AD&D Greyhawk Adventures: The Temple of Elemental Evil

Game Master Anselth

Sallandrya will attempt to follow and track the clue Podo has found.

"Hey look". "This blood isn't dried up like the rest of it", Podo says pointing excitedly.

Andre frowns as Podo points out the fresh blood. "Strange, I wonder why that would be here. None of our foes have escaped to warn anyone else. Have they turned upon each other down here?" Not skilled in tracking, he waits for someone to tell him what tales the blood told them.

"Can we follow the drops?" says the knight wiping his mouth clean and dabbing his moustache to clean the last saliva.

"Good spot Podo." Depleted of spells, the gnome walks huddled deep in his cloak, only noticed when he speaks.

The trail of blood disappears in the southern portion of the room. Sallandrya, Podo, and Tarmin search the walls for an exit to no avail. Gnobby spots another strange implement on the wall of a support pillar to the south, and trying to remove it, triggers a mechanism that opens a small door in the pillar, just barely large enough for a human to pass through. Inside, he sees rusty metal rungs in the far stone wall, heading down, out of his range of vision.

Tarmin also lends her skills to try to determine where the fresher blood came from.

The Elves can attempt to see where this leads as well as keep a lookout for a possible ambush.

'Nicely done Gnobby, will you and Podo please determine if its safe to cross the threshold?'

"Working in the carnival we collected all metals to melt down for the blacksmith. My scavenging skill now comes in handy."

Gnobby still sees if the metal piece comes off, and if it doesn't, leaves it affixed to the wall with a look of disappointment.

Former carny, hmm? Thought I smelled cabbage. ;-P

"Such metal would need to be looked over, to ensure it has not been tainted by Evil, but if they could be melted down and put to a better use, I can think of nothing better. Thumbscrews to plowshares, I say!"

"Yet again, the size of a man matters nowhere near as the size of the hobbit or gnome. Well done both of you. Indeed. It will be dark and dangerous down that ladder. Who goes first? Maybe it should be someone that can see in the dark. I doubt there will be traps on a secret ladder hidden in a pillar but its always best to check..."

"We need someone brave to scout ahead. Anyone feeling brave enough?" says the priest of courage. Sir Galavaine looks down waving a borrowed light to get an idea of the depth of the shaft or tunnel.

Gnobby nods and looks at the paladin.

Sir Galavaine is unsure, but he thinks he sees what looks like a floor, some 50 feet below. Other than the ladder, the shaft appears unoccupied for as far as his light holds.

"Sure". "I'll be glad to go first". "It's stinky and boring up here, and everybody knows they keep the best stuff in the basement".

1d100 ⇒ 94 Detect Traps (39%)

'Lets take steps to make sure this can not be sealed behind us'.

Sallandrya will sling her bow and offer to go down second or if Gnobby wants to head down behind Podo, go in third.

Gnobby stares sullenly at the stubbornly stuck blade, before pocketing the two next to it.

Positive that no traps are waiting for him in the shaft, Podo starts down, and notes a handle on the wall which appears to open the door from the inside.

Gnobby still waits for Tarmin (his elf buddy) to go first. He still thinks Podo and Sallandrya are 'scout buddies' and he and Tarmin are 'scout buddies' from the original moat recon.

"Podo, don't go too far ahead of your scout buddy."

As Podo descends, he starts to smell stale air, though he neither hears nor sees anything in the small area he can see below.

Sallandrya will ready her bow, and give Podo enough distance so he can take advantage of moving silently but shadow and follow after him to protect his movements.

Tarmin waits until Sallandrya descends, then follows.

With Podo scouting in front of her, Sallandrya gives Tarmin a slight nod thankful that her sister in arms is not far behind, saying a silent prayer to Solonor Thelandira, she pulls her bow string in the ready position and begins to follow the brave halfling.

Podo's trip down proves to be somewhat shorter than it looked from above, and turns into a long, dark corridor, which ends at a blank wall. Searching, Podo easily finds the mechanism to open it as Sallandrya and Tarmin come up behind him.

Sir Galavaine will follow Gnobby and Andre down. He sheathes his warhammer for the journey and retains the shield taking care with each step not to slip onto the ones below. Extra care unless someone provides torchlight.

As the last person, he also shuts the pillar door.

Podo once again checks to make sure the passage is not trapped.

1d100 ⇒ 63 Detect Traps (39%)

"OK"! "Everybody ready for the treasure room"?

Sir Galavaine, don't you still have your lantern?

Oops and thanks Pettry for giving it back.

The holy warrior will place his shield on his back and carry the lantern as he descends slowly.

Podo detects no traps, nor does he hear anything beyond the door. Apparently, whoever uses this passage trusts in its concealment to prevent access.

"Treasure is nice, Podo, but do not lose sight of our mission here." Andre stands near the halfling, prepared to leap in the way of any creature prepared to do him harm.

"Treasure is niiice. That is like saying devils are naughty."

As Podo cracks the door, the smell of fresh blood wafts into the corridor, as well as the stale smell of dessication and decay. Andre feels a sensation much like from the corridor upstairs, though somewhat stronger.

heh, after a life of adventuring we can always make a nice living as a small comedy improve troop.

Whoops ninja'd by DM Anselth because I did not finish my post while watching The Following!

With her keen vision that is attuned to the darkness, Sallandrya see's the tense body language of from both the Paladin following her and Podo in the front and readies for the combat that lays ahead.

'By the Hunter's grace ...'

"Something wicked dwells here," Andre utters. "Stay on your guards." With the door open, Andre begins advancing, his eyes darting to the shadows to find out what evils await the group.

Face grim, Tarmin steps from the secret passage, stepping to the left to allow the others behind to advance. Sweeping the area with her gaze, she seeks the darkness...

Sir Galavaine follows his lantern inside the fetid room. His nose wrinkled, the knight nods briefly to Andre.

He makes sure that the holy symbol is free and shield up, then the warrior priest tries to move up near to the paladin.

Darnit, Tarmin,I had just updated the map :). Ack. Galavaine!

As Andre, Sir Galavaine, and Tarmin step out into the room, their eyes scan the empty niches and broken sarcophagi in just a few of them. Gnawed and cracked bones litter the floor. As they scan father up, they finally see the residents, four hideous undead bent over the remains of a fairly fresh corpse. The ghouls look up as the Paladin enters the room, and rise. Unlike the zombies, there is both malice and intelligence in their eyes.

Party is up.

Sorry mate. This is for if we act next?

Galavaine raises his lantern and plucks forwards the chain of teh holy longsword of Heironeous calling on the divine energy to push back these foul beasts.

Turn undead level 2 1d20 ⇒ 18

At Sir Galavaine's command, the ghouls cower back, and start to move towards one of the southern niches.

Andre grimaces again as he sees the ghouls rise up from their grisly feast. As Heironeous' holy light presses them back, Andre advances on one of them, intent on putting down these beasts.

Sallandrya's eyes adjust to the low lighting and as she makes out the ghoulish forms.

Chilled by their unnatural appearance and with a look disgust for the walking abominations on life, she whispers a quick prayer to the Great Hunter that her aim holds true and launches a two arrows through the ranks of her fellow party members.

First shot and focusing fire on the lead unless it falls

1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24

1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

Second shot

1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 2 = 22

1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7

An 18 and a nat 20! Solonor Thelandira should be mighty proud of his priest!

DM Anselth, really great maps! Thanks for all the pretty work you put into t so we can kill your monsters!

Sir Galavaine steps up towards the ghouls allowing the brave light to shine brighter in this dark crypt.

"I like shooting when they can't fight back."

hit/dam sling: 1d20 ⇒ 131d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Gnobby aims a metal sling bullet at the closest fiend.

Andre charges and lands a solid hit on Ghoul #1, as Gnobby's bullet flies wide. Sallandra's arrows drop #2, while the others ignore his fate, cowering from the light of Heironeous.

Smiling in satisfaction at the evidence of her friend's puissant faith, Tarmin fires her volley of arrows at one of the further beasts.

Arrow 1

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Arrow 2

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Podo decides to get in on the fun.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Sling

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Bullet damage

Tarmin and Podo combint to down another of the creatures, who now turn fully to flee. As they retreat, you can see now a passage, which the remaining ghouls flee through, into darkness beyond.

Sallandrya's would normally not fire upon foes already fleeing, but these creatures have no place among the living and she presses the attack on the ghouls.

First shot

1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 = 19

1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7

Second shot

1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 = 20

1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8

Third shot possibly another target

1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14

1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

Andre calls back to his comrades, "Light! Bring forward the light, so I might give pursuit!"

"Keep up with the light of Heironeous, nobleness!" Sir Galavaine runs after the ghouls, his lantern bouncing next to the cross.

"You may run from me but you will not survive this! Decayed undead!"