Rhun's Greyhawk ALPHA Campaign (tToEE) - PART III

[Legildur]

"If any are concerned," says Kurt. "I could query Heironeous' agent as to our likely fate for an immediate course of action? Of course, as a divine being, the answer is not always immediately meaningful to us mortals."
ooc: could cast Augury if necessary. Casting time 1 minute.

[Boddynock]

Originally Posted by Legildur

Kurt examines the altar. "I have no way to consecrate this altar in any permanent way," he states. "It would take a more powerful priest than I to achieve that."
ooc: Kurt recalls his training to see if there is anything he can do to desecrate the altar in a more formal way. Relgion +7

"I say we explore the rest of the fire temple before returning to the village. While they are in dissarray, assuming any survive, is the time to do so. But we should be prepared to withdraw should circumstances prove unfavourable."

"Leave the altar. Time enough for us to smash it to the ground when we've finished with the rest of this place."

Ragnok searches for tongs and retrieves the gem Thanee is interested in. If he can't find tongs, he borrows the flaming sword from whoever has it and uses the blade to dig it out of the coals.

As he does so, he says over his shoulder, "Yes, let's strip the place bare. I'm going to need all the loot I can lay my hands on!"

[Leif]

"I'm all for that, Ragnok! I always want lots more loot! That might be a very good idea, Kurt, you inquire of your God, and we'll continue looting."

[Thanee]

“Good thinking, Ragnok,” Dara says, as he goes looking for the flaming sword.

“By the way, if noone else is going to use it, it might come in handy, especially once we get to the water cultists.”

[Leif]

Trev looks at Dara with his typical, obtuse, clueless expression: "That's funny -- I thought water extinguished fire.

[Thanee]

“And fire evaporates water. It's just a matter of magnitudes. On the arcane level, it also works both ways.”

[Leif]

Trevor has learned, when he finds himself in a hole, to STOP DIGGING. Therefore, he keeps his silence in the face of the Sorceress's clearly superior knowledge and intellect. He just smiles and gathers more loot.

[Rhun]

Unable to find tongs, Ragnok uses the blade of the flaming sword they had found to flip the gemstone up out of the firepit. Retrieving it, he notes that is warm to the touch, but not hot as he would have expected from lying in the coals. It seems to pulse with a dim inner light as he examines it more closely.

For Ragnok/Boddynock

As Ragnok picks up the stone, he is overcome with a vision: He stands alone, wreathed in flames, with the gemstone in his hand...people flee before him, and Ragnok blasts them down with pillars of fire that he calls down from the sky. The village of Hommlet lies in flaming ruins around the dwarf, and dark, demonic forms rise behind him, giving chase to Ragnok's enemies!

The visions ends almost as suddenly as it began, leaving the dwarf a bit shaken. Oddly, the dwarf feels a strange affinity for the stone, and doesn't really want to let anyone else have it...

Several minutes have passed since the end of the fight as you looked about the Fire Temple, looted its High Priest, and retrieved the gem. There is no sign of the human acolyte that escaped your harsh brand of justice. Perhaps he fled completely; or again, perhaps he is marshalling the remaining strength of the Fire Temple against you...

Alright, I take it we are done here in this chamber? Where to now?


---MAP POST---

[Leif]

OOC: The map won't open for me

Trevor says, "I'll follow whatever the will of the group is, but didn't we say something about going to Hommlett soon so Ragnok could have his Norryjar modified?

[Rhun]

Originally Posted by Leif

OOC: The map won't open for me

It works for me when I test it, so I'm not sure what is up. If anyone else has issues, let me know.

[Leif]

OOC: Thanks for trying, Rhun. It's not a major deal, Trev really doesn't even WANT to see any more of this place than he has to! Anyway, it could easily be issues with my computer here at work. The thing has been going pretty screwy lately.

[Thanee]

“So it's not hot? Great, that will make carrying it a lot easier.”

“Let us search the other rooms here, the one we rushed through, especially. Then we can go on and secure the surroundings and get back to Hommlet afterwards.”

[Leif]

"Just point me where you want me, Big Scary Warrior Lady, and I'll search up a storm for ya!"

[OOC: Presuming that Dara does so, Trev hastens with all conceivable alacrity to obey and satiate the Big Scary Warrior Lady. One search storm, coming up....]

[stonegod]

Originally Posted by Boddynock

Then he crosses back to where the knight is lying and, reaching down, heaves the young man to his feet. "And you tell me I'm stubborn?"

He grins, and claps him on the shoulder. "Nice going, hero!"

Corraine welcomes the assistance. The Shining One expects us to face evil fearlessly and without quarter. I am nothing if not a humble example. A wry smile lights his face when saying this.

Originally Posted by Boddynock

"Yes, let's strip the place bare. I'm going to need all the loot I can lay my hands on!"

Corraine looks a bit stern a moment. Material wealth is shallow, friend dwarf, but what we take we rob from our enemies. It also aids us in our fight. Spoils are taken for the right reason; greed should not be one of them. He then runs his fingers over some of the fine rewards and smiles. Though the rewards are sometimes plentiful!

Originally Posted by Thanee

“Let us search the other rooms here, the one we rushed through, especially. Then we can go on and secure the surroundings and get back to Hommlet afterwards.”

The knight nods. Indeed. In our haste, we may have left behind that which our enemies might find needful. In addition, if we can gather any more intelligence on our foes, the better. Best we be quick, however, as we cannot foresee if any shall soon return.

OOC: Did we see any studies/bedrooms/libraries? If so, we should doubly check those. if not, we should look at the rooms off of BA78, AU83 and the hall down BE71 a least.

[Legildur]

Kurt agrees with Coraine's suggestion and readies to move out.

[Leif]

Trevor makes ready to follow Coraine and Kurt.

[Boddynock]

Originally Posted by Thanee

“So it's not hot? Great, that will make carrying it a lot easier.”

“Let us search the other rooms here, the one we rushed through, especially. Then we can go on and secure the surroundings and get back to Hommlet afterwards.”

"Yes."

"Yes, let's check all the rooms. We'll strip this temple bare."

With that, Ragnok strides from the room, Norryjar at the ready in case of trouble.

Rhun

Whoops!

Ragnok slips the gem into a pocket in his cloak.

[Scotley]

Somewhat shaken from his encounter, but pleased with the treasure, Verdis takes his accustomed place at the rear of the group and checks his crossbow.

[Rhun]

Gathering the loot, you make your way back through the secret door, Trevor triggering the hidden catch so that it once again slides closed behind you. The corridor leading northwest out of the plush audience chamber disappears into darkness, and all is quiet from the direction.

You continue north, back in the antechamber where you originally engaged the Fire Priests in battle. You take a few minutes to check the doors to the right and left:

-----

The northeast chamber is some 8x20 feet in dimensions, and is nicely furnished. Tapestries are hung on the walls, and rugs cover the cold stone floor. A pair of oil lamps on wall sconces illuminate the room, and a small, smoking brazier gives off some heat. A pair of sleeping pallets with strawr-stuffed matresses rest in the northern portion of the chamber, a chest at the foot of each, and a couple of padded chairs and sidetables round out the furnishings. A thick tome lies open on one of the tables, and a few miscellaneous pieces of brass and copper dishware lie here and there.

A quick search of the chests reveal that they are full of clothing, mostly in the bright, warm colors of the Temple of Fire. One holds a small silver box containing a small bag of gold and a jeweled ring. The other contains nothing of value. Dara spends a moment examining the tome. It seems to be a treatise documenting many demons, devils and other strange beasts who thrive on fire.

-----

The northwest bedchamber is much more elegant and lavishly furnished. Again, plush tapestries cover the walls, and thick carpeting on the floor. Within the room is a large, comfortable bed with a down-stuffed mattress, two small sidetables, a round table with 4 paddded chairs, a stand with basin, ewer, and a smallish copper box, a wardrobe, a large, padlocked chest, and a brass brazier filled with brightly glowing coals giving off wisps of a sulphurous smelling incense.

The copper box is inlaid with sardonyx, and probably valuable, and is filled with a variety of different types of incense. The wardrobe is filled with more robes and other vestments of the Fire Temple, as well as a shield, suit of chainmail and mace of normal quality. Trevor works the lock on the chest, finding it filled with more clothing. After rummaging through the chest, though, he does find a bag of gold and silver coins.

-----




Loot Found
Silver box, worth 20gp
35 gps
Jeweled ring (silver and lapis), worth 85gp
Copper & sardonyx box, worth 75gp
Incense, worth 30gp
72gp
170sp

PC Status
Coraine 44/44, protection from fire (1 point)
Kurt 38/38
Dara 34/34
Ragnok 43/49
Trevor 35/36
Verdis 27/27


---MAP POST---

[Leif]

Trevor is very, very disappointed with the group's 'haul': "What a pitiful, paltry excuse for loot! I had not realized that we were plundering a bunch of paupers! Maybe we should be contributing to their alms boxes instead?"