Elves in the Temple - a Co8 FanFic and partial walk thru

Part the Fourteenth: The Beautiful

Reynard the Fox could barely see the action in the narrow corridor. From the entry hall, he heard the sounds of metal on metal, flesh tearing and men shouting. He could see Barbara’s broad back, muscles moving beneath heavy pauldrons and light chain as she swung her glaive. He could see a crossbow bolt scrape across Jack’s shoulder. He could see the armored backs of Dio and Perry as each called upon their gods.

Strong were the defenders of the Master. Skilled they were, and brave. Well armed were the defenders of the Master, their blades sharp, their steel well forged.

Reynard resisted the urge to push into the melee for a better view. Turning his perceptions inwards, he drew on the power in his blood. Space twisted, and Perry found herself transformed into a small giantess. Reynard, sweating from the effort of spell casting, considered his next move. From behind him came the sound of Meleny chanting.

Barbara’s glaive chopped a spearman nearly in half, and went on to slice open the belly of the man beside him. Jack’s spear struck that same man in the chest, knocking him to the ground. The way to the end of the hall was clear.

“My Meleny” whispered Reynard, again trying the thought on for size. Meleny finished chanting, and the blood ceased to flow from Jack’s wound. The entire team rushed through the narrow hall.

Jack charged, his spear punching through the steel armor of a crossbowman. Barbara’s glaive missed its mark as the man stumbled back, but an arrow from Hekate’s bow finished him. A bolt flew wild from the crossbowman’s weapon as consciousness failed.

A group of spearmen led by a sword wielding sergeant blocked the entrance to the main barracks.

Reynard and Meleny moved together through the narrow hall as Bar, Perry and Jack tried to force their way into the barracks. Reynard’s eyes fixed on Dio behind the lead trio. She looked so small, short and slender, and yet she bore her scimitar and shield with easy grace. A summoning chant poured from her lips, and the growls of a bear could be heard from the barracks. Reynard had cared for her, still cared for her. He glanced to the side to see Meleny eyeing Dio, her expression showing hints of admiration, anger and guilt.

Persephone raised her shield and completed her own invocation, and a sound like hammer on anvil nearly filled the world. The soldiers blocking the barracks entrance fell back, the force of the sound stunning them briefly, and Jack and Barbara struck. Within the barracks, Dio’s bear rampaged, and was joined by her dog and Meleny’s chicken.

The Moathouse Lieutenant dropped his bow, drew his sword and charged.

Reynard read from a scroll, releasing trapped magic, a charm that dragged another defender down into slumber. Behind him now, Kate did the same, but with little effect. Dio tumbled into the main barracks with an acrobat’s skill, coming to her feet to slash her scimitar towards the lieutenant. The blow clanged against his shield. Reynard feared for her, and shame touched him. He had betrayed old love for new, and he could not make it right.

Dionysia turned the Moathouse Lieutenant’s return blow with her own shield. A small sphere of flame arched through the air, striking the lieutenant and driving him back. Dionysia glanced back quickly, and saw Meleny holding fire in her hands. The two women exchanged glances.

Strong were the defenders of the Master. Skilled they were, and brave. Sharp were their blades, their steel well forged.

They could not stand against their attackers.

Reynard caught his breath as Perry and Bar prayed over their personal wounds and those of Dio and Jack. He looked at the dead men everywhere, and saw the men he had driven into unconsciousness. He watched as Jack butchered them.

To a man, the defenders of the Master died.

From a small enclosed room within the barracks, Reynard felt the pulse of magic. He looked at Kate. She nodded, and gestured to Jack.

The group gathered around the door to the inner room. Jack checked; the door wasn’t locked. Jack opened it.

“What is this?” In the room stood a large man in black armor, blond hair flowing over his shoulders, a glowing club in his right hand and a silver mace in his left. His voice was powerful, an actor’s voice, but it could not hide his fear.

Barbara leaped into the room, dropping her glaive, drawing a glowing sword with the same motion striking a blow that nearly downed the Moathouse Master. Jack tumbled behind the Master and drove his spear into the man’s back. Reynard moved forward, ready to strike the death blow, when the master shouted “Enough!”

Reynard hesitated. “Are you trying to surrender?”

“Yes!” The Master’s voice revealed his desperation.

“Where is the Princess Tillahi?” snarled Jack.

“Who?” asked the Master.

“Tillahi!” shouted Jack. Reynard looked his friend in the eye, and realized it was an act; good-adventurer bad-adventurer. Reynard played along.

Dio held back her snarling dog, while Meleny held back her chicken.

“An Elf”, said Reynard, keeping his voice low, almost friendly. “She was traveling with a small retinue of guards. Their armor and weapons would have been exceptional, and the Princess herself exquisitely beautiful.”

“A party like that was captured” allowed the Master.

“Where are they” bellowed Jack, pressing the point of his spear into the Master’s side, just short of causing further injury.

“You’d better tell him” said Reynard.

Blood drenched the Master’s armor. He glared at his captors, working to hide his fear. “Such a group would have been sent to the Temple.”

“Where is the Temple” Jack shouted.

The Master forced himself to straighten, to smile. He pushed the arrogance back into his voice. His spoke as though life hung in the balance, which was in fact the case. “I am Lareth, called the Beautiful, Priest of Lolth in the service of the Temple.” He observed the young fools holding him, and knew he had a chance. “Kill me, and you may never find your Tillahi. Torture me, and I may die before you can force the Temple’s location from me.”

Lareth took a breath. “Take me with you, and I shall escort you to a secret entrance to the Temple, an entrance known only to myself and my followers. Unobserved, you may begin your search for this Tillahi. Or kill me, and if you find the Temple at all, your Tillahi will likely be slain when your intrusion is detected.”

Lareth watched Jack closely.

Reynard turned to Jack as well, and nodded. Jack looked next to Kate, then Barbara, Dio, Perry, and even Meleny. Four nods, two shakes.

Jack spoke. “Deal. You take us to the Temple, we let you live.” He sounded convincing. He turned to Bar and Perry. “Disarm, strip and bind the prisoner, and tend his wounds.”

So they did.

End Part the Fourteenth

 

Oooh...I'm getting all moist in antici-----

----pation!!

 

I really didn't mean "strip and bind" in quite that sense.

 

rofl mao

 

Minor tweaks made to dialog, especially to Lareth's bluff. Hope to get the next segment up again soon. Thanks for the feedback.

 

"while Meleny held back her chicken."

Is this what's meant by Trained Attack Chicken.

awaiting Betrayals anxiously.

 

Somebody's birthday?

 

Part the Fifteenth: Betrayals

From the Journals of Jack B. Swift, Professional Adventurer, published 585, Greyhawk Press

Stripping the dead after the battle outside of Lareth’s chambers took a while, but the haul was excellent. We got a small fortune in coins, gems, good steel weapons and armor.

“We’re going to need to make a few trips to get all this stuff back to Hommlet” I said, looking at the loot pile.

“Not exactly” said Kate with a smile. She pulled the miniature chest we’d found out from one of her belt pouches. “Kouri” she whispered.

The air twisted in a way that made my eyeballs want to pop out for a quick roll around and a light breakfast. When my vision cleared, a large, heavy wooden chest was sitting in the middle of the floor next to the loot pile.

“OK,” I said, “that was impressive.”

“Load it up” said Kate, smiling widely.

Bar, Perry, Dio and the dog kept watch while I and Kate stuffed the loot into the chest. Fox, Mel and the chicken kept an eye on Lareth.

“What was that word you said?” I asked.

“What word?”

“The word that called the chest.”

“Ah,” said Kate. “The miniature is a voice activated portable trans-dimensional signal device. Just speak the trigger and an extra-dimensionally situated potential full sized chest is rotated and thus actualized into our own space-time plane of reference.” She smiled brightly.

I stared at her.

“It’s a magic box. Have a look.” She handed me the miniature.

I took another look at the miniature; runes were engraved on the bottom. I’m good with runes.

“Made in Kara-Tur” I read. I handed the box back.

Maybe I shouldn’t have taken Trap Design 110 to fill my first year math requirement.

After we finished stuffing the chest with the loot and Lareth’s gear, Kate took back the miniature and repeated the command word. The chest vanished, and my eyes only issued a minor complaint. As we got ready to head out, I saw Bar and Perry staring at me from the chamber’s entrance. I joined them.

“We must talk, my friend” said Perry. “Now” added Bar. Dio was with them, but remained silent.

l joined them in the hall. Kate, Fox, and Mel remained in the main barracks with Lareth.

“You know the priest is leading us into a trap.” Bar wasn’t asking.

I nodded.

“His bandits have been preying on travelers,” said Perry. “and he has been harboring well trained gnolls, bugbears, and even an ogre. He has animated the dead.”

I nodded again.

“So,” asked Dio, “are we going to let him go?”

“No” I said.

Perry’s face was serious. “Sire, you gave your word.”

I looked from woman to woman. They’d grown since we started on this mission. All three were strong in their faiths, smart, and heavily armed. I chose my words carefully.

“An escort to the Temple and in exchange we wouldn’t kill him. That was the deal.” I watched to see how they were taking this. “I never said we’d let him go. After he shows us how to get into the Temple, we’ll take him back to Hommlet and hand him over to Burne.”

Bar began a slow grin over that, and Dio, after a moment nodded. Perry’s face remained serious.

“It’s the only way” I told her, trying to make her believe. “We need to find the Temple, and we can’t let him go. Trust me; it will work.”

She finally nodded her assent. “Yes,” she said, “I can see why you made this choice. It shall be as you say.”

“Let’s move out” I said, and waved to the rest of the gang to grab Lareth and fall in. I was glad I hadn’t told Perry my original plan of killing Lareth as soon as we got to the Temple. She wouldn’t have understood.

We went to the south doors of the outer hall and exited the Moathouse.

Before the Moathouse exit stood over a dozen burly figures, armed and armored. A mixed company of gnoll and human mercenaries was waiting for us, lead by a trio of familiar humans.

Betrayals II

Aside from the ambush it was a pretty nice night. Swamp sounds were everywhere, and the outdoor air was an incredible relief after having been inside the Moathouse so long. By moonlight we could see the enemy, and I think all of us went for our weapons.

“Sir” said one of the humans, a tall man in monk’s robes, “what are you doing here?”

“Let’s just get this over with” I said, bracing my spear. There must have been a dozen of them.

“Not so fast,” said the monk.

“I know you” shouted Barbara.

Put off, the man in monk’s robes looked over at her.

“You’re Turuko, from the inn!” Bar was peering closely at the monk, and at the other humans.

“Er, yes” said Turuko.

“And you’re Kobort the Barbarian, and Zert the mercenary!” Barbara sounded pleased. The big barbarian started to give her a half-hearted wave, until Turuko turned and glared at him.

“Yes, we have met,” said Turuko, “however …”

“Met?” said Bar. “Kobort, Zert and I have gotten plastered together. I’ve heard Kobort sing the Assorted Meat Song.”

Kobort looked uncomfortable.

“That’s as may be,” said Turuko, ‘but the fact remains that …”

“Zert,” said Barbara, “you asked if you could come with us. I thought you fancied me?”

Zert looked panic stricken. “Sorry, Barbara,” he said, “this is business.”

“Business?” asked Bar.

“We are here for the Master” said Turuko. I think he was trying to regain control of the conversation.

“I’m right here” called Lareth, looking up. His arms were bound, and Fox, Mel and the chicken were flanking him.

“Give him to us,” said Turuko, “leave Hommlet, and do not return.” He was moving into a fighting stance.

“We need him,” I said, “and we’ll come and go in Hommlet until our mission is over.”

“Then, sir, it is your time to die.” He motioned to his men, jumped forward, and slammed a kick into my chest. He was good; even through boiled leather, it hurt.

Then the girls and Fox started chanting.

Several things happened almost at once.

Thick waves of spider-webs fell from the sky onto the mercenaries.

The big barbarian, Kobort, charged through the webbing and landed a sword blow against Perry’s armor, snapping steel links and breaking ribs.

Grasses and vines grew up around the mercenary’s feet, tripping Kobort and the few mercenaries that weren’t trapped by the webs.

Perry pulled back slightly out of Kobort’s reach, still chanting together with Bar. A sound like hammer on anvil filled the world, followed by a sound like sword on sword. Most of the mercenaries staggered, stunned.

Fox stepped forwards. Fire poured from his hands, bathing the big barbarian and the closest gnolls. The spider-webs ignited, and fire flowed over the company.

I looked at Turuko. Barely conscious, bound in vines, deafened, stunned and burned.

I stabbed him.

It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

Betrayals III

That was pretty much the end of the fight. We finished off the remaining mercenaries quickly. None of us were happy about it. Bar looked furious.

Afterwards, as we loaded the mercenary’s armor into the extra-planar chest, I noticed Lareth eyeing me.

“I begin to see” he said “how your little band defeated my soldiers.”

I knew he was fishing, but I answered anyway. “Pro-active theology and practical metaphysics; it’s a good combination.”

“Yes, I see.” He offered me a shark’s smile. “Such skill your followers demonstrate. All, I think, command the favor of gods or the power of the arts arcane.”

I waited for him to get to the point.

“You, I notice, do not command such powers.” His voice was mock-friendly. “How is it that these young prodigies follow you?”

He was winding me up.

“I’m management” I answered. “I don’t need technical skills.”

He snorted.

“Are you ready to go to the temple?”

“I’ll tell you when we’re ready.” I moved back to join the rest of the gang.

We headed back to the Moathouse tower. Most of the gang spent some time scribing, studying and praying. I noticed Lareth watching them, and me. Barbara was in a dark mood. Perry and Dio went over and sat with her. I heard Lareth whispering prayers of his own, but I didn’t worry much about it at the time. I didn’t think there was much he could do outnumbered seven to one.

I took first watch, Bar took second. Everyone got some sleep.

The next morning we headed out to the Moathouse courtyard. It was a grey day, cool and drizzling. Everyone looked well rested. I turned to Lareth, ex-Master of the Moathouse.

“We’re ready. Lead us to the Temple.”

We traveled over main roads and overgrown trails, from swamp to meadow to forest to blasted plain. The trip took a little over a day, and it rained the whole way.

“So many terrain types right next to one-another, and no farms” said Perry.

“Yup,” I agreed, “adventuring country.”

Finally, in the distance, we saw a mighty building, set alone upon a blasted plain. The sky rolled with grey-black clouds, against which the Temple’s dark stone walls loomed like shadow on shadow. Great stained glass windows, illuminated from within, depicted scenes of madness and beauty, debauchery and devastation that both seduced and repelled. Winds swirled endlessly about the edifice, a glorious obscenity raised up like a challenging fist against the heavens.

“Behold,” declaimed Lareth, “the Temple of Elemental Evil!”

“Say what you want about the lords of the Abyss,” said Perry, “they know their architecture.”

I could only nod my agreement.

We untied Lareth’s hands, and helped him into a respectable suit of chain mail. We even gave him back a light mace and a cloak; he wouldn’t look like a prisoner.

“Now,” said Lareth, “follow, and learn of the secret entrance to the Temple.”

We moved to the east, following a path to a side tower. In front of the tower door stood a slumped guard in black steel and leather armor.

“Halt!”

Lareth stepped forwards. “Is there a problem, door-keep?”

“No, Master! I was not told you were to return!” The guard was bowing and scraping, and Lareth was swelling with restored pride.

I put a hand on Lareth’s right arm. Bar put a hand on his left.

I could feel his panic as we frog marched him away from the tower.

“What are you doing?” hissed Lareth. “I kept my side of the bargain!”

Perry was scowling, Bar grinning. Meleny didn’t look very happy about this either.

We set off on the roads back to Hommlet.

We got all the way back to Burne’s tower.

“What is this!” demanded the panic stricken Lareth.

“Come along, Lareth.” I hadn’t realized just how well Lareth could pray.

“Fools! You fools!” Lareth somehow got his hands free, and gestured wildly. The greasy feel of magic burned the air, and suddenly Lareth was gone.

We were left standing in front of Burne’s tower, having had the secret Master of the Moathouse bandits in our hands and lost him.

Perry and Mel looked pole axed. Dio seemed bemused. Bar looked amused.

Fox spoke first. “We should get out of this town.”

“Now” I agreed.

We hit the road again.

Betrayals IV

“We haven’t lost anything” I was insisting to the gang in general as we closed again on the tower entrance to the Temple. “We’re here, at the Temple. Tillahi is inside. We go in, kill whoever stands in our way, and find her. It will work.”

“Who goes there?” snapped the door-keeper.

“Friends of Lareth the Beautiful” I said.

He eyed us oddly, then stepped aside. “Go right in”.

We entered the tower.

The huge tower.

The tower filled with heavily armed soldiers and crossbowmen, a wizard, and two witches.

“To arms!” shouted the tower captain, and the air crackled with magic as the witches and wizard began their spells.

“Wait!” I was close to panic, but tried to keep it together. “Wait! We’re friends of Lareth the Beautiful!”

“How do you know that name” demanded the captain.

“Lareth told us to meet him here” I said.

“Leave” said the Captain. “If you are friends of Lareth, return in his company. Return alone, and die.”

I looked at the well armed and armored soldiers, the well positioned crossbowmen, the alert wizard and witches.

“Watch the threats” I said, and we left.

“We need Lareth” I told the gang once we were away from the door-keeper.”

“We need to attack!” Perry looked as angry as I’ve ever seen her.

“There are too many of them, and too well prepared. We can’t take them without surprise.”

Everyone was staring at me.

“Look, it’s not so bad. We find Lareth, we take him back to the Temple, and we get the drop on those guards.”

The gang looked doubtful.

“It will work.”

We headed back for Hommlet.

End Part the Fifteenth

 

Da-Da-Daaaa!

Excellent!

 

Yup. Until the fixes were released I just thought I hadn't run into it yet; I plan on using an older save to catch it.

Thanks for the feedback. This has turned into a much longer project than I'd expected.

 

Part the Sixteenth: Caravan

The redheaded woman lay dying, held in the arms of Reynard the Fox.

“Dog men” she breathed, her voice fading, “dog men attacked the wagons.”

Persephone and Barbara whispered prayers. They were not answered.

Meleny tried to pour a healing drought into the woman’s mouth. It was too late.

“Peter” the woman gasped. Her breathing stopped.

Reynard lowered the woman gently to the ground.

Jack Swift turned away from the dead woman, surveying the wrecked caravan. Bodies littered the ground. Horses, trade goods, lives; everything of value was long gone.

“This is our fault” said Meleny, her voice broken.

Reynard put his hands on her shoulders. There were blood stains on his robes.

“This is my fault,” said Jack, not looking at the dead woman, not looking at his friends, “I chose to let the gnolls go.” He forced himself to look again at the bodies.
“No, my friend” said Perry, speaking softly, moving close to Jack. Jack did not turn to face her.

Perry continued, laying a small, strong hand on Jack’s arm. “You did not kill these travelers. The responsibility is not yours.”

Jack continued looking out at the bodies by the road.

“I could have stopped this” said Jack. “We could have killed the gnolls back in the Moathouse. We let them go. My choice.”

Perry’s open hand struck Jack’s arm with some force and considerable volume. Startled, he stared down and met the young dwarf’s intense gaze.

“Nonsense.” Perry’s voice was firm. “You showed mercy. If these people were killed by the same gnolls you spared, then your mercy was abused. The crime is theirs, not yours!”

Jack slowly nodded. “We’d best head back to Hommlet.”

“Next time,” said Barbara as the team moved on, “be less merciful.”

“Yes” said Jack.

End Part the Sixteenth.

 

Thanks. I had to march the party through the Moathouse again to see the encounter. Interesting sequence.

Wow. That's a lot of posts.

I really should mod something.