They had heard of another artifact; it was deep in the forest in the remains of a relic temple. If the stories were true, it would be a prize worth collecting.
"Are you ready to go?" Tarquin asked Lexi. Standing at the edge of the forest.
With a nod, Lexi lead the way into the dense foliage, her green cloak fluttering in the breeze. The air grows cooler, and the underbrush becomes thicker as the pair push deeper into the woods. As they progress the trees begin to tower overhead, blocking out much of the sunlight that once filtered through the leaves.
As they walked, they remained vigilant for any dangers that may come their way. As they press onward through the forest they hear the distant sound of rushing water. "Wonder what that's from?" Lexi muses aloud.
"Shall we go find out?" Tarquin replied.
With a nod, Lexi leads the way toward the sound. As they approach, the trees begin to thin, eventually giving way to a crystal-clear stream bordered by lush greenery. "Ah, a waterfall," Lexi says, stopping to take it in. "Looks like we found our destination for tonight."
Tarquin follows close behind, picking up the pace as they draw nearer to the waterfall. As they round a bend in the stream, Lexi suddenly grabs hold of Tarquin's arm, pulling him back with a sharp intake of breath. "Shhh," she whispers, gesturing for Tarquin to stay put. "Listen."
For several seconds, the only sounds are the soothing cascade of the waterfall and the birds singing in the nearby trees. Then, faintly, from deeper in the forest, came the distinctive rustling of footsteps - heavy, thudding steps that seem to grow closer with each passing second.
Lexi pulls Tarquin farther behind the cover of the foliage, positioning them both out of sight of whatever was approaching. With a nod, she readied herself for a fight, gripping her sword tightly in her hand.
Suddenly, a massive shape emerges from the fog. It's a giant - a towering humanoid figure clad in rough spun wool and leather, carrying a crude club in one hand and a torch in the other. He stopped just feet away from Tarquin and Lexi, his eyes sweeping across them before settling on Lexi. "Well now," he booms in a voice like thunder, "what have we here?"
Lexi stands her ground, meeting the giant's gaze without flinching. "Hello there," she calls out cheerily. "Nice weather we're having, isn't it?"
The giant pauses for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by Lexi's nonchalant demeanor. Then, with a deep rumble of laughter, he replies: "Aye, that it is. Though I wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here today." He tilts his head, studying the two of them curiously. "Who are you?"
"Our names are Tarquin and Lexi." Tarquin answered, "We are explorers traveling through this area."
At the mention of the word "explorers", the giant's expression softens considerably. "Ah, so I suppose you're looking for lost artifacts out here," he said knowingly.
"I suppose you could say that" Lexi replied with a grin, wondering if he had somehow heard about their plans. "So, you know about those, then?"
Lexi added, "So, if you could point us in the right direction, we would appreciate it."
The giant thinks for a moment, then points off into the misty distance. "I believe it lies beyond that grove of trees," he says, gesturing with his torch. "Beware the traps and obstacles along the way, though - many have tried to claim its power, none have succeeded." With another rumbling laugh, he tosses what appears to be an hourglass to Lexi. "Here perhaps you can figure out how to make this thing work for you." With those words, he turned and walked away.
Lexi gives Tarquin a nod, and the two of them move quickly but carefully behind the waterfall to check it out in case there was a cave or something else hidden there. After scouring the area thoroughly, they came up empty-handed - no hidden entrances or secret passages to be found.
Sitting near the waterfall Lexi handed the hourglass to Tarquin. As soon as he held it, he could feel the power of the magic it contained. "This is quite powerful," Tarquin said, "that giant must not have been able to tell just how valuable something like this was."
As he sat there, he analyzed the hourglass, studying it visually and also with his magic. After some time, he finally spoke up. "I think I have figured it out." Holding it up so Lexi could watch he slowly turned it to its side, concentrating as he went.
Looking up Lexi could see a bird flying overhead begin to slow down. "It controls time?" she exclaimed with shock in her voice.
"Yes, but I believe it does have a limited range, but this can be a very powerful tool for us." Tarquin explained.
With that, they were ready to move on. As they moved forward the two of them took time to prepare for anything they might encounter. They began to make their way toward the stand of trees where the giant had directed them, preparing for whatever challenges lie ahead.
As they progressed, the trees loomed large, their thick trunks and leafy canopy blocking out much of the daylight. Approaching, Tarquin and Lexi both sensed a strange energy emanating from within - a feeling of dark magic and foreboding danger. Lexi drew her sword and with a quiet muttering of words, readying herself for whatever laid ahead.
Lexi peered closely at the statues before them, her brow furrowed in concentration. After several seconds of studying, she shakes her head. "I don't think those statues are alive," she whispers. "Not yet at least." With a deep breath, she steps past the statues and into the temple itself, motioning for Tarquin to follow.
Inside, the temple was dimly lit, the only illumination provided by the flickering flames of a brazier set in the center of the room. The walls, covered in tapestries and tiles, depicted scenes from long-ago battles and triumphs, while the air was thick with the scent of incense and magic. Tarquin and Lexi moved quietly through the space, scanning every corner and crevice for any sign of danger.
As they moved deeper into the temple, the air grows thick with the stench of decay and death. Suddenly, a horde of skeletal warriors burst from the shadows, brandishing swords and spears. They charged toward Tarquin and Lexi, letting out bloodcurdling war cries. "Get down!" Lexi yells, pushing Tarquin to the floor as she rolls into a defensive crouch.
Rolling over, Tarquin raised his hand releasing a lightning bolt in the direction of the skeletons.
The bolt strikes true, blasting through three of the attacking skeletons and sending them toppling to the ground. But there are too many to fight off with spells alone; Lexi leaps up from her defensive position and engages the remaining skeletons in melee combat, swinging her sword with deadly precision.
Standing up, Tarquin watches her display of skill with appreciation. Each time he saw an opening he would use his magic to hit one of the skeletons.
With a series of swift blows, Lexi manages to fell most of the remaining skeletons. But as she turns to survey the carnage, she freezes - her face going white as a shadow falls across her. Looming over the corpses of the fallen skeletons, stood a massive figure shrouded in darkness. Its eyes glint malevolently in the flickering firelight.