Zeus's question hung in the air, breaking the tense silence. "Have you done searching the cave?" he asked, his tone calm, yet commanding, as he finished 'tasting' the last bottle from the shelf.

Everyone nodded in unison, their minds still puzzling over why Zeus had methodically dipped his finger into each bottle.

"We found a club that appears to be enchanted." Wyll reported, holding up the heavy weapon. "There was a note next to it, saying that its enchantment increases the user's attack when drunk. And we also found a pair of gloves—they smell acrid, like burnt metal, and they seem enchanted too."

Zeus nodded. "Let’s go then," he said, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken urgency.

The party exited the distillery, stepping into the corrupted town square. What had once been a place of community and life was now a twisted ruin. Dark, gnarled roots and vines had torn through the cobblestone, turning the square into a macabre mockery of nature. Chasms dotted the landscape, from which thick, dark smoke rose ominously, tainting the air with the stench of rot and decay.

In the middle of the chaos stood a statue, partially obscured by the corrupted branches of a dying tree. The figure carved in stone was a man in robes, bearing the symbol of Selûne—the goddess of the moon. Zeus approached the statue, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the figure.

"Ketheric Thorm, when he was still a man," Zeus thought, his mind drifting to the stories he had heard of Thorm’s fall from grace. The statue, once a symbol of protection, now seemed like a cruel joke, standing amid the destruction that Ketheric himself had caused.

Suddenly, a scream shattered the eerie silence, a sound so piercing that it seemed to reverberate within their very bones. The scream was filled with anguish and rage, a cry that spoke of souls lost to madness and torment.

Everyone unsheathed their weapons, the metallic sound slicing through the tension. Zeus, waved his hand, and their weapons were enveloped in a golden light. The aura shimmered with divine energy, an empowering force against the darkness they were about to face.

From the shadows, they heard a sickening skittering, the sound of something unnaturally large and twisted moving with unnatural speed. Emerging from the gloom came Kar’niss, the drider who Zeus had thought slain.

"It seemed the fall didn't kill him . " Zeus thought .

But this was no longer the creature that he had battled before. Kar’niss had been reanimated. Dark mud caked his body, with green veins pulsating beneath his skin, glowing with necrotic energy. His eyes, once filled with malice, now burned with a sickly, undead light, the hunger for death all-consuming.

The drider charged towards them, legs scuttling across the stone with a speed that defied his broken form. Zeus met him head-on, his flesh twisting and shifting to form a dark, menacing shield. With a powerful bash, he sent Kar’niss sprawling backward, but the undead abomination was not easily deterred.

More figures began to emerge from the shadows—cultists, their bodies twisted and corrupted by the curse .Their eyes gleamed with the same unholy light as Kar’niss, their faces contorted into masks of madness. At least a dozen of them, ready to tear flesh from bone.

"I'm going to focus on the drider," Zeus declared, his voice steady. "Wyll, you're the team leader now." Without waiting for a response, Zeus charged Kar’niss again, disappearing into the shadows as if he were part of them.

Wyll didn’t hesitate. He slipped on the enchanted ring Zeus had given him, summoning an orb of radiant light that hovered above the party, pushing back the encroaching darkness. "Karlach and Lae'zel, intercept any cultists who get too close!" Wyll barked, his voice authoritative. "Shadowheart, focus on hitting as many of those cultists with your holy spells while holding the left flank. Gale, cast a Wall of Fire behind us to secure our backs; we need to focus on the front. Minthara, take the right flank. Alex, keep your senses trained on any strange movements in the shadows, and support me . Lae'zel and Karlach."

As Wyll finished giving his orders, Karlach stepped forward, her form igniting with a fierce, fiery light that bathed the area in a hellish glow. Her eyes blazed with the thrill of battle as she swung her weapon, cleaving through the first cultist that dared approach.

Shadowheart unleashed a barrage of holy energy, each spell striking multiple cultists, their bodies burning with divine fire as they fell. Minthara fought with ruthless precision, her mace a blur as she strike down the enemies that surged from the right.

Gale’s Wall of Fire erupted behind them, a towering inferno that roared and crackled, effectively cutting off any chance of a rear attack. The cultists howled as they were caught in its blaze, their twisted forms consumed by the flames.

Meanwhile, Zeus was locked in a deadly dance with Kar’niss, his claws now infused with radiant energy, tearing through the drider’s necrotic flesh. With a final, brutal slash, Zeus decapitated the abomination, the head rolling away as the body crumpled to the ground.

But there was no time to revel in the victory. Zeus’s eyes snapped to a figure in the distance—next to the gate that lead to the cemetery was a tiefling girl, her face pale and drenched in sweat as she struggled to maintain a protective spell. Vines glowing with green energy held back the shadows that threatened to consume her.

Recognition flashed in Zeus’s eyes. He had saved this girl before, back at the grove when Kagha’s snake had nearly claimed her life. Now, she was on the verge of losing it again.

Without hesitation, Zeus sprinted toward her, his arm shifting into a whip-like appendage. As he neared, he spun his arm in a wide arc, the whip elongating and slicing through the air. The golden trail it left behind shimmered as it cut through the shadows, obliterating them in a brilliant flash of light.

The girl collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Zeus knelt beside her.

"Arabella ? " Zeus asked looking at the girl . " What are you doing here ? "

Arabella’s voice trembled as she spoke, her small frame shaking with the weight of her words. "I'm looking for Mum and Pops. There was an ambush. Mum yelled 'run!' So we ran. I could hear 'em running behind me... till I couldn't." Her voice faltered, and she paused to wipe away the tears streaming down her alabaster face. "I still can't find 'em—but I bet you can. You'll help me, I just know it."

He knew full well the grim possibilities that lay ahead. He couldn't shake the nagging thought that even if he found her parents, they might already be dead—or worse, turned into undead horrors by the curse that plagued this land. But he couldn't let Arabella see his doubts.

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"I'll find your parents—you can count on me," Zeus said, his voice steady and reassuring, though his mind carried the burden of uncertainty.

A small, fragile smile spread across Arabella’s face, lighting up her tear-streaked features. "Thanks, mister. I knew you'd help me again!"

Arabella’s eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed. Zeus's reflexes were quick, and he caught her just before she hit the cold, unforgiving stone of the town square. He cradled her unconscious form gently, his gaze scanning her pale face for any sign of life.

For a moment, he stood there, holding her in his arms, a mix of anger and sorrow welling up inside him. The world seemed so cruel, so unforgiving to those who were innocent. But he couldn’t let his emotions take over—he had a mission, and this girl was counting on him.

Emerging from the shadows with Arabella in his arms, Zeus nearly startled the rest of the party into attacking him. Their weapons were half-raised before they recognized him.

"Is that Arabella? What’s she doing here?" Wyll asked, rushing over to Zeus, his one good eye filled with concern as he inspected the unconscious girl.

"I’ll explain everything, but first, we need to find shelter," Zeus replied, his voice urgent. "There could be more undead around."

Without another word, Zeus headed toward the statue of Ketheric Thorm. As he approached the pedestal, he paused, glancing at the girl in his arms before turning to Karlach. "Karlach, hold her for me."

Karlach nodded, her fiery aura dimming as she carefully took Arabella from Zeus’s arms, cradling the unconscious girl with surprising gentleness.

Zeus stepped to the side of the platform where the statue rested, his eyes scanning the stonework as if searching for something only he could see. Then, with a swift, powerful motion, he raised his fist and smashed it against the pedestal. The stone cracked under the force, revealing a hidden tunnel with a set of stairs leading down into darkness.

"Everyone, go inside so I can seal the opening," Zeus instructed, waving them forward.

As they descended into the tunnel, they couldn’t help but watch in awe as Zeus’s arm began to shift and transform. His flesh morphed into a three-fingered appendage, with a hole in his palm. From it, a thick web-like substance shot out, which he used to seal the entrance behind them, blocking any potential pursuers.

At the end of the stairs, they found themselves in a tall chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. The chamber was bathed in darkness but thanks to the orb of light that was hovering beside them they could see a few meters ahead . From the balcony where they stood, they could see three statues made of black stone, each depicting the goddess Shar.

"There’s no curse here," Karlach muttered, her voice tinged with both surprise and relief. The oppressive weight that had been pressing down on them since they entered the town square seemed to lift, if only slightly.

The group began their descent down the spiraling staircase that ran along the cylindrical chamber’s walls. Shadowheart, moved by the sight of the statues, fell to her knees and began to pray, her whispered words filling the chamber with a quiet, reverent hum.

Zeus extended his hand, a small flame igniting in his palm. He flicked it toward the torches on the walls, lighting them one by one. The chamber was soon bathed in warm, flickering light, casting the statues of Shar into sharp relief. The goddess’s stony gaze seemed to follow them, her expression unreadable.

Karlach sat down next to a wall, cradling Arabella gently. The girl’s chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, but she remained unconscious, lost in whatever dream or nightmare had claimed her.

Gale, ever curious, let his gaze sweep over the chamber, his eyes lingering on the beautifully sculpted statues. "How did you know about this place?" he asked, his voice filled with both curiosity and suspicion.

Zeus’s expression was unreadable as he responded. "I sensed it."

Gale frowned, unsatisfied with the vague answer. "Can you elaborate?" he pressed, his tone insisting on more clarity.

Before Zeus could respond, Shadowheart’s voice broke the silence, her words filled with awe and devotion. "I can feel the presence of my Lady," she muttered, her eyes wide as she stood up and walked toward one of the statues. Her gaze was fixed on the plaque at its feet, her fingers tracing the inscription with reverence.

Shadowheart’s voice echoed through the chamber as she read aloud the inscription on the plaque beneath the statue. "Do you accept Shar's test of your intellect?" The words seemed to hang in the air.

Her gaze moved slowly up the statue, settling on its cold, stone face. There was a moment of hesitation, but it quickly passed, replaced by a look of determination. "I do," she declared, her voice firm, her face full of resolve.

The air in the chamber grew thick and oppressive, as if the shadows themselves were alive. They writhed and twisted, moving toward Shadowheart, drawn to her like moths to a flame. Despite his calm appearance, Zeus was on high alert, his eyes tracking the strange energy that began to flow from the statue toward Shadowheart. It was as if the very essence of Shar was reaching out to touch her.

The energy coiled around her, and for a moment, the connection was almost tangible. But as quickly as it had begun, it ended. The shadows recoiled, the energy snapping back into the statue like a whip. Shadowheart opened her eyes, and the look on her face told the story before she spoke.

"What happened?" Wyll asked, concern lacing his voice as he stepped closer.

"My Lady deemed me unworthy," Shadowheart replied, her voice strained with a mix of anger and disappointment. Her hand clenched into a fist at her side, her knuckles white with tension.

Astarion, leaning casually against the wall, couldn't resist a smirk. "Maybe you should start reading more books instead of praying all the time," he quipped, his tone dripping with smugness.

The glare Shadowheart shot him was venomous. Her hand instinctively reached for her mace, her fingers curling around the handle, ready to strike. The tension in the room skyrocketed, the air charged with the threat of violence.

"Calm down, everyone. We don't need to fight each other," Wyll interjected, his voice firm but diplomatic. "Maybe Gale should try it. He’s the smartest among us, after all."

Zeus couldn't help but think to himself, "Second smartest."

Gale raised an eyebrow, clearly flattered but also cautious. "You flatter me, Wyll, but I don't think it would be wise to tamper with something we don't fully understand. What if Shar's blessing comes with a debilitating curse?" His words were measured, but they earned him a glare from Shadowheart nonetheless, her frustration barely contained.

"Lady of loss . If She gives you something She would always take something of equal value . " Minthara said from the side .

"Gale is right," Zeus said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Now, if you're done bickering, I suggest we rest. We’ll need our strength for whatever comes next." With that, he moved to a corner of the chamber and sat down, his body relaxing but his mind still sharp and alert.

The rest of the group reluctantly agreed, knowing that they could face more battles

Zeus explained Arabella's situation . Shadowheart, however, couldn’t rest. The rejection from her goddess gnawed at her, a festering wound in her soul. She wandered over to the other two statues, inspecting the plaques beneath them. Each offered a different blessing: one for charisma, the other for wisdom. But she was hesitant to attempt another test so soon, her confidence shaken.

Minutes passed in silence, the only sounds the soft breathing of the resting party and the occasional flicker of the torches. The chamber’s eerie stillness was interrupted when Arabella began to stir in Karlach’s arms. The tiefling warrior, who had been watching over the girl like a protective older sister, immediately looked down as Arabella’s eyes fluttered open.

The young girl blinked, her eyes focusing as she came to. Confusion and fear clouded her gaze until she saw Karlach’s warm, reassuring smile. "You're safe," Karlach whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair from Arabella’s face.

Arabella sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice small and filled with uncertainty.

"You’re in a safe place," Zeus replied, standing up and walking over to her. "You fainted. But you’re safe now, I promise."

Arabella looked around at the chamber, her eyes widening at the sight of the dark, imposing statues of Shar. "Is this… some kind of temple?"

"Of sorts," Wyll answered, offering her a gentle smile. "But it’s nothing you need to worry about. Zeus told us about your parents . We’re going to help you find them ."

A glimmer of hope returned to Arabella’s eyes. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at Zeus, her trust in him unwavering. "Do you think they’re still out there?"

Zeus knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. The girl flinched for a moment but accepted his gesture ."I don’t know, Arabella. But I do know that we won’t stop looking until we find them."

Arabella nodded, the fear in her eyes slowly giving way to determination. She clung to Zeus’s words as if they were a lifeline in a stormy sea.