As they gather around the outdoor table for their meal, discussion comes up regarding the direction for the day.
Vladimir suggests returning to the unknown temple, and Durielle has a thought.
"For those more familiar with the Zon-Kuthon faith, what kinds of things could we expect to find inside one of their temples? Is there anything we can choose to bring which will aid against foes which we fought the day before? Being well-prepared after yesterday's near rout would be more preferable..."
Her voice trails off at the end, and her eyes are downcast as she idly stirs her broth.
"It is difficult to say what we may find inside the temple. As I mentioned on the way back, the temple was not originally dedicated to Zon'Kuthon, but to another deity that has been long forgotten. Many of the original paintings, carvings, and other markings have been painted over or had their images scratched out of the stone. It seems unlikely that we will find another monk inside the temple...I can't imagine they would stay inside while we slew all his fellows."
Even so, Khargol considers what he knows about the tenants and habits of those who worship the god of pain, hoping it might prove useful to them in the future.
"I was not suggesting you were incorrect regarding the temple's former nature, dear Khargol," the elf says quietly. "But as we do not know what desecration the temple has seen, we cannot assume it will be clean and pure just because we eliminated those we could see. There are a number of beings that dark religions call upon which may not wish to face us in the light that could easily be waiting in ambush. I...I just wish to avoid more death if we can be better prepared."
Durielle blushes and drinks her broth to hide her embarrassment at having so openly "rebuked" the inquisitor.
As Durielle approaches him he bows curtiously, "Why thank you madam, you grace me with your generosity. I did not expect to see such a beautiful woman in my search for adventure. You must have an inner strength that eludes my sight." He cheerfully accepts the water and in-between sips acknowledges the others' remarks towards him.
"Ah! You must forgive me for I have failed to properly introduce myself. I am Gonzo, the Magnificent. I humbly accept your invitation to your adventuring party and hope to make my acquaintance with each of you throughout our journeys together."
"Th-thank you," the pale elf says blushing. "My inner strength...it is an odd thing, and not easily understood." She coughs slightly, a wet rattle in her chest. "Not everyone sees it as such. Only time will tell," she sighs.
"But thank you for your kind and generous words nonetheless. While it may be naught but flattery, the intent of seeking friendly acquaintance seems genuine enough. You are most welcome in this wild place. May the gods watch over you."
Sugua speaks up " If you want less death being more prepared is part of it! Well I guess you would make MORE death just not your own. A weapon for every situation, one to stab through, one to cut deep, one to crush bones, and if that doesnt work maybe a potion or two! Don't know much about what might be there.. But whatever it is probably isnt alive.. maybe Undead that we have to make re-dead! In any case.. you all find those Pointy sticks? Goes a long way to stop things from charging up to you. "
Durielle is a little shocked when Sugua offers up advice that doesn't demean anyone else's abilities in any way but is merely...good advice on how everyone can plan better and stay alive.
Maybe there was hope that the dismissive half-orc was actually beginning to see their group as more than fools. Well, most likely Sugua still saw them as fools. But at least he seemed to be opening up to the idea that they might be fools worth helping at the very least.
The oracle smirks a little to herself. Sooner than I foresaw...? Perhaps.
Khargol only knows one thing about whatever lay inside the temple, it does not discriminate.
Monks are not one to display their training techniques in the open. If they were practicing outside the temple, it's because they could not do so inside of it.
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Still unsure if he has been fully accepted as part of the group, Gonzo takes his seat at the table, keeping quiet and just taking in the remarks and replies of the others, trying to catch himself up with their experiences via context clues.
Temple...Undead...pointy sticks? Very odd, I must try harder if I am to keep up with this inside knowledge.
He crosses his legs, drinking his water. He seems attentive and interested in the conversation being exchanged before him.
Arriving back at the temple, one might not recognize the carnage that had occurred the day before.
The bodies of the monks lay stripped of their flesh, and the blood that had splattered the cobblestones leading to the temple doors had vanished.
The battle just hours ago seemed like one that had instead transpired many years beforehand.
The forest hangs silent as the party stands outside the temple doors.
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"Not a good sign," says Donovan. "Ideas?"
Sugua laughs, " Let's go introduce ourselves. Won't get anything done waiting out here. Chances are we are going to have to fight so cast your spells beforehand, if you need them! " Sugua goes up and tries to open the doors.
"Disturbing to say the least. Any sign of what may have stripped the bodies?" Vladimir says, cautiously looking around th area.
"Oh dear, I quite agree, Master Donovan. I would hate to think these monks were actually serving as guards for a horror which we may have inadvertently now released." A hand to her mouth, Durielle looks quiet shaken at the sight of the monks's corpses.
"Is it possible...we may have been mistaken to attack without warning on the monks of this evil god?" Swaying slightly, she takes a deep breath. The oracle shakes her head emphatically, and announces, "No. No, I won't believe it. Whatever lies in wait inside this temple was no friend to the chaos and evil those pain mongers serve. It is either friendly to the good in us or friend to no one at all. But to imagine the scion of any god's worship actions are this..." She gestures to the remains.
"Surely we deal now with something quite dangerous. Our plan to investigate this temple must be carefully wrought. Sir Vladimir, Sugua..I assume you may have suggestions for our best action?"
Sugua's attempt to open the doors doesn't succeed in moving them, though a copious amount of blood seeps from the cracks in the double doorway.
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" You don't see that every day... I guess we know where the blood went " Sugua tries again
Gonzo's eyes widen as he approaches the graveyard of bones in front of this temple.
Ah, undead...temple...it's starting to become clear now, this is how that Tomas lad perished...and I have filled his shoes. I need to be extra cautious, and another pair of eyes would do just the trick.
Come, Archie!
As the rest of the party ponders over their entrance strategy, they soon begin to hear the fluttering of wings approaching them.
"Certainly a grim sight indeed, whatever it was has a taste for flesh AND blood. I wonder what kind of creature has that kind of taste."
Alphonse makes his way over to look at the skeletons to see if he can glean any information off the remains
Looking to Durielle Alphonse inquires "fair madam does your gift of foresight give any indication of what may be ahead? anything is better than nothing"
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Addressing the rest of the party Alphonse reports "There isnt enough left of these bodies to identify any cause of the lack of fleshy bits."
looking towards the entrance Alphonse sees that Sugua cant easily open the door and calls out caution "If those doors wont easily open that gets my hair up, Everyone to a position flanking the door, lets be ready for whats behind those"
Uh-oh, let's hope he's overthinking it, but just to be on the safe siide... Gonzo hops on over to the left side of the door, trying not to step on any bones, I should listen to his request.
Gonzo pulls out a scroll and holds it tightly with both hands as he presses his back against the temple's wall, waiting for the worst.
"Keep a lookout Archie." He whispers to his companion. He then refocuses his attention to the door.
Donovan prepares to bring down a blessing on the group if it looks like Sugua's about to get the door to give way.
Vladimir's eyes widen in equal parts shock and revulsion as he sees the blood seeping through the cracks of the doorway.
As Sugua continues to pull on the door, Vladimir stands with his blade at the ready.
Sugua strains at the door for almost a minute as more and more blood seeps from its cracks. Soon the entire staircase leafing to the temple is like a river of blood, and then, the doors begin to budge.
Once the two doors part enough to begin to peer inside, an ear piercing scream shatters the silence of the clearing.
The cry is a woman's and one of deep and unnatural anguish.
The cry sends waves of cold crashing against your bodies and the blood on the stairs freezes to ice.
The doors swing fully open then of their own accord, and a shadow falls over the stairway.
Inside the temple lies nothing but pitch blackness.
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About to give some advice on how best to approach this situation, Khargol is instead completely overwhelmed by the wave of cold from within the suddenly-open door, almost immediately collapsing to the ground without so much as a grunt of protest.
Durielle's mouth drops as whatever resides in the temple levels a literally chilling attack that lays low four of their number instantly. Their blue-tinged skin and the ice flecks coating their hair and clothing give sign that this was certainly no natural event, but something definitely magical or supernatural.
Wringing her hands in helplessness as all her fears and visions of the future were so easily disregarded no matter how many times she made mention of a plan or being prepared. Durielle is at a loss for action, shaken and cold, she fumbles her words.
"How...this...wha...oh dear gods above!" she wails. Turning to the only one she can think to help their comrades. "Donovan! Wh-what do we do?"
She finds herself fearful to approach their friends as she does not know if the same mystical attack will be duplicated.
"We get everyone on their feet!" Donovan says with firm resolve as he calls forth power to heal his fallen companions.
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Sugua looks around and shivers like he was in the tundra, " Great Gorum! That lady has a pair of lungs on her! I feel like I've just snuggled up against an ice elemental. And.. so do the rest of you. What happened in here? " Sugua looks inside light or dark normally not making a difference with his darkvision.
" Are they alive? " Sugua motions to his down members
Durielle listens to the strength of Donovan's command, and lets her fear flow out and be replaced by the warmth of his channel using positive energy.
The oracle draws her sword and motions to Alphonse and Sugua. Durielle says with a hurried breath, "Please watch over me," and cautiously and quickly moves to the side of Angor.
Then if nothing prevents her she will move to Gonzo, Khargol, and Vladimir in turn.
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Donovan, as soon as your first channel happens you can't explain it, but you feel a presence take notice of you.
The darkness buzzes with whispers that you can't quite make out.
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Sugua peers in squints his white eyes and laughs, " Can't see S%&$! Heh too bad for whatever is in there, they must be scared hiding behind that kind of darkness! Ah well I'll come back and ick its ass later when we can get rid of that. Pick up yourselves and lets go kill some wolves or somethin. "
Khargol is thankfully brought back to his feet by the first channel, and he tries to shake the icy-cold from his mind. "Agreed. Let's get the hell out of here."
Vladimir picks himself up off the ground, "What in the Nine Hells was that?"
"Something which doesn't really want us here it would seem. Perhaps we will be able to find out why such a fiendish temple was just as dangerous to those monks as it appears to be to us another time."
"Something awful is inside there, and it is aware of us. Staying here puts us in grave danger. I fear we may not have the skills to vanquish this foe... yet."