Doro hits hard again, and cracks the werewolf's head open. He falls down dead.
Pontia begins to cast another summoning spell, random winds dancing around her and ruffling her close-cropped dark hair.
Gregor keeps his guard up for a moment, not sure if there are more enemies lurking in the mists. Then he relaxed. "This silver light mace of yours has come in quite handy, Niculaie." Gregor stays close to Doro and waits for the mists to disperse. He has a spell that can deal minor damage from a long distance, but doesn't want to waste it trying to knock a bird from the sky.
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The mist eventually dissipates.
Actually, I doubt any of you saw the eagle, as it would have been flying away from you on the other side of the mist. I allowed the instructions to the elemental because of Doro shouting out.
Niculaie keeps his arrow on the string as the mist fades, and he stares down at the enormous image engraved or embedded in the stone platform, simultaneously fascinated by the thought of divine grace still lingering in the stone after millennia and horrified that this ancient temple has recently been desecrated by the horrific murder and dissection of the werewolf pack leader.
Motioning to the rest of the party, he murmurs, "I do not wish to leap to conclusions, but I believe this is the Dusk Moth of which we read."
Niculaie tries to recall whatever he may know of this relic beyond what he read in Halo of Dreams .
"Tara, I know Desna is not your patron, but can you discern whether this site remains consecrated to the Song of the Spheres? Or has it been corrupted by the treachery of the Whispering Way?"
He also casts detect magic to locate the source of any magical power at the holy site and, if he does, to understand its function.
Niculaie realizes that the temple must be reconsecrated, by spending a day working to clean and restore the temple, before the Dusk Moth can be activated. Alternatively, a cleric of Desna can simply cast a consecrate spell from atop Highthrone.
Rubbing her face at the request, Tara examines the area with a worried expression. "I do not know, but I'm sure a good cleaning will help. Pharasma's faith disagrees with the more extreme views of alignment, which makes it difficult for me to bring back balance to a Desnian temple."
Pondering the conundrum, Tara runs a hand through her hair. "Should we try, or work on clearing the rest of the temple? We sort of skipped the lower floors."
Niculaie thinks for a moment, then nods. "Good point, Tara. I agree, we should make sure we will not be disturbed before we start trying to clean out the corruption from the temple, which means checking the rest of the rooms."
Vivian gives an exagerated sigh
I'm in no hurry to put a maid's outfit and play with a broom in a temple. It reminds me too much of my youth. But if that can make Desna smile again, I guess it's worth the effort.
"I agree with Niculaie. This temple must first be washed with blood." Gregor paces for a moment, his arms folded. "Shall we go back down and enter the temple at the ground floor?"
Carefully descending the stairs, you make your way back down to the ground.
The archways open into a cavernous, pillar-lined amphitheater of crumbling stone with high ceilings and a rough dirt floor strewn with bones. The skeletons of deer and other larger game animals hang from several of the columns, all of which are painted with crude symbols and marred with scratch marks.
The southern portion of the room contains an elevated dais, connected to the earthen floor of the amphitheater by short stairs on either side. To the rear of the dais, an open archway leads deeper into the ruins.
Doro looked inside and glanced at Vivian. Is the entry way trapped? before I make my way inside.
Checking!
Gregor stays close to Vivian, a relaxed grip on his weapon. "If there are no traps, let's go through that archway, unless there are any other entrances I'm not noticing."
Probably about 3-5 minutes, Doro. You would have needed to be careful again.
Vivian does not detect any traps.
Seems clear to me, as far as I can tell
announces the redhead
The bard follows the others into the amphitheater, disturbed at what appears to him to be a further desecration of the temple. He keeps his bow at the ready with an arrow on the string, and moves up to the nearest column to examine the symbols painted onto it.
Niculaie takes a moment to scan the area for enemies or anything of interest, then (once the rest of the party is ready) continues toward the dais quietly, silver blunt arrow nocked and ready. The dhampir motions to each side, to suggest that the group spread out a bit as they proceed so as not to present a single target in case the spellcasting werewolf is waiting for them beyond the archway.
Doro moves in right next to Niculaie as they move to the dias, not wanting the Bard to be alone in his advance. His wary eyes searching every nook and corner. Unfortunately any stealth the bard was working towards was nullified by the clanking of Doros armored form.
Gregor followed along, taking Niculaie's advice and spreading out. Got enough magically inflicted scars already.
There really isn't anything out here of interest.
You see the arch leads into a hallway with a couple of doors at the end.
Pontia keeps close to the more capable melee combatants. "Nic, are there any tracks in the hall?"
It is readily apparent to all that the hall is filled with muddy tracks, most of which are paw prints... but not all.
Vivian tries to help anyone who want to follow the tracks
Gregor stoops to examine the prints, trying to discern information from them. Were they made recently? Can he tell how many creatures made them? "I can try to follow the human ones," he suggests.
Doro sees Vivian and Gregor lookint at tracks and conferring and he nods. Lets see what this hall holds as he moves into it, Mace and shield at the ready.
Tracks lead into both doors, so it really doesn't tell you much other than this area was heavily used.
"Would you go first, Doro?" Gregor asks, his voice small and quiet. He indicates the door on the left, though he doesn't have much preference.
Gregor listens for movement from behind the door they're about to enter. If he hears any sounds from within that seem to belong to something living, he will activate his wand before they enter.
Doro has a grim smile on his face as he nods to Gregor. He transfers the mace to his shield hand and reaches for the door latch opening the door.
True wolves I can manage, he thinks. But an entire desecrated temple filled with wolfmen? At least we are well equipped to face them as a group.
Niculaie allows the two warriors to enter the corridor first and remains a few steps back near the entrance, an arrow on the string of his bow as usual.
The small iron portcullis that once blocked the entrance to this room has been bent to the side, allowing access to what lies beyond. The chamber might once have been some sort of private quarters, though no furnishings remain. Dirt and dust across lie tracked across the floor, and the pungent stench of rot ebbs from the room.
Werewolves staying at the temple sometimes use this area as a den. Numerous tracks of humans, wolves, and hybrid werewolves are easy to spot. The smell of rot comes from a human corpse lying in a crumpled heap in the corner.
Doro moved into the cell, looking around poised to fight any unseen defenders. Do one of you know who this unfortunate soul is?
Pontia follows the trio and casts a quick cantrip, scanning the room for magical auras before replying. "I don't think so, but I am not from the area."
Niculaie looks at the dead body sadly and shakes his head. "With just a minute or so to examine the corpse and their possessions, Doro, I might well be able to identify the deceased, but I do not expect our adversaries to allow us the luxury of time. If we survive, we can return; in the meantime, let us see whether they carried any equipment that might help us to avenge them."
"Right," Gregor says, his nose wrinkled indignantly. "Let's try the other door then."
This room may once have served as some sort of private quarters. Only a few pieces of rusted metal furniture remain, the rest having long rotted away. The dirt has been swept clear from most of the floor, exposing the flagstones beneath.
The Chelaxian concentrates again, searching for signs of magic.
Pontia detects magic just as you are about to enter. A symbol of pain trap on the archway!
The wizard holds up a hand. "Wait. Someone has placed a symbol of pain here. Vivian, I believe this is your area of expertise?"
"What, you don't enjoy being wracked with pain?" Gregor quips, smiling rakishly.
Her face expressionless, the wizard replies, "There is a reason I left Cheliax."