword for 7 hit points. Sasha tries to back up, but he comes after her.
Sasha snaps the whip at her fighter, trying for his neck with great skill. Her skill is not enough to catch him, however.
Then, Rage's ten missiles strike, hurting him but not fatally.
Kal continues with melee, easily jabbing the slowed fighter with his spear. Sian is next, connecting with his frost brand. But the enemy is not done for yet, and nails Kal for 13 hit points, leaving the grugach bloodied and reeling.
Suddenly, the slow spell is dispelled, as the other priestess steps into view behind the fighter. This is the one that Furgh was throwing daggers at earlier. A slightly shimmering glow surrounds her, and it just touched her defender. Confident that you cannot hurt her, she begins casting a spell.
Meanwhile, since Valerian is now illuminated, Agulhas has cast Fumble on the man. Valerian slows down, just as the phase spider appears behind him. The spider bites him, but is unable to penetrate his invisible armour. The man spins around and swings at it, but the spider has faded out again before his sword comes to bear.
Next, Agulhas casts his final magic missile spell into the fighter on Sasha. These last four missiles begin to weaken the man.
Tibia reappears, as she completes another spell. Rage feels her joints stiffen, but she resists successfully.
That is Tibia's last hurrah, though, as suddenly a ray from above strikes her...and she suddenly turns into...a newt. A big, pink newt.
The newt stands there, looking surprised.
Furgh looks surprised, too.
Right now, Sasha is battling the fighter to the east, beside Jerrold who is facing Valerian' back. The Rakshasa waits to get in on the fun, too. At the rear, Kal and Sian are battling the last fighter. Behind him is the last surviving priestess.
The enemy ranks are thinning, now, and no more reinforcements seem to be on the way.
"The tide is turning, who hoo!" Jerry exclaims with joy as he slams his staff into the back of Valerian and asks, "You want some??"
There is a crack, followed by a groan as the staff slams into the man. However, Valarian is still quite healthy, and weathers the blow. As he turns around and lashes out with his bastard sword, Jerrold swings again...and actually misses. Perhaps it is his surprise at missing a slowed opponent that momentarily blinds him to the incoming sword, but Jerrold is hit for 18 hit points. Then the spider appears behind the fighter, but it too is unable to pierce Valarian's glowing plate mail.
"Quick, Equinox, get that newt!" Rage yells. "Sasha, withdraw, I need you here with me. One of you get that newt. Jerry do your worst, but do not hurt my friends. After you finish the figher, friend Rakshasa, please help our spider friend with the other fighter."
"Furgh, do that again on the fighter."
"Too many folks in the way." Furgh replies, though he tries to get a bead on another target, as he squints down the length of the wand like its a crossbow.
"For the record, Rage hon," a strange voice whispers, directly into Rage's ear, "That's how it's done."
Clear across the way, the red-mohawked, brightly glowing, levitating elf, grins slightly, though his attention seems entirely focused elsewhere.
"Argulhas, quit standing there and cast what you can at that priestess!"
Rage casts web from memory so she catches the priestess in the web and it spills back to the north and east ..
The web springs into existance just as she intended...however, the slightly glowing shell around the woman keeps the strands away from her.
Rage then turns invisible.
Agulhas hovers above Rage, waiting to see the results of her web spell. When it does not take, he unloads his wand of illumination at her. Again, it does not affect her.
However, standing in his alotted place by the secret door, Equinox begins casting another spell.
Sasha quickly ducks out of her fight with the fighter, letting Rakshasha take her place ... "Thank you friend ... I think I need to pick on someone my own size .. " she pants, her eyes following the bright pink newt ...
As she tries to get out of the fight, her opponent slams her for 8 hit points, then turns to face the Rakshasha.
The tuxedo-clad tiger does not attack physically, though. Instead, he pours a magic missile spell into the man.
The fighter drops like a stone.
Sasha, meanwhile, has gone after the newt, but the amphibian does not seem to be inclined to stick around, and darts through the north door. The cleric follows.
Through the invisible wall you see the newt dart over to the southeast corner of the room and touch the south wall with its nose. A secret door opens, and it scuttles through...into the temple chamber beyond.
Unable to cast any healing spells upon himself because of the melee, Kal continues to attack with his spear.
Kal's latest jab with his spear is wide, but his adversary has no trouble skewering the grugach for 12 hit points, leaving Kal barely standing. Sian drives his frost band into the man next, as Kal is again hit for 10 hit points, and falls.
Furgh releases his wand at the fighter as he stands over the fallen elf, but he jumps aside just in the nick of time, and it misses him. Sian fans with his cutlass, and then with his frost brand.
The last priestess releases her latest spell, and a pillar of flame erupts about Rage, Agulhas and Equinox. However, Rage's globe continues to protect them.
The priestess immediately starts another spell.
Then, a very strange thing happens.
The heads of Zanax and Kadlian, which have been getting underfoot and kicked about the passage like a pair of bloody soccer balls by the fighters as they meleed, suddenly roll back to their respective bodies and reattach themselves to their respective necks.
Their bodies become whole, alive and healed again.
Simultaneously, all of your wounds and injuries are healed completely.
Hlarn regains consciousness, and Gnarsh feels like fighting again.
Suddenly, Kadlian and Zanax are alive and whole again. Apart from some footprints across their heads, they feel great.
Hlarn, Gnarsh and Kal also regain consciousness, for they are all completely healed.
In fact, everyone is.
The tide has definitely turned in the party's favour. The floor is littered with dead fighters and clerics. In the hallway before the door into the temple, Valarian still stands, battling Jerrold before him and a phase spider behind. While the fighter still looks healthy, he is moving very slowly.
A rakshasa stands over the fallen form of the fighter who originally came through the north door. His companion, the minotaur who killed Kadlian, lies dead beside him.
Through the transparent wall of the secret passage, you see Sasha in the room to the east, looking through the secret doorway in the southeast corner, and into the temple.
At the back, in the secret passage, Sian faces the last warrior. Behind him, the last priestess of Tyaa is casting a spell. A faint glow shimmers about her.
Then, Kailar appears, with his cat...and a miniature copper dragon.
"Woah!" says the dragon. "Not much work left for us! Can you restore me to my normal size, little fella?"
Kailar releases all of the shrink spells on Findas.
Suddenly the secret passageway is filled up with about 30' of copper dragon. Fortunately, at this point there was no one in the way but Hlarn, and he doesn't seem to mind being knocked sprawling again.
Hlarn's eyes light up as he scrambles to his feet. "I thought the temple had long ago slain that one... How'd he show up?"
"Better ask our little friend, bearded one," replies the dragon, as he starts to inch down the reamining length of the passage, north.
"Gotta be the fastest amphibian in existance," Furgh observes, with a slight frown, as the newt scuttles into the temple.
Furgh pulls himself back up the secret passage along the ceiling northwards, intending to toss two knives at the priestess.
Zanax shakes his head. "I had this strange dream someone kicked my head into a net and this guy kept yelling 'GGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!'"
"Hlarn, Kal assist Sian immediately. Zanax, make for the priestess."
Zanax looks at the congested north secret passage, and instead opts to take the scenic route...through the rooms to the east, and thence come up to the priestess from the rear.
Kadlian heads off at a run towards the priestess, following the paladin.
"Jerry, I presume you can handle Valerian? If you want help, I suggest asking the Rakshasa for an assist."
Hlarn hefts his axe and smiles. "Nice to hear you again Chios, but there is work still to be done."
He moves to help Sian and get at the priestess.
Equinox suddenly turns into a hawk, and flies after Sasha.
Kal also moves to attack the fighter on Sian, who does not look pleased to see everyone well again.
Rage lets out a shout of glee. "Welcome back friends!" she calls to her comrades and then speaks directly to the Rakshasha, "Can you please help my friend Jerry? Friend Phase spider, if you would not mind, could you go and find that newt, that just ran away. If not, could you come here and deal ith this priestess over here, I would appreciate it. But the newt is of upmost importance."
Rage calls to Kadlian, "Get Zanax and yourself to help Sasha. If we get this newt, we get the high priestess. Kal, Sian, Hlarn, Gnarsh and I should be able to take these two."
"Argulhas, if you have an invisible spell left, can you go over to help Sasha and cast it on the wall."
Agulhas moves after Sasha.
Rage moves up to offer protection from her globe to the fighters, and renew it from the staff.
Taking advantage of the fighter's dismay, Hlarn dashes past him and attacks the priestess behind him. She sees him coming, though, and shouts -
"SLEEP!"
Hlarn drops into a deep slumber at her feet.
Hlarn lies within the sphere that surrounds her...and the rest of you note that his axe has abruptly stopped glowing.
She then unhitches her hammer, and swings it...aiming at his skull...
...when suddenly a dagger embeds itself in her hand, causing her to drop the hammer with a cry and a curse!
Furgh slowly lowers himself to land atop Findas.
Meanwhile, Sian and Kal attack the priestess' erstwhile defender. He lands the first blow, though, on Sian for 9 hit points. The ranger misses badly with his frost brand, and is hit again for 10 more hit points. The ranger then misses with his cutlass. Kal, meanwhile, misses with his spear.
The hawk that is Equinox flies into the temple chamber beyond and dives at the newt, who is making for the altar. The newt suddenly changes course, and Equinox misses. The newt resumes its previous path.
The rakshasa turns his magic missiles on Valarian, as the phase spider phases out to go after the newt as well. Twelve missiles slam into the warrior, as Jerrold swings his staff again, and Gnarsh rushes up to help with a whoop. Jerrold easily connects with his staff as the missiles pour into the beleagered warrior, leaving him reeling. Still, he swings his bastard sword and nails the fighter cum druid for 15 hit points. Jerrold connects again, and Valarian dies.
Hlarn wakes up after a moment, to find that he lies at the feet of the priestess. She is just in the process of pulling a bloody dagger out of her hand. A hammer rests on the floor beside the dwarf. Hlarn also notes that his axe no longer glows. For that matter, neither his shield or his armour seem to sparkle like they used to, and his cloak seems like just another old cloak.
From the east, Zanax and Kadlian are running up to attack the priestess. Just around the corner to the south, Kal and Sian still fight the warrior.
Valarian is dead, and a hawk is trying to catch the newt in the temple.
Kal continues to attack. The grugach sticks his spear into the man, but he remains comparatively healthy. He looks decidedly less so, though, after Sian rams his frost brand into him. He replies for 13 hit points of damage into the ranger. As Sian misses with his cutlass he is pierced again for a further 11 hit points. The ranger connects again with his sword, though, before taking another 7 hit points from a third strike.
Kailar casts polymorph self into a hawk of his own to try to capture the newt.
Hlarn quickly gets to his feet and swings his axe to chop the priestess down. "Wrong move lady. My blade will cut you, magical or not."
"SLEE-OWWWW!" she says, as the axe strikes her, spoiling her spell and hurting her slightly. She grabs up her hammer as he strikes her again.
"Zanax, dispel that field around her. Rage, toss a few magic missiles her way and see what happens. I do not want to lose my magical items to her sphere."
Rage snaps her fingers, "Darn all out." she says sadly. "However, my globe should offer most of us some protection against her. And I am sure our friend the Rakshasa would love some priestess meat. If you would not mind, that is friend Rakshasa," calls to the creature.
Hlarn shakes his head. "Rage, stop. The field will dispell your control over the Rakshasa, and I don't think summoned creatures can enter such places anyway. Or worse, the field keeps the Rakshasa away but still dispells your control. Keep it away."
"Very well Hlarn. Friend Rakshasa, if you do not mind, there is a newt to catch. Thank you," Rage says to creature.
The rakshasa moves into the room to the north.
Zanax shrugs at Kadlian, not totally convinced and replies, "I'll see what I can do."
Zanax draws and uses his Holy Avenger to dispel the anti-magic shell around the priestess.
Nothing happens.
Kadlian stops running and puts away his swords, rapidly stringing his bow. "More than one way to kill a priestess."
Zanax drops his sword and opts for running into her to knock her out of the anti-magic sphere.
Hlarn wonders at those dropping weapons to attack the priestess.
"Concentrate your force elsewhere. She can't exactly cast spells inside the shell either, and thus is at my mercy."
"Also I think the effects last only so long as the shell does."
"Hlarn is right, Zanax. Tackle that newt or help Sian and Kal."
"I can hit the priestess with arrows all day long inside that shield. And Hlarn can hit her with his axe. She is finished, but that fighter and the newt are not yet done."
Zanax, after picking up his Holy Avenger, turns invisible and heads directly for the altar that the newt is scurrying towards.
Having missed the newt on the first dive, Equinox flies ahead of the newt and, changing form into a house cat, drops in between the newt and the altar.
However, the phase spider is there first, appearing before the newt and biting it before it can veer aside.
The newt stops, and turns an unhealthy purple colour...then rolls over and dies.
The body of the newt suddenly vanishes...and you could swear that you hear distant feminine laughter.
The battle - what is left of it - continues.
Kadlian unloads an arrow into the priestess as Hlarn misses her. She clobbers the dwarf with her hammer, for 8 hit points as he misses again. Kadlian's second arrow bounces off of her plate mail.
Sian is struck again for 13 hit points and he drops.
Gnarsh, seeing an opening, dashes forward as Kal jabs the man for 10 hit points.
Hlarn clobbers the priestess again and she does the same to him for 9 hit points. She seems to be quite strong. The dwarf finishes up with a resounding swing, which leaves her staggering and bleeding badly. Kadlian bounces another arrow off of her, then nicks Hlarn for 1 hit point with a second.
Meanwhile, Furgh is sitting atop Findas, having a conversation...
As the others rush back to the conclusion of the battle, Gnarsh lays into the fighter, and cuts him down with one swing. Hlarn then does the same thing to the priestess, and the last defender of the temple falls, dead.
Sian awakens to find all of the defenders of the temple dead at last.
The party is currently spread out between the secret hallway where the fighter and the priestess just fell, the secret room, and the temple.
Zanax surveys the temple room and does his standard check for good, evil (especially the altar), precious metals, and secret doors.
The temple is as it is shown on the map. The place is dim and shadowy, except for the altar, which is bathed in a ruddy light which seems to shine upon it from an unknown source. Otherwise, the floor, walls and ceiling of the place are flat black. There is a raised bas relief of a bird of Tyaa on the east wall (where the secret door is). The altar itself is a featureless red stone slab. It radiates evil. Apart from that and the previously noted secret door, Zanax notes nothing else.
He returns to the passage and asks Hlarn "Hlarn, do you have a Death's Door spell for Sian?"
"Indeed. Hlarn, see to Sian and get him back on his feet. We may need him."
"The rest of you, keep your eyes open and your weapons ready."
The dwarf does, and casts it upon the ranger, followed by a cure critical wounds and a cure light wounds spell.
Kal casts a 'cure light' on Sian. He will then cast 'detect magic' and 'detect poison'', checking out the fallen enemy.
Equinox has four cure light wounds. He cures Sian as much as he can.
By the time Hlarn, Kal and Equinox are finished, Sian is back up to 45 hit points and is feeling ready to continue.
Kal's detect magic spell shows the following...
On Chaosia (the chilled lama whom Kadlian killed): a potion and a scroll.
On lord Denno (the fighter whom Gnarsh killed): chain mail and a longsword.
On lord Zuron (killed by Kadlian): splint mail, shield, longsword, cloak.
On Elga (the chilled high priestess who lurked in the passage to the west and created much havoc with her hold spells): chain mail, hammer, scroll.
On lord Yongorl, who chopped down Hlarn: potion, ring, wand, throwing axe, shield, plate mail, longsword, dagger.
On Felicity, the high priestess who held on to the end: potion and a hammer.
On Wengo, the lord who also lasted to the end: potion, scroll, ring, wand, trident (of all things), shield, chain mail, longsword.
On Gregor, who cut down Gnarsh: potion, chain mail, longsword.
On Valarian: potion, ring, wand, talisman, plate mail, bastard sword, mace.
The room to the north of the temple, was evidently Tibia's outer office and reception area. It is very richly furnished. In here is a table with four chairs, set with fine silverware and china (in the true Gygax fashion, though, they are of no value). A large painting over a fireplace in the middle of the east wall depicts a covey of young virgins being systematically raped and disemboweled by a large, winged demon.
Nothing in here radiates magic.
The room to the north was apparently Tibia's inner suite. It is very decadently decorated. A large, plush bed is in here, and lewd tapestries hang from the walls. On a table beside the bed is a small, black book. There is also a trunk in here. Again, nothing radiates magic.
Rage thanks the two summoned creatures, and then dismisses them. "Thank you for your help. Travel well," she says, and then turns to the others. "I think that took care of most of our foes, but there are still a few other critters left. I suggest we gather from these, and then return to the camp for tonight. After we rest, I think we can then decide what to do next. Perhaps a quick visit to Sandas to talk with Verona might be nice."
"We still have some work to do here. We need to search the remaining rooms to find the proof to get Vogarth arrested."
"Lead on McDuff," replies Rage, gripping her staff. "Be advised, however, that the magic users are very low on power. I have little of use left, except my staff and a teleport."
Hlarn shakes his head. "I think that can wait till tommorrow also. There is still a vampire out there I believe..."
"Oh no, I meant tomorrow. I just meant that before we go to Sandas, we need to wrap things up here. It will wait until tomorrow, I hope. I do not want to push our luck any further."
To Kallian and Rage, Kal says in elvish, "We should break the temple's dark altar before we leave... just in case. Also, we haven't seen the druid who was helping them."
Rage replies in elvish to Kal, "I can break the temple's altar with a lightening bolt from my staff, however, I fear that doing so, we would summon a demon - which I do not believe we are ready to fight, with all our spellcasters down to minimums. Perhaps, however, I offer this suggestion. I still have my teleport. If Zanax were to stay with me, I could then destroy the altar with my spells, and then teleport the two of us back to our hideout. Or, I will stay back myself and do the deed."
"Tomorrow will be fine. It has waited this long."
"Rage, I can cast a lightning bolt from my staff. Why don't we work together and then you can teleport us out?" Jerry suggests.
Hlarn shakes his head. "If anyone is staying with Rage, it will be me. I can dispell the evil of the demons and send them back to their planes of origin relatively safely. However I believe Kadlian is right. The altar can wait till tommorrow."
Zanax nods. "Yes, it will. However, I don't think it is wise right now to tackle the altar. Especially, if it will release a demon. We're not at full strength and we don't know what type it is. Tonight, I'll brief everyone on what I know...it seems it slipped my mind the other night."
Hlarn holds up a finger. "Remember, our information said demons...plural. Don't count on just one. However, we could probably use some new information before we tackle it." Hlarn removes any protective items that might block his blade, and quickly severs the head of any remaining priestesses lying about.
"I wonder what happenned to the high priestess after the spider bit her? She just disappeared!"
"And laughed ... don't forget that. I think this isn't over by a long shot," Sasha adds, looking worried at the prospect.
The dwarf tucks the head away in a bloody sack reserved for such purposes, and begins the task of searching the bodies, starting with the priestess he just fought. "First dibs on any giant strength items," he says, laughing.
Zanax smirks. "We'll see about that! Best bet is that priestess you just slew and Valarian. Whew! Now that guy can fight! He cut through my plate mail as if it weren't even there!"
Sasha looks over at Zanax again, frowning. "What plate mail?" she asks, biting her lower lip.
"However I think that we should remain camped right here, to insure that no one is able to approach the thing and summon the demon themselves."
Kadlian looks around the room. "Okay, that sounds workable. We should send a contigent back to our camp to get some foodstuffs, though. Anyone willing to volunteer for that duty?"
"Perhaps, but there are many denizens of this place that we have yet to slay. Is this a defensible spot?" Zanax asks, looking around.
Zanax volunteers. "I'll go back. Although, do we have enough to feed Findas?"
Zanax goes back to retrieve his Frost Brand before leaving.
"We met the druid a while back. He is either dead or gone from this place. We could not determine whether or not he made it out the back door before the fireball got his room."
"As for the altar, we know there is some sort of demon guarding it. Let us tackle that foe another day after we are healed and rested. Gather the magical items and let us be gone from here."
"Rage, when you get a chance fill me in on what occurred while I was dead."
"Indeed I will," replies Rage to Kadlian. "We were lucky in some respects. And had some good bounces in others. And, I need to come up with an appropiate way to commerate this battle. It is worthy of a tattoo at least."
"How 'bout a newt?" Furgh offers, with a grin.
Jerrold claps his hands and bows sincerely to Rage. "My dear, that was outstanding... I am in awe of your power," Jerry says in a serious voice. He extends his hand, "I apologize for any problems we may have had when I joined the group."
Rage looks hard at the druid. "Don't call me dear," she says softly, before accepting the proffered hand. "What problems?" she asks, raising her pierced eyebrow.
"Yes, ma'am!" he says with a smile, "Seems we got off on the wrong foot and I just wanted to make amends. If you didn't notice, I must be getting sensitive in my old age."
Jerry flashes one of his 1000 watt smiles. He covers her hand with both of his and says, "I just want you to know that I appreciate being let in to the group and becoming like family. If you ever want to talk or want a shoulder to lean on, I am here for you," he says looking in her eyes softly and then he releases her hand.
Rage laughs and rolls her eyes.
"So, what's it to be? lightning bolts on the altar or return later?" he asks.
"Return later. It is not fair to let you two have all the fun."
"Home then James, eh... I mean Kadlian," says Rage. Turning to Sasha, she smiles, "Keep the whip honey, I think that you need it more than I do," she says, pointing to the magic whip Sasha borrowed from Rage.
Sasha grins, looking slightly puzzled. "Thanks Rage ... I think." she replies.
Rage smiles, "No problem, I have other ideas now how to deal with a mutual friend in Sandas," she replies.
Sasha grins. "Oh, you mean Ming?" Sasha gives Rage a speculative look and then shrugs. "I don't know what he did to you ... that is between you. I know Kadlian bears a grudge for what Ming apparently did to both Amber and Fallon ... but I believe whatever he did was done voluntarily... by all involved and so I can't persume to judge him, or comdemn him simply because he is ... errr .. highly needy in certain departments," Sasha replies softly, blushing a bit.
"Oh, thanks for reminding me about the anti-magic. Hlarn, have your items regained their magic, yet? Do we know if it was the area or something on the priestess?" asks Zanax.
"No arguments from me," replies Rage, "We need to try to determine the best way to deal with it, however, since magic usually has little effect on it. I am not sure what we mages can do to assist the front fighters, other than a haste and some invisibility spells cast on you all. And let us not forget the areas of anti-magic which we have yet to encounter."
"I can cast dispell evil, which if it gets past the demon's magical resistance has a high likelihood of sending the creature back home to the abyss."
Hlarn pulls out his notes. "The Type V demon is unaccounted for. It might be the guardian of the altar, or somewhere else. Also the succubus and the vampire. Any other creatures we didn't kill? I think all the giants and humans are accounted for now."
Hlarn moves around counting the bodies, and comes to the giants and turns to Rage. "What would be the best material components for a girdle of giant strength? I know we can't make any now ourselves, but we might as well get some more coin by selling the components to the mages guild."
Suddenly Kailar and his cat vanish.
Kadlian looks around quickly. "Kailar's cat again? Too bad he cannot teleport the rest of us around. We could have regrouped mid-battle and come back even stronger."
Zanax shakes his head and says to no one in particular, "I wonder if Kailar's cat is really a god in disguise."
Hlarn laughs. "Wouldn't matter if he was or wasn't... all cats think themselves gods in any case."
After some more conversation, Zanax heads back for food and supplies and
Furgh escorts the dragon out while the rest of you settle in.
Spending the night down in the room adjacent to the temple, you are left in peace.