The door moved and made a loud grinding noise as it stubbornly yielded to the dwarf's powerful arms to expose the interior. A stone bench lines the southern wall of this chamber. At the far side of the room, a basin of water sits atop a stone pedestal. A stone door engraved with an image of a hammer stands to the north.
As Angus works on the stone door, Arlena steps closer to the temple and lays a hand on the wall with the hammer carving while respectfully looking up at it.
"I'm guessing this was built by the same dwarven engineers who worked on these tunnels. But isn't it odd? A sanctified temple should have kept the cave clear from creatures like the fly we just brought down. What could have happened to it? We should be careful when we go inside - there's no telling what might be lurking within."
Angus paused as he laid his hand on the handle of the interior door to listen to Arlena's warning. "Then for some reason Torag withdrew his blessing from this place. As it is still standing that means it was something to do with those who built it. Then let us see what needs to die so that this temple can be cleansed!"
With that proclamation the dwarf paladin yanked the door open and stepped in while arming himself with shield and weapon. He narrowed his gaze and his eyes lit up with an internal fire that shed a harsh light in a cone in front of him. Broken stone benches line this narrow room. The air is cold and stale, and thick layers of dust cover the floor, benches, and a large altar at the far end of the room.
In one of the pews, hunched down as if in prayer, was a broad shouldered figure wrapped in a old cloak. The moment Angus's eyes locked on to the figure he flinched, the haft of his axe creaking as he tightened his grip. "Prepare yourselves, that is the cause of this temples desecration."
He moved forward out of the door way, giving the others space to enter the room behind him. "On your feet heretic!"
At the dwarfs challenge the hunched figure stirred, slowly turning it's head as dust rained down from it. The old cloth covering the figure cracked and shattered like stone, revealing desiccated skin and a rotten visage capped with a mouth full of sharpened teeth and glowing red eyes. An old amulet clattered against the creatures chest, an amulet almost identical to Angus's. It lurched to its feet and opened it's mouth in a scream without sound as it came at the armored paladin with deadly claws extended.
Having watched quietly, knowing nothing she did much outside of her own faith and that taught to her by the sisters who took her in but not her brother, she was lost as to what to say. But she knew when it was time to kill some demons, or undead, and it seems that's what Angus had just awoken. As for the time, she didn't care, it was past time the dead and demons where banished and sent back from their world.
"Die you demon filth, and begone from this holy place! May Desna send you to peace!"
Arlena nods gravely as Angus points out the cloaked undead figure as the caused of the temple's desecration.
"Let us end this undead abomination swiftly then, so that this temple might be restored! May Desna's light guide your hands!"
Since most of her allies are still shielded by Desna's luck, Arlena calls on Lyra to grant her a bit of fortune and steps forward to take a stab at the creature, leaving enough room for everyone else to rush at the undead.
Xavier moves towards the creature as well, trying to strike from the side so as to move into a more favourable position with his allies as soon as possible. As he nears the undead thing, he too takes a stab at it using her sister's rapier.
As Katanu steps into the temple proper anyone looking back will see a strange expression cross the sage's face; rage. The normally cheerful and talkative man summoned fire into his hands and sent out a lance of white flame that threaded between his allies, seeking out the undead creature.
As the creature seemed to be coming for him personally Angus waited behind his shield as the attacks from his allies slammed into the side of the undead before a lance of angry light set the creature on fire. In the moment of ignition as the monster reeled back the paladin stepped forward, focusing all of his divine power on the creature and causing his eyes to glow with pure white energy.
While the melee attacks seemed to chink away at the monster and the fire attack, while flashy, carried only the power that a low level priest could summon, the attack from the paladin completely overwhelmed the monster, penetrating undead flesh like a hot knife through butter and igniting the wound that followed with holy fire. As the axe continued on it's path through the monster it didn't even get a chance to lash out in rage against the paladin as the energies animating it were dispersed by the holy energy.
The undead dropped to the ground and continued to burn with holy fire, any sign of unlife vanishing against the holy onslaught. The PCs would suddenly feel an invisible weight they hadn't even noticed lift and vanish, leaving behind a dusty old temple that hadn't seen any real life until now.
While taking the time to rest, she would ask the others for some stories of their backgrounds. She was curious about her companions, mainly because she was not much of an out going person when she was with the sisters.
"As we are traveling together, we might as well know each other. I was raised by the Sisters of Desna, a group of female crusaders who could not fight anymore. They raise some as a child until I came here. I'm looking for a sibling."
"Well, you already know a bit about me from those letters we exchanged. But I agree, getting to know each other seems the right idea."
She looks down at the holy symbol around her neck for a small moment before continuing
I guess the head priestess advice still rings true, even given the circumstances.
"A search for a sibling is what brought me here as well, in a way." She smiles at Jasaka, but there is a sadness in her eyes as she speaks. "I was foolish enough to go into the Worldwound in my desperate search for my sister, and probably wouldn't be here if not for our goddess and the woman she sent to help me. I've been at the temple here in Kenavres since then, but I still have much to learn."
Xavier listens closely as the two women share a bit about themselves, before replying in turn.
"I can sort of relate. I owe much to my sister, and right now I just want to get above ground as soon as possible so I can do my best to protect her." He looks down at the ornate rapier in his hands and lets out a small chuckle before continuing "Of course, odds are she'd be the one protecting me. Tatiana was always better than me at it, and I'm sure she is up there doing her best to protect everone else."
"She was always the one looking out for me. She was the one who convinced her family to take me in, getting me off the streets, after I lost my own to demons and their followers." A look of contained rage flashes across the young man's eyes as he speaks of the demons in his past, and he instinctively grabs for the holy symbol hidden beneath his armor.
Angus would not be sitting down to share any conversation with the group. After sitting just long enough to finish his meal he would take a small broom from his bags and go back into the temple. A moment later he would appear dragging the burned undead remains and dropping them back in the tunnel that had come from earlier in the day, then going back and systematically clearing the dust off of every square inch of the temple interior. The entire time in a strong baritone he would intone lengthy prayers in dwarven that had a strong rhythm.
"I came to these lands because of a teleport accident five years ago." Katanu would say after eating his dinner, a cup of strong tea in a chipped ceramic mug in hand. He reminisced to himself quietly for a minute before laughing at a sudden memory. "I think I may have made a cultist load his pants when I suddenly came launching out of a burst of energy ten feet from him with so much speed I crashed into him. But imagine how I felt, one moment stepping in to accompany my master to a conference in Quantium and the next catapulting through the air, crashing into a demon worshiper and landing in a stinking bog where the vines tried to drown me! Poof, one moment the heat and humidity of the jungles where I was born and then cold and wet, fighting abyss tainted foliage. If it wasn't for the patrol coming to investigate the commotion I would have never made it to Kenabres."
As he finished speaking of his own arrival to these lands Katanu was looking over at the open door of the temple where Angus was slowly brushing away decades of dust. After a few seconds of pensive thought the short human would gulp down his tea before standing up and brushing the dirt from his knees. "Many hands make light work."
With nothing in his hands the sage would walk past Angus and hold a hand up into the air. "Let it rain."
At the humans command a thin layer of dark clouds would erupt from his hand and spread out along the ceiling until it covered the entire interior of the temple. With a little rumble of thunder it began to gently rain, washing the dust down and out of the temple. The water coming down was very warm and within a few minutes the temperature inside the temple went up several degrees.
The entire time Katanu would stand there summoning the rain round after round, his eyes closed with face raised up with a sad smile. No matter how much his clothes became soaked or water sheeted down his face the mwangi native stood there summoning rain cloud after rain cloud.
It would take Angus and Katanu several hours to completely clean the temple, all the while the dwarf would sing prayers. Once the last of the dust was gone the temple would flash with holy energy as the walls all began to gleam like polished marble. The green crystals in the small cavern would creak and groan as they doubled in size and several actually touched the walls of the temple.
Inside the temple the holy forge along the back wall of the inner sanctum roared to life and the anvil that doubled as an altar gleamed as if new.
That night the party was able to sleep in peace as nothing entered through the narrow opening back into the tunnel outside. The next morning they set out in the same order as before and traveled for another hour through a winding tunnel that finally began to slope up and enter a another cavern that was very clearly carved and lined with statues in alcoves. Each depicts a different crusader clad in armor and wielding weapons, but their carved stone features contain expressions of sadness.
Angus would stop after a single step into the larger cavern, his eyes snapping up the roof as the creatures up there twitched at his arrival. Without a word to anyone the dwarf would shoulder his shield and axe and unlimber the large crossbow hanging on his back, calmly setting the string and arming the weapon with a large bolt. Bringing it up to his shoulder the dwarf calmly aimed the weapon at the first creature, letting out a slow breath before squeezing the trigger.
The crossbow bolt would slam into the stone wall next to the creatures and startle both of them, causing them to open large leathery mantles before vanishing behind a wall of blackness.
Darkmantle 1:
Katanu can't see what's going on so far in the back so he goes back to conversing with the elven sage who he had decided to aid in walking for the day. Though the elf was guarded with the man who has so easily figured out his secret connection both men were avid lovers of knowledge and had been deep conversation about esoteric theories about magic.
Angus steps further into the room with all of the statues, dropping the crossbow and taking shield and axe into hand and waiting.
Darkmantle 2:
At the sign of movement towards the ceiling, Xavier draws his shortbow and peers into the darkness, spotting one of the creatures. Taking aim at the dark shape, he quickly launches two arrows towards it.
As she sees Angus move into the room with his shield ready, likely intent on drawing the creature's attention to himself, Arlena quickly calls upon Desna's protection on the paladin, hoping to bolster his already impressive defense.
Xavier's two arrows glance off the rough hide of one of the darkmantles leaving two thin wounds that dripped with bright red blood. The creature screeched in rage and dropped down, flapping through the air and making straight for the rogue.
Angus took a single step and slashed at the creature as it attempted to dodge around him.
Despite the deep cut and spray of blood inflicted by the paladin, the darkmantle screeched in fear and flinched away, flying back up in the air and away from the dwarf.
Katanu's eyes steps forward enough to see the darkmantle fly away from the dwarf trailing blood. Fire kindled in his hand before lancing out to strike the aerial creature.
The blast of flame from the sage spears straight through the rocky hide of the monster, eliciting a piercing shriek that faded into a low gurgle as the creature flew drunkenly through the air before crashing into the wall and flopping to the ground, dead.
Angus watches as the first monster is killed with fire before shifting his attack to the second one. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion before stepping away to leave a clear avenue of approach between the second monster and the rogue, holding his shield in such a way as to hide his axe and prepare in case the monster also tried to avoid him and attack Xavier.
With a prayer to Desna, Jasaka takes the small but important step of casting a spell blessed to her. It should help highlight the creatures, but may also be a bit of an issue if they try to get away.
The last darkmantle can visibly be seen to be slowly crawling away from the party along the ceiling once the glitterdust spell explodes all around it.
The creature whistles in alarm as it starts to shift back and forth, seemingly unsure which way it is supposed to go.
With a shriek the creature loses it's grip on the ceiling and plunges to the floor, shifting direction erratically as it tries to slow itself down but completely unable to tell which direction is up or down. It hits the ground feet away from Angus.
Angus started to move the instant the creature fell, tracking it from below. When it hit the floor ten feet away the paladin charged silently with axe held high.
Xavier drops his bow to the ground and swiftly moves up to the now glowing and blind creature, unsheating his rapier as he does so.
Taking advantage of the beast's blindness, he quickly circles his target in order to flank it with Angus, and attempts to skewer the creature with his rapier.
Arlena joins the others in attacking the downed creature, figuring the best way to keep everyone safe is to try and defeat it before it can regain its senses.
Calling again on her butterfly familiar to bless her with her goddess' fortune, Arlena takes a stab at the beast as well with her longspear.
After the fullisade of attacks the remaining creature lay in a spreading pool of blood cut into 2 pieces.
After what seems like a break in the fighting, she calls out to her companions "This was awesome! Good team work. Any idea how much longer until we are out of here?" Clearly she was anxious to leave the place, because she had been mentioning it so often for so long, it would most likely be grating at this point. She clearly had a hatred of underground places
Xavier sheathes the rapier and moves back to retrieve his bow. As he moves, a sound from the next cave catches his attention and he signals to the others.
"Someone or something is up ahead - I think I heard it mutter something in a language I don't know." He looks back to the mages travelling with the group. "It sounded harsh and guttural, if it helps narrowing it down."
"I heard it as well! It was Draconic - whatever it is, I managed to hear it casting Mage Armor, so we're dealing with something with magical powers of their own."
"If they can cast spells, they can probably be reasoned with, right?.Maybe they're another survivor? I'm not saying we should drop out guard though. If you give me a bit, I'll cover you all with Desna's protection like I did yesterday."
Arlena will start applying her Protective Luck hex to the whole group if no one objects. Afterwards she'll cast Mage Armor on herself as well.
Xavier nods silently at Arlena's suggestion, and draws an arrow, pointing his bow at the cave's exit and watching it carefully for any sign of movement.
"Magic huh? Then let us see who is so scared." Angus says, stepping over the dead darkmantles and making his way towards the opening without a single attempt at moving quietly. "It would be smart of you to lower whatever wand or spell you've got ready friend, less you put me in a foul mood."
He stepped into the opening and glared at the unknown spellcaster. "Lower. Your. Hands."
A small campfire and a well-used bedroll, along with a few utensils and tools, sits near another cave opening in the far wall of this cavern. Crouching behind the fire is a haggard looking dwarf with blood shot eyes who screams in panic as the resolute paladin steps around into view. He flinches as the holy warriors words slap him with visible changes, causing him to crouch down even further behind the fire. "STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, I HAVE FORESWORN MY RESEARCH, STAY AWAY!"
Arlena follows close behind Angus, looking at the panicked dwarf behind the campfire. She had hoped he was another survivor from the battle above who might agree to join them, but his reaction to the paladin was more than a little suspicious. But he didn't seem likely to attack, so at the very least they should be able to get him to let them move on.
Holding her spear at her side and raising her free hand, she addresses the cowering dwarf.
"I'm sorry we disturbed you. I assure you, we mean you no harm, we're just trying to make our way back to the surface."
Xavier moves along quietly into the room as well, picking a spot to the side where he would have a clear shot at the dwarf, should he try anything. He gives him a piercing gaze while Angus and Arlena address him.
"I'm curious, however, about how you came to be in this place." he adds, with his arrow still ready upon his bow, but pointing at the floor. "How long have you been down here? And what exactly was the research you have foresworn?"
The Desnan might be content with just leaving the dwarf be and move on, but he wasn't about to let a potential threat to the group behind them without trying to get a better knowledge of their intentions and capabilities.
Being less afraid now the others have proven this was no monster, Jasaka walks closer to the man, or rather dwarf, in a friendly manner. It seems she may hate the underground, but helping others was something she was bound to do.
" What research my friend? Surely we can help you? There has been quite some interesting events. Let us make it back up together yes?"
Her words and pose showed no hostile intent, because she didn't have any nor any deception towards the dwarf. She was just sick of the underground.