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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greyhawk" data-source="post: 3120930" data-attributes="member: 40355">The Temple of LLolthThe black walls of this chamber are carved with web-like patterns interspersed with bas-reliefs of drow clerics and warriors tormenting members of "lesser races."  The outline of a huge spider has been traced in the floor. At the far end of their vision an altar it is below the floor level of the main room and this is where the female voice came from.One of the drow shouts, he obviously seen one or more of the party.  Beltain moves and fires his crossbow, but the bolt hits a wall."Bash that fecker Feng - get in on the closest one Feng so I can rush up behind " says Rizzit then looks over to the bard "Quit dithering Col and get those vocal cords working""Feng... how many d'ya see ?" asks Limara who can't see as much of the action as the big barbarian..One of the Drow Shouts again "Ogglin ml'aenus", this time Limara hears it and she knows it means 'Enemy Sighted' "He's introduced us ... watch for the incoming reinforcements " Limara warns the others.Coleridge moves up behind his companions as quickly as he can on his wobbly legs, he draws his sword and steals himself for any attack.  Then he begins to recite a poem to bolster his allies, and although something in the rhyme and meter have the desired effect, it seems the toxins in his system are affecting more than just his physical health."An elongated albatross looks grimI trip the light fandango anywayas swarms of hornets cause the lights to dimI watch a purple piglet stalk her prey."One of the drow moves out into the corridor.  He takes aim and fires his hand crossbow at Feng but the bolt misses the barbarian.Belatin turns at the sound of Coleridge's voice, he's puzzled as this isn't the poets normal type of stanza 'perhaps the trap injected hallucinogenic drugs but at least the effect seems the same on our moral' he thinks in relief.Feng charges forward on one of the Drow, striking with a very mighty blow, the drow falls to the floor dead!Rizzit reads a scroll and two illusory duplicates of the kobald pop into being and he moves forward into danger.  "Hmm, that's a lot of Drow, oh dear" Rizzit remarks as he looks around.Limara chants the words of a spell and a long sword of force appears and attacks one of the drow archers, it misses.Near the altar, a female drow silently whispers words to Llolth....the up-worlders will pay for this intrusion..."Feng can you batter this one by me?" say the Rizzits indicating the drow in front of him.Beltain unships his shield and moves forward "Get the bloody priestess before she conjures up some spell" he adds to no-one in particular"Let's hope the others move up Feng or we are out on a limb here" the plucky kobald tells Feng from his position in the fore of the action."<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> 'em, we'll kill 'em all! RUN! MIGHTY FENG IS COME! MY AXE IS DEATH! FENG AND HIS AXE COMES!" is the reply, "Limara, Beltain - Close up! I want some shielding from their bolts, pronto! I want to be awake to hear the screamin'"Feng pauses for a moment and then addresses the  bard "Cole - you know any Battle Chants?  My people have "KILL! KILL! KILL!" which is good while you have breath to shout it.".“Ahh, battle chants…" muses Limara "I loved studying them at church… so many styles from so many cultures and races… if I remember rightly, ‘ Now you have something to die for’ was a famous Orc chant, the verse escapes me right now though”"Col any chance you can get over here and help us out?" says Rizzit emphasising Feng's request for support.In response Coleridge moves up again to support his friends and continues his obtuse verse"Pink spiders crawl upon my batskin shoesand forty-seven turtles say “hello”Candescent blowflies gaily sing the bluesI sit upon a yak and watch the show.""What side effects to that poison are you feeling Col... ?" she asks the bard, he voice edged with concern "Your lyrics have become more surreal somehow"Coleridge as he brings the verse to a close he brings the fifth wind up from his belt and prepares for a burst of sound as he moves up behind Rizzit.Three drow discharge their crossbows at Feng, Coleridge and Limara but luckily all the bolts go wild, while another slashes through one of the images conjured by Rizzit, the image disappears.Feng moves swiftly forward and swings his axe at the drow confronting Rizzit, it is a clean hit and the drow falls dead at his feet.  "There ya go Rizzit - just point 'em out and down they go!" chortles Feng "FENG KILLS! LOOK OUT! HERE COMES FENG!" and winks at Cole "Nice ta see ya up front, but was it wise to leave 'em both together?".  He smiles and raises his voice "OI! Limara. Beltain. The fight is this way! Play with yer little crossbow shootin' friend later!"The other drow drops his hand Crossbow, draws a rapier, moves forward and attacks one of the Rizzits.The kobald takes a step backwards and speaks to a Drow "My friend, please defend me from these foes, in the name of Llolth my friends and I must be protected from these traitors" using his charm person ability.  The drow looks at Rizzit, a little confused, but slowly nods his head at the kobold.  It then turns and shouts to the other drow "Vrine'winith thrityh, nind ph'abbilen".  Meanwhile Rizzit has drawn his crossbow.A female voice rises from the altar pit....full of anger "Wael, dos inbal chi p'luvt ulu thier faer. Ka gu'e dont elgg dos usstan orn"One of the drow near the alter pit makes a strange hand symbol, to the female drow you presume.  He then moves across the room, sights Beltain, and fires his crossbow but misses.Another of the drow bowmen target Coleridge but he too misses his mark.A voice rises from the altar again.. This time in common "LOLTH DOES NOT ABIDE CATTLE IN HER TEMPLE!" and suddenly a pulse of evil energy wracks several people in the temple, Coleridge, Rizzit and Limara flinch as they take damage. "Ouch, that certainly hurt" complains Rizzit frowning then smiles again and goes back to listening to the happy singing in his head.  Three of the drow also seem to be affected by the wave of pain and they fall to the ground badly unconscious.  At the same time, four monstrous Spiders appear, out of thin air, in the central section of the chamber...One of the newly appeared monstrous spiders moves forward to attack Feng Limara replies to the female drow .."Lolth uriu deserted dos. Il nau longer kyonen ka dos dro xor el." But Kaellara shouts back "Lolth orn yutsu mzild powerful taga rin'ov. Hwuen t'yin udos ph'ilta keepers.  Lu'dos orn kreth'el venturing wund ilta yath"Limara's retort is "usstan tlun zhaunus dos z'reninth nindel ichl. udos zhal kyorl vel'uss uriu l'garethurl yah" The female drow does not reply  and the rest of the party are bemused by the exchange."Less talk more hitting please Limara," implores Rizzit "Oh and can I get a heal? If not I will be taking a potion in a second or two"Limara's spiritual weapon hits at the drow bring it close to death and she recites battle scripture to the party raising the moral to heroic proportions."Are ya pretty, Priestess?" calls Feng to the drow at the altar "If yer pretty, I'll keep yer for a while before I sell ya as a tart to the cheapest cat-house on the docks.  Feng stamps on spiders! Bring 'em on!"One of the spiders scuttles forward and attacks Coleridge hitting him and adding to the poison in his system.Beltain moves forward drawing his sword, and strikes down at the spider with both hands, he hits, driving the life from it's body. "Hey, priestess" calls Beltain "You have sacrificed three of your own to the dark goddess to no avail.  Are you going to kill the other males in exchange for some spider pets?" He looks over to the crossbow drow "Are you happy to lay down your lives so that the-female-who-will-soon-be-dead can have some more squishy friends?" he indicates the dead spider at his feet.Another spider moves to attack Feng but its bite misses the huge barbarian."Coleridge my poetic friend..." commences Limara "You are indeed brave, but you are a sitting duck there... why don't you try shooting at them from cover, either behind someone or from around a wall."Coleridge staggers back, yet more poison coursing through his veins and struggles on with his strange verse"Incredibly, the moon falls in my lapand tells me bedtime stories with a grinA faun creeps by, in tights and dunce’s capA camel choir adding to the din."Coleridge lifts the 5th wind to his lips and blasts the area with a tremendous cacophony. Every creature in the 10ft radius spread takes sonic damage and none of the spiders targeted make their save and all lie stunned.Meanwhile the drow stumbles away from Limara's spiritual Weapon and stumbles slowly to behind one of his fellows.Another of the drow fires at Coleridge but misses ."Let's get that bitch priestess," calls Beltain to Feng "Before she summons more creatures to aid her".Feng dodges past the stunned spiders and jumps into the pit, taking cover behind the alter and waiting his chance to deal death to the Female Drow.Meanwhile yet another drow comes into view from one of the other areas off the main hall.  It moves across the room to the edge of the Altar pit.  It sights down his bow and fires from his position above Feng but misses.Rizzit back away from the spiders and drinks down the potion of healing.Another drow sights and fires at Colerige hitting him and the poison-coated bolt causes him to fall into a deep sleep.Feng hears the female drow whisper a few words to the spider queen.  Then she then scrapes her nails across the top of the Altar.  Just then, a pulse of evil shoots through several of the party, again Rizzit, Coleridge and Limara take damage. "Owwwww" groans the kobald "Dammit I still need to take a potion.  Cut that bitch up Feng"Two more spiders appears in the central area."I know your there Orc" hisses the Drow female as she looks over the Altar down in the Altar pit.  She saw the barbarian jump down "Let me see what Lolth will take.  Doer, Doer, lest kyorl vel'bol dos aslu""Do you need backup Feng?" calls Beltain"BACKUP? FOR THIS BITCH? YOU MUST BE JOKING!" replies the barbarian from near the altar "RUN LITTLE PRIESTESS! FENG COMES!  Father Gruumsh! Guide my Axe!   I dedicate another foe to your glory!"x[Beltain] "What did the priestess say?" Beltain asks Limara "It appears that Feng doesn't need my help so I'll stay here for the moment and guard against these spidesr, unless anyone has a better idea?"  he looks around at the sadly depleted party.Rizzit anxiously taps a foot as the beautiful cleric approaches him.  "Rizz, I'll heal you.... you just open fire with something this round...." says Limara and Rizzit agrees with a terse "OK".Limara: Puffs on her cigar: and, with perfect tongue action she rolls the cigar from one side of her mouth to the other and coverts a spell into a heal for the kobald.  The sorcerer breathes sigh of relief when he realises he is only lightly wounded, now.  The spiritual weapon hovers by her head.A drow fires at Feng, trying to prevent an attack on his mistress but misses, again.Beltain drops his crossbow, unships his shield from over his shoulder and then moves up to the edge of the altar pit, equipping the shield as he moves.  He moves past the three stunned spiders and the one active one attempting to keep clear of their bitesA spider turns and to attack him but misses almost overbalancing.Coleridge sleeps on unaware of the battle.Beltain lets out a sigh of relief as the bolt from one of the drow passes over his head harmlessly."Many thanks for the heal Limara" Rizzit calls to Limara "But please don't forget our poor sleeping companion there, I would hate to see this evil wave kill him in his sleep"."I have not forgot Col..." Limara reassures him "If you can buy me enough time to heal him I will, but if we all fall to this onslaught then no one can help him.  Open Fire Rizzit"."Limara " says Rizzit "Do you think this evil pain has anything to do with the spider pattern on the floor?" asks Limara.  "I do not know Rizz possibly ...but I do know that the female drow has something to do with it though." She replies "Hopefully she will be too busy with Feng to do it again.." she smiles."Lets hope so," laughs Rizzit "I for one though am going to try and keep off the spider for now, I am fed up of getting hurt"Limara shouts to Feng.. "My master told me some female drow are breathtakingly beautiful.....how beautiful is she Feng ?? ....try not to hit her face, i want to see for myself".  "Her smile may be sweet and she may have some features of note" councils Beltain "But her soul is as black as the night.  Send her to her dark mistress, Feng and as soon as possible".From his vantage point at the edge of the altar pit Beltain watches as the barbarian flexes his muscles and prepares to take the fight to the evil priestess.  Feng Ignores the prickling sensation as all his superstition gathers together to daunt his spirit only father Gruumsh remains to augment his reckless attack!"Feng will send her wrapped up in the pretty suit of full Plate Armour." He shouts to Limara "Teach lil' girls to play at being warriors." And he grimaces horribly at the Drow womanSo saying Feng brings down Laskurs Bane upon the female.  Within the blink of an eye....she is no more.A spider moves forward but fails to hit Rizzit while one of the crossbowmen targets Feng, the bolt runs true but does little damage and the big barbarian shrugs off the poison damage.  By the pit another of the spiders targets Beltain but its bite is not enough to penetrate his armour.Rizzit takes a step to the side, exclaims "Joke" and burns three of the spiders to a crisp with his wand of burning hands, "That should have cleared those little buggers out, do you want to get that flaming sword onto the drow Lim?""Nice one Rizzit, just a few left to tidy up!" calls Beltain in appreciation.Limara directs her spiritual weapon onto the drow that is approaching her, the blade of force swings but misses.  Limara moves forward coming face-to-face with the drow.  She looks directly into the drow's eyes and says "Orior ulu el, ilythiiri xuileb natha yah. Ka Lolth uriu aelus dos, vel'klar orn dosst quortek alu vel'drav usstan elgg dos".Beltain swings his long sword killing one of the spiders facing him and then descends into the altar pit.Coleridge continues to sleep unaware of the battle raging around him while the badly injured drow, shuffles off, out of the main room, heading west.Feng moves forward towards the drow targeting him from the top of the altar steps "Feng is merciful - this is gonna be quick!" he tells them.  He swings his great axe and another drow falls to the ground "FENG KILLS! ALL WHO FACE MIGHTY FENG ARE DOOMED! LOOK OUT, HERE COMES FENG!" and grimaces at the remaining Drow.One of the remaining drow warriors fires at the barbarian by the bolt goes wide and Feng ducks as a bolt wiffles overhead.A spider bites Beltain, he takes damage but shrugs off the poison.Rizzit moves forward firing his crossbow at a drow, he curses as the bolt flies wide"Nicely done, all!" calls Feng "Keep up the scare are we sorted this little nest!  I wouldn't mind having this place as my private hideaway. I like the look o' the place. Classy, if yas know what I mean.  When we leave, can one of yas put a sign on the door saying 'This is Feng'a place, Keep out'?  N' 'Tresspassers will be gutted and left to die while wild dogs eat their entrails?' "Limara's spiritual weapon cleaves into the drow facing her and he drops to the ground, dying.  She moves over to join the melee by the steps.Beltain takes a 5' step and attacks the drow on the top of the steps felling it with a single blow.  He turns and winks at Limara, "Soon this place will be free of the cancer of the dark goddess" he says, "But I do wonder where the drow that you severely wounded has escaped to Princess" he adds indicating the passage to the Northwest, "I hope he has gone to cower in a corner somewhere and not to unleash some other foulness on us"."Things are going well, lets hope we get to regroup before those missing drow return with reinforcements" agrees Rizzit.Feng fixes his eyes on the drow at the top of the steps and advances, his axe swings down "I gave yer a chance - now <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> off!" he says as the drow collapses on the floor, unconscious.Only a single spider remains of their combatants and it moves forward and bites at Beltain but fails to get through the cleric's defence.  Rizzit fires a bolt, it is a superb shot and the last spider falls dying."Well done" exclaims Beltain impressedLimara: Puffs on her cigar: and, with perfect tongue action she rolls the cigar from one side of her mouth to the other, castes a spells and then heads North West after the wounded, fleeing drow calling "doer doeb, doer doeb vel'klar rin'ov dos ph' " to the wounded enemy.Beltain double moves to keep pace with her.  He passes her and peers round the corner looking North and South attempting to see where the drow has gone"C'm out little Drow! Feng comes for ya now!" calls Feng by heads across the altar pit towards the statue of Llolth."I dont think its safe to leave Col asleep over there, and I cannot move him" calls Rizzit anxiously to the others from the rear."That may be true Rizzit, but we need to stop the last drow from doing any mischief" replies Beltain, "If you can't move him can you watch and, if necessary, defend him, until we return?""Good idea what with being so good in a melee role should an invisible drow come sneaking up on me" grumbles the kobald."Yes, that's true Rizzit,you certainly are the best person for the job." Responds Beltain in the distance, not really concentrating on the sorceror's words "I remember well how you told us how you defeated one of the demons single-handed.  I certainly could not have hoped to have done so well""Note to self, avoid sarcasm when dealing with idiots" says Rizzit sadly to himself.Feng looks nervously at the altar and then North where he spots the bloody tracks of the badly wounded drow.  Feng suddenly hears a noise!..  The barbarian looks around.  The statue of Lolth in front of him appears to be moving!...</blockquote>

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