Preparation

----> Cyrdan offers to lead the group, unsheathing a jeweled longsword as he does so, but Yohon strikes the offer.
----> "I will take point, seeing how I've been inside already," the marryk says.
----> Cyrdan is agreeable and it is decided.

----> Cyrdan breaks out a leather bound booklet filled with papers and begins jotting down notes concerning the temple's exterior as well as the interior of the outer ringed room. Tilwic nods his approval of Cyrdan's astute thinking. He also instructs Yohon to keep an eye on both the chambers and the cartography in Cyrdan's booklet. "I want to know if anything, and I mean anything, is different," he tells him.
----> The Blackrobe then asks for some of the oily liquid from Yohon, who obliges. He wraps his staff with vines and advises everyone else to do the same. "Fire is optimal for battle with the unliving."
----> "The Other dwell far below," Yohon states. "We shouldn't need the fire for combat for a while yet."
----> "It is best to have and not need, than to need and not have," Tilwic replies in sage-like wisdom.
----> "Besides," Meggana adds, "not all of us have fae-sight. We'll need more torches lit than just the one Tharg is carrying." She is the first to ignite her Tharg-made torch on the barbarians already burning light source.
----> Tilwic follows suit, being careful not to let his torch get too near his oil-soaked staff. Alasdair also illuminates his torch.

----> At the sound of his name, Tharg looks up from where he is comforting his monkey friend. He turns back after only a moment and speaks to the macaque on his back. Tharg smiles and ruffles its hair. "You need name," he says. "It be…" He pauses for quite some time, lost in thought. "You be…" A smile and a laugh erupt from the big man as he exclaims, "Siggy!"
----> No one disputes the simian's new nomen and the monkey claps his approval as well.
----> Impressed with this mental effort, Tharg struts to the nearest archway entrance into the temple. "How we go?"
----> Yohon nods his head. "Yes, we'll need some sort of strategic order for tight places and battle attacks."

----> The group is silent for a moment, thinking over possible solutions. Only Tharg's whispered reassurances to his new friend are audible. "No scared Siggy. Tharg Crush."

----> "I have a suggestion," the marryk picks back up. "We should align ourselves to keep a strong point and a strong rear. If we can fit any way we please, then I will be near the front, pulling point. I suggest that one of the two elven bow-wielders take more of a flanking position and provide ranged attack capability."
----> The group listens to Yohon, obviously impressed. Only Grant disagrees, however softly.
----> "I've had bad experiences with bowmen to the rear," the dwarf says. "I'd rather see the bowmen up front to do their firing and then fall to the rear once the NR point is breached."
----> Puzzled looks prompt Grant to define his "NR point" as the "No Return point" where the enemy has decided to undoubtedly engage in melee.

----> Tilwic points out that Tharg's pal, Siggy, should be in front as well to help the group make navigational decisions. Grant agrees, though he admits to having overlooked that detail.
----> "Must be getting rusty," he jokes.

----> Yohon has no qualm with deviating from his plan. The order stands with Yohon at point, Meggana, Tharg (and Siggy) up front, Tilwic and Alasdair at center, and Cyrdan and Grant in the aft position. Light sources are to remain numbering three at all times, with one in front, one at center, and one to the rear.

----> Tilwic instructs the group that finding their targets, namely the pirates, is secondary to his purpose. He also suggests that keeping the targets alive is optimal. "An enemy is only an enemy when it benefits them. I assure you, my friends, it will benefit both of us to allow them to be our ally rather than killing them on sight."
----> Cyrdan agrees, though makes no promises. "We understand, Taer Tilwic," he scoffs, thumbing in Tharg's direction, "but try telling that to the big man."
----> Looking up at Tharg's misleading child-like expression, Tilwic drops the conversation at that.

----> Yohon begins a motivational interlude. "Okay, people, we have to run this expedition clean and orderly. The better we stay organized, the better chance we have to come out alive. I don't want a repeat experience of what happened before. Good luck and may Florizel be with us."

----> "Me smash Other!" Tharg hollers smiling, putting up his best brave face, and slurping down one last hunk of fruit before approaching the stone archway that leads into the temple.

----> Grant allows a low-toned "Hoo-ah" to escape his lips, and then adds, "Glorfildur be with us."

----> Yohon enters the temple.

----> The rest of the group are not far behind.