Editing DnD Desert Raiders Campaign Rafa (section)

=== 03-02-2010 ===


Alone and cold I stared at my familiar. I once learned a spell that would make him more powerful. Up until then I never was able to cast it correctly. Senka 1, Senka 2 and Senka 3  didn’t make it. But as I was sitting in the snow I was sure I could do it this time. So I took Senka 4 (I failed to mention to him that he was my 4th familiar) and started the ceremony. I watched as the little rat shriveled up while his shadow grew at an alarming rate. Towering twice my height I stared at me for a short period and then dropped into the ground till only his head was still visible. <br>
I still smile when I think back at that moment. I finally did it, I had summoned a Shadow elemental.  I knew the basic knowledge about shadow elementals but it took me a while to find out how to command it. To be honest I’m still unsure how I command it, but I do know that it follows my orders. Unafraid with my new guard I set out to find a way out of this enoing blizzard. While I walked I shouted commands and rules to the shadow. <br> 
 
After wandering around in the snow for about a day I found myself at the entrance of an old looking building.  Looking at the walls I could tell that people really put some effort into them, they where all made of polished rock. Not like the goblin tunnels back home that where only carved at the spot where eider some nothing goblin worker thought a tunnel might be handy or some creature had burrowed many years before. <br>

Looking back to the open field I saw nothing but snow and ice. Everything outside a 40ft distance from me was totally white. In the distance I could hear voices calling to each other. I recognized one of them as Priest. That guy sure is loud for a scout. <br>
As I went to him to see who he was yelling to I spotted Eric popping out of nowhere, behind him Scragg and Priest where walking to him. Before I could call out to them, the shadow shot out from underneath me and attacked Eric. As I called the elemental back I saw Eric recovering from the blow and walking up to me. Furry in his face told me one thing, revenge. It was all too clear that he wasn’t gonna let this rest till he hit me back so I didn’t bother to doge his mace. With my gem sucking up most of the blow I hardly even felt it. <br>

Like myself they thought that the temple was most likely the exit of this place, it was at least the warmest place. <br>

Silently we entered the pitch black hallway of the temple. Up frond was Priest scouting ahead. 15 feet behind him my elemental and I followed to give support if needed. Priest and Scragg waited at the entrance, there light dependency would make them a real hindrance in this darkness. <br>

It was pretty hard backing Priest up. I wasn’t able to see him with darkvision so I had to rely on my elemental to stop me when he stopped. <br>
At the end of the hallway I could see  dead donkey. Judging from the decomposed state it was in it was a good thing I don’t have to smell anything. I watched as something began to search the donkey’s pack’s. I always hope it is Priest when things like that happen, it would have been a bad thing if something ells invisible was in the room. <br>
Minutes went by as Priest emptied the backpack on an old wooden table. The last thing he took out of the backpack was an old dirty oil lamp. He seem to think it was very important because I took the lamp and went to show it to the others. It sure was a strange sight, seeing a oil lamp floating by on its own accord making sound of footsteps as it went. After a short reinsuring that there was indeed no danger the other came with priest to the old table. Scragg was given the lamp, it always makes me smile thinking how he can’t see a thing in the darkness. <br>

Thick black smoke came porting out the lamp as Priest lit it. The smoke bellowed around until it had the vague resemblance of a human. The figure told us it would grant our combined desire if we could find our way out. He hinted about the doors to come and how some of the sign’s where lies. I never understood the use of making signs that lie next to sign’s that tell the truth. why would you give strangers the chance to dodge the traps? Why make dodgeble traps in the first place?<br>
I took a long look at the other goblins, what would they want that I want? To stay alive and to find a way out? If we find the exit while still alive he will show us the exit and not kill us? <br>
The figure went back into the lamp before we could get a logical answer. I can’t remember anyone helping me without a reason before so I can’t say I really minded. <br>
Past the doorway we can see a small hallway leading to 3 doors. 2 of them claimed to be dangerous and one of them clams that one of the 2 doors lie. Thinking back to my days in the goblin lair I think they all lie and all are dangerous. But thinking about my time sneaking around elven cities, those signs always told the truth. <br>

We were all thinking hard for while, Scragg probably wasn’t used to this because he kept hitting his head with the oil lamp. I wonder why his hair never caught fire. <br>

There is only one way to solve a door riddle like this, have someone ells open the door to take a look. As usually there were no volunteers for this job, or a way to make the others go. so I told my elemental to open the door and travel through the hallway. He is pretty strong and immune to mast traps, of course there is also the fact that if he is not… well let’s say I was able to summon one, how hard can a new one be. Without even the slightest sign of detest to me the elemental floated forth and started his given tasks. A few seconds later he returned and dropped back into my shadow. At least there is nothing there that can hurt him, this was enough of a convincement for Priest to take a look.<br>

The hallway behind the door lead to a new room with 4 doors. The smoky figure had told us that two of these doors would tell the truth. <br>
* This door is not trapped
* Do not enter here, it’s really bad
* This door is trapped
* Door one is lying

I spend a few moments watching Scragg play with his lamp. He kept rubbing it, shaking it and then hitting himself on the head with it. After doing routine for a while he seemed to blame the lamp and tore it in two. He sure hates lamps for someone so dependent of light. It probably is a jungle goblin ritual, we should remember not to hand him anymore magical lamps in the future. <br> 

Priest and Scragg searched all the doors. As it turned out, they where all trapped. That sounded more like home, I also would just trap all the doors. <br>
Seeing as door one lied and door three and four told the truth it had to be the second door that lied as well. Unless of course the smoky figure lied as well, something not totally unthinkable. True to our nature we all hid behind the wall as the elemental went forth to open the door. On the other side was the sound of a summoning going off and before him stood a large mouse. It couldn’t see the elemental he dark, if it had it probably would have cursed his summoner. The elemental took one look at the small creature and tore the life right out of him and returned to my shadow without a comment. <br>
As the mouse died a bright light shown from the doorway. We had found the way out into the desert. I could see the elemental moving unhappy below me, it wasn’t hard to read that he had no desire to go out at any time soon. And neider had the rest of us, the bright light of the sun was a little to unfriendly for my taste.  <br>

We waited till night and set off to a large town called Alice Springs, I never been there myself but Priest seems to know the way. Even with his guidens it took us almost a week to get close traveling across familiar roads as much as possible. We were well aware of the possibility of being ambushed, but the annoyance of the sun was worse then that possibility so we took the fastest route. <br>

We walked slowly across the open road looking how the city grew on the horizon when suddenly an ogre jumped out at us. Priest being closest to the ogre was hit hard and bolted to the rear of the party. Scragg took this opportunity to charge the ogre and slit his throat. Sudden movement in the distance alerted us of two more ogres sitting there. They had seen what had happened and started to run to us.<br>

As the first ogre reached us he was taken down by Scragg. I could see the elemental wavering unhappy, he wanted to kill that one. The last ogre got second thoughts and bolted away. As none of us had the means of interest to go after him, we let him go.  <br>
I was told to stay back as Scragg and Priest searched the ogre. I wondered what was so special to him about this ogre, it seemed like a normal ogre to me. Oh well, might be a jungle ritual to. <br>

We came to the city without any trouble. I wonder what the ogre told his buddy about what happened. Will he really tell them that he saw a group of goblins across the hills and ran away from them? Will he tell them that his two friends were killed by only one of them while the other three stood back looking rather bored? Well two looked bored, Priest might not be so happy about the hit he had gotten.<br>

The first stop in the city was the magic shop, we identified and sold some items. As it turned out the others were indeed lying when they said we split everything we find in equal shares. I can’t say I am surprised at that, I am surprised I couldn’t tell they were lying back then.  <br>