The fungus amongst us

Beyond the lizard room, Barada’s prying eyes detect a door of secrecy,. Upon opening, it tries to polymorph him into a cat. Luckily, he is wearing borrowed armor that protects against transmutation. A narrow stairwell is descended and a room of death is entered – it looks like a fireball was detonated within. Onwards into a room and some moldy doors that give way to a room of Yellow Mold. Multiple instances of cleansing fire reduce the threat level to tolerant and the group proceeds to uncover another set of secret doors. One leads to a room with a noble couple and honor guard – one in suspended animation awakens to battle the party. Old school beatdown ensues and the old school guard is schooled. Beyond lies a shaft. Up looks far, down not so much.

Back into the alchemy hall, the other secret door reveals a shelf of wax-sealed scrolls and a large glowing lightbulby globe. The golden scroll reveals that the globe powers a teleportation pad system between the temple and the palace. Where ever they are…

Back to the shaft. Barada is lowered and a cursory inspection reveals an amphitheater like space with a large firepit in the center. The group lowers itself into the room and is promptly attacked by a bronze statue of a sad man that tries to paralyze with one eye while disintegrating with the other. Once again, borrowed armor is put to good use. A few stout blows from mace and sword and the bronze statue is inertified. Exploration ensues and a room of liquid darkness is opened and quickly shut. The other way out is taken and soon it is hypothesized that this is a temple or chapel. A room full of dead not dead clerical types reinforces that notion and the trio of skulls with eyes all aglow doesn’t really add to the ambiance.

Undead are made redead, gems are pried out of sockets and the cells are left behind. More exploration leads to a room with a large gantry and bronze cauldron/basket. The party finds a winch handle, climbs inside and starts to descend into sunlight and cloudy skies. The Gem of Seeing sees that this is illusionary, but the large forest and palace below are not. Neither are the squads of hyena-men archers and halbardiers. Nor are the pointy-hat wearing dogmen. Or the large group of minotaurs assembled on the palace steps.

“Boom” suggests Dalliance’s fireball, and the air is full of BBQ smells and the screams of the roasting. The hyena-men start to disperse amongst the tree line, but Dalliance manages to catch one squad with a lightning strike. “Zot” and the air is full of thunder and ozone and hyena-dude body parts. The remainder fall back and regroup in front of the palace. The group takes advantage of the opportunity to disembark. They speed around the trees and engage a line of enemy archers. Suddenly a trap is sprung as concealed attackers burst out of the earth and grass beneath the trees – and the trees themselves menace the party.

The group takes things in stride, wheeling to attack the largest force, heedless of whom is at the rear. They smash into then through one opponent after the next. Barada moves to flank the minotaur group which is now led by a giant of a bull with a pair of double bladed axes. While he hurls the last necklace from a Necklace of Missiles, Dalliance manages to catch the minotaur group with a surprise fireball. The combined damage routs the group and the last resistance crumbles as the survivors fall back into the palace. The group charges across the lawn and into the entrance – and runs right into an invisible hydra. Beyond is a large portico with a statue of a Zeusminotaur and a decidedly electric feel to the air.

The hydra rends and tears at Barada, prompting him to retreat. While he tries to heal, the rest attack and finish the creature off in a matter of moments. It is then that one of the remaining squads of archers attack from the rear. The group wheels to meet this new threat and is taken by surprise as the minotaur band hurtle out of the palace, bulls, calves and cows alike and into the party. Bud Feaster is the first victim, hand sliced from arm, then trampled into a fine red mush.

Surprised, the group takes some damage and manages to rally when Dalliance uses her Finger of Death to slay the lad bull, prompting the rest of the minotaurs to group into what are presumably family units and flee into the forest in a panic. The group debates as Bud’s life leaks out onto the floor. Deciding a one-armed monk is of little practical use (but great kung fu film material) they let him die. Then they use the Rod of Resurrection to restore life. Deciding that a pause to refresh is in order, they regroup in the entryway and explore options.