The New Remnant

You all pull back to the first location of the inner room. You can now hear shuffling sounds and a separate scraping sound. The scraping sound seems to be coming from due north of you, but the shufflling sounds seem to come from both north and west. You can't tell if it is just some kind of sound distortion, or if there are multiples.

With his ears twitching Aizashi turns and looks around trying to locate the source of the sounds. When he can't find it he asks "Should we investigate? I think the noise night be coming from over there." as he points north.

Oliver breaths in deep to try to identify the scent of whatever is around the corner.

"If it's an orc —or any scavenger really, myself included— I should be able to smell... something", he whispers.

You are much more confident that the shuffling sounds are from more than one source and more than one place. As you get ready, you hear a sharp, loud sound that can only be described as cackling, which sends uncontrollable shivers down your spine. As whatever it is gets closer, Oliver gets the unmistakable smell of ... rotting. It is not pleasant and he instinctively wrinkles his nose in disgust.

"I... uh, I really don't like the smell of this... or the sounds or the looks, for that matter. And I literally smelled hell earlier."

We might still have time to leave, if we choose to do so now.
Aizashi points out while he prepares himself for a confrontation.

"Then let's be off."

Haven't heard back on this.

As a group, you pull back out of the inner room and gently close the door. However, the shuffling doesn't stop and it continues to get closer. Once the door closes, you hear another cackle. You are back in the outer ring corridor on this floor.

"All right then. Where to now?"

"No one knows we are there. Let's go up one level and see if that can avoid & explore more." Cords will lead off to doing just that.

"No one, except for that cackling thing, that is."

Oliver's senses feel overwhelmed and he opts to tag along sheepishly.

With Cords leading, Aizashi will bring up the rear.

Arc still walks behind Cords, his bow at hand and an arrow ready

You all make your way to the stairs up and take them.


At the top of the stairs you see that you have reached the top of the temple. Where the main walls are on the lower levels, there are four separate, unattached walls with two archways in each. Further towards the center of the floor are four free standing pillars that each end with spectacular finials. The entire floor is covered with beautiful neutral-toned granite, but inside the partial walls there is an amazing garden with an fountain in the center. Initially it appears that the fountain is not working, but when you get closer you see that there is water flowing down the sides of the center structure, so, while there is no spray, there is still movement to the water. The water within the basin is clear, though there are still some water lilies and some small fishes in it. The garden consists of flowering plants and vines that drape over the partial walls. All of the plants are based in very large pots arranged seemingly randomly, but still very tastefully, around the area within the partial walls. It is amazingly beautiful and surprisingly peaceful.

At the far corner of the level, you can see another set of stairs going down, but the other two corners have no stairs. For the moment, you do not hear any shuffling or cackling.

Blornvid asks Oliver and Elyse, "Sensing any magic?"

Forgetting his previous worries, Oliver delightedly walks around the garden. He checks for traces of magic and looks around for interesting botanical specimens which might serve as alchemical ingredients.

"I like this place. Such a contrast to the lower levels."

"Much nicer than some places and rather amazing to be way it is." Cords too looks over the plants but no professionally.

Aizashi lingers at the stairs for a moment to make sure they are not being followed. Once he is convinced (and only if he is convinced of it) he will try to check if he can see anything by looking over the outer walls.

"Don't forget the mushrooms that attacked us in the underdark Oliver." Stee will move to the fountain and take a handful of water and smell it.