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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3858466" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>The Temple of Blood</strong></p><p></p><p>After a time the four companions came to an archway leading into a kind of side chamber. Beyond the arch, Naiah's eyes met a disturbing sight: four young human women were chained to stone slabs. Several kobolds stood guard over them while a taller figure in dark robes appeared to be performing some ritual. The robed figure was definitely no kobold. Naiah's stomach clenched when she saw that vermin scurried in and out of the figure's robe.</p><p></p><p>Her brother immediately nocked an arrow and let it fly toward the disturbing robed man. At the same moment, Jerard hurled one of his knives. But both projectiles bounced off an invisible barrier and clattered to the stone floor.</p><p></p><p>The robed man turned to acknowledge their presence, his eyes rolling wildly so that they showed too much white. He cackled maniacally and proclaimed, "I am Belzen, the Worm Who Walks! Your puny weapons cannot harm me! I am master of the Blood Temple."</p><p></p><p>Mouse shouted, "I'll go for the guards!" and began to run. But before he could take more than three steps, more armed kobolds arrived. The gnome made a quick gesture and a brick wall appeared in front of the kobolds. But the creatures were all foaming with battle frenzy and his illusion didn't stop them. </p><p></p><p>The kobolds swarmed on the small party, teeth bared. Naiah felt her heart leap into her throat as she backed against the wall behind her brother. Thoin tried to maneuver into a better position and one of the kobolds stabbed him, wounding him deeply. Naiah suppressed a scream when her twin crumpled to the ground. </p><p></p><p>Realizing that to save her brother she would have to first defeat the kobolds, Naiah drew a tiny vial of water taken from mountain snow out of her pouch and whispered to it. A dagger made of ice appeared in her hand. She hurled it at a nearby kobold, but if skittered across the creature's rude armor and bounced off the wall, melting a moment later.</p><p></p><p>A brilliant spray of many colours shot from Mouse's fingertips. The spell was effective, but with Thoin out of the action they were in danger of being overwhelmed. Naiah bit her lip against her fear and drew a small silver dagger. With a word, she brought into being a duplicate of the dagger formed of arcane force. It danced away from her hand and began to circle the kobold Jerard faced, stabbing at the creature even as the young human slashed at it with his physical blade.</p><p></p><p>Like every other battle Naiah had yet experienced, this one was over in minutes. Mouse had subdued the most resistant of the kobolds, and the remaining force were so demoralized they began to flee. One of them fell to Naiah's magical blade as it retreated. </p><p></p><p>Just as she turned her attention back to the crazed Belzen and his prisoners, Naiah was startled to see a spectral figure forming in the air before her. It coalesced into the shape of a nude woman. For a moment she thought perhaps it was another of Mouse's illusions, but when she saw a look of shock on the gnome's features she realized her mistake.</p><p></p><p>The spectral woman spoke. "This is the temple of the Blood Goddess. Kneel, for you are on holy ground." Cowed by the figure's aura, Naiah knelt, trembling. </p><p></p><p>But Jerard, who never seemed to be intimidated by anything, began to babble excitedly to the spectre, gesturing at Belzen. He spoke so rapidly that Naiah could scarcely understand him, but the gist of his argument was that Belzen was no true servant of the Blood Goddess and had usurped her temple.</p><p></p><p>Though Naiah found his words difficult to understand, it seemed that his argument was persuasive. The Blood Goddess extended a hand toward Thoin, who still lay on the floor bleeding, and Naiah could see the divine energies she controlled healing his wounds. Then she commanded, "Slay the imposter!" Naiah felt a tingle of occult tension in the air and realized that the invisible barrier blocking the archway had vanished.</p><p></p><p>Thoin plied his bow again and Jerard hurled a dagger at the half-mad priest. Belzen appeared startled when the missiles passed through the arch and the arrow struck him. </p><p></p><p>Mouse wiggled his fingers and chanted a spell that Naiah recognized, designed to leave the target dazed, but it failed to take effect. Belzen began to utter a spell of his own, though it was not one with which Naiah was familiar. His kobold guards rushed her brother and Jerard.</p><p></p><p>Naiah drew the Overlord's gift from her belt and aimed it at one of the kobolds. But the ray of energy that shot from the end of the wand missed the kobold and impacted harmlessly against a supporting pillar. Belzen lifted up a cauldron of some bubbling liquid and hurled its contents at Thoin, dousing Naiah's sibling in what appeared to be boiling blood!</p><p></p><p>Thoin slew one of the guards, as did Jerard. Now only Belzen remained. Naiah aimed her want at him. This time the ray struck successfully and the mad priest staggered as he felt some of his strength drained away. Thoin pierced him with a second arrow. Then Jerard drew his sword and rushed Belzen, followed by a foolhardy Mouse.</p><p></p><p>But the priest was no weakling, and had protected himself with some infernal magic. He grabbed hold of Mouse when the gnome drew within arm's reach, using some magic to cause a wound to appear on the gnome's body. Thoin shot him again, and Jerard stabbed him. Naiah expended another charge from her wand, once more failing to find her target. She clenched her fist in frustration until her knuckles turned white.</p><p></p><p>But Jerard and her brother continued their assault with determination, even as Mouse slumped to the floor, too badly hurt to continue fighting. At last Jerard's blade found a vulnerable spot, and that combined with the weakness Naiah had inflicted and the other wounds to lay the mad priest low. Belzen fell in a heap of bloodstained, vermin-filled robes.</p><p></p><p>The stone-walled chamber was silent but for the heaving breaths of the four companions. Thoin knelt over Mouse and was able to stanch the bleeding of his wounds, though there was little else he could do for the doughty gnome. </p><p></p><p>From Belzen's cache of supplies they recovered a rod of black glass wrapped in red leather, and a golden bowl which greatly pleased Jerard. When the four female captives were freed they were naturally very grateful - these proved to be the kidnapping victims of whom Naiah had heard when Lady Alyssa hired them to safeguard her. </p><p></p><p>On their return to the Blue Dolphin, they were summoned to meet with Achillitl the illithid vizier once more. They had provided a great service to the Overlord by recovering the kidnap victims, who were all daughters of prominent citizens. And Thoin's warning about the kobolds had meant that when the kobolds attempted to rescue their chief from the palace, they had been easily detected and soundly defeated. The illithid rewarded them with four black gems of some value.</p><p></p><p>They had also managed to acquire a wand that could heal wounds, and a rod capable of disintegrating whatever its magic touched. Jerard had also been able to sell the golden bowl and share the proceeds. While he and Mouse were pleased with the material rewards of their latest venture, Naiah and Thoin were satisfied that they had destroyed an evil priest and freed innocents from a horrible death. Naiah reflected that this had made their departure from Palewood worthwhile.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3858466, member: 30035"] [b]The Temple of Blood[/b] After a time the four companions came to an archway leading into a kind of side chamber. Beyond the arch, Naiah's eyes met a disturbing sight: four young human women were chained to stone slabs. Several kobolds stood guard over them while a taller figure in dark robes appeared to be performing some ritual. The robed figure was definitely no kobold. Naiah's stomach clenched when she saw that vermin scurried in and out of the figure's robe. Her brother immediately nocked an arrow and let it fly toward the disturbing robed man. At the same moment, Jerard hurled one of his knives. But both projectiles bounced off an invisible barrier and clattered to the stone floor. The robed man turned to acknowledge their presence, his eyes rolling wildly so that they showed too much white. He cackled maniacally and proclaimed, "I am Belzen, the Worm Who Walks! Your puny weapons cannot harm me! I am master of the Blood Temple." Mouse shouted, "I'll go for the guards!" and began to run. But before he could take more than three steps, more armed kobolds arrived. The gnome made a quick gesture and a brick wall appeared in front of the kobolds. But the creatures were all foaming with battle frenzy and his illusion didn't stop them. The kobolds swarmed on the small party, teeth bared. Naiah felt her heart leap into her throat as she backed against the wall behind her brother. Thoin tried to maneuver into a better position and one of the kobolds stabbed him, wounding him deeply. Naiah suppressed a scream when her twin crumpled to the ground. Realizing that to save her brother she would have to first defeat the kobolds, Naiah drew a tiny vial of water taken from mountain snow out of her pouch and whispered to it. A dagger made of ice appeared in her hand. She hurled it at a nearby kobold, but if skittered across the creature's rude armor and bounced off the wall, melting a moment later. A brilliant spray of many colours shot from Mouse's fingertips. The spell was effective, but with Thoin out of the action they were in danger of being overwhelmed. Naiah bit her lip against her fear and drew a small silver dagger. With a word, she brought into being a duplicate of the dagger formed of arcane force. It danced away from her hand and began to circle the kobold Jerard faced, stabbing at the creature even as the young human slashed at it with his physical blade. Like every other battle Naiah had yet experienced, this one was over in minutes. Mouse had subdued the most resistant of the kobolds, and the remaining force were so demoralized they began to flee. One of them fell to Naiah's magical blade as it retreated. Just as she turned her attention back to the crazed Belzen and his prisoners, Naiah was startled to see a spectral figure forming in the air before her. It coalesced into the shape of a nude woman. For a moment she thought perhaps it was another of Mouse's illusions, but when she saw a look of shock on the gnome's features she realized her mistake. The spectral woman spoke. "This is the temple of the Blood Goddess. Kneel, for you are on holy ground." Cowed by the figure's aura, Naiah knelt, trembling. But Jerard, who never seemed to be intimidated by anything, began to babble excitedly to the spectre, gesturing at Belzen. He spoke so rapidly that Naiah could scarcely understand him, but the gist of his argument was that Belzen was no true servant of the Blood Goddess and had usurped her temple. Though Naiah found his words difficult to understand, it seemed that his argument was persuasive. The Blood Goddess extended a hand toward Thoin, who still lay on the floor bleeding, and Naiah could see the divine energies she controlled healing his wounds. Then she commanded, "Slay the imposter!" Naiah felt a tingle of occult tension in the air and realized that the invisible barrier blocking the archway had vanished. Thoin plied his bow again and Jerard hurled a dagger at the half-mad priest. Belzen appeared startled when the missiles passed through the arch and the arrow struck him. Mouse wiggled his fingers and chanted a spell that Naiah recognized, designed to leave the target dazed, but it failed to take effect. Belzen began to utter a spell of his own, though it was not one with which Naiah was familiar. His kobold guards rushed her brother and Jerard. Naiah drew the Overlord's gift from her belt and aimed it at one of the kobolds. But the ray of energy that shot from the end of the wand missed the kobold and impacted harmlessly against a supporting pillar. Belzen lifted up a cauldron of some bubbling liquid and hurled its contents at Thoin, dousing Naiah's sibling in what appeared to be boiling blood! Thoin slew one of the guards, as did Jerard. Now only Belzen remained. Naiah aimed her want at him. This time the ray struck successfully and the mad priest staggered as he felt some of his strength drained away. Thoin pierced him with a second arrow. Then Jerard drew his sword and rushed Belzen, followed by a foolhardy Mouse. But the priest was no weakling, and had protected himself with some infernal magic. He grabbed hold of Mouse when the gnome drew within arm's reach, using some magic to cause a wound to appear on the gnome's body. Thoin shot him again, and Jerard stabbed him. Naiah expended another charge from her wand, once more failing to find her target. She clenched her fist in frustration until her knuckles turned white. But Jerard and her brother continued their assault with determination, even as Mouse slumped to the floor, too badly hurt to continue fighting. At last Jerard's blade found a vulnerable spot, and that combined with the weakness Naiah had inflicted and the other wounds to lay the mad priest low. Belzen fell in a heap of bloodstained, vermin-filled robes. The stone-walled chamber was silent but for the heaving breaths of the four companions. Thoin knelt over Mouse and was able to stanch the bleeding of his wounds, though there was little else he could do for the doughty gnome. From Belzen's cache of supplies they recovered a rod of black glass wrapped in red leather, and a golden bowl which greatly pleased Jerard. When the four female captives were freed they were naturally very grateful - these proved to be the kidnapping victims of whom Naiah had heard when Lady Alyssa hired them to safeguard her. On their return to the Blue Dolphin, they were summoned to meet with Achillitl the illithid vizier once more. They had provided a great service to the Overlord by recovering the kidnap victims, who were all daughters of prominent citizens. And Thoin's warning about the kobolds had meant that when the kobolds attempted to rescue their chief from the palace, they had been easily detected and soundly defeated. The illithid rewarded them with four black gems of some value. They had also managed to acquire a wand that could heal wounds, and a rod capable of disintegrating whatever its magic touched. Jerard had also been able to sell the golden bowl and share the proceeds. While he and Mouse were pleased with the material rewards of their latest venture, Naiah and Thoin were satisfied that they had destroyed an evil priest and freed innocents from a horrible death. Naiah reflected that this had made their departure from Palewood worthwhile. [/QUOTE]
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