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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Endur" data-source="post: 2862724" data-attributes="member: 3346">After a few minutes, the roaring and vibrations stop.  There is silence for a few more minutes.  Then the trapdoor to the Dragon's Lair opens.A female voice calls out, "Is anyone down there?  The dragon has fallen before the Might of the Water Temple!"The high priestess of the water temple (whose voice you recognize) doesn't wait for a response and drops down to the floor of the treasure vault (relying upon a feather falling ability to not land hard) along with another hooded cultist.Before the party can do anything, the second cultist says something unspeakably vile.  The words involve the Old Faith, St. Cuthbert, and Moradin, but the intense evilness of the concept he spoke in words causes your minds to reel and your muscles to go as weak as jelly.Paralyzed in shock, the party members watch as other hooded cultists descend into the treasure vault.  The first two cultists were human, then they were followed by a Gray Elf (with a sad look on his face), a foul smelling Troglydyte, a female half elf with a perpeutal scowl on her face, and two dark elves.  The cultists talk amongst themselves in several languages: Common, Ancient Suel, Undercommon, and Abyssal.  The Dark Elves appear to be having a contest, trying to see who can come up with the most evil torture to inflict upon the helpless party members (which seems to have a distressing effect upon the Gray elf).  The cultists strip the party members of their equipment and start throwing their equipment and possessions into a pile in the middle of the room.The second cultist has removes his cowl, revealing a balding middle aged man with a salt and pepper goatee. Almost apologetically, the gray elf says in common to the goatee cultist, "By the terms of the agreement we made with Chymon, all of the looters equipment and possession are to be left in a pile in the center of this room.  We get the minions of Hommlet for interrogation, but the Dragon keeps their possessions."The half-elven woman with a scowl on her face objects, "Master Hedrack, we should cut their throats now and feed them to the Dragon.  They are too dangerous to be left alive.  The Oracle says there is a danger to the PLAN."Hedrack fondles his goatee and responds, "Naquent, how many times must I refuse you?  These fools present no danger.  The PLAN will succeed and all obstacles shall be overcome.  If I were to listen to you, we would evacuate in our moment of triumph!"The priestess of the water temple interjects, "They are not dangerous now, but they were dangerous before I delivered these heroes unto you.  I look forward to my reward and promotion to a position of power and responsibility within the Outer Fane."     Hedrack responds with disinterest that infuriates the Priestess of the Water Temple , "Everything in their proper time.  For now, lets finish gagging, blindfolding, and tying up the prisoners and take them to their new home."Belaver's Bear Shape is dispelled and he is returned to halfling form.  The party is gagged, hands bound behind their back, a bag placed over their head, and then levitated up to the top of the shaft into the dragon's lair (before he was blindfolded Lylamwyn surmised that the male drow elf appeared to be a powerful wizard).By the time the helpless party and their captors have reassembled in the Dragron's lair, the paralysis is wearing off.  The prisoners are then marched for about a half hour through the Outer Fane.   Eventually, the party members find their hands unbound, then after they remove the blindfold and gag, they discover themselves to be in a 80' by 60' volcanic stone chamber with no exits.  Each party member is individually in a 10' by 10' forcecage.  There are twelve forcecages in this room.  9 cells are occupied by party members and Neshi.  In addition, a troll, a fiery dwarf,  and a lammasu in a stupor are locked in the remaining three cells.The cultists appear to use some sort of magical transportation to move people and food into and out of the prison area and the forcecages.The party is reunited with Craven and Raner, but their treasure (and Lylamwyn's spellbooks and all other belongings including holy symbols) are back in the Dragon's Lair.Toriah remarks morosely, "Out of th' Frying Pan, Into th' Fire"</blockquote>

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