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"Isn't that something that is common for your order?" Echo asks. "At least, that is the impression that I get."

"Yes, at least once," Hollidan explains. "But nowadays, most temples are built into communities--towns and villages and cities. Not as communities in themselves."

"That was how people survived back then," Gimog adds. "After the Carnage War, when the new gods appeared and the old gods died, they were really our only shield against the dangers of the world."

"I knew this place was old, but I didn't realize it was that old," Echo said was she walked towards the double doors. " I am going to assume we are on the right track when it comes to finding this shield."

"A couple hundred years old, if I'm right," Gimog answers as they approach the double doors.

"Keet, anything wrong with these doors?" Echo asks, looking down at the kobold.

Keet makes a thorough inspection of the door. "Keet find nothing here," he confirms.

"Hollidan, would you do the honors?" Echo says, motioning to the double doors.

Hollidan pushes the doors open, revealing a wide corridor leading to a large staircase further down. The floor is littered with bones.

The paladin kneels down and inspects a strange looking skull. "Bullywugs, I think," he says.

"What killed them, though?" Echo asks. "Keet, are there any traps or anything along this staircase?" she asks.

"None of these are particularly fresh," Gimog notes, indicating the bones. "So determining cause of death is out of the question."

Keet searches around, but finds nothing. "All clear, Keet thinks."

"Something killed them," Hollidan notes. "And also, there must be a reason the shield hasn't been taken by the bullywugs already. It makes sense its former guardians set up some kind of defenses to protect it." He looks around. "Looks like quite a few bullywugs died before they gave up on it."

"Then we should be careful," Echo says. "Whatever killed them could still be here. Though, then again they could have been killed because they weren't faithful to Gonto, and if that is the case then I am probably the only one in danger."

"I suppose we could send one person ahead to check it out," Hollidan muses. "But if you're wrong, and there's a threat to even Gonto believers, that could be a bad move."

"Let's stick together for the time being," Echo says. "But Hollidan,take the lead."

Hollidan slowly starts to walk forward, sword and shield at the ready. He tries to be quiet, but there are so many bones strewn about, that it is impossible not to step on some or accidentally kick some aside.

Echo follows after Hollidan, trying to avoid the bones, but finding it quite difficult. "Looks like being quiet isn't really an option," she mutters.