Milo Windby
First Post
Temple of Elemental Evil - part 10 (session 8)
Temple of Elemental Evil - part 10 (session 8)
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The four left the room no more closer to figuring out the mysteries of the temple than before. Every room so far only served to deepen the riddle. Deeper into the temple they came across another door, not so heavily runed or locked this time.
”It’s all yours, guys.” Milo said, stepping aside. ”I pronounce this door clean, though what’s behind it-“ he let the statement dangle.
”Right, enough spooky talk, halflin. Prolly nuthin behind this door like tha last.” Brigit said as she and Jeremiah readied themselves to pounce on anything that moved beyond the door.
Brigit opened the door on creaky hinges. She and Jeremiah peered into the doorway. An empty corridor with a single branch to the right lay beyond. Brigit shot Milo an ‘I told you so’ look before tromping in. Jeremiah followed behind, then Milo and Mazithra.
The branch led into a new room, this one triangular in shape. Milo glanced about, taking it in.
”Temple of Elemental Evil? More like Temple of Geometrical Evil!” he quipped. ”Cuz there’s this triangle - and the circular room - and - and - the hexagon - ah, forget it.” Milo imagined he could hear crickets chirping. ”Hey, look at that up there, a big eye!” Milo said, trying to draw attention away from the awkward silence. ‘Humor is lost on these guys’ he thought to himself.
Painted on the ceiling was a large eye, peering down on the occupants of the room. They had entered from the middle of one of the equal sides, facing the apex of the triangular room. There was writing on the wall to the right, luckily in common.
”No runes, about time!” Milo said before concentrating on the writing. ”We’ll retreat and ponder the glories of Earthly Elemental Evil”
”Well I think we can safely assume we’re in the aspect of the earth element here.” Mazi said. ”Do you think that’s what the triangle on the rings symbolizes? Priests of the earth element I wonder?”
”What difference do it make, elfie? Whether it be earth, water, whatever, as long as ah kin hit it with me axe, ah ain’t worried!” Brigit offered.
Benches lined the other wall, but beyond the simple furnishings the rest of the room was empty. Milo examined the benches and floor around them.
”Okay, I think we’re getting somewhere. These benches have been used recently. Look at the scuffmarks on the floor, we didn’t cause those. Looks like someone has been pondering in here.” Milo said after a moment of examination.
Further searching revealed nothing more in the room. Jeremiah seemed eager to find what denizens remained that may have used the room recently. Milo knew Jer would get antsy if they didn’t find something to hit soon. They left the room behind, marginally closer to figuring out the riddle of the temple.
The other end of the hallway opened into a small room, rather normal in its shape. There were rows of shelves, some broken, some intact. Scattered all over the room was containers, tins, and clay pots. Most were broken, their contents spilled and mixed. A strong, acrid smell wafted from the debris on the ground.
Milo slowly stepped into the room to take a closer look at the mess. It was difficult to find a clear spot to place his feet. Milo found himself treading softly on the most stable surfaces he could find. One such surface was not as stable as the others were and he felt his foot sink a couple of inches. The acrid stench in the room grew stronger suddenly. Milo glanced down at his foot, wrinkling his nose. Yellow powder covered his sole. He had broken what must have been the only intact container in the room, a small metal tin.
”Sulfur, yummy.” he said sarcastically.
He carefully scraped the powder off with a pottery shard and continued his search. He could find nothing of value in the mess of broken shelves and shattered containers. All that remained were rotten herbs and dried specimens.
“Some sort of arcane supply closet?” Mazi guessed.
”Your guess is as good as mine.” Milo answered. ”There’s nothing of value that I can see here. Let’s go, this smell is getting to me.” Milo did his best to repress the mounting dread the temple was filling him with. All these empty rooms, but some recently used. There had to be somebody dwelling here.
Back through the door and into the main hallway the group traveled. The hallway ended into another, larger corridor. This one stretched to the left and right, the vaulted ceiling yawned upwards before curving back down to the far wall. The corridor was sheathed in more of the strange brown marble, veined in black. To the right they could make out polished yellow marble triangles set in the floor. They were lined up to point around the bend to the left. Intrigued, the party followed the direction the arrows led.
The triangles pointed to a curtain, strung across the corridor. Milo motioned the others back and stealthily crept to the hanging brown cloth. He carefully peered through a gap in the side. Beyond the curtain he could make out a grand chamber, at least forty paces square. In the center of the chamber was a large earthen pyramid, with steps carved into the sides. The steps led up to the flattened top of the pyramid, which was built around a large pillar. The four sides of the square pillar bore the triangle device with which they were becoming so familiar. Bronze manacles dangled from just above human height on the face closest to Milo. He could see three doors on the far wall, two unadorned doors on either side of a huge set of double doors. The central doors had the strange silvery runes that seemed to swirl and move as Milo tried to focus on them. He felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and focused his attention elsewhere. There were lit torches along the walls of the room, but nothing stirred within.
Milo returned to his friends to report his findings. Nonplussed as to the lack of people, or any sort of resident, they decided to investigate the pyramid. Brigit and Milo entered the room while Mazi and Jeremiah stood back next to the curtain, ready for anything to pop up or jump out. Milo noticed that the floor was packed dirt as well.
As soon as the dwarf and halfling came within ten paces of the pyramid, the earth began to rumble. They turned to see a mound form right behind them. The mound rose until it was Milo’s height before it began to take shape. It continued to grow upwards and outwards, two lumps on either side formed into arms as a third lump formed into a head atop the now monstrous mound.
”Earth elemental!” Milo shouted. He glanced to his left and noticed another in the other corner of the room. Glancing behind him he could see two more, one at each corner of the far side. Milo groaned.
Milo acted before the elemental was fully shaped. He fired his crossbow at the huge mound, feeling rather under-armed. The bolt bounced from the hard packed dirt that made up the body of the elemental. ”Magic only, of course!” Milo shouted to the others.
Brigit loosed a dwarven cry and charged the huge elemental. She heaved Trollgrater through the air and struck the elemental with a great blow. The axe carved a large chunk from its side that quickly closed back over with the constantly shifting earth.
The elemental had fully formed by then. It raised up huge, blocky fists and hammered down on Brigit. The first blow caught her on the shoulder, staggering her. Her armor took the brunt, but Milo could tell she was hurt. The second fist swung down with the same deadly intent as the first. Brigit was able to fend off the blow with her shield, her arm tingling after the impact. It was then that Milo noticed the other elementals hadn’t moved from where they emerged. Relieved, he focused his attention on the one before them.
Jeremiah had charged up behind the elemental while it was pummeling Brigit. He swung his greatsword at the large target. The elemental’s attention was split between Milo and Brigit in front and the barbarian swinging his sword behind. Unable to fend off the attack, the elemental lost more of the earth that made up its body. Jeremiah reversed his powerful swing and slashed into the elemental again. Dirt flew from the impact, raining all over the area. Mazi dodged a couple of large chunks flying her way as she stowed her bow and reached for Sylvanglade.
Milo stood a pace away from the battle and summoned his spiritual energies. He spoke a new incantation he had prayed for that morning. A glowing short sword formed before him, pulsing with holy light. The weapon flew through the air and stabbed into the elemental, causing more earth to crumble away from the lumbering giant.
Brigit rallied from the blow she received and slashed into the earth elemental. Her axe sunk deep into the dirt, as if she were chopping mud. The elemental crumbled from the blow, reduced to a pile of dirt.
”Let’s get out O here ‘fore the others decide to avenge this un!” Brigit said, still nursing her shoulder from the harsh blow she received.
The others quickly agreed and they left the room from the way they came. Milo noticed a similar curtained archway opposite them on the same wall as they were leaving. He filed away that information for the future.
”You okay, Brigit?” Milo asked once they were a safe distance down the hallway. ”Do you need any healing?”
”Ah’ll be fine. Tha’ thing packs a whallop tho, no mistake.” she answered. ”Ah don’ think ah coulda taken three more O em poundin’ on me like tha’.”
”I’m sure we can find something else to pound on you here Brigit.” Mazi joined in. ”I’m with you though, I don’t want to have three of those on us at once, that one blow took you down a peg or two.”
”Peg or two nuthin! Ah’ll be fine ah said, an ah will. Jus give me a minute.”
Temple of Elemental Evil - part 10 (session 8)
-------------------------------
The four left the room no more closer to figuring out the mysteries of the temple than before. Every room so far only served to deepen the riddle. Deeper into the temple they came across another door, not so heavily runed or locked this time.
”It’s all yours, guys.” Milo said, stepping aside. ”I pronounce this door clean, though what’s behind it-“ he let the statement dangle.
”Right, enough spooky talk, halflin. Prolly nuthin behind this door like tha last.” Brigit said as she and Jeremiah readied themselves to pounce on anything that moved beyond the door.
Brigit opened the door on creaky hinges. She and Jeremiah peered into the doorway. An empty corridor with a single branch to the right lay beyond. Brigit shot Milo an ‘I told you so’ look before tromping in. Jeremiah followed behind, then Milo and Mazithra.
The branch led into a new room, this one triangular in shape. Milo glanced about, taking it in.
”Temple of Elemental Evil? More like Temple of Geometrical Evil!” he quipped. ”Cuz there’s this triangle - and the circular room - and - and - the hexagon - ah, forget it.” Milo imagined he could hear crickets chirping. ”Hey, look at that up there, a big eye!” Milo said, trying to draw attention away from the awkward silence. ‘Humor is lost on these guys’ he thought to himself.
Painted on the ceiling was a large eye, peering down on the occupants of the room. They had entered from the middle of one of the equal sides, facing the apex of the triangular room. There was writing on the wall to the right, luckily in common.
”No runes, about time!” Milo said before concentrating on the writing. ”We’ll retreat and ponder the glories of Earthly Elemental Evil”
”Well I think we can safely assume we’re in the aspect of the earth element here.” Mazi said. ”Do you think that’s what the triangle on the rings symbolizes? Priests of the earth element I wonder?”
”What difference do it make, elfie? Whether it be earth, water, whatever, as long as ah kin hit it with me axe, ah ain’t worried!” Brigit offered.
Benches lined the other wall, but beyond the simple furnishings the rest of the room was empty. Milo examined the benches and floor around them.
”Okay, I think we’re getting somewhere. These benches have been used recently. Look at the scuffmarks on the floor, we didn’t cause those. Looks like someone has been pondering in here.” Milo said after a moment of examination.
Further searching revealed nothing more in the room. Jeremiah seemed eager to find what denizens remained that may have used the room recently. Milo knew Jer would get antsy if they didn’t find something to hit soon. They left the room behind, marginally closer to figuring out the riddle of the temple.
The other end of the hallway opened into a small room, rather normal in its shape. There were rows of shelves, some broken, some intact. Scattered all over the room was containers, tins, and clay pots. Most were broken, their contents spilled and mixed. A strong, acrid smell wafted from the debris on the ground.
Milo slowly stepped into the room to take a closer look at the mess. It was difficult to find a clear spot to place his feet. Milo found himself treading softly on the most stable surfaces he could find. One such surface was not as stable as the others were and he felt his foot sink a couple of inches. The acrid stench in the room grew stronger suddenly. Milo glanced down at his foot, wrinkling his nose. Yellow powder covered his sole. He had broken what must have been the only intact container in the room, a small metal tin.
”Sulfur, yummy.” he said sarcastically.
He carefully scraped the powder off with a pottery shard and continued his search. He could find nothing of value in the mess of broken shelves and shattered containers. All that remained were rotten herbs and dried specimens.
“Some sort of arcane supply closet?” Mazi guessed.
”Your guess is as good as mine.” Milo answered. ”There’s nothing of value that I can see here. Let’s go, this smell is getting to me.” Milo did his best to repress the mounting dread the temple was filling him with. All these empty rooms, but some recently used. There had to be somebody dwelling here.
Back through the door and into the main hallway the group traveled. The hallway ended into another, larger corridor. This one stretched to the left and right, the vaulted ceiling yawned upwards before curving back down to the far wall. The corridor was sheathed in more of the strange brown marble, veined in black. To the right they could make out polished yellow marble triangles set in the floor. They were lined up to point around the bend to the left. Intrigued, the party followed the direction the arrows led.
The triangles pointed to a curtain, strung across the corridor. Milo motioned the others back and stealthily crept to the hanging brown cloth. He carefully peered through a gap in the side. Beyond the curtain he could make out a grand chamber, at least forty paces square. In the center of the chamber was a large earthen pyramid, with steps carved into the sides. The steps led up to the flattened top of the pyramid, which was built around a large pillar. The four sides of the square pillar bore the triangle device with which they were becoming so familiar. Bronze manacles dangled from just above human height on the face closest to Milo. He could see three doors on the far wall, two unadorned doors on either side of a huge set of double doors. The central doors had the strange silvery runes that seemed to swirl and move as Milo tried to focus on them. He felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach and focused his attention elsewhere. There were lit torches along the walls of the room, but nothing stirred within.
Milo returned to his friends to report his findings. Nonplussed as to the lack of people, or any sort of resident, they decided to investigate the pyramid. Brigit and Milo entered the room while Mazi and Jeremiah stood back next to the curtain, ready for anything to pop up or jump out. Milo noticed that the floor was packed dirt as well.
As soon as the dwarf and halfling came within ten paces of the pyramid, the earth began to rumble. They turned to see a mound form right behind them. The mound rose until it was Milo’s height before it began to take shape. It continued to grow upwards and outwards, two lumps on either side formed into arms as a third lump formed into a head atop the now monstrous mound.
”Earth elemental!” Milo shouted. He glanced to his left and noticed another in the other corner of the room. Glancing behind him he could see two more, one at each corner of the far side. Milo groaned.
Milo acted before the elemental was fully shaped. He fired his crossbow at the huge mound, feeling rather under-armed. The bolt bounced from the hard packed dirt that made up the body of the elemental. ”Magic only, of course!” Milo shouted to the others.
Brigit loosed a dwarven cry and charged the huge elemental. She heaved Trollgrater through the air and struck the elemental with a great blow. The axe carved a large chunk from its side that quickly closed back over with the constantly shifting earth.
The elemental had fully formed by then. It raised up huge, blocky fists and hammered down on Brigit. The first blow caught her on the shoulder, staggering her. Her armor took the brunt, but Milo could tell she was hurt. The second fist swung down with the same deadly intent as the first. Brigit was able to fend off the blow with her shield, her arm tingling after the impact. It was then that Milo noticed the other elementals hadn’t moved from where they emerged. Relieved, he focused his attention on the one before them.
Jeremiah had charged up behind the elemental while it was pummeling Brigit. He swung his greatsword at the large target. The elemental’s attention was split between Milo and Brigit in front and the barbarian swinging his sword behind. Unable to fend off the attack, the elemental lost more of the earth that made up its body. Jeremiah reversed his powerful swing and slashed into the elemental again. Dirt flew from the impact, raining all over the area. Mazi dodged a couple of large chunks flying her way as she stowed her bow and reached for Sylvanglade.
Milo stood a pace away from the battle and summoned his spiritual energies. He spoke a new incantation he had prayed for that morning. A glowing short sword formed before him, pulsing with holy light. The weapon flew through the air and stabbed into the elemental, causing more earth to crumble away from the lumbering giant.
Brigit rallied from the blow she received and slashed into the earth elemental. Her axe sunk deep into the dirt, as if she were chopping mud. The elemental crumbled from the blow, reduced to a pile of dirt.
”Let’s get out O here ‘fore the others decide to avenge this un!” Brigit said, still nursing her shoulder from the harsh blow she received.
The others quickly agreed and they left the room from the way they came. Milo noticed a similar curtained archway opposite them on the same wall as they were leaving. He filed away that information for the future.
”You okay, Brigit?” Milo asked once they were a safe distance down the hallway. ”Do you need any healing?”
”Ah’ll be fine. Tha’ thing packs a whallop tho, no mistake.” she answered. ”Ah don’ think ah coulda taken three more O em poundin’ on me like tha’.”
”I’m sure we can find something else to pound on you here Brigit.” Mazi joined in. ”I’m with you though, I don’t want to have three of those on us at once, that one blow took you down a peg or two.”
”Peg or two nuthin! Ah’ll be fine ah said, an ah will. Jus give me a minute.”
