This scenario is best played a bit light-hearted. It starts with the party entering a very remote village, Village. This village is far removed from normal government dealings and as such they have their own small local monarchy. As the party approaches there is great unrest in the town square. There are trappings as if a festivity is about to commence, but the townsfolk, also known as the Village People, are very concerned about something. Anyone they ask will point them to the garrison commander, Moostard (a colonel), who can relate the story.
"The town was preparing to celebrate the 16th birthday of the princess. The country side was invited for a great feast. But lo, this morning when the princess was not to be found we checked and found that her room had been breached and she had been kidnapped."
(Any clues or ideas who has taken her?)
"We suspect the black robed worshipers of Evil Mackricks. A hideous band of clerics that terrorised this area decades ago with the aid of terrible beasts. We found a black mace in her bedroom. They used a ladder to climb up to her window. She must have put up a struggle as the room was in disarray. [ if there are any optional witnesses they will report of black cloaked individuals who, if anyone was close enough, had the symbol of a giant eye on their chest ]
(What was the princesses name?)
[look a bit flustered, look at your notes then answer] Beauty. Princess Beauty. She was very beautiful, renown for her charm and demeanour.
(Why?)
The Emaks haven't been heard from in a long time. From what little memory I have, they gave sacrifices to their deity (Ram) on the night of a new moon....that would be tonight! Over the past few months there have been a couple of others who have disappeared. We had no clue to their disappearance and thought they were the victims of monsters or bandits.
(Why us?)
The garrison is not very large. Most of the patrols are out on multi-day patrols and aren't due back for at least another full day.
(Where?)
Over the river and through the woods to grandmother willow you go. From there its over hill and dale. They came on horses so they should be trackable.
The party should have little trouble following the tracks and finding the valley. They should be approaching the temple about sundown. The temple is in a shallow valley. The clerics should have at least a few guards or patrols, avoidance is a fine way of dealing with them.
The main temple is a long building built into the side of the valley. The building has a large set of double doors, a single large eye is centred on the doors. There is a small stable that is adjacent to the front of the temple. A small door leads from the stable to the temple. There is a stable hand that is armed with a pitchfork in the stable along with a few horses among the stalls.
If the party is able to approach quietly they can enter from either the front doors, which open quietly and are not currently locked, or from the stable. Both lead into a small anteroom. The back wall of the anteroom is covered with a large heavy curtain.
As the party peeks through the curtain they can see the main temple area. It is dimly lit by several torches and braziers. Several of the pews have initiates in them. At the far end is the alter. A priest is concluding some sort of ceremony. The princess is chained, standing on the far side of the altar facing a statue. The statue is made of stone and is that of a large round (2 meter diameter) creature with one large eye in the centre. The creature also has several eye stalks (appendages ending in a small eye) sprouting off of it. The centre eye is made of a huge ruby, about the size of two large fists. The eyes at the end of each eye stalk are about the size of a regular human eye and are of various types including emerald sapphire, onyx, etc.
The priest at the altar is finishing a ceremony that concludes with his arms outstretched. The centre eye of the statue begins to glow and the light slowly begins to extend until it envelopes the princess. After a few seconds the princess collapses, her pallor now a dull grey. This entire process takes less than a minute.
If the party doesn't intercede at this point the priest will continue with the physical sacrifice of the princess's body. This will result in the unalterable death of the princess. What the party must do is intercede and rescue the body of the princess as well as the centre jewel from the statue. The ruby is hollow and if held up to the light, the face of the princess can be seen almost as a reflection or a ghost within. To restore the princess the party must merely break the ruby with the body of the princess close by.
Most of the initiates are not well trained and have Mediocre combat ability. The priest and optional acolytes have Fair or Good combat ability plus some magical ability. Along the back wall is a concealed door that leads to other chambers including a jail area (with jailer and optional prisoners), some storage rooms, and the private quarters for the priest.
Ultimately if the party does not succeed and the clerics continue on their way, they will continue to steal souls until they can animate their deity.