Dreya wrings her hands, uncertain as to what they should do.  She has little experience in such matters.  "Um, sorry to intrude, but wouldn't leaving only let this temple prepare while we are gone?"

Cole looks pensive.  "If bringing this temple down is also our goal, Dreya has a point. It might be better if we find a spot to rest, recoup, and continue with taking out the evil that is here. That being said, I myself and a bit worse for wear, so could use some much-needed rest or healing, so if that is not an option by resting here, then perhaps town is best."

Stachys agrees. "We aren't done and even if we need time we can't give them that same time.   Rest here and move on."

I'll await the party's decision.  Elwood is the current temporary party leader.

Anthony looks a bit dejected but concedes the point. "We better find a secure place, though. I need a solid eight hours' rest," he grumbles.

"Maybe we can use that secret room Gloop Loop showed us and rest up there."

"That sounds like a suitable compromise, Elwood."

"That would be alright in my book"

Anthony nodded his assent. "Sounds reasonable. Please lead the way."

"It would be defensible." Stachys agrees, "My wounds are minor, so I can take first watch."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 12:51, Wed 05 Sept 2018.

Discussion seems to have dried up.  Time for the party leader to make a call.

"Let's make our way to the secret room and rest there."

Hearing no objections to Elwood's call, the party holes up in the secret passageway where you first encountered Gloop Loop.  You settle in for a well-deserved rest as the standing water on the floor quickly drops.  It is soon dry enough to stretch out and sleep.

Things are not quiet, however.  Shortly after the last of the water squeezes out under the door to the south, you begin to hear noises to the west and south.  Many voices are speaking in an unknown language.  They seem to be annoyed and angry.  Eventually, a much deeper and loathsome voice speaks and all of the other voices quiet immediately.  It sounds like the voice of the wicked priest who was dropping sound bursts on the party when Gloop Loop rescued you earlier.

The priest seems to be barking orders at his followers.  After that, the other voices begin speaking again.  It sounds like they are working on something.  You periodically hear chanting and grim hymns being sung.

The noises continue steadily for over an hour.  Do you intend to try to wait it out?  Do you want to interrupt whatever the followers of the Pain God are up to?  Do you want to set any special defenses while you are resting?  You have not recovered any hit points or spells yet.  Your secret corridor does not appear to be at risk of being discovered for the moment.  You will need a solid 8 hours of rest to recover spells.

Anthony sits up grumpily and whispers to the others, "I told you we should have left. Now what do we do?"

Dreya casts alarm over them, whispering her words, and then flops back over trying to sleep.

Stachys rises, and stretches his leg, working the kinks out of his back and neck.  "Are we leaving them be?"  He asks quietly, a bit confused.

ooc: are the sounds mostly north, or mostly south? I assume we are waiting in the room to the north end rather than the hall to the south?

Elwood whispers.  "No matter what, we need the rest.  It doesn't sound like they will find us, and they may expect us to return anywhere but here.  Let's just take turns keeping watch while we rest."  The warrior priest then returns to prayer, preparing for the battles that may come the meet day.

Seline not being actively woken up rolls over and continues to try to sleep

Over the course of your 8 hours of rest, the sounds from outside the secret corridor gradually reduce, but never go away.  There are now fewer voices speaking and chanting.  The darkness in the secret corridor has become more oppressive.  The Temple's priests have evidently restored the darkness spell oppressing this basement level.

Much more noise comes through the northern secret door than the southern (this is the door opening into the corridor leading to the portal room).

Anthony has been holed up in a corner for an hour poring over his spellbook. He finally stands and walks quietly over to the others.

"So...what do we do next?" he asks in low tones. He had some fond hopes about what they would not say, but he was not optimistic.

Stachys slept fitfully after knowing they were so many outside.  He moves quietly to the southern door and listens carefully.

In reply to Anthony (msg # 739):

Did you do the smaller font on purpose for his quiet one?  If so, that is so awesome.

[Ahem...actual Dreya post now]

Slowly emerging from that lulling pull of slumber, awareness slowly returns to the wood nymph.  Groggily blinking around, for a moment alarm slams through her as her mind recognizes nothing of her surroundings.  With a gasp, she jackknifes up.  Familiar shiny armor, a broody ranger over in the corner, all her now familiar friends has memory slamming back home.

Oh right.  Temple of Doom.  Or was it Pain?

Gaining her feet, Dreya stretches out the kinds from a body quite feeling the gruels of yesterday's battle.  And... oh ew... her teeth feels gross!  Rolling up her bedroll, she fishes about her backpack for a scrap of cloth.  As she tries scrubbing her teeth, she wanders around the secret hidden room.  "Maybe taking care of the darkness, AGAIN, would be...ack, what is the word?  Would be wibe?  No.  Vize...?  Ah!  Wise.  Perhaps it would be wise."

Looking immensely pleased at her continued progress with this confusing common language, Dreya recovers some rations and begins eating a bit after scrubbing her teeth as best as possible.

Seline waking up she assess the situation as best she can, seeing that Stachys has moved to listen to the south door, Seline moves silently to the north door slowly making sure that she doesn't cause noise nor trip into anything that may have been added to the corridor while they were sleeping or dealing with the portal.

When she gets close enough to hear effectively (without touching the door at all if possible) she will listen occasionally looking back over her shoulder to see if her companions are motioning her to return or are packing up and preparing to the leave. She will stay listening till either the party calls her back or she feels like she has a good enough understanding of what is happening on the other side of the north door to add a meaningful contribution to discussing what the next move should be.

After rest and a silent morning prayer, Elwood breaks his fast with some rations.  In a whisper, so as not to interfere with Stachys and Seline's listening, Elwood says "I vote that we north.  That seems to be where all the priests were coming from."