After giving the men a short pep talk, they started to walk down the center passageway, and for a while it seemed like Aren had chosen right. The men’s footsteps seemed to be getting lighter, and there was even sunlight filtering in through cunningly placed windows. Finally they rounded the corner, and the entrance to the sanctuary appeared clear as day. After such a long time wandering in the dark, some of the men couldn’t maintain discipline and rushed towards the marble archway. It was then that flames shot out of the front walls and burned the men in front to cinders, and a woman’s voice boomed in each soldier’s mind.

Congratulations on making it this far, savages. It is a rare thing for any of the thieves who enter this place to make it so close to the sanctuary, let alone with only one magus amongst you. However, this is the end. Surely you didn’t think you could overcome our finest magi in their own domain?

“You mean there are people here?” shouted a soldier. “How the fuck were we supposed to know that?”

The woman's voice let out a cold, mocking laugh.  You mean your magus didn’t tell you? He’s known about us since he blocked the Mists of Ires with that silver dome earlier. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had known the truth before he came to this place. Why else do you think he’d bring so many of you savages, except to test the waters wherever he was unsure of detecting our magic? You were his cat’s paws, nothing more.

“Don’t listen to her!” shouted Aren. “She’s just trying to turn us against each other!”

“Aren’s telling the truth,” said Brome. “He told me about this witch as soon as he made that dome.”

“And the captain just told me before we chose the center path.” said Gareth. “If we’re all going to die here, it’s no one’s fault but hers.”

Did I say you all had to die? We want the magus dead, but there’s no reason we can’t let the rest of you live. All you have to do is bring his head to the sanctuary, and we will show you mercy.

“Like hell you’d spare them!” bellowed Aren. “You can’t afford to let the outside world know you exist!”

Oh, but they wouldn’t tell anyone. This temple was abandoned when we vanished millennia ago. Your party made it past the traps we left behind, only to find an empty ruin where you expected vast riches. You turned six of them to ash in a disappointed rage, and they had no choice but to kill you. A tragic tale, and they will remember it all vividly. Future looters won’t waste time on a temple that has already been emptied.

Brome didn’t believe a scrap of it, but the woman’s words were smooth, and many of the men couldn’t help staring at Aren, contemplating his murder for the sake of their survival.

I will tell you one more thing.  Your magus did not know which of the three passages was safe, and yet he chose at random, with not a few of you walking before him. Make of that what you will. 

A golden bar of light appeared above their heads, spanning the width of the hallway, but dissolving back into shadow on either end.

I will disarm the traps the moment his head leaves his shoulders, and you will all enter the sanctuary to have your memories altered. You have until the light fades to kill him. I await your choice.

The voice faded.