Endur's Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

[Dalamar]

"Cheer up, man," Kerwyn says and walks over to the kneeling Craven. "I've got enough trouble with the cold, are you trying to make my feelings the same color as my lips?"
Kerwyn slaps the paladin friendly on the back - and regrets it, when he is painfully reminded that there was a layer of metal between his hand and Craven's back.

 

[Endur]

Back in the crypt, Belaver, Neshi, and the black cat guard the bound prisoner Festrath.

Holding his lantern in one hand and shining it down the tunnel, Belaver does not see the the torch-lit party returning yet.

But he hears the sounds of people quietly walking towards him from the direction the party left in.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

As he sees no sign of the torches the party carried, nor hears their voices, Belaver will close the lantern's hood and step to the side of the passage, hoping that if those approaching are not his friends, they will not notice him.

 

[Endur]

As Belaver lurks in the crypt with Neshi, the Black Cat, and the prisoner Festrath, he hears the footsteps coming closer. He begins to smell an awful smell (different than the reptile smell, but just as bad). He is feeling ill, as he overhears a conversation.

"Workssss every time. Heroes kill ghouls, but can't run fast enough to catch ghasstttsss."

"Out of ghoulllsss we are. No more ghoulllss. Heroes kill ghasts next time. I'm hungry."

"Less ghouls means more fooddddsss for us. Heroes not kill ghasts if we make more ghouls. We eat. Heroes are in the strange room, not guarding foood any more."

Belaver thinks it sounds like the two creatures are leaving the crypts, heading back towards the room where the party rested and fought the cultists and left the tied up reptile.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

Belaver draws Neshi to his side, softly muttering out the words to a Barkskin which he shares with his companion. The second spell, he prepares to convert into a summoning; his intent is to draw an earth elemental behind the creatures with just enough time for it to appear before they can reach him.

 

[Dalamar]

"So what do we do with this?" Kerwyn says, flipping the black sphere in the air and catching it.

 

[Endur]

As Dalamar tosses the black sphere into the air, he gains the impression that it is intended for throwing. Although in some ways the black sphere seems a little fragile, like it would break if thrown against a hard surface.

 

[Dalamar]

"Hey, this thing really feels like it wants to fly. Wonder if I should try smashing it on the head of that whatwashisname ghoul that was the boss of the others?"

 

[Xael]

"Preferably not.", Lylamwyn comments, with his voice drifting slightly towards desperation. "I could hold it for now, since it's a magical item of unknown origin and effects. It might also be very valuable.", he continues while extending his hand towards Kerwyn.

*And I definetly don't want you to start throwing it around without knowing what it'll do.*

"But what do we do now? Should we go back or start a systemical search of these catacombs?"

 

[Dalamar]

"Valuable? Then I better not hand this to you. You never know what a sneaky warlock like you might do," Kerwyn says, moving the sphere protectively away from Lylamwyn and eyeing the elf suspiciously.