On A Knife Edge

Chapter 15: The Sunken Temple

The platform vibrated softly beneath their feet as they stood before the entrance to the Sunken Temple. The colossal obsidian doorway gleamed in the golden orb summoned by Kainith, its surface etched with intricate patterns that swirled and pulsed with an otherworldly blue light. A sense of anticipation, laced with a prickle of unease, settled over the group.

Lucian stepped forward, his gaze drawn to the arcane symbols adorning the doorway. They were faint, partially obscured by layers of dust and time, yet a flicker of recognition ignited in his memory.

These were the same runes he had encountered in an old dusty book he had read before, forgotten relics of a long-lost civilization.

"Wait," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I think I can read this."

The others gathered around him, their faces etched with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"You can read these but not the ones where the cylinder sank?" Kainith questioned.

"Yeah, I didn't recognize them but these ones specifically were in a book I read once. This group I was a part of in hell The Mask had a library where we stored ancient books we may or may not have stolen. That is where I saw these runes. Hold on, let me try and focus to remember all of these. "

Lucian traced the symbols with a calloused finger, muttering the forgotten words under his breath. The runes seemed to respond, glowing brighter with each syllable he uttered.

A low, resonant hum filled the air, and with a groan that echoed through the desolate landscape, the massive doorway ground open. It moved with agonizing slowness, revealing a gaping maw that led into the inky darkness of the temple's interior.

A wave of stale air, thick with the scent of dust and forgotten time, washed over them. Rory coughed, waving a hand in front of his face. "Well, that doesn't smell like fresh desert roses," he grumbled.

"Well shit." Rance said absently. "I'm glad Kainith found you."

"Thanks but no time for compliments let's go inside to get this over with. I can't imagine the inside will be pleasant." Lucian stated.

Lucian took a deep breath and stepped into the unknown, the others hesitantly following behind. The interior of the temple was a stark contrast to the barren desert outside. The air hung heavy with humidity, and the faint glow emanating from the entrance barely penetrated the oppressive darkness. The floor was slick and uneven, carved from the same obsidian as the exterior walls.

As they ventured deeper, the sound of dripping water echoed through the cavernous halls, amplified by the oppressive silence. The walls were adorned with faded murals depicting nightmarish creatures and scenes of ancient rituals. Each step forward sent a flurry of dust motes dancing in the dim light, revealing intricate tripwires and pressure plates embedded in the floor.

"Looks like someone wasn't too keen on visitors," Rance muttered, his voice a nervous whisper.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Lucian's feet gave way. He yelped in surprise, plummeting into a hidden pit. Dust billowed upwards as he landed with a thud on a soft, moss-covered platform several feet below. Relief washed over him as he realized he'd escaped unharmed.

He looked around to see a precarious rope bridge spanning the gap between the platform and the floor to the left. In a pit below were a series of rusted spikes, their razor-sharp points glinting menacingly in the dim light.

"Nice booby trap," Rory called down, his voice tinged with dark humor. "Looks like someone forgot to leave out the welcome mat."

The rest of the party jumped down the small drop to party back up with Lucian.