The Temple of Ahn'Qiraj

Silithis

Samuel hunched over the desk overlooking his tome while transcribing the key notes from half a dozen sprawled pieces of parchment. Seven days had already passed since they first entered their chamber and it was only now that the priest believed they were starting to make some real progress. Today's test regarded the first ever point to point contact with the Old God's decaying husk and there were too many details to decipher all at once.

As soon as they neared C'Thun's body, the priest immediately began hearing a faint churning coming from within. He was not entirely sure what to make of it but the sounds uttered appeared to be gargling gibberish akin to the final noises of a drowning victim. If Samuel could somehow link the sounds together with those written and perhaps uttered by the dwarf that was killed by the Forsaken priest then this place may very well be the gateway into that unspeakable power.

"Here," said the archeologist while placing another piece of parchment atop of the pile. "It looks as though the noise had stopped about an hour ago. I jotted down what I could describe but it's been pretty silent since."

The priest nodded and took the parchment in his hand. He immediately flipped back into the previous pages of his tome where he transcribed the notes from the Explorers Leaguers' journal. Samuel placed the parchment on top of second page and began scanning the document for any consistencies between the two. Though Mira may not look academic from the outside, she was rather quite adept and transcribing language and sounds to scholar's accuracy.

"This is good," the priest commented. "Thank you, Mira."

"What are partner's for?" She replied with a smile.

The archeologist continued to lurk over the Samuel's work. It was as if he were in his own world bound by the constraints of his own imagination. Normally that would have bothered the priest but Mira had proven herself to be a worthy associate. She was keen on knowing what to ask but especially, what not to. It was a welcomed addition compared to the love birds on the other side of the room.

As soon as the dwarves returned with the initial supplies, they had essentially kept to themselves. Gehn and Ferd both agreed while this was certainly the expedition of a lifetime, they would be happy reading the abridged version from their superior's notes. They only stayed down here long enough to enjoy the supplies then would make their daily trek back to the surface to feed the horses and get some sleep in the wagon.

On the other hand, Melchior would at least stop by from time to time to ask a question regarding the status but Samuel his answers vague. If the young priest wished to learn anything about this assignment he was more than welcome to take a seat beside him. What the Archbishop saw in this child was beyond Samuel's comprehension, not that he cared to delve into that matter any further. At the very least, they kept their fornicating activities outside of the perimeters of the camp and far enough away to where the priest could not directly hear it though they reeked of each other's sweat and fluids moments after consummating.

"Say, I've been wondering," Mira carefully opened. "How come out of all of the notes you've been taking during this entire expedition, I've only seen your write less than four pages in that tome?"

The archeologist was bold but clearly observant. If it were anyone else in this party, Samuel wouldn't have even acknowledged the question. However, Mira was a great asset and aided his continued research so he didn't mind placating a few innocent questions while he worked.

"This tome contains the breadth of the knowledge I have collected throughout my entire life," Samuel casually answered. "Much like our own memories, some of the insignificant details become lost with time. I cannot transcribe every breath I take but it is the moments where it is taken away that makes it worth remembering."

"Woah," the archeologist gasped. Her eyes widened as she continued to leer over the priest. "And you've had that tome your entire life?"

The priest nodded while continuing the scan the index of words and sounds hoping to find a match.

"Since I was old enough to read and write, all of my most precious thoughts and memories have been transcribed within these pages."

"Really?" Mira smiled while pulling back. She gave the abundance of rings attached to her left ear a gentle flick. The glistening sounds of metal clanging against one another was almost harmonious. "Just like my earrings then."

The archeologist was proving her cunning mind with every conversation. She was very adept at reading between the lines and not wasting any unneeded breaths to confirm suspicions. There was something quite worldly about her that Samuel admired.

"It is my most treasured possession."

That was the first time the priest had ever uttered those words out loud. It used to go without saying that his tome was the most valuable artifact the priest owned based on his mere descriptions and demeanors while carrying it. However, Mira was able to extract that information from him with such little effort. It would appear her skills in excavation were not simply limited to plots of land.

"Wait," Samuel gasped. He quickly folded the page of the parchment in half and isolated the word that had caught his immediate attention and placed it atop his tome. "Take a look at this."

The archeologist slid over to the other side of the desk and pulled up a chair beside him. She plopped down pressed her shoulder alongside Samuel's as they leered into the pages together.

"Say this phrase you transcribed.," the priest ordered while his cloth gauntleted finger pointed to the words in question.

"Yool," she started slowly at first. "Yool-wee ack-ook."

"Here!" Samuel proudly pointed shifting his finger from her note to his tome. "Look at this phrase scribed in the dwarf's journal."

They both peered at the words with great interest.

Uulwi ak'uq

"Hold on," Mira gasped. "Why is it written like that?"

"No specific words like this exist in the common tongue nor in any of the other mortal languages," the priest answered. "However – "

"It sounds just like those garbling's inside of the Old God's husk," finished the archeologist.

"That sound," Samuel stated while pointing to the beginning of the phrase. "I've seen it before."

The priest began rifling through the early pages of his tome. There was one particular moment in question where he recalled having a discussion about those unique phrases.

"It was at a tavern in Dalaran where we celebrated our safe return from Ulduar," Samuel started. "I was having a discussion with one of my allies regarding our final battle. Upon Yogg-Saron's defeat, it began speaking to us. Not pleading precisely, but rather, issuing a warning."

He continued to scan through his tome searching for the moment in question.

"Forgive me," he requested while carefully scanning each and every written line. "I had documented the statements of several witnesses during our battle so I am unsure where exactly this phrase came up."

"How come you didn't transcribe that encounter personally?"

The archeologist raised a good point but also a sensitive issue. It was hard enough to take the praise and accolade for being a part of Yogg-Saron's demise but if most people knew the truth, perhaps they wouldn't paint him in such a high light. It wasn't as if the priest truly cared how others saw him but for some reason, he still had minor reservations revealing this piece of information.

"Unfortunately," Samuel solemnly began. "I did not witness the Old God's defeat. It had rendered me unconscious during the battle. The entire encounter is still a blur in my mind but it still pains me that I was unable to experience Yogg's demise with my own eyes."

The priest shrugged and continued searching.

"Pity, it was a moment worth dying for."

"How can you say that?"

Mira's word struck an unfamiliar chord. Samuel couldn't help but lift his eyes from the page and glare into the archeologist's cold green eyes.

"You shouldn't be so lax with your own life," pleaded Mira. "You are lucky to survive at all. What if you had died instead?"

"At that moment," the priest grimly stated. "I thought I did."

Samuel had a certain logic to life that many did not appear to agree with. Any encounter that one could walk away from with their life in tact was a learning experience. Failure to acknowledge that defied all basic logic. It wasn't that he was being crass with his own well-being. He was simply stating a fact that logically made sense to him. The archeologist's continued silence was a sign that she appeared to understand that fact as well. She certainly had a fascinating mind underneath that vividly vulgar style and attire. The subject was dropped as quickly as it rose with both sides conceding to move to more important matters.

"So," she timorously began. There was a heavy aura of curiosity coated atop every syllable she uttered. "These are your notes from Ulduar?"

The priest sternly nodded.

"Would you care to read some of them?" He graciously offered. "I'm sure they'll be of some interest to you."

This was rather uncharacteristic of Samuel to allow anyone else to partake in his carefully recorded memories. He initially hoped this would bring a bit of levity to the recently darkened mood. With all of the assistance Mira has provided, perhaps a little more insight would prove useful in opening her mind and allowing her own insights to procure some useful logic for them both. Of course, the priest would be sure to carefully select the pages in question.

"I – uh," she stammered while pulling away slightly. "That's okay."

Samuel did not expect that kind of response. It was the first time he had seen and experienced any semblance of reservation on the archeologist's part.

"Very well."

The priest rifled through the final page of notes regarding their celebration. As soon as he caught wind of the Old God's name scribbled several times across separate lines, Samuel knew he had found precisely what he had been looking for.

"Here," he pointed. "It was Yogg-Saron's final words."

The archeologist leered closely. Without hesitation, their cheeks immediately brushed together. A warmth unlike anything he had ever experienced graced his flesh. Samuel's nerves quivered at the point of contact. Before he could decipher their meaning, the archeologist quickly pulled back and retained a fair distance.

"Sorry," she faintly spoke. "I didn't mean –"

"Think nothing of it," the priest coolly countered. Without a second thought, his began uttering the Old God's last message. "Your fate is sealed. The end of days is finally upon you and ALL who inhabit this miserable little seedling."

Samuel took a breath and continued transcribing the rest of his notes.

"Allegedly, it began speaking gibberish," stated the priest. "At least, that's what we had original thought. However, take a look at these sounds I had everyone verify before logging this entry."

It took some time to properly scribe the words but more was spent getting them to actually agree about what was spoken in the first place. When it finally came down to it, Samuel was able to coax a single collective phrase from them and made sure to write it down as best as he could.

"Oohlwee, eyefis hahlahs gawg."

"More gibberish?" Mira curiously posed.

"Take a look at the first word one more carefully," he requested while keeping his finger locked along the perimeter of those seven letters. "It is eerily similar to the gargles bellowing with C'Thun's husk as well as those written by the dwarf in his final moments."

"Can it be a coincidence?"

The archeologist execrably posed a proper question. While she didn't want to rain on their collective train of thought, it was important to justify each and every clue before categorizing it as fact.

"Possibly," the priest concluded. "I could easily dismiss it if this was documented by the Old God's alone. However, the fact that the dwarf had written something very similar leads me to believe it should not be ignored."

"There's no way you could prove they're related," added Mira. "It's not like they're speaking the same – "

Lightning snapped within the confines of their collective and curious minds. They both immediately slammed their fists upon the desk and lifted themselves to a standing position. Mira's eyes never left the priest nor did his venture past her widened emerald irises. They immediately turned in unison towards the Old God and uttered their collective conclusion simultaneously.

"Language!"

Samuel collected himself and immediately returned back to his tome. He scrawled through the pages until he found himself returning to the memory of his first encounter with a being known as a faceless one.

"I knew it," the priest surely uttered. "One of Yogg-Saron's minions had uttered something to us before we engaged it."

His finger landed upon the phrase in question.

"Right here," he stated. "Shur'nab... shur'nab... Yogg-Saron!"

What was initially dismissed as a the idle drones of maddening beast had now been revealed as critical clue in solving this revolving mystery.

"It wasn't clearing its throat or choking through a breath," Samuel added. "The creature was attempting to communicate with us in the only way it knew how. Even the Old Gods have a tongue that is not known to any mortal being on Azeroth. If we could translate but one of these phrases the implications alone would be transcend the boundaries of our current insight."

The nerves in the priests hands began to tingle. He hadn't experienced this rush of rejuvenation since his days as an adventurer. All of the pieces of the puzzle had been scattered on the table before them. Before he could put any of them together, the archeologist revealed her immediate understanding of the current collection of facts.

"It can't be!" Mira countered. Her stance shifted and she immediately reached for the first weapon within her grasp. A logging axe may have been a fearsome foe to a tree but against an Old God, it would have to suffice given her firearms were on the other chamber. "That means –"

"C'Thun," the priest gravely spoke. "Is not dead."

This discovery goes well beyond the boundaries of what Samuel had initially hoped to discover. This knowledge would be greatly coveted by the Alliance and Horde alike. It was with their combined efforts that brought C'Thun's alleged defeat but the Old God did not perish on that day. He had merely fallen back asleep and awaited the moment when he would soon wake again.

The archeologist rushed forward with axe in tow. She gave no regard to her own well

"Mira, stop!" Beckoned Samuel as he rose from the desk once more. "What are you planning?!"

"What does it look like?!" She snapped. "I'm going to take care of this thing before it wakes up and tries to take care of us!"

The priest foolishly reached out hoping the mere gesture would get her to stop but it was too late. Mira's axe came thundering down atop one of the thickest tentacles binding the husk and floor together as one. Samuel immediately braced himself but could not dare to look away. The archeologist continued to hack at Old God's appendage with feverish haste.

"You see that lad?!" Gehn scorned while rushing over to the priest's desk. "I told ye that thing was no good! Now you've got us trapped in here like a buncha marmots!"

The Prospector turned and immediately started unleashing a gout of furious disgust towards his superior.

"What do ya think yer doin' lass?!" He pleaded. "Are ye actually tryin' ta wake it up?!"

"No!" Mira snapped. Her axe continued to crack against the hardened flesh of the greyed tentacle. Each strike inched its way deeper into the rotting appendage. "I'm trying to – "

The bladed edge struck the Old God one last time before embedding itself into it nearly a foot deep. All of the color immediately washed away from the archeologist's face. She carefully removed the axe and examined the newly created wound.

"SAM!" She desperately called out. "Look at this!"

The priest did not need to hear anything else. He quickly rushed to Mira's side as did the dwarves. Even Melchior and his lover were drawn towards the scene. They all surrounded the archeologist as she unveiled her latest discovery.

"Here," she pointed deep within the gash. "Right at the very bottom."

Samuel nodded and knelt down close to point of impact. He carefully parted the wound to get a closer look. There was a distinct discoloration of the tentacle's inner layers. The outer husk was dark grey and had almost a charcoal like consistency. After another deep breath, the priest carefully slid his fingers into the gash. The tip of his index and middle fingers finally reached the bottom. Samuel pressed firmly against it and was not met with the hardened exterior he had expected. Instead, his fingers bounced off of it akin to the flesh of a ripened peach.

"What," stammered the young priest looming with great interest. "What is it?"

The priest pulled his hand out and examined it carefully. The tips of his two fingers had become stained with a translucent amethyst colored substance.

"It's," Samuel opened almost fumbling through his own tongue. "It's regenerating."

Everyone erupted in a collective tirade of confusion and fear. The priest ignored ensuing conversations as he stood up and brought the substance to his nose for further inspection. He took one quick whiff and immediately regretted it. This liquid reeked something foul the likes of which would take millennia to recreate. Samuel rubbed the substance against his thumb to check the consistency. The fluid soaked through the thin layers of his cloth gauntlets and soon made contact with the bare flesh underneath.

Flames erupted against the priest's fingertips. He pulled back and shouted in pain but hear no sound escape his lips. A shadow exploded before his eyes. The entire room had grown dim. He could no longer see even the bridge of his nose. Samuel shouted hoping someone would hear. The entire area was devoid of all light and sound. Not even his own rising heartbeat could be heard outside of his chest. When the full magnitude of silence finally settled in, that's when the priest could finally hear it. A voice calling out to him from beyond.

Uulwi ak'uq

Samuel's eyes widened. That same exact phrase they had uncovered earlier was now reverberating in his head from an unknown source. Over and over it uttered those garbled words as if they were daggers attempting to penetrate the priest's mind. His senses ceased to function. All he could hear was that maddening voice calling to him.

A crack of light sparked between Samuel's eyes. He immediately reached for his gauntlet and flung the piece of armor off of his hand. In an instant, the darkness dissipated. The familiar sight of C'Thun's chamber had returned and with it the continued bickering of those around him.

"This is it," the priest spoke. He clutched the removed gauntlet and almost found himself smiling. "The key."

The heated conversation began dying down. They turned their attention towards Samuel as he gazed deeply into his soiled piece of armor. The priest was flooded with hundreds of scenarios. On top of the Old God discovery, Samuel may have found the very portal in which he could unlock the mystery of that frightening power. Every moment before this was mere the prologue. This is where the true journey would begin. The priest almost salivated as he initiated a formal plan within his mind.

"Mira," he called while walking back towards his desk. "Can you extract more of the Old God's flesh from below?"

"Yes…? I mean, no," the archeologist hesitated. "Well, probably. This thing's as tough as a siege engine. It'll take some time depending on how much you want."

Samuel took note of her statement as he tossed the gauntlet on top of the desk. He reached into his backpack and procured four empty vials about the size of a fist as well as a short slicing knife. The priest placed the bottles on the desk, reached over with the blade and sliced the soiled tips clean off. He carefully grasped the removed cloth pieces with his armored hand and placed them inside of a vial. Once that was securely stored, Samuel placed the gauntlet back upon his hand leaving the tips still bare and seized the other three vials into his grip while making his way back to the others.

"Here," the priest casually said while offering the vials to Mira. "Fill these up with as much flesh and fluid as can be filled. That should suffice for now."

"Okay," nodded the archeologist while taking possession of the glass bottles. "This shouldn't take too long. I'll – "

"Don't," warned Samuel cutting her off mid thought. He stared fiercely while pressing the rims of his glasses up and secured them at the top of his nose. "Allow any of it to touch your bare flesh."

The archeologist took note of his dire tone and expression. Thankfully, she still had brown leather gloves wrapped around her otherwise tough hands but there were many other parts of body that were willfully exposed that could be potentially hazardous to the priest's warning.

"Got it," Mira acknowledging returning her own serious gaze right back at him.

"Yer all nuts!" The prospector shouted. "If any of yee had any brains left in ya, yee'd leave that stuff right were ya found it and go on home!"

"Absolutely not," Samuel sternly replied. "This may perhaps be one of the most profound discoveries of our generation. Why would we squander such an opportunity based on mere fear alone?"

"Ya dinnea what yer messing with lad!" Pleaded Gehn. "This place, that thing are the stuff of nightmares. Who would ever willin'ly embrace the darkness no knowing what's inside?!"

"You're right," the priest nonchalantly answered. "I do not know. No one does; which is precisely why we must continue. In the face of great adversity, there must always be a first to conquer."

"He's right Gehn!" Mira added. She was already two vials deep with plenty of the Old God's flesh and fluids swimming within each and already starting on the third. "We've already come this far. We can't leave now. There is still so many questions and we've got some of the answers right here along with one of the best mind's in Azeroth to decipher it. Isn't that what the Explorers League is all about."

"What would a human know about explorin'?!" The prospector snidely retorted. "The League's always been about preserving knowledge for the betterment of dwarven kind. What could a wild card like you ever hope to accomp– ?"

"How dare you?!"

The entire chamber fell menacingly silent. Samuel had no idea what had come over him. Normally he'd never let his anger slip passed his expression but for some reason, he felt compelled to speak. Whether it was the dwarf's unwarrantedly harsh tone or the archeologist's great compliment prior, something within the priest begged him to speak up.

"Mira has established herself far more useful on this expedition than I imagine you have ever put in in your countless years of service," Samuel viciously countered. While he could not corroborate the facts of his previous statement, the dire look upon Gehn's face told him he was blindly reaching either. "In spite of all things, she has conducted herself professionally and her insight has proven to be invaluable to my efforts which is more than I can say for your lot."

"To hell with both of ya then!" Barked the prospector. "I didn't come all the way here just ta be insulted."

Gehn rushed towards the remains of his meager possessions and quickly rolled them into his stocky arms.

"Come along Ferd!" He ordered while juggling his belongings into his chest. "We're leavin' these mongrels behind to ta get eatin' up by whatever dang blasted hell they're tryin' ta wake."

"But Gehn," the younger dwarf begged. "Aren't you being too hasty? Mira's our expedition leader."

"She's no leader of mine!" Shouted the prospector. His ensuing anger caused him to continually fumble the last few pieces of his gear. Gehn nearly doused himself with half a waterskin trying to pack everything up hastily. "I can't count how many times has she brought me to the brink of death. Brann is the only one I follow and I'd bet every last hair on me beard that he'd be right beside me tryin' to leave while I still have me mind right."

The priest dejectedly shook his head and slowly walked back towards his desk as the bickering continued. He would raise no objections to the dwarf's request to leave. Their idle presence was not something he would miss.

"Sam!" Mira called. She raised the three vials full of various sized bits and translucent purple fluid proudly. The pithy few insults hurled by her cohorts seemed to have little effect on her over mood. "All finished."

"Excellent," nodded Samuel. "Bring them here and we shall begin –"

"Don't you go and start any more trouble," Gehn angrily begged while stumbling up the stairs and towards the exit. "Not until I've kissed this damned place goodbye!"

The dwarf finally reached the top while Ferd trailed behind having just barely reached the bottom of the stairs with his belongings in tow. Gehn turned around and slapped the palm of his left hand into the bicep of his right and shook his tightened fist in a mocking gesture.

"Good riddance ya – !"

A faint tremor silenced the prospector outright. The hallway echoed with an unfamiliar quaking noise. Gehn slowly turned his head and faced the exit.

"Did ya feel that?"

The priest shook his head. He was uncertain about the dwarf's current claims but anything that would have shut him up so soundly was almost welcomed. It wasn't until the immense rumbling that Gehn had warned them about started to filter into the chamber that Samuel started to regret those thoughts.

"Somethin's com –"

"ATTACK!"

The dwarf wailed in agony as an unseen spear pierced through his chest. Blood vomited from the wound as the reverberating force launched his stocky body backwards. Gehn landed violently between the younger dwarf and priest. His body cracked the marble floor leaving a crater in its wake. Light faded from. The lengthy weapon continued to stand upright as an intimidating reminder of how quickly one's luck could change.

Samuel's gaze darted upward as a stampede of blood and armor barreled through the opening. Almost a dozen heavily armed adversaries stood at the top of the stairs. They represented nearly all of the races Azeroth had to offer from both the Horde and Alliance alike. Axes, blades, and staves were gripped menacingly in their tightened fists. Donned with dark purple robes and heavy plate, this uniquely attired insurgents all had one thing they carried in common. A black tabard hung from their necks bearing the symbol of a steel hammer enclosed in a spiked circle with crimson wings protruding forth.

The Twilight's Hammer?!

Merely thinking that name again sent a wave of memories flooding through the priest's thoughts. They had crossed paths ones before in the deepest depths of Ulduar facing off against a gargantuan beast known as Vezax. These fanatics were obsessed with the Old Gods and bringing forth the end of the world. Samuel attempted to prepare for such a contingency but according to his research, the cult had not been seen in these parts of Kalimdor since the end of the war against the qiraji. Their presence here was most alarming to say the least but the priest wasn't afforded the time to solve this mystery as one of their own was just murdered before them and they were certainly next.

The lead orc stepped forward. His ravenous spiked plates commanded an intimidating presence. He raised his large, double-bladed axe confidently over his head before pointing it downward straight at Samuel's chest.

"Kill them!" The orc shouted. "Kill them all!"

Stone trembled as the Twilight's Hammer cult began their collective descent down the stairs. Blood burned through the priest's veins as that familiar numbing feeling quickly coated his nerves. By current counts, they were outnumbered two to one on headcount alone but going by Samuel's personal judgement, he was the only one among his allies fit enough to do combat with them which heavily disfavored their odds of survival

"SAM!" The archeologist cried while rushing over to him while continuing to cling desperately to the glass vials closely tucked into her chest.

"Mira!" The priest shouted. He threw his arm back to further dissuade her from approaching when suddenly, a gout of hideous black energy came roaring overhead. Samuel's heart sank as his throat went completely dry watching the bolt of fel malevolence careening straight towards the archeologist.

"MIRA!"

Marble exploded in a violent tuft of ancient dust. The priest's chest tightened. Clouds of debris quickly dissipated. The archeologist was lying on her side next to a newly forged dark crater and coughing heavily. While he was immediately relieved to see that the spell had missed it's intended target, Samuel's eyes widened as spotted all of the collected living samples of the Old God spilt along the floor sprinkled with shards of broken glass.

The priest tightened his fist and dashed towards his desk. Although the samples were ruined, there was something much more precious the priest was about to lose if he let his guard down. Samuel's arm darted forward inches away from reaching the table. A dark shadow loomed above. The priest caught a glimpse of the deadly meteor headed right for him and quickly pulled back.

Wood splintered into a chaotic array as the orc's axe split the desk in two. Samuel's body was violently pelted with broken slivers as he leapt backwards to put further distance between him and his adversary. All of his research had been destroyed. Even his tome had been launched far out of his reach towards the western wall of the room. It was the only thing he coveted enough to risk his life for but as of now, it would be a fool's gambit to pursue it further.

"Mira!" The priest called while seizing a tight grip upon his golden mace. "Gather the others and get out of here, now!"

Despite his agitated state, Samuel's orders were still delivered with a calming sense of reassurance. He could not let his emotions slip and convey anything other than confidence at this state.

"What?!" Stammered the archeologist while hastily returning to her feet. "How can we leave -?!"

"Just do it!"

Samuel's tone conveyed not an ounce of remorse or flexibility. He thrust his mace forward and channeled a funnel of light from his open palm over its head.

"How?!" Protested Mira while rushing towards her belongings. "They're blocking the exit!"

"Leave that to me."

The priest's eyes began to glow with a divine radiance. Nearly all of the members of the Twilight's Hammer soon surrounded him. Only the sole troll warlock remained at the top of the stairs. Samuel's expression did not flinch. While he was not well versed in hand to hand combat, he didn't need to defeat these trespassers; only distract them long enough to make an escape.

Out of the corner of his eye, Samuel caught the archeologist snatching up her backpack and rushing the dwarf, mage, and young priest near the eastern edge of the staircase. Rylie appeared the most frightened of them all. She refused to let go of Melchior which hampered his ability to personally engage and perhaps even provide some assistance. Thankfully, the priest had already considered this scenario into his plan.

The Twilight's Hammer cult loomed in closer. They were each within a few large paces of Samuel brandishing their blades with ominous glee. The warlock was channeling another unholy mass of fel-kissed flames from the Nether. Everyone below was exposed as the troll leered in with her hungry yellow eyes and prepared to fire.

Light snapped off the priest's palm as he thrust his hand downward and slammed his hand onto the ground. Golden runes sprang up underneath the warlock's feet. She let out a brief gasp before being consumed by a magnificent column of holy fire. The searing flames burned the air in the troll's very throat as her charred robes and skin collapsed to the ground and tumbled down the stairs bouncing lifelessly along the way.

"GO!"

The others didn't need another hint as they frantically made their way back up the stairs. A few of the Twilight's Hammer cultists noticed this ruse and attempted to break off from the main group surrounding Samuel. The rest only hand death in their eyes as they eagerly rushed with their weapons raised hoping to spill fresh blood.

Sparks of divine radiance channeled through the priest's mace. He immediately rose from his knees and thrust his golden weapon on high. A dome of holy light exploded from his piercing stance and swelled over the charging cultists. Their horrific cries echoed into the chamber as the searing energy blasted over their armor and skin, violently driving them back and crashing against an unwelcoming marble floor.

"Hurry!

Samuel carefully waded through the fallen intruders. That spell wasn't enough to end the fight outright. It was only meant to daze the cultists and buy them enough time to escape. Despite his skill, the priest knew he could not take them all on at once with such murderous intent in their eyes. Had a few key factors played in his favor it could have been possible but right now, Samuel was only concerned with escaping this room with his life and would deal with the consequences when better terms presented themselves.

The rush of adrenaline certainly helped move the priest up the stairs quickly but it didn't stop him from panting madly. He watched as Ferd, Melchior, and Rylie darted into the hallways and fully exited the Old God's chamber with the archeologist trailing just a few steps behind. Samuel turned his gaze back into the room and watched as the startled cultists began regaining their composure. They would soon be on their feet and returning the chase once more.

"Let's go - !"

"Hold it!" Mira shouted after eying the priest once over. She turned and made her way back towards the stairs. "We can't leave yet!"

"Where are you going?!" Samuel bewilderingly cried while seizing her bicep. "Mira!"

The archeologist easily broke free of his grip and raced back into the chamber. She wouldn't have a prayer's chance of making it back alive as some of the cultists had started to return to their feet. The priest stared in awe of her bold actions. This was not calculated in any of the scenarios he had envisioned. Mira was essentially throwing her life away for some needless trinkets. Her stubbornness knew no bounds. Listening to reason was not in the cards. Logic was the key motivating factor in all of Samuel's decision making. If he stayed any longer, he too would more than likely face a similar fate. However, even with that glaring danger staring him in the face, a part of him foolishly wanted to chase after her.

Samuel shook his head and made a break for the exit. He ran through the temple without a single look back. Abandoning the archeologist sent writhing pain churning within his bowels but at the end of the day, it was the right decision to ensure maximum survival. The priest offered a silent prayer hoping both luck and skill would be on her side. It just barely overcome the rampant curses that muddles his thoughts about her gravely insipid actions.

The insectoid tunnel came into view. Fortunately, the others were no longer in sight either. Samuel could hear muddled footsteps echoing from beyond and eagerly listened as they soon faded. Another thundering was approaching him from behind. The cultists were making their way back through here. Something snapped at the priest's mind to turn around and at least verify Mira's fate. However, his logical drive had taken over as he ran ahead without further delay.

Ancient silithid dust kicked off Samuel's boots as he raced through the tunnel. Dried webbing along the sides and curves of the wall were reduced to ashes as his powerful steps slammed against the nearby ground. This long winding path was a death trap the longer the priest stayed in here. He needed to find a fork that would at least delay the approaching cultists and perhaps, even split them up furthering his chances for survival.

"WAIT!"

The priest immediately halted. Such an action defied all logic but he felt compelled to do so. The Twilight's Hammer clan are known more for their brute over their brains. Calling out and taunting their opponent would not be too farfetched for them. However, it wasn't their damning voice that drew Samuel's attention. This one was much higher pitched and reeked of desperation.

A tidal wave of relieve enveloped the priest. The archeologist was barreling down the tunnel at a feverish pace with the rest of the cultists trailing behind her. A newfound sense of anger brushed before his eyes. The entire picture had now become clear. Clutched tightly against Mira's chest was Samuel's treasured tome. She had foolishly returned for it ignoring ever order that the priest tried to sway her decision otherwise. His heart clawed at him to hurl an insult but for now, surviving took priority.

Samuel's hand reached out instinctively. Golden radiance was quickly channeled in his palm. If he could pick off a few of the closest ones giving chase, it may cause a snowball effect that could take the whole lot of them down and buy them some time. He carefully aimed his palm at the hungering orc charging at the front of the pack. As he just came within range, a brown blur encapsulated his vision.

Pain rocked the priest's chest. Mira dove straight into his unguarded frame and tackled him into a thick pile of ancient webbing. Samuel released the bolt of holy light from his palm. It exploded just above them and rained down chunks of debris from the wake of the blast. The softened substance immediately gave way to their combined weight and sent them tumbling down a hidden path buried underneath.

The two collectively cried in agony as they descended through the concealed tunnel. Light soon escaped their vision as pieces of the scarred path above filled the tight quarters and sealed the path shut. The priest's robes burned with vehement fury as the rushed through into the unseen darkness below.