Ante Chamber
A stone bench lines the southern wall of this chamber. At the far side of the room, a basin of water sits atop a stone pedestal. An open stone door engraved with an image of a hammer stands to the north.
Enough water to fill two flasks resides here...
Ante Chamber
A stone bench lines the southern wall of this chamber. At the far side of the room, a basin of water sits atop a stone pedestal. An open stone door engraved with an image of a hammer stands to the north.
Enough water to fill two flasks resides here... DC 16 Perception to identify...
The Nave
A the group enters the final room of the abandoned chapel they find that broken stone benches line this narrow room. The air is cold and stale, and thick layers of dust cover the floor, benches, and a large altar at the far end of the room.
This shrine was a humble, and little treasure can be found within save for that which the dwarf left behind. A pouch sits abandoned near a stain where the dwarf had to be sitting, containing two potions, nearby is a knotted gold ring. The dwarf's warhammer lies dusty on the ground nearby as well, long forgotten.
Before you have much time to gather the items the sounds of an argument outside echo through the chamber. Anevia and Horgus sounded like they were about to come to blows...
Anevia appears to have fallen into a sad near despondent state, complaining about her leg before Horgus coldly suggests. "She's slowing us down, Perhpas its time we split up." What he was implying elicits a gasp from the blind elven wizard and an explosive retort from Anevia.
"I'd expect no less from a man who doesn't acknowledge his own faith to not be moved by this temples sad state. To so blatantly ignore your own faith is as bad as Worishipping DEMONS!"
Horgus was taken aback but responded contemptously. [smaller]"How quaint to that you of all people wish to scold me on faith. At least I don't consort with theives or worse..."[smaller] Again he implies something and this time Anevia falls into a black angry silence, her eyes narowing as she looks at Horgus...
You identified one of the two potions as a potion of Cure Light Wounds. Your injuries start to itch as the incomplete healing magic starts to make your body try to ineffectively heal itself.
Kieran watches Lomar with the focus a chess player gives his opponent. He then grits his jaw and ambles over to the cursed creature’s body to retrieve his spear. With a scowl, he surveys the building thoroughly. ”I’ll stay out ‘ere and guard the rear. Let us know if this pile a s~%+ leads back up top.”
I examine the basin and peer about the room.
I'm looking to tidy up the place and perhaps say a few prayers. I detect evil again to see if any stain remains in the shrine, looking about the whole place.
”I ain’t leaving behind. You wanna run off on yer own, go on n’ do it. But noone’s getting left down ‘ere on account a some petty-ass rivalry er whatever yer problems is.”
Kieran aims a sausage-sized finger squarely on Horgus. “You. You carry a f@~#ing torch. B’sides that, all we can expect from you is b&%#%in’ n’ moanin’. What gives you the right t’say a G~&**%N thing bout who stays er goes!?”
"I don't give a s$%! what the deal is b'tween y'both, but consider puttin' it off till we get back to whatever-the-hell's left a' Kenebras. C'nya do that? Hmm!?"
"Miss?" he says to Elarya in a much softer voice. "Didn't get yer name but it looks like ya got a hand fer healing. Y'mind taking a look at 'er leg?"
After Cid reloads his crossbow, he moves toward the ring and warhammer, ignoring the injured as he is confident they are being tended to. The arguing outside seemed to phase him little.
Animals will growl. No sense in getting between two dogs...
He approached the ring and warhammer, slowly feeling their material to absorb as much stimuli as he could...
"Hmmmm... very curious..."
Appraise1:
Appraise2:
Perception1:
Perception2:
After doing a thorough check of the interior, Lomar begins to focus on the items. He tilts his head up at the sound of the scuffle, but then shakes it once annoyedly and concentrates once again on the things they've found. When he hears Kieran's threats to Horgus, one corner of the the warlock's mouth raises slightly. What emotion it is expressing is anyone's guess.
Inside the Temple
Between everyone's appraisal the items are identified as a Masterwork Warhammer, A knotted gold ring worth 125 gp, two CLW potions and two doses of Holy Water from the basin.
Outside
Horgus takes Kieren's intimidation badly glowering silently at the warrior as he shook his meaty finger in the noble's face...
Horgus -2
Anevia -/+0
Seren
You sense no direct evil but a heavy aura hangs over this humble temple, which you come to believe is the cause of its unwelcoming and colder nature...
Is there anything obvious we could do to redeem the temple?
Standing outside, Lasciel has a difficult time not smiling at the tonguelashing administered to the pompous Horgus,while flashing Anevia a supportive smile.
Inside the Temple
The humble temple is in a sad state, scattered litter, dust and other small debris cover its corners. Several of the stone benches are damaged, one is completely broken. The alter itself is damaged as well when closely inspected, the hammer that adorned the inner walls has been scarred on purpose.
Its easy to tell that the dwarf you had just brought down did all this damage, why is unknown. It's obvious though that he raged for a long, long time and was most likely isolated here beneath the earth...
What you fought outside was something you have heard about in stories known as a Huecuva. One who has turned on their god and blasphemed in such a horrid way that their god literally cursed them for their reprehensible lose of faith. This particular dwarf savaged his deities symbol and purposefully desecrated this once humble shrine before his fall from grace...
When someone breaks a gods symbol it is a horrible act, some circle's believe that it earns a gods wrath. But it also turns their eye away from that place, with no symbol why should they pay attention to it?
Some believe this an opportunity to restore the lost holy place.
Others say it could be a trap depending on the god who was offended.
Outside
Anevia wards off any attempts to look at her leg, limping away from the torch bearing Horgus who glowers at everyone angrily.
You catch Anevia looking back at the temple from time to time and when she finds herself spacing out she snaps her head back around and watches back down the tunnel.
Filler
In the main square~
Denison and his men were battered and being bombed by demonic magic, they couldn't stop them all. Half his officers were dead or worse, demons paraded around wearing the skins of fallen crusaders like some grim masquerade. His missing arm throbbed with ghost pains but the old crusader was undaunted, he and his men had seen worst and when the going got tough then you just had to get nasty.
He tried to stop them from taking the Ancient Silver Dragons body, he lost two score of men clashing with the Stormlord's elite and he wanted to vomit when they succeeded in carrying the silver dragon away. That wasn't the only worry he had though as he watched Kenebras burn all around them. Most notably though was the ruins that had been the Angelo estate, he didn't know whether or not his old friend had survived such a brutal, head on attack. What would he tell Jaeger if he ever saw the boy again...
What troubled him more was why they attacked that particular house when the ward fell. They smashed other buildings as well, granted, but they practically leveled the estate for some unknown reason. He and his men couldn't make it there though, they had to regroup at the proposed rally point. That is if they survived long enough. As they fell back he regarded the corpse of one of his officers, cut in half along with two others. Right where those orphan's had been standing. They had died well, for their duty and the protection of others. He couldn't have asked for better men to command and that man in particular had taken a liking to the pair.
He sighed as he spoke quietly to no one in particular, regarding the broken cloudless sky. "This is one of the times I lose faith in the gods..." He halted the entire group long enough to close the dead officers and his footmen's eyes with his remaining hand. At least they'd get that last respect. "Rest up boys, we'll see you soon enough." He laid a hand on the dead man's shoulder, bowing his head momentarily before standing once more and turning towards the direction of the rally point. With a gleam in his eyes he ordered his men to move out...
Somewhere in Kenebras
Demons hemmed in the dragon scaled Aasimar, who raged out of control as he sliced at each and every one of them. His massive black blade severed them from this mortal plane, casting them back into the abyss as he savagely ended their terrible existence on Golarion. Grief stricken and on the edge of madness Cael fought to the bitter and bloody end. Despite his heavy resistence they backed him into a corner, where he spread his wings wide and roared at them with such rage filled hate. It was then he unleashing another powerful blast of ice from his draconic maw.
The demons couldn't withstand the brutal breath attack, freezing solid and allowing him to shatter them with fist and blade as he advanced back out onto the street. It was there he could bare no more, falling to his knees he screamed in anger and pain as his bones cracked and his body began to change. Becoming more draconic in appearance, save for the fact his once gleaming scales had taken on a grey tone, tinged with a black stain. When the changes finally stopped he stood up fully, having gained another foot in height and several feet on his wingspan. Even the black blade had grown to the size of a greatsword, which he wielded easily in one hand now...
He spread his wings with a snap and screamed his rage into the sky with a savage roar before taking wing in pursuit of those he hated.
Conrad's Stand
His lungs were burning, he was running so hard and yet the demons were hard on his heel's. He made his way through the back alley's, dodging between crumbling and burning buildings and tumbling past other obstacles or demons with well trained grace. However he finally reached a dead end, panting he tried to scale the wall's but they were too wide for him to use his feet and with only one hand he wouldn't be able to. He cursed his luck as he had somehow stumbled into a drainage ditch.
The dretches weren't far behind, slobbering as they chattered among themselves in their dark language. No doubt savoring the meal to come. Conrad looked down at the small child in his arms, sobbing in fear and he hardened his resolve. He didn't know how long he could hold out with only one hand free and her in his arms, but he would try. By the wanderer he had to win. When the first demon rounded the bend the world slowed down and he turned to face it just as a shadow fell over him from behind. "COME ON!" The crusader's shout was loud and caused the demon's to look up just as two more battered looking crusader's appeared and started pelting the demons with holy bolts from their crossbow's.
The dretches screamed as they pressed to advance towards Conrad, some clamored up the walls in pursuit of the crusaders. Conrad turned and with both hands threw the child up towards the man reaching towards them. "Get her to safety!" Was all he could shout as the man caught her. The crusader nodded and the three fell back with the girl screaming for Conrad to come with them, however he couldn't. He wouldn't allow the demons to catch her and despite being outnumbered now he could fight at his full strength. He drew his blade and separated them in one smooth motion. The butterfly swords were a symbol of his faith and devotion to the Wanderer. He kneeled in the water of the drainage as he said a quick prayer and with the dretches advancing quickly on him. "I fear not death, for life is but a dream that continues on forever... Protect the child for me now, Mother Moon."
He spun, hacking into the first creatures knees and driving it to the ground in a spray of blood and a loud splash. He tumbled past the next two and cleaved into the ones trying to climb the wall in pursuit of the girl with his twin blades. "Where do you think your going!" As they fell back into the ditch with him he continued spinning, slicing and alternating quickly between standing and kneeling positions as he tried to maintain his tumbling assault. The dretches couldn't hem him in easily as he spun like a dervish and rolled between their stubby legs every time they closed in. However his injuries were mounting quickly, he was outnumbered and despite his great faith things looked grim...
"Fair winds guide her life now..."
"It would be wise to make use of such a weapon... though it is unfit for my style... How about you my large-friend? It's at the very least worth a mint."
Noticing Anevia's strange behavior regarding the temple...
To Anevia...
"Does this place disturb you? You seem entranced by it."
Cid Anevia regards Cid curiously, caught off guard by his direct questioning. After a moments hesitation she replies quietly. "It's just sad to see a place like this fall so far, it tears my heart up inside. Especially seeing that turned on its patron. It's just so sad..."
I start to clear the junk out of the temple and put everything back as close as I can to how it should be. Maybe clean the marks off the hammer as well, if I can, before hanging it back up.
As I do this I hum a little tune of Her grace with the message that a light heart makes light work.
When I take the first load of dirt outside, I smile at those waiting, "Won't be too long: just cleaning up the place."
The task is daunting, the temple is truly a mess and no easy task to clean. It looks like it could take a few hours to clear it out at best even with more help as the inner sanctum has limited room...
Kieran grunts an acknowledgment to the Paladin. It was clear by his expression that he felt tidying up the temple was a waste of time more preciously spent on finding a way out of the caverns.
He puffs heavily through his nose. "C'mon," he tells Anevia with an offered hand. "I ain't one t'argue another's faith; more a' us in there means the job'll be done quicker."
Before entering to assist Seren and the others, he gives Horgus a measuring up and down with his eyes. Damn straight, y'pansy.
Ethyra upon hearing Kieran looked up and smiled softly but had a helpless look in her eyes. "My name is Ethyra, it is a pleasure to meet you...I am so sorry but I cannot do anything else for her. I have channeled all that I can from my mother goddess to repair her leg." She says in an apologetic manner. After speaking with Kieran she once again turns her gaze to the temple.
Ethyra is saddened by the state of temple. She always regarded her goddess as her mother and her temple her house. What could have made a follower of this deity so angry that he tore this temple asunder? The sight was painful and made her trace her mind for any reason one would do this. She felt it only right in herself to repair the temple and erase the pain that was left behind. She approached the temple with the same care one would have for the body of a deceased loved one. The temple felt like an abandoned corpse with no spark. "Jaeger," she whispers as she looks about, "help me fix this place up."
Jaeger's joke about cleaning dies on his tongue when he hears the pain and sadness in his beloved's voice. "Of course mon amour." He says gently as he takes her hand and walks in to assist in the restoration of the temple.
With so many helping hands it is the work of two hours to clear the temple and restore it to decent shape. However despite your best efforts the holy symbols within the temple are too damaged for simple repairs or weak magic to repair...
Your efforts bring about a noticeable effect however. The stale air is now fresh and the cold that once clung to this place is gone as well. Whether it was a combination of your efforts or the introduction of torches into the small room is anyone's guess...
What do you do now?
"Well, this is at the least a vast improvement. It might even serve as a safe place should we need to find a place to spend the night before we get much further."Lasciel says thoughtfully.
Lomar expresses no interest whatsoever in cleaning or repairing the temple, and lends no aid in the task of doing so. At the same time however, he does not speak against the others doing so.
He does not seem in a particular hurry to 'escape', for, in his opinion, there is likely nothing much left to escape to. He was Kayal, or a Fetchling, as the Humans so ignorantly called his race. He was adaptable, he was prgmatic, he would survive, and he would do all in his power, to his last breath, to ensure the same of Lasciel. No, as long as his sister and he are both safe and well, he is content. They will eventually get to wherever they need to go, and Kenabres was no more, they would find somewhere else to live.
Although he does not aid in the temple restoration, Lomar does keep watch. When the lights sources outside the temple have faded, he remains alone in the dark, perfectly content in the deep shadows which prove no barriers to his eyesight, his eyes glowing a soft blue green in the darkness.
When the sounds of work from within finally seem to slow down and stop, Lomar leaves his guard position and joins the others. As Lasciel makes her suggestion he nods in agreement "Yes, if enough of us are weary now, we may as well rest here, now, then. For we will all be better off with a little rest, I am sure."
I smile and nod my assent to Lasciel's plan, "Aye, a grand place to rest. I'm grateful that you all helped me. I'll say it again: we're a good team." I give Lomar a nod too, "Thank you for keeping watch. It was good to know you were there."
"It's a shame that none of us follow the forge-god."
That said, I bow before the broken but tidied altar and pray a lengthy, heartfelt prayer to Shelyn and Her friend and ally, Torag. It concludes with a promise: "I will carry message of this shrine to those who honour the Forge-Father and, with Shelyn's aid, may the beauty of this shrine be restored. For the pure-heart of Syriss: Be loved."
"My name is Ethyra, it is a pleasure to meet you...I am so sorry but I cannot do anything else for her. I have channeled all that I can from my mother goddess to repair her leg."
The great man smiled softly, "Can't fault n' honest try. I'm Kieran," he nods.
"It's a shame that none of us follow the forge-god."
Me father had a Hammer, looks 'bout the same is that, hangin' up in the smith he'd been workin' at; back after his accident," Kieran chimes in, rolling over his bag and pulling out his clattering mess kit. "Course, there was a bunch them symbols put up 'ere n' there. Don't think he put much stock b'hind any which one n'particular. Heh! Prolly thought it best fer business er something in the like." The barbarian plops down hard, drops a bowl between his legs and masterfully dumps a random assortment of semi-crystallized jerkey, bread, carrots and nuts into it. He scoops a mouthful from the mix and immediately sets to open another trail ration. "But, yeah. Real shame."
Done in the dark like this you are unable to tell what time it is save for gauging how tired you are. You think at most you have been underground for a few to several hours. It's unknown how long you were all out from your fall into the depths...
More posts to come, apologies for the wait. Family sick again... Blargh.
Seren: please roll 2d20 and add +5 to them.
Everyone: who is standing guard? Watch order? And how long do you plan to rest for?
Everyone: depending who takes watch please roll perception checks, one each please.
The dark-elf decides to hold watch with his friend, seeing as his need for sleep is less than that of the humans.
I am assuming you guys are staying inside the fortified stone building correct?
Let me know if I am incorrect~
I take second watch, "Who's going to join me?"
serene please remember to roll 2d20 +5 to each :)
Perception:
Cid and Kieran sit outside the temple doors while the others rest up.
"My take: the only ones worth a damn ud'be Shelyn's servent n' Anevia. Might be my fondness fer a good strong woman makes me a bit sexist, tho. The little girl yer lizard pals been groping seems t'have a kind heart, but don't know what she sees in her man. That one just likes killing too much. Never met a man so eager t'find an excuse t'stab sumpthin. Tell ya, a woman can change a man only so much. Whether she's done it already er she still workin' at it's anyone's guess. Nother odd pairing is the mages. Brother n' sister like the sun n' moon, they are. Horgus? Useless. The wizard? Well, s&~$... Kinda forgot 'bout him. Guess that says it all, eh? Least that's my take. You?"
Continued in under common.
"Useless?"
Like a specter the noblemen appears around the corner from where your talking, his look is anything but friendly and he still doesn't appear cowled by Kierens fierce attitude either. He doesn't give Cid much attention nor does he completely ignore the dark elf either. "I don't need to explain my reasons for hating that woman or the elf either. I thin it an act of mercy they got what they got for what they done to me. Now. So long as we can come to an agreement I will see you lot rewarded if you get me out of this pit alive, 1,000 gp a piece should suffice eh?"
Three gold teeth zigzag through a great, beardshrouded smile. "I mighta been wrong 'bout you."
Horgus doesn't smile back, he's all business as he holds put his hand to shake on the deal. "Probably as none of us know a damn thing of the other. Horgus Gwerm, trade merchant of Kenebras, your Kieran Crane and this is Cid if I heard right. Your both from the Riverlands correct?" Horgus's tone is even, bordering neutral Ashe says the facts like he were discussing the weather.
”Ay,” Kieran confirms simply, a smile still stretched across his face. ”That’s t’say: the both of us traveled up ‘ere from the River Kingdoms.”
This one's just eyes, ears n' riches. The kind a bastard that reeks a spite-fueled trouble. In the right place, might be he's the mos dangerous one down 'ere...
”Thousand measures fer sumpthin I planned t'do anyway,” he says as he wraps the noble's soft hand in his own. "You got a reason I should say 'no'?"
He shakes on it as he shakes his head no. Speaking in under common he almost appears offended by your open words. "We're you expecting a threat? I may have pointed words with those two but I am not a monster mr. Crane. And what I offer is no small amount either..."
Kieran holds Horgus' hand past the socially accepted hand shake time allotment. "Threat? Ha! No, I'm expectin' a catch. Yer right, ain't a small amount..."
Just as you finish your business with Horgus the sharp cries of approaching creatures catches your ears. You both recognize them as bats. Lots of bats. Whatever had stirred them up from the depths had them in a fury as the noise increased Horgus gave you both a short wave and retreated into the humble temple. However before the alarm was raised the bats noise suddenly ceased, the flutter of their retreating wing beats was the only indication of how close they were to you all.
Your time spent at the humble chapel goes uninterrupted, no creatures come near and in fact you all feel refreshed in the morning.
The basin is full again, you recognize the water as cure light wounds on sight, a single dose and 11 goodberries float in the healing infused water...
You feel protected within this humble shrine as well, for all its simplicity it fills you a sense of beauty you hadn't seen before. The work you did yesterday had restored the shrine in ways you couldn't have imagined and now you know that you have left a secure shelter behind you. Open to any who needed it...
Where to next folks? You have the path that leads further down or you could go back up to where the dead insects are... >:)
Jaeger awoke happy to escape from another nightmare. Once again trapped in a land of blood and death. Feeling drained and tired, but with an effort born of years of practice he easily slides on the mask of a bravo. An air of indifference and self confidence once again acts as armor for the tiefling. "Mon Amour it is time to get up." He says as he rolls over and wraps his arms around his slumbering wife.