Rosie looks at the two adults. "If you think it's wise, then I'll go along."
Emma nods, "I think it would be better and safer if we all stuck together."
Looking back at Ewen she says, "I guess that settles it then. Could you just show us how to access the part we need to get down there?"
Ewen nods. "Of course, follow me."
The cleric leads you up the path to the church grounds. The front gardens are well-tended and, as dusk begins to settle, the colors certainly catch the eye. Behind the church, you see a moderate-sized cemetery dotted with stout elm trees. "'Tis a somber sight, even when you see it every day."
The church stretches up to the sky, an impressive building on its own. Ewen opens one of the huge oaken doors for you.
Emma stares in wonder at their surroundings, "It might be somber, but it's all so beautiful at the same time. This Church is amazing, I've never seen anything like it before. I know you said that it was once a Church of Pharasma, who is it dedicated to currently?" She asks, looking around as they walk through the massive doors, their huge size making her feel even smaller than she usually did.
Aiden takes in the surroundings as they walk across the church grounds, appreciating the beauty, but remaining alert to any signs of danger.
Walking into the church, you see a few people gathered on one side of the building. Ewen glances in their direction briefly before walking on. "Formally, the church is dedicated to Shelyn. The construction was funded by a few wealthy patrons of the arts. However, architecture was their only interest here."
He stops before the altar. "This day and age, it doesn't really matter whose church it is. You get the same message. Devotion to any god besides Sarenrae or Shelyn gets you dirty looks."
"Sounds like you have a preference though," Rosie remarks.
Ewen nods. "But that's between me and my god."
While Emma had been taking in the size and architecture of the building and looking around at the different art work, people gathered in the church, and for anything unusual or out of place, her ears had been listening to Ewen and she was piqued with curiosity.
Looking back over at Ewen and the others she says, "Well, this is a lovely church. I haven't seen any others besides the one at home in Rosewood, but I can tell that this is a beautiful building. As beautiful as it is though, it's not as important as the people in it, or in this community. Personally, I really don't think that who you follow, is as important as what you follow. As long as you're not actively seeking to do harm, and are bringing hope, healing, and encouragement to those around you....that's all that really matters. My husband and I might follow different deities, but our beliefs are the same. Doing our best to help those around us in any way we can, and letting them know that they're not alone. I wanted to ask you, since we saw what caused this, do you think it would help if I explained to them what we saw so they know it isn't a sickness?"
Looking as though she just realized something, Emma adds, "Oh, and I want to make sure you know that before when I was saying "you", I was using it to describe people in general, not your person." She explains, not wanting Ewen to think that she had been talking about him.
Ewen simply nods. "I don't know if the truth will be any more comforting than what they think already. I can offer them comfort and hope. Your best gift to them would be to deal with this carriage."
He leads you behind the altar to another door. Ewen holds it open for you and you find yourselves outside again. Just a short distance away is a small cottage sitting in front of a cave. "That is my home. The cave leads down to the ruins. Some aspiring treasure hunters and pilgrims of Pharasma sought to find what may have been lost, but they were only able to get so far."
"Did they say anything about what they found down there?" Emma asked, curious as ever.
Aiden gazes ahead, looking past the cottage to the cave beyond, preparing himself for whatever might lie below.
Ewen shrugs. "It was before my time. Though it is said, they saw the altar to the temple and the head priest's office, but it is a long descent to get to it."
The cleric's tone becomes a little more grim. "It is also said that some people were trapped down there and their souls could find no peace."
"What does that mean?" Rosie asks.
"That there might be undead down there," Ewen answers. "Though what kind, I cannot even venture a guess."
"Dangerous ruins and maybe something nasty down there," Clyde says, unsure of what 'undead' even were. It was nothing he had seen or heard of in his lifetime. Were they ghosts? Or something even more nightmarish?
Emma thinks back to her days as an Acolyte under the older Priests of Sarenrae, and tries to recall what they taught her about spirits and the undead.
Looking from her husband to Ewen she says, "Thank you for showing us the entrance. We have more supplies on our cart, and we need to find a place to stable our horse since this sounds like something that is going to take longer than just a couple of hours. I don't want to leave Smoke out in the open while we're gone, and we can't take him with us. If there are souls down there in need of rest, or other undead that need to be dealt with, then as a Cleric of Sarenrae it's my responsibility to give them rest."
Looking back at Aiden and the others she adds, "I know finding the Carriage, destroying it, and setting the souks of our loved ones free is our number one priority, but I can't ignore this. Especially if we can find some insight as to how to deal with that carriage along the way. I know it might be dangerous, but I think we can do this if we stick together." She says, hope and determination filling her voice.
Usually magic or corruption of the land create undead, but other circumstances can cause the dead to rise. If there are undead in the cave, they may not be powerful but they could still be dangerous.
"You can bring your horse up to the church," Ewen says. "We have stables around the back for visitors."
Nodding she says, "Thank you for your hospitality while we investigate this. We won't take long to get ready. Just long enough to make sure we are well equipped, and get Smoke comfortable in the stable."
Turning to her husband she says, "Let's get back to smoke and get him settled so we can get going."
As they head back to where they had left the cart and smoke, Emma briefly explains the information she had recalled about the undead.
"It's possible they're connected if only a symptom of the carriage passing through here. Either way, making sure undead aren't left to prey on the people here, as vulnerable as they are right now." Aiden points out as they head back.
Guiding Smoke and the wagon around the the stables, he unhitches him, leading him into the stables, before coming back to the cart to check that everyone had whatever gear they would need.
Nodding as they reach Smoke and the wagon, Emma grabs out some carrots and apples from the food supplies she brought with them and follows Aiden into the stables. As he gets Smoke settled in, Emma reaches up with a carrot for him, that Smoke gladly accepts. Patting his nose, she puts the few apples and carrots that she brought, on a nearby shelf.
Looking over at Aiden before heading back to the wagon, "Make sure there is someone nearby that can take care of him while we're gone, so he gets an occasional treat or two. I want to make sure our baby is taken care of. I'll see you in a bit." Giving her love a hug, she quickly goes back to the wagon and starts packing up supplies for their trip into the old Temple. Some Holy Water for her weapon that she thought she'd never use, plus some extra food stuffs and other gear to help if their time below became too arduous.
She makes sure Clyde and Rosie are outfitted as well as can be as well, while waiting on her beloved to return.
Clyde straightens his tunic and makes sure he can reach his weapon easily.
Rosie shuffles her feet as she waits for Aiden to return.
Taking care of the details of getting Smoke settled and arranging for one of the still functional townsfolk to keep an eye on him and provide the occasional treat, Aiden gathers his weapons and gear, rolling his shoulders as he joins the others with Shadow beside him.
Looking at each of the others, he then gives his wife a nod. "Ready."
Rosie grabs a torch from her backpack. "I think it'd be best if I hold the light."
Emma nods and gives Rosie's arm a comforting squeeze, sensing the anxiousness in her, "Okay, but as soon as we enter, I want you in the middle of us. The order will be Aiden, Clyde, you, and then I will bring up the rear." She explains on their way back, once everyone has everything they need.
Entering the cave, you immediately can tell that it was the work of human hands. Various tools, some of almost an antique quality, lie against the walls. It does not take long for the dirt floor to transition to a tile floor. The floor goes downward at an almost steep angle, but not enough for you to lose your footing.
Clyde looks around, hand ready to swing and grab his blade at any moment.
Rosie also takes in the surroundings.
Keeping his bow in hand, Aiden takes in the expanse of the cave, scanning for signs of danger or anything that might indicate what lies below.
Before entering, Emma makes sure she has Holy Water in her melee weapon, and takes our her crossbow and loads it, while looking around the area.
As you walk along, a growing sense of dread wells within you. The natural dirt walls give way to carved marble and, within cracks of the walls, you see a low purplish light glowing.
Feeling the sense of dread growing within her, Emma says a silent prayer to Torag for strength and wisdom to deal with whatever lies ahead.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, "Well, that doesn't seem ominous at all." She says, referring to the unnatural purple glow.
"Any idea why it's like that?" Clyde asks.
Not having had any personal past experience with this type of thing, Emma thinks back to the teachings of the church and her knowledge of history to try and see if she could deduce what the cause of such an eerie glow could be.
Whatever the light is eludes you. From your collective information, you deduce that it isn't normal.
As you walk further, cracks appear in the ground, widening at certain intervals. Before too long, you come to a gap that you cannot simply step over.
"Looks like it's time for some jumping unless we have another way to get to the other side."
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Rosie backs up and runs towards the gap, giving a little 'eep' as she jumps.
"I'm alright," she calls, waving the torch back and forth slightly.
Clyde looks at Aiden and Emma. "I'm not much of a jumper anymore."