AD&D Greyhawk Adventures: The Temple of Elemental Evil

Game Master Anselth

There must be some ill magic protecting these beasts from Tarmin's arrows.

Sallandrya attempts to angle her shots in a manner to strike elsewhere from her sister in arms volley.

Shot 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14

dmg 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 7

Shot 2 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11

dmg 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 9

Gnobby moves behind another.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 162d12 ⇒ (5, 12) = 17

Sir Galavaine swings his warhammer at the end of its leash around his wrist like a Frost Barbarian and lets the flat face curve into the creature's ribs. Pragmatic in battle, the holy warrior shows why he gives no quarter in a fair fight. Bravery must be coupled with common sense.

3rd level Priest 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7, damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

But his father's words are still deeply ingrained, the presence of the paladin next to him confuses the young knight. He cannot decide whether or not to finish the bugbear.

Maybe we should interrogate one for information?

Andre approaches the bugbear his fellow knight did not close with, and places the tip of the blade to the creature's throat. "Throw down your weapon and surrender to us, and I will guarantee you a painless death. If you continue to fight, then your last moments upon this world will not be as pleasant. You have already lost. Do not make this any harder upon yourself."

Tarmin's arrow catches Gnobby's foe up high, the beast blinks, apparently released from Sir Galavaine's spell effect, then crumples to the ground. Andre places his sword tip at the remaining bugbear's throat, and offers his bargain. When the foe is finally able to move, he speaks carefully.

He raises his axe to strike.

Andre can act before he does, since he has the sword at its throat. Then the bugbear will act, and we will be on party initiative

Hearing the bugbear's words, Sallandrya advances while notching an arrow and quickly shouts a waring to Andre.

Fanatics facing off on both sides of the battle. How ever did the Elven People ever lose our lands to humans and goblins alike?

Gnobby doesn't trust monsters.

When the creature raises his axe......

lsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 152d12 ⇒ (6, 12) = 18

from behind he strikes.

His normally innocent childlike face now replaced by a vicious, almost frightening grimace, Podo steps forward to complete the grizzly task at hand.

1d20 ⇒ 9 Attack

2d8 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10 Damage

If the beast survives the party's onslaught then Sir Galavaine will hammer its skull. Otherwise he just watches.

Hammer of War 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19, damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Andre has no idea what the goblinoid said, but he reads the creature's body language quickly, and thrusts the sword forward with a disappointed grimace. However, the goblin is far swifter than the paladin had given credit, and it easily dodges the blade.

The beast easily dodges Andre's blade, but the motion throws its own attack off, as he hits Andre in the shoulder with the handle of the axe. Almost simultaneously, Gnobby buries his sword to the hilt in the creature's back, and Sir Galavaine staves in its skull with his hammer. A quick check down the hallway by Gnobby and Podo reveals another chamber, but it is no longer occupied.

Andre shakes his head as he wipes the blood off of his blade on the fallen goblin. "Such fanaticism. What sort of monster could inspire such loyalty to fickle beasts as these?" He sheathes his blade and stows his shield for the moment, and begins to search the bodies for more information on the Master of the Moathouse.

A quick search finds a silver bracelet on the last creature's wrist, and a total of 84gp. The room to the east is empty, with three doors in a similar configuration as the gnoll chamber to the south.

273xp

Sallandrya will gather her arrows that survived the battle (1/2) and check if anyone is in need of healing.

'Lets press on as we have been, scout ahead in pairs, but do you think they have heard us further down after all this?'

While the others search the monsters, Tarmin advances halfway down the corridor to the east, on watch for any surprises.

"Is anyone suffering with a wound?" asks the holy priest as the scouts begin to search ahead. He turns to Sallandrya and shakes his head, "This party attacked and we must be on guard from now on in case the bugbears signalled back to their forces."

"Not I, Sir Galavaine," Andre says, only slightly disappointed that his search only turned up baubles and coin. "The Cudgeler turned aside the blades meant for my flesh. And I agree with your assessment. Scouting was fine when these folk did not expect us. Now, however, they will be much more likely to ambush us. Stay close, friends, and we will see this through."

"OK". "But try not to be so noisy". "Now let's go see some more interesting stuff", Podo eagerly replies, all traces of his former barbaric behavior faded.

Sallandrya glances over to the silent Pettry and quietly asks him, 'Friend future Arch Mage, what spells did you prepare this day?'

Sallandrya is hoping Sleep and Charm.

z'I prepared one to make Andre twice his size." Pettry smiles sheepishly. "I I don't know the one that puts folks to sleep yet."

There are no more occupants to the east, Tarmin, just three doors, all on the chamber's east wall.

Andre raises an eyebrow as Pettry's plan becomes clear. "Best save that for when we encounter stronger resistance than these creatures. And perhaps Lord Rufus will let you study under him for a time, as we work to rid his lands of banditry."

The group advances into the chamber and then gives the scouts time to listen at the three doors. Sir Galavaine stays at the rear to cover the back.

He nods in agreement with Pettry and Andre.

There are no sounds from behind any of the doors, but Podo spots a mechanism on the center door, which looks much similar to the one the group sprung in the Gnolls' chamber.

If there are no sounds coming, both our trap finders should search for traps or alarms, fool us twice shame on us.

Podo carefully searches the door and surrounding area for any traps.

1d100 ⇒ 56 {43%}

It's a bit dark...but I think everything's safe.

Checking in.

"Hey this one has one of those noise makers like the other". "Want me to call some more doggies"?

"First doth one of the other doors have no such danger and trap that we could head further into this complex without waving our banner so high?"

Sir Galavaine shakes his head to himself at the bumptious halfling's zest for war and cheerfulness.

"Lead on then. This door is alarmed."
Gnobby points to the center door.

'The left door then?'

Gnobby opens the left door.

Tarmin crouches behind Gnobby, arrow cocked, ready to let fly

The door opens onto a small storage area, containing foodstuffs and other items of little to no interest. Moving to the door on the far right, the group detects no traps, and finds more of the same behind the door.

Foodstuffs of little or no interest - someone hold back Podo! So am I right that we have two choices - the middle door or down to the gnoll chambers?

Sir Galavaine checks to see how old the food is, how palatable it may be and whether the goods came from the main road like the acolyte did.

That's what it sounds like to me, Sir G.

"Look at this prime chow left behind."

Gnobby fills his pack and pouches before joining the others.

Correct, the center door and the passage back to the gnoll chamber are the only paths you can see

The foodstuffs are a mixed bag, some obviously scavenged from human and demihuman settlements, others, somewhat less refined, all mixed and jumbled together.

'We press forward then, Podo and I can take the lead position.'

"Aye, Gnobby and I will guard the rear." Tarmin says looking to her small scouting companion.

As the group moves down the hall towards the room where the gnolls met their end, the silence is eerie, unnatural. A quick check of the one door left unopened in the room reveals it to also to be another small storeroom.

Moving south, the group comes to the branching path to the left that they bypassed earlier, and the continuing southern passage to the pool room.

Sallandrya pauses briefly then whispers over her right shoulder,
'Andre perhaps your divine grace can detect where are foes lay in wait.

Andre grimly nods. "Where walks a servant of the Cudgeler, no one can hope to hide the wickedness in their hearts." Andre focuses on the path before them, waiting to see if anything Evil awaits them.

Galavaine's heavy boots thud up behidn the paladin as the knight tries to be quiet and not disturb the concentration of the scouts.

He maintains his shield away from the brick and rough hewn walls to avoid any unnecessary scrapes. Not busy for a second or two, the priest recites the words of the second chant of Courageous Example to himself,

"When the struggle heats up like a fire then the true follower of Heironeous steps forwards not back. And his Lord notices."

The hallway leads to the southeast several hundred feet before turning east again, where immediately the group sees a door on the left. Pausing briefly, the two thieves check the door.

Map is updated

Sallandrya watches as her allies go about their specialities and looks to their faces to see if they give any clues to what lies beyond.

"Be prepared," the paladin whispers to his allies. "Something wicked this way came. Quite recently, I would surmise."

"Get ready Big-un's". "I hear shuffling and clinking back there".

Podo will sling open the door when everyone else is ready.

'Lets pull back a little so we can draw the wretches out and catch the between our bows and swords.'

"Indeed. Andre let us step back a pace and give the archers room to steal our kills again." Sir Galavaine nods to the elven holy huntress.

He keeps his hammer and shield held high, the white cloak floats behind him and the first thing they should see is that lightning bolt symbol of the Brave Lord.