A journey to the Temple of Fiends

[Dracos]

Heading towards the palace...

They encountered...

The Royal Elite Guard.

All two of them.

"Follow us, the king wishes you to join him."

Dracos

[Carthrat]

Helena walks after the guards, musing.

[Olvelsper]

Craig wondered what the king was going to be like, considering how his kingdom seemed to be run and all.

[Dracos]

And so they were lead to the throne room, a grand place, surrounded by many tapestries detailing the heroism of the Cornerian people through history.  The place was awe inspiringly huge in proportion, wealth tastefully decoarating the room, a clear demonstration of magnamity and fortune, the throne, a tall impressive work of wood, carved from one of the great trees of the elven lands.

To the side of the throne, an announcer trumpted.  "Allowed into the presence of the Great King Gregory, Greatest King in all the land, are the heroes who have defeated the ignoble warrior Garland and saved the Princess Sara."

On the throne though, contrary to all the humbug, was a little man, maybe about five feet tall, brushing his red beard as he assessed the heroes in front of him, his green eyes contemplative.  "First, you have my thanks heroes, for having saved my beloved daughter."

Dracos

[Carthrat]

"Uh, it was a pleasure, uh, your highness," replies Helena, struggling not to snigger.

*This* was her monarch? Geez. And she always thought he'd be like one of those big, beefy kings with a huge beard and a temper to match.

[Olvelsper]

"We even brought you a gift wrapped Garland." Craig dropped the armor clad knight down.

[Dracos]

The king clapped once, guards promptly grabbing Garland and hauling him away.  "Yes.  You have done a great boon for this kingdom.  I am in your debt.  I sense you have many questions to ask of me."  The king solemnly watched them with the wisdom of a thousand sages in his eyes.

Dracos

[Carthrat]

"Uh, yes, me, your highness!" stutters Helena, rising to her feet.

"Um. In the woods, while we were travelling towards that temple, we found, uh, a bear.

But nonono, it wasn't an ordinary bear! It was.. like, twenty feet tall, and had these *huge* teeth that looked like they could chop a tree, and, uh, yeah! It was monstrous! I don't think it's natural. Do you, uh, know where it came from?"

[Dracos]

"Bear?  ...You couldn't mean...  The Bear?  Why hunters have hunted it and died before it for over a hundred years.  Some say he is not a bear at all, but instead a primal manifestation of bearhood, the king of all bears to whom they pledge their eternal loyalty.  The mighty incarnation of the forest warrior, which no man nor woman may dare to tame.  It instead lives by itself in the wilderness, roaring it's challenge to any who would dare stand before it, it's claws capable of shredding a man in just one strike.  I ...may have heard of it yes.  But only in tales meant to frighten mortal men and make them wary of the forces that nature wields."

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

"Uh...right. Anyway, do you know what Garland wanted from you in exchange for the princess? He didn't quite strike me as the type to be in it just for petty cash."

[Dracos]

The king brushed his beard, a grim and serious look crossing his face.  "No.  I am unsure.  It was quite out of character really for Garland.  He has always been one of our best, a shining example for all to follow.  Perhaps he was taken by the curse of the ancients though, for he traveled far and wide at times, and may have indeed entered before that cursed realm known only as the Temple of the Fiends.  Even now, this place is tainted by the scent of darkness, by the foul rituals that once were held here...and perhaps, were it not for you, would be held again."

The king grew silent for a moment, thinking.  "It may be a sign, in truth, of grimmer things to come.  What do you know of the state of the world?"

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

"Well, as far as my personal travels go, it seems like people are getting more fired up. Violence abounds." Craig shrugged a bit. "I just thought people were getting crabbier, myself."

[Carthrat]

"Uh, it's a bit cloudy," replies Helena, glancing through a window. "Been like that for a while, now."

[Dracos]

"The air grows stale and the earth begins to rot.  The flames of rage, lust, greed, and hatred burn in mens hearts.  The waters grow cold, draining life instead of replacing it.  I would almost think the time of prophecy was upon us.  It is truly a dreadful state of affairs."

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

Craig blinked. "So...what does that all have to do with us?" He rather bluntly asked, wondering why the king was going about with all the theatrics. Besides, the quicker this was over with, the faster he could go join his mates now that the rescue job was over with.