Assault on the Greater Temple Report
General Summary
Clearing the Way
2022-12-28
There was only one hallway left on the third level of the temple, and that led to a door behind which was a band of ettin mercenaries in what looked like a guest wing of some sort. A staircase up to the second level was flanked by two ornately decorated and comfortable rooms, sized for giantish creatures. Two other rooms seemed to be guard rooms for the staircase. Both guard rooms had the distinct odor of bugbear, and like many of the other bugbear dens, had been vacated sometime in the last month or two. The ettins did a bit of damage, but they were no match for the Venatore. The corridor ended in a circular storeroom, which had been trashed. There was only one way to go.The Grand Processional
Say what you want about this entire Temple of Elemental Evil, but they have a sense of grandeur. The stairways down led to a grand processional. Twenty feet wide and decorated with frescoes of demonic and elemental creatures working together to destroy the good people of Brineven. The frescoes were incredibly detailed, if disgusting, and the new leaders of the Temple had obviously brought artists in to repair any damage from the previous attack. The passage went straight north for as much as the eye could see. Adrea's eyes of twilight could just make a massive chamber further north. Wide steps led down to a landing with openings to the east and west, while another set of steps led down after that. Sneaking ahead, Rudy spotted trolls in each of the side rooms. No longer fearing trolls, the Venatore attacked, to find out that the trolls were backed up by armored ettins, and the trolls in the eastern guardroom were backed up by spellcasters, a tielfing and a temple cleric. While the companions had some beginning success, when Crasokk began to chase down a marked troll in the eastern wing, he saw that the fleeing trolls ran into a large common hall, filled with massive shadows. Ettins began counterattacking from the western wing. Hurt and running low on resources, the Venatore did something they had never done in the temple. They ran. Knowing they would find no rest hiding in an unoccupied room in the temple. They left the dungeon and made their way back to Mav Mayot.A Fiery Return
2023-01-12
After a few days at Mav Mayot to purchase as much alchemist fire as possible, restock potions of healing, and letting the temple forces relax their guard a bit. The Venatore returned. Making their way down to the Grand Processional, they noticed that curtains had been placed in the arches to the eastern and western wings. Possibly temple forces hoping for the element of surprise. Adrea silenced the area and they attacked west, with the eastern wing being none the wiser. After making short work of the two remaining troll guards, the companions left the four large chests to search at another time. Elyot immediately searched behind the large tapestry across from the entry. In the eastern guardroom, this was where the spellcaster emerged from. Not much escapes Elyot when she's investigating and she found a secret door leading to an ornate conference room. The north wall was covered with maps of the surrounding territories and the layouts of Hillsboro and Dornath. The table included books on battle strategies along with some writing equipment, parchment, inks and quills in exquisite holders. Surmising that the southern passage led to more guard chambers, they used the western doorway. Opening the door at the end of the corridor, everything went dark. After dispelling the darkness, they found themselves facing two extremely attractive drow bodyguards wielding spiked chains and their mistress, decked out in full black plate mail and shield.
Search and Destroy
2023-02-01
It took at least an hour to fully search the drow's quarters. Her desk was covered with detailed notes on temple operations. Most addressed to Supreme Commander Hedrada and others using the title Daughter of Erythnul. Several were signed "High Magus Senlock", others were signed Barkinar or Danzig along with various requests from the heads of the lesser temples. Hedrada kept a journal of sorts titled AFWE. A series of notes between her Matron and she were strange in that she had to either copy her own letters, or received them back. Two bookcases were filled with books on leadership and command, as well as battle strategies and tactics. Items of value were everywhere. Above the fireplace mantle hung a painting of Hedrada in human form in front of an altar to Erythnul with the forces of the temple arrayed around her. After an exhaustive search, the party decided to take a short rest and heal up somewhat, figuring that no one would bother the Supreme Commander unannounced. Soon they were ready to continue their attack. To the south were two guard barracks. The first staffed by the armored ettins, while the second was inhabited by a small group of ogres. A few storerooms and a banquet table completed the western wing of the complex. Heading east, they quickly engaged the two trolls in the eastern guardroom, which prompted the cleric and tiefling to enter the battle and provide support. Crasokk recognized the tiefling immediately. It was the same person who sacrificed his mentor Nomad, the dwarf who raised him, years ago. Enraged, Crasokk took his vengeance with an arrow right through the eye.
Crasokk
Rostam Qajar
Balan
Rudy
Adrea Ravensworn
Elyot
Report Date
04 Feb 2023
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