Charmed, I'm sure

Marc knows his magic, that's for sure.

The poor fool fell for the charm spell hard. Total failed saving throw. The guy acted like some kind of fanboy. Pretty goofy to watch. More than that, it was pretty helpful.

He immediately helped us with healing and what not (even gave us two of his own healing potions, refusing any aid for himself). He told us that he and his men were mercenaries hired to keep an eye out for intruders. The ravens were either trained or under the control of high priests of the temple. The guards also had to keep an eye on the workers who helped with the temple. Another group of workers were to return in a couple of days and stay for another week. They should have the work completed by then, at which point the guards were to kill them like they did the last group.

"Bastards," Audry said.

The guard, the leader of the men it turns out, ignored Audry. The spell made him suck up to Marc and no one else. He went on to tell us what he knew about the temple.

In addition to the upper level that we saw, there were five lower levels. Levels one through four were temples dedicated to the individual elements--fire, earth, water, and air. The last level was the main temple. They all were working together for some purpose, but to what he did not know. Whatever it was, it consumed much of their time. The whole thing was run by some guy named Hedrick.

"I swear, that's all I know," the man said.

Marc nodded. "I believe you. Do you have a way to get out of here without being seen?"

He nodded. "Yes, there is a secret passage back here." He took us into one of two back rooms. In the floor was a brass ring. He pulled on it, which opened a flagstone in the floor.

"This passages leads for a long way, but eventually opens up just outside of Nulb," he said.

"Good," Marc said. "Now, can you get to the workers that are supposed to come here?"

"I know where they are, yes."

"Get to them and tell them not to come here after all. Tell them their help is no longer needed. Understand?"

"Yes, of course." He looked suddenly sad. "But my friend, what if you need my help?"

"You are helping us as it is," Marc said. "Now go. I'll see you soon."

The man reached for Marc and gave him a hug. Marc returned it reluctantly. Then the man was gone down the underground passage.

"Worm," Anna said. She looked at Marc with a raised eyebrow. "Say, you wouldn't use that spell on me now, would you? To take advantage of my good nature?"

"Thought never crossed my mind," Marc said.

We spent the rest of the day resting and looting. We found another elven cloak, just like Anna's (Saul took that one). We also found some magic arrows (Anna's now), and some neat potions. We kept an eye out on the grounds, looking for anyone. Strangely, no one from the temple appeared.

"Busy?" I asked.

"Yeah, but doing what," Saul said.

Today, we spent most of the day watching the surrounding area. We followed the tunnel down a short ways. It gets narrow in places, but it does seem to be an escape route of sorts. We also looked at the temple complex itself. The main doors are on the south end. They were huge, over twenty feet high and twenty feet wide. They are barred and chained shut. Strangely, it is barred and chained shut from the outside, as if to keep something in.

"A very big something," Anna said.

As we approached the doors, I felt a shiver up my spine. The runes on the doors seemed alive. For a moment they felt threatening, as if my doom were eminent if I approached. The feeling passed quickly.

Fortunately, we don't need to pass through those doors. On each side of the main doors are two smaller doors. They were not locked, even though the main door was.

There has been no notice of our presence just yet. We are camping in the tower once more, so if we have to take the escape route we can. Tomorrow we'll enter the temple itself and have a look around. I'm trying to get some sleep, but I keep waking up. I won't sleep right for a while, I think.