Players: Kathi, Chris, JC, Davy, Kris, Bryan

Characters: DM, Lew, Illuverin, Caland, A'Tora, Maulgrim

After Illuverin and Maulgrim return to the others, we are discussing what to do when there is a snort from behind us and we turn to see a couple of dretches, who begin to howl.

MELEE

Maulgrim immediately steps up and kills one, making it look easy. All of a sudden there is total darkness. Illuverin, who had been readying a scroll, now is forced to put it back, and he begins to draw his sword. Then, just as suddenly, there is an odd "wizard-light" that seems to be centered around Caland. It reveals that both of the creatures are dead.

It also reveals a previously hidden person who tries to bolt when it becomes obvious we can see him. Caland catches him easily (thanks to the Boots of Speed) and after a few moments of unfruitful conversation attempts Caland fries him with a Lightning Bolt.

Deciding to try one of the Protection From Extra-Planar Creatures before resuming, Illuverin miscasts it badly and bolts of energy erupt from his body, two of whch hit A'Tora. After she makes a snide comment about "leaving the magic to the professionals" Illuverin hands the remaining Protection From Extra-Planar Creatures to A'Tora and she casts it successfully. We then advance into the room in which the dwarves are being held and attack the four dretches and ten other odd looking creatures (manes).

MELEE

Illuverin and Maulgrim advance into the room and begin decimating the manes. Unfortunately, when they are killed they explode in a cloud of noxious acidic gas and goo. Just as unfortunately they start using magic to cause areas of Darkness and Stinking Clouds. A'Tora, during a free moment casts Knock, which sets all of the dwarves free. Despite all the nasty magic the manes and dretches are easily killed and the battle is over. The dwarves break out into a rousing cheer and come crowding around us. One, a female, was injured when one of the manes exploded and Illuverin washes the nasty goo away with water and checks to see that she's okay. Her breath is shallow but regular and he's fairly sure she will be alright.

Illuverin then goes to check out the passageway, spending 30 or 40 minutes in a fairly detailed search. It turns out to be a dead end with several small work areas and one curious short passageway leading nowhere. He checks the end thoroughly (finding nothing) and then returns to the others who are searching the big room and conversing with the dwarves. Maulgrim and one of the dwarves are keeping watch.

We leave this room heading down one of the cooridoors that we have not previously traveled. We come to a large dining hall with a fire roaring in a fireplace on one side. Across the hall from that is a large meeting room that is in some state of ruin. One whole side is collapsed. As A'Tora begins to investigate she is trapped by a further collapse, pinned by fallen debris. "Careful!" yells one of the dwarves. "That's very unstable."

"Now he tells us." Illuverin mutters to himself as he and Caland dig her free. A'Tora casts Clean on herself. The spell does work but all of a sudden one of the dwarves becomes insubstantial. This frightens him terribly and he begins wailing about being dead. Caland manages to assure him he's not dead but in actuality is in wraith form and will return to normal in a fairly short period of time. We manage to convince him to check through the rubble, but he reports finding nothing and we continue on.

We come to a side door which Illuverin examines carefully and then opens. It reveals and empty room with another door which he also checks. It opens to reveal a small kitchen area manned by a shackled dwarf. It turns out she is the matriarch of the other dwarves and has been held in servitude, as were the others. She feeds us and then leads us toward the temple.

We pass by and investigate Viscaris' room, finding money and a nice set of magical chain mail which goes to Maulgrim. Next is the priestesses room. Illuverin easily removes traps and locks in both areasHe retrieves two small clay pellets (part of a poison gas trap) and tucks them carefully away. When we finally get to her room he triggers two traps. One is poison needles on the door (Ouch!) and the other (on her desk) is a nasty electrical shock. Searching the desk reveals a scroll which is a detailed explanation of the six dragon gifts. The other is a book, her diary.

After reading much of the diary a magical message from the evil priestess appears on the wall with a message warning us the Estarria is chained with swords held ready at her eyes, and that if we even so much as set foot in the lower levels of the mine where she is held they will kill her in an instant. (We will want to have Caland try and verify that with Estarria the next time she contacts him.)

End of session.

Next date 10/14/2001