Firestopper and the Temple of Recluse

by Firestopper

The Temple

Firestopper limped around the hole in the floor and read the plaque. It translated to say “No way back, one way forward. In this purgatory, let death lead you home.” The irony was uncanny. He searched the room for anything that could remotely resemble death, and then he seen it. There was a full skeleton chiseled into the wall. The skeleton had a hoof pointing outward toward a button. Firestopper pressed the button and limped out of the door.

The final door shut behind him and he studied the structure in front of him. The Temple stretched all the way to the ceiling of the cavern. The front end of the building had been constructed of gold and marble. It was beautiful, aged so well that there was barely any moss or cracks on the walls. He approached the entrance to the temple, feeling at ease. Firestopper entered the temple and immediately found that the rumors and speculations were false. This wasn’t a temple full of talismans and and jewelry, instead it contained a throne made of solid gold. The symbol of Recluse was finely chiseled into the throne. The only moveable item was a gold necklace with many colored gems encrusted into it. Firestopper picked up the necklace and examined it closely. The clasp had stayed intact over the millennia and centuries before. He put the necklace on and searched for the exit. There was a plaque on the back of the throne. The plaque translated to “Look to the heavens and search for the golden halo of Prallus the angel. Down below is the pitchfork of her brother Serillonius the demon. To the east is a demon’s bane, find the angels’ strength below to grant your exit.” Firestopper searched the dim room, his eyes still adjusting to the dark. He found the golden halo, a marble tile with a golden ring encrusted into it. His eyes followed downward and rested on a chiseled pitchfork. He looked to the right and found a symmetrical cross, and below it was a chalice on a pedestal. Firestopper limped over and picked up the chalice, causing the pedestal to sink into the ground. A hidden door behind him opened, revealing another staircase.

After ascending the staircase, Firestopper came to a heavy locked door, there was a space that the chalice could fit into beside it. When he inserted the chalice, the door slowly opened and he felt a cool breeze. Once the door was completely open, Firestopper took the chalice and left, leaving the temple behind, locked forever.