Chapter 3: Into the Temple

Back at Tamaryn's temple...

It was dark and smelly. Water seemed to be dripping from somewhere inside the walls, it wasn't nearly as loud as Bender's gruff breathing coming from up ahead. He was mad and, currently, most of that anger was directed at her via glares he shot back every once in a while. The other members of the group had fallen silent, probably due to the dark gaping hole they seemed to be plodding into without restraint.

Her mind wandered through old memories of daunting times, none were more peculiar than this. More were horrifyingly dangerous in comparison. She'd be all right.

Bender's lumbering steps changed sound as he hit a new type of flooring. "Well, here's the bottom," Haro cheered, "no one fell and broke their necks."

"No, but I don't like this place one bit," Jim said.

"If you're afraid, leave now," Bender grunted gruffly.

"I'm not afraid, I just don't like it!" Jim protested.

"Let's keep going," Chrom said, pushing his way through the group and walking towards a large room that lay in front of them. The rest of the party followed, torches fanning out to give everyone a better view. The room was 20 feet wide and triple that tall. In the center was a hole that stretched across the room barring their way to the other side. In the middle of the hole was a giant, golden frog. It didn't move or blink, just sat there.

"There seems to be a door on the other side," Dieras said, "we should leap over to it. Might lead to what we're looking for."

"Are you worthy?" a booming voice emitted from the frog in the center, he turned to look at the party. "Look at all of you, let see who we have here," he squinted in the light, sucking every detail. "A wizard fellow," the frog muttered, his long tongue hanging from his mouth for a second. "I don't know you," he continued talking to Chrom, "what name do they call you?"

"I am Chrom, a wizard," Chrom replied.

"Interesting," the frog moved on, looking up and down at Dieras.

The druid was enthralled with this new creature and immediately began speaking, "Oh great one," he said, bowing with a flourish, "I am Dieras, Druid of the Forest and friend to animals everywhere."

"Is that so?" the frog chuckled. Dieras was about to reply when the frog turned to Haro, "And what name do you go by in this life?"

"I guess Clary Haro," she replied, "though I'm not sure what you mean."

"Very interesting, this will be one for the memory," the frog said, he looked to Jim, "and you?"

"Jim."

"I know you," the frog chuckled pointing a webbed hand at Marie, "what name are you going by now?"

Marie glared at the frog, but made an effort to appear puzzled. Haro stared quizzically but no one said anything. Turning back to the frog, she replied, "Marie."

"I quite like that one," the frog said, "and you dwarf, I know you but not your name."

"You don't know me," Bender grunted.

"He's Bender, O wise frog," Dieras put in helpfully.

"A stubborn dwarf, " the frog smirked, "how original." He took in the party once more and shook his head, "You are not worthy yet," he growled.  With that he lashed out with one large hand, striking Jim and pushing into the water below. Everyone prepared for battle.

The frog was quite spry for its large size, it hopped nimbly to one side positioning itself to attack Chrom. Bender charged forward, knocking Dieras aside who was beside himself with shock.  With a mighty roar, Bender swung his great axe hacking at one of the legs of the creature.  It bellowed in pain, but didn't stop attacking. It's tongue lashed out at Haro who cleverly avoided it. Rapier prepared, she sliced it's tongue instead.

Marie took no time trying to rescue Jim, with a full set of armor on he would have trouble swimming to the surface. Hurriedly she pulled a rope from her bag and wound it around a column that connected to the ceiling. The other end she threw over the side as she peered over the edge looking for Jim.

Bender was furious, swing left and right. He and Haro were a vicious duo. She leapt from the floor and onto the back of the golden frog.  It shook violently, trying to get her off. She was too nimble and held fast.  In his attempt to dislodge the Halfling he ran over the still upset Dieras and shoved him into the water. The druid yelped as he hit the frigid water below. Chrom stood ready, his arm outstretched. With a flick of his wrist he called forth a fireball that smashed into the side of the frog. It bellowed again, finally flinging Haro off.

The frog bowed its head and began shrinking. Jim had finally caught onto Marie's rope and pulled himself up.  Bender charged again, but the frog held up its webbed hands in defeat. Now the size of a normal frog, it hopped casually forward.

"You have passed," the frog said, "you are worthy to enter the temple. I warn you however, it isn't safe. Nothing here is safe."

"That was a test?" Dieras whimpered, pulling himself up after Jim.

"You think Tebris is just going to let anyone into his temple?" the frog scoffed.

"You mean the dragon Tebris?" Dieras' face lit up excitedly. 

  

"Who else?" the frog replied, "It is curious that you know of him, how do you?"

"It is my mission to ressurect Tebris," Dieras replied.

"Then you have come to the right place," the frog answered.

"Noble creature," Dieras continued, "what name we call you by?"

The frog rolled his eyes, "What does that matter? There's a darkness that's invaded this temple and I need you to get rid of it for me."

"You can't?" Haro smirked.

"No, I can't," he growled, "but you seem capable."

"Fine," Marie butted in, "but if we need you, you have to come. We'll call to you. It's your temple, no reason we should do all the work of the guardian."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," the frog replied, "now off with you." It a split second the frog hopped into the air and disappeared.

"Well that was all very odd," Haro sniffed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Temple Guardians are a bit daft," Marie chuckled.

Ever the sensible one, Chrom spoke up, "Shall we destroy some evil in another room?" Everyone gathered themselves up while Jim went around making sure everyone was healed. No one seemed to notice the new towershield he now carried. 

Chapter 2: A Scroll Through Time, Part III

PREVIOUSLY...

They all set to work and completed the raft shortly. It was crude, but it would manage the two mile float to the tower. They shoved off, Marie watching the shoreline behind them. There it was, the being that had been following them. Clothed in dark armor and carrying a broad sword, how had it remained so stealthy in such garb?

"Is that it?" Haro asked, pointing to it.

"Yes," Marie said.

Haro raised her small palm to it and waved, the dark knight waved back.

The strange creature in full armor didn't follow them and they focused their attention on the river. The closer they got to the tower, the foggier it got. The only thing they could mae out well was the looming tower in the distance. They paddled forward, nervous and unsure of what they would meet. Things in the Shadowfell were never easy, you never knew who was out to get you or from where they would come. The sat in the eerie silence waiting.

Soon after they deemed it safe to dock on the shore and everyone got off the raft. They tied it to a tree and stared at the building before them.

"Looks like sixteen stories," Haro estimated.

"Who would build such an absurd structure in the middle of nowhere?" Marie asked, staring pointedly at Adalos.

He shrugged, "You never know, it seems like a trap though."

"Then why are we here?" Haro asked.

"Everess wouldn't ask us to do something if it weren't important," Marie answered, "we can trust her judgement. That doesn't mean it's not trapped though."

"Let's look around for a bit then, maybe there's a clue to why it's here," Adalos suggested.

"Fine," Marie agreed, "You two search around to the left and I'll go to the right."

Haro and Adalos exchanged a look of suspicion, but said nothing. They began making their way around the left side of the building. Along the sides of the building there were no insignias or even any embelishments to give away it's purpose. It was blank, cold stone that matched the ever graying sky. They kept going, happening upon a half buried statue. Despite being a scholar of history and religion, Adalos knew nothing of the cloaked figure that bore long sharp teeth.

"What is it?" Haro asked.

"I'm not sure, let's dig it out," Adalos suggested. With no other signs to give them a clue as to what they would face in the tower, they began digging.

Meanwhile, Marie had found the entrance to the tower. Her instinct told her to turn away and leave it as it sat ajar. But, there was something in there, something they needed. Quietly, she crept to the door examining the ground before her and the door frame. Her eyes easily found the thin but strong steel cables. It was a trap, one she'd need time to disarm. She found the device's pressure plate and began her work. Many years of practice and an excellent (although regretable) teacher, made the work easy. In no time, she had disabled the device.

Ducking down, she decided to investigate the interior. Like a shadow, she slinked in to the room but there was no light. Across the room from her came the rattling of chains, someone was inside. Rather than face them by herself, she retreated to find her companions.

Adalos and Haro had dug for an hour now and the statue's base had yet to be uncovered.

"This is ridiculous," Haro muttered, "we're not getting anywhere."

"But, this statue is the only clue we have," Adalos reminded her.

"We stopped looking as soon as we found it," Haro pointed out, "maybe there's something else. I don't think this is going to help us at all."

"Just a little more time," Adalos asked.

"What about the rogue? Shouldn't we have seen her by now?" Haro asked.

"You would have if you weren't digging a pit," Marie said, walking up to the two of them.

"We thought the statue might tell us something," Adalos said.

"What? That this place is really old?" Marie scoffed, "Come on. I've disabled the trap at the front door but there's something waiting inside for us. I recommend a torch for light."

Haro bounded up after the rogue and Adalos soon followed, taking one last look at the statue. A shiver ran down his spine just looking at it. He had a job to do though.

At the door, Haro lit a torch. Marie nodded to the both of them and kicked the door so it would swing open. She rushed forward and found the foe she was looking for. A skeleton was standing in front of them, a sword in its hand. It took a step forward but Marie was already upon in. She swung down with her morning star. It tried to dodge her, but it was too late. It crumbled to the ground in heap of dust and bone fragments.

"That wasn't so bad," she said, flicking her hair out of her face.

"We could have used you in our party a while back," Adalos chuckled, "seems we're always fighting."

"Everess said you had many enemies," Marie said. She began to examine the room, looking for more traps. Haro had found a bookshelf and was pouring over the scroll, most of them too ancient to understand anymore.

"Can you read these?" Haro asked, holding them up to Marie.

"I can make out a bit," Marie said, concentrating on the words, "they're goblin. Tactics for war mostly, but ancient. These must have been here for a very long time."

"Look at this," Adalos held up a piece of parchment, considering the rest of the books lying about it seemed fairly new. The strange writing was unknown to Haro and unlike the scrolls she'd found, who then passed on the letter to Marie.

"It's a warning," Marie said, "between men that seem to be brothers. Apparently one, name Jynx, was writing to tell his brother Yardol that he couldn't hide him. Someone called the 'Onlooker' was after him," Marie roughly translated.

"Whoever those people are," Haro muttered, "it doesn't help us."

"No," Marie replied, but she stashed the note in he bag anyways.

"Let's keep going," Adalos said, motioning to a staricase in the corner.

The ranged up two more levels, each had traps and more skeletons waiting to attack them. On the fourth level they came to a room. Unlike the ones before, there were no skeletons in site. Only an old telescope and on the floor in a large circle a symbol of sickness and sin. Haro, unbothered by the strangeness of it all, walked up to a closet on the farside of the room. Immediately two skeletons darted out of the closet. Adalos flung the telescope at one crushing it, while Marie bashed the other's head in with her morning star.

"Easy there, Haro," Marie helped the halfing up, "it's okay to be curios, as long as you can kill the thing you're curious about."

"I would have had it," Haro said.

"I know," Marie replied, "just be careful."

Another few levels of the same pattern, didn't phase their pursuit ever upward. As they were about to reach the sixth floor, Adalos heard a voice inside his mind, Welcome, me old friend, it said.

"Did you hear that?" Adalos asked.

"Hear what?" Haro asked.

"It must have been my imagination," Adalos sighed. They continued up the stairs entering a room with a pedestal in the middle and on it was the book.

Usmos, it's you! The book cheered, only Adalos heard it.

"Who are you?" Adalos asked aloud. Haro and Marie exchanged perlexed glances, but did nothing.

You don't remember, but we were friends long ago, the book explained, in fact, you helped create me.

"How can I know to trust you?" Adalos asked.

Because I'm hear to help, there's so much to do and so little time, it said, besides, I'm a book. What am I really going to be able to do to you?

"Well, I believe I meant to get you," Adalos reasoned, "so I have no problem in claiming you." A series of images ran through Adalos mind, 4 beings in blue, a volcano errupting in the middle of a mountain range, a large table, many different cities all engulfed in war, and two dragons with the three blue being fighting something dark.

A burst of light flashed through the room and suddenly two figures stood with the group. An old man in white robes and red designs stood with Everess. Haro and Marie stood in front of the dazed Adalos as the old man began to speak.

"I'm glad you're all here," he began, "I am the Onlooker. Together you must free Everess, unite the Champion Titans, and stop Nix. There's so much to be done and so little time, but Dane can help you. This book, will show you how to win."

The room began spinning and the three fell unconcious. Everything has just gotten more bewildering.