Summary of relevant events

Following their desire to see the world --or just to get out of town-- the characters signed on as caravan guards.

Some wandered off and reported late for duty (making themselves a little less popular with the administration than they could have been). Their places had been filled by NPCs, the leader of which (Calum) is a 'criminal' who has beef with Rook (but has not recognised Rook quite yet).

This Calum was espied sneaking back into camp one night, the next morning the caravan was ambushed by bandits who appear to have heard about the recent plan to change the caravan's route. They had, in their possession, a map to the location for the ambush, drawn the caravan merchant's own paperwork left back in town.

The PCs and their fellow guards fought off the bandits, but sustained injuries.

A tattoo on the back of the bandit 'queen' has gotten the guard captain all riled up. She and the PCs and a few accompanying NPCs are going to deal with whatever is at the 'bandit camp'.

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They have found their way to the general area --a sinister mist covers the valley-- and spotted what might be the bandit's camp. It is mostly deserted --the ambushing bandits not having returned, despite knowing the way. The only person in evidence is Cook, who we are currently working out how integrate into the party.

• The party --with the 'aid' of Cook-- eventually found their way to the temple area.
• There it became clear to some that everyone else's minds had been affected by some influence extending out from the temple.
• Cook rushed ahead into the interior of the temple building and was terminally impaled upon spikes beneath a shifting section of floor, and died.
• With Cook's death the influence of the temple receded. It is doubtful the party members understand that something about him had suppressed a protective barrier placed upon the temple to keep the influence in.
• Something permanent needs to be done about the temple lest others fall prey to its foul influences.
• Inside: the party found a massive pile of human bones, ranging in age from at least 25 years to as little a a handful of years --based on the rate of skeletonization in such climes.
• The job of carting all the bones out of the temple --in an attempt to 'cleanse' it-- proved too much for one day. The party elected to board up in a closed --or closable-- room within the temple and rest for the night.
• During the second watch Asha encountered some 'invasion' through a small crack in the wall between their room and the main temple space.

• The group has been joined by an 'archaeologist' (whatever manner of mystical practitioner that is) and entered the tower attached to the temple building.
• At the top of the tower they discovered a large bell, constantly swinging --even though there is no apparent motive force.
• The bell's clapper is absent, so it makes no noise as it tolls out is silent call to service.
• To there initiated eye: There appear to be spectral ropes connecting the bell to whatever is below.
• Stopping the bell's swing briefly, may have indicated that it emits some form of mental compulsion to come to the temple.
• There are hints that something is trying to suppress the bell's call. But that does not seem like a permanent solution and may be in the process of failing.

• The group managed to stop the bell from swinging. Bringing an end to the mental compulsion.
• A trap was sprung that closed down the way back (through the tower window). They now have no choice but to continue into the dungeon beneath.
• There have been ominous sounds of "moaning" or "groaning" coming from the depths.

• With only 2 ways to go, one of them being a flooded stairway down, the group instead opened the door into a new hallway.
• This hallway was filled with moss, fungus and creepy crawlies.
• Some mushrooms, disturbed by the visitors, puffed out spores that, when exposed to a flame, caused an explosion.
• The group decided to extinguish all torches to avoid the hazard.
• The darkness revealed 2 things:
1) Some of the fungi down here give off dim light, just enough to navigate the hallways.
2) Some weapons, wielded by the adventurers, gave off a dim white glow.
• There was a fight with a giant centipede.
• A room was found hinting at the presence of drow in the past.

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• The group came to a new room with multiple exits, lifeless skeletons and traps.
• A trap was sprung, awakening the skeletons. A battle ensued.
• The group figured out that holding Albert's broom stick, which he had used as a conduit for Raynor's power, transfered some divine energy onto their own weapon. This gave their weapons a boost when fighting skeletons.