The trip to the temple was uneventful. She had half-expected to run into another gnoll ambush, but once they reached the temple it looked like the tables were turned on the gnolls instead. Their corpses were rotting in the sands, among the dead guardians of the temple. "Looks like they used the gnolls as shields to handle any of the temple's traps and guardians. With any luck, the temple would kill off most of our enemies before we get to them." Of course there was also the secondary issue of the gnolls triggering some sort of trap or powerful monster that would prevent the party from moving forward. But Catarina was certain that too could be bypassed with smart thinking and hard work.

Catarina decided to search the bodies for any clues that might help them deeper into the temple when suddenly the ground beneath them collapsed! She wasn't prepared for this at all and started to flail through the air before hitting the ground. Fortunately for Catarina, her armor did well to cushion her fall considering she fell among a pile of bones and armor. If she wasn't wearing her full plate, she'd be cut up or even impaled. Still, the fall made her sore. "Well just great..." Getting back to her feet Catarina took out Domina. Her holy blade shined with a bright light, illuminating the dark pit. She wouldn't bother with any attempt at stealth.

Looking around, it seemed like some of the others were dropped down here too. At least Alexander, Malkai, and Kalista. Catarina also saw Forbes unmoving corpse and the blood pooling around his body. The sight shocked Catarina, but she soon recovered. It must be hard for Alexander, but it was just a dark reminder to Catarina that this was a deadly job. No doubt more of them may die here today. She had to steel her resolve and push onwards regardless. She met up with Alexander and Kalistra first; the elf seem wounded from her fall, so Catarina took out a vial of healing. It was only a Cure Light, but hopefully it'll undo any damage she may have suffered. "Here Kalistra, drink this. We'll need to be at our full strength here."

---

It was nice not having to lead the horses for once. It may look like a simple job, but being a wagon driver was more complicated than just snapping the reigns every couple of minutes. One had to get a feel for the horses, make sure they walked at an equal pace, and neither rush them nor let them get lazy. At any moment they may need to make a dash just as often as they need to come to a sudden halt. But for Parum, she took this opportunity to smoke a bit more pipeweed. She was quite excited to get inside this temple and loot it of all it's treasure. She had no qualms desecrated the tomb of an evil god, or any god for that matter. In Parum's mind, any "lost" ruins were free game to anyone brave or skilled enough to take from it.

Once the party arrived Parum stayed in the wagon to finish off the last of the weed in her pipe when she heard the sound of a great collapse. She bolted out of the wagon and was ready to run half-way back to Sapphire when she turned to see a giant sinkhole form near the temple ground. Immediately she noticed that half their party was missing, and guessed that some must have gotten caught in the hole. Peering over the edge Parum couldn't even see the bottom despite the bright morning sun above them. "Damn. That's quite a drop." Some of the others started discussing how to approach, such as Veridis suggesting going down this hole or Elleonora using the main entrance. Parum chimed in. "I'm in favor of the main entrance myself. We don't know what's down there, or how deep that goes. Hopefully the others are alright and if not... We'll find out soon enough. "

Vivian was quick to get ready to head into the temple. She wanted to know if Ellenora had a blessed hammer, and just in case she didn't, Parum was prepared. "I have a few bottles of holy water, and if that isn't enough, two vials of Holy Oil. If we run into any undead down there just pour this onto your weapon and it should last you a few swings." Parum handed both vials to Ellenora seeing that she was more martially inclined compared to the rest of the others. Parum was certain she had enough holy water to last a few encounters, and if that wasn't enough, she had other tools too like alchemist fire or acid. "We should hurry. Not only do we have to meet back with the others down there, but we need to catch up to those gnolls. Last thing we need is for them to get to the treasure and use it against us."

Elleonora nodded when she spotted Vivian with her on the surface. This was good in a way. At least it meant that there was a magic user with each group, though she alone to face as vanguard while possible, could prove dangerous since she was also hte only healer in the group given the current situation on the surface. Not that she minded the challenge of course." Considering to whom this temple belongs, we always had to deal with undead. The gnolls and the drow simply stirred the nest first." The cleric stated with a shrug, looking at her warhammer. She smiled widely." It is, actually. It's as effective on undead as any blessed weapon would be, in addition if hte need's be I can give it additional power by adding temporary to it's blessing. Let's hope it doesn't get to that though."

"Thank you, Parum. As I said my weapon is indeed blessed, but these will come in handy." She nodded and looked towards the entrance." Alright, I will lead. You al stay at least 3 decent sized steps awya from me, my hammer doesn't recognize friend or foe in the middle of it's swings. I'm trained to wield it even in closer quarters, but don't get too close if combat starts." She stated and looked at hte rest." Vivian, you stay in the middle, Veridis, Parum you need to keep anything that may try to sneak about away from her."



"Thank you..." She groaned as Alexander pulled her out of the pile of bones she was burried into. She could feel them scratch at her clothing as she was pulled free." I think so..." She replied, attemptign to stand firm on her own. Her legs felt weaker because of the terror she went through last night, but with a little leaning on the wall, she managed to stand stable and take a few steps." Yes, I can walk on my own." She said finally with a nod, looking about. They were... undergound and it seemed things were about to turn bad soon. No access to the surface meant if they get chased here by enemies, they couldn't know where to run to." Won't win any competition for speed, but I can move."

"Please save it for later, Catarina." Kalista said with a pained smile." It will not help me any right now. I can move, better save our remedies for when we recieve real wounds from the temple guardians that stalk these hallways." She said with thankful voice." My magic's not affected and I should feel better in a little while."

It looked as if Kalista, to Alex's relief, that she could walk. Slowly be it but she could move. He looked to Catarina and then to Malkai. He doubt the orc would care about this situation so he turned back to Catarina. "Look she is moving very slowly and it's not a mystery that she is very weak right now. I advise that one of us is in front of her while the other is in back to keep her safe.
By being slow she will be a chosen first target for the enemy." He said. With that it was time for the group to exit the hole the fell into and into the temple. What they would discover is that they fell into one of the temple's many catacombs. The outer wall was solid brick but the inside.... it was not designed like any other burial chambers he had seen. It was lined with skulls and bone built into it. It looked much like the catacombs of Paris France. Every so often there were decent breaks in the wall to hold a casket or a statue. The statues were also not very inviting. They looked grotesque and the eyes seemed to follow you no matter where you were. The place gave him the creeps and he did not like it. It explained why the pile of bones was behind them. The drow must have tossed them aside getting in. Such disrespect for the dead... no wonder the temple turned on them and attacked them and their minions.

The torches were oddly lit too. It was a blue flame,... almost magical rather then natural. Suddenly something spiritual began to form. It took the form of a a short haired priestess. The spirit or ghost began to turn its attention to them pulling back its hood. The figure was armed with a battle scythe. The figure smiled, her eyes full of.... emotion. "Greetings,... it looks like the temple has gained some new visitors. You must be here for the temples treasures.... they are yours to take. However,... our great god Nerul has orchestrated traps to be built and tests for you and your comrades." She said. She began to stare into the eyes of each of the members that had fallen into the pit. "As you can see from the surface the Gnolls and their Masters failed the first test and have unleashed our temples greatest defense. The unliving guardians that protect this temple will now be problem for you as well I am afraid." She smiled and tilted her head. The most devilish smile formed. "I wish you the best of luck,... for you all look like you would make wonderful additions to this temples collection of corpses." She said in full confidence that they would fail.

Alex smirked and took it as a challenge if he ever saw one. The priestess then vanished as quick as she had appeared. The first problem was that they had come to a fork in the road already. They stood in the middle of a hall with one way leading in one direction and then turning left. The other direction lead farther down and made a right. He sighed and looked to the others. "Any suggestions?... no one wouldn't have like a summon spell they could cast? Like maybe summon a small badger or something and have it go the other direction while we go another? I do not want us to seperate for that would be a very bad idea."


[center]The Inner Chamber[center]

Vivian nodded feeling the special need for protection a bit flattering. Elle would protect her front while the others protected her back. This was very generous and she hoped that the temple would not be too.... dangerous. As the entered the main entrance they would be welcomed by stairs going down and wide into a very large chamber with a large statue at it's end. The statue was that of the reaper himself with a alter below. Not a alter you would see in a church in the town but a sacrificial alter. One with even a suspended star shaped object. It was a sort of pendulum. On the table it had a star shaped form the the piece would slide into with a dark hole at the center where the sacrifices blood would flow into. Where it went after that one could guess. There were benches where people could watch and pray and very large pillars holding up a cracked roof barely even standing. Vivian could only imagine what dark rituals would go on here. On either side of the statue were doorways leading deeper it would seem. Vivian had just barely stepped into the place and already did not like the feel of the atmosphere. The floor and benches where riddled with blood and more corpses. To her surprise she even saw one or two of her kin. She knew the two of them too. She found herself gravitating to one of them and kneeling to touch the chest of one. It was a male,... beside him was a female."Looks like the temple claimed these two so far. His name was Derek and her Diana.... they were very close siblings. From what I remember Diana was very envious of my position." She explained. "As for him... he was just another fool that followed orders. He felt if he kept doing as he was told he would become someones favorite and become.... secured." She looked around and found a few signs of the undead but also broken stone. The stones were oddly shaped as if they where once statues. They had grotesque broken up faces and that did not give her a good feeling.

Then like what happened to the group below a figure formed at the feet of Nerul. "So many wish to challenge this temple in so little time. This is good,... soon all will join our ranks willingly or not. This chamber was built so that great warriors of Nerul could join the undead guardians and protect the temple forever. We had no living soldiers or guards for the living are.... well easily corrupted." She said as she glanced over at a dead Gnoll. She then turned her head back up to the group. "What treasures you find are yours,... however there are tests and challenges you must pass if you wish to survive. These Gnolls and theirs masters had failed the first test and awakened the temple.... you see the result around you. They were of no match. Some still remain but so few...."

"Do any of my kin remain?... these masters you speak of? Or are they all dead?" She asked. The priestess tilted her head and smirked. "Where would the fun be if I gave such a hint?... would it not be just as much of a challenge if you had to fight not only us but them as well? You will have to go and find out yourself. I wish you the best of luck." The figure said and dissipated. Vivian had to smile at that and sighed. She looked to the bodies of her kin and pulled from satchels vials of a toxin. She looked to Parum. "Here,... this is drow knock out poison. We use it often against our prey. Can turn a situation around pretty quickly if say one of those Gnolls got even a cut with a dagger empowered with this. They would drop like a ton of bricks and be asleep for hours.... maybe even days." She said. She looked around the chamber and stood up.

The temple would be one hard safe to crack but with the help of someone like Parum..... maybe.... just maybe they could have a advantage. "Change of formation,... I suggest Parum take point. There are tests and challenges in this temple.... some might be in the form of traps. Traps we may not be able to see but Parum. She might know what to look for and could stop a messy situation from happening. Last thing I want is for me or one of us to be cleaved in half by a swinging pendulum that could have been avoided."

“I agree.” The cleric replied to Vivian with a smile and quickly moved towards the back of their little party.” Veridis, you move to the front with Parum, stay behind her and in front of Vivian still. I will guard the back in this situation.” She said with a smile, cracking her neck for a moment, before pulling a shiny silvery pale medallion from underneath her armor. It was her holy symbol, it was in the shape of a small sword. Since she wasn't the traditional religious cleric that most people envisioned with the vocation. She followed an ideal, not so much a religion.

“I completely expect for us to be blindsided eventually. Places like these are usually filled with secret corridors these cults like to use in case of attacks and the like. Expect enemies to appear from any direction.” She said, wondering how many times she'd have to use her powers to turn away undead. Hopefully they doesn't run out at a bad time.



This place was soo uninviting after all. The bones... the grotesque. It was rather unsettling overall. The amount of people who must have died within the walls of this temple must have been beyond count, considering the fact the bones couldn't be counted. She vaguely wondered how many of those were here as the temple was build in other words followers of this evil god and how many were simply adventurers or other unfortunate victims who arrived at this place one way or another. She had a sad smile, knowing full well they could be joining the fallen soon enough.

Suddenly a ghostly being made out of bluish fire appeared. It seemed to be a spiritual entity of sorts, clearly connected to the temple and it's master. The way it spoke, the way it talked made Kalista shiver. It already viewed them as new members of their merry evil temple creatures. Having this kind of existence here, made Kalista realize that there must have been a whole lot more to this temple than simple temple of an ancient evil deity. This thing they came to get... She was starting to get a bad feeling. Maybe the best course would be to not find it, but if that happened she was already dead.

“I have a spell that should tell me the direction to go to reach an object I wish to find.” Kalista said and looked at Alexander.” I may be able to locate Elleonora's hammer. I got a good look of it a while back. If we follow the directions of that spell, we should reunite with the rest, should I attempt it?” It was risky since it was by no means sure thing. The spell could just be distorted by anything in the temple that's made to block such spells and she could lose a magic use." It's not a guaranteed spell to work given the situation."