OLD SKOOL CAMPAIGN DIARY - THE TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL PT1

THE HEROES:

• Anton Loyalar: Oeridian Paladin of Heironeous
• Coppyr: Halfing Monk
• Eli Pendar: Flannish Cleric of Pholtus
• Tharn: Dwarf barbarian of the Fireforge clan

Our heroes approach the infamous Temple of Elemental Evil, or as the locals call it, the Temple of All Consumption.  They see that there has been some recent foot traffic on the path leading to and into the compound and some weak attempts to hide the tracks. 

The entire complex is surrounded by the ruins of a wall that towers some 30 feet and is overgrown with vegetation.  The temple itself seems devoid of such growth.

The temple grounds are entered and movement is detected on the west side.  Upon investigating, the heroes spot dozens of earth elementals milling about.  They check out the east side of the temple and it has dozens of fire elementals.  As they watch, more elementals appear, as if being summoned by some unseen force.  The elementals do not seem to notice the heroes. 

Upon attempting to approach the temple's front doors, which are huge bronze doors that have been secured with a massive chain and have been engraved with glowing runes, the heroes find themselves immediately repulsed by the runes and the powerful antipathy magic they contain.  The legends of the temple and the magical protections placed upon it to prevent entrance or escape, seem to be true.

Unable to enter the temple, the heroes look around for other ways in and spot tracks leading around the eastern edge of the wall.  They follow them and eventually spot water and air elementals at the back of the grounds.  They also spot a tower that has been cleared of the wild overgrowth and movement around the tower.  The heroes try to get a closer look by climbing the wall.  While on the wall, the heroes spot a unit of bugbear patrolling the exterior of the wall. After they pass, the heroes find they must climb down the wall and then back up to get around a ruined tower in their path.  They succeed, but the clumsy Anton alerts the guards on the wall close to the occupied tower and a battle breaks out.

The heroes fight on the wall as the various temple guards, all bearing the flaming eye symbol of the temple, fight with crossbows and melee weapons.  The heroes manage to kill the guards on the wall, but the ones on the ground alert the occupants of the tower and an ettin steps out and enters the combat.  Climbing the wall, the ettin engages the heroes directly as other guards appear on the top of the tower and begin firing crossbows down at the heroes. 

Coppyr uses his ring of invisibility to great effect, knocking guards off the walls and to their deaths.  Eli keeps the party's injuries under control as Tharn and Anton fight off the guards and ettin.

Session ends mid-combat and will continue next week.