Having solved the previous puzzles of the temple's lower level, The Group™ now stood before the door onward. The ten by twelve foot slab of stone offered no clues as to its opening other than a narrow slot carved into the center, approximately four feet from the floor. They pondered the meaning of this slot for several minutes. What could fit in the slot? Was it a trap? Would it accrue lint over time?
Feeling stumped, The Group™ fidgeted impatiently. The cleric, being a dwarf of no small courage, decided that dangers be damned, he'd figure out the mechanisms of the door. And so, with finger tips inside the slot, he lifted on the slab ever so slightly and it immediately rose with eerie quietness into the ceiling. Mouths agape, the wizard and ranger joined him to peer into the next room of the complex.
Unlike the first room, this chamber was well-lit, but there were no apparent light sources. It was as if daylight shone down through the ceiling like it were clear glass. The contents of the room puzzled them. In the center stood another statue akin to the four previous, but much larger. It's marbled skin denied dust a purchase and its more heavily armored figure looked that much more imposing.
The room also bore three more stone doors in addition to the one under which they stood. They looked like mirror copies, displaying no decorations and only a simple carved slot. Moving into the room the investigate, they were nearly taken unaware as the humanish statue suddenly animated and moved for the closest living member.
The animate stone humanoid's surprise was no match for the battle-hardened reflexes of The Group™ however. Like cobras they sprang into action, the ranger volleying a deluge of pointy death while the wizard and cleric cast beneficial spells. Though the party triumphed, it was not without incident. The ranger's skull was nearly caved in by a great smash from the statue's thick stone spear. The cleric, weaving mighty -- at least to him -- spells of healing was able to save the ranger and restore him to health.
The defeated statue then did something quite surprising. Instead of falling inert or crumbling to fragments from the damage, it nearly liquified. The wizard, after taking a sample of this goo, deduced that the statue had actually been a mimic, possibly compelled to service by the ancient denizens of the temple. One item didn't turn to goo however -- the spear the statue had used to deal its devastating blows was still quite solid. Further investigation found it to be magical. The cleric claimed it after the other showed no interest.
Opening the west door revealed a simple chamber, reminiscent of a monk or acolyte's quarters in the temples that still stood to the ancient gods. Two bed slabs carved of the same stone as the temple claimed much of the room's area, while a stone shelf jutted from the far wall. A short search revealed nothing else in the room.
The east door headed a small chamber much the same as the opposite door's. The far stone wall had collapsed in this room though, spreading debris over much of the floor. The dwarf quickly ascertained that the collapse hadn't been natural as signs of purposed destruction scarred the rubble. Again, a short search revealed nothing else of interest.
The southern slab opened into another large chamber. This too was lighted as though the ceiling were transparent. Four braziers, still burning and smokeless also cast orange flickers about the walls. A raised dais rose from the center of the room, coming to a flat some several feet from the floor. Atop the dais was another statue of the strange humanoids, but fully plated in or wholly gold. Two stone altar tables stood on either side of the room, their fine cloth covers still preserved by some kind of magic. The far side of the room was adorned by a painting of some sort, but The Group™ didn't have time to investigate further.
A screech came from direction of the room with the crumbled wall. As the ranger turned towards the sound he was assaulted by a small creature reminiscent of an imp, but slightly larger and smelling of smoke and char. It quickly bit him and he could feel a burning pain spread throughout his limbs, making his movements clumsier.
The Group™ once again sprang into action. After dealing with one of the two flying monsters, three more creatures appeared in the rubble of the small living chamber. These were not flying pests however, but small twisted humanoid figures with bloated stomachs, dripping fangs and greyish green skin covered in warts and pustules. They attacked the party with menacing glee, but were easily cut down by fearless adventurers.
Thinking this new ordeal finally over, The Group™ started to relax, but yet another being shimmered into view. The voluptuous humanoid female with silken silver hair, burning violet eyes and musical voice was betrayed by her large, leathery wings and scaly tail. "It seems I'll have to deal with you myself," she intoned.
The party immediately went into action, but she was faster yet. Striding confidently towards the ranger, her gaze lured him into her embrace. And yet the ranger had other plans. Slipping out of her welcoming grasp, he bounded backwards and the adventurers attacked as one. The battle lasted several tense seconds while the demoness attempted only to provoke first the ranger and then the cleric into her inviting arms.
Finally, as the battle had taken its toll, the demoness hissed frustratedly and reaching into a small pouch produced a clay vial which she threw to the ground. Upon shattering, the vial created a smoke so thick so as to nearly obscure the party even from each other when no more than five feet apart. When the smoke finally cleared, the demoness was nowhere to be seen.
What mysteries await The Group™ in the final room of the temple's hidden underground level? What purpose could demons have with the ruins. And what was going on above ground after a day and more of exploration below?
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