10-9-05 Ingaran Adventures ##
After the defeat of Sharyss, the Champions of Athena sans Zografos retired back to their recently acquired mansion in the city of doors, Sigil. During dinner, Zografos materialized out of the shadows and much discussion was held.
It was decided that the time was nigh to use the Key of Olympus to travel there. Alexander thought back to what the Oracle of Athena had told him about the key and remembered that the path to the doorway lay behind the temple of Zeus beneath a bridge.
They travelled to the temple of Zeus and Zografos entered the short, twisting alley behind the temple to scout. Upon reaching the end of the alley, Zografos found a dead end and could find no trace of a magical gate.
His keen eye did discover that two large statues near the end of the path were actually gargoyles. Horrible, ugly gargoyles with many spikes protruding from their large bodies. As the others rounded the temple, the gargoyles paid no attention to Zografos anymore and were intent on Alexander and the others.
Phaidon sniffed the air. Something was wrong. He told Alexander he could smell those of Larbius' ilk and also gargoyles. Alexander was examining the situation when Zografos called out that the gargoyles wouldn't speak to him. Issic asked Zografos if he had the key and when Zografos said that he did, the gargoyles leapt to action demanding the key from Zografos. Zografos answered them with a swift attack from his shadow compaions and the battle was joined.
After a fierce battle, the two Gargoyle Cornugons were nothing but mere puddles of infernal goo. But, who had sent them? Why did they want the key? Who was turning devils into gargoyles?
Zografos gave Alexander the Key of Olympus and Alexander entered the area at the end of the alley. When he did, a point of bright light opened up in the center of the dead end wall. Alexander proceeded towards the wall, but the light vanished. It was discovered that the light only showed when Alexander stood in one spot.
Issic suggested sticking the Key (a javelin forged by a mighty cyclops) in the ground at that spot. Phaidon surmised that since the key was a javelin, perhaps the point of light was a target? Alexander hefted the key and expertly threw it at the point of light.
The key impacted the point of light and hovered in place for a moment and then, with a great crack of thunder, the javelin reappeared in Alexanders hand and a portal rapidly formed outward from the point of impact. All of them could see the most beautiful garden they had ever seen. Zografos instantly stepped into the portal, soon followed by Issic, India and Phaidon. Alexander waited until his friends were through and made sure they weren't being followed. When Alexander stepped into the garden, the portal instantly vanished from sight.
A booming, thunderous voice exclaimed, "Who dares enter the gardens of Zues, God of Gods?"
