Wendigo and the jackal silently move forward, easily reducing the sounds of their footfalls echoing through the tunnel. (Wendigo Stealth: [15] + 12 = 27) (Gala Stealth: [14] + 10 = 24)
The tunnel opens into a small room about 10 foot across, and Wendigo immediately recognizes it as one of the personal cells of the brothers of the order! You're within the Sundered Chain! In the sleeping and living area of the monastery several hundred feet below the temple proper! Wendigo is surprised, as he did not know that one of the cells concealed a secret passage out of the monastery, and when he silently crosses the room to look out upon the giant Hall of Heroes, he sees that you are in the room of Kalad, the dwarven high paladin of the order.
The corner cell you are in is closest to the giant northern opening of the Hall that leads to a huge set of switchback stairs that descend further down into the mountain, and the forge and workshops of Moradin's disciples there. Standing sentry here flanking the exit, is a pair of 30-foot tall statues of grim dwarf warriors, each holding an axe, with the head down, between its feet. The statues wear helmets that conceal all but their beard. The statues do not depict particular dwarf warriors, but rather are idealized versions of Moradin’s chosen servants.
The Hall of Heroes is a good 150 feet long. Two rows of 10-foot diameter columns support the ceiling that reaches 100 feet overhead, and a massive statue of a dwarf warrior battling a hydra dominates the center of the room, standing nearly as tall as the ceiling. All along either side of the room are stairs that climb 30 feet up to a landing and the entrance to one of the priests’ cells, at which Wendigo himself still stands and looks out over the room. Braziers in each of the four corners shed light in a 10-square radius, illuminating all but the center of this massive room, and the monk knows that at the far southern end of the Hall is a circular staircase that ascends to the Sundered Chain temple.
Wendigo and Gala sneak to the edge of Kalad's cell and look out and down from the staircase into the Hall. And the view, almost makes them both faint dead away.
The carnage in this grand hall is obscene. Dead dwarves, some still in their nightclothes, litter the floor, blood painting the gray stone tiles, walls, and columns. In the light cast by burning braziers, you see the butchers: more orcs. They must have come up from the depths and taken the brothers and sisters by surprise... slaughtering every one to a man. Wendigo knows that if he had been here and not on his walkabout... he would be lying there amongst his brethern as well.
Gala notices the steel resolve of Wendigo starting to icily harden, and quickly nips him on the ankle gently with her teeth... doing her best to lead him back to the others. Centering his breathing, Wendigo closes his eyes for just a moment, and then follows her out of the Hall and back down the passage. A plan must be made... one to eliminate this threat to the Vale, as well as avenge his family. Thankfully... none of the orcs milling about and gruffly laughing down in the Hall seems to expect anybody entering here at all.