[Complete] the Mana-Wilds (A Golarionite Odyssey) #2: Dreams of Water

Chapter 7

The next few days after for the survivors of the Visitor Center were more encouraging than the earlier. Ever since the arrival of the Rangers, the Sarenites, now equipped with a prospectus to take back the Temple were redoubling their efforts to see it all through. When the rain falls, the Mujahidin venture forth to fight and steal back the Raincoats of the Filth Drinkers to use for themselves. When one claims those silken garbs, they could take claim of four more. It wasn't long before now all of the Sarenites and the Rangers had their own Raincoats which allows for them free movement around Katheer at last after five years of being oppressed into what unmelted shelters remained from the Acidic Rainfall.

"Ar-righty this is far enough." David lifted a fallen piece of lumber from the ruined house as he led Merizi and Tomos upwards. Based on Tutoria's old accounts of her hap-hazard journey to the Temple, they had gone through significantly closer without tipping the patrols that had scrapped through the area.

Team X-Ray that day had planned by David was to split off into two teams. His team took charge of scouting the urban approach to the Temple of the Dawn's Grace. The days of progress lately had caused a significantly lowered intensity of Filth Drinker Patrols around Katheer. It was an opportune gap in the Xoveronic Armor that High Priestess Kamala had been waiting to turnabout the Mujahidin's fate with. Still, she remained cautious despite the growing enthusiasm amongst her followers. The Cleric and the Silent Songstress Navideh having entrusted the Desert Rangers to reconnaissance the Temple to observe the movements of their mutual adversary and so they did.

Meanwhile, he had entrusted the heroic Ghoul Raul to lead Ice and Tutoria down the Sewers to verify the integrity of the Water Filtration System that is the key to the Katheer continued survival.

Once everything is all written into note by the Ranger's scouting, the High Priestess is confident that a two-pronged assault, one frontal and the other from beneath could allow the Sarenite Mujahidin to retake the Temple.

With both surprises, adequate preparation from the new Raincoats acquired and Saint Habir's Rod of Cancellation to deal with what arcane madness sprout forth from the Nethysian Wound would bleed over, the Dawnflowers remaining faithful could triumph against the encroaching darkness in their sacred temple.

"That big ol'e dome down there looking mighty fi'e-er the more we tread over these mucky arse---" Merizi complained.

"Don't move!" David eyes leaped up as he intersperses the Azarketi from taking another step further.

For her ankle was but a breadth away from breaking a white yet eerily shimmering solid line hidden keenly between the divides of a half-ruined portal.

A Tripwire. The Elder Ranger educed from his memory, either a booby trap or an alarm. Not wanting to set off, either way, to find out.

"Gozreh's piss." Merizi sighed in relief as the Ranger reclined and traced his fingers carefully along the thin white line. David's hands quickly gauged the design of the trap.

The wire led him to a rusted hollow pipe whose dilapidated edges pointed upwards rather than towards its unwary prey. Carefully poking his finger into the hole, the Ranger dug out a paper bullet-shaped shell with fumes of sulfur, magnesium, and potassium nitrate. It was an elementary design of a Flare Rocket. David however sighed slightly disappointedly however. It wasn't another Shotgun Trap again, he would have loved to scrap it down for parts but if the way his nose tickles upon the scent of the flare's ingredients were to go by, they were very potent for its yield.

"I got it." David smirked confidently after he fully defused the Tripwire.

The Azarketi sighed in relief before curling her stiff ankles loose.