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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Milo Windby" data-source="post: 152721" data-attributes="member: 202">Temple of Elemental Evil - part 33 (session 14)The dreams were ominous.  The atmosphere pervading the temple's surroundings seemed to be taking its toll on the heroes.  All four woke that morning at the same time.  Milo immediately checked his belongings, wary of what could happen when one didn't have a watch overnight.  They were all accounted for.  They decided to light a fire for breakfast, more for the warmth and light than anything.  Milo was chilled to the bone from Usamigaras' visitation.  He suddenly wished to be done with the temple and on his way.  He couldn't ignore Brigit's plight though, her desire to be reunited with her family was strong and he wasn't in the habit of abandoning friends.They all shared their dreams around the fire.  Each one filled them with more trepidation than the last.  It was clear that although the temple was an important step in thwarting the man in the mirror and from Jeremiah's dreams, there were even more important things to deal with.  The dreams created more questions than answers.  What did Mazi's dream of the forest portend?  Was it something to do with the talk of her being the vessel of Thari?  Where was Brigit's father?  What was the sword the dwarves were forging?  What of Jeremiah's people?  Who was the many-faced man in his dream?  Was he related to the evil of which Usamigaras spoke?  What was happening to Milo's people?  His head spun with all of the questions.  He tried to push most to the back of his mind and focus on the task at hand, ridding the temple of the evil of the priests.Milo suppressed a shiver then asked, "What's the plan today?  Do we want to go after the water priest or explore the elsewhere?""Ah've a bone ta pick wi' tha' priest." Brigit grumped."I don't know if we should walk back into that kind of trap.  They're had the night to plan for us to return there.  Finding a different way around would be wiser." said the even-headed Mazi."Mebbe so, but ya didn't get smacked unconscious a couple O times!  Tha' priest needs ta feel tha bite O me axe!" Brigit countered, Jeremiah nodded his agreement."That's exactly why I don't want to go barreling back in there.  I'd rather stay conscious.""Hang on, hang on." Milo interrupted before the conversation could get out of hand. "I've got a spell scroll that I've been hanging onto.  I can cast an augury to find what would be the wisest course.""Well why didn't ya say so?  Cast away, Milo." Brigit said impatiently."I'd rather save it until we get outside the temple.  Auguries don't seem to be able to predict too far into the future.""Then let's get goin'!  Tha sooner we get in there, tha sooner Ah can introduce tha' priest ta Trollgrater!"They struck camp and headed back towards the temple.  Milo absentmindedly ran his finger across the scroll case that held his augury spell.  He tried to formulate his question in his mind, leaving out no room for loopholes or error.They arrived at the temple as they had for the past few days, without incident.  The air was still and warm.  The adventurers stopped at the edge of the clearing.  Milo emptied his scroll case of the augury spell and sat cross-legged.  He spoke the words on the scroll, closed his eyes, waited for a moment, then asked his question: "Will returning to the water-enchanted room bring us weal or woe?" he spoke to the air.A few moments passed.  "Tha's it?  Ah'm not impressed Milo."A slight breeze picked up around Milo, picking up his hair slightly before dying down.  His pointed ears twitched once.  His eyes snapped open with a slight gaze of wonder, then disappointment."Weal and woe.  Not too helpful after all." he said sadly. "Sorry, looks like we'll have to hammer this one out anyway.""How's this," Mazi began, "We'll get down to the second level, see how things stand, then go from there.""Ach, anythin' if we can jus' get down there today!" said Brigit.The upper level was as empty as ever.  The next level down was equally as empty.  Milo noticed that the far off sounds of screaming they used to hear in the hallways was now gone.  He hoped that was a good thing.  They were soon at the bottom of the spiral staircase, ready for anything, or so Milo thought.They chose to walk in the direction of the watery room, passing through the minotaur's den.  The large room was much as they left it.  Dead carrion crawlers and human guards lay where they had fallen.  The half-eaten corpse of the minotaur still lay heaped near the secret eastern passage.  Something seemed odd about the minotaur to Milo."It moved!" Milo shouted in alarm, "The minotaur moved!"The creature slowly raised itself to its feet, dead flesh falling from its wounds.  Its teeth were fangs and his hands ended in vicious claws.  There was a whitish hue to its undead skin."I hate undead." Milo muttered as Brigit and Jeremiah charged at the undead beast.Brigit drew her other axe on her way, intent on finishing this threat off quickly.  Mazi supported them from the doorway with her bow.  Milo decided to follow Brigit's example as he drew Reft and Rend.  Brigit dodged an attack from the minotaur's claws as she moved in swinging.  Her axes found no purchase on the undead creature's tough hide.  Jeremiah's sword carved chunks out of the minotaur's ashen skin.  The minotaur ignored the wounds as if they hadn't happened, focusing instead on Brigit.  While its attention was on the dwarf Milo tumbled behind and sliced two more good-sized chunks from the minotaur's furry hamstrings.  The beast didn't fall, but took one great swipe of its claws at Brigit.  The attack wounded Brigit more than the mere scratch from the claws.  Milo could see the color drain from her face as the foul nails of the beast wounded her.  She stumbled for a moment, dropped her second axe, then hacked away at the minotaur.  Her offensive seemed to weaken the beast slightly.  Jeremiah followed Brigit's attack with two powerful slashes of his greatsword.  The minotaur went down, dead for good."Ah don' feel so well.  Ah think Ah'll sit down fer a moment." Brigit said before falling backwards unceremoniously.  Milo leapt to her side to examine the wound.  He shook his head sadly."I was afraid of this.  That minotaur was a wight.  Their wounds do more than draw blood, they drain life energy." Milo informed them.  "You may be able to resist the effects, but your body will need to rest in order to maintain your strength.  Otherwise...""Otherwise?" a nervous Brigit questioned."It's permanent." Milo answered with a concerned gaze. "It would be best that we get you back to camp to see if you can shake off the effects.  Fighting more may make it harder for you to shake it off.""Ah'm fine!  Lemme jus' sit here for a few minutes.  Ah'll be ready ta go in no time!" Brigit protested.Mazi interjected, "Brigit, wights are nothing to shrug off.  I think Milo is right, we need to get you out of here for the time being."Brigit didn't respond.  A deep scowl was plastered on her face as she looked at first Milo, then Mazi, and finally Jeremiah.  The quiet barbarian merely nodded his head."Ach!  Ya too, Jer?" she said in resignation, "Fine, ah'll go wi' ya, but Ah've got some work ta do first."With that the burly dwarf stood up, grasped both axes, and set about dismembering the minotaur wight corpse.  The others stood back and let her vent her frustrations.  She didn't stop with the minotaur.  In moments the entire compliment of bodies in the room were reduced to pieces.  It appeared the Butcher was back.  After Brigit worked out her anger at the minotaur on the rest of the corpses the party made their way cautiously back out of the temple.  The day was still bright as the exited the decrepit building, a sharp contrast to the temple.  The adventurers traveled a half-day from the temple before setting up camp again.  Milo insisted on a fire as night fell.That night Milo sat with Brigit as the wight's curse sank into her soul.  He prayed to Usamigaras on her behalf, hoping that his god could aid in some way.  He eventually drifted off to sleep.  Midway through the night Mazi woke Milo.  Brigit seemed to be getting worse.  Her brow was furrowed and sweat poured from her body.  Milo had never personally witnessed the wight's affect and he hoped the sweat was a good sign.  He draped a cool, wet cloth across her brow and continued to watch.Near morning, after Milo had drifted off to sleep again, he was awakened by a slight nudge.  Brigit was sitting up, supported by one hand as she prodded Milo with a stick.  She was grinning ear to ear.  Milo whooped with delight!  "You're okay?  You feel alright?" he asked the dwarf."Aye, a little weak in tha bones, but Ah feel fine otherwise." she answered.Milo's outburst had roused Jeremiah and broken Mazi from her meditation.  They were both standing over Brigit in seconds, relieved at her recovery."So, what say we find tha priest tha' brought tha' beastie back, Milo?" asked Brigit.Milo grinned and pounded her on the back. "I knew you'd be okay Brigit.  Nothing can keep you down for long.""Oh aye, one thing.  Lack O good ale.  An' we're not gettin' any out here!  Let's get on wi' it.  We got a temple ta clear O baddies."They struck camp immediately and set out for the temple once again.  The heroes were in high spirits as they made their way through the woods back to the clearing.  They were able to move faster with Brigit fit and well.  The temple soon rose from the trees as they neared the clearing.The adventurers made it to the minotaur room with no incidents.  It was exactly as they left it the day before, Brigit's work was a testament against corpse raising.  They started down the long hallway towards the secret door in the south of the temple but decided to check the door they skipped before.  The door was not locked."The usual?" Milo asked. "How bout Jer boots in tha door an Ah'll pick off what we see this time?" Brigit asked.Jer shrugged at Brigit before bracing himself in front of the door.  One kick later found the four of them in a room full of cots, couches, stools, tables, and assorted furniture.  A door led to the northeast.  Milo noticed the cots were not empty.  Eight former bugbears rose from the cots to attack the four.  Milo's hand was already on Usamigaras' holy symbol.  He brandished it high and called on his faith.  Despite Usamigaras warning of weakness in his dream, the divine power poured stronger than ever from Milo's being.  A breeze blew in the room behind Milo and slammed into six of the eight.  As if wind swept sand, their flesh and bones disintegrated before blowing into nothingness."Wow." said Brigit.The other two bugbear zombies were dealt with quickly, Brigit and Mazi weakened them and Jeremiah's Windsword finished them off.Standing up from a battle crouch, Brigit turned around to stare at Milo in amazement."I don't know!" the flustered halfling spoke, "The last time I tried that nothing happened at all."Milo felt almost as if someone had patted him on the back, but no one stood behind him when he glanced backwards.  A warm glow suffused him."I'd say your faith is growing, Milo." Mazi said.Milo turned about to examine the room.  One wall had a large mural depicting the evils of the element of air."I thought we were in the water temple?" Milo said out loud."That secret door must lead to the water temple, this northern section of the temple must be dedicated to air." Mazi postulated.The northeast door led into a hallway leading to the east before turning to the left.  Another door was to their immediate right.  Milo listened carefully to the door."There are voices on the other side." he whispered."Right, Jer?" said Brigit with no attempt to quiet her voice.Jeremiah kicked in the door to reveal four bugbears in a smaller room decorated in gray.  Brigit fired at them with her readied arrow.  She scored a hit on the closest bugbear before the others entered the room to fight.  A following arrow from Mazi's bow brought the bugbear down.Brigit stowed her bow and brought out her axe and shield before wading in.  Her first attacks reached empty air, but Jeremiah's sword did not.  He felled on bugbear with two swings and wounded another with his third.  Brigit refocused and attacked again.  She took down the wounded bugbear first before attacking the last one with vigor.  The creature fell before her fury.Brigit was just about to dismember the corpses when Milo stopped her."Uh, Brigit?  Can we loot the corpses before you do that?" She actually appeared slightly embarrassed.  They found a few gold and silver pieces among the bodies, but nothing else of value.  Milo concentrated on examining the room while Brigit set about to the corpses.  There were a couple of cots as well as some piled cushions in the room.  A cabinet dominated one wall.  The walls and carpet were a dull gray, apparently the color used to signify the evil element of air.  He figured this to be an old guestroom.  Two doors led out, one to the east and one to the southInside the cabinet Milo found a handaxe, a jar of honey, some candles, and old clothes.  He stowed the handaxe in his bag of holding figuring he would be the only one to use them.  Brigit decided to keep the honey.  She had no reason she could give them.  "Sure Brigit, you're just wanting to brew some honey mead.  I remember your ale comment from the other day." Milo ribbed her.Milo checked the southern door first.  He found that it led to a small storage closet, full of more old clothes, rags, and bedding.  The eastern door was locked, barred from the other side.  "Interesting, barred to keep something in here?" Milo guessed.There was no barred opening to look through, so they left the door for later.  Upon returning to the hallway outside they found that it led back into the grand hall they chased the first priest and his rogue lackey into when they first came down to this level.  Nothing had changed in the hall.  They could still hear echoing noises from the many entrances and exits.  It was then that Mazi recalled the other hallway they had left to explore near the hexagonal, water filled room.  Since they were so close they decided to check that hallway before continuing back to the water temple.</blockquote>

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