Tragershen |
"If this evil has been dormant here for centuries, then perhaps we do not have the means amongst us to dispel it. We have faced down the immediate threat to ourselves and, for many of us, exacted our revenge at being marooned here. Perhaps it would be best if we let the others know the threat has been dealt with and resume our efforts to leave the island."
Niɱ |
Nim lets out another screech and nods his head in the direction of Anton and Wic before jerking his head towards the doors to the lagoon. He flaps his wings emphatically and hops up and down... before moving deeper into the complex and laying down. He then hops us and looks at you...
:)
Are the doors to the lagoon still open and the water level low?
We did not explore the hole in the ceiling yet? Nor "deal" with the bleeding altar? There also seems to be some sort of barred off area that the blood is flowing to? And what to do with the souls is still open?
XP added. Thank you.
Niɱ |
You sure seem to be in a hurry to get us back outside... where the RMD is likely waiting... ;)
Anton Green |
Horrified at the explanation that the dolls contain bound souls, Anton prepares a ritual of freedom. Wearing Nora's iron holy symbol of Desna openly, he cites passages from The Eight Scrolls, which he knows fairly well (though his copy sank with Clopper and the ship). Praying for them to find good luck in their travels, the devout halfling breaks the porcelein prisons with his hammer.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Anton scratches his head in puzzlement at the strange behavior of dinoNim. "I think he's saying that maybe Wicewakan and I should go and rest? But I think he also wants to do something with the altar and statue? I suppose that if Tragershen is right, I could use the statue's power to explore that hole in the ceiling." He looks a little dubious, but surprisingly game for someone who was near the brink of death just a couple of hours ago.
Aedalis Omathi |
With a dismissive wave of his hand, the Unseen Servant brought over the fallen serpentfolk notes.
You might be best served by simply taking a hammer to that thing Aedalis suggested, pointing at the altar. The middle aged man seemed content to stay in the ruins and study its mysteries.
DM Stephen |
The gaseous form would also be a good way to discover what is beyond the bars you think...you are not sure if the statue can be used more than once per day, of course there is only one way to be sure.
The destruction of the soul gems is a little creepy its as though breaking them let's out a gas that let's out an unearthly groan before dissapating.
250xp gained each for freeing the souls.
Another hour has passed exploring the remainder of the temple and discussing your various options, you are closing up on 3 hours in the temple.
Go out and get supplies and return? Rest and return? Stay here for the next X number of hours?
The Altar appears to be made of stone..you think yo might be able to break it apart given some time, unless magic protects it...
Anton Green |
Anton looks rather blank at Aedalis's suggestion. "But why? This altar provides blood freely. I think it would be great if its bounty could be used by those who would sacrifice people instead. It could keep innocents alive. Is there something intrinsically wrong with it? I don't really 'get' magic."
Corbius Jank |
I think I agree with Nim. We should rest here. It seems safe enough and nothing can get at us here presumably. Trag and Aedalis can look at the writings and maybe figure out what she thought she had discovered.
DM Stephen |
Do you have create food and water memorized? I would imagine you brought enough food for a meal or two but not an extended stay since it wasn't mentioned. But probably enough to last until the morning.
The others may be a little worried about you though.
When you check the entrance the water has not flooded the area yet and the door is still open.
Tragershen |
"While I am loathe to sacrifice anything of such historic value, I agree with Aedalis. We need to find a way to banish the evil inherent in this altar. Or bring it to the attention of a powerful priest of one of the kinder faiths who can properly consecrate it, thus neutralizing it. Ileana was apparently going to use it to some malicious end. Who is to say that she was alone in her knowledge of this place, or desire and ability to carry out some plot? There could be more of her kind on the way as we debate."
DM Stephen |
Without anyone making a solid decision, the group spends the next few hours looking around the temple area and looking over the notes.
What is probably 3-5 hours later, you hear a loud rumbling and walk back to the entrance. The doors are closed...and you hear some noise coming from the area of the door.
You are able to find out a few things during this time:
The three large alcoves in this room tell the history of this particular Zura cult in three stages.
The southern alcove tells of the cult’s genesis in the city of Saventh-Yhi in the jungle, but is vague when it comes to exact details on the city apart from confirming that it was built by Azlanti—this section ends with the cult’s exile from Saventh-Yhi and how they made a dangerous overland journey that ended on the shores of a remote island far from their homeland.
The northwestern alcove takes up the story at this point, detailing the
cult’s exploration of this island (identifiable as Smuggler’s Shiv), their discovery and defeat of a large group of serpentfolk who had gone into hiding after the defeat of their kind many years before at Saventh-Yhi, and the creation of this temple.
The northeastern
alcove plots the cult’s future plans, focusing on how they had hoped to earn the gift of vampirism from Zura by undertaking extensive and vile rituals, and once this gift was theirs, how they planned on making the journey back to Saventh-Yhi to awaken (infect) that city with Zura’s
blessing (vampirism).
Ieana's notes are cryptic and difficult to read. You believe you may need to consult with some of the other areas in the temple. Some rubbings of certain areas would prove helpful as well.
Aedalis and Tragershen confer and guess that it may take them several weeks to truly decipher them but they probably won't need to be in the temple for much of that time.
About 2 more hours pass when you hear more rumbling...you walk over the the door is open again.
Saventh-Yhi is one of the most sought-after lost cities of Garund, for legends speak that it was built by the Azlanti. Such a discovery could revolutionize what is known about this ancient empire, and that information alone, properly transcribed and recorded, could be worth thousands. Yet hard evidence about the location of Saventh-Yhi could well be priceless.
Niɱ |
What time of day is it roughly now?
Having returned to his human form some hours ago, Nim had spent most of his time patrolling the complex, making sure those that worked to understand what Ieana was attempting to accomplish here were safe while they worked.
After the doors closed and then reopened a few hours later, Nim remarked, Who do you think performed the ritual to reopen the doors? Perhaps we should see what is happening outside...
DM Stephen |
You went in just after lunch, it is now dinner time...you are feeling a little hungry by now.
You go over to the entrance and see the other Castways waiving at you form the cliff face. You yell back and forth a bit and they tell you that the door stays open for about 5-7 hours before closing. They ask if you are staying and if you want them to return tomomrrow morning to open the doors again?
Please see the OOC thread.
Niɱ |
Perhaps we should return to camp and rejoin the others. We can gather supplies and restore our strength. Tomorrow, some of us can return to the temple to continue to research and investigate more. Some of us can start repairs upon the lighthouse, and possibly others can investigate some of the other wrecks.
Of course, we must make our final decision with regards to the RMD. He is either ally or enemy. We cannot continue to operate without a clear agenda with regards to him.
Corbius Jank |
Nodding at Nim's words. That is a sound plan.
I would happily help search the rest of the wrecks or investigate the temple. I would like to find out what is beyond those bars and that hole in the ceiling.
As far as the RMD goes I have never hidden my opinion. I do not trust him and will likely never see him as an ally.
I believe he is only sparring us because he fears that we are to powerful for him. But others who may become stranded on this island in the future may not be so lucky. I think we need to deal with him once and for all.
Tragershen |
"Yes, let's retreat for now. I have allowed myself to be caught up in the intoxication of this discovery, and have lost sight that we are still castaways on the cusp of survival."
Regarding RMD... "I am not convinced that Grollik is a foe. For all we know, he is the one who triggered the ritual to release us from here. If he did, would that change him in your esteem at all? We don't know what motivates him: gold, power, lore? Do not scoff; he may be trying to learn more of the world. He is a creature that is not known to harbor intelligence beyond a predator's cunning. Maybe he is curious. And if we do determine he is a threat, how do we force him into confrontation when he can fly away and hide at will? If he is truly a foe, then we must remain on guard. But how is that any different than any other menace here. I count no fewer than thirty-four times that Anton alone has saved me from venomous snakes or spiders as we explored this place. If we could not force him into a sustained confrontation, then he'll remain a peripherial threat for the duration of our stay on this island. Any of us expressing disdain toward him will only cement in his thoughts that we are a menace to him that must be dealt with, sooner rather than later."
Niɱ |
Perhaps it is time we had another talk with the RMD. Find out once and for all what it really wants...
And perhaps Mihai can read his cards for some answers as well.
Anton Green |
As they learn more about the cult and its aims, Anton sees the wisdom of Tragershen's point. "Ah, I see. The altar is primarily a source of power for those with evil intent. Very well, we should destroy it. But first, I would like to use it and the statue to explore where we can't: first the hole in the ceiling and then, if time permits, past the bars. I would much rather be a surprise than receive one. Then we can go get some food and rest."
"As for Grollik, I have no issue with him; I think that he was poorly socialized by the barbarous former inhabitants of this island, and it would do him good to have peaceful interactions with civilized folk. Heck, even I'm a better influence than a savage cannibal, ghoul priestess, fungal godling, dark dryad, exploitative harpy, or megalomaniacal serpentfolk." He winks and prepares to touch blood to the lips of the statue, as had been explained to him.
DM Stephen |
Anton slowly turns into a gas...his form insubstancial. You float towards the hole and flow through it. About 20 feet to the west of the main temple chamber it opens to a room...
This X-shaped room has a low ceiling and walls dense with ancient carvings and bas-reliefs of a bat-winged demonic woman, including a particularly large one on the northeast wall whose lips are smeared with dried blood. A number of supplies—food, discarded clothes, a few waterskins, and a well-used bedroll—lie in the center of the room.
Are you going to turn back to normal form and search the room? It is pretty hard in your current form.
Anton Green |
Although sorely tempted to take physical form and explore properly, Anton reminds himself that the others tend to get upset for some reason when he takes risks on his own without consulting them. He floats back down into the main chamber and toward the bars, doing his best to keep track of the passage of time compared to how long the others said the gaseous form should last.
DM Stephen |
You float past the bars into a large chamber.
The walls of this long, high-ceilinged cavern seem almost to be ancient worked stone decorated with serpentine carvings or other eerie shapes. Above, the ceiling is a forest of slowly dripping stalactites,
while below the floor is taken up by a rippling pool of dark water.
You see no other creatures here. You now have a complete picture of the temple.
You find a few small, almost hidden passages...they seem to just be another way to move to several rooms.
For some reason Imageshack is acting up so I posted the map on the group site.
Anton decribes what he has seen in both rooms.
Heading back outside to check on things?
Anton Green |
"I would have to become solid to explore the living quarters properly. I think that the carving with blood on its lips is the way to get back out. I just wanted to let you all know what I was going to do and see if anyone else wants to come with, or if there are any requests, such as for making sketches or taking notes."
Tragershen |
"I wonder, can the blood be stored for any amount of time to allow you to become solid, and then gaseous again later?" Tragershen will fill his mithril scroll tube with some of the blood, apply some to his lips, and wait for the effect to wear off. Then he'll try some from the scroll tube and see if it is still potent.
If others are ready to surface, he will follow in gaseous form.
Mihai Soarta |
Mihai frowns in thought "There is danger... but courage is always needed to walk the path that must be. I would question you Anton... are you content with none to share the burden or would you prefer the strength of companionship beyond the blackness?"
Anton Green |
Anton looks at Mihai with a ghost of a smile. "Well, I'd rather have some backup just in case. If nothing else, someone to mist back out and tell everyone that I've been swallowed by a crazy eye/mouth blob thing, so that they can help. Because you never know around here."
Tragershen |
I think we should take a little bit to surface. Whoever is conducting the ritual for us may lose confidence that we made it and give up on us. I'm not sure that we could get out without it, even in gaseous form.
Anton Green |
"It will just take a few minutes to explore the living chamber properly, and then we can be reasonably confident of no nasty surprises later." Anton does it again, hoping that someone follows him this time, and re-solidifies inside the chamber.
DM Stephen |
Anyone who wants to accompany him can, not sure it will change much...but that could depend...
Anton and team turns into Gaseous Form and moves over to the other chamber. You return to your normal form and begin to slowly search the room. Three things become apparant:
Someone, most likely Ieana, stayed here frequently. There is food and extra normal gear here.
Second, there is more to study in here. It won't take as much time as most of it is symbolic, but there could still be important clues here to what she was doing.
Third, there is a hidden panel in the wall below the carving of Zura. You check it for traps and find that there is a magical trap on the panel. This will be the most difficult trap you have run into so far and could be dangerous.
How do you wish to proceed?
Anton Green |
Anton explains what he found to the others. "It would be unwise for me to try to disarm it right now. Some other day, after we've all rested, Mihai has more healing power available, and he and Aedalis can both grant their different boons of good fortune. For now, let's return to our camp."
I think there was general consensus to rejoin the castaways.
Jask aka DM Stephen |
You leave after about another hour spent in the temple and make the difficult way back to the castaways without incident.
Jask is the first to speak up, We were worried about you when you didn't come out at first but glad you are all safe. Let's go back to the lighthouse and you can tell us what you have found.
THey are excited to see you alive and seem on te edge about hearing what you found and what happened to Ieana.
You are exhausted by the time you get back, but otherwise the trails get you there by dark.
The next steps are yours to explore, I think there have been several lists of things left to accomplish, you can just decide how to tackle them and I will hand waive or set them up as needed.
Sasha aka DM Stephen |
Yes, the Red Devil was sitting there watching us the entire time. We expected him to attack at any moment...it must be planning something more...sinister. We should be on our guard. I have expressed this to Nim before, we should destroy it before it decides to eventually attack us...you know it is only a matter of time.
Mihai Soarta |
Mihai sighs and wearily smiles at the split opinion of those of the camp "Your views are mirrored by those who walked the path below. There are some who see it apart, some that would welcome it, and others that would gleefully see it's blood let upon the ground. My words have been plain, and I'll not repeat them as my body is too weary to wade the deeps at this time."
Looking over the rest of the castaways for any wounds "Unless there are wounds that need to be salved then I would rest my head. Spirit is restored most ably by succumbing to the embrace of the black."
DM Stephen |
The castaways seem split. Ishirou and Sasha seem to lean towards striking first, in case it turns on you.
Jask and Aerys seem in favor of dealing with it or at least ignoring it. Gelik of course implies we should appease it and keep it happy...
Please feel free to continue the discussion regarding the RMD, he will continue to be a part of this chapter. I will go ahead and move things forward, we can retcon as needed.
You rest that night feeling a major lift to your spirits. The one who caused so much misery is dead and as far as you know the other major threats to your group are dead and gone...not including the RMD. Your sleep is disturbed by Nim spotting a large constrictor slithering into camp, but after he raises the alarm your group finishes it quite easily.
Your sleep is not restful. The dreams come, you are the one you saw at the other Azlanti ruin, on the wall, but you ARE him in te dream. You are fighting in great battles alongside a great female warrior you don't recognize or have never heard of but in your dreams you know her...you are her friend. At every turn there are Serpentfolk like Ieana as well as their allies...not Serpentfolk the ones the other's have told you about.
There are great battles, many die on both sides. The dream ends in sadness though...you have a great feeling of something being left undone...something not accomplished. You awake not very well rested. You are barely able to recover and pray for new spells.
The feeling lingers and your gaze returns to the Chainmail shirt you found with the Azlanti symbols...
The next morning is a bad one. Heavy rains pound the island and it is a late start. When they finally let up around noon you set out for the temple. It takes about 2-3 hours to get over there and find another snake to milk for the kiss but the magnificent magic does it's trick. You have enough food for several days if you want to stay in the temple.
Please let me know how long you plan to stay in the temple and do research and any plans for the castaways to open the door for you at pre-set times.
Entering the altar area another group of you turns to gas and moves to the other chamber...
If you plan to try and disable the magical trap please let me know who plans to be in the chamber then make the roll in a spoiler.
Mihai Soarta |
When the party returns below, Mihai is more resolute and filled with the force of intent. He accompanies Anton when the traverse in mist form is carried out and does not move to leave when Anton makes to disarm the trap.
If allowed, I'd Bit o' Luck Anton to help with the trap.
Corbius Jank |
If allowed Corbius would join Anton and Mihai. Just to prevent Anton being mouther food.:)
Niɱ |
Seeing Corbius and Mihai set to accompany Anton, Nim does not move to join them. The three of you should be able to handle whatever happens... and if you need us... just give a shout.
Nim and Wic then keep a watchful eye on Tragershen and Aedalis as they continue their research...
Anton Green |
Anton, Mihai, and Corbius mist through the tiny entry to the X-shaped safe room. The intrepid halfling bids the others take cover, just before he attempts the magical trap. "I don't know what will happen. Try to stay out of the way if it blows." He then attempts to erase part of a particular magical rune with some chalk, turning a rather deadly word into a harmless one. He feels a sense of serenity as he does it, as if his hands are guided by halflings of old. Or priests of today, he thinks. Desna isn't the only one who knows about luck.
Bit o' Luck: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22