AD&D Greyhawk Adventures: The Temple of Elemental Evil
Game Master Anselth

To help, "Podo I am afraid the battles will become much fiercer than this. Have faith. You are among friends and we shall prevail," he murmurs to the halfling.

Sir Galavaine shows him the lightning bolt of Heironeous on his shield as a demonstration of his brave god.

Podo looks up from running his finger over the fine inlay on Sir Galavine's shield, all thoughts of the previous mood and encounter exiting his brain as quickly as they entered.

Podo forces a grim smile. "Well at least nobody got killed bad or anything". "Wait sir Andre"! "You want me to listen at that door first"?

The door opens easily for Andre, opening onto a chamber that is littered with the remains of a few wild animal pels, some teeth, and broken antlers. Nothing appears to be moving within.

Tarmin lines up behind Gnobby, to lend assistance if anything threatening appears.

Gnobby tries to sneak in.
Move Silently/Hide In Shadows2d100 ⇒ (47, 26) = 73

Gnobby slides quietly into the room, almost disappearing in the dim light within. His keen senses note no sounds that seem out of place. The room is musty, still, and utterly abandoned.

Tarmin motions Pettry over to her side. "I am certain that this shield I found in the snake's gullet is enchanted, though in which manner I cannot say. Can you determine anything else?"

Pettry nods. "I will examine it when we are somewhere safe. I don't want to endanger the others while I take the time necessary."

"Of course, my thanks Pettry" Tarmin says, then takes her place behind Gnobby once again.

"Can we move along little quicker. Tarrying may lead to the patrol's death being noticed. They should keep in touch with their barracks, although I do feel their organisation may be poor leaving these chambers empty.

Sir Galavaine keeps an eye out behind, listening at the double doors from a distance of twenty feet. He shrugs a little in apology for repeating himself.

"I do not wish to see our advantage lost."

Aye, Galavaine, let us complete our assay of the above-ground environs ,then we can delve downward

"You speak wisdom, Sir Galavaine. Let us make haste through these rooms, afore the brigands catch on to our presence." He gestures for Gnobby to listen at the western door while he opens the eastern.

Andre opens the door to the north. Inside appears to be the remains of a kitchen, a fireplace and cask rest along the northern wall, while kitchen tables covered in moldy food sit haphazardly around the room.

Andre sees no human occupants, but senses a faint scuttling near the fireplace.

MAP is updated. From now on I'll link it here as well as the campaign tab.

Andre is about to close the kitchen door and move on when his attention is drawn to the fireplace. "Tarmin, cover me," he whispers. "There is movement by the fireplace. I'm going to check it out." He enters the room and slowly advances towards the fireplace, the flat of his blade resting on the top of his shield, ready to strike should the fireplace's denizen prove hostile.

A trick I learned, put the link to the map in the short campaign description and it is always at the top of the page. Call it current map.

Gnobby looks for surprises elsewhere as Andre moves in.

Podo follows the others in not quiet as anxious to be the first in as he was previously.

I'm sure the first glint of treasure will restore his confidence...or greed :-)

Tarmin advances to the door behind Andre , ready to let fly if occasion warrants

DM Anselth/The Fellowship of Hommlett

...
I was assuming Sallandrya was alongside or immediately behind Andre covering him, she volunteered to be among the first rank at least for now while she is unscathed by battle.

Next rolls if for to hit in combat or search/spot as needed, please apply modifiers

1d20 ⇒ 19 1d20 ⇒ 9

Some notes:

I'll be back in a week, I hope everyone has a good rest of their summer!

As andre enters the room, the scuttling form appears as some type of overgrown insect, though it takes a second to register just what it is. Andre then recognizes the flat body of a tick, though this is much larger than any of those creatures he has ever heard of...

Andre and Tarmin can see/attack the creature. Anyone else will need to move through the open door. Gnobby hears nothing through the southern door.

Tarmin's eyes widen as she the outline of the bug becomes obvious against the rubble in the room. She has heard rumours of large insects like this from the backwoods but never really gave them any credence, but she is convinced now!!!

Eye's narrowing in concentration, she fires a barrage of arrows

First Arrow
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Second Arrow
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"What are you waiting for Andre, squash that bug!!"

Sir Galavaine starts to move through the group and then remembers his training he returns to the rear. His shield and hammer face the double doors.

"Gnobby, stealthy, stealthy, catchee, treasure! Stop shouting please or we may end up bottled in fighting on two fronts."

Andre grimaces in revulsion at the loathsome vermin before him. He slashes out with his longsword, seeking the soft spots of the insect's chitinous body.

Andre's blade skitters across the flattened back of the creature, slicing awkwardly and dealing some damage.

The awkwardness of the strike leaves Andre open when the creature rears at him, it's wicked mandibles tearing into his flesh, eliciting a cry of pain from the Paladin as it works its mouthparts deeper into the flesh of his shield arm.

Andre, take 4 points of damage. The creature has attached itself to your arm, and no longer needs to make a to hit roll to cause damage to you.

Everyone take 75xp for the fights with the snake and the rats.

Podo quiet and watching until now, screams in rage as he sees the beast latch onto his friend. "Oh no you don't". He maneuvers behind the big tick to try and find a weak spot.

1d20 ⇒ 13 Shortsword attack.
1d6 ⇒ 2 Damage

*If this is considered a sneak attack since the beast is otherwise engaged, then +4 to hit, and double damage.

Cursing her failure with her bow and seeing the predicament that Andre is in, Tarmin draws her sword and attempts to skewer the vermin before it sucks the life out of her friend.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Tarmin and Podo both hit the creature, Podo'd strike severing one of its segmented legs, but they fail to dislodge the creature.

"Gah! Off, you devil!" Andre places the flat of his blade against the creature and presses up, hoping to dislodge the creature with leverage.

Andre, you cause no damage, but give me a minor test to see if you can dislodge it.

One of Sally's auto actions while she is being NPCed was to heal when needed. Maybe she could be ready with a spell in case Andre gets hurt more.

She's going to if the check fails. Otherwise, she's going to shoot the thing

Gnobby rushes the tick, hoping to hit a vulnerable spot while the tick is fixated on Andre.

Lsword 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10
Dagger 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (2) - 3 = -1
Longsword hitting AC6 or worse if a backstab for 2d8 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10

Posting from the airport while eating pistachios. Of course the action picks up as i leave.

DM Anseth:

Can I have Sallandrya draw her sword, close in and help Andre? I posted a few days ago that I wanted to be directly behind him in the marching order.

If so I have a 19 on my next D20 roll above and I get a + 1 as an Elf and a +2 for Str for a total of 22.

Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Andre:

I will happy to cast Cure Light if you need it, but you can cure yourself too in part with Lay of Hands, which will leave me to heal others who may be more wounded later, either way please roll for the heal.

I made some rolls for combat and searches and used one up, there is still a 9 that was not used, here are my next two rolls after that one is used up, please apply modifiers as needed. Good luck guys!

1d20 ⇒ 11

1d20 ⇒ 14

Sallandrya takes a large hunk out of the creature, though it stubbornly remains attached to Andre.

Viciously grimacing, Podo takes a stab at the bloated creature again...and temporarily looses his footing in the blood of the beast.

1d20 ⇒ 5 Shortsword Attack
1d6 ⇒ 3 Shortsword Damage

*Apply Backstab/Sneak attack modifiers if applicable.

If Galavaine can reach Andre he will step up to join the fight. He looks for a chink in the armoured back...

Hammer on carapace 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6, Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

....but it is build like a dwarven forge!

Battered and missing a leg, the creature seems to decide that this is not a meal worth dying for. It releases its hold on Andre's arm, and attempts to make its way out of the arrow slit on the north side of the room.

Anyone that wants to can take a crack at the tick before it escapes, or the group can let it flee. Andre, take 1 additional point of damage.

I don't want to let it go.

[lsword dagger] 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 21d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11

"Hold, everyone ! Hold! Let the creature go, it had no evil designs, it merely followed its instincts." Tarmin says gently bringing Gnobby back to balance following his errant swing. Turning to Andre,"How fares the arm, Andre?"

Andre hisses in pain as the tick releases its hold on his arm and withdraws its proboscis. He allows it to flee, skittering across the floor towards the window. He sheathes his sword briefly, clasping his hand to his wound, chanting the prayers his mentor had taught him. As he does, a warm light emanates from his hand, and the bite is healed over when he releases his grasp, though his color is still a bit pale.

"I will survive, friend Tarmin. It will take more than an oversized insect to bring low one of the Chapeaux." He draws steel again, withdrawing from the room to examine the door on the southern wall.

The door on the south of the corridor appears battered, and, upon closer inspection, is revealed to not even be latched. Gnobby was unable to hear anything beyond the door when he put his ear to it.

Andre takes a look back to make certain his compatriots are ready for whatever lies beyond the portal, and he throws the door open.

Sheathing her sword, Tarmin turns and follows Andre, raising her bow , arrow knocked and ready to fire.

Sir Galavaine keeps a tight smile at the healing power of a true holy warrior. Something his father and brother could do for the injured. Not him.

He moves up behind the rest.

The door opens easily for the Paladin, revealing a room that is empty, save broken furniture and a single torch stub hanging from the southern wall.

Andre sniffs at the empty room, closing it behind him - it can be searched once the bandits are found. He finally turns his attention to the western doors, pushing them open and scanning the room for threats.

Podo stands around behind the "bigguns", and scans each room after they leave it to go on to the next one, in case they missed anything interesting.

As Andre pushes the doors open, his nose is assaulted by the smell of something, half eaten and rotting, lying against the back wall.

Lizard attack: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Fortunately, he has just enough time to raise his shield and deflect a bite from an oversized lizard, obviously the owner of the half eaten meal.

Party is up. I will update the map tonight. The room takes up the remainder of the blackened region to the west. Andre has stepped through the door, so melee combatants can move past him to either side.