Chapter 3.5: The Temple of Merikka

The party leaves the bound-and-gagged watchmen locked in the dog kennels and leaves the outbuilding. Having gathered and bundled up all the watchmen's spears in a cloak during their rest, Myrtha engages in the heavy athleticism of heaving the bundle up and over the 20'-tall wall. It takes a few tries, but eventually the bundle is over the wall without opening the gate. If anyone thinks that it would have been easier to throw the spears individually, they wisely keep it to themselves. Aanbo leads the way up the wide stairs to the Temple of Merikka's open doors.



Just inside the doors, a wide hallway leads north, opening into the central sanctuary of the temple. This large room has a tile floor decorated with an abstract mosaic pattern in orange, tan, brown, and blue. Flame lamps hung from hooks on the walls illuminate the interior, showing that several tapestries decorate the walls. Five huge tree trunks serve as columns in the room, and a jade statue of a beautiful young woman is mounted on a low dais along the north wall. Closed doors are visible on either side (east and west walls).

Myrtha closes the large double doors and Chase replaces the bar that prevented it from being opened at night. As they are doing this, Morton hurries past the others into the larger part of the sanctuary, stationing himself by one of the tree trunks. From here, he can see that there are two more doors, set in the southern wall on either side of the entrance hall.

Aanbo follows more cautiously, peering around the corner, but he sees much the same thing. Someone must refill the lamps periodically; with no windows and the doors shut, this sanctuary would be completely dark without them. The two wizards, Lyrel and Eugenios, stick close together behind the Earthshaker monk.

Arya strides forward into the sanctuary, with Ember in her wake (and Ferranzo concealing himself behind the rogue). "Is there no one here?" Mother Arkon bristles.

Just then, the door on the left opens and a Temple servant - clad in the robes of a Merikkian novice - steps through. He sees the heroes "Oh!" and smiles broadly: "Welcome, visitors! What brings you to seek Merikka today?"

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Aanbo (25/27)
Arya (15/19)
Chase (17/17)
Ember (9/12)
Eugenios (8/8)
Ferranzo (8/8)
Lyrel (11/13)
Morton (9/9)
Myrtha (29/30)

Elvish Morton is feeling much more rogue-like and quietly slips to the distant tree to the further right to view this situation from. He is really getting used to this rogue'ness. Lucky his studded leather isn't too noisy. This is not something that he really has done much before. He keeps his hands free and hasn't placed his club handing over his back yet in his hands. He really hazards to use it anyway. (Ember can be jealous.)