The Biscuits	Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 3rd Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 7th Level (PC) Nicola - Cleric 2nd Level (PC) Wed - Mage 3rd Level (NPC) Little John - Fighter 4th Level (NPC)
Locale	Cottage near the Temple of Elemental Evil
Date	10th of Fireseek, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Roughly sunset

The party had returned to the temple, this time to their cottage. Jaron helped unload a fully loaded wagon of stuff into the cottage, and Rheaphlyndar took this opportunity to update some of the traps he had laid around the building.

After a quick meal the group set out for the temple through the hidden passageway.

Gimar

After all, it's always night underground.

Wed carried the sledgehammer and the other hammers were brought as well. The group followed the passageway until it came to the Y branch. The pathway leading down to the basilisk was still convincingly blocked, so on up to the tower they went. Next they quickly traversed the open courtyard, their shadows long to their left. Finally they entered the temple proper through the enlarged window.

Next order of business was the defacing of the existing altars, and Nicola pulled out her newly acquired holy water. Between that and frequent hammer blows, the altars to evil deities were quickly sundered.

The group paused at that point, waiting to see if any attention had been paid their pounding efforts. Finding the coast clear, they left their hammers behind and began the descent down the easternmost stairs, coincidentally the ones closest to the enlarged window. Light sources were agreed to be Gimar's axe and continual light rock, the latter being held by Nicola in the middle of the marching order.

The steps led straight to the southwest and were hewn from rough stone. They were quite steep, each of the risers one foot, and Gimar had a little difficulty at first.

Gimar

I would hate to have to fight under these conditions.

The steps leveled into a corridor, and after a moment the dwarf indicated that it led directly west. Continuing on, the party found another corrider crossing this one, also ten feet wide.

Rheaphlyndar	Right hand rule says we should turn here.
Nicola	Right hand rule -- is that some sort of rogue's expression?
Rheaphlyndar	I've heard it used by dungeon explorers, and there was a time that I used it to get out of a jam. The gist of it is, if you stick to the right hand wall you will eventually explore all of a maze.
Jaron	As long as this is a maze. But if it isn't . . .
Gimar	Well, that works for me for now. Wed, are you mapping all this?
Wed	Yes I am. Once we reach the second level these maps you purchased should be quite helpful.
Rheaphlyndar	Any objections to going right?

There were none and the party continued. After a bit they came to another crossing corridor, and again swung to the right.

Jaron

At least if we go in a small circle we'll get out quicker.

Not far from that junction the biscuits came to a doorway. In the doorway and bent well out of shape was a barred grate. No light was seen within, and the party cautiously moved through.

The room had eight stone pillars supporting a ceiling some forty feet overhead. An ordinary door led from the north wall and the very south portion of the west wall.

Rheaphlyndar bent in front of the southernmost door and pronounced it clean. That door led to a small room. The heaps of old cloth had all been overturned, and signs of a battle confirmed that this room had been sacked.

The rogue similarly declared the northern door free of traps when two animated skeletons flew from a secret door in the western wall.

Jaron

Pelor's Light! Those look like Harpies! (proferring his holy symbol) Back, fiends!

   Jaron Turn Attempt (2) failed.

 * [*] John Quarterstaff :17-|6+4|:13: hit  1d6+4=7 to Harpy #1
 3 [2+1] Wed Magic Missile -- Spell Failed!
 4 [2-2+4] Rheaphylander Quarterstaff :17-|6|:2:  miss
 8 [2+6] Harpy Skeleton 1 :14-|0|:17:  hit 1d6=6 damage to Jaron
 9 [3+6] Harpy Skeleton 2 :14-|0|:3:  miss
12 [5+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|6+5|:14: hit  1d8+1d2+8=13 to Harpy #2
14 [7+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|6+5|:2:  miss
14 [7+7] Nicola Mace :20-|6|:11:  miss
15 [9+6] Harpy Skeleton 1 :14-|0|:10:  miss
15 [9+6] Harpy Skeleton 2 :14-|0|:14:  hit  1d6=5 to Gimar
17 [10+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|6+5|:18: hit  1d8+1d2+8=16 to Harpy #2

 * [*] John Quarterstaff :17-|6+4|:15: hit  1d6+4=9 to Harpy #1
 4 [2-2+4] Rheaphylander Quarterstaff :17-|6|:10:  miss
 6 [3-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :18-|6+2|:8:  miss
 8 [2+6] Harpy Skeleton 2 :14-|0|:7:  miss
 8 [7+1] Wed Magic Missile  1d4+1=4 to Harpy #1, 1d4+1=5 to Harpy #2
 9 [2+7] Nicola Mace :20-|6|:5:  miss
11 [4+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|6+5|:1:  fumble (5)  1d8+1d2+8=13 to Harpy #1
11 [5+6] Harpy Skeleton 1 :14-|0|:11:  miss
12 [6+6] Harpy Skeleton 1 :14-|0|:19:  1d6=4 to Jaron
12 [6+6] Harpy Skeleton 2 :14-|0|:7:  miss

 * [*] John Quarterstaff :17-|6+4|:1:  fumble (19) no further effect
 7 [6+1] Wed Magic Missile  2d4+2=6 to Harpy #2
 9 [3+6] Harpy Skeleton 1 :14-|0|:8:  miss
10 [4+6] Harpy Skeleton 2 :14-|0|:19:  1d6=6 to Gimar
11 [4+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|6+5|:3: hit  1d8+1d2+8=15, slaying Harpy #2
12 [10-2+4] Rheaphylander Quarterstaff :17-|6|:13:  hit, 1d6=4 to Harpy #1
12 [9-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :18-|6+2|:12: hit  1d8+4=8, slaying Harpy #1

Rheaphlyndar	Nice killing blow there Jaron.
Jaron	Oh no, I think you were the slayer. Gimar, let me tend to those wounds.
Nicola	And let me tend to yours, Jaron.

The subrooms were found to be as ransacked as the first room, and all connected from the northern door around to the western secret door. However Rheaphlyndar's keen eyes spotted four pewter plates covered in some of the rubbish. Grabbing them up, he found them to be actually tarnished silver!

Rheaphlyndar

Say, these ought to be worth some gold.

Rather than get too far from the staircase, the party returned all the way to the cottage and made camp. The hammers were also removed, along with the groups first treasure, four silver plates.

Little John	Say, let me help with that tarnish removal. I can tell you for a fact that when something like that is tarnished it is a heck of a lot of work to shine it back up again.
Rheaphlyndar	Sure, pull up a stool.
Little John	Don't you find there's a lot of pressure on you to perform?
Rheaphlyndar	Nah, it's not so bad. Besides, after that card I drew I have developed quite a few skills in the thieving arts, if you know what I mean. Usually one of the tougher warrior types opens the door after I've checked it anyhow.

Around midnight Nicola heard a scratching sound down the tunnel. Waking some of the others, the party dropped down and saw a group of zombies shambling forward. Fortunately Nicola was able to turn them using her holy symbol.

Jaron

Those creatures will stay away from this spot for several hours yet, so I think we'd better get some sack time. (climbing back into his sleep sack) Way to go little sister.

The Biscuits	Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 3rd Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 7th Level (PC) Nicola - Cleric 2nd Level (PC) Wed - Mage 3rd Level (NPC) Little John - Fighter 4th Level (NPC)
Locale	Temple of Elemental Evil
Date	11th of Fireseek, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Sometime during the day.

After the morning meal the party had headed forth, leaving the hammers behind. Upon reaching the junction they found the zombie group cowering and quickly dispatched them.

They had crossed the courtyard quickly due to the fact that it was now snowing heavily outside. The temple main floor now looked a lot like a quarry, but no other creatures stirred.

After descending the westernmost staircase, they found a symetical arrangement of corridors. This time to the right was found a pair of armory rooms. Anything of value looked to have been removed or smashed.

Exiting that corridor they turned east down a corridor that should connect with the other staircase. Curiously though, it descended gradually. The walls were lined with plastered and painted scenes of evil deeds. After a bit another corridor led to the north, this time twenty feet wide and sloped even more, out of sight of the lights. Bypassing this for now, the party continued upwards to a junction that Wed indicated they had been at before.

Turning right from this junction they found another pair of rooms, matching the west side of the map as a perfect reflection. These rooms also contained a trashed armory, and Gimar joked that the party had travelled through some sort of magic mirror.

Next the group retreated to the western staircase and explored to the left. Rheaphlyndar just shook his head.

Rheaphlyndar	Don't blame me if we all end up lost.
Nicola	Blame is for Pelor and small children.

Another junction was found, again mirroring the east side of the temple. To the left just down the corridor this time was a door. At one time it had been padlocked, but the broken remains of the lock lay on the floor and the door had many deep grooves in it.

Nicola

Looks like the former party lacked someone of your "talents", Rheaphlyndar.

Opening the door they found a filthy chamber which had been used as a prison cell, although all traces of prisoners or guards had vanished. Wed called for a halt and pulled out the purchased map.

Wed	I'll be darned. Whoever made this map used a vastly different counting system. Take a look here, I am almost certain that we are on the second level, which is labeled "Temple of Elemental Earth."
Jaron	Hmm, and that arrow must mean going up or something like that.
Gimar	Well if that's the case I guess we can just select where we want to go next. Ideas?

Disclaimer

This is not an authorized site for material relating to AD&D (© TSR).
AD&D (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons) is a trademark of TSR, which hold exclusive rights on the material associated with the game.