Dungeon of Knowledge

Chapter 212: The Temple of Aman Rak (Part 1)

Evanna Quillmore the Scribe

Calen

Calen leapt to his feet as Lyeneru burst into the Pathfinders Guild Hall, bringing a gust of fresh outside air, laden with the scent of the Ciradyl trees and fresh forest growth. Malika and Mato glanced up from their conversation on the couch, while Ali put the finishing touches on her recording of Ciradyl’s teleportation locus in her notebook.

Elves glanced up or scrambled out of her way in a rippling wake as the Legendary Pathfinder strode across the room with purpose.

“Aah, good, you’re all here,” Lyeneru said. “We leave immediately. The council has instructed us to provide any aid we are able to offer to defend Aman Rak. Our primary objective is to learn the fate of the Telim Gor delegation. I assume you can all fly?”

“I can’t,” Mato said, raising his hand.

“I’ll carry him,” Ali answered.

“Good, let’s go,” Lyeneru said.

They flew north and west, leaving Ciradyl behind, following the jagged snow-covered peaks of the mountains of Dol Kerriadh. Lyeneru led them high above the verdant jungle that covered much of the lowlands between the mountains and the Gulf of Serenity, trying to ensure they didn’t provoke any monster attacks from below but, even though Calen flew beside the Legendary Pathfinder herself, he still kept a sharp eye out, taking in everything as they passed.

He noted signs of plentiful game below the canopy, waterways, and isolated settlements. From this height, Calen could even see the blue expanse of the gulf beyond the edge of the peninsula. All was quiet and peaceful as they flew, and nothing disturbed their passage.

It was a couple of hours into the flight that his sharp vision picked out rough stone buildings high up the mountains, nestled among the peaks and ridges. “What is that?”

“Telim Gor,” Lyeneru answered, identifying the settlement. “Home of the Ice Trolls. Tol’zerath’s kingdom. Legend says it has stood there since the first age.”

“Sages from Telim Gor would visit us in Dal’mohra sometimes,” Ali said. “They came to lecture on history or to use the library for re

“Something is wrong,” Calen said, pointing as the skin on the back of his neck starting to prickle. “They aren’t moving.”

Lyeneru’s gaze snapped toward the ranks of the Aman Rak warriors, studying them intently. It wasn’t just that they weren’t walking around or talking; even from this distance, Calen should have been able to see them breathing. That was when he started noticing the signs of decay upon their bodies and the tautness of their skin – and suddenly he knew what had prickled his instincts.

“Zombies!” he gasped.

“We’re too late,” Lyeneru said in a flat voice. “Be on your guard. With me.”

Lyeneru spiraled down, taking them lower and lower until they were skirting the tops of the trees, making their presence harder to spot from the ground. Calen followed close behind, feeding his Eclipse to blur his presence as she led them toward the mountainous cliffs and the pass filled with the larger important-looking stone buildings and lush jungle vegetation.

“This is the temple. If anyone survived, they will be here,” Lyeneru said as she alighted on the ground where a simple trail led up through the trees to the pass.

Calen took several steps forward and almost bumped into Lyeneru as she suddenly stopped cold.

The Temple of Aman Rak – level ??

Affinity: Blood, Bone.

Age: New.

Known Creatures: Troll.

Known Bosses: --

Dungeon

A dark shadow swirled up ahead.

Ali screamed.

A heavy dark bolt shot from the shadow, sizzling as it slammed into Lyeneru’s chest, knocking her coughing and choking to the ground.

And then the familiar wave of unholy dread crashed through Calen’s heart as a sepulchral figure floated out from the dense overgrowth. His crimson runic blindfold gleamed brightly in the dim light as an unnatural twilight descended upon the forest. A clawed, twisted hand rose like a petrified tree limb, protruding from the wide cuffs, blazing with dark energy.

Calen could not even breathe.

For a moment, he was sure Lyeneru was going to die right there, the second titanic bolt already tearing across the shaded trail, aimed for her head. But she gritted her teeth, releasing a wordless scream of rage. A cascade of fire and lightning burst from her and she vanished, suddenly appearing above the trees, bow drawn with a scowl of pure determination etched upon her features. Without hesitation, Lyeneru unleashed an onslaught of arrows, ripping, tearing, and exploding among the trees, obscuring the Lich’s presence in the sudden storm of magic.

Lyeneru glanced at him, and Calen knew instinctively what she required from him without even a word being spoken. With a howl of flame and a torrent of sparks, she took off, and the evil grasp of the Blind Lich released him as Nevyn Eld gave chase.

Calen shivered, his legs giving out at the suddenness of the removal of the Lich’s dread aura, and he crashed to the ground.

“F… fuck,” Malika whispered. “Everyone alright? Ali?”

Ali stood beside her, trembling uncontrollably.

“We don’t have much time,” Calen said, struggling to keep his voice from cracking. “She’s drawn him away. We need to investigate the temple before he returbat-litrpg