As they marched through the forest Yew was surprised that such a strong group moved so slowly. They were heavily armed, of course, which explained it. He silently practiced the mental techniques of calmness and patience he had learnt during his years at the monastery.

When they came closer to the temple he understood their caution was justified.

"Patience is often rewarded," he observed philosophically, "but an evil temple is likely to have both human and humanoid guards - humans on guard during the day then humanoids who can see at night. Night is probably their strongest time and our weakest. If there are guard patrols we may learn the best way to enter by watching them but if the temple itself is enough of a fortress they may not even patrol outside at all. Perhaps we should get close enough to watch for an hour. Then, if there are no patrols we can still try to find a way inside before nightfall."

Gwythe examined the snapped off wood, it looked rotten inside as if someone had been poisoning it.

Up ahead the could see that the vegetation die out well before they reached their goal leaving the ground exposed. The rain continued to fall.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you the words of Gary Gygax himself.

As you approach the Temple area, the vegetation is disconcerting—dead trees with a skeletal appearance, scrub growth twisted and unnaturally colored, all unhealthy and sickly looking or exceptionally robust and disgusting. The ruins of the Temple's outer works appear as dark and overgrown mounds of gray rubble and blackish weeds. Skulls and bones of humans and humanoids gleam white here and there amidst the weeds.

A grove of some oddly stunted and unhealthy looking usk trees still grows along the northern end of the former Temple compound, and a stump of a tower juts up from the northeast corner of the shattered wall. The leprous gray Temple, however, stands intact, its arched buttresses somehow obscene with their growth of climbing vegetation.

Everything surrounding the place is disgusting. The myriad leering faces and twisting, contorted forms writhing and posturing on every face of the Temple seem to jape at the obscenities they depict. The growth in the compound is rank and noisome. Thorns clutch, burrs stick, and crushed stems either emit foul stench or raise angry weals on exposed flesh.

Worst of all, however, is the pervading fear which seems to hang over the whole area — a smothering, clinging, almost tangible cloud of vileness and horror. Sounds seem distorted, either muffled and shrill or unnaturally loud and grating. Your eyes play tricks.

You see darting movements out of the corner of your eye, just at the edge of vision; but when you shift your gaze towards such, of course, there is nothing there at all. You cannot help but wonder who or what made the maze of narrow paths through the weedy courtyard. What sort of thing would wander here and there around the ghastly edifice of Evil without shrieking and gibbering and going completely mad?

Yet the usual mundane sounds of your travel are accompanied only by the chorus of the winds, moaning through hundreds of Temple apertures built to sing like doomed souls given over to the tender mercies of demonkind, echoed by macabre croaks from the scattered flapping, hopping, leering ravens.

There is no doubt; you have come to a place of ineffable Evil. Still, it is most certainly a place for high adventure and untold treasures. It is time to ready spells, draw weapons, check equipment, and set forth into the maze of peril that awaits you inside the....

Map of the temple surroundings.  I'll trust you not to take advantage of the details...

Kalador does not care for their surroundings. He drew his bastard sword and prepared for battle.

Tindo runs her hands over her many pockets.  Again checking the location of spell components, so at a time when it may count she knows exactly where to direct her hands, to find what she needs, even in complete darkness.

Brother Yew had few preparations to make. He adjusted his grip on his halberd, bringing it up to the ready position as instructed by his teachers. Then he was ready and nodded to Ronalt.

OOC: Since we are approaching from the south I presume we will enter by the southern gate. Then approach directly to the temple?

What is our marching order? Yew is unarmoured and would be better off in the second rank or as rear guard. He can move quickly to get forward if required.

Gwythe looks around at the others and pulls out a dagger, holding it ready in one hand. After a moment's further thought, he awkwardly pulls out his sword with his off-hand holding it loosely at his side.

"Kalador and I will be the front rank."
"Yew and Arek second, the rest I am sure you will sort it out." Ronalt grinned as he saw his companions ready themselves.

Kalador looked at Ronalt with an expression as if to say, thanks for volunteering me. He moved closer to Ronalt.

With Ronalt and Kalador in the lead, the party followed Tindo's advice and circled around the outside of the temple walls. The place oppressed them, it felt like they were being watched all the time... and perhaps they were.  At several times they thought they heard the sound of movement, strangely enough outside the walls but never saw any source other than the wind.  The tower to the North East while partially collapsed looked sturdy enough at its base, but short of entering the perimeter they could tell no more. No structure, other than the temple itself, retained any understandable form.

As they moved around they heard what sounded like the howl of wolves. The cries initially from inside the perimeter was echoed by others further afield. As it was taken up it almost seemed like they were surrounded by the howls, though again nothing could be seen.

OOC; I followed Tindo's instructions as no one complained.

OOC:  Because it was a sound plan until the wolves started gathering.

Drawing his bastard sword, Kalador looked to see if the wolves, if that's what they were, would attack. If so, he wanted to be ready.

Preparing an arrow for his bow, Ronalt scanned the grounds for the wolves hoping to at least wound a few before they closed.

Gwythe looks around in confusion at the noise, but doesn't draw his sword, his hand instead going up to his jerkin. He spits on the ground and seeks the source of the sound.

Yew also looks around with his halberd ready for a fight. He would rather keep moving but is not about to go it alone if the rest of the group decides to make a stand here instead.

Looking around as well Tindo speaks the thought the others may have, "To be cut to pieces by a pack of wolves is pointless.  Let us make for the temple and take our chances there." She looks to the others for agreement.

Iviana's knuckles have been white on her flail since the start of the walk around.  "I think we should try to make for the tower," she says, nodding her head towards it.  "If we can," honesty compels her to add, as another howl floats through the air.

The wolf howls continue to echo around the temple and surroundings.  For the moment they do not seem to be getting any louder allowing some respite to consider actions and plan their approach. At Iviana's urging the tower looked like a good place to start.

Studying it, it was clear that there was little or no chance of getting inside without gaining access to the temple ground, short of scaling the walls and hoping for access from above. To access from the temple grounds, they would either have to return to the entrance or scrambled over the ruined walls entangled with vines.

OOC: On the temple map you were about '11 o'clock' when the wolves started up.

Kalador quietly said, "Should we climb over those ruined walls? I feel the gate might be too heavily guarded."

"Yes, up and over," Yew agrees. "That is the shortest route."

Tindo nods her head in agreement and waits for the others to lead out.

Kalador will wait for other opinions. If none are forthcoming, he'll head to the ruined walls and will attempt to climb over.

The half-elven monk matches Kalador stride for stride then begins climbing the wall too. His agility and climbing skill is immediately obvious.

Assuming he reaches the top without problems he will quickly pull out a coil of rope, find something secure to tie one end to and toss the other end down to the others to assist their climb.

Tindo proves to be very agile, but takes the offered rope to assist anyway.  She thanks Yew for his assistance as she gains the top .