A/N: And here's the next chapter! The party begins their descent into the temple to the Demon Lords. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 33: Into the Temple
We arrived at the temple, which somehow managed to look even less inviting than the swampland around it. It crouched atop a small rise, the vines growing on the walls were unusually thorny, like the temple had corrupted them. There was no other choice: we entered the gloom of the temple, passing through the entry chamber and down a set of stairs. I quickly noticed it was unusually cold in this place, with magical lights positioned every 20 feet. I also noticed we weren't alone: coming around the corner of the corridor, I spotted a trio of orcs.
The leader of the orcs raised his hands, and imbued his allies with some sort of magic, followed but what was unmistakably a command to attack. Lydratir reacted quickest, swiftly putting an arrow into the lead orc. He flinched, but remained standing. I stepped up slightly, and unleashed my fire upon the orcs. I noticed the magic around them flare briefly then give away, striking for full force. One of the orcs rushed me and attempted to strike me with its greataxe, but its attack went wide. Garurt moved in, and brought his own greataxe down on the orc who'd attempted to strike me, finishing it off. The other orc moved in, and took a swing at Lydratir, hitting him, if only just. Krisyra summoned a small flame, and launched it at the orc, finishing it off as well. Narcrath called forth a chromatic orb, and blasted the orc leader, leaving it stumbling. The orc snarled and charged forwards intent on running me through with its spear, but it just glanced off my scales. Lydratir deftly swapped to his rapier, and drov it into the orc leader, finishing it off.
With the area clear, we continued down the passage, soon coming to a junction, a door to the north and the passage continuing to the east. We decided to try the northern door first. The room was littered with rotten rope, and an old anvil sat against the western wall. However, standing near the anvil was a large, muscular ape-like creature, It turned to look at us, its drooping visage and tusk filled mouth framed eyes full of malice. I'd seen depiction of this creature in Quoros' library, it was savage demon known as a Barlgura.
I moved up to engage the Barlgura, tearing into it with my claws. The Barlgura roared in rage, and attacked with great ferocity. It tried to bite me, but missed,though it caught me with both of its fists. Krisyra blasted the Barlgura with a flame, but it seemed to resist it. Charles moved in, and slashed at the Barlgura with his greatsword, weakening it further. Lydratir raised his bow, putting an arrow into the demon. Garurt moved in as well, hacking at the Barlgura with his greataxe, before reversing his momentum and striking a particularly solid blow. Narcrath fired off a Chromatic Orb finishing off the Barlgura.
A quick check of the passage to the north revealed to the be a dead end. We returned to the main hall, and continued to the east, and then continued along as the passage turned south. We soon reached another chamber. This one featured a floor covered hexagonal tiles. As well, someone had painted an arrow on the southern wall, pointing up. I spotted another trio of orcs entering from a door south of where we entered, and the quickly noticed us as well.
"Intruders!" shouted the Orc leader, "get them!"
One of the orcs charged forwards, hacking at Garurt with its greataxe. I turned and tore into this orc with my claws, taking it down swiftly. The orc leader let out a battle cry, and the charged straight at me. Its greataxe struck its mark, but seemed to be a bit off balance. Krisyra pointed at the orc leader, and vines of mystical energy wrapped around the orc leader, binding it in place. Charles moved up and brought his greatsword down upon the other Orc, taking it down. Lydratir stepped around to get a clear angle, and struck at the orc leader with his rapier. Narcrath maneuvered around at struck the orc leader with a Shocking Grasp. Garurt moved around me, and struck the orc leader a solid blow, and let his momentum carry him around into a second swing, and another good hit with it.
I slashed at the orc leader with may claws. The orc leader tried to break free from the magic binding it, but couldn't get free. Krisyra lobbed a small flame at the orc leader, weakening it further. Charles pulled out his crossbow, took aim, and unleashed a bolt into the orc leader, and it looked to be on its last legs. Lydratir took a half step back, and drove his rapier into the orc leader, finishing it off.
With the area clear, we searched the room. My eyes were drawn to the arrow on the southern wall, and I followed it up to see a stone block above that didn't quite match the surrounding stonework. There was a definite seam where the block could move… and fall onto any hapless intruder.
"There's a trap here," I said, "that block looks like it could fall".
"Good catch," said Lydratir, "Let's see here… I think, here!"
Lydratir wedged a small iron spike between two tiles on the floor, and looked satisfied.
"I've got something as well," said Narcrath, "looks like a chest".
We gathered around his find, and I saw it was a iron chest with no lock on it. Narcrath opened it cautiously, and nothing happened. Inside, there was about 260 gold worth of various coins, as well as a collection of various semi-precious stones. With everything collected, we moved into the hall the orcs had emerged from, and soon found ourselves at a staircase leading down to a deeper level. We hadn't found what we were looking for yet, so we still needed to continue deeper in.
A/N: And there we go! Next time our heroes continue their journey deeper into this mad temple. See you then!