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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Milo Windby" data-source="post: 303852" data-attributes="member: 202">Temple of Elemental Evil - Part 44 (session 19)Newly armored or armed, they set out the following morning.  The water temple was their first destination.  Fully rested, they decided to tackle the riddle of the merman.  Rather than enter the room through the secret door close to the pool they chose the double doors to the north.  The main room of the temple still contained the rotting corpse of the dire octopus.  The room reeked of dead fish, much like a fish market might smell if fully stocked and abandoned for a few days.  Brigit looked at the mound of octopus once, looked at the others, then sighed.  She loosed Trollgrater from her belt and started in on the huge mass of blubbery flesh.  Milo looked on with a bemused expression, from a safe distance to the flinging chunks of gray gore.Brigit was finished a few minutes later and the way to the double doors was open.  Milo bolstered himself mentally for the assault on his mind that he knew was imminent.  The huge doors swung easily on their hinges, not making a sound.  Watery light danced along the walls and the ceiling.  They couldn't tell if the great crystal set in the ceiling reflected the water or if it was the other way around.  The blue torches still burned on the walls, casting odd shadows on the carving of the ten-armed octopus.  From a certain angle the outstretched tentacles almost looked alive, thought Milo.As soon as they set foot into the room the mental barrage began.They could each hear the merman whisper in their minds, "Ohhh, you have returned!  Pleeeaaase, save me!"They ignored the ignoble pleas.  The room seemed too much like a trap for them to blindly wade in and rescue the bound merman.  If that's even what he was, thought Milo."Ya kin call me crazy, but Ah don' trust statues much anymore." Brigit had drawn her bow and aimed it dead center on the grasping octopus jutting from the wall.  The arrow sped from her bow with a whisper.  It nailed the body of the sculpture with a loud chink.  The only effect was a fair-sized divot of stone that chipped off with the arrow strike."Ya never kin be too sure." Brigit said, not meeting the amused gaze of her companions."Please!  You must help me!" the persistent echo of the merman's increased pleadings hammered in on the four.  "I can save you from him!""Forget it, let's go.  There's nothing in here we need to take care of." said Milo."You must save me!  Don't leave me here again!  He's coming!""An' why should we save ya?" Brigit asked, a little fed up with the incessant noise."He'll torture you!  I can save you from him!""Who'll torture us?" she asked."The beast!  The beast!  The beast!""What beast might tha' be?""The beast on the wall!""Uh huh, tha vicious beast tha' just broke one O me arrows on account O his stone hide I suppose?  An' how will he torture us?""Ahhhhhhhhh!" came an anguished scream in their minds."Fair enough, then how do we get rid O tha beast on tha wall?""AHHHHHHHHHHHH!""All you're doing is giving me a headache." Mazi broke in."Yeah, let's get out of here." said Milo.Brigit shrugged at the merman and they turned to leave.  As they crossed the threshold the screaming in their heads abruptly stopped.  Brigit threw one disgusted look over her shoulder before they left the water temple."It seems to me that there's only one thing on this level we haven't found." Milo said.They had stopped for a brief conference outside the water temple."Aye, tha Temple O Air.  It's gotta be here somewhere." Brigit said."I'm sure it is.  Look at all of these doors we've left for later.  They all seem to lead into one central chamber." Mazi said pointing to her map."Let's go then, I'm ready for anything." said Milo.The nearest set of double doors was to the east of the water temple.  The doors were set right in the middle of a long twenty-foot wide hallway that led to the fire temple.  The doors opened as smoothly as the matching set in the water temple.  Stairs led down into a cavernous chamber.  The chamber was deeper than it was wide, it stretched at least a hundred paces to the north and over thirty to each side.  The ceiling rose to peak in a dome directly above a huge pit that dominated the chamber.  They couldn't see the bottom of the pit from where they stood, but the floor seemed to sink as their gaze neared the dark pit.  The effect was completed by a thick swirling mist that rose from the stones of the floor to fall around the edges of the pit.  As he concentrated on the mist, Milo could make out an odd glitter within.  An otherworldly light glinted off the corner of a bronze altar.  The block of metal stood four feet high and eight feet wide.  Two knives and a bowl were arrayed atop the gleaming metal.  "Alright, who's turn to touch the altar?" Milo said."Ah'll do it, we've desecrated everthin' else in this place already.""Me too." Jeremiah said."Before you do," Milo began.Milo fell into a low chant.  A mystical energy flowed from his fingertips into Brigit, warding her from elemental damage from air.  He chanted a similar spell and warded Jeremiah.  Confident in Milo's protection, they approached the altar.  Brigit reached out and gingerly touched the bowl set between the knives.  The rushing of wind could be heard as if in the distance, steadily growing louder.  The mist around Brigit and Jer's feet began to swirl.  Suddenly they were caught in a whirling maelstrom.  Had anyone besides the two warriors in heavy armor been in the midst of the storm they would have been flung into the pit.  As it was Milo could make out a dull glow as his spell activated and protected the two from the scathing winds.  As suddenly as it appeared, the whirlwind died.The huge chamber grew unnaturally quiet for a short moment.  A quiet chiming began, barely audible at first.  As they stood still, listening, the chiming grew louder.  A light tinkling joined the chiming as it increased in volume.  Milo quickly spoke a prayer to bolster them in battle.The chiming reached a crescendo and they could see a ghostly form appear at the north end of the chamber.  It wafted through the wall and drifted slowly towards them."Milo, ya know yer undead, what is that?" Brigit said."I have no idea.  Mazi?""Well it's not a ghost, or a spectre.  I think it is undead.""Jus' tell me if Ah kin hit it!""We'll know soon enough, here it comes!"The ghostly form reached Brigit and Jeremiah.  They both took the opportunity granted and swung at it.  Brigit's axe seemed to drag through the apparition, causing an unnerving screech from its incorporeal throat.  Jer's sword swiped through its form though, doing no damage whatsoever.  The phantasm dived for Brigit, furious at her assault.  It swiped ethereal claws right through her armor.  Brigit could feel the icy touch of the grave pass through her skin.  The color drained from her face and her resolve faltered for a moment.  Her steel fortitude saved her and she moved to attack.  Neither she nor Jeremiah could place another blow on the insubstantial creature.  Mazi fired a couple of arrows its way as well, only to see them pass through its body, barely disturbing its form.  Milo concentrated hard on the holy symbol he fashioned.  He brandished it high.  He hoped for the same effect that he had on the ghouls long ago.  He felt the divine power coursing through his veins and culminating at the holy symbol in his uplifted hand.  The white light poured from the symbol to wash over the ghostly apparition.  And did nothing.  The phantasm didn't even look his way.  Milo lowered his hand in disappointment."Guess we'll do this the hard way."The apparition slashed its claws at Brigit again, passing through her armor and cutting deep with its icy touch.  This time Brigit was not able to resist the undead's steady drain.  She could feel the life pass from her.  She staggered back a half step and went ashen white.  It was almost as if she shrank within her armor.  Milo began to worry.Mazi threw down her bow and gathered her arcane powers about her.  Her fingers formed inscrutable signs as she cast her spell.  Soon a crackle of electricity formed about her hands.  She pointed at the apparition and a bright, jagged lightning bolt streaked towards the apparition.  The magical electricity ripped through the creature, dragging more of its substance away.  The screeching grew louder.  As if to silence the creature, Jeremiah took one mighty swing of his sword through its floating midsection.  One last scream pierced their ears as the apparition dissolved away into the swirling mist at their feet."Ohhhhh." Brigit groaned.Milo raced to her side to assess her situation.  He could see right off that the  damage dealt was beyond his aid.  Her life had been permanently drained.  "Judging from your wounds I'd say that was a wraith.  I've never seen one, but I've heard of them.  I'm afraid I can't help you, Brigit." Milo shook his head sadly. "It pains me to say it but I think we'll have to get you to Mother Scrang.  If she can't help you maybe we can go back to Specularum.""Mother Scrang then," Brigit said weakly, "Jus' get me outta here."Edited for content</blockquote>

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