"The goblin mage seemed to be interested in these braziers... perhaps they hold a secret or two" queries the half-elf, as he inspected the wrought iron flame carriers. Finding nothing of value or interest, the frustrated Ranger kicked over the brazier closest to him "Junk! Nothing but junk!" he called angrily. As the half-elf was expressing his frustration, the bowl of flame crashed accurately into the head and neck of his dragonborn ally burning him slightly.
"WATCH IT!" growls Stelios, giving Murleck the most odiferous of looks!
"Well there's nothing here!" Murleck retorts
"I'm not so sure about that...." the silent tiefling suddenly chimed in from near the large murky pool of water.
"What have you found mage?" the draconic paladin called over.
Waving a hand over the pool, the murk began to clear away and suddenly the pool of water materialized into the image of a room, much like the room the pool was located in. There are men with swords in the room, a warriors lazy poise about them. Also with the three men was a willowy wisp of a woman, her skin pale, her hair as white as egg shells.
"I think I just saw deeper into the temple... there are men working with these goblins" Janic confides to his comrades. "We must be extra cautious."
"No argument from me" the dragonborn replied, as he started for the room their crimson drake friend appeared from. Inside, Stelios found two small basins with fresh clear water. Upon inspection and recalling some of his religious training as a welp, the large dragon warrior decided to take a big gulp of the fresh water. Immediately realizing he chose wisely, his body felt the restorative powers course through it. "Guys, come here, have a drink of this" he called to his friends. While his friends both got fresh flagons of water from the basin, Stelios filled his again and had taken it to the black warhorse still tethered in the other room. The horse initially hesitant to take this gift eventually drops is instinctual wall of defense and drank from this flagon contently. After another quarter turn of the time dial, the team feeling restored and ready to move on, go back into the main antechamber. Facing two doors, one on the far left, the other on the far right the three adventurers deliberated which passage to take.
Ultimately it was decided to enter through the door on the left. Upon entering the small room the muffled growls of a person or thing could be heard... and sure enough there was a stout dwarf who was curiously beardless, in the far corner, hogtied and gagged. Fighting furiously against his bonds, he suddenly saw the newcomers. A look of pleading filled his eyes... Stelios made a move towards the prisoner but before he could take even a third step... a shimmering light started to surround the beardless dwarf and a black void opens up beneath the prone warrior. The dwarf suddenly began sinking into the blackness as if it were some kind of mire or swamp. Stelios hesitated in his tracks, taken aback by the apparent magiks at work before him. After a moment he regains his senses and moves towards the dwarf with a sense of urgency but those few moments of indecision and surprise prove to be too much and the dwarf sinks out of sight before Stel can reach him.
"What just happened mage? Where did he go??" remarks the Dragonborn
"The where I cannot say, but to the what... it seems that was some kind of portal spell, though I've never seen it's like before. It may have been a trap that we triggered by entering this room. Who can say?"
Murleck, hanging back to the rear of the group finally intones... "What say we head back and try those doors over there." as he gestures towards the door that was located to the right. "I can sneak in there and see what's what." Janic and Stelios look at each other with a hint of a grin and make a waving gesture towards the door "Go right ahead" they say in unison as they head back the way they came.
Sliding the door open with complete silence, the stealthy half-elf slips into the room. Once inside, it takes him a matter of seconds to realize he is not alone, but also still undetected. A giant dire rat is across the room, gnawing on some old bones. Feeling he's still got stealth on his side, the ranger moves further into the room. Three steps in, the dire rat's head perks up... the smell of the ranger and his recent battle hit his olfactory senses, causing it to spin around and hiss at his new found prey.
"Now that is the biggest rat I've ever seen..." crosses Murleck's mind.... "GUYS... GET IN HERE!" he then calls out as the dire rat lunges for him!
"Here we go again!" the tiefling and the dragonborn mutter in unison as they rush the door on the right.....
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