Pushing past the fog, we stepped into another chamber. The amulet died, its crimson light with us one moment, and vanished the next. The gem crumbled and fell to dust.

A chartreuse light suffused the room and drew our eyes to the center. A column, tall as two men, resided there. It appeared glass-like, and blazed with the vilest green. It pulsed as the amulet had. An unearthly sound joined the throbbing light, a dull beat that hurt the mind and grated the senses.

A man stood beside the pillar, as gaunt as a cadaver, with eyes the black of moonless night. He wore robes, with the embroidery of crimson and gold runes which signified some high rank within the cult. He laughed when he saw us. “You have been summoned to atone for your sins,” he said. “Let the Emerald Void take you, and your souls go to feed the Great One.”

As if answering his imprecation, the pillar flashed, blinding us and screaming like an eagle through our resolve, rending all thought. As we reeled, the monolith called to us, promising nothing but death.