The Water Temple, found on either D: 19 or D: 20, is the first elemental temple that most PCs will encounter. The layout, on the left side of the level, is as follows:
########################## ####### ##........................## #.....# ##..======================..## #..<..############### ######### #..========================..# #...@...............# #.......# #.====..................====.# ###########.........#####.......# #.===..################..===.# #........./.../.......# #.==...#......==......#...==.# #.........#####.......# #.==...#.#=^######^=#.#...==.# #.........# #.......# #.==.....#=...._...=#.....==.# ###############/##### #.......# #.==...#.#=^######^=#.#...==.# #.............#.# #.......# #.==...#......==......#...==.# #.......#####+#+####### #####/### #.===..################..===.# #.......# #.........# #.# #.====..................====.# ######### #.........#######/# #..========================..# #........./.......# ##..======================..## #.........###...>.# ##........................## #.........# #.....# ########################## ########### #######The right side of the level is random. Note that the temple itself is disconnected. Entry must be made by digging. Teleportation is not allowed on the level. Note the traps. Note the underscore in the center of the temple. This is the chaotic elemental altar where the orb guardian is found (at least until it is disturbed and moves). The elemental altars are very dangerous. The temples are populated by sentient beings who will sacrifice the PC instantly should he step on it. In addition, they can only be converted by champions of Balance or Order, which means PCs going for an ultra ending cannot convert them early in the game, before receiving Gaab'Baay's first quest. The monsters in the Water Temple are arrayed as follows:
########################## #######
##...........xx...........## #.....#
##x.======================.x## #..<..############### #########
#..========================..# #...@...............# #.......#
#.====.s..s.xs..sx.s..s.====.# ###########.........#####.......#
#.===s.################.s===.# #........./.../.......#
#.==..x#C.&..&==&..&.C#x..==.# #.........#####.......#
#.==.s.#C#=^######^=#C#.s.==.# #.........# #.......#
#.==...CC#=xEEEsEEx=#CC...==.# ###############/##### #.......#
#.==.s.#C#=^######^=#C#.s.==.# #.............#.# #.......#
#.==..x#C.&..&==&..&.C#x..==.# #.......#####+#+####### #####/###
#.===s.################.s===.# #.......# #.........# #.#
#.====.s..sx.s..s.xs..s.====.# ######### #.........#######/#
#..========================..# #........./.......#
##x.======================.x## #.........###...>.#
##...........xx...........## #.........# #.....#
########################## ########### #######
They are: s - water snakes
x - water grues
& - water demons
C - chaos servants
E - water elementals
s - (in the center) Snake from Beyond
To attack the temple, the PC must dig in, then attack the monsters. It is not necessary to cross the water although it is more convenient if this is possible. If the water cannot be crossed the Snake can be zapped with a bolt from a wand or spell and will eventually emerge. However, it may flee back across the water. Lure it to the previous level before attacking. All the monsters are vulnerable to fire based attacks. The grues and demons in particular are troublesome because they have a corrupting melee attack that has a very high to-hit. Even PCs with very good DV will be hit by them eventually - a good reason to develop the PCs missile weapon skills. The snakes, including the Snake from Beyond, are poisonous. Invisibility is useful but not a panacea. The Snake from Beyond and the chaos servants see invisible. None of the monsters sees in Darkness.2.16.1 The Snake from Beyond
The Snake from Beyond has been beefed up in recent versions and is now a formidable opponent. It generally does not kill a PC that has made it this far, but has nasty poisonous and corrupting attacks that rarely miss. If possible, it should be killed from a distance, easier said than done in the close quarters of the Water Temple. It is vulnerable to demon slayers.
An examination of the Snake from Beyond with a blessed stethoscope reveals:
You examine the Snake from Beyond. Diagnosis: Level: 1, DV: 45, PV: 22, Hits: 477, Attacks: 1, Damage: 12-56. Speed: 101.
Very high hitpoints and formidable DV/PV for a PC at this level.
The Snake from Beyond holds the Chaos Orb of Elemental Water, greater identified as follows:
----------------- uncursed Chaos Orb of Elemental Water {Wi+10}----------------
It is an artifact.
When used in melee combat it grants a +3 bonus to hit and causes 2d9+3 points of damage. When used as a missile it grants a +3 bonus to hit and causes 1d10+3 points of damage.
It modifies your willpower attribute by +10.
(full heal + corruption when 'U'sed)