We start in the doorways to the water temple. No danger is immediately evident. But Pire takes ill at the terrible sights and Moth is low on spells. So we retreat and rest in a secret hallway nearby.

The next day, we start exploring the temple. Cautiously entering, we don't encounter any trouble. Behind a curtain we find some doors. Listening at one of them, we hear some talk. Throwing open the door we see two guys and pounce on them before they can react. They die quickly and we check the nearby door - it's a bedroom. The intelligent sword says there's a secret door nearby. We decide to use it to flank and head across the hall. Throwing open that door, we see another priest. Charging in, we kill him before he can do much. There is another secret door and we set up a flanking action.

We throw open the doors and there's a pool in there. A triton at the bottom is and we hear him ask us to help him before the kraken materializes. Theldin feels a compulsion to help him and dives in before any else can act. Turns out it's a pool of acid. There's a bunch of trouble with Thelding and Elmo jumping in alternately. Eventually, we figure out the triton's an illusion. And cold would suppress the suggestion, and holy water would start to nullify the acid.

But we decide to withdraw from the room. It'd take gallons of holy water to nullify the effect. And no one remembers any valuables in there. We get Pire to heal the acid damage and ponder our next move.

We have Pire cast Protection of Evil and Resist Energy on himself, tie him to a door so he can't wander into the pool regardless. Then he wanders into the room to Purify the Water. As we discuss how to plunder the temple, we hear a great shattering noise. And Pire says he think it's dead now.

The ceiling and basin have shattered and all the water is gone. We can gather up some lapis from the basin and find a coral scroll case. Inside is a scroll with a bit of a riddle.

We prepare to deal with the temple. Two gargoyles are tied to spikes hammered into the plinths. Two gargoyles are tied to the fish heads, and that end of the room is webbed. And the fishy-statue is entangled with rope.

After taking positions, Moth scoops a bit of gems out of the basin with mage hand. Then there's a rumbling noise and Theldin moves toward the door, ending up right next to the statue as it comes to life. We move to deal with the statue, which is big and hard to damage. With a mighty move, it breaks free of the entangling rope.

After a few attacks, we back away to draw it out of the corner so Diren can get behind it. Spit's firing arrows into it and Theldin is chipping away with his axe. As it runs at Theldin, Elmo charges it. And as it continues the air elemental Moth summoned charges. Regardless it tramples over Elmo, Theldin, Moth. Diren almost gets a flanking shot, but it tramples over him - but he dodges out of the way. Arrows finish bringing it down - good job Spit! Then healing occurs.

Moth grabs another gem out with mage hand, and nothing happens. Then Diren moves up and grabs some coins - which wakes the gargoyles. Two slip free off their ropes immediately and fly out to attack. One tears at Moth and Spit destroys it with two massive arrows.

After killing a couple, we realize it's a zombie in a funny cloak. (One of the few times that "It's a sahuagin zombie, that makes more sense" is a reasonable line.) Elmo strips the cloak off one - Elmo's sword says it's magic and kinda evil, and commands him not to wear it. We dispatch the last two with arrows before they get free.

Then we loot. There's some things of great value. Thousands of gold in gems. And a Cloak of the Manta Ray. And a Trident of Yearning.

And then we haul all this stuff up. And find the camp has been sacked. Skewer Tees is wounded and he tells us the pirates raided the camp - taking all the minions. Binky was badly wounded and left behind - he's healed by Pire.

We're outraged and plan on going after the pirates. Next time!