Dwarf Rescue 3 - Into the Temple

We come upon the KuaToan’ stronghold. We are looking at the stronghold setting across a river. A ferry boat is setting on our side and leads across to a path that approaches the fortress. We proceed and speak to the oarsman. He invites us into the ferry and we cross to the other side. We arrive, unload, move down the path and cautiously climb a staircase toward the entrance. As we climb, crossbow bolts begin raining from two towers on each side of the staircase entrance. We respond – Aereon and sky charge up to an opening spotted in the tower – Alister magically fires missles from his finger tips. Elwin shoots his crossbow and Jian and Oosana charge in through the opening. Suddenly a thick mist ‘surrounds the stairwell. We all charge up the stairs toward the entrance, led by Aereon, the Dwarves and Sky. This appears to be a jail area and when we charge into a lower room we find it filled with Kuatoa. We engage the group and the Dwarves and Sky quickly eliminate them. Elwin and Jian locate a lever on the wall. It opens the portcullis into the jail area. Brak moves Elwin out of the way and grabs the heavy lever and pushes it up. The portcullis rises slowly. Elwin, Jian, and Brak check the cells. A human and a halfling occupy the cells. They both ‘detect’ of an evil magic when checked by Brak. Aereon moves into the cell and immediately attacks the halfling. Sky chases into the room also, and a fireball explodes within. Gracie and Alister charge into the cell corridor. Nugi comes when the fireball flashes. Jian and Brak come out of the cooridor and as Brak returns to examine, the evil halfling appears and runs out of the corridor and into the room. Elwin chases and tackles him as he runs by. Brak comes to help and Nugi knocks him unconscious. Nugi and Brak bind him. We hear a chanting of some type coming from the door on the W. wall. There is a glyph on the door and Brak detects a sonic ward. Elwin disables the rune and opens it. The chanting KuaToa within are now visible. They are standing in a pool on either side of a raised pathway leading to a dais that stands above the path. A large statue dominates the room standing from dais floor to ceiling. There is a raised walkway around the room with stairs leading to a balcony. Columns are arranged around the platform with what seems to be a portal. The KuoToans are guarding the statue. As we move into the room Nugi is hit with 2 lightning bolts from the balcony. Aereon runs around the platform and jumps onto the dais. As we try to enter the room some are affected by a ward that prohibits entrance. Those who are not affected enter and definitely spot the portal. It sets above the 2 central dais columns. A mist quickly envelopes us and covers the entrance. Dubious charges around the platform and causes smoke to block all vision on the dais. Brak casts and blocks the unholy spell that has prevented some of the party from entering. The rest of the group now charges in. We see that something is emerging from the portal. Elwin moves around the outer walkway to the stairs leading to the balcony above. As the smoke rises from the platform we see a figure standing atop the statue. (A woman or a demon?) It sends 3 speeding arrows down to Brak. Elwin ascends the stairs and picks up two scrolls from two Kuatoan bodies at the top of the balcony. Aereon has somehow mounted the statue to battle the evil figure and when Elwin peeks over the balcony wall, he sees Aereon falling from the top of the statue. Nugi moves to the other side of the walkway and up the stairs to the balcony and engages the 3 KuaToans who are attacking the party from above. The party continues to battle the demon. Our party is suffering greatly and when it seems that we may fall, part of the party led by Jian and Brak attack. Our magicians manage to dissipate the evil creature, but not before critical damage to our group. As we gather to assess our injuries a KuoToan priest step from the south side of the statue and…...
…..To Be Continued….


Elwin