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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Milo Windby" data-source="post: 334850" data-attributes="member: 202">Temple of Elemental Evil – Part 46 (session 19)Brigit hurriedly explained everything that she remembered from Mother Scrang’s, including the foreboding message she received when she was half awake.”Hmmm, that is odd.  I don’t know if it’s something we have to worry about though.” Milo said after some thought.”Mebbe not, but Ah canna shake tha feelin’ tha’ she’s got somethin’ planned for tha lot O’ us.  Tha’ just don’t bode well.” Brigit said, ”‘Specially seein’ how fond O’ ya she is.  Who knows, she may be forcin’ me ta bring ya back ‘gainst yer will.””I can honestly say I’ve never seen you so scared of anything in the whole time I’ve known you.” Milo said with surprise. ”Very well, we’ll be on our guards.  We’ll tell the others when we get back.  You just be sure to tell us if you feel anything out of the ordinary.””Aye, Ah will.  But ya gotta watch too.  Ya know Ah’m tha first ta go when we’re up ‘gainst finger-wagglers.  One look in me eye an’ they already got me held er some other humiliatin’ enchantment.  It ain’t right.”Milo turned to Otis.  The balding blacksmith was amused by his customer’s discussion.”I’m afraid we have to go.  Thanks for all of your help Otis.  Take good care of the animals.”With that Milo pressed a few more gold coins to his palm and waved goodbye.  The two were soon out of town and nearing the edge of the forest.  The dark closeness of the trees enveloped them as they entered the woods.  A false twilight set upon them under the boughs of the ancient oaks and the occasional drooping willow.  Brigit plodded next to Milo morosely.”Cheer up Brigit, you’re back to full health!” Milo said.”Aye, but Ah don’ feel as well as Ah did ‘fore Scrang laid tha’ li’l bit on me.””We’ve been through worse.  Remember in the cursed caves when you decided you had to touch the smoky glass?  You almost jumped Mazi with your axe!  Besides, we’ll keep close watch.  I really don’t think Mother Scrang is that malicious.””Ah suppose.  We’ll see.”They walked the rest of the way to camp in silence.  Milo reflected on the time that had passed since Usamigaras last visited him.  His God was weakening and it was up to him to rescue His people.  Milo fretted inwardly at the time it was taking them to find Brigit’s family and clear out the temple.  He also worried that the others wouldn’t be interested in accompanying him to the shires to help him.  He had spent most of his life alone and thought that was the way he preferred it.  Now that he thought about it, the others had become like a family to him.  He hated the thought of parting after all they had been through together.  His resolve strengthened, he would do everything in his power to make sure they stayed together.They made camp by nightfall.  It was hard to determine under the leafy canopy of the forest, but the telltale sounds of evening slowly took over.  The chirping of the birds was replaced by the song of the crickets.  An owl hooted in the tree above their path.  A lone wolf howled in the distance.  The fire of the camp was a welcome sight to Milo’s eyes.  He envied Brigit her darkvision at times.  Milo cheerfully strode into camp.”We have returned!” he said with a flourish.Brigit dragged her feet into the circle and slumped to the ground.  ”What’s wrong?” asked Mazi, ”Couldn’t Mother Scrang help?””Oh aye, she ‘helped’ a’right.  Gave me some sort O’ gease along wi’ the healin’, Ah’m sure.””I think you may be exaggerating things a little,” Milo said, ”Mother Scrang gave Brigit some sort of message as she healed her.”Mazi and Jer listened intently as Brigit told of her visit to Scrang.  Milo also told them all that Otis shared about the Baron and his mustering of troops and equipment.”You may be too quick to judge, Milo.” began Mazi after she heard Brigit’s tale. ”Scrang may have indeed set some sort of enchantment upon Brigit, perhaps as payment for the healing.  Maybe she wasn’t satisfied with the shields and rings.””Or me ointment!  Tha’ ole witch drove a hard bargain!””Or your ointment,” Mazi agreed. ”We won’t be able to tell for sure until her enchantment takes affect.  We’ll have to keep close watch on you until then.””Tha’s what Ah’ve been sayin’!””Well I’ve had enough intrigue for one day,” said Milo, ”I’m packing it in.  It’s back to the temple tomorrow.”Milo was still unconvinced of Mother Scrang’s ill intent.  She was strange, and a little frightening when she’d go off about Hruda.  Milo just couldn’t see her forcing Brigit to do anything horrible, not even to kidnap Milo for a crossbow wedding.  These were his thoughts as he drifted off to slumber.  Even with his surface feelings about Mother Scrang, Milo dreamt of Brigit stealing off with him in a knapsack at night.  She brought him before Mother Scrang who cackled with delight.  In his dream Milo was still in the form of the short, fat, bald man whom Mother Scrang knew.  She forced him into a suit of finery and cackled with glee as she scooted him off to the town’s church.  At the altar stood a woman with her back to him.  He was drawn inexorably towards the altar, under no power of his own.  The woman turned to face him, reaching a hand up to lift her veil…Suddenly Milo woke with a start.  Brigit was shaking him gently.”Ya were screamin’, laddie.” she said with uncharacteristic gentleness. ”It’s yer turn fer watch.”Milo found that he and his bedroll were soaked with sweat.  His hair was plastered to his skull.  He took a few moments to get his bearings and compose his wits.  He spent the rest of the night reconsidering his thoughts on Mother Scrang.They were up before dawn; Milo woke them as the first birds tentatively chirped to each other in the trees.  Camp was struck with practiced alacrity and they were soon on the way back to the temple.  They discussed options en route.  There were only one or two rooms unexplored on the second level.  There was also the matter of the chained merman.  They figured that he needed to be dealt with one way or another.  Brigit had a potion of water-breathing as well.  They’d figure something out one way or another.There was a single door near the Water Temple that was bolted from the other side.  Milo was certain they’d find a secret door in the vicinity that would reveal what was hidden behind.  The trip down into the temple was quiet.  It seemed that all of the patrols had been dealt with already.  Milo scoured the walls near the door.  He led them farther and farther from the portal.  Finally, just as the others were ready to give up on him, Milo found what he was looking for.  The secret door was near the Air Temple and the site of Brigit’s close encounter with the wraith.  The door swung inward, revealing a forked passage.  To the right was a curved hallway that led to a set of stairs leading down into the darkness.  To the left was a hall lined with piles of armor and an ironbound chest.  The hall ended in a curtain.  The others examined the armor while Milo busied himself with the chest.Perhaps overconfident, Milo did a cursory check for traps before attempting to unlock the sturdy container.  He felt a wash of dread as he heard the click of the needle trap in the lock.  Milo yelped in pain as the sharp point of the needle embedded itself in his finger.  He yanked his hand back and stood up.”Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Milo said to himself.A wave of nausea washed over him as the poison made it’s way through his bloodstream.  Milo fought the ill effects inwardly as the others gathered around him concernedly.  It took him a second to realize that the nausea had passed.  It seemed that he weathered the poison with no affect.  ”Ha!  Teach them to use weak poison against me!”He doubled over suddenly as a new wave of nausea swept through him.  He suddenly felt weak and stumbled to one knee.  Mazi steadied him as he tried to shake the effects off.  He had no luck this time.  The slow acting poison had done it’s damage.  ”Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Milo said again.He was ready to stand on his own in a few seconds, but could tell that his muscles needed time to recuperate from the poison still in his veins. ”You going to be alright, Milo?” asked Mazi.”Yeah, I’ll just need to rest after we’re done today.  Now I know how Brigit felt.”Aw, ya look fine, laddie.  If Ah looked as good as ya do now when Ah was hit by tha’ damnable wraith, then Ah don’ know what all tha fuss was about.””Thanks Brigit, I get the message.  I’m going to spring that lock now, if it’s the last thing I do.”Milo did just that.  He swung the lid back with satisfaction and peered into the spoils.  He was disappointed to find a paltry sum of eleven gold pieces and some silver.  He checked the lining and the walls of the chest, but it seemed to be a normal, everyday box.  ”Ach, well ya canna always have everythin’, eh Milo?” Brigit said as she slapped him on the back good-naturedly.Milo stumbled from the blow and had to steady himself on the wall.  ”Thanks Brigit, but how about holding back on the friendly pats until I get some rest?”Brigit had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.The curtain hid a room with a table and chairs.  The bolted door was on the far wall.  A few pewter dishes were scattered on the table but there were no diners.  Milo searched the room.  Another hidden door was concealed to the right of their entrance.  The door led out into an offshoot of the grand hall.”That’s it as far as I can see.” said Mazi as she poured over her map.”I suppose that leaves our telepathic friend in the pool then.” Milo said with a sigh. ”Let’s get to it.”They entered the room from the north this time, the farthest point from the pool of water.  The merman remained at the bottom of the pool, still chained.”You’ve returned!  It’s not too late, you must help me!” came the pleading voice in their minds again.”Not too late for what?  You’ve been going on about nothing ever since we first found you.” Milo said out loud.”He’s still coming!  The beast is still coming!””Keep your fins on.  We’re just about ready.” Milo said.He turned to Brigit.  She had just activated her ring of freedom of movement and was about to drink her potion of water breathing.  Milo decided some extra precaution was needed.  He still didn’t trust the situation.  Milo focused and prayed for protection against water.  He imparted his blessing on Brigit.  She shimmered with a blue haze for a second before returning to normal.”Just in case something in there isn’t friendly.”Brigit nodded and downed a dose of the water-breathing potion.  She handed Jeremiah her rope of entanglement for an emergency.  The others stood back and watched as she slowly stepped into the water.  As soon as the sturdy dwarf was waist deep, about three feet past the edge, the water began to churn.  Her armor and gear started to sizzle in the frothy water.”Get out of there, Brigit!” Mazi shouted.Jeremiah readied his sword, peering into the churning pool.  Brigit backpedaled as quickly as possible, making it to the edge before any of her armor was eaten through.  It appeared the Milo’s spell was just enough protection to get her out.The voice in their heads turned even more urgent.  ”Please hurry!  Get me out of here.””Oh no.  I see what’s happening here.  You’re probably not even real.” Milo said, ”In fact, I’d wager that this whole pool of ‘water’ is what’s actually doing this.””Let’s test that theory,” Mazi said.A few seconds later a lightning bolt jagged from her finger and struck the water.  The electricity played across the surface for a few seconds before dissipating.  ”Nooooo!” came the shrieking mental voice.”I think you’re onto something, Milo.  The lightning didn’t seem to do too much though.” Mazi said.”Hmm, let’s try a knife spray then.” Milo replied.Milo finished his prayer and gestured at the pool.  A stream of coalesced air formed into tiny shards and sped into the pool.  The water on the surface slowed, almost congealing.  The shrieking in their head intensified.  The water was back to normal in seconds though.  They could see the merman at the bottom writhing.”Better, but we’re getting no where.” Milo said.A sudden thought struck him.  They had found a scroll not too long ago with the spell control water scribed.  Milo fished out the parchment and located the incantation.  He spoke the divine words and forced the water to lower.  The shrieks became mentally painful then.”I think we’ve hit on something.” Milo said, ”Too bad that’s my only control water spell.”Just then Brigit stepped forward.  Milo glanced at her before turning back to the pool.  Something in her face made him look again.  ”Ach, it’s hot in here.  Ah need a bit O’ a bath, methinks.” Brigit said absentmindedly. The dwarf stepped closer to the pool.  Jeremiah was faster.  He spoke the command word and Brigit’s rope sprung into action.  She was soon trussed up just as Milo had been days before.  Jer gave a strong tug and she toppled.  Brigit shook her head as if clearing cobwebs from her mind.  ”Wha’?  What was Ah thinin’?””Don’t know, don’t do it again.” Jeremiah said.He let her free and the four turned again to the pool.”Stop!  Please stop!  I’ll give you anything!  Anything you desire!” the voice in their minds persisted.”We don’ make deals wi’ demons, devils, or tha likes O’ ya!” Brigit spat into the pool.The water shuddered.  Milo wracked his brain for any spells that dealt with water.  All he had was a scroll of purify food and drink as well as one prepared.  Stumped and with nothing better to do, he prayed for the pool to be purified.  Aauuuugghhh!” screamed the voice in their heads.The water literally boiled at the effect of the purity.  Milo grinned.  He fished out the scroll with the same spell.  Again the voice wailed and the water churned.  It didn’t seem to be enough to finish off the mysterious being.  The water settled.”What about this?” Mazi said, holding up a vial of holy water.”It’s worth a try.” Milo answered.Mazi emptied the vial into the pool.  The water boiled on contact with the blessed fluid.  Milo whistled in appreciation.  He emptied all of his vials, as did Brigit, Mazi, and Jeremiah.  The water boiled and frothed but the voice never stopped wailing.  Milo was beginning to get a splitting headache.”It’s really hot in here.  Ah need a drink.” said Brigit as she poured her last vial of holy water into the pool.Jeremiah was ready with the rope.  A few seconds later Brigit lay bound next to the pool, still trying to reach the edge.  Her lips protruded as she tried to drink some of the tainted water.”Thirsty?  Wait a second, let’s try plain water.” Milo said.Again the water boiled and frothed as they emptied their water skins into the pool.  The screaming seemed to die down slightly as they each contributed their personal supplies.  Just as the last drop from Jeremiah’s water skin fell the screaming ceased.  The blue glow that suffused the room winked out.  The crystal on the ceiling had grown dark.  Suddenly, with the sound of ice on a lake thawing in spring, a jagged crack snaked along the face of the crystal.  The ceiling shattered into thousands of tiny shards that rained down into the now still pool.  The merman was nowhere to be seen.”Whew,” sighed Milo, ”I was about ready to drop my trousers and relieve myself.  Wonder if it would have worked?””Get me outta this thing!””Oops, sorry Brigit.”In the heat of the moment they had forgotten the dwarf lying next to the pool.  She had narrowly avoided a few stray shards by rolling this way and that.  Jeremiah spoke the command word and the rope loosened, allowing Brigit to go free.”Sorry ‘bout tha’.  Ah don’ know what came over me.””Some sort of suggestion or hypnotism I’d imagine,” Mazi conjectured.”Ya see what Ah mean?  First moment we’re up ‘gainst anythin’ like tha’ an’ Ah’m tha first ta go.”Milo listened half-heartedly to the conversation as he surveyed the wreckage.  Most of the shards had sunk to the bottom of the pool.  Floating near the far edge he could see a coral tube.  Milo walked to the edge and knelt next to the pool.”Milo!  What are you doing?” Mazi shouted.Jeremiah brandished the rope and started forward before Milo spoke.”It’s a scrollcase, I’m not thirsty.”Mazi laid a hand on Jeremiah’s arm and he lowered the rope.  Milo fished the case out, unafraid of the water now that the creature had been destroyed.  Inside the case he found a parchment.  It was a note written in common.  Milo read it aloud.”On three in six lies nine,But none shall ever see,A vile good cloaked in fair evil for eternity,Who will answer, Answerer?Where is your power, pray?With the wealth of Karemeikos,And there until Doomsday.”The four looked at each other in puzzlement.  It was a few minutes before anyone spoke.  Mazi broke the silence.”The Answerer, that’s the name of the Duke’s sword.  This does not bode well.”</blockquote>

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