“I need someone to send out my team!” Deacon yelled from the other side of the wall. He looked over the body and noticed a hard round tube at his side. It of course had several punctures in it from the monsters teeth but other than that it was empty. Deacon made sure to collect the summoners soul thinking they could use it to find Elder Ruby. It seemed like the soldiers in the fort were having a hard time opening the now rubbery gates of the outer wall. Eventually they managed to get them open, and Deacon’s party made its way out to him.

“Amanda, look at his neck.” Deacon said.

“Was he one of hers?” She said immediately catching his drift.

“One of who’s?” Tantus asked trying to catch his breath from the short jog.

“Oh, not Mr. speedy anymore I see.” Deacon commented.

“You know that was a haste spell I used to get to the boat. I didn’t want to get eaten.” Tantus shot back poking a finger into Deacon’s chest.

“Easy. I’m injured.” Deacon said rubbing his freshly poked chest.

“Yes, yes for another ten minutes or so you’ll be injured.” Tantus said waiving him off and pulling the tube off of the body. Ralph said nothing as he continued to scan the tree line hand on hilt.

“You know what that is?” Deacon asked.

“It’s a scroll case. You carry magic scrolls in it. Think about them as one time use premade spells. Expensive to get to the ink components necessary to contain summoning magic.” Tantus mused.

“Maybe this was the work of a well-equipped summoner?” Amanda asked.

“I’d only be able to verify it I could see his camp. There are other things like samples of the creatures you want to summon and what other magic let him duplicate so many. Did he only have three of the trolls because they were expensive? If it was cheap to duplicate, why not make more boss monsters and assault the fort with them. Too hard to control maybe? Most summoning magic is for one creature tied to the caster. I have so many questions. This defies basic Arcanum in so many ways.” Tantus said.

“Anyone up for a field trip?” Deacon asked.

“Not going to happen, not without a chaperone that can be in two places at once.” Said Typhus’s shadow.

“Come on, the Commander said the old church isn’t but a couple of hours in that direction. We are sitting in a carriage while we are on the road. It’ll be good to get some exercise, leave the shadow here.” Deacon said while elbowing the shadow. To the shadow’s credit it just slapped Deacon’s elbow away just like Typhus would.

“I’m coming out. Daskus and Pentecost are now insisting I go in person.” Said Typhus’s shadow.

“You know, I can’t tell if the shadow has its own personality or if its always just Typhus speaking through him.” Ralph said as Typhus and his shadow appeared to switch places. Deacon stepped back surprised thinking he’d be coming from the direction of the gates.

“Should we interrogate him now or wait until after we find something horrible at the church, we wish we could ask about?” Deacon said.

“He’s dead, you can’t interrogate a dead man.” Tantus said.

“Please don’t tempt him. We need to wait until after we find out what’s there.” Typhus said as he began walking in the direction the red lights were coming from. About fifteen minutes after the party left several flaming arrows smacked into the corpse of the lone summoner, burning it and the life shrooms budding all over it.

“How’s the leg?” Typhus asked Deacon who just stopped limping no less than five steps ago.

“Getting better.” Deacon said as the party reached the trees.

“You know that legendary perk you have has saved a lot of lives, right? I’d like to see you working in bigger groups more. You could make a real difference.” Typhus commented.

“Or rain fire down them because I touched the wrong stone or kicked over the wrong nobles apple cart. I’m already dreading the questions I’m going to be asked about that fort now that it’s a damn bouncy castle.” Deacon responded sullenly.

“Is that what it’s called. The Deep Dwellers were having a hell of a time walking on it. Amanda seemed fine though.” Typhus responded giving her curt nod of approval that, to Deacon’s bewilderment, she returned.

“Fast friends are ya? Hey Amanda, say something nice about me.” Deacon requested.

“No.” Was all the answer he got back.

“Some friends I’ve got.” Deacon said after getting chuckles from the collected group.

“Well I can honestly say its never boring being around you.” Tantus added.

“Yeah, you really never know when the other shoe will drop.” Ralph joined in.

“Ok, I think I’ve had enough compliments already.” Deacon said trudging through the underbrush. It wasn’t long after that the party could see dark structure in the distance. It was a one-story stone structure with a bell tower on it. The bell was long gone, probably by looters, and the tower itself was in major disrepair. One side of it was laying on the ground out in front of the doors. Both windows on either side of the door were smashed out and the door itself hung awkwardly from one hinge on the left. There were large footprints all around and several dozen sets of ant prints.

“I’m going to check the perimeter.” Ralph said skulking around the right side. Amanda didn’t say anything. She just vanished from sight. That left Deacon, Tantus, and Typhus to enter the building. As they entered Deacon righted the door in its frame.

“I’ve got a med spell that should fix basic durability on that door if you’d like.” Tantus said.

“Have at it. I’ll hold it in place.” Deacon said while Typhus entered the building proper. Inside the pews were scattered around the room and the alter section was circled off fight ring. Typhus could see where the symbol of Mantarok used to be hung on the wall. Now there was only the corpse of some person nailed upside down. It’s blood was draining into a series of small urns below it. Typhus immediately began to pull out the nails holding it in place while muttering under his breath.

“What the hell is that!” Deacon shouted running up to Typhus.

“Shut up and help me. Quickly now!” Typhus said scrambling to get the body down.

“There isn’t a soul, I can tell you that.” Deacon said yanking out the nails bare handed. They managed to get the body down and noticed it was an elf woman. Tantus was examining the urns and what looked like summoning circles in the ritual sparing ring. Deacon, Ralph after finding no issues outside, and Typhus buried the poor woman. Typhus was eerily silent the whole hour this took. Amanda kept watch up on the roof.

“Typhus, you’ve been quiet for far too long. What is going on? What aren’t you telling us?” Deacon asked.

“I’ve seen something like that before. Back in the war in the deep. Those filthy beardless dwarves used ritual sacrifice to gain the favor of the deposed gods. Something like that was done to remove the protections of a current god and supplant its place of power. It’s a desecration I cannot abide. Now Deacon, now we can interrogate your prisoner.” Typhus said standing straighter with barely contained fury. Deacon didn’t hesitate to activate Sayance. The only problem was he found a greater deal of resistance to the ability coming from the summoners soul. With more effort he forced it to manifest in front of them outside the temple.

“You’ve undone my work! Damn you child or ruin. I was meant to enslave your soul to our cause.” Came the otherworldly voice of the summoner. It immediately started flashing white and red alternatively.

“I don’t think we’ll have long with this one. Ask your questions while concentrate.” Deacon pouring his focus into the ability and struggling.

“Why did you defile this temple?” Typhus asked.

“I’m not telling you…You can’t make me…to bring the return of Hipag, Deposed God of War and Cannibalism.” Said the spirit.

“Where is Elder Ruby?!” Amanda screamed so loud it startled Deacon and his grip loosened. Tantus noticed magic beginning to flare, and he tried to counter it. One of ants they fought before began to materialize in front of the spirit as it’s color changed to solid white. Ralph took the ants head off in one fluid motion killing it and subsequently the spirit’s color returned to a pale green.

“I will not talk about High Priestess Ruby, Forsaker.” Was all it said. Sweat was rolling off of Deacon’s head as he continued to concentrate, pouring more and more willpower into this ability.

“Answer the question.” Amanda said stepping nose to nose with the spirit.

“High Priestess Ruby has returned to the Underdark. Her armies will scour current pantheon clean restoring the old gods to power. Her hatred for you is without borders!” It said with the last part directed at Deacon.

Ralph had just gotten back from replacing the symbol of Mantarok back where it belonged in the temple just as Deacon’s control began to flag. The spirit turned fully white and back handed Amanda out of the way. Deacon lost control of Sayance then. The spirit flew straight at Ralph attempting to possesses his body. Ralph pulled his blade, born from instinct and training, to block the on coming ghost. It worked. The holy energy he’s been using wrapping around the blade and hilt. He began fending off grasping arms with each moment. It was forcing him back into the building. The spirit stopped at the threshold of the building. It looked around the doorway and scowled. That moment was enough for Deacon to tackle it from behind driving it through the door. It was then engulfed in an orange and purple light that forced it into the ritual dueling ring.

“Well done, Deacon. Ralph if you would be so kind as to dispatch this wretched thing.” Came a voice from nowhere and everywhere. Ralph cut the spirit to ribbons that burned up in the holy light.

“It’s Mantarok himself, come to take vengeance on the one that dared defile his church.” Typhus said pushing past Deacon in the doorway. Swiftly followed by the others.

“Correct Typhus. It’s been a long-time old man.” Mantarok said.

“Was it you? Did you make my blade glow without using the strike?” Ralph spoke into air.

“No, that was you. There is more to being a swordsman than swinging around a sharp piece of metal. But you know that already don’t you.” Mantarok said.

“We really need to get to the Shattered Sky. Someone has to warn them.” Deacon said.

“We can send a messenger for that. Be quiet, we are being addressed by the God of War, damn it.” Typhus said and to his surprise, Deacon took a step back.

“You should all check your slate notifications. All your answers will be there.” Mantarok said as his presence left the small building. They all stopped and checked their notifications.

Hidden Holy Quest- Squad Command III: You have completed the holy rite of squad command by relieving the original quester of their lives. The requirements were to assault or defend a fort returning to the temple as the victor. Rewards increased due to the blasphemy of the original quester. Rewards; Squad Command Ability, Mantarok’s blessing.

Squad Command, Passive Ability- Gain 2% greater health per unit under your command.

Mantarok’s Blessing- +10 to strength, +50 % health, +5% damage when on the battlefield. Mantarok’s blessing is only available when in good standing with his pantheon.