As the ornate platform lowered into the courtyard, more details became visible to their searching eyes.
There were plants here and there, but twisted and long dead, as though they had been tormented to death. What type of plants they once were, or how they were able to grow here, was a mystery that would probably never be solved. The ground was composed of a pallid dirt or sand, and reflected the jade brilliance from the surrounding abyss outside the temple walls in an eerie fashion. All was quiet and still. The church itself loomed over them in a foreboding manner.
Finally, the dais ceased it's downward movement, and the party stepped off it and onto the soft soil. They gazed up at the foul place of worship that loomed over them.
"This place gives me Nyogtha temple vibes. Ugh." Neptune commented.
"Eew. Please don't remind me." Buffy said with a shudder.
"Who is "Nyogtha?" Minerva wondered.
"Long story." Helen answered.
"Looking forward to hearing it." Minerva responded.
"I don't see an entrance on this side." Neil observed as he put a comforting arm around Buffy. Buffy looked up at him with a smile, which Neil returned.
"Then let us discover one." Diana stated.
Readying their weaponry, they cautiously picked their way across the area, watching their surroundings carefully. After an hour of searching…
"Is that a door there on the corner?!" Taryn asked.
"It would appear so. Seems to have been purposely hidden." Lilith responded.
The door was obvious once it had been seen, but very easy to overlook, having been camouflaged by the sculptures adorning the thick stone wall.
"I wonder if it has been booby-trapped." Giles mused idly.
"I'm getting ready to find out." Athena said.
"Be fuckin' careful." Faith chided her girlfriend as they approached.
"Always am baby." Athena said reassuringly with an impish smirk.
"Yeah, right bitch. Whatever you say." Hera muttered.