Well... Hi it has been a while, since several people have asked for it and I got some suggestions from a reader I figured I would give it a go again.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
The Temple beneath the wastes.
The wastes spread out before the inner circle, in the distance on the horizon could be seen the shadow of the excavation site of the elder one's forces. The circle sat in the shade of tents as Solas and Shartan slowly made their way through a small ruin. The inquisition was making use of nearby caves to avoid detection by their enemies.
Sera sat up from where she had been lying in only her underclothes to lessen the heat, she would have warned less but threats from the Seeker and Vivian convinced her otherwise. Waving to get the attention of Shartan she yelled.
"Not complaining about avoiding fighting that blighted army over there, but why are we poking at a ruin over here when the ruin we want is over there!" Sera yelled gesturing with an arrow towards the enemy camp.
"That is the main entrance, we are going in through the servant's passage." Shartan answered calmly coming over, accepting a flask of tea from Cassandra.
"Just how large is this temple darling? The last one did not seem nearly as large." Vivienne asked looking across the landscape.
"Mythal's temple was built to show case highly detailed artworks, along with being built into the ground. June however built his temples large and sprawling to showcase his grand works of magic. We are standing at the eastern central entrance for servants. Corypheus's forces are at the northern gate. So, the footprint of this June's main temple would be the distance to the camp again behind us and twice that to the side in a square." Solas explained, Vivienne looked in wonder at the landscape.
"Good news is the entrance is only caved in, does not look like June's traps did this, bad news there is no telling what state the temple is in. June's many creations relied on the fade's power." Shartan explained to the group as they packed up.
"Then it could be a matter of just walking through the temple and forcing open doors?" Bull asked with a bit of hope.
Nehra shook her head. "June loved machines and traps that did not rely on magic, so there will be some traps, along with the survivors of the temple." Bull sighed.
"No use waiting for the elder one to get closer, come on Prongs lets go find your people." Varric suggested, the group moved to the entrance leaving the chargers behind.
"Nehra please be careful." Krem whispered as he embraced before she could leave.
^Ma'Lath Tel Geal, the sex is too good for me to fail in returning to you^ Nehra whispered in elven in Krem's ear before jogging to catch up with the inner circle.
Krem blushed watching her leave, he knew only a few words of what she said but what he caught made him debate asking Dalish for a translation. Krem shook himself and headed back for his shelter until his watch turn. He pulled a pair of books out and opened one writing what she had just said in it with a pencil, opening the other he began looking through the elven terms for matching words, writing them in the first book as he found them. He was blushing heavily by the time he finished translating, he put the books away and got ready for his shift.
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Shartan instructed the circle through another seemingly pointless ritual, Vivienne looked at the path they had just crossed.
"Darling what is the point of stopping for these rituals? Should we not hurry, we might be closer than Corypheus but surely we don't have time for these constant stops." Vivienne asked, several of the circle nodding.
"If it was your chantry I would agree but we ancient elves took defence of our temples rather seriously, these rituals were something each person entering would have to do as the passed. Failing to do so would mark your enemies and knowing June as I do many of these rituals would be used to disable various traps." Shartan explained, Vivienne nodded satisfied.
"Once we reach beyond the general followers and into the priest only area we will have to guess at the proper rituals." Solas remarked, Bull stopped and looked at him with a hard look.
"What do you mean guess? Have you forgotten them or something? How good are these guesses going to be." Bull looked concerned, as did several members of the circle.
"I was a god I did not ever need to do these rituals, I only know the basic rites that all had and those for my followers, Shartan would only know the rites for his soulmate and the basics as he was a high priest he would be escorted in with the traps turned off." Solas explained, Bull glanced at Nehra.
"Don't look at me besides mother's and Mythal's I know nothing. The orgy I organized turned the traps off before I arrived." Nehra shrugged, the Circle sighed and the group moved forward.
A gleam made Sera look back and glare at a crystal for a moment before shuddering and following the group whining about creepy elfie temples and stupid rites and elfy shite. The crystal gleamed again with a flicker of veil fire.
In a room in the center of the temple a figure hunched over a small mirror looking at the group progress into the temple proper. The figure's hands tightened into fists; it took several deep breaths for the figure to unclench its hands. Standing the figure rose from the control station to approach a large statue keeping its head bowed low until it reached the base of the massive statue of June with its hands tucked in stone sleeves. Two giant green crystals sat on the offering slab humming with immense power, filling the room with their might.
"Oh great God June greatest of craftsmen trespassers approach mocking your temple by bringing the traitor god, the craze crimson boar and even dare to bring stone children along with quick bloods! Please forgive your humble servant for using his lowly creation to wake your glorious creations, with the fade gone your creations slumber and your servants can't repel these sinners alone!" A strange mechanical voice came from the robed figure as it prayed to the statue.
The crystals glowed brighter and began to spin, the power seeped into the temple and the ancient creations of June preserved by the loving hands of his followers stirred to life. Between the crystal lay set of tools that glowed from the countless runes covering their surface in artistic patterns. The figure carefully rolled the tools up in the special pouched sash and carefully carried them back into the control room as the sounds of a large machine stirring filled the grand chamber.
"You fail this time Boar you will not claim Great June's treasure, not you nor that strange monster pounding at the gate!" The figure snarled, as priests crept into the room taking their place at various stations. "So swears Great June's high crafter!"
The Figure carefully placed each tool into a matching indentation on the master control console over looking the rest of the priests. The figure placed the last piece and gestured for the other priests to begin. They each placed a crystal into their station which came to life glowing with runes, they all settled onto their kneeling pads while the figure settled onto their chair.
Notes:
elven translation: Ma'Lath Tel Geal = My love do not fear.
Yep the first of the temples, June, we are not firmly into the non-canon section.
Remember I love comments and suggestions cause they fuel my desire to write and even give me ideas of what to do.