| DM | You easily open the
golden double doors and find yourself in a long hall. It extends about 20 feet
in front of you and the eastern wall is right next to you.
Westward it stretches for roughly 60 feet. Although you can't see any torches
the place appears to be lit by many flickering lights. At the far end you can
see an altar. |
| Dreylin | See, it goes
west.
[Wanders along the hall towards the altar, intrigued by the flickery
lights]
[Puts his right hand on the altar] |
| DM | A voice fills the
temple. |
| Voice | Name these temples
three and pass. |
| Dreylin | [Struggles
for a minute and then sighs resignedly to himself] I really ought to stop
doing things like this.
[Awkwardly tries to find a comfortable way of sitting down - his hand
seemingly stuck to the altar]
[Calls to the others] I hope you guys have some ideas about this, as I
don't relish having to cut my hand off so I can leave! Maybe you should have a
look at the other two temples and see if we can work out what they all are.
Oh, and don't put your hands on the altars yet...
[Slumps in as comfortable a position as he can and considers the
temple] |
| Narond | [Looks mildly
amused] Impatient Hin. Well I suppose that serves you right. I have no
major ideas about this yet, but I will have a look around this room to see if
there is anything useful first, before heading off to the other two. [Has a
look around without touching anything, looking for an indication of a temple
name] |
| DM | You look around The
temple seems genuinely blank. There is still no clue where the flickering
light comes from. |
| Leanna | Some of us should
go and look in the other two temples to see if they have any more obvious
clues. (Unless this is a temple of a rather puritan or nihilistic god.)
|
| Narond | [To
Dreylin] Stay here while a couple of us have a look down the east and
south corridors to see if they have anything useful. |
| Dreylin | [Mutters
under his breath] |
| Narond | So who will join
me then? |
| Dreylin | Why, are you
coming apart? |
| Narond | Not at the
moment, though you might have to if we can't get you off that altar...
|
| DM | Leanna and Narond go to
have a look at the other temples.
After a while they return. |
| Narond | Dreylin, how's
your hand? |
| Dreylin | Hmmm, I wonder
... Oh, it's still stuck! [Not amused] |
| Narond | I presume you
placed your hand in a hand shaped indentation that was in the altar, since we
found similar ones in the other two temples. |
| Dreylin | It doesn't
really take a genius to work that one out! Didn't you find anything useful at
all? |
| Narond | Temper, temper,
and it might not take a genius to work it out, but it does take a fool to put
a hand in one. [Still amused at Dreylin's predicament]
Anyway enough bickering, we explored the other two temples. The first one, to
the west, was square in shape, and was very windy inside, with the windiest
part being around the altar. There was no obvious place for the wind to come
from. So perhaps that is a temple of wind. The other exit, to the south,
contained a room very similar to this however it was made of soil, with roots
on the floor. Perhaps a temple of earth. Though what that would make this
temple i am not sure.
[Ponders briefly] That said i could be completely on the wrong lines
with the element based temple names. Since it would make this one fire more
likely than any of the other elements, and of that I am not convinced.
|
| Dreylin | Well, since I
can't go and look myself, I'll have to go with your assessment. |
| Narond | No you can't go
yourself, but you can come to your own conclusions, given I have described the
temples to you. |
| Dreylin | [Ponders]
I guess the flickering lights could represent fire, and we've also come
through a room which is dependent on water, so that would seem a reasonable
assumption.
This is the Temple of Fire. |
| DM | Nothing happens.
|
| Dreylin | Thought not. My
guess is that there has to be a hand on each altar before the naming will
work. I think that you and Berillia should activate the other altars, which
would leave our strongest fighters free should anything unexpected happen.
Then they can stand in the temple doorways to coordinate and keep an eye on
us... |
| Narond | There is one
other thing I suggest you do before two more of us go and put hands into
altars so they can get stuck, and that is do all of what the voice suggested.
As in 'Name these temples three and pass' - currently you have but named one
of them, you could try naming the other two. |
| Dreylin | [Looks
sceptical] If you insist, but I'd be surprised if you believed it would
actually work! Besides, how do you suppose the 'voice' will know which temple
I'm referring to...
[Has a go anyway] This is the Temple of Fire, next door is the Temple
of Air, and beyond that is the Temple of Earth. |
| DM | There is a pause.
Dreylin suddenly finds that his hand is free. The altar, with a gentle
grinding sound, moves backwards revealing a dim stairway. |
| Dreylin | [Examines his
now-free hand] Well, that's a relief! After you? |
| Narond | Well I am glad we
got the temples correct, and what was that you were saying about it being
pointless to say them all here eh Dreylin? [Looks suitably
smug] |
| Dreylin | [Sighs]
Oh do stop gloating, it makes you sound like a fat merchant who's just sold
questionable goods for an exorbitant price... |
| Narond | I wouldn't dream
of being a fat merchant. |
| Leanna | Shall we go
downstairs then? |
| Narond | We should indeed.
|
| DM | You head down the
staircase. Although there is a light coming from somewhere you notice that it
seems to be fading.
At the bottom you find a small hallway. Judging from the curve of the stairs
you have entered through an arch in the north wall. To the south and east two
other staircases extend into darkness. The west wall contains an ornately
carved gold door. |
| Leanna | [Examines the
other staircases, suspecting that they lead up to the other two
temples] |
| DM | The stairs go up and
their direction is consistent with their leading to the other temples.
|
| Shianara | [Investigates the carvings] |
| DM | The carvings on the door
are fairly generic swirls and pattens, nothing very discernible. |
| Leanna | Through the door?
|
| DM | You push the doors open
easily. Beyond them you find a circular room with a diameter of about 30 feet.
There are four statues in the room. In the geometric centre and against the
north and south walls are large (10') statues of dragon heads which appear to
be made from some sort of sandstone. The eyes on the one in the centre and the
one at the north wall glow blue. The eyes of the one on the south wall glow an
strange red.
At the west wall, furthest from you, an even larger statue stands. It also
depicts the head and neck of a dragon. A throne is carved within the neck. It
has only one eye. The other is an empty socket.
Standing by the south statue are three figures. They appear to be Rahib, Rhea
and another girl who you think looks like one of the pictures you saw earlier.
|
| Dreylin | [Shrinks away
a little at his first sight of the second girl, then clutches at his pouch and
gathers himself again] |
| DM | Rahib is carrying the
unconscious form of Rahasia. He looks up as you enter. |
| Rahib | Stop them!
|
| DM | The two women turn
towards you... |
| Dreylin | [Turns to the
others] He must be trying to release the third witch, we have to stop him.
You distract the possessed pair, and I'll try to get round to Rahib... we've
got a score to settle. [Readies his axe] |
| Narond | Leanna, you deal
with the eye, while the rest of us distract these other two and Dreylin
distracts Rahib. |
| Berillia | [In a low
voice] I'll try to blind whichever of them causes you the more trouble...
|
| Leanna | [Sprints over
towards the western statue, taking a slight northwards detour to hopefully
avoid the Cat and the ladies a bit] |
| Berillia | Oy, Dreylin,
catch! |
| DM | As Dreylin makes a dash
for Rahib, Berillia, who has been rumaging in her pack, calls his attention
and throws a potion in his direction, which he catches deftly and drinks.
Rahib, ignoring the approaching Hin, places the hands of the slumbering
Rahasia on the neck of the Dragon statue. Its red eyes gradually fade to blue.
Meanwhile the girl that you do not recognise puts her hands over her mouth
and mumbles for a moment. Removing them she looks towards Habib and appears to
spit at him. You are, however, slightly suprised when a large quantity of
sticky strands emerge from her mouth and spreads out. It completely engulfs
Habib and sticks to the left half of Narond.
Leanna begins her dash around the central statue and manages some distance
unimpeded.
Shianara dashes towards Rhea and strikes her quite hard with his club. She
reels a bit but recovers and slashes at him with a curved dagger. Fortunately,
the lithe elf easily avoids the blow.
Narond uses his free arm to try and extricate himself. Habib struggles!
|
| Narond | [Continues in
his attempt to free himself from the goo, using a dagger where
necessary] |
| Berillia | [To
Sylvia] OI! You with the halitosis! |
| DM | Having swigged his
potion, Dreylin throws himself bodily at Rahib who, unfortunately, sidesteps
him and ignores him completely. Dreylin crashes to a heap. Rahib breaks into a
run and begins to pursue Leanna who, by this time, has reached the bottom of
the black Dragon statue.
Rhea, still reeling from her attempt to hit Shianara, spins back to face him
and hisses. Her skin suddenly erupts into scales which quickly take on the
colour of the wall behind her. It quickly becomes impossible to see her but
Shianara shows his quick thinking and grabs hold of her. He is left struggling
with a large area of blank space.
Berillia prays loudly to Valerias and points a finger at spider-girl who
screams as her eyes begin to glow. Drawing her dagger she flails towards Habib
but doesn't come too near him.
Using his free arm Narond hacks at the sticky strands and eventually frees
himself. Habib continues to struggle in the main mass although a sword point
emerges and begins a sawing motion.
Rahasia pulls herself to her feet and leans against the Dragon statue. She
looks a bit dazed for a moment but seems to come to her senses rapidly.
Looking round the room she focuses briefly on Dreylin (who is almost at her
feet) but switches her gaze to Leanna. With a slight smile, she blows on her
index finger and points it at the young warrior. There is a flash near
Leanna's shoulder and she is obscured by a cloud of steam as she cries out in
pain. |
| Leanna | [Starts
climbing regardless] Keep drawing their fire, I should be OK. |
| Dreylin | [Throws
himself at Rahasia and attempts to be distracting] |
| DM | Leanna, hearing someone
running towards her, begins to ascend the dragon statue. Fortunately the going
is good and she manages to get a good distance up towards the eye socket
although Rahib begins to climb up after her.
Spider-girl, who is still screaming, waves her dagger around in a random way
but manages not to connect with anything.
Rahasia runs towards the statue that Leanna is climbing. When she is a short
distance off she throws her dagger. It strikes a glancing blow across Leanna's
right leg and clatters to the floor trailing blood. Rahib is so surprised by
the falling dagger that he loses his footing and crashes to the floor below
the statue.
Dreylin climbs to his feet and sets off in pursuit of Rahasia. Just after she
throws her dagger he launches himself at her legs. With a word that you never
expected to hear from her, she tumbles into a heap.
Shianara continues to grapple with the invisible witch. With a yelp of pain
he stumbles backwards and loses his hold.
Berillia attempts to hit the blind witch. Stepping round her flailing dagger
arm the cleric strikes hard with her club. Although the witch stumbles, she
does not fall.
Habib continues to saw his way out of the web he is in.
Narond, who has been rumaging in his pack, finally pulls out a slim golden
wand and points it at the prone form of Rahib. A faint golden glow forms
around the struggling cleric and he freezes in position. |
| Leanna | [Continues to
climb towards the eye socket] |
| DM | Showing surprising
strength, Rahasia throws Dreylin off her and begins to climb up the dragon
statue after Leanna. Although the Hin tries to follow her he lands on the
wrong side of Rahib and she is out of reach by the time he gets back to the
base of the statue.
With a cry Shianara throws himself towards the area where he last saw Rhea's
legs. He connects with something and comes crashing to the floor while holding
it. The sudden eruption of blood from his shoulder is a clue that her hands
are still free and that her dagger may also be invisible.
The blind witch continues to thrash about in an unfortunate fashion until
Berillia hits her again with her club. The witch then falls over, dazed but
not unconscious.
Having replaced the wand in his pack, Narond sets off for the dragon statue
but arrives at the bottom too late to reach Rahasia.
Leanna reaches the eye socket and gets herself into a reasonably balances
position.
After all this, Habib finally gets himself free from the web he has been
caught in. |
| Leanna | [Shockingly,
attempts to put the eye in the socket] |
| Berillia | [Takes aim
at Rahasia] |
| DM | As Narond tries to
untangle his staff from his clothing, Leanna leans over and fixes the Black
Opal in the empty eye socket.
Rahasia, seeing what is happening, screams and points a finger at Leanna.
There is another flash of steam around Leanna's legs and she loses her hold on
the statue. With a cry she falls to the floor, landing with a metallic crunch
as her armour bends. She does not move.
The Black Opal remains in the socket and suddenly glows an intense blue. Time
seems to slow and the throne at the base of the Dragon statue flickers. For a
brief moment you can see the figure of an old man with a beard sitting on the
throne. He smiles and then fades. There is a strange rushing sound and the
three girls all go limp. Rahasia falls but is caught by Narond.
The eyes of the other three dragon statues fade from blue to an intense red.
There is a series of cracking sounds and all the Dragon eyes in the room
shatter, leaving smoking holes in their place.
Rahasia looks up at Narond and begins to cry.
The girl you don't recognise starts screaming about not being able to see.
Her eyes still glow in an unfortunate manner.
Shianara is suddenly aware of being held by an invisible Rhea who appears to
be shaking uncontrollably. |
| Dreylin | [Yells]
Berillia, you'd better get over here, Leanna doesn't look too good!
[Gags Rahib] |
| Narond | [Attempts to
soothe Rahasia before attempting to put her down on her feet] |
| DM | You do so. She seems
reluctant to leave you however.
Shianara calms the invisible Rhea. She seems to recover her senses more
easily than Rahasia and helps Shianara to his feet. You are presented with the
odd image of an invisible girl tending to the cut in Shianara's shoulder.
|
| Berillia | [Assesses
Leanna's injuries] |
| DM | She looks pretty bad.
There is blood dripping from the side of her mouth and her left leg is at an
entertaining and unusual angle. She is very pale and clammy. She is, however,
breathing albeit shallowly. |
| Berillia | [Feeds
Leanna a healing potion] |
| DM | You do so, although the
job is not made easier by your reluctance to move her much. Her breathing
eases and some colour comes back into her cheeks. She is still unconscious.
|
| Dreylin | [Looks up
after rummaging around in Rahib's clothing] Well, he's got enough keys
here to unlock most of the monastery and probably this place as well. I guess
the Abbot will be wanting these back. [Puts them in his pack, and continues
rummaging] Oooo, this looks nasty. [Holds up a large and unpleasant
looking knife and starts swishing it through the air] |
| Habib | [Tries to calm
Sylvia] |
| DM | It takes some doing but,
after a few minutes, Habib begins to get through. |
| Dreylin | Hey Berillia,
how's Leanna doing, I guess you'll need something to splint that leg with?
[Looks around the room for possibles, then looks at his club and axe]
Will this do? |
| Berillia | [Given the
need to carry Leanna out of here, attemps to reset the bone] |
| DM | You ask Narond and
Dreylin to hold Leanna in place and then try to remember your temple training
as clearly as possible.
There is an unpleasant noise.
Leanna's leg looks somewhat more normal, although she has gone very pale
again.
You start to tie the makeshift splint in place. |
| Dreylin | [Wonders if
Leanna is going to stay unconscious while we try to get out of here, and
thinks about stretchers] Narond, will you be OK to watch this guy for a
while, and I'll go and see if I can sort out a stretcher for Leanna. |
| Narond | [Takes a look
at Rahib, and checks on Rahasia and Sylvia while he's at it] |
| DM | Rahib is still very much
in the position he was frozen in.
Rahasia still hangs around Narond's shoulder and seems to have moved into the
staring into space stage.
The blind girl, Sylvia, sits near Habib and rocks slightly. She stares
blindly around clearly still close to panic. Her eyes glow disturbingly and
she winces when she moves them. |
| Dreylin | [Looks around
the room at the others] Shiannara, if you're all bandaged up, do you fancy
giving me a hand? |
| Shianara | [Inwardly
grimaces at the non-elvish pronunciation of his name and checks that Rhea is
sufficiently calmed] |
| Rhea | I'll be OK. |
| Shianara | [Considers
using Narond's staff and his bow for a stretcher] |
| Dreylin | I was planning
to see if we could dismantle the bed in the room where I was attacked.
|
| Narond | [Volunteers to
dismantle a bed] |
| DM | Narond and Rahasia
wander out of the room.
A short while later, they wander into the room carrying bits of the bed
canopy. The poles appear to have been pulled out of their sockets. |
| Narond | [Gives the bits
to Berillia] Here is the stuff you need for a stretcher. |
| DM | Ok then, you knock
something resembling a stretcher together and carefully maneuvre Leanna onto
it. |
| Dreylin | Hey Narond, any
idea how long this paralysation is likely to last? [Indicates
Rahib] |
| Narond | Not entirely
sure, it lasted a reasonable length of time the last time I tried. |
| Dreylin | Let's wait for
him to unparalyse. We already need two people to carry Leanna, and one more to
drag Rahib leaves us a tad unprepared for the unexpected. Besides, I'd rather
be paying close attention to Rahib when he wakes up... |
| Narond | Whether Rahib is
awake or paralysed, we still have a similar problem about the number of people
we have being ready for the unexpected, since if he's awake then someone still
needs to watch him to avoid him running off or something. I also don't think
we should stay here for too long, we could do with getting Leanna to somewhere
better as soon as possible. |
| Habib | [Watches Rahib so
that he does nothing] |
| Berillia | [Keeps an
eye on Leanna] |
| DM | Deciding that it is too
difficult to move under present circumstances, you move into a defensive
position and wait. You pass food and water bottles around and try to make the
three girls as comfortable as possible. As the minutes pass you notice that
the lights are still gently dimming. You light torches to make sure that there
is always some light around you.
After about 15 minutes, Rahib suddenly falls over. He struggles against his
bonds for a moment but gives in after a short word from Dreylin.
Only a short time later, Rhea slowly fades into visibility. Her skin is still
visibly covered in scales. They don't seem to be going away.
Sylvia, who seems to be in shock, visibly relaxes when her glowing eyes fade.
Her eyes are clearly uncomfortable but Berillia assures her that the
discomfort will pass in a few days. The loss of her eyes as light sources
demonstrates how dark the room has become.
Habib and Shianara pick up Leanna's stretcher and you begin to work your way
back out of the tower. |
| Dreylin | [Watches
Rahib closely and carefully all the way] |
| DM | You begin to pick your
way back out of the tower. It is not easy going, especially when you have to
get Leanna up the stairways. As you are passing the, now dim, arches you
notice that not all the treasure was illusionary. You grab the small pile of
coins and continue on your way.
When you reach the hall of the statues you find that they are no longer
platinum. They have reverted to their original state. In many cases they are
exceedingly ancient corpses, indeed in one or two places the statues have
crumbled completely to dust.
You continue outwards, using the disk elevator to rise to the initial tower
level. It is now very dark and only your torches allow you to see. As you head
into the main hall you can hear whisperings in the darkness around you. You
see what might be the flash of a sword down one of the corridors and hurry
towards the exit.
You exit the tower and swing the door shut behind you. It clangs into place
and you hurry down the passage towards the temple. On arrival, you find the
abbot in his chambers, eating a small meal. |
| Abbot | [Looks up]
You're back. |
| DM | He states, rather
obviously. |
| Dreylin | Yep, although
not as safe and sound as we might have liked to be. [Indicates Leanna]
Leanna's in quite a bad way, and I don't feel too good myself as it goes.
[Looks around the room for somewhere to sit] |
| Abbot | [Looks at
Leanna] Oh dear. Are you being followed?
[Offers a chair to Dreylin] |
| Dreylin | [Slumps into
it] |
| Narond | We saw evidence
of people in the Tower of Elyas as we were exiting, some noises and
potentially the sight of someone's sword, but it has got very dark in the
tower, and we shut the door as we left. Are you aware of anyone who followed
us, and why do you think someone might be following us? |
| Abbot | I believe the
tower has a number of creatures living in it. Going dark you say? You mean it
was still light when you got there? I didn't think Rahib would have had time
to establish...
[Spots Rahib and does not look pleased with him]
Ah ha. I see. I think it best if we seal off the tower for the time being. It
was sealed before this monster came along and should be again. |
| DM | Taking a large key he
disappears through the entrance to the cave. After a moment he returns and
swings the door shut, locking it behind him. |
| Abbot | I think it best if
we do not open that again. |
| Dreylin | [Sighs, with
a slight grin] Oh well, I was looking forward to trying that lifting
platform again.
How are your Siswa brethren? I hope the ones we subdued and tied up have
recovered with no ill effects. |
| Abbot | Generally yes. Not
completely yet though.
[Looks at the three girls] I'm glad you managed to find these three.
Although I imagine they've looked better. [Stares pointedly at Rhea's
strange skin condition]
Well, would you like an escort back to the village? It looks like you could
do with some rest and some treatment for your comrade. |
| Dreylin | [Looks mildly
hurt] It sounds like you want rid of us, but I guess I could do with a
long rest. |
| Abbot | [Smiles down at
Dreylin] No, not at all. In fact I'm very grateful for all your help,
although I'm afraid we have very little to offer in return. It's just that I
think there are more comfortable lodgings in the village and you will be well
cared for there. |
| Narond | A rest would be
good, I presume then you are implying that you are unable to aid our injured
friend, or that treatment would be better found in the village? |
| Abbot | I don't think my
meagre skill can help your friend any more than she already has been.
[Examines Leanna's head] Hmmm, yes, I think she's just concussed. A
little time should see her return to us. |
| Dreylin | [Smiles]
That's good news. I guess that leaves only one more thing... [Looks
pointedly at Rahib] |
| Rahib | [Does not look
happy] |
| Abbot | Well now that sort
of depends on you. He has committed a number of crimes of which you and I and
these three girls are witnesses. I would say he should be taken to Darokin
City and handed over to the magistrates there. Is that the direction you were
heading? |
| Narond | We are indeed
planning on heading to Darokin City, so we probably should take him with us
and take him to the magistrates. I would suggest that you write a signed and
marked statement describing effectively your witness statement, so we can also
take that to the magistrates, assuming you are not coming with us. We will
probably have to do the same with whichever of these girls are not
accompanying us to Darokin. We can wait while you write the statement, or
probably better if we go to the village first and wait there. |
| Abbot | Hmm yes. That
seems like a good idea. I can do that and you can take Rahib to the
magistrates. Excellent. Shall I call some of the brothers to help you then?
|
| DM | After accepting the
abbot's offer of an escort you are taken upstairs to the top level of the
temple. Many of the siswa offer their thanks and you get the distinct
impression that most of them are not very bright. Rhea, who seems to be gently
regaining her old sense of humour, speculates whether they were sent there to
be educated rather than for any religious calling.
With the siswa carrying your belongings and Leanna (in shifts) you make your
way back to the village as the sun goes down. On your arrival you find many of
the people waiting for your return. The reunion between the two girls and
their families is joyful although it is clear the girls are still deeply
shocked by what has happened. Sylvia particularly may take some time to
recover.
Rahib is dragged back to the village in chains and locked in the pigsty for
the remainder of his stay. The pigs are not removed first.
Leanna is taken to the local physician who looks her over and states that she
needs only rest although it will take some time for her leg to heal
completely.
You are all offered rooms for free in the village for as long as you like and
so, after a meal, you collapse into bed. |
| Berillia | [Decides to
spend the next few days helping Sylvia recover, on the grounds that she's
partly responsible for her state] |
| Dreylin | [Wants to
make certain that Rahib has no opportunities to escape, so goes and visits his
sty several times a day during the stay] |
| Narond | [Rests] |
| DM | After a good night's
rest you awake to a bright new day. You spend the time relaxing and generally
recovering from your ordeal.
Leanna wakes around midday with an appalling headache but some of her usual
humour. She listens eagerly to Dreylin's descriptions about what happened
after her fall. The local physician sees her again and recommends that she
remain in bed for as long as possible.
Berillia takes Sylvia into her care and is invited to live in the family's
house for the duration of her stay. As you settle down, you envisage staying
in Merisa for a few weeks.
After 18 days in Merisa you decide that it is time to leave. Sylvia seems to
be recovering well and Leanna is out of bed, although she is still using a
staff to walk.
Rhea decides that it is time to leave as well and reaffirms her intention to
visit Alfheim. Her goodbye is considerably friendlier than last time and you
watch her ride to the horizon.
Packing all your things together you leave Merisa in the early afternoon. The
ground is still frosty and it looks like it may snow later but, with Leanna as
she is, the going will be slow so you need to set off.
For five days you ride through the farming country of Darokin. You spend the
occasional night at a friendly farm but mostly you sleep where you can.
|
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Society |
![[Mystara Campaign Journal]](./mystara.gif)