Underground - Eleasis 2nd

The monk will make roundhouse kick on Krootad the cleric hopefully clocking him with critical damage.

The monk leaps high into the and kicks at the cleric, missing him, but landing without falling over.

Round Two

18 – Krootad, Kelser
17 – Althalus
14 - Skeletons
12 – Tatyl
11 – Kregnok
2 – Umberto

Krootad backpedals a few steps and casts a spell towards Kelser, and a chill washes over him, making him a bit shaken. (He would have failed his save vs. fear if it were not for Kregnok’s bless.

Kelser regains his composure and steps forward to attack the hobgoblin. His swing is true and Krootad is dropped to “orange”

(As you can see I’ve changed the color of the bad guys again. Hopefully I’ll make up my mind and stick with one color. This one does look better.)

Althalus is up.

With no clear shot from my post, I will continue on as hall monitor.

• Skeleton A takes two swipes at Kelser but misses on both. Skeleton B does the same to Umberto and connects on the second, again doing minimal damage (thus keeping Umberto in the “green”).
  
  
• Tatyl jumps over the large skeleton body on the ground releases another spell, the ray shoots out and strikes Skeleton A and drops him into a pile of bones on the floor.

Round Two

18 – Krootad, Kelser
17 – Althalus
14 - Skeletons
12 – Tatyl
11 – Kregnok
2 – Umberto

Kregnok is up.

Kregnok will move to G-7 and sink Krootad's battleship, err... attempt to bash his skull in.

The dwarf darts around the statue of the golden dragon and steps up to Krootad and delivers his heavy mace to the hobgoblin’s chest, dealing a good amount of damage (dropping Krootad to “red”)

Round Two

18 – Krootad, Kelser
17 – Althalus
14 - Skeletons
12 – Tatyl
11 – Kregnok
2 – Umberto

Umberto is up.

The monk will move to H7 and try for a final blow. On Krootad.

The monk boldly steps toward Krootad and delivers the final blow, sending the cleric to the ground with a thud. Seconds later, the remaining skeleton drops to a pile of bones.

(DM Note – Great job during this battle! Krootad really lucked out by failing all his listen checks as you moved up into position, and fortunately he didn’t get a chance to animate the minotaur skeleton. So the DM is saying y’all lucked out on this one!)

Conducting the standard body search reveals the following items on Krootad:

Masterwork Breatplate
Masterwork heavy steel shield
+1 Flail
Iron holy symbol of Hextor
(3) small black onyx gems (25 gp each)
(1) large black onyx (250 gp)

Also in his possessions is a note that reads:

Krootad,

By the authority of The Dreadlord you hereby receive the payment of 500 gp for your services to the Temple of Bane. Do not fail us.

Xeron

What do you know of Bane in this area Kreg?

Let's gather this stuff and move on out of here, unless we need to search the area further.

Isn't Xeron that black knight we assisted unknowingly a while back? And I'm not certain, but I believe the water weird stated Krootad was in the company of several others, but I'm not sure if they have survived this far. If we are finished here, we must remember to claim the body of your love, so that we may attend to her burial and honor.

Of course, that goes without saying...Let us depart

The group will work it's way topside after retreiving Umberto's girlfriend's dead body, keeping an eye out for last minute surprises.

DM Note:

You do know a little of Bane in these mountains. The “Black Knight” who stumbled onto your keep (Flamerule 20th) had the symbols of Bane on his black armor. On Shieldmeet (2 days ago), you met with a paladin named Horace Danim (Champion of Tyr). He was introduced to you by Defender of Justice, Lathkiera Morlund (she is the one who set up the quarry contract with Rockhammer Hold). Horace mentioned that he was on the trail of Dreadlord Hold Burukhan, High Priest of Bane (the “Black Knight” who was at your stronghold earlier in the month), and was concerned that he may be setting up a new base after his escape from Sundabar.

Here is exactly what the water weird said to you: “If you pursue those who have thwarted me, good luck in your quest. They include an arcane spellcaster, a hobgoblin cleric and several of these mongrels (the water weird gestures to the dead varags) and numerous other humanoids. Now, leave me.”

Xeron (arcane spellcaster) is the name of the leader of the people you have been chasing through this dungeon. Cato June (mayor of Wageton) had asked that you see this through to the end. Yes, this means the adventure continues.

“Gentlemen,” Tatyl calls out, “I have found something interesting.”

You gather around the statue of the gold dragon, while Tatyl continues, “The statue and water radiate a moderate aura of conjuration magic. The water is magical. I believe that if those of us of good alignment drink from it we will recover from our injuries and our spells will return. It probably only works once a day.”

The wizard of Thay sees Kregnok start to pull out an empty waterskin, “and I’m certain the waters would lose its potency as soon as it is removed from this fountain.”

Tatyl shrugs her shoulders, “Should we drink now or continue on and be able to return here for a final battle?”

While Tatyl discusses the properties of the fountain, the barbarian has wandered over to the hole in the northern wall.

“Sturdy rope ladder here. Leads to darkness.” Kelser’s eyes scan the rubble on the floor nearby. “They came this way. Went down. Many of them.”

How are you spells for the day Kreg, Tatyl? Your powers will no doubt be needed if we face more spellcasters below. I am ready to descend whenever you have made that decision.

I personally have about 75% of my spells remaining, having only cast the two in the previous battle. How ever, I think it would be best for us to be fully prepared for our descent. Let us drink from the fountain now, and continue our journey.

Althalus, while not injured or in need of spell replenishment, is a little thirsty and takes a drink from the fountain anyway.

gulp gulp

You all drink the kool-aid and feel refreshed and ready to go(everyone is full HP and have all your spells/abilities back as if you rested for a full 8 hours). Kelser volunteers to descend the rope ladder first. After a few minutes, Kelser calls out that he has reached the bottom.

Eventually the rest of you descend into a 30-foot square room with an arched exit opposite of where the rope ladder ends. You take up a typical marching order and proceed into the next room which is roughly about the same size, but with an archway on your left.

Kelser turns around and points toward the archway you just came through. All you see is a blank wall.

“Curses!” cries Kregnok as he scans the walls. “My cousin Tonga told me about dreaded labyrinths before.”

Umberto nods his head as he has heard the story before, “Yes. Left, left, right, left, minotaur.”

You traverse through a handful of rooms, and you get the sense that each one is a random room and not really connected in any logical manner. You are just about to give up when a ball of glowing light floats toward you. It hovers silently in the air before you for a few seconds. Then suddenly, a cone-shaped beam of light emerges from it and points itself at Kelser. The barbarian holds his hand in front of his eyes to shield himself but otherwise notices no effects. The beam turns to Kregnok next. Eventually it “looks” at all of you before the beam disappears. Slowly the ball of glowing lights drifts away as it pulses with light. Every few second it emits light is all directions for just a split second, like a beacon. It reaches the next archway and seems to wait, pulsating every few seconds.

“I think it wants us to follow.”

"Looks like it... I hope it doesn't eat us."

Let's follow

Yeh... just watch out for... you know...

The ball of light leads you through a dozen or so rooms of the labyrinth. You hear Tatyl mention that she thinks this is a lantern archon that was left here by the tomb makers to assist those of good nature through the maze.

“No doubt that Xeron did not see this creature.” She adds.

Through the last handful of room you then round a corner and come into a roughly octagonal room that is divided by a thick wall. This area doesn’t resemble the labyrinth’s confusing, rough passages. The ball of link dims, then returns to the labyrinth, finished with it's mission.

Up ahead a bit you find an open pit in the floor, and in it is the body of a young female in a light chain shirt. She has auburn hair and fine features, her ear suggesting elf heritage but her height and build suggest human ancestry as well. Her equipment indicates she was an explorer of some sort.

Umberto points to her, “She’s still breathing!”