After some sleep and rest and realizing that the everburning coals were the key and that the magical circle was part of a defunct teleportation magic, after copying the "map" and grabbing some of the coals, the Guardians of Hope headed out of the Temple of Fire, only to find their Erdlus dead.
19th day of Mist In Sun Descending, Year of the Priest's Defiance
5 days later, a very tired group of heroes entered the city of Altarur. There they immediately hooked up with Master Coruff, a trader headed for Tyr some days later. Somehow Tweeks managed to negotiate the Guardians working as guards for the caravan, without alienating anyone.
1st day of Lowsun (midpoint of year, 5-day festival)
After an uneventful trip across the desert, the Guardians arrived back at Tyr, just as the big festival was beginning. As they entered the city, Jelastra spotted that one of the guards were eyeing them suspiciously. He broke off from the others, who continued towards one of the markets. He tailed the guard, and found out he was headed to the palace. Meanwhile Heian disappeared as well, and after a while, Tweeks and Po headed over to Argul. There they were joined by Jelastra, while Heian took some time before joining up with them.
Argul was happy, although slightly surprised to see them. With their information, he could show them on a map where the two last temples were. He also told them that times were harsh in Tyr, with executions and taxes on a steady rise ever since Amanda had become sorcerer-queen.
With said news, and everyone together again, it was quickly decided to head to the Ringing Mountains and find the Earth Temple. Like immediately. Heian seemed exceptionally pleased about heading out.
5th day of Bloom In Sun Ascending, Year of the Priest's Defiance
9 days later, the Guardians arrived at Freedom, a small semi-anarchic community made by ex-slaves from Tyr, after walking along the Ringing Mountains. They bought some food, and immediately headed into the mountains.
10th day of Bloom In Sun Ascending, Year of the Priest's Defiance
After 5 hard days of climbing and walking in the mountains, the Guardians rested on a small platform about 3000 feet above ground level. During the night, Jelastra was surprised during meditating by a young Behir. The fight was brutal and definitely touch and go, with Po getting badly beaten up by the constant surges of lightning, but in the end, the monster died, and they found a magical rod with some intriguing abilities inside it, when they gutted it. Tweeks took the horns as a souvenir.
13th day of Bloom In Sun Ascending, Year of the Priest's Defiance
The Guardians finally arrived at the 4 peaks, and found two stone villages, one up on the mountain-side, one down at the bottom, between the 4 mountains. They decided to check out the one at the bottom first. They climbed down and snuck up to the village stone walls. There they found out that the village was inhabited by Tareks, aggressive grey-skinned humanoids that live by raiding and pillaging, although they are usually not without honor. Laying low during the day, avoiding a couple of patrols, they decided that the best way would be to sneak in during the night. Po summoned his otherworldly friend, who told him that there was a temple in the middle of the village.
Once it was dark, they stealthed up to the walls, and climbed over. As they were getting down, they were almost spotted as Jelastra's foot got stuck in a hole in the wall, but a quick tumble avoided the disaster. Once the guards gone, the Guardians hurried stealthily towards the temple, but just as they got there, they ran into a patrol. It was quickly dispatched, but not before the alarm was sounded. The Guardians hurried to the temple, and by miracle, Po managed to open what seemed like an impossible lock and they were inside the Earth Temple.
Going down and down, the Guardians were soon victims of a trap, where they were caught between a huge rolling boulder and a deep pit filled with nasty-looking spikes. Fortunately, they could all jump or teleport over, although Po had to have some help from the boulder to get over.
Going further down the corridor, the Guardians were assaulted by a Gelatinous Cube and a Black Pudding. And found themselves fighting for their lives with these unnatural creatures. It was touch and go, especially for Po, who came within a hair's breath of dying. The Guardians won, but are now left exhausted, in a hostile dungeon surrounded by aggressive Tareks looking for them...
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