"As far as meditations themselves, no. We do have our services in the chapel throughout the day. If you'd like to attend, the next one should be soon, probably about an hour from now. And there is the Kiss..." She trails off, as though remembering the earlier reactions to it's mention.
The books here refer to Korada’s holy city of Vantian the Unshuttered, which continually crumbles into the sea of Ishiar while residents continually rebuild on the far side of the city. The books also describe the double-arrow symbol of “celestial silence and contemplation” to be drawn over the mouth and eyes of adherents of Korada.
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Then would you allow me to keep the book so that the Lantern Lodge may spread the knowledge of this place most foul.
Perception
Alan speaks up My good sir, is there a garden anywhere it has always been peaceful meditating in a garden
DM. Am I correct in assuming that I have the book and the manual in my possession at the moment? Have I noticed the missing fingers as of yet?
"Garden? Yes, just outside the windows. It's difficult to make out because of the vines overgrown atop them."
"We simply don't use those areas of the temple at present, so Dakang has ordered them closed off for now."
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"As far as meditations themselves, no. We do have our services in the chapel throughout the day. If you'd like to attend, the next one should be soon, probably about an hour from now. And there is the Kiss..." She trails off, as though remembering the earlier reactions to it's mention.
"Well, milady, the thought of losin' a finger ain't so pleasant," smiles Mareck. "I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to hold my playin' cards close enough to my vest."
Mareck smiles at the little pun he's made, proud of himself.
"I do love the meditation though. Very calming. Chapel, huh? Maybe we can join."
"You would of course be welcome to attend."
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Mareck gives a start when the raven starts talking to him.
"What the fu---," he starts to say.
***Pretend the bird is pecking at you, not speaking to you.***
"Tiasar, get this thing off me! I take it back, not 'beautiful plumage.' Sharp beak, instead! Gah, off, off," Mareck says as he brushes at the raven.
Mareck rubs the side of his head where the bird was, then seems to settle down again.
"'Bad guys' I understand. 'Abiss' though. Whah huh?" the Varisian bravo thinks to himself. He turns to Miriya.
"So, Miriya, maybe the chapel in a bit then. I'm a fan of Desna myself, but she's notoriously un-jealous. Desna's prayer rugs are always beautiful works of art. That's one reason I'm a fan. Nothin' better than a soft mat to kneel on, if yer gonna do some otherworldly beseechin.' "
Mareck really gets on a roll, as he starts to remember back to his days on the Long Road with his family.
"We had this wonderful wagon, you know. Do you know the People of Road, Miriya? No? Wanderers, Varisians, you know, wagon people, peddlers, singers, itinerant workers. Wonderful way of life, really. So... my mom's wagon was decked out in these wonderful rugs, with beautiful thread for the stitching, just amazing works of art, but I've never been able to find their like again. Meditation or prayer rugs are remarkably similar, but then, where else will you find..."
And on, and on, and on...
"The crypt is just on the other side of the Statuary, and I'm afraid is also off-limits by Dakang's orders."
"Of course, I'll show you the way." Miriya leads you all to the garden, just outside and around the corner.
The temple garden is badly overgrown with tangled vegetation. Vines and briars climb the temple walls on three sides, surrounding the large windows into the chapel and the smaller windows into the library. The garden itself is a profusion of flowering bushes and weeds. Except for a clear space in the center of the garden, the dense weeds grow taller than an adult human. At the center of the garden sits a crumbling fountain, long dry, with a statue of a noble turtle in the center. Heaps of foliage choke two similar fountains, each with a large stone orb resting in the fountain’s center.
Gastidem, the gnome from before greets you. "Ah, come to visit the garden have you? Or perhaps you have changed your mind and decided to attempt the Kiss of Korada?"
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Tiasar folds his arms and looks around "I am sorry, we are just here to visit the garden. Well I am anyways. Unfortunately my specialties lie with the arcane and the planes, I know little about nature." Tiasar turns to the party with a 'anyone?' look. Also his raven flies to Jory's shoulder "Alan had a magnificent idea in getting what information we can before there is any hostility"
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[ooc]Thats only 2 hours apiece, Alan will gladly do his share [/b]
The kiss of Karoda is that the *Whistles* as he mimics chopping off fingers. Pass, but I will gladly help clean this garden and get it back in shape. After all the loss of several fingers makes it hard to do the upkeep this place surely requires. He pauses for some time and as he clears some overgrowth he takes time for a breather and begins to ask Gastidem, I do have a question for you. What is with the Kiss of Karoda, that seems like a harsh requirement to prove ones devotion.
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Tiasar nods, then turns to the party "Unfortunately I shall only get in the way gardening, so I shall simply try to learn what I can before joining." Tiasar walks around the garden, examining the plants and making notes. Eventually he makes his way over to the northeast corner () behind trees and waits for Rowan to take point.
"A harsh requirement? Well, it's only a risk if you have thoughts impure. A simple test is all that's required, but it's your own decision to do so. No one will force you. Only those who believe their worship in Korada is complete should attempt it. I can understand outsider's hesitation, when you have witnessed those who have spent years in devotion but failed to master it."
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Tiasar whispers back "Indeed, take point and unlock doors and look for traps, I shall be on the lookout for magical problems. Also, if need be, i can make you invisible for a few seconds" Tiasar casts detect magic and concentrates, strafing the area in front of him and occasionally to the sides and back
Group Garden
"About Korada? Well what would you like to learn? Korada is the Empyreal Lord of foresight, forgiveness, and peace. He is a force of good, dedicated to peace and contemplation. Devotees of Korada are scholars and mystics who are often contemplative pacifists. Korada’s worshipers meditate by spinning small glass spheres in their palms. Practiced disciples spin three glass spheres in each hand simultaneously while meditating. The Spiral of Korada is a symbol sacred to the Empyreal Lord. The Spiral of Korada is an outward-sweeping arc balancing three circles. The circles represent reflection on the past, focus on the present, and contemplation of the future. This symbol is often prominently displayed in temples to the Empyreal Lord, and devotees take care to keep the sacred symbol unobstructed." The gnome recites what he knows of Korada, as though remembering a textbook.
Group Statue
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Garden Group
"Demonstrate it? No, I dont' believe that's a good idea. You see, I'm not ready to show my devotion to Korada. I simply administer the test for others."
"Why worship Korada? Well that's one of those age old questions, isn't it. Why worship Desna over Korada? To each their own, right?"
Statue Group
Garden Group
"The statue does the fingers as punishment. I think this is quite beyond you to understand. And how am I to understand the minds of the Empyreal Lords?"
Statue Group
You see nothing around the corner. The doorway leading to the Statuary hallway appears to be undisturbed.
Burst, Emanation, or Spread: Most spells that affect an area function as a burst, an emanation, or a spread. In each case, you select the spell's point of origin and measure its effect from that point.
A burst spell affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures that you can't see. It can't affect creatures with total cover from its point of origin (in other words, its effects don't extend around corners). The default shape for a burst effect is a sphere, but some burst spells are specifically described as cone-shaped. A burst's area defines how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends.
An emanation spell functions like a burst spell, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell. Most emanations are cones or spheres.
A spread spell extends out like a burst but can turn corners. You select the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. Figure the area the spell effect fills by taking into account any turns the spell effect takes.
Just wanted to let you know that any objects radiating magic can't be detected if they have total cover to you, such as behind the door. It will detect for auras on the door itself though, so not a wasted effort.
On that topic, you find no auras on the door.