Cole whirls and attacks with furious vengeance.  Flyspamon's glowing blade cleaves into Tetra Min's shoulder for 11 points of damage and shatters his fish bowl helmet along the way.  The fishman crumples into the water.  He pulls himself off Cole's sword and launches himself under the water to the east.  Cole manages to stab the fleeing fishman for 4 more points of damage.  Tetra Min moves very quickly in the water and the only hint of his former presence is all of his blood coloring the water near Cole.

Anthony, Stachys, Elwood and Gloop Loop make their way to the portal room and stare in marvel at the sideways geyser of water blasting out of it.

Gloop Loop says, "Woooow.  I might be able to fix this.  Are you sure you want me to?  This is going to flood the temple -- at least this basement level.  If I can fix it, maybe it would be better to wait until the temple is destroyed before I make the repairs.  I could fix it and swim back home through the portal.  Everybody's problems solved.  If I can fix it."

The water is still rising (quite quickly as we are now out of combat).  It's up to Dreya's knees by the secret door.  In the portal room, the water comes up to your shins.

Dreya looks around for her fellow party members.  She sees the group heading to the portal room disappear into the mist.  There is no sign of Cole or Seline.  She can faintly hear the sound of feet splashing in the water as someone or something runs north up the corridor to the altar.  The heavy mist prevents her from seeing what it is.

Round 19-ish Situation Report:

Dreya has taken 2 point of damage.
Cole has taken 31 points of damage.
Stachys has taken 12 points of damage.
Seline has taken 5 points of damage.
Tetra Min has taken 48 points of damage and his helmet is destroyed.
Cole used a hero point.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
09:26, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 4 using 1d8+3.  Damage to Tetra Min.
09:25, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  Attack fleeing Tetra Min.
09:10, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative.
09:10, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.
09:10, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative.
09:09, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative.
09:09, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Monsters, rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative.
09:09, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Party, rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Wed 04 July 2018.

Anthony glares at Gloop Loop. "That is a very substantial 'if,' Gloop Loop. If you don't and the water keeps coming, our world is over. Let me look at it with you and see if we can figure it out, and then once we're more certain, we air-breathers will leave. Agreed?"

Anthony and Gloop Loop put their heads together and take a closer look at the malfunctioning portal.  They are pretty certain they can shut it down, but there is a strong chance of unintended side effects of the procedure (e.g., electrocution, proximal disintegration, flogiston disruption, temporal anomalies, etc.).  The procedure will involve clerical contributions and some ritualistic wizarding.  It should permanently seal the portal.  Fortunately for Gloop Loop, he will have to pass back through the portal and do some things on the other side to complete the procedure.  Without that last step, the portal will flair back up again.

Gloop Loop says, "If we're going to work together, we'll need to do this soon.  I don't think you can hold your breath long enough if we wait for the entire basement of this temple to flood before starting.  I'm pretty sure I can do this on my own, but we'll have a better chance of success working together."

The water in the portal room is at your knees now.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
13:58, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Anthony, rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Inspect malfunctioning portal.

---

Wondering why the heck Cole would be running lff through the water to the North, Dreya darts off after him to help the ranger.

Seline seeing her companions approaching the portal room walks up to them "It was hard to make out over this torrent but judging on what I could hear and blind optimism I'm hoping that you all have a plan because I'm running out of ideas"

Anthony looks at Gloop Loop with an unusual look in his eye. "I was meant to be here and help with this. I will aid you as long as I can. However..."

He turns to the others and waves for them to come closer. "We have found a way to close this portal, but we need your help. We need you to find doors leading outside and open them for now. We need to drain water as much as possible to give me enough time to help Gloop Loop close the portal. Can you open as many doors as possible to the outside to let the water out?"

Cole mutters a curse at seeing Tetra-Min escape.  That fish would have to die another day it seems.  Cole does a quick search of the area where Tetra-Min fell to make certain the fish-man did not leave anything behind before he turns on his heel and continues his way back to his companions.

Not much for wizarding and portals, Stachys can open doors.  "Release the water. That I can do, but someone should stay and watch your backs while you are working.  Anyone?"

As Dreya heads north toward the altar, she sees Tetra Min appear through the mist.  He is leaning against the west wall.  His gills are flapping roughly as he tries to breath through the mist.  He sees the druid, snarls, and begins running straight at her.

Cole is heading east down the corridor toward the rest of the party.

The only doors the party has gone through are the doors to:

• the entrance room with the cages that you reached via the tunnel from the crypt in the graveyard.
  
• the machine room
  
• the secret corridor where Gloop Loop was hiding.

The only other doors you have seen are a door leading north from the secret corridor and a door at the western end of the hallway you have been fighting in.  If the plan is to open as many doors as possible, you will need to explore the basement further to locate additional doors.  Or, you could just open the doors you are aware of at this point.  The door to the secret corridor is already open.

Anthony nods in response to Stachys and looks at Cole, Dreya, Elwood and Seline. "Yes, anyone willing to stay and guard us?"

Dreya casts light on one of Tetra Min's eyeballs!!!

"I'll stay here to protect you" Elwood says to Anthony.   He then drinks his healing potion.

OOC:  I don't think we had enough time when we were waiting in the secret room to get healed up.   Elwood still has wounds from the lung thing in the side alter and the sound blast cast from the Temple cleric.

Looking to Elwood, Anthony and Gloop Loop "If you are comfortable with this I'll go see if we can make sure the path is clear for the water to give you enough time"

Stachys hefts the stolen trident.  "I will go with Seline."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:25, Tue 10 July 2018.

(OOC - I am not sure if Cole is able to see Dreya from where he is currently at, if he can, then he would turn back to go and help her with Tetra-Min, ie. attack Tetra-Min if he is able to. If he cannot see her, then he will continue his course back to the party.)

Dreya casts light on poor Tetra Min's eyes.  The fishman screams in frustration and runs past the druid and eventually bangs into the wall to the south.  He turns left and starts running straight into the spraying water.

Cole has no idea Dreya has wandered off to the north.  However, as he marches carefully to the east, he sees Tetra Min bounce off the wall a few feet ahead of him.  As Cole takes in the sight of the apparently alive fishman, Tetra Min dives directly into the blasting water and begins swimming up the stream.  It's quite majestic, actually.  He is swimming up the sideways geyser (just using dolphin kicks) faster than Cole can reliably walk alongside.  Cole might be able to force his way into the stream far enough to take a swing at Tetra Min if he is feeling frisky.

It sounds like the rest of the party is ready to split up with Seline and Stachys trying to open doors to drain off some of the water to buy time for Elwood, Anthony, and Gloop Loop to complete the ritual to close the portal.  Just let me know which doors you want to open (or if you intend to explore more of the dungeon in search of new doors to open).

Elwood chugs an extra-healing potion and regains 12 hit points, putting him at just one hit point down from his maximum.

At this point, no one besides Dreya and Cole is aware Tetra Min lives and is swimming toward the portal room.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
11:26, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 12 using 3d8+3.  Extra-healing potion.
11:12, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Tetra Min, rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative.
11:12, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Dreya, rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:28, Sat 14 July 2018.

To Anthony and Gloop Loop, Elwood says "Let me know if I can assist you in any way.  Meanwhile, I'll keep a look out and fend off any one or thing that may try to attack you."

He'll stay to the side of the water jet, but will stand watch, splitting time looking at the portal (in case something comes out of that) and down the hallway.

Anthony nods to Elwood. "Watching our backs is almost certainly the most important way you can help, Elwood. I will call you if I need you."

He then turns and begins working quickly but methodically with Gloop Loop to complete the ritual to close the portal....

Cole curses at seeing the fish man again but dares not go after him and further himself from the party.  Shaking his head, he continues his course back to the group, keeping his eye out for Dreya and other dangers along the way.

Stachys intends to follow the current downhill and open those doors first, then exploring as needs be.

Seline will travel with Stachys best not to split the party up too much

As loud as she can, Dreya starts hollering as she runs toward the portal room as fast as one can in knee deep water. "The fish leader is heading to the portal!"

Over and over she hollers the warning, hoping that if someone closer catches the words, they will pass it on.

Cole continues his march toward the party.

Stachys and Seline begin to head west to try to open the door at the end of the corridor.

Elwood stands guard while Anthony and Gloop Loop begin the ritual to close the portal.

Dreya runs toward the portal room while yelling at the top of her lungs.  Amazingly, she keeps her feet.

Just before reaching Cole, Stachys and Seline see something moving inside the stream toward the portal room.  Dreya's cries suggest Tetra Min is on the loose.

Back in the portal room, Gloop Loop hears Dreya and abandons his work on the portal.  "What?!  Tetra Min is coming?!"  His eyes dart wildly as he looks around the portal room for a place to hide.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
12:38, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Dreya, rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Keep balance while running in water.

---

Anthony prods Gloop Loop in the arm. "Focus! My allies will defend us. Stay here or we're all doomed!"

If Gloop Loop tries to get away, Anthony will grab him and reason further with him.

The search for the party continues.