18th Day of Planting, CY 579

The Temple of Elemental Evil

The party headed out in the morning in the direction of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Using his barbarian survival skills, Pontus skinned one of the giant ravens and made it into a cloak that he felt would make for a good disguise. The rest of party told him to walk downwind from them.

As they got closer, the party could see that the vegetation was dead, the air was foul, and sky seemed to be permanently cloud-covered. Sunlight must not have penetrated this area in a very long time. As they approached the temple walls, they could see the eeries faces of gargoyles and demonic statues everywhere. Despite the lack of sunlight, shadows seemed to move against the walls, further adding to the creepy vibe. The group remembered what Otis said about the ravens roosting in the tower, and decided to go around the outside and approach from the rear so Athan can sneak up and determine if they were still there.

The party made their way around back and could see the tower from a distance. Athan approached carefully and climbed to the top. The upper levels of the tower were collapsed to rubble and some kind of illusion was in place to make everything look

Broken Tower

smaller. Athan was able to see that everything was clear and make his way down to look around the front. On his way down, he looked through the window slits and noticed that there were people inside. They had covered the openings with black cloth to make it look dark inside, but Athan's infravision was able to penetrate. He went back and warned the party, and they made a plan to storm the front door, denying the occupants an opportunity for surprise.

The soldiers inside had setup a line of footmen with shields to block the entryway, while men with bows and crossbows, as well as a spellcaster, worked from further inside the tower. It would have been a TPK (Total Party Kill) if Athan wasn't ready with his sleep spell to drop all of the footmen, while Pontus lept over the now sleeping phalanx to cut down the magic user, and Gareth worked on the remaining melee fighters. Sarril jumped in with some spellcasting of his own and soon the bowmen were brought down as well. The soldier who appeared to be the leader had tried to spring a trap over the front entryway, but didn't get to it before everyone was clear. Recognizing he was in a losing situation, he tried to escape into one of the tower rooms, but Sarril cast Hold Person to stop him in his tracks. The party tried briefly to question the leader, but when he proved uncooperative, they killed him for good measure.

The party realized two things. First, that this tower is fairly secure, with two rooms, food, water and other supplies, as well as comfortable beds, so they could stay here for some time, and second, that dead bodies on the grounds of an evil temple are never a good idea. So, turning the dining room tables into a makeshift sled, Pontus, Luapan and Gareth went about gathering the bodies and hauling them miles away to be buried. This took them well into the evening. While they did this, Athan and Sarril explored the temple grounds, including the front door, to make sure it was still sealed. As Athan approached the front door, he felt a strong sense of aversion. He couldn't bear to look at the door, or even to be near it, and ran back to the tower for safety. Sarril was able to overcome the aversion and inspect what there. The door appeared to be solid and all of the magical runes were intact. If anyone was still inside the temple, they weren't coming in or out this way.

After re-securing the tower and spending the night, the next morning the party searched the rooms of the tower thoroughly, finding several blank pieces of parchment, as well as some minor treasure and items of interest. They also found a secret trapdoor that led to a tunnel below. At the bottom of the ladder leading down to the tunnel was a bag on a hook with some rations, potions and a money - an escape package for the leader of the tower which he never managed to get to. The party decided to explore and see how far the tunnel went. It seemed to go on for a long time, but eventually branched northward up a slope. Athan found a secret door leading south, however, and the party decided to follow that route, where they eventually entered a room where oil in a tract along the ceiling suddenly lit into flame - clearly an alert to the party's presence. Just beyond, the party ran into a basilisk. Though the basilisk turned out to be illusory, it held the party's attention long enough for an assassin in an adjoining room to sneak out and attempt to assassinate Pontus. Perhaps due to his unique back protection, or just a bad roll of the dice, the assassination attempt failed, and the assassin was exposed, leading the party to turn on her. While engaged with the assassin, a magic user came out of the opposite adjoining room and began to attack the party with spells. Sarril tried to silence the magic user, but the spell could not penetrate the Minor Globe of Invulnerability he had up. This magic user was clearly pretty advanced, and he responded by casting Hold Person. Everyone targeted made their save, except Luapan and Gareth, who were now effectively taken out of the fight. The rest of party turned on the mage and pressed an attack. He defensively cast Mirror Image on himself to buy time enough to cast more devastating offense spells. As Sarril pressed into him, the mage unleashed lightning bolt, which Sarril was able to avoid most of, but the damage was still very severe. As Pontus and Athan popped the remaining mirror images.

The mage's familiar, a quasit, joined the fight when things got desperate, and the party managed to kill it, severely crippling the mage, which Sarril finished off using a Staff of the Serpent he had picked up from one of the clerics they had killed previously. After killing the mage, the party was free to search all of the rooms, and found quite the store of wondrous magic items and supplies. Though they set off a trap, ruining some of the find, the best stuff was still intact behind another secret door. The mage, whose name they discovered was Falrinth, had a full laboratory / library full of spell components, scrolls, books, and the like. But the most exciting discoveries are what turned out to be a Mirror of Mental Prowess, an artifact of Boccob that Sarril treasured greatly, a Crystal Ball, and, inside an iron box, a Golden Skull that radiated the most extreme evil that Luapan could not bear to look at it. Athan quickly pocketed the skull for safe keeping while the party looted the rest of the room. The party then headed back up the tower to rest and heal, and spend the next few days identifying the items they had found, and reading through notes and ledgers to find clues about the operations of the temple.

Meet the Player Characters: Luapan

Luapan (no known family name) - Human Cleric of Celestian

What is there to say about Luapan, other than like most cleric's of Celestian, he seems preoccupied with the stars and prophecy - always looking at the larger universal picture. The followers of Celestian are mysterious indeed, often exhibiting supernatural abilities that cannot be explained by the power of prayer. Luapan uses these abilities, as well as his divine powers, to help those in need while he serves the greater purpose set forth by his god.

It is known that Celestian often serves the will of Istus, for it was surely fate that drew Luapan toward the temple and on a path to join the rest of the party in their shared purpose. It was a comet that appeared overhead in the sky near where the Battle of Emridy Meadow was fought 9 years ago. A sign such as this could not be ignored, for it was a clear calling from Celestian himself telling Luapan where he must go. He travelled on foot for weeks until he was close to his destination, but before he could travel the last few miles, he was captured and imprisoned, where he stayed until rescued by Pontus, Sarril, Athan, Delvin and Gareth. Upon learning that they were on their way to Nulb near the former Temple of Elemental Evil, Luapan knew that their fates were intertwined. While the comet in the sky was now gone, Luapan knew it had served its purpose to bring him together with the party.

17th Day of Planting, CY 579

The party finished up in the caves where they killed the evil priest and decided not to explore the place further. On their way out, they remembered that they never opened the other prison cell door. After much debate, they decided to go back and open it. Inside the other cell were some orcs, a goblin, a human merchant and a human cleric of Celestian named Luapan. Luapan explained that he was following a comet that appeared in the sky, a sign of importance from Celestian. It was taking him in the direction of Nulb, which is where the party was going anyway, so the party agreed to allow him to come along.

Waterside Hostel

They arrived at the Waterside Hostel for a late lunch/early dinner. Pontus ate two meals.The proprietor is a man named Dick Rentsch (Pontus chuckled at his name). They were served by a wench named Pearl, to whom Athan immediately began asking questions about Otis. After paying her plenty in coin, he learned that Otis may have been seen in Nulb, but disappeared, and that he should go see the proprietor of Boatmen's Tavern, where pirates and other nasty folk like to hang out. If anyone would know about his disappearance (or be responsible for it), it would be someone there. Pearl suggested openly that she does other things for money (wink, wink), so Pontus told the rest of the party to go on without him.

Pontus had the most amazing experience of his life. And it wasn't just physical. Pearl really seemed to understand him. She was everything Pontus has ever dreamed of in a woman. He wanted her to leave Nulb with him so they could run off and be together forever. He told her he would protect her and take care of her for the rest of his life. He had been waiting his entire life for Pearl. She was the ONE. No doubt about it.

And Pearl wanted to go with Pontus, too. But she needed money to take care of her affairs so she could be free to be with him. Pontus gave her everything he had.

In the meantime, the rest of the party went to explore the seedy town known as Nulb. A nasty place, it was. Built on the swampy shore of Imeryd's Run, it was little more than resting place for river pirates to drink and otherwise get up to no good in-between smuggling runs. It was a well-known haven for thieves, assassins and worse. Half of the ramshackle buildings made of rotting wood were uninhabitable, and those in use looked like they could fall over any minute.

In the middle of the town was a man dressed in a simple robe that looked like little more than rags. Branded on his forehead was the shining symbol of Pholtus. The man was preaching heavy doom and gloom prophecy and shouting at everyone to repent their sins or face judgement. He claimed the gods have turned their backs on men because men have turned their backs on the gods. Sarril pointed out that this man was dressed similarly to some men that he saw in an alley in Greyhawk beating someone with clubs while shouting similar epithets. Being from Rel Mord in Nyrond, Sarril is all too familiar with the overzealous righteousness of the followers of Pholtus in the Theocracy of the Pale, but this man was different. Those from the Theocracy, and in other major cities where Pholtus has temples, may be unwavering zealots, but they don't preach doom and gloom and they usually, hypocritically, dress lavishly in fine cloth and with silver and platinum jewelry. This man was dirty, and had nothing on him his robe - not even a club to be seen.

The party ignored the crazy man and began walking across the town when Kara, Athan's familiar, came rushing in to tell him that she was just attacked by giant crows. She only got away because two vicious owls flew in and chased off the crows. The party realized something was amiss, and likely spies of the temple already knew they were here. Then they realized that Athan spoke to wench about Otis, and Pontus was with her now - probably in danger. They ran back to Waterside Hostel right away.

The Town of Nulb

As he was leaving the room, the happiest man on Oerth, Pontus runs into Athan, who insists he needs to speak with Pearl alone. Pontus wasn't too excited about another man wanting to be alone with the woman he loves. Athan then started accusing Pearl of sorcery! Imagine that. Accusing the woman he loves of sorcery!? Well, Pontus would have none of that. He was going to defend his lady's honor. That's when one of the barkeeps, who happens to also be an assassin for some reason, came into the room and things took a dark turn. Some other commotion was going on in the hall and more people were coming up the stairs. This was turning into a serious fight. Weapons were drawn.

And then Pontus was kicked awake, trapped inside some sticky webbing that seemed to cover the entire room. Unsure exactly what just went down. He broke free of the webbing and saw that Dick, the proprietor, was also in the room with him. He was surrounded by the rest of the party, had just dropped a sword, and was attempting to negotiate. He warned the party that there were about two dozen pirates on their way here from the docks, heavily armed, and looking for the party.

The party made a quick plan to make a stand at the Inn, figuring Athan and Gareth could shoot through the windows, and the rest of the party could make a defense on the stairwell. When the pirates arrived, Sarril was about to talk to them when Athan started shooting. This forced the pirates to spread out and encircle the building from the back. Realizing they couldn't easily storm the place, they tried to smoke out the party by lighting torches and throwing them through the windows. Being a building made of very old, dry and rotting wood, the place went up fast. Pontus' only concern was for his dear love, Pearl, and he started asking what happened to her. Athan informed him that the pirate leader killed her (in truth, she had suffocated inside the web that Athan had cast to subdue her).

The pirate leader, Tolub, and his two lieutenants were at the front of the tavern waiting to kill anyone who runs out. He might have done so as well, if he and both of his men didn't utterly fail their saving throw against the Hold Person spell Sarril cast. An enraged Pontus rushed out of the burning building and slew all three, prompting the remaining pirates to run away. Unfortunately, Pontus remained really distraught over Pearl's death. Killing Tolub didn't bring her back.

As the party watched the tavern burn to the ground, other villagers began to gather, including the Blacksmith and an old lady. The Blacksmith approached the party and warned them that they have made a mess of this town, and it won't be safe for them. More will come, and in greater numbers.
Sarril asked what he knows of these pirates and he was told to come to his shop as he won't speak openly around the other townsfolk.

Mother Screng and Hudra

So the party headed over to the blacksmith shop, after relieving everyone of some magic items, some of which Pontus would be destroying (with the help of the Blacksmith forge and anvil). He greeted the party and told them to wait inside. Inside, the old lady was there, with another woman. She introduced herself as Mother Screng, and her daughter Hudra. Athan was able to tell that Hudra was actually an elf in disguise. The blacksmith came in and everyone had some uncomfortable conversations as no one quite trusted each other and no one was willing to say what needed to be said. Eventually, however, everyone was able to figure out that everyone in the room were good guys and some trust began to develop. Based on this trust, the party decided to share with the blacksmith the letter for Otis that Elmo had given, to prove they are telling the truth. The blacksmith then revealed that he is actually Otis in disguise, Mother Screng was actually Canoness Y'Dey and her "daughter" is really an elf named Murfles (Pontus chuckled at the name).

Y'Dey confirmed that the Temple of Elemental Evil was never destroyed, only sealed. Otis, Y'Dey and Murfles had been sent by their respective masters to check out the temple and ensure the seals were still intact, as there have been rumors of temple activity. The seals are still in place, but agents of the temple are appearing all over the area. The pirates were agents, as was the proprietor of the inn that was just burned down. And then there was Lareth the Beautiful, and the other cleric of his kind in  the nearby caves. Otis explained there are four factions within the Temple, each representing one of the four main elements. All of the agents within Nulb belong to one of these four factions, which represent water, earth, fire and air.

Otis and Y'Dey believe that agents are getting in and out of the temple somehow, and so were acting under cover to learn what they could. Thanks to the party's reckless actions, their cover is now blown, and temple agents are going to be swarming this place, possibly within hours. So they are both hitting the self-destruct button on their secret operations and getting out of dodge.

Y'Dey had a flock of carrier pidgeons she used for talking to the Archcleric of St Cuthbert in Veluna (whom she reports to) and she released all of the pigeons, packed up, and left. Otis said he had to heed the call of the Viscount to look into the emergency in Verbobonc (as referenced in the letter from the Viscount), so he is leaving immediately. Murfles is going with him. That leaves the party alone in Nulb, with big targets on their heads. Otis warned that there are at least 1 dozen, possibly more, giant ravens roosting in the tower on the temple grounds. The ravens have been spying and that's how everyone knew the party was coming. He said they would need to take the ravens out in order to approach the temple safely. Two were already dead. 

The group decided that with a barbarian, a druid and a ranger in the party, they should be able to easily camp in the woods and be hidden, and so they did. Despite their best efforts, 8 ravens found them and attacked. They managed to kill them all. One almost got away, but Delvin surprised himself when he cast an insect swarm and it worked better than expected. The insects took down the last fleeing raven. And so the party was able to camp in peace, discussing their next move. They eventually decided that they needed to investigate the temple in place of Otis and Y'Dey, even though they didn't feel they were capable of taking on such a challenge. But if they didn't do it, who would?