The Moon in the Well

Ostarghi watches the exchange between Raine and Bishka, momentarily weighing the recently acquired axe on his right hand. "Somehow, I was under the impression all dwarves knew how to swing axe and hammer. If it's any easier to you than the sword, Bishka, you can have this axe and I can use the mace we got from Blimgool instead."
"Thank you for your generosity, Blimgool. Hope we can come out of this place alive and return the favor" Mathias thanks the amorphous creature, before joining the rest of the group, on the lookout for traps or enemies ahead.

The darkness of the hallway is short, and opens into the darkness of a temple long forgotten by time and overgrown with vines. In the center of the large square room is a glowing ring of runes carved into the stone floor. Standing in the center of that ring, is a woman made out of darkness itself.

"I am Noctys, goddess of the night. Stand in my presence and behold the beauty of the darkness."

The air seems to grow thin, your breathing becomes labored. This being is without a doubt a thing of eldritch power, to gaze upon her strange and alien beauty is to loose all sense of beauty in the world.

"The Archmagi of the Chaos Cult summoned me here and trapped me within my own temple that I might not interfere with his plan. They will open the portal to the Chaos Dimension and destroy this plane forever. The first helix has opened, the power surge has weakened my prison, but the architect of my captivity is still here below the temple. He uses my power to pervert reality. You must descend the well in the priest's chambers, find the architect and destroy him."

Noctys turns her head which causes all of you to nearly swoon as your focus is dragged along with hers. She raises a hand, almost imperceptibly, yet the motion of her wrist wracks your guts with a sick, animalistic feeling of desire. She points a finger at Raine,

"My favor is upon you. I permit you to call on me, if desperate."

Noctys stands again at ease, as though she had never moved.

"Free me, and I shall grant each of you a wish. The way through the well will only open at the New Moon. One week, I bid you wait in my temple. Take what the priests left when the died and when the moon is black, free me from bondage."

Noctys stands as she had, her imperceptible features frozen in place as though a statue of unspeakable, yet ghastly beauty. A door at the back of the temple opens and you see the spartan barracks of the monks beyond.

Hoping to find more suitable clothes and possibly some food stores, Ziva heads for the door at the back of the temple.

The priest's quarters are a large room with several blanketed bunks, four sealed barrels in the back of the room containing oats, roots, salt pork and dried fish. A stack of grey robes sits folded on a table near the barrels, and a row of sandals waits beneath it. A shelving unit stands near the door that is full of scrolls which look yellow with age. Opposite the wall of bunks is an altar decorated with trappings of the goddess Noctys, a ceremonial kriss sword hangs on the wall above it.

Still shaken by the encounter with the Night Goddess, Mathias changes into the lighter, more comfortable robes, then walks up to Andreas and unhooks the bow from his back, offering it to his fiendish-looking companion. "This belonged to Ilva. She gave her life for mine, so I keep it as a memento. Put it to good use and honour her memory."As he witnesses the exchange, Ostarghi also offers the coil of rope to Andreas. "Got plenty to spare after making that grappling hook flail thing. What feels like a lifetime ago I used to be a ropemaker, so the cultists had put my skill to use in my spare time. Had some to bring with me when we escaped the slave pens."

He then takes a bite out of the food items available, making sure to save some for Blimgool outside as promised. "We'll fill in for whatever shift we're needed" he says to no one in particular, waving a piece of salted port towards Mathias. He then turns to Bishka. "I'll take you up on your offer, miss. Can't say I'm a master with any weapon but I can handle myself, it's the shield here that feels awkward. Between the axe, the mace and that wavy-bladed sword on the wall, we got a bunch of different weapons to train with. Plus any other 'solid items' ol'Blimgool might provide us out there."

OOC: If no one has any objections Andreas will take the ceremonial Kris and prayer beads.