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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Milo Windby" data-source="post: 89056" data-attributes="member: 202">Temple of Elemental Evil - part 24 (session 11)According to Mazithra's well-kept map there wasn't much they hadn't uncovered on the floor they were exploring.  One particular area that they hadn't investigated was near the first prison cells they had found, where Brigit's people had been held captive."I fergot all 'bout that." said Brigit."You were a little preoccupied with freeing your people at the time, Brigit." Mazi said kindly."That or your memory is going, it's that ripe old dwarven age Brigit." Milo said, sure to be a fair distance from Brigit's gauntlet when he opened his mouth."Keep yer talkin, halflin'.  I've a right mind ta-""Ah, but then who would open all the chests and doors?" Milo interrupted. "You didn't seem to like that dust you sucked down in the mausoleum.""Ach, mebbe we'll keep ya round a lil' while longer then, but watch yer mouth fore I have ta stuff it wi' somethin'." Brigit muttered as she held up an empty sack menacingly.Mazi shook her head at the two, amused by their banter in such a dismal place.  They started towards the prison cells, only a few passages away.  The hallway they hadn't explored before ended in a stout oak door.  Milo padded quietly up to the portal and listened in."Some grunting, a little bit of movement.  Probably not human, but always hostile." Milo whispered to the others after he returned."Let's do this tha old fashioned way then!" Brigit exclaimed.Gripping Trollgrater she kicked in the door.  Three startled bugbears stared back at the adventurers.  They barely had the chance to look surprised before Brigit and Jeremiah were upon them.  The bugbears went down quick, two to Brigit's axe and one to Jer's greatsword."That's got to be the last bit of demi-intelligence that didn't know we were here." Milo stated."Don't be too sure, you never know what else lurks around here." Mazi told them."Always so gloomy, elfie.  Lighten up a lil'.  What'cha find Milo?" Brigit said to her friends.Milo shrugged and pointed out some watered down ale in clay mugs on the table the bugbears were sitting around.  There was a water barrel in the corner as well as a stocked freestanding pantry.  Some unburned torches were thrown to the side of the wall.  As Milo bent over to examine one he noticed something odd about the wall.  Looking closer he could see an odd seam running up the length of the wall to the ceiling.  Moments later he found the catch that released the secret door."It never ceases to amaze me how many of these secret doors we find around here." Milo said as he triggered the catch.The door swung open to reveal a short passage back to the prison cells.  Nothing of interest seemed to be in that direction.  They divested the bugbear guards of their valuables, only a few coins apiece, and left the room.The other passage near the cells led to a spiral staircase leading down into the darkness.  "Looks sturdy enough, prolly leads down ta tha same place as tha other stairs we found." Brigit said in a matter-of-fact tone."Yeah, let's finish up what we've missed here before we head down though." Milo suggested."Agreed.  I don't want anything sneaking up on us from above as well as below when we get there." Mazi said.They made the cautious walk to the southwest corner of the temple and the intersection they had skipped before.  The passages led both ways into rooms that mirrored each other.  Both rooms contained broken weapons and armor, nothing of use at all.  The passage they were in was also reflected on the southeast corner of Mazi's map, lending a symmetrical appearance to the floor.  "What about this little area here, where the floor sloped a little?" Milo said while he pointed at a spot to their north."That passage'll lead ya down ta tha next level, I'd wager." said Brigit, employing her innate sense with stone work and subterranean passages."Alright then, I say we go get some rest before going down to the next level." suggested Milo."What's tha matter Milo?  All this walkin' too tirin' for ya?" Brigit laughed."Actually I just thought we should slow down before you broke anything Brigit, you know how old bones get brittle." Milo retorted."I'll show ya old bones ya little-" started Brigit."Score one for the halfling, you keeping track Brigit?" Milo laughed."Ach, don't make me toss ya agin, halflin'." Brigit grumbled."Just giving you a hard time, no need to get physical Brigit." Milo held up his hands in a gesture of peace.  "We'll call truce for tonight, eh?"With that the four friends exited the temple, through the west vestry this time to vary their pattern in case anyone was paying attention.  They found a suitable camp ground a half-day travel from the temple.  "If I'm to identify all of the things we found down there I'm going to need two or so days." Mazi told the others."Tha's fine Mazi, Ah need ta brush up on some O me techniques anyhow." Brigit said."We could probably all use with a little training before we head to the next level.  How about you Jeremiah, would you be okay with staying here for a little while?" Milo asked the barbarian.Jeremiah looked impatient to get back to the temple and the joys of combat, but he acquiesced for the time being.  They would spend a few days camped in the woods to give Mazi time to find out what they had unearthed in the temple and to train for the next level.The next day Mazi was able to tell the others what four of their findings were."This," she said as she held up the vial they found, "is a potion of reduction.  It will make the person, or object it is sprinkled on smaller, down to half its normal size.  I don't recommend Milo using it, he's small enough as it is.""You too Mazi?  What's a lonely halfling to do?" Milo groaned.  "What else do we have?""This chainmail is enchanted to provide the wearer with added protection.  It's the same enchantment that's on Jeremiah's armor.  Too bad none of us wear chainmail.  It will fetch a decent price at the market though.""Aye, if we ever make it ta another market." Brigit said."The morningstar we found has a similar enchantment.  It's actually closer to the one on the dagger the merchant's wife gave us back at the Keep Milo.  Whoever uses it will find their target easier to hit and will inflict more damage than normal.""Ah've already got me hammer, Jeremiah why don'tcha take this one?" Brigit asked her barbarian friend.Jeremiah took the morningstar from Mazi, hefted it a little to test the weight and handling, then stowed it in his pack with a nod."Lastly, this beautiful little ring here," Mazi said while she held up the piece of jewelry, "Will make its wearer a little harder to hit.  Its enchantment adds to the wearer's innate ability to dodge blows.""Very nice Mazi.  Now who should we give this one to?" Milo wondered out loud. "I'm already pretty good at dodging, Brigit's a walking armory, Mazi is a little easier to hit when she uses her bow, and Jeremiah's in the front of the battle all the time without a shield.""Ah've no need fer tha ring, at least not as much as Mazi er Jeremiah." Brigit said."I have to admit, a little added protection while using my bow would be nice.  I always feel a little too vulnerable when we're in close quarters.  What do you say Jer?" Mazi asked."You wear it Mazi." said Jeremiah before falling silent again."Thank you Jer.  We'll save the next one for you." said Mazi.  "That's all I've been able to identify, I'll have more tomorrow."The four settled down for the night, swapping stories and retelling recent battles as they prepared to sleep.The next day Mazi had identified three more items. "This wand is just the opposite of the potion." she started. "It will enlarge my target, up to half again as large.  Of course if we use this on Milo he'll be harder to toss-" Mazi left the statement hanging."Hah hah hah!  Ah like tha way ya think elfie!" Brigit laughed."I can't win.  Now I'm being double-teamed.  Ah well, what else Mazi?" Milo asked.The elf smirked at Milo. "The three jars of ointment we found in the small box are five doses each of Keoghtem's ointment." she said as she held up one of the pearlescent jars. "I read about this a long time ago.  The ointment can neutralize poison, remove disease, or heal minor wounds.""Very nice, all three?" asked Milo."Not one dose.  Depending on how it is used is what effect it will have." Mazi clarified."Considering the fact that I've got the staff, you three can split up the ointments between you." Milo said."How very kind O' ya, Milo, don' put yerself out er anythin'." Brigit said as she grinned at Milo."You two are merciless today!  Was it breakfast?  I made sure the bacon was nice and crispy for you Brigit." said the beleaguered halfling.The only reply was Brigit's guffaw and Mazithra's slightly more refined laugh."Well if you two are done then let's finish up tonight and head back in to the temple tomorrow." said Milo."Sounds good ta me." said Brigit. "Tho Ah don't think I can rightly say that Ah'm done wi' ya.""I was afraid of that." Milo said.</blockquote>

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