The fight was brutal.
The grinding of the stone statues as they had attempted to obliterate the party range in the ears as the group slowly took to the depths of the temple.
Just as they came below they saw the grove open before them, lush with the scent of clorophil, and there was a haze in the air that played with the bright light streaming in from above.
A signal came from the front of the group to sneak forward - Braz tried but his large frame was not made for stealth and he clattered around the corner just in time to see the others leap out of the shadows and rip a smattering of goatlings to shreds.
As he arrived he saw the still body of Sostrate, a friend of Corinna who had been harassed by the goatlings. Braz tried to do some rudimentary medicine but it was clear it was beyond his skills so he began to pray... the act that had been so natural to him only a few days ago felt strained as he reached for the dawn. It never came, but Kyrah did.
With a breath of magic read from a scroll she was able to resurrect the poor boy and he fled to safety supported by her.
Speaking to Loreus the group found out about the enmity of the sisters who had once called this grove home, how the tree had fallen to the dragonlords of old and the unnatural fate that awaited the children who had been lured into the temple. With a stern word the children were sent to safety and the group set off towards the inner chambers of this dark and unforgiving place.
The door opened to the left as the part cautiously checked the way deep into the temple. The sight was in measures both horrific and arousing as the goatmothers became aware of the threat posed to them.
A charge was well-timed with a plan to give these beasts a quick end, however their wild magic incapacitated most of the group into a terrible violent orgy of dance and violence. Alkie was attacked by the party (including the horrified, out of control Braz) and as the carcohpany of battle subsided it was clear that the party had paid a great toll to get this deep into the temple, with supplies of mana and might depleted in equal measure.
This did not stop the draw of the corridor leading towards that which even Mytros could not predict.