[Official NPC]

After a somewhat dismal beginning, the explorers have managed to fight off the intruders. Greater numbers meant that, once they had recovered from the initial surprise, they quickly rallied and their attackers were either knocked unconscious or tied up to be transported to Alexshire to answer for the assault. Some of the treasure hunters question the wisdom of allowing the copycats to remain at camp rather than simply killing them, but Nikandros (having regained consciousness towards the end of the fight) is adamant.

And so the explorers continue on, locating a blown exit on the east side of the temple where the intruders set up their own camp after Nikandros had already made the preliminary map. They also discover several rooms, some of them collapsed but the others fully intact, where the original priests probably lived and slept and worshipped millennia ago. These rooms are given only a cursory inspection (mostly to check for further surprises and treasure) before the expedition moves further along the hall. The temple cuts deep into the mountainside, much deeper than Nikandros initially suspected, and there is a great sense of relief and wonder when the priest dashes to one wall and holds up his torch to reveal more murals.

These murals are far more elaborate than the ones depicting the worship of the red triangle-dragon, spreading from ceiling to floor, and tell the story of Xanth's arrival on Earth twelve thousand years past. They lead right up to a massive set of doors that, aside from being so heavy they take several of the strongest of the group to open, have a filigree facade made from what looks to be xanthium (a metal thought to only exist in Elysia after the temple was supposedly built).

The doors open to reveal a long rectangle of a man-made room with marble pillars and gem-studded walls with further murals that will keep Nikandros and the Priesthood occupied for decades to come. At the far end is a dais and a tall-backed, gilded throne. In each corner and all along the walls are more statues of the same woman seen in the Elemental Shrine room, this time in various poses but all with those magnificent, outstretched wings, and all with offering bowls at their feet filled with all manner of treasure and artifacts. [See Rewards at end of plot.]



Now that most of the temple has been opened and checked for beasties, the group will no doubt split up. Nikandros has every intention of spending the rest of his life sketching the layout of the throne room and the murals discovered in the hallway before it, and he has no concern whatsoever for what the rest of the group does. Someone should probably keep an eye on the intruders, though: It is highly unlikely that they intend to sit quietly and be turned in to the law.


This plot is open, which means you can join at any time now that it's begun. However, you must register before posting.

This thread ends on the 18th of February.

You are encouraged to post threads separate from this,, and to have your characters explore or start collecing treasure to be shared for the journey home. The temple has been mostly cleared of unpleasant squatters now, but is still crumbling in places (though the majority of the temple was carved out of the mountain and the rock is mostly sturdy). There are more than enough reopened rooms to keep the explorers occupied until Chapter Five.

Participants are expected to post at least once a week, with all their participating characters, to keep the plot moving. If a character misses a week, we will assume they have gone back to camp. If this happens during combat scenarios, we will assume they have fled the melee and hidden somewhere to avoid the danger. However, this could negatively impact their relations with the other characters from then on.


Treasure Hunter's Manifest:

Priest Nikandros Phadra ... Priesthood of Xanth
Vilfredo Faust ................... Faust's Gang
Erasmos Eugene ................. Faust's Gang
Kiel Taskel .......................... Hired Bodyguard
Aella Karakinos .................. Bodyguard
Maaike Sullivan ................... Hired Tracker& Bodyguard
Mortimer Jericho ................. Investor
Neal Jean .......................... Faust's Gang
Jason Underwood ............... Faust's Gang
Ilda Carine ........................ Treasure Hunter
Theodora Caito .................. Treasure Hunter
Benedetto Faucher ............. Treasure Hunter
Gratien de Filippis ............. Treasure Hunter
Marcellin Ardiccioni ........... Treasure Hunter


It is winter in the north and the mountains are cold. Camp remains in a leeward, sheltered groove in the mountainside. Expect snow and freezing winds, but the temple is slightly warmer.

Pets, mounts and personal NPCs are allowed, but you are responsible for them and any supplies necessary for them.

[Lazuli]

Lazuli had signed up as soon as she heard about the expedition. That's what she thought of it -- an adventure, a chance to explore another little piece of the world's mysteries that she usually could do so only in books. Such venture was incredibly exciting and risky. She liked that.

Granted, the group had gone off on a rather bad start, beginning the priest's kidnapping and then the surprise attack from the thieves. And even though Lazuli would have preferred to start exploring immediately, she had volunteered to guard the camp during those initial stages while Kiel and the other nymphs dealt with whatever awaited within.

Today was her first day inside the ruins.

She chipped at the wall with a particularly sharp-edged pebble. The stubborn layer of dust must have accumulated over the years, and it took Lazuli's full concentration to attempt to remove it. While such a menial task could frustrate anyone, Lazuli used the opportunity to calm her mind. In such a meditative state, she barely noticed the ruffled look that Nikandros sent her from several yards away. The Priest had made it known a while ago that he was going to be examining the murals and would like it if no one interfered, and Lazuli and her pebble were getting perhaps a little too intimate with the ancient relics than he would liked.

The murals, however, absolutely fascinated her and Lazuli refused to go anywhere else. They were art and history all at once. This particular section of the image resembled a fountain, and there was a strange elaborate pattern on the fountain's rim that grabbed her interest. The dirt and dust unfortunately buried most of the intricacy.

From the ground, Byron yawned. The shadowkin to whom Lazuli was Bonded was sitting by her boot, a majestic pulsing sculpture of shadowy fur with flickering smokey eyes. He wasn't quite as interested in the murals as Lazuli was, but he kept a close watch on their surroundings lest anything unwanted arrived.

[Jericho]

Jericho was not particularly interested in religious artifacts and had only mild curiosity about the ancient artwork that so fascinated Nikandros and the... more cultured members of the expedition. He was, however, very interested in the bowls overflowing with discarded offerings (and eager to not be the man in charge of guarding their captives), so he was one of the first to re-enter the temple once the fighting had died down and the all-clear given.

The Nyad's chipping grated through him enough that he sent her several wayward stares himself, but she had her back to him and probably missed them. Thankfully, she was all the way over on the other side of the throne room, or he might have inflicted some of his headache on her. Or all, if he got close enough and was not interrupted by her shadowkin or her good buddy-buddy chatterbox who had announced himself repeatedly as "Kiel, call me Kiel, wahahaha". Jericho preferred Maaike's version, after all.

“What is it, boss?” Rusty's ham-fist was wedged against the statue over Jericho's head, Ninian seated cross-legged beside him as they inventoried the contents of the offering bowl he had claimed for himself. When Jericho glanced up at the burly Therian, he blinked and opened his mouth to tell the idiot to have more respect, but then changed his mind. If Xanth minded where that fist was, she would have smote his mindless bodyguard herself.

“It's a book,” he answered instead, his gaze lingering on Rusty's hand for a moment despite himself before finally dropping to the hefty book he dragged from the offering bowl. How much those plates held had always astounded him, and he drew the book into his lap and blew gently to disperse the dust from its fabric cover.

“Well, duh.” Nin arched an eyebrow. “We ain't that dumb.” Nevertheless, the skinny Therian whacked Rusty across the thigh and received a grumbling pout by way of a response. “What's it about?”

“Who knows.” Brushing his thumb against the keyless lock, Jericho studied the writing on the cover. “I'm not familiar with this language.” If this really was the first temple — of any one of the early temples that followed — then the language was likely ancient and dead.

“One for the priests, then, eh?” Nin held out his hands so he could take the book to Nikandros, but Jericho shook his head. The priest was already preoccupied, and he wanted a better look at it before he handed it over to the Voice, likely to never be seen by the general public again. Ninian shrugged and turned his attention back to the gold nuggets and ancient coins while Jericho turned the book over in his lap and grimaced at the sight of the dust now marring his perfectly-clean trousers.

[Kiel]

Kiel was, like, totally bored, man, for sers. Everyone else had scattered to either collect treasure or, like, collect treasure, but he'd been collared by the priest and was currently being used as, like, a hat stand or something. Like, for sers, man, his arms were piled high with Nik's gear. Notebook and pencils for recording the murals and statues even though Kiel had totally offered the use of his COM. Chisel and brush for prying away millennia of cave slime and dirt. Some kind of leather-bound reference book that was precariously balanced in the crook of his elbow 'cause the priest kept flicking through it then jamming it haphazardly back into the pile of stuff Kiel was holding. A couple of tarps to pin up so they could, like, protect the really juicy stuff from the elements even though it had all survived, like, a billion years without their help.

“Mannnnnn, I gotta pee.” He jiggled in his pants like they were suddenly full of ants, and then giggled at the rhyme. Shane, also bored out of her skull, had been dozing against his leg and jolted awake at his sudden movement. Her ears flicked back and she yawned, her butt rising in that cute way she had of getting to her feet. And then she was gone, padding off toward Byron to sniff at the other 'kin's hind quarters and bat at him playfully with a paw.

Kiel whined, “Hey, hey, awwww. Don't leave me hereeee. I gotta pee. I'm so bored. Don't just ignore me.” She continued to nudge at Byron, trying to get the newly bonded 'kin to entertain her now that she was awake, and Kiel shot Lazuli a pouting, sulking glance. “I did it first.” He brightened right away, though, and grinned at her. Things had been so hectic since they arrived that he felt like he'd been ignoring her, even though he hadn't, and he hadn't cooed nearly enough over her Chosen. At least Byron and Shane had made fast friends, but now Kiel was getting a taste of what it was like to be ditched.

Nikandros dropped his notebook and pencil into Kiel's arms. “Oof.” The thing was surprisingly heavy, and already half-filled with... stuff... when Kiel met him. The guy was totally gonna run out of paper before long.

[Official NPC]

Jason Underwood was not a soldier by nature unlike Vilfredo Faust and most of the men and women he hired. A human, he was the shortest of the gang in terms of both height, age and expected lifespan, and he'd become accustomed to their "teasing". He was human, and they never let him forget it, but he had no where else to go. He must have Dracovarian ancestors somewhere in his bloodline because he also happened to like money. Lots and lots of money.

Still, when Faust told them what their next job would be, Jason had scoffed. He had been born and raised in Elysia but was only third generation and his family had never bought into that whole Xanth thing. He was always surprised by how religious the others could be, but what surprised him more was that Faust thought the temple, if it did indeed exist and wasn't some crock the Voice had invented to bring attention to their cause, hadn't already been cleaned out. For once, Jason was glad to be wrong.

It almost made him feel bad about the rest of it, but when Kiel started to whine that he needed the bathroom, Jason was quick to get the guy out of the way and offered himself up as a substitute. “Here, I'll take them.” His pockets were already full of ancient coins and gems that he could only hope were half as valuable as they looked, and the rest of the gang were busy scraping together a large enough pile to happily split between them, but he'd be glad when he could be at home counting out the profits.

[Kiel]

Like, Kiel didn't wait for Jason to offer twice. He immediately dumped the hefty weight of Nikandros' gear into the human's arms, practically dancing on the spot, and only waited long enough to be sure the stuff wasn't, like, too heavy for the guy or something before darting off into the hall. He was all the way back to the entrance when he realised that he could probably have found a quiet, dark spot someplace in the temple, but then figured that, like, even if Xanth had abandoned this place along with the priests, it probably wasn't the best idea to be all, like, desecrate the place and stuff. Plus, like, you know. His mom would totally kill him if she ever found out he'd done that, for sers!

As he ran (and kinda wondered when Shane was going to get bored of ignoring him), he chanted, “I gotta pee, I gotta pee, I gotta peeeeeee.”