Gotur, you notice a small blood smear mark at the front door. No one seemed to notice this when you came in, but now that you're actually looking, it is clear that there are drag marks from the floor out the door and off to the side of the lodge. 

The professor would've seen you and the others following them, and say: "BLAZES! Those dragging marks lead right up yonder over that hill... that's the way to the dig site. Shite! The team! We must make haste!"

Alton, the professor says to you "Yes yes! The dig site is up that way! Half-hour max! I will lead the way."

And with that, she starts briskly walking up the path towards the site. 

(It is high noon right now)

A shaking Landy guides you along a well used trail marked by broken twigs and crushed grass. It snakes its way through trees and rocks which furnish the northern Neverwinter woods, and in about half an hour you spot a break in the forest which opens up into a wide clearing. In the center of the clearing squats a low building made of grey stone that has been smoothed by countless centuries of wind and rain. Steps lead up into an arched semi-opened doorway with a strange circular symbol carved into it, but the room beyond is in total darkness.

A mixture of worry and confusion pass across the professor’s face. “We ALWAYS keep the lamps in the main chamber lit… something must’ve happened to them!!” With that, professor Landy breaks into a run heading straight to the door of the temple.

Map of the dig site has been added as a new tab in our Google Sheet.

What do you do?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JMcWkjg_2bADKFk72NcYqCT9q6iqli_XAHA77ojzLz0/edit#gid=766121581

((I'd been wanting to talk to her since she tried to storm the gate previously, so...))

On the way, Gotur will walk alongside the Professor for a bit, "Professor Landy, I know you're concerned about your colleagues, but you hired us to help with protection, you need to let us do that. None of this running on ahead stuff! Not only are you putting yourself in danger, you're putting us in danger if we need to run in after you!"

Gotur, while the professor is running, you can keep up to her with a brisk walk. She looks up at you, ponders things for a moment, and then says "Aye, you're right. I am sorry." she looks at everyone now. "I am gravely concerned for the team. Please... can we go in and make sure they are ok?"

"Yes, we will certainly do that, but if we can save them, we can only do that if we're on our feet and able to fight for them."

As they get close, Gotur will go wolf form and give a sniff and listen. 

Perception: 21

Survival: 11 + 1

"Ghouls, the culprits are. Flesh, these undead eat, and agree with Gotur, do I. Want you to die, we would not."

Gotur, your form changes into the famed Got-wolf. You move ahead slowly and get close to the temple door. You see it is almost pitch black in the temple except for the small amount of light that is shining in through the slightly ajar door.

((I am not 100% sure if Gotur's darkvision would transfer to the wolf. I am leaning towards no, but let me know if I am wrong))

You notice splashes of blood and tracks of something being dragged up into the temple. You also hear 'wet' sounds of biting and chewing, coming from deeper inside the temple on the left side, in the darkness. 

Ralf, you also noticed the blood and drag marks, both on the way to the temple and also right now on the stairs. 

Lastly, you both get a good look at the symbol that is carved into the archway of the door. It is a picture of a snake eating its own tail, however there is a crack down the middle of it. Anyone can make a religion check to see if you know what this is. 

(remember, anyone without darkvision will need a light source when proceeding into the temple)

Map is updated!

((Can he have asked the professor to watch Zhoggab before he wolfed? "I know you're way overqualified for it, but it would make me feel better if someone was keeping an eye on him."))

Alton religion: 19

Alton pulls out a shortsword as he stays close to the professor. “Something about this doesn’t feel right,” he says with a waver in his voice.

((Shoot, I forgot about Zhoggab! Thank you for remembering. Yep, you could've asked Landy for sure. She would've definitely refused though. In a respectful way.))

 "I... I need to see if they are ok with my own eyes. Plus I know my way around in there."

So Zhoggab is going to have to remain outside of the temple, yes?

((Perfect about darkvision - TY))

Alton, you know that the snake carved into the door is a symbol known as 'Ouroboros'. Many religions and other groups have used it to represent the cycle of death and rebirth. 

"Alright, but no running ahead.. "

He'll tie Zhoggab loosely. Enough that if he's attacked, he'd be able to flee.

((I've added Zhoggab to the dig site map so I don't forget about him again! He is loosely tied up to that tree on the map.))

Ralf will cast Light on his staff as he enters. He will also make a Religion check as well, and cast Protection from Evil and Good on the professor.

"Stand back, everyone. 30 feet, a good distance would be. Traps, we must not set off, hmm?" After everybody stands back, Ralfaen will cast Mage Hand and try to open the door from 30 feet away.

Religion: 24 + 4

EDIT: This will also activate his Arcane Ward, giving him 7 extra hp for the time being.

Ralf, unlike Alton, you don't recognize the symbol on the door other than it is a snake eating itself. You don't know what it represents.

Ralf, your staff lights up beautifully and your mage hand opens the temple door wide open as you enter the now lit up temple.  The professor scurries in on your coat tales, thanking you for the magic that you have applied to her. "Oh... my... thank you, my friend." The professor will have the benefits of the spell for 10 minutes or as long as you hold concentration of the spell in your mind.

Ralf, when you enter the temple, the stench of death and blood hangs in the air as thickly as fog. There are rows of columns to your left and right, with a main altar at the front. There are two arches on the left and right which lead into dark side-chambers. You also now also hear the sounds of the wet biting coming from the archway on the left. There are some boxes and crates on the right side of the main chamber. Lastly, there is a body on the ground which looks like the others at the lodge: half eaten. Landy says "Lord almighty save his soul. Alas, this man is not part of the dig team either."

Anything else will require more advancement and/or checks. The map has been updated to show what Ralf and anyone looking into the temple sees.

((Ralf's extra HP for arcane ward noted! Very cool feature))

Religion: 20

As they enter, Got-wolf growls low in his throat to get their attention before pawing at his ear and making chomping sounds.

((Meant to do this earlier.))

He'll enter with the others, alert for danger.

Alton cautiously follows, staying near to the professor while keeping an eye out for danger.

Perception: 7

Gotur, you didn't seem to recognize the snake carving either. Although you may have admired the craftsmanship of the carving itself for a moment or two, I would think. 

So you all enter deeper into the temple.

Alton, you can see clearly that the two doors on either side leading to sub-chambers are door arches instead of doors. On the left, you can see inside the chamber because that chamber has windows and some natural light is shining in. The right side chamber is dark, so Ralf would have to go closer and/or into it in order to uncover what is in there. You also get a quick look at the altar at the front of the main chamber. It is rectangular and has 3 evenly spaced hollows carved into it. Anything else will require you to get closer to it, which will require a stealth check, because.....

....in the left chamber are 2 ghouls, and they are eating a body. They are just chowing down and are distracted, but a stealth check will be required for anyone who is entering that sub-chamber, or approaching the altar. 

Landy doesn't see any of the ghouls yet. 

Map is updated! What will you do next?

(Ghoul image added to our 'Bestiary' tab)

(Alton doesn’t have darkvision. Would that have affected the roll? I know Ralf had cast light, but I’m not sure if it would be enough.)

Alton will leave the professor’s side, murmuring quietly “Stay here.” He then draws a shortsword and creeps silently closer to the ghouls. 

Stealth: 12

(Ralf's light would've been enough for the main chamber. The left chamber with the ghouls has windows. The right chamber is still blacked out for the exact reason you bring up.)

(Will let the others post moves and then will resume this tomorrow morning!)