Mar 25 05 - Told in Story Form
Well we bask in our glory only a short time till the hand of retribution slaps us down.
Shortly after finishing the Chaos Guards Alastair? and EL Fudge? joined us within the temple. Pickings as Finglas felt off these guards were rather meager compared to the devastation they could have caused. We recovered a magical broadsword, and 2 handed sword as well as a broach of shielding. Other than that 5 chaotic holy symbols that seemed to give the bearer some defense (if you happened to be chaotic) were all that we found on the disciples of entropy. We seemed to have previously overlooked a chest within the room we first found the humanoid statues, and when EL Fudge? plied his trade to the task we came across another key and a ring with a magnificent jewel worth a king's ransom all by itself!! Thinking that there was no task or villain beyond our capabilities we continued to explore a bit more around the area.
Well much to our chagrin Finglas noticed a secret door just to the south east of the room of our previous vanquished foes. Feeling somewhat invulnerable we proceeded to allow Fudge to do what he does best. Upon opening the door to this room, "Black Death" poured out and engulfed our party. Wraiths held in check by the magic of chaos erupted from the room. Rather than just focusing their negative energies on EL Fudge? they swept into the corridor like a "Tsunami of Evil" and spread their ghastly attack amongst all our party within the front ranks.
Despite calling on the faith of her African heritage and the spirits she relied upon Ailea? saw her long faithful companion Moradred? perish at the hands of the Wraiths. Protecting her to his dieing breath he crumpled as they drained the life energy from him. As the wraiths turned and fled from the power of her spiritual energy, an even more powerful magical energy erupted from the fingertips of an enraged Alastair?, as lightning crackled down the passage to denounce the blasphemy he beheld. Darkness gave way to light as magical goodness collided with magical evil and the spawn of chaos were sent back to the pits of hell from whence they came.
EL? and Finglas guarding the doorway from where the curtain of blackness came were not left alone, as I sent magical missile fire into one of two wraiths that attacked the rogue and the priest, finally felling one of them. Still Alastair's wrath was not quenched as he too sent a barrage of magic missile fire into the remaining wraith ending its existence on this plane forever.
Ailea? was grief stricken. Her age and immaturity were brought to the forefront as she saw the lifeless body of her pet, her companion and soul brother, lifeless on the floor in front of her. Weeping uncontrollably it was all Alastair? and Moraleodred? could do to comfort the poor child. Attempting to give her words of not just sympathy but empathy, Alastair vowed to help her bring Moradred? back. Moraleodred? realizing that his mistress was beyond reach of mere words stood guard over her as she wept, broken hearted.
Ailea? oblivious to what went on around her knew nothing of the door Alastair? opened but a mere 5 feet from her nose. Within the room beyond the door were 4 gargoyles holding magical gems in their outstretched hands. EL? summoned a magical servant and commanded it to retrieve the southern most gem. The party stood safe and secure outside the room as the unseen servant did its master's bidding. As the gem rose invisibly into the air it shattered and the door to the room slammed shut. Still Ailea? remained insensible to what was going on.
Suspicious that the gems may play a role with the stone statues at the four cardinal points within the larger room we stood amongst, and forgetting that the statue came to life only when approached by a being that did not bear the intact "Chaos Key", Alastair? strode boldly if not foolhardily toward the southern statue. Upon coming within a few feet of the statue it came to life and attacked with huge fists of stone.
Luckily for Alastair? he had taken his own plan into action and protected himself with a stoneskin spell as well. Initially thinking he could best the beast with his lightning bolt spell, Alastair? released a bolt of electrical death into the creature to no avail. As the clang and peal of combat raged just meters away from her, Ailea? continued to weep, cataleptic to the plight of her friends and compatriots. Alastair? realizing that his spells may be useless pulled forth his magical sword and struck the stone behemoth a sounding blow that sent it reeling. Finglas not to be over shown by a mere human pulled forth the blade of frost he had been carrying recently, and with a mighty overhand slash tore a chunk of stone from the animated statue. Magic rippled across the air and Finglas and Alastair?'s arms began to grow slow and heavy but with iron wills they shrugged off the lethargic magic of the statue. Back and forth, and forth and back the battle raged between the 3. Ducking and weaving barely deflecting blows or dodging mighty pummeling fists, the stalwart duo fought against the stone colossus. Shouting for aid, expecting Ailea? to assist them, both Finglas and Alastair? were amazed when I, Mobuto the Glorious came flying to their rescue. Wielding Trebonius, my magical glowing dagger, I dove toward the back of the stone monolith and with a slash of my blade the monster took notice of me, the tiny titan. Turning from the warrior and the cleric the leviathan swung and luckily missed me, for surely had he hit the flying fremlin, I would have died instantly. Fluttering to a more practical and safe distance, I hurled the dagger catching the golem in the shoulder, and as it twisted around in agony Finglas swung his sword as shards of frost formed in the path of air behind it. Smashing into the creature's leg the magic of the sword sent crystals of ice forming up along the appendage freezing the monster in its tracks. As icy fire raced up its leg the stone creature bent over to grab at the tumbling cleric, leaving its neck exposed. Down, down faster than the eye could follow came the holy blade of the paladin, shattering the creatures collar as it reached for Finglas.
As the dust settled and the pebbles came to rest on the stone floor, I retrieved my dagger and Alastair checked to make sure the magic that kept the colossus alive was indeed ended. Finglas though strode directly over to Ailea?.
Who could tell what was going through the mind of the elf? Was it pity? Was it remorse? Was it understanding? Was it disdain? Gently, tenderly lifting the weeping girls face so she could look into his alien elven eyes, he slapped her across the face. Scolding her for abandoning her party and crying over the dead when the living needed her, he ignored the 9 foot enraged lion that began to leap toward him. Never flinching as death in all its protective feline fury bore down on him, Finglas never for an instance removed his stare from her eyes. At the last possible moment Ailea? commanded Moraleodred? to stop his attack.
I must say I was amazed. For surely I thought the elf, who had survived mages, and warriors, and stone golems was now going to die at the hands of a little girl and her ferocious giant pet lion. Instead she suddenly stopped crying, stood up and agreed with the belligerent elf. Not only that but she.well.she thanked him and told him she would never forget his words nor his actions. The lion of course did not seem quite so obliging and even I was a bit disconcerted by the look I saw in its eyes. But as to Finglas, he had already turned and walked away with a nod, as if to say "Good, now everything is ok!"
I don't believe either Alastair? or EL Fudge? realized how close to Armageddon the group came at that moment in time. That frozen instant within eternity when a choice is made, when a realization occurs that forever locks an individual on a chosen path towards destiny.
Onward we go. Adventure, fortune, experience, growth, maturity, and yes - death face us every step of the way. But like Finglas we stare at it never flinching, never diverting, secure in our knowledge that in the end "Everything is going to be OK!"
Well as they say in my country "Only the Sun, Wind and Moon know all that has happened, and the grass over the next hill hasn't been trampled yet".
Mobuto the Glorious, Mage of Semphar
