CH. 4: Temple of Baerin

[JadedDM]

"All right, then. Let's move out," Hollidan says, lighting a torch. Keet goes first, then Hollidan goes next.

[HorizonsDream]

"We're not exploring this whole thing are we?" Echo asks. "I mean, I'm okay with exploring the whole thing, but it might take forever considering how big it seems to be."

[JadedDM]

"We have no idea how big the place is, but we need to make sure there are no dangers to the pilgrims," Hollidan says. "Even if it takes awhile, we can't risk letting them in otherwise."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, we could be in here for months then," Echo says. She was sort of joking on the matter, but then again they didn't know how big this place was. If they wanted the pilgrims to be safe, then the best thing to do was to make sure every room was clear of danger.

[JadedDM]

"Somewhere you needed to be, lass?" asks Gimog jokingly. The party follows the tunnel slowly, which eventually bends to the west and opens up into a small corridor with a closed door at the end.

[HorizonsDream]

"No, not really, I guess," Echo says to Gimog. Though, she could see herself going a little stir crazy if she was stuck inside this place for months. "Keet, could you make sure that door isn't trapped or anything?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

Keet steps forward and sniffs around at the door. He carefully inspects all around it, never actually touching it. This takes several minutes. Finally, he appears satisfied and returns to the group, nodding. "Door is clean."

"Alright then," says Hollidan. "Here goes nothing." He readies his sword, places his hand on the doorknob, turns it and pushes it open to reveal...

...the room they just left. The pilgrims all look at them with confusion.

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, that was....pointless," Echo says as she looks out over the pilgrims. "Looks like it is one of the doors to the north then. I say we go for the one on the left. Maybe it will end up leading us back here, too," she says jokingly.

[JadedDM]

"On the bright side, at least we can say for certain that both the tunnel and the right door are secure," Nuvain points out.

Hollidan sighs. "I suppose. Alright, go check the left door then," he tells the kobold.

Keet repeats his behavior before, then again confirms the door is clean. Hollidan opens it up, revealing a very long corridor heading westward. It starts to bend northward after awhile, and they cannot see beyond that point.

"Here we go again," Hollidan says. "Keep an eye out for anything suspicious," he warns.

[HorizonsDream]

"So far, this has proved to be kind of a boring temple," Echo comments softly as she keeps her eyes open for anything that could be considered suspicious.

[JadedDM]

"Don't say that," Hollidan warns. "That's always what a person says in the plays and stories, right before all of the horrible danger befalls them."

The tunnel curves to the northwest, then after awhile, curves again to face straight north. At the very end of the tunnel is another door.

"Hopefully it won't lead us back to where we started," Nuvain says earnestly.

Keet carefully searches the door again. "All clear," he states.

Hollidan tries the door, but it doesn't open. "Damned, locked," he states. "Might have to bust it down."

[HorizonsDream]

"Keet, can you pick locks?" Echo asks.

[JadedDM]

"Can try," Keet says, returning to the door. "Borrow arrow?" he asks the paladin.

Hollidan frowns, but hands him a crossbow bolt. "Quarrel, not arrow," he corrects the kobold.

The kobold shrugs, and attempts to pick the lock with the crude implement. After several minutes, he removes the bolt and sighs. Suddenly, there's an audible click.

"Hey, he did it!" Nuvain says.

"But...But me not do that!" Keet protests.

The knob turns, and the door swings open to reveal a strange cross between a man and a frog. There are several more of them within the room. The frogman draws a short sword and speaks in some croaking language.

"Bullywugs!" Nuvain warns.

"Damn, there's no room to fight here," Hollidan says, grabbing the kobold and pushing him behind him. He draws his sword and readies his shield.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo starts chanting as soon as she sees the danger, as she knows she is protected at the moment. She pulls out the component of sand and starts to sprinkle it on the ground as she targets her sleep spell in the back of the room that the bullywugs occupy.

[JadedDM]

At once, the first bullywug strikes out at Hollidan, who deflects the attack with his shield. The paladin then counters, but the bullywug easily parries it with his own sword.

Before anyone else can act, Echo finishes her spell. Suddenly, all five bullywugs just pass out. Hollidan himself sways a bit, as if groggy, but quickly shakes it off. "What...just happened?" he asks, confused.

===========

Initiative
Echo (1d10+1): 9
Hollidan (1d10+5): 9
Bullywug 01 (1d10+3): 8

Round 1!

Bullywug 01 attacks Hollidan with his short sword (1d20): 9, miss.
Hollidan attacks Bullywug 01 with his long sword (1d20): 14, bare miss.
Echo casts Sleep, centered on Bullywug 05 (2d4): 6; all 5 bullywugs pass out.

(OOC: Well, that was anti-climatic!)