GM Sior's Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (PFS #3-21, Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Sior

"Shall we visit the meditation room next?"

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Yes Quint begins to head back to the meditation room as he reloads his pistol with powder and bullets. Damned Demons. Never thought I'd see one in my life.

"Oh? Reading the chronicles led me to think it would be inevitable. That's why I got this spear."

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"Demons are everywhere," Silas says somberly. "You have to be on your guard constantly or they'll find a hold and next thing you know you're under their sway. Constant vigilance, that's the only way."

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Soren sighs with relief once the garden is finished, and nods at the suggestion of hitting the meditation room next.
Yes. I believe saving the crypt for last is the most prudent course. I am still worried about Dakang showing back up as well.

The meditation room is a lofty, open space. The stone walls are carved with several figures in various meditative poses. A few large mats cover the stone floor. The only other furnishing is a rack containing a few wooden staves and several stacked glass spheres, each no bigger than a plum.

Only one person is there. It is Zhuang. He sits on a mat spinning three of those glass spheres in him palm. You can tell he is trying very hard to calm his mind and seek peace.

He opens his eyes after you enter and say that he is having a tough time dealing with the claims you have brought to everyone about Dakang. He sought solace here to try to calm his mind.

He offers instruction on how to meditate if you wish to learn.

Firstly, he points to the wall and the various meditative poses. The indicated rites include a few gentle stretches (some of them involving stretching along a staff ), sitting in a lotus position, and spinning three glass spheres on the palm of one hand. Sleight of Hand OR Dexterity check

Secondly, as you sit, he instructs you to repeat the mantra to guide Korada's blessing to your soul:
Light combined,
My peace find;
Calm my soul,
To control;
Woes I sift,
Catching gifts.

Any takers?

Arion performs the rituals, then tries to move the balls.

Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

"light combined
Find my soul..."

Yada Yada. Too hard to copy it via Wayfinder right now.

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Powers combined,
Captain Planet...

Arion attempts to manage the spheres but ends up losing one as it falls to the mat.

Quint decides to give the ritual a go as he stretches on the staff, performs the lotus position and gives an attempt at the three balls in his hand.

Dex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Light combined,
My peace find;
Calm my soul,
To control;
Woes I sift,
Catching gifts.

Preferring to keep wary in case Dakang returns, Silas decides not to take part.

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Dex check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Dario tries his hand at spinning the globes and performs the chant. While he is more concerned with documenting the practice, he has often tried his hand at small rituals like this in his studies.

Knowledge, religion on the ritual being true to Korada vs Sifkesh: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

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Soren abstains from the meditation techniques, instead focusing on keeping watch for Dakang. He does help document the practices, if his help is required.

As Dario speaks the mantra aloud, he notices something towards the end...

Woes I sift catching gifts...

Woes I sift catching gifts...

Sift catch....

Sifkesh!

The whole mantra seems to have these mad gabs thrown in...

Light combined,
My peace find;
Calm my soul,
To control;
Woes I sift,
Catching gifts.

Or:
Bind my soul to Sifkesh

You do note, however, that the depictions on the wall are valid and, indeed upon closer inspection, show nothing about speaking a phrase or mantra.

"...Woes I sift, Ca-" Dario stops the mantra abruptly, his mind racing. He allows the glass sphere to drop from his hand.

After a moment, the Professor interrupts everyone else's attempts. "Stop, stop! This mantra, Zhuang, where did you learn it? It is not part of any practice to Korada, I know and I am afraid I've made a horrifying discovery." He quickly goes to his journal to write out the mantra to show everyone. "See here, if you combine the ends of the lines... 'Bind my soul to Sif-'" He stops before completing the phrase, but allows everyone to see what it would have been.

"Zhuang, I fear this may be another of Dakang's demonic influences."

Arion gets a sick feeling in his stomach. "Of course..."

Soran suddenly gets a sinking feeling in his gut.
This influence is deep, and well hidden... What else could they be getting subjected to here?

Suddenly, the image of the missing finger pops into his head.
Wait, That's been bugging me this whole time... What if the statue is yet another thing Dakang was using?!

First, he nudged Silas and whispers his fears. Then, he checks Zuang for missing fingers. Discreetly.
Take 20 on perception.

Zhuang is taking aback at the sudden outbursts and Soran peering at him with no hint of secrecy. He has all his fingers, though there are several scars around his fingers.

"Dakang led us in the meditation rites, saying it would augment the meditation forms shown on the walls here. Said he found it in some of the books in the library. Is anything I know not perverted toward evil?!"

Soren sighs.
I don't think you can be sure of that until we can help you uncover all of his treachery. I think another of his foul influences may be that statue outside. Tell me, is that where those scars came from, and how many of you are missing fingers from it? A statue that literally eats people doesn't sound like something a peaceful deity would have in his garden, if you ask me.

Silas nods gravely as Soran whispers in his ear. This demon priest's influence is worse than I thought. Not only has he led his followers with lies, he has convinced them to submit themselves to this Sifkesh on their own.

Using detect evil.

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The man nods as he rubs his hands. "I was not found worthy. Though one of the young gnome lads did have the misfortune to have a finger fully removed. We thought he was simply of an unwise heart, punishment to spur him toward the light of Korada..."

Silas detects no evil.

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"We should probably return to the garden to check the turtle further before heading to the crypts."

Sounds like a sound plan to me. I think we should also speak to the gnome boy who lost his finger. He may be possessed or something of the like.

"Prudent, yes. I think a good examination of this statue is for the best."

After heading back to the garden, Soren sticks an arrow in the frog's mouth. If nothing happens, he peers into the mouth, trying to see any mechanisms or signs of hinges, or anything no magical that would allow it to move.
Take 20 on perception.

He invites anyone who wishes to help out, cast Detect Magic, or inspect it themselves. While someone else does so, he stands guard with his bow, an arrow nocked.

Forums ate my post!

Looking into the mouth of the turtle, Soran is able to make out a needle just inside the mouth as well as what looks to be blades set up to clamp down when a hand is put in there.

It is not magical, nor does it have any alignment.

Soran points out his findings, and then starts looking to see if there is any kind of trigger near the statue to activate it.
Perhaps Dakang activated it somehow. I wonder what the needle is for though. It seems a bit.... excessive to have a needle in a device meant to cut off fingers. Perhaps a delivery system for the hallucinogen?

He even digs around the base of the statue a bit, to see if there are any parts of it underground.
Take 20 on perception again.

Not at the base, but beneath the turtle's mouth there is a small recessed plate which may act as a switch to temporarily disable the trap. However, it will re-arm once the plate is released.

Soran reveals his findings to the group.
Exactly as we thought. This isn't activated by Korada, but rather mortal people.

"You said the gnome tended to the garden. Perhaps he would have more answers."

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"So do you think Dakang manipulated the turtle before supplicants tested themselves? Or was it one of the others? Where do the fingers go?"

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What more do we need to convince these people besides showing the Dakang himself...

What all rooms did we have? I think we hit them all.

You still have yet to document the temple's crypts. For that, we'll need a marching order.

In the rear for me

Why do I get a bad feeling about the crypts? In the back for me too, unfortunately.

I know right Dakang was bad enough that I am kicking myself for not having cold iron / silver. Is everyone all healed up? anyone still need heals?

as far as I remember, I am healed up. I'm fine anywhere in front of the ranged characters.

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I'll be in or towards the front.

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Dario can be in the middle.

You head out from the meditation room to a passageway leading toward the crypt.

Most of the everburning lanterns hanging in this hall are dark, but the dimness does not diminish the grandeur of this corridor. Along the north wall stand several statues, each depicting an angel or other good outsider. Some are depicted in dramatic poses befitting a holy warrior. Others have heads bowed in eternal contemplation and hands cupping glass spheres. None of them are in the form of angels covering their eyes. The southern wall bears a large set of double doors, but these doors are boarded up. Smaller doors stand at opposite ends of the hall. A few bits of stone and other debris litter the floor and a musty odor hangs in the air.

Who's running down the hall, springing all the traps? Any volunteers? Dario? Silas? Anyone?

what? No weeping angels? For shame.

as to your question: Not it!

"What a place."

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Soren nocks an arrow and hangs back, muttering
I hate crypts...

Thank the gods someone got the angels reference. I was slightly worried when I typed it.

Doctor Who for the win?

Dario moves up the hallway to the boarded up doors. He checks the doors for any possible traps. "I wonder why these doors would be boarded up? If Dakang wanted to prevent the people from entering, it could be useful to see what's inside."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Backtracking in his mind, it would seem the boarded up doors lead back out to the garden.

Soran motions down the hallway.
Looks like we have to go farther. I have to say, if they boarded up the entry from the garden, then there must be something here they wanted to avoid. Best be wary.

He keeps his arrow nocked, and aimed at the darkness beyond.

Arion watches the archaeologist explore. "I guess you're pretty used to this kind of thing."

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Silas follows, sword drawn. "Dakang! Show yourself, demon!"

Using detect evil

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I agree though we should still be cautious.

Quint continues down the hallway with the others. I barely scratched the demon last time. How can we possibly beat it.

Dario moves down the hall to the other door. He checks it for traps as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

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