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Terror in Freeport - Part 10a: The Temple of Althares
“We found this in the ssanu temple,” said Beldin. He handed over a document to Thuron, the high priest of the Temple of Althares. The dwarf discovered it while Kham was off rescuing Egil.
“And we found this map in Verlaine’s house,” said Vlad. He handed over a crudely sketched map of what looked like the Temple of Althares.
The old priest folded the documents carefully. His voice was subdued but troubled. “I’ve known this day had to come, since I first learned of the activities of the Brotherhood in Freeport. There was no way any human agency could destroy them. They would return to seek vengeance on those who would hinder their diabolical schemes.” He waved the ssanu text that Beldin had found. “This document proves it.”
“What does it say?” asked Ilmarė. She was irritated that a human priest had more knowledge of an enemy than she.
“Should we survive this night, I will tell you what is contained herein. But there is no time now. They will be upon us—soon, and in force. We must secure the temple.”
“Agreed,” said Vlad. “If that map is any indication, they’re planning on attacking from all three sides.”
Thuron nodded towards Egil. “Egil, wake the clergy and have them begin spells of protection.” Egil hustled off to do the high priest’s bidding. Thuron turned back to Kham. “I will not abandon this holy place to the Brotherhood’s loathsome depredations. And I will not have the order hunted down and murdered one by one. We will make our stand, and we will trust in Althares to protect us.”
“He’s kept me alive this long,” said Kham. “Don’t see any reason to stop now.”
Thuron turned to the others. “My friends, I would ask you to stay and help. I will give you all the rewards this simple order can spare. We may have the god on our side—but steel never hurt, either, as you well know.”
Vlad picked up his shield and drew his sword. “I’ve got the south entrance,” he said.
“I’ve got the west,” said Beldin. He hoisted his battleaxe and stumped away.
“Kham?” asked Thuron.
Kham drew both of his pistols with a smirk. “I’m going to go pray,” he said.
“And what of you?” asked Thuron.
“I’m going to stay here,” said Ilmarė, standing between the pews at the center of the temple.
“That is wise,” said Thuron. “Surely, if we pray hard enough, perhaps Althares will protect us.”
Ilmarė snorted. “You misunderstand.” She hopped up onto one of the pews and drew her bow. “I can kill humans better from this vantage point.”
Thuron was about to say something when curtains to either side of the altar to Althares were pulled aside.
“What the—“ shouted Vlad from the other side of the huge temple. His voice echoed. “Those entrances aren’t on the map!”
Ilmarė drew a bead on the leader of the intruders. “And they call them the Brotherhood of Knowledge.”
“We found this in the ssanu temple,” said Beldin. He handed over a document to Thuron, the high priest of the Temple of Althares. The dwarf discovered it while Kham was off rescuing Egil.
“And we found this map in Verlaine’s house,” said Vlad. He handed over a crudely sketched map of what looked like the Temple of Althares.
The old priest folded the documents carefully. His voice was subdued but troubled. “I’ve known this day had to come, since I first learned of the activities of the Brotherhood in Freeport. There was no way any human agency could destroy them. They would return to seek vengeance on those who would hinder their diabolical schemes.” He waved the ssanu text that Beldin had found. “This document proves it.”
“What does it say?” asked Ilmarė. She was irritated that a human priest had more knowledge of an enemy than she.
“Should we survive this night, I will tell you what is contained herein. But there is no time now. They will be upon us—soon, and in force. We must secure the temple.”
“Agreed,” said Vlad. “If that map is any indication, they’re planning on attacking from all three sides.”
Thuron nodded towards Egil. “Egil, wake the clergy and have them begin spells of protection.” Egil hustled off to do the high priest’s bidding. Thuron turned back to Kham. “I will not abandon this holy place to the Brotherhood’s loathsome depredations. And I will not have the order hunted down and murdered one by one. We will make our stand, and we will trust in Althares to protect us.”
“He’s kept me alive this long,” said Kham. “Don’t see any reason to stop now.”
Thuron turned to the others. “My friends, I would ask you to stay and help. I will give you all the rewards this simple order can spare. We may have the god on our side—but steel never hurt, either, as you well know.”
Vlad picked up his shield and drew his sword. “I’ve got the south entrance,” he said.
“I’ve got the west,” said Beldin. He hoisted his battleaxe and stumped away.
“Kham?” asked Thuron.
Kham drew both of his pistols with a smirk. “I’m going to go pray,” he said.
“And what of you?” asked Thuron.
“I’m going to stay here,” said Ilmarė, standing between the pews at the center of the temple.
“That is wise,” said Thuron. “Surely, if we pray hard enough, perhaps Althares will protect us.”
Ilmarė snorted. “You misunderstand.” She hopped up onto one of the pews and drew her bow. “I can kill humans better from this vantage point.”
Thuron was about to say something when curtains to either side of the altar to Althares were pulled aside.
“What the—“ shouted Vlad from the other side of the huge temple. His voice echoed. “Those entrances aren’t on the map!”
Ilmarė drew a bead on the leader of the intruders. “And they call them the Brotherhood of Knowledge.”