Game Master
Joined: 01 Jan 1989
Posts:
64
Location: Erie, PA
The Frontier #21
The battle inside the Temple continues...
Finrod and Stephanie continue their assault on the first creature. Fin stabs the thing with his dagger and Steph follows with a solid hit with her sword. Amazingly, the creature is still up. The beast strikes back, driving claw and fang into Finrod. Steph connects again, smashing the beast to the floor. It falls to the ground and a strange change comes over it. Before their eyes, it changes into a dog.
On the other side of the corridor, the other Darkenbeast still has a hold on Flint. Flint manages to drive his sword deep into the monster, but it refuses to let him go. After a Magic Missile from Dalliance and a sword thrust from Dar, the beast is on the ropes. It takes another swing from Flint to take it down. Like the other Darkenbeast, this one also changes into a dog when slain.
Cereld and Raeden climb down their rope and enter the fray below.
Both groups of Goblins charge up the stairs. On the right hand stair, the Goblins spot Dantar in the shadows with their infrared sight. One drives its scimitar into Dantar, wounding him. Dantar strikes back, slaying his attacker.
Seeing the goblins advancing on that side, Dalliance casts a Sleep spell, putting the four goblins asleep. However, Dantar is caught in the area of effect and he to goes to sleep also.
The other group of goblins rushes up the stairs, two of them assaulting Arafel. Araduin casts his Sleep spell, catching all five of the goblins.
With the combined efforts of the party, the sleeping goblins are slain or captured as the party wishes.
Down below, the battle with the clerics continues in silence. Validar, the Head Priest and two other Priests continue their combat. Heavy damage is taken on both sides. Validar slays the two Priests. The Head Priest, while badly wounded, continues to fight Validar.
Cereld and Raeden rush in to help. Raeden cures Arathron's wounds, saving his life. Cereld, battle-axe in hand, enters the battle. He takes heavy damage from the Priest's scimitar, but downs one of them. Arafel embeds several arrows into the other priest. After seeing Dantar be put to sleep, Raeden goes over and helps him regain consciousness.
With then enemy down to only one now, the Head Cleric himself, victory seems well in hand. However...
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning shoots down from above the battle. It is heading straight for Stephanie. She raised her shield to try and protect herself, but it is not enough. The bolt blasts through the shield, shattering it.
Incredibly enough, Steph is still standing after the attack. Twin arcs shoot off of the main stroke, hitting Finius and Finrod. Both go down from the blasts.
Looking around, you can see that bolt originated from the second floor of the temple. Most of the ceiling over the altar area is open to the upper floor. A railed walkway surrounds the opening. Standing on this walkway is a woman. Her hands still crackle slightly with the energy of the lightning bolt.
"You destroyed my Darkenbeasts! Now I shall destroy you!!"
The door at the far end of the temple proper flies open. A large man strides into the area. He is powerfully built, wears plate mail and carries a longsword. In a rumbling voice, he speaks.
"I am Dran, Last Guardian of the Temple. None can stand before me. Surrender immediately. If you are foolish enough to resist, then pray to your false gods. Judgment day is at hand!"
