“This is clearly the Upper City, the Temple alone proves this in my eyes. So the Implosion or Mine Collapse theory seems to be the most correct from what we can see of the rubble here. The city is said to have been built on a plateau two thirds of the way up the mountain and that they carved great edifices out of the mountain top including the Temple as a known example, but multiple of the remaining accounts describe the mountain top overhanging the city.” Oaken said, talking just as much with his three hands as he was with his words.

  Pointing to the dark ceiling far above them with two of his hands Franco sat with his back against a rubble wall and the chirp of bats overhead as he watched Oaken debating where and how the ancient city was destroyed. Oaken stood with the other Mages or ancient history enthusiasts. Arguing back and forth as they waited before they moved on to the temple. Two Gold rank adventures both older Kimber men from the Fishmongers team as well as a human [Mage] and their Dwarf [Barbarian] from the Southern Shore Patrol stood there debating with Oaken. As well as The Shell Breakers, another Silver rank team, Kimber [Water Shamen] and their human [Harponist] arguing the theory that the besieging army just leveled the city from the outside. Franco turned to see if Sarah was watching this argument but she was not next to him. He looked around and could not find her.

  “Damnit. Maph, Frazier. Sarah is gone again.” Franco said as he stood. The couple had been on the other side of Sarah but had their heads together in conversation and missed their teammate disappearing. They were waiting in the area they had discovered the other day where their side tunnel connected to the ruins of Desinah. It was currently well lit with all the glow orbs they had brought but Franco could not find her as he did a quick search of the area. Frazier didn't stand up but looked around from where she sat.

  “If you try to scare me in the Dungeon I will stab you.” Frazier said with no room for doubt that she meant it.

  “I think she is over there standing in the shadows of the group,.” Maph said, squinting.

  Franco looked where he was pointing. It wasn't more than twenty feet away but he thought Maph was right, he could see something. Not a glimmer of shadow but more like a smeared line of black ink. Suddenly and without a sound Sarah was standing there waving at them. A huge smile on her face as the [Harponist] must have caught Sarah’s sudden appearance from the corner of her eye. She turned quickly, harpoon in hand but did nothing but stare at Sarah when she realized what had snuck up on her. She said loudly to Sarah and thus everyone here waiting

  “In Clements, in my city we would not allow a child to have such a weapon, because only a child would play with it like you and especially since you think it makes you what you are not” she said. The woman who looked to be in her thirties had silenced their chat as her group all looked reproachfully at Sarah. Sarah got red with embarrassment or anger and walked back towards Franco and the rest of their team.

  “No one can take a joke and I wasn't even trying to scare them.” Sarah said as she sat back down in between him and Frazier.

  So far giving her that dagger was a mistake he thought. They had waited three full days since his team had returned from the Temple before heading back in today and Sarah had had the dagger the last two day. The last two in which she tested and sadly played with it nonstop. Good lessons learned from it like Master Helmric always seeing her or even a Level 16 elf [Ranger], the lowest level and newest member of the Gold ranked Aspens Hollow could always spot her, but most could not.

  She had scared her teammates and most people in the camp dozens of times and now had no allies left by the time they had entered the dungeon this morning. Four days since they were last here and a total of nine since Franco had lost his memories. Besides being scared a dozen times by Sarah appearing and disappearing with her new dagger, they had restocked their supplies and he had been able to buy himself a new wand. Flame Spray, a basic flame spell he had spent some of his split of the loot on. He was level 8 now and he knew he wanted to be a [Spellsword] like he still knew how to read and talk, but as Oaken had pointed out the other day he didn't know any spells, only relied on his wands. Meaning he was going to get a [Spellslinger] option for a Class at level 10 and other things but not [Spellsword].

  This had stunned Franco when it was pointed out. Did his old self just figure he would learn spells later as level 10 was years away or did he know spells and forgot like his other memories. They had spent an hour testing this theory by Oaken teaching him the easiest spell to free cast. Mana Pulse. All it did was pulse your own mana but it took first time magic users, the ones that could actually learn to free cast, months to learn. Franco had gotten it on his second try and it only took a dozen seconds or so longer for him to cast it then Oaken. Franco had known magic in his past, maybe even some spells but not in this new life he had.

  He now knew only one spell he could free cast, Mana Pulse. That was not enough, so with his new wand of flame spay. He had paid for the higher quality wand that did recharge but also a wand that used the wielder's own mana to continue feeding the spell, allowing him to shoot flames out to 10” feet away in a 4” foot cone for as long as 7 seconds. Oaken had told him that was a sign of a strong mana pool and training. When Oaken had tested the wand he could make it last 15 seconds. This new wand would work his mana pool and should help him learn to free cast flame spray which he had spent more of his cut of the loot on to buy a copy of the spell as Oaken didn't have it already.

  “Sun Splinters are back” someone announced by the chasm.

  Franco along with the rest of his team stood at that. The Sun Splinters with the Silver ranked World Hunters had gone left and down the path his team had not taken when they approached the chasm days ago. The two teams had been gone over an hour and as Franco moved closer to where Master Helmric stood in his sleek layered dark blue armor that looked more like leather but was in fact metal and held his famous white hafted spear in his left hand. His tail had a thick cap of metal with what looked like spiked bronze bards on it. Frazier approached to stand by Helmric and the other team Captains.

  The rest of their team stayed back with most of those who had waited alongside them as the two scouting groups pushed out both up and down the path next to the chasm. The group that had taken the right turn out of their waiting area and had gone to the Temple and back was led by the Key Breakers but had returned almost half an hour ago. Now the various team captains gathered with Master Helmric as Fallow came forward holding a large longbow whose black limbs had green stone swirls throughout it. The bowstring looked more polished stone then it did a string that could be flexed.

  Fallow was a male Dryad. A thing hardly seen outside their Dryad forest cites much like female Satyr or Dwarfs. All three races had huge sex imbalances that made the less represented sex more protected and less able to leave their enclaves.

  He stood well above Master Helmric but the near six and a half feet tall Dryad bowed his head slightly. His two bone white and wide antlers moved down with the jester. His tan elf-like head had no hair on it but dark brown skin like bark on its top. He was more than half a tree, with everything below his neck, bark-like and various shades of brown and green but he had the shape of an elf with antlers and nothing on but a pair of loose black shorts and his adventurer's belt. Along with a leather strap across his chest that held his bow to his back a quiver at his side but above his belt and a long sword opposite his quiver, with a branch like hilt. His voice was low and had the rustling sound like wind through tree leaves when he reported to Master Helmric.

  “The path heads down following the chasm for some time. No traps were found but we came across three sections of the city on our side of the chasm, sometimes just a street, another that was at least a full block that had survived intact but nothing was in them. We checked many buildings. No animals or monsters but also no furniture, no trash, nothing. All had been cleared and kept that way. It was in the third such area we came across when we found a group of Undead like the Stone Eaters encountered. This one was just a small band led by a Greater Skelton. Just lying there asleep until we approached. He had a good sword but Silver rated at best, that is my Shamans guess. Past them the path took a few turns heading down in a much steeper way until we came across a large open section of the city, a few blocks I think. There was light from large crystals in the ceilings and some dungeon moss but not much. At the foot of the path were two Bone Giant lead groups of Undead. We fought them and one had this bow.”

  Fallow handed Master Helmric the bow who just shook his head no. He used his two right hands to wave on his report. Fallow just shrugged at the refusal to touch the bow.

  “Very good bow and also safe but the other Bone Giant had an axe but it seems cursed so it is secured by the World Hunters. We did not see any other activity from this open area but did not go further into it. We did see across this area a Dungeon entrance. Same as the one we first found in the village. It was well lit with its doors open showing stairs heading down.”

  Franco looked at his team when Fallow had finished and their eyes were alight with interest as were his. Another entrance which means that they were not in the Dungeon, not really

  “Are we not in the Dungeon then?” Lolateerum asked. The elf man looked around the cavern they were in.

  “I don't think we are, Oaken any ideas.” Master Helmric asked his son

  Oaken stepped forward to be closer to the meeting captains.

  “I think we are standing in or among the top level and first section of the underground city. The Temple is clearly further up from here and we know that it was on the top floor. From what Captain Fallow just described this path he followed, that is built from rubble leads down to the Dungeon. All this is to clean, if the survivors did it why only this. This feels like whoever built the Dungeon came here after and cleared a path to the Temple.”

  “Fallow, did you see any patrolling undead or just those waiting for you?” Helmric asked.

  “The first was waiting for whatever living thing while the second was there for us, but we did not see any patrolling,.” Fallow answered.

  “So.” Helmric said as he mussed. “Are the Undead from the Dungeon or are they the remains of the Dungeon markers that worked their way out here after death. Or are they a third third group from outside the dungeon and these are the rear guards while their leaders tried to delve into the Dungeon and eventually failed because leaving these forces here doesn't make sense. Real thought and planning went into these Undead. Too well made, organized and equipped for anything less.”

  Helmric looked around at the captains but they didn't have anything to offer.

  “That open door might be the easiest way in if these Undead are an outside force but that is for another day. Sun Splinters, World Hunters and the Iron Triangle will guard this location. Continue fortifying it. The rest with me to the Temple. Key Breakers take the lead again.” Helmric said and turned to head out.

  “What, us? The Sun Splinters and World Hunters are more than enough to guard here.” Maria said, Captain of the Iron Triangle.

  “Not another word Maria or you will only pull guard duty outside in my Expedition.” Helmric snapped back at her. Maria said nothing as Fallow patted her on the shoulder with his nimble bark like hand.

  Franco picked up his mostly empty rucksack, just a change of clothes, food for three days and some water and moved quickly as he caught up with his team following after the Key Breakers who were well on their way back towards the temple.

  “So what do you think?” Sarah asked Maph as they walked along.

  “Not sure but it seems that all this could not have been done in days or months even with high levels. It would take the work of decades and why. Dungeon makers have never made sense to me.” Maph answered.

  “Most theorize it's some madness from being so long underground, maybe given by the Gods or the Apparatus, whatever you believe in but that it wants Dungeons as it makes people explore or level.” Oaken said as they walked.

  Frazier shook her head. “I think it's way simpler than that. Dungeons are always some kind of ancient ruin, former cities or giant temples to the gods or the dead that got buried somehow and then turned into a complex hive of tunnels. I’m thinking the survivors here in Desanigh just tried to dig themselves out but ran into other groups, including former slaves or monsters and then built tunnels with traps and lived down here till they were all killed or escaped and then the Gods built the Dungeon themselves.”

  “Actually, divinity designed is your guess,.” Sarah said, surprised.

  Frazier just shrugged and nodded yes. “I don't think any of the old Gods would do it, well maybe one but even that.” Sarah said, shaking her head in doubt.

  “My Clan thinks it's a thing of Undeath. It's a compulsion of theirs. They arise or are attracted to these ancient places where death came quickly to many and build these places because it is of their nature and treasure is common only as a bait for their future victims.” Maph chimed in.

  “That rings true to me with the survivors fighting and adding to the tunnels as they try to live, maybe even survive down here for a generation or two.” Franco added.

  “What a terrible life and a horrible way to die,.” Sarah said as they walked

  After a short but intense walk they found the plaza as they had left it with scattered bones everywhere. The piles of armor and other loot they left were still there undisturbed but Master Helmric let no one enter the plaza or touch anything until he and a few more Gold’s cleared it.

  The Golds set up glow orbs marking the limits of the plaza and what looked to be a half block of intact buildings opposite the temple on the far side of the plaza. It had been far enough back in the darkness of this cave that Franco and his team never suspected they were there. Helmric found nothing in them when he cleared them himself.

  Once let in most of the Silver ranked adventurers went over the battlefield looking for anything of value that they might have left, sorting through bones and old rusted armor. Franco could see the look of worry on Frazier’s face. As if they had left something behind on purpose.

  “Don't worry boss. If they do find something good, then good for them, we got our pick first and Oaken got us a chance at the temple.” Franco said as their group walked to the front of the Temple along with the two old Gold rankers from the Fishmongers.

  Their other two members were on vacation and the old experienced team were locals from Gemport. These two a [Water-Mage] and a [Vagabond Merchant] decided to join the expedition when Helmric announced his plans to discover Desanigh; they signed up for the adventure as much to get out of their houses as they had gotten bored.

  When their team got to the front of the Temple they stood there and studied the ancient wonder. Its two solid wood doors must have been thirty feet tall and fifteen wide each. They were plain but for a glimmer of a blue wall of force running through them. The doors stood well above them as wide gentle steeps led down from them at least a hundred feet across with each step at least five or six feet wide and just a simple easy step up for a Kimber. The outside of the Temple was plain as far as they could see with their light spells, only that blue light that ran through the doors and kept them closed gave it that glimmer of magic. In fact they could see the blue force all over the building if you looked for it.

  “Ah they stripped the outer layer of the building” the old [Water Mage] said. Franco thought his name was Gull.

  “Why do you think that?” Maph asked the old Kimber.

  “It didn't make sense by how you described it, that you were so sure it was a temple with just plain walls as its exterior, but if you look closely.” Gull said as he moved one of his floating light orb spells closer to the building.

  “At the wall you can see chisel marks. They seem to have stripped the outer decorations which I am sure had lots of magical Jade and other treasurers on it and only stopped when they got near or hit the spell that was securing the place.”

  “That would match with the history that's been shared. A city so far lost to their evil and willing to starve out their patron God's temple priests would strip the walls of its wealth or decorations out of spit.” Frazier said.

  Oaken walked off to one side of the stairs and moved a pile of bones and some bits of armor around and quickly picked up two items that glimmered green in the limited light. He rejoined his group as they watched him including the two old Gold rankers. The water mage trilled in amusement.

  “We remember and so does your father boy. Those temple tokens will not be given to your team members.” Gull said. In fact it was seconds later that Helmric was there holding out his third hand to his son. Oaken tried to play dumb but after Helmric slapped his tail on the ground hard enough to rattle bones twenty feet away he handed over the two jade tokens.

  Sarah just gave Oaken a gentle slap on the back. “Don't worry you will get to open the doors and then we will all get to go in” she said smiling until she heard a trill from Master Helmric.

  “I mean after Master Helmric says it's safe.” Sarah clarified under his stare.

  Gull and his teammate walked over to Helmric and with a few words stepped aside and talked under a muffled spell for a few minutes as more and more adventurers joined the Stone Eaters at the foot of the Temple.

  After a few minutes the three Kimber broke apart with Helmric looking displeased. “Alright listen up, Gull, Finn and Oaken will each take a token and approach the doors together. The rest of us will stay off the steps and spread out. Don't clump and I want the Southern Shore patrol the furthest back with eyes on our way out. Let’s move.”

  After a few minutes of sorting themselves out and stepping back, some moved hundreds of feet away. Franco watched from just a dozen or so feet behind Oaken as he explained to the other two Kimber men how he used his token and then together the three Kimber slowly took the first step up.

  Helmric had been by his son's side and Franco had not heard what words they had shared but now he looked stoney faced as he watched the three walk up the steps. With nothing happening after the first one, the three took the next steps faster and quickly approached the doors. It was only when they had all fully stepped onto the landing did something happen. The blue light that seemed to penetrate the walls and the doors of the temple flashed, blinding everyone in the plaza for just a second before it winked out. Oaken had taken a step back in shock but still stood on the landing. For three seconds nothing happened until the two massive doors began to swing inward. Dust and bits of rock filled the air where the doors were as lights just barely detectable through the dust appeared to flicker on inside the temple and then that blue force of light was back covering where the doors had been, but this time with flowing green writing hovering on it.

  Welcome True Kimber and Friends bearing Tokens of the Temple Of the Most Holy Jade. Please speak your name and why you are here.

  Everyone was silent as they read the words and before anyone could stop him Oaken spoke first.

  “I am Oaken Finstrider of Gemport, a True Kimber and Friend of the Temple of Jade. I am an adventurer, and I am here to explore the ruins of Desanigh that was long ago destroyed for its evil.”

  Franco waited holding his breath to see what would happen as were most. This time the wait was for nearly seven seconds before the letters changed on the blue shimming wall.

  Welcome Adventure Oaken, You and your team may enter but no others unless they bear a token from the Temple.

  “Fucking fish piss.” Master Helmric cursed as he saw the message. He had taken a few steps up but did not go to Oaken.

  “Damn you, you two old men. See if it will let you in with a guest.” Helmric said yelling at Gull and Finn

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  The two experienced Gold rankers introduced themselves and asked to enter the temple with a guest or a helper. Each time it refused them, allowing only them and their teams as Adventures.

  “Well Helmric, do you want to try your luck?” Gull asked Helmric after trying for twenty minutes. Helmric thought hard about it but shook his head.

  “You never know with magic, especially magic this old. It could be reading our surface thoughts or checking our heart rate. Who knows.” Helmric cursed.

  “Fine, bring my boy and his team back safely if you can't get it to fully open.” Helmric said and then waved Franco and the rest of their team up the steps. Franco nearly ran up the steps his heart was racing. He was more excited then he had been, well in the last nine days but he was still amazed that they were about to do this. When he got to the landing he saw that Oaken and the rest of their team were nearly dancing with excitement. He checked and saw that most of the remaining adventurers had gathered closer to the steps and were watching them, some with envy, others with concern.

  “Alright calm down, we are playing this straight,.” Gull said, getting their group's attention.

  He was an older Kimber man, his fur more grey now then brown. He moved slower than most but the many scares he had showed the Kimber to be a fighter while his white on black eyes were still sharp. He had no weapons on him but wands and a small dagger on his adventurer's belt.

  “Finn will go in first, then me and then Oaken with you following. No weapons out until we feel threatened. Some systems are clearly working so don't touch anything you don't have to.”

  “Alright let's do this and let's do this right. We are professionals.” Gull said.

  “Who are about to make history by walking into a lost temple that is at least 10,000 years old.” Finn said with a wild smile on his face, his left hand on the handle of his mace that was still hanging from his Adventurer's belt. While his two right hands flexed in anticipation.

  All three Kimber gave a trill of excitement before Finn stepped off and passed through the blue energy without issue, only taking a few steps past it as he waited. Then Gull went through followed by Oaken. It was Frazier that went next, clear concern on her face but she passed without a sound. With that Franco, Sarah and Maph didn't want to be last and passed through the barrier together. Gull trilled in frustration.

  “Rookies, you always go one at a time. You have no idea what could set it off.” Gull said as he followed Finn through the small entrance hallway. The hallway was just longer than the doors themselves before it turned into steps leading up again. The room from the ceiling above looked huge but the steps were blocking their sight further into the temple and with only a few of the lights having turned on after all these years a lot of the ceiling lay in shadows. This time the two older Kimber moved up together while Oaken led their team after them. When they reached the top of the steps no one made a sound as they looked upon an ancient wonder of the world

  ***

  His world rumbled and an alarm in his head was going off, one that he had never heard before. That made him fill…something, he wasn't sure. His systems were coming back from sleep and they took longer each time he did this. First his senses. He could see again and he saw the flashing words that floated over a display tablet to his right, but the number confused him. It had only been 84 years since he last slept. Early again he thought. The words that flashed on the display table spoke of the urgency. Grand Entrance Open. Soul Seal has lifted. Allowing Access To All. What? is all Zif could think. Now after all this time. Now they came. They found them and they remembered the Temple. The last Grand Adapt’s prophecy and the seal he had given his life to form to protect the Temple. All that and now it's been fulfilled and lifted. Zif was not sure how he felt. His hearing came back next and he could hear the soft alarm ringing in his maintenance alcove. He willed his connection to the alcove and the remaining Spirit Minds that help protect the Temple and told them to close the door until he could check himself. Full access to all removed…Soul Seal key was verified…Access can not be denied

  The Soul Minds had only grown more willful the longer he slept. He was the Priest here and last member of the Holy Order of the Jade Goddess. Limit the access then until I verify he willed to the Soul Minds. After a few seconds it dinged in acknowledgement. Tell me how fares the Temple he willed to the Soul Minds again. His limbs regained movement and he was almost ready to walk again.

  The Grand Floor is secure. Soul Lock has been lifted. The first Vault is secure. All lower Vaults are lost. Grand Armorer, Smithery and Relic arsenals internal locks are secure. 92 attempts to break into the First vault from the second Vault since entering sleep. 1 Soul Mind lost integrity and self shut off. 3 Soul Minds remain. 66 Jade Golems remain. 1 [Soul Bond Golem]. He regained movement and took one step out of his alcove. His giant enchanted green and white adamantium right foot stepped forward then his left. He spun his upper body fully around to test his upper body movement and within a few steps was pulling four weapons from the wall in front of his alcove. Dim lights were flickering all around him as he chose an ancient Relic Masterwork longsword for his right upper arm while another Relic Masterwork shield went into his upper left arm. An auto crossbow in his lower right arm while a long thin blade went into his lower left, all Relic Masterwork weapons of the Temple and the few he had been able to save on the long retreat up the Vaults over the Millenium. He activated six Jade Golems to follow him once again in his ancient calling. Two with pikes, two with sword and shield and two with two auto crossbows each.

  His only real companions in all these years besides the Soul Minds and another one ended its own existence while he slept. Sad, he felt sad and tired. Could a [Soul Bond Golem] feel tired? He wasn't sure but he had felt that way the last 32 times he had woken up. When his six simple soulless brethren awoke they walked together two by two down the main hallway of this floor to the Grand Stairs, the only stairs big enough to fit his twelve foot tall and six foot wide frame as it traveled to the Grand Hall.

  The last Guardians of the Jade Temple walked again.

  ***

  They stood at the entrance of a grand hall whose ceiling lay far above them lost in shadow. Hundreds of feet away there stood a statue at least fifty feet tall and twenty wide made out of solid jade and the grand hall ran past it just as far, or so it looked in the dim light. The jade statue was of a Kimber woman, the Jade Goddess Franco assumed.

  She stood proudly, her wide webbed duck-like feet bare. She wore a simple pleated Kimber robe that left her arms bare and ended at her knees. The light danced off and seemed to move inside the many shades of Jade that made up the stature. She had a crown of gold that looked like simple twisted rope around her head. In her single right hand she held a massive hammer as if she was in the middle of swinging it while forging. The hammer was made of many different metals and was encrusted with jewels of every kind. In her upper left arm she held a sword of war. Its point was buried into the ground and its blade was made of only rubies as if to suggest blood. While her third hand held aloft a saucer that a weak fire burned from but whose flame they could still see from this distance. They took a few hesitant steps forward awed and overwhelmed by it all.

  The light was limited in the grand room as only a few of the glow orbs had turned on throughout it. Along the walls were detailed murals showing the Goddess forging in a small smithery, her fighting a horde of goblins or leading a swarm of other Kimber out of a cave into a beautiful world and much more from what they could tell in the limited light. Grand columns went down both sides of the building and everywhere they looked they saw gold and silver and what looked like Mithill and Adamintaum bands as ornamentation. Precious gems and other stones. They walked heading straight for the statue for a full thirty seconds before anyone spoke.

  “Stop, stop we need to stop.” Gull said as he slowed down and looked down at his feet. “I don't know if it is just true awe or we are under an an effect but we need to stop and act like the professionals we are, right Finn.” Gull said as he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Trying for that control.

  Franco did not want to stop but knew he had to get his excitement under control. Gull was right and Franco tried to catch his own breath like Gull was doing. They stood there for a minute until they settled down.

  “Ok spread out in a line. Light spells out as many as you can spare and be combat ready. Same rules.” Gull said in a calm voice. Everyone moved with Oaken in the middle. Finn, Sarah and Franco on his left while Gull, Frazier and Maph on his right. Light spells went out to attach to columns or were left on the ground as the room began to light up as they walked forward again. The ground was the same near perfect large white tiles that the plaza had been. This time with the braided gold rope design heading from the entrance all the way to the statue plinth where it circled it on the floor. Franco’s eyes kept drifting to the statue. To the look of deep sadness but determination on the Goddess' face, her bill lined with scratches and cuts or at least this jade statue had.

  He would stare for a few seconds and then look away, sweeping his eyes back and forth around them and when he could throw out another light orb he did. There was honestly not much before the statue and that looked to be by design. As they drew nearer to it there seemed to be more behind it. Work stations and sitting areas and to his surprise what looked to be open smithing areas set in little amphitheaters. The room grew in more detail as they walked in silence, only the sound of their steps echoing in the empty chamber. And then Franco took another step, almost to the base of the statue and a thud rang out. For a heartbeat he thought he had activated a trap or something until another thud could be heard and then another. They sounded like something, something familiar.

  Oaken yelled “Golems” and threw out more light orbs around the base of the statue.

  “None of you shits draw steal yet.” Finn barked out.

  “They should be automated defenders, someone has kept this place clean” he trilled in worry. The group still looked around as the thud thud thud of steps grew louder. Heavy metal foot falls in near perfect rhythm. The sound was clearly coming from the far wall and as it grew louder more lights began to glow in the grand hall. Not enough to cast away the darkness or most shadows but enough to see what must be a stairwell on the far side where the sounds were coming from.

  “What are we doing?” Frazier asked Gull and Finn. The two old Kimber looked at each other and nodded after a second.

  “We are going to act calm and wait. Don't group up but Oaken keep that token out. The rest of you let Finn and I get a little ahead of you.” Gull said and then moved twenty feet in front of the group, jade token in his left hand. Finn moved up to stand in line with Gull but stayed a good fifty feet away. His token was also held in his left hand. Soon they saw the golems as they reached the floor with a giant four armed one leading six smaller ones. They looked to be all polished green and white metal. Humanoid looking with the six smaller golems only having two arms and no neck. Their heads firmly attached to their body. The four armed leader was a thing of pure craftsmanship. Tall and wide its armor body was white and green and looked like fitted plates of steel. The legs and arms moved with full articulation while its hands had the three fingers and thumb that Kimbers had. Its head was a near perfect sphere with two large jade stones as its eyes with a hole for its mouth that opened and closed.

  “Who enters the Temple Of The Most Holy Jade. Who bears a token of friendship after these many millennium.” A deep metallic voice boomed out.

  “Oh shit.” Franco said aloud. Surprising himself and the group around him. It even seemed like the leading golem heard him but it was hundreds of feet away and it continued to move forward.

  “Stay calm.” Frazier said to her team as well to herself.

  “Token ups.” Gull said as he lifted his higher. The thud thud thud of the golem steps continued as they neared from the far wall.

  “We are adventurers who mean the Temple no harm and fought Undead and Bone Giants at the steps of this Temple days ago where we found these three tokens intact, where pieces of many more lay.” Gull said.

  Franco looked to his group and saw Sarah half crouched ready to draw her dagger. While Maph and Frazier were getting closer and closer to each other. Oaken had taken a few steps forward and held up his token but his third hand now and was shaking in fear.

  The leading golem didn't answer but kept approaching until it and the other golems suddenly stopped some hundred feet from Gull and Finn. They stood there looking at each other and Franco thought he might pass out. His heart was racing so fast. The four arm and frankly beautiful golem held at least two legendary artifacts it carried as weapons. The giant longsword it carried radiated danger as well as the large thin blade carried in one of its lower hands. The leading golem lowered its weapons and seemed to noticeably relax.

  “I am Brother Zif, last priest of this most Holy Temple. You must be true friends to risk coming with such low levels and poor gear. Come and sit and I will ask many things. Why send children? Are they all that is left from some slave enclave, maybe, yes.” Zif said as he turned his back to them. His golems did likewise and walked back the way he came. Their team and the two older Kimber looked at each other. All making eyes at one another asking what had just happened. Was this real?

  Sarah was the first to speak in a mutter. “Our gear isn't that bad” as she stepped to follow. Zif’s entire upper body spun to face her while his legs kept walking away from them.

  “Child, that dagger you carry is one of only three good items I see on your team and it is but a fair replica of The Night Haunt’s, Dagger of Souls. Middling work at best but I am sure you found it off the bones of some poor boy outside. Now come sit.” Zif said as he spun his body forward.

  So they followed and Sarah had her mouth open in surprise for a full minute before she closed it on Frazier's prompting. Zif had walked towards the closest little amphitheater and sent all six of its golems back towards the stairs. Where they stopped, turned to face the room and waited. Zif easily took the few wide steps down into the amphitheater where a stone table sat in the flat area and he casually placed all three weapons and the shield on before he turned and using all four hands waved for them to sit.

  “Please sit, it was customary for us to share food with visitors to the Temple but nothing we have is still good, unless I give you, no that is not something to share with anyone.” Zif said as he tapped one hand against his head while another lower arm started to fight its counterpart.

  They all looked on in wonderment, this golem was crazy. It was acting like a person but that couldn't be right. Golems were complex formulas of magic and machines. Not living things. Franco felt pretty confident that was true but what did he know? He really only had the memories of the last few days he could trust. So he and Sarah sat down on one of the upper benches and Franco raised his hand as if to ask a question.

  “Brother Zif, are you alive?” Franco just blurted out in question

  Zif had noticed his arm up and was turning his body towards him when he asked. Zif’s body jerked at the question.

  “What a childish question, of course I am alive, but if they are some lost remnant of the slaves they might not know, but of course they would not forget the likes of me. Not the children of slaves. But how many years?” Zif said this in what would be a low mutter for him as if he thought they couldn't hear him and then Zif stood up straighter and faced Franco.

  “Of course I am still alive, young human. I am a [Soul-Bond Golem]. Level 18. My name is Zif and I am a priest of this Temple.”

  Zif raised all four arms wide to encompass the entire temple. The rest of their party had spread out with Finn sitting closest to the Golem while Gull had sat at the top bench and to the side. Oaken had sat near Franco but two rows down.

  “Brother Zif, if I may. My name is Oaken Finstrider and this is is my team. My Captain, Frazier.” Oaken said pointing to Frazier who sat next to Maph.

  “And next to her is Maph”

  “A elf and a human in the halls of the Temple, it has been years since such a time. Well as welcome guests anyway, well many a slave was an elf and human and they walked the halls of the temple, I know they did, of course they did, friend and foe alike but as a guest in the grand hall, many a year.” Zif said, who half the time seemed to be talking more to himself than anyone.

  Zif seemed to have taken a closer look at Maph and then did a double take which to see a golem do almost made Franco laugh.

  “A young elf indeed. Are there no more forests safe for children like yourself, young man.” Zif asked in his deep metallic voice, seeming truly concerned. Maph looked both annoyed and off put

  “I am two years past the age of majority Master Zif.” Maph replied.

  “Master, I am no Master. No need to address me as such young elf. You are of majority? but you look fifty.” Zif said

  “My apologies Brother Zif and I am fifty two.”

  “Fifty two but then you are forty eight years away from majority,.” Ziff responded as if it was more a question than an answer.

  Oaken cut in “Brother Zif many things have changed since your time time yes” he trilled in frustration.

  “Age of majority is fifty now for the elves but that is but one small example that will take much time to explain but we have many more of our expedition waiting outside to join us. Can some of them enter enter with us.” Oaken said in a rush.

  Zif looked at Oaken for a few seconds and then said “No” and turned back to Maph

  “Is fifty really the age of majority for elves now.”

  Maph looked at Oaken who had his bill open in surprise and turned back to the golem.

  “Yes Brother Zif it is and has been since the Five Evils nearly destroyed the world just a few years after the city of Desanigh was destroyed or so they say.” Everyone sitting leaned forward to see how the golem would respond. The two Gold rankers looked ready to respond in an instant but the golem just stood there in thought. Finally it spoke its mouth only opening and closing. No lips to form words, only a mockery of speech.

  “The Five Evils, now that is a good name, let me guess it seems it would be the Five Fold Alliance that would be referring to. So Desanigh as one, what was their evil? Pride? No of course it was Slavery. Then the Court of Blood of course, so that is two. The Sunhold Empire, Pride? Everyone could be Pride. War, yes that makes since, War. The Dalohani Republic must be one and they would be Debauchery?” the golem shuddered at the thought of the Dalohani Republic. “So that leaves one more and who would that be? There were more than five nations in the Alliance of course but would they know that? No, maybe not. Ah the Fin Archipelago for Greed. Yes, that makes sense. Young Maph how did I do.” Zif asked with real curiosity in his metallic voice.

  “We know some of them by other names but you got all five correct.” Maph said.

  “Oh good, they were the five major powers there at the end when we sealed the doors. It seems they lost. Good, that is very good news. My Grand Abbot's final prophecy and defiance bore out.” Zif ended his words in a near whisper compared to his others.

  After a minute of silence Oaken raised his hand “Brother Zif if I may, why can't we let let those others in. We are the Friends of the Temple that opened its door after being sealed for nearly 4000 years.”

  Zif looked at Oaken. “No, I do not know you and it has been closer to 5000 years then to 4000 young man since the doors of this temple closed”

  “What, really?” Oaken asked as he trilled in annoyance and surprise.

  “Yes, I know my count is off, but by decades not centuries. For more than 4000 years I have awakened every 99 to live out that last year and then I slept again. All for the day this temple would open and its many lost Vaults could be reclaimed as the last Abbot of this Temple prophesied and you are not what I envisioned that prophecy to be.” Zif said.

  “You Honored Senior with the Journeyman mace, why are you so poorly equipped and why are you here now.” Zif asked pointing all four arms at Finn.

  “Brother Zif, I am Finn Fisherhack. Gold rank adventurer and this mace of mine is also Gold rated the second best rating we have today. Only legendary artifacts like you bare are are better rated. We are here because a local shepherd noticed what looked to be large stone doors carved into a mountain among an old abandoned village. That information was then sold to another Gold rank adventurer who funded an expedition and found the lost lost ruins of Desanigh after 4000 years and its Dungeon it seems. These whelps here with us stumbled on to a cave just big enough to pass through when clearing out Stone Scarabs that led to near this temple.” Finn said as he patted the handle of his mace and watched the golem.

  “That system of rating makes no sense, young Maph that training blade your carey, what is it rated.” Zif asked.

  “Silver,.” Maph replied.

  “And that is the worst?” Zif asked. Oaken cut it again trilling in frustration.

  “No Brother Zif, the rating goes, from lower lower, Tin, Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold and then Diamond.

  “And that Mace is Gold and his training blade is Silver.” Ziff asked again.

  Trilling again Oaken was the first to answer. “Yes and if they are bad bad to you could you explain why. And then explain how we can open these doors and let in the rest of our group so we can help the temple and you.” Clear frustration and anger in his voice.

  “Stop doing that.” Zif said at once to Oaken.

  “What? asking how how we can help?” Oaken said before trilling in true anger.

  “That and That.” Zif pointed while Oaken spoke. “Why do you repeat words sometimes and what is that sound you make that expresses different emotions?”

  Oaken stood up and his eyes almost bulged out of his head in anger.

  “That that is a stupid question. All Kimber do both those things and have as long as we have history. From the far north to to the far west it is something my people do. If you will not tell us how to help then we will leave you, the Abbots seal is lifted this I am sure of.” Oaken said and then turned.

  Zif slammed one of his feet down and everyone jumped at the sudden noise and vibration from the move. All of them were on their feet with weapons drawn in a second. Zif looked at them, arms still empty and spread wide.

  “I am Brother Zif, a Soul Bound Golem. Before that I was Brother Zif the 29 year old priest of this most beautiful Temple to my Goddess, the one Goddess of our people, her people the Kimber. I gave up my body, young Oaken, to serve her and this Temple after we had been sealed here for 11 years and faced decades of persecution from our own people in Desanigh, one of the wonders of the world at that time. The city that was destroyed by its own great Evil you must understand. The armies besieging it did little to harm the city for they could not hurt this mighty fortress home.” Zif shouted his last words so they echoed off the far walls.

  “But we learned later after much hardship afterwards through their cunning and madness that they did enough and the city collapsed into itself. Most Vaults fell only one Vault downward into the deep but that was enough to bury the survivors, and there were millions of us that lived under a lifetime of digging. So the war of the deep began and we who had been shunned by our own city and people for speaking the truth and whose Abbot had died to seal the grand doors, the only doors that might allow the people a chance to escape, opened up the older lower closed entrances. The ones the city had closed over the decades of persecution. The ones that we still had into the Deep Mines where we helped those doomed souls in slavery how we could and whatever other vaults we could reach and offered what we could to the survivors. Some were thankful but many blamed us and demanded we turn over the former slaves. We did not and so we fought, we fought at first to save who we could and then to save what we had. I, I Zif the Kimber was in the last group to undergo the ritual to make me as you see me because we had no more supplies in which to do the ritual after that try.” He did not need to catch his breath but he stopped to think, just for a second.

  “33 priests had volunteered like the six times before and from my lucky group, 4 bonds were formed bringing our number to 21 [Soul Bond Golems]. They let me sleep for four years before waking and fighting for my brothers and sisters and then for this temple. Year after year we lost more ground. Some survivors joined us and had families and their children had families but still we lost floor after floor, vault after vault until I was the last of my kind and the Denizens of the Deep had won and their madness had engulfed too many.” Zif said his anger now gone from his voice. Most of the group had lowered their weapons as he spoke and then Fanco resheathed his saber. It was a sad tale.

  “So young Oaken as you see I was a Kimber and we do or at least did not speak the way you and the others do here. Strange, very strange and to answer your other question before you can ask me again. I do not trust you, but it would be hard for me after all these years. My Abbot's words, words that I heard all those years ago. They have finally come true, but I find you wanting. So what to do? What to do?”

  Zif stood perfectly still and then as if he heard something turned his head slightly to his right as if turning an ear to hear better.

  “Ah, a test. Yes, a test. A trial by fire to test your metal. Yes. All that is left to my watch is this grand hall and the first Vault, help me clear the second Vault and then help me reach the Great Armory in the third Vault and I will trust your intentions enough to allow your expedition entrance into the grand hall at least, umm more it needs more. Oh and I will personally reward all of you if we reach the Grand Armory. With such poor gear there is plenty in the vault that would serve you better then what you have, and I will award all of you one item of my choosing. Yes, a most fitting test.” Zif said, pleased with himself.

  “Now follow,.”