Did someone say Storamere?

After a long night of healing and regaining spells the party feels much better, especially with the aid of their new companions. Shensen and Churchkey spend about 30 minutes talking in private about who knows what. Otherwise the two young ½ elves spend their time licking their own wounds and chatting up Fharlanghn. At this the party is offered to join their group and thus makes a new prestige class open to everyone (The Pathwarden).

The night goes by pretty uneventfully and with little to no sounds emanating from the rest of the temple or rooms. After a little discussion it is decided that even though the prisoners have all said that Splintershield is located up that the party does not want to be flanked. Especially by a group as challenging as the Kua-toa. So, through the bottom double doors they go.

After opening the doors and looking down a long corridor that has a four way intersection located 25 feet away, the party makes a long and patient walk down the corridor following the ever watchful eyes of Barrett. No traps but the intersection leads to ever-increasing curiosity. To one side there are obviously different chambers closed off by curtains. To the other side a large room with a stairwell leading up into the darkness. The room is also covered with a large pool of water.

Ahead is a set of large double doors.

Setting up a guard post facing the open room with a majority of the party the rest of the party makes their way to the curtained off chambers. With a prodigious use of “detect evil” Churchkey eventually notes that the chamber at the end of the hall has a figure in it. Pepper, Barrett, and Churchkey spring into action and begin combat with a wicked spear wielding Kua-Toa. Immediately it becomes apparent that his spear is quite magical and that this is no ordinary amphibious pugilist.

A few rounds later a spear comes hurling out of the water towards the guards at the intersection. The rest of the party springs into action. Some draw swords others bows but all come charging the two Kua-toa in the water.

Splashing into the water goes Donner and Connel, followed closely by the duo-sword weilding Fario and Fellian takes out a bow. Bolgrim charges to the edge of the water. It is soon realized that there is more than just these guards inhabiting the water. Two swarms of bizarre black tadpoles nip and bite at the legs of those in the water causing extreme damage by both their biting and acid.

It is also noted that there is a mettle grate/portcullis that descends into the water. At one point Donner leaps a skinny portion of the water and looks/listens at the grate.... he hears and sees more kua-toa coming. Donner leaps to the other side of the pool and waits next to the portcullis to attack anything that come out.

Unfortunately, the Kua-toa spearman is taking way more time than expected. No one is being really wounded but their are a lot of nicks and cuts. However, the spearman is obviously an accomplished warrior.

The combat against the two warriors in the pool is almost finished when a white hot flash of lightening arcs out from behind the portcullis. Fellian is staggered back and the portcullis opens.

Charging out of the portcullis are some of the heavily armored clerics. The team jumps into action and a deadly combat ensues.

Meanwhile, Churchkey, Barrett and Pepper have felled the Spearman. Quickly
Barrett picks up the obviously magical spear. When they hear what turns out to be a second electrical strike. The trio very quickly rushes back to the rest of the party.

Here they jump into the action. They see the clerics and a number of female kuo-toa that have now joined the fray. Rounds of combat go by and the party is making strong headway. When they hear a very loud crash of doors being kicked open at the top of the stairwell that extends into the darkness. Shensen (the only one who’s dark vision is strong enough to see the top of the stairs) yells, “Run! Dragon!”

The party makes dutiful and rapid retreat to the intersection. Churchkey summons his horse while others take up positions. The dragon charges down the stairs and across the water causing a torrent of water to splash onto the once dry stonework. The size and ferocity of the Black Dragon causes some to falter in their actions but the overwhelming aura of Churchkey keeps people from fleeing.

Churchkey mounts the horse and has a lance in hand, Connell, Shensen and Bolgrim ready themselves. Meanwhile Barrett and Fario are on either side of the four way intersection with readied actions. At this a gout of acid brings pain and suffering to those in the corridor.

The Dragon makes a charge towards Churchkey. At this, those on the opposing sides of the intersection spring into action. Donner makes a great use of his spring attack by leaping across the intersection and bonking the wyrme on his way by. Others use bows and yet other engage in hand-to-hand.

The Beast takes large painful chunks of flesh from members of the party and acid sprays across the adventurers. Then Shensen is able to summon her pet jaguar behind the dragon giving the rogues a hayday for damage and ease to attack. Finally the dragon totally bloodied makes a rapid move backwards overrunning the jaguar. The party charges after the dragon. The dragon on his last legs is able to make it up the stairs and cast a spell. He then winks out of existance.

Both buzzed by how close they were to defeating the dragon and exhausted by the damage they sustained the party makes their way into the dragons den and spends the next couple hours sorting through goods and setting up a system to destroy the ½ kuo-toa/ ½ black dragon spawn.

It is here the we have paused the action.

Stay tuned for more adventures at Bill and Kelseys.