The building before you was doubtless a beautiful temple in its day: two stories in height, crafted from well-fitted planks of dark hardwoods brought from the mainland.  The windows were spacious and cheerful, closed against the wind with brightly-painted shutters; a gate of well-crafted wrought iron once stood before the large front door, and a trellis for well-tended ivy once leaned against the right half of the front face of the temple.

Today, after 60 years of neglect, the temple is a wreck. The expensive wood is old and pitted, cracked and decayed. The windows are still spacious, but most of the shutters are gone; the few that remain bang open and closed in the wind, or hang crookedly from a single hinge. The wrought iron gate is as intricate as ever, but rusted over, rusted clear through in places.  The ivy once planted as decoration now covers the entire right side of the front wall, and continues around the whole right side of the temple.

It's a spectacle of gloom and disrepair.  There are, however, no lights within, no sign of habitation, and the walls may be sound enough to keep out the worst of the weather.

"at least it'll keep tha rain off." The dwarf says.  He mutters in dwarven as they cross through the gate.  "Is thare anytin ta eat?"

In reply to Kerkrin (msg # 2):

Getting chilled from the weather, and lack of appropriate clothing, Sal still takes a moment to wonder about this temple.
Lost in a gaze at the spectacle, and imaging it as it was in it's glory.  The windows & shutters painted and hung correctly, plants well manicured, worshippers coming and going, congregating inside, and outside.
"Imagine the work and craftsmanship that went into this temple, such a shame the years have decayed it."

No real place to put the daggers, he has them in each hand.
"Should one of us inspect the interior, to make sure their isn't an angry God inside?"

Deniv comes upon the temple, clearly impressed despite the age and wear.  This place must have been really beautiful.  He nods his head at the mention of food.  Yes.  Food, drinking water, and a fire.  We're all starting to suffer from being wet and cold.

In reply to Daniv Jensen (msg # 4):

Kirkrin, yes food is next on the agenda, hopefully our new found friend  Keestake  can accommodate on that too grinning at Keestake.

Lamm takes a look at the outside of the Temple:
This sure looked like a glorious place in it's heyday, one day I am sure it will be rebuilt better then before.

Turning to keestake, So, this goddess Keestake, is she about normally or only when angered.   Um and what did the Orcs and Goblins do to anger her?  Destroy stuff, disrupt or take things?

shrugs about who will go in to check out the Temple Kreestake, It is safe to go in? Why don't you lead us in so the goddess knows we are friends since we come in with you  and smiles at Keestake indicating to lead the group in.

In reply to Lam Durus (msg # 5):

Anxious to get out of the weather, and inside somewhere somewhat safe.
Slaps Kreestake on the shoulder, and nudging him inward to lead on into the Temple.

"Great idea Lam, here lead the way Kreestake. Since the Goddess knows you are a friend, you can let her know we aren't here to loot like the Goblins & Orcs.  You are it's friend, right?"


Sal isn't very religious, but maybe there is a chance one of us has any knowledge of who this temple is dedicated to.  Possibly even if we could recognise a symbol which denotes good or evil.  Meaning if we were to see a cross, one could assume it is a good church.     

Tath had been quietly following along pondering something as he walked. Helping carry equipment or helping with Rebeccah. As the stopped outside the large old building he looked around at the surrounding terrain, watching for any movement.

The old man leads the group clear up to the gate at the entrance, pulls it open a little (it makes a squeak, alarming but really not too loud) and steps through the still working doors of heavy oak into the temple itself.

Once they have entered, they find that the main hall where they stand is thoroughly shielded against the wind, for it has no windows, and the front doors are sound. After a few minutes in shelter, most of the shivering stops, though it is still cool inside.  Not enough light filters in once the doors are closed to get a look inside the temple, though there is a view of flaking paintings of a goddess and other symbols on the wall before the door closes.  Keestake moves around with familiarity, though, and leads the group through another set of doors into a darkened chamber.

The floor here is tiled and covered with debris.  The sounds of voices carry, giving the impression this is a large room.  Most of the debris, when inspected, appears to be old furniture that has been broken.

"The orcs came to loot the temple, but you have not.  The goddess knows this."  He roots around in the dark and procures some bits of dried meat, which he is happy to share with the group.  He kicks at some of the debris.  "Damn orcs would have destroyed this place completely if she hadn't ran them off."

Rebeccah begins to stir and regains consciousness as she warms.

In reply to Man in Black (msg # 8):

Looking around, becoming familiar with the inside of the temple.  Adjusting the newly acquired daggers & belt on his waist.
_{"Vaguely reminds me of the barn."}  He mumbles under his breath.
"Keestake, what did you sat this is the goddess of, or her name?"

Kerkin's dwarven eyes adjust easily to the darkness, and he doesn't even stub a toe as he walks.  Kerkin eats with gratitude, even dried meat is welcomed on an empty stomach.

Seeing Rebeccah stir, Deniv collects some of the meat and moves to the young woman's side.  Don't move, he says.  He gently helps her to raise her head slightly, placing an unclaimed cloak underneath for support.  We have a bit of food.  Do you think you can eat?

Rebeccah opens her eyes to darkness.  "What?  Where am I?"  She tries to sit up suddenly, but the piercing pain in her shoulder makes her hiss in pain and lie back down.  Daniv's familiar voice encourages her to sit up more carefully.  She draws her legs up under her and takes the food from him.  "Thanks.  Dare I ask what this is?"

In reply to Rebeccah (msg # 12):

Taking some of the food and patting Keestake on the shoulder in gratitude, Thank you Keestake.  Lam, set down against a wall and quietly eats as he watches Rebeccah stir - Rebeccah, glad to see you are awake and among the living.  chuckles softly, I made sure we brought all the stuff we could that was salvageable from the battle here plus Lam gets up and places next to Rebeccah I made sure to take for you, 2 daggers, a spear and short bow and quiver w/12 arrows for you if you deem you could use them.

Points in Keestakes direction, The older gentleman we rescued, Keestake is his name brought us to this safe place, the old goddess's Temple.  We should be safe for a little while.


Once done, Lam asks Keestake, is it safe or do you have a safe place to start a small fire to maybe dry some of our cloths out and take a bit of the chill off of everyone?

"Thank you," she says as she takes the items and sets them next to her.  "I think I'll try with the bow.  It worked really well against me.  Seriously, I thought I was done for.  Do we still have those books that were in the chest?  There could be some useful information in them."

In reply to Rebeccah (msg # 14):

"Welcome back to the world of the living, Rebeccah."
Said jovially, as he makes round through the rom.

"I want to make sure this room is secured."
Checks the walls/windows/doors.  (If there are any.)

"Should we barricade the front entry gate...and the front door?"

All I know is dried meat, he says before taking a bite.  Right now, I'm hungry enough not to care all that much.
He turns to Keestake. Is there something to gather rainwater in for drinking?

Keestake begins to gather up some wood to prepare a fire.  "No.  Orcs won't come back.  Too scared.  She'll make sure."

With the fire lit, the room becomes visible.  (This room is windowless)

This chamber is very large, and two stories
in height. There is broken furniture all
over the tiled floors: it looks like the remains
of chairs, tables, and perhaps low
couches. Most of the wood looks aged, but
you can see that the breaks are all fresh.
Everything has been smashed recently.

On the east wall, in the middle, is a set
of double doors, closed. On the south wall
is the set of double doors by which you entered
the chamber. On the north wall, at
the east corner, is a very small and inconspicuous
door. All the doors in the chamber
are still hanging on their hinges.

The west wall is actually a flight of three
shallow steps leading up to a line of pillars.
Between the pillars, you can see that cloths
or tapestries, now ratty and sagging, have
been hung, blocking off your view of the
chamber beyond.

The walls of the hall of the goddess were
once plastered smooth and painted with
frescoes of the goddess in all her aspects.
Now the paint is curling, the plaster is broken
and peeling, and there are large cracks
in the plaster—probably from the foundation
of the temple settling over the years.
Additionally, someone has taken a club to
the walls here and there, evidenced by
deep gouges and tears in the plaster, and
places on the wall have been smeared with
filth.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:42, Wed 22 Nov 2017.

Jory says a prayer to the Goddess: "Goddess of the Heavens, we beseech Thee, Have Mercy upon us, poor people who've been forced into slavery. Help us to regain our strength and to combat all the oppressors of the world. Have Mercy, Goddess, and I will make Thy Name great before all the peoples of the world"



Jory approaches the set of double doors and listens for sounds. If there's no sound, he tries to open the doors.

In reply to Jory Ranglore (msg # 18):

Lam quietly says amen after Jory finishes his prayer then Helps Keestake with the fire, stating as he looks about A shame the Orcs did all this destruction, such foolish useless actions and sighs, then while watching the fire get started he asks Keestake what is beyond those other double doors and that far door and I am guessing you live in that area beyond the pillars indicating toward the cloths or tapestries covering the one area.

He grimaces to himself more then anyone in particular when Jory goes for the other set of double doors and tries to open them fearing what keestake will say or do or even if the goddess is watching what she would do.

In reply to Lam Durus (msg # 19):

Sal didn't get this far in life by taking high stake risks.  The temple still makes him a little nervous.  When Jory is about to open the doors, Sal is positioned near the exit, for an expeditious retreat.  _{"Better chances with Goblins or Orcs, than an unknown powerful God."}  He quietly says to himself.