Swamp Temple
Prelude
Ahh..the back to Nalcauzese's temple...
Elsewhere:
HighPriest: They are on their way..
Other: Good, Good, prepare the ritual..
Adventure Summary
The party starts off heading back to the Swamp temple. The day or so, ride passes quite quickly and the group notices the people of Ghoere seems to be in higher spirits, despite the War.
The group enters the village of Cordway, which lies just north of the Great Swamp. The village is completely abandoned, with no one around for at least 10 miles in any direction. The party decides to stay the night in the Inn and set out for the Swamp in the morning. The only event during the night, was that the party found several lizard men who appeared to be spying on the group.
In the morning Rayad and Heidrek track the lizard men east, then south right into the Great Swamp. The party constructs a raft and sets out into the swamp. After several greuling hours and a giant frog attack, the group gets to the temple.
Cautiously proceeding, with no lizard men or bandits in sight, they creep up to the outside temple and proceed down into the depths. Down a flight of stairs and into a vestibule, where curiously a table sits with broken bits of a wine bottle strewn about. The party moves back to the deceased evil Wizards bedroom to investigate a previous unopened magical secret door. Heidrek dispels some magic on the door and the party finds a room of utter darkness. After some fumbling, Rayad bumps into something chest sized. Heidrek using the Rod of Crystalline, which can just barely penetrate the darkness they determine its an invisible chest of some sort. Using a key taken from the dead wizard, they open the chest finding, some gold, platinum and silver coins and a finely bound locked leather book, seemingly a spellbook. The group decides to leave the chest hidden here with the coins, but Ludwig, takes the spellbook just in case.
Proceeding farther into the under-Temple, the group is attempted to be held by several evil priests. Rayad and Ludwig, both charge after the priests, crying havoc and swinging swords. Heidrek tends to the held William calling upon Erik to release him. The priest have disappeared into what appears to be a Temple worship room. The party begins to investigate the door they think the priests went through. Finding the door leads to the priests chambers, and with the Rod's help the locate a secret door leading to the High Priest's chamber where Ui-Lon and his followers make their stand. They try several chants and hold spells, but the fury of Rayad, William, Ludwig and Heidrek are too much for the priests. Heidrek, goes straight for Ui-Lon who attacks with his venomous snake staff, but Heidrek and the Rod give Ui-Lon a quick death. Several acolytes are slain and the remaining priest and three acolytes surrender. After a brief discussion of the groups strength, the party learns that, the lizard men are working with the priest to raid the villages for sacrifices to Nalcauzese. The lizard men always "appear" in the temple room. The priest, in trying to save his life shows the group a secret treasure room in the high priest's room. The party finds three chests, but as William opens one he is stuck down by poison, only the power of a spell from Heidrek saves his life. The chest contains more coins and two scrolls. One scroll is determined to be Protection from Demons, the other the group thinking its cursed, decides to look at it later.
Further searching of the temple and ajoining rooms, finds the clerical study. Many books on evil deeds and undead are found and Ludwig examines a particularly nasty large open tome. Just glancing as the Vile book, Ludwig is wracked with severe pains and an evil Hag appears and begins attacking with savage claws. The group reacts quickly and the the Hag is sent back to the nether regions by Heidrek and the Rod.
The group decides to retreat to the Wizards bedroom, hole up for the night and resume in the morning. Making it safely through the night, Heidrek heals the group best he can, while Ludwig uses an Identify to determine what items they have are magical and their effects. A ring is determined to be a ring of warmth, Plate Mail +1, Snake Staff:Adder, Demon statue (powers unknown). Ludwig tries to identify the unexamined scroll, but as soon as he looks at it the runes disappear, but no one notices any effect.
Quotes
William: I need to take him (Rayad) to a bar and teach him how to fight.
Ludwig: First teach him to stop doing this! (Makes girly slapping motions)
Ludwig: Time to finish the Alphabet...
Dave: It was clearly stated that there was no crying of havoc or swinging of swords.
Spoils
In Wizardss Chest: 500 gp, 300pp, 3,500 sp
In Priest's Chest: 2,500 sp, 4,000 gp
Ring of Warmth - Ludwig
Plate Mail +1 - William
Snake Staff - carried by Heidrek pending destruction
Demon Statue - carried by Heidrek pending destruction
Scroll of Pro Demons
Scroll of Pro LycanthropesExperience
Group Experience
Monsters, Good Cooperation, RolePlaying + 9,500 each Individual
Player Bonuses Total Alexandros Did not play 18,550 Haddath 70,000 Heidrek Roleplaying +1,000
Ideas +1,000102,075 Ludwig Roleplaying +500 Total: Ftr: 41,725
Mage: 44,025Menzak 75,900 Pierre Did not play 14,500 Rayad Roleplaying +500
Ideas +1,00075,525 William Did Not Play 50,700