Zhuang starts to halt a moment, uncertain how to proceed, when suddenly Gastidem leaps towards Degwyn. "GET AWAY FROM MY PLANT YOU MADMAN!" he yells out, charging at Degwyn's glaive, actually managing to pull the weapon from him.
Gristav's diplomacy
Gastidem's Disarm
Between Gristav and Filios, Gastidem falls to the ground, bleeding yet still alive. Zhuang looks on in horror for a moment. "We must save him! You swear to be on the side of righteousness, save him!" He appears hesitant to stay, but concerned for the gnome.
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Filios steps back, but keeps his bloodied sword drawn.
Someone needs to aid the traitorous Gnome, or he will bleed out. Zhuang, this fell creature has duped all of your faithful, and it is by his hand that the false test was administered that caused the loss of the fingers of those willing to succumb to the charade. It is drug- driven and contrived by this clever addict bleeding at my feet.
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Keebler rushes to Gastidem's side. He looks frantically at his companions, waiting for one of them to assist the bleeding gnome.
1d20 + 0
Rushing up, Gristav lays aside his staff, trying to understand the injury, and remember what he might have ever known about physicking. "Do you know wha...?", he starts to ask Keebler, but stops at the archaeologist's adrift look, so akin to his own. "Alright...", he says, doing what he can.
[ooc]bleh[/occ]
"We don't know how to do this!", Gristav calls out, hoping for a healer, or a scientist, or a... anything.
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Fendahl looks at the crumpled gnome wondering if he should save him or have the lion finish him off. He observes the others attempting to stabilize the gnome.
"Zhuang you need to hear the truth from Gastidem's own mouth... if he will tell it. At least you will see that we are being honest and are on the side of justice. Degwyn and Filios, get ready to hold him in case he has any fight left in him."
Walks up to Gastidem and casts cure light wounds
Gastidem begins to come to, staggered but alive. "Whu...? Oh crap."
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"Well done," Keebler says, patting Fandahl on the back. As the bloodied gnome regains consciousness, Keebler sits on his chest. "Now then, my dear Gastidem, why don't you explain this embarrassing predicament to Zhuang that you've put us all in. More than the enlightening worship of Korada is going on at this temple, and while I'm keen to leave you to your drug addiction, my companions have clearly taken great offense your other actions." He folds his arms as he waits for the gardener to respond. "Out with it now. The sooner we resolve this, the quicker we can be about our business and return to our Lodge."
"You're all a bunch of jerks." realizing his comment was not to be taken kindly, he quickly changes his tone, "All right, all right, the truth is the Kiss is just a little bit of fun I've been having at the temple's expense. There's no connection to Korada or anything, just some flayleaf and a few serrated blades. No harm, no foul, right?"
Zhuang looks confused for a moment, then asks "Does Master Dakang know of this?"
Gastidem looks hesitant to speak.
"It's not like he'll belive me, stuipd @&$#!*." Whatever he says, it's directed at Keebler. "Dakang is just using the temple, Zhuang. You probably don't believe me, but he is."
Zhuang ponders a moment. "Obviously Gastidem is lying to throw suspicion off his own activity, to so accuse Dakang. What other proof do you offer besides his words? What proof do you offer you haven't ensorcered Gastidem to speak as he does?"
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The statue, he showed us inside the turtle's mouth is a needle which he has been drugging with flayleaf to induce the visions. Deeper inside is a set of blades which cuts fingers if inserted too far. Degwyn nods in the direction of the statue.
Go on, see for yourself. You saw how he acted when I threatened this flayleaf bush, he attacked me. We want you and the others to know the truth, that is all.
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"It's not like he'll belive me, stuipd @&$#!*." Whatever he says, it's directed at Keebler. "Dakang is just using the temple, Zhuang. You probably don't believe me, but he is."
** spoiler omitted **
Zhuang ponders a moment. "Obviously Gastidem is lying to throw suspicion off his own activity, to so accuse Dakang. What other proof do you offer besides his words? What proof do you offer you haven't ensorcered Gastidem to speak as he does?"
"One cannot prove what did not happen", Gristav says in Tien. "But proof of what did happen, is in your own hand. Summon the Aasimar, he seemed to fear them. Perhaps you might trust their voice,their eyes, since you doubt your own?"
Considering the topic, Zhuang offers another opinoin. "If you believe it to be thus, then let us bring Gastidem to Dakang's services. Everyone in the temple will be gathered, and he can face his crime in front of everyone. They should be shortly." Almost as if in response to Zhuang's words, a bell tolls out through the temple. "In fact, they begin now. Will this be ameniable to you all?"
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So long as our tricky little friend does not have anything up his sleeve, I think it would be appropriate.
"We'll be making a new friend, as well. One who has tricked not only wisdom such as Master Zhuang, but the entire temple population, and apparently more than one Aasimar. Do we really favor such a confrontation, and the chaos it may create, among so many who are, while perhaps not entirely innocent, surely outside the question of blame? Ought we warn a dark shepherd, that we've shown the sheep the knives behind the shears?"
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Keebler pushes off of Gastidem as he gets to his feet. He looks at Zhuang and sighs before turning to look up at Fendahl, "I don't like this. Gastidem has already admitted that Dakang doesn't worship Korada and the texts in the library are filled with inaccuracies that pertain to the Abyss rather than Nirvana." He stares at Zhuang, although his next statement is clearly directed towards his companions, "We need to tread carefully if we're to confront Dakang."
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"I agree. We might have the power to win the day, but not at the cost of a knight. Master Zhuang, have you no doubts of your own? The statuary, sealed? A holy man, at the heart of a temple enclave, guarded? Meditations, with drugs and dismemberment? A library in disarray? A garden untended, the only beloved plant made part of a carnival trap? Will you suggest the wisest was unaware? What other changes came after Dakang? What else? I cannot number them. You could. Take your own testimony on this. I'm not asking you to trust me, or to trust us, I'm asking you to trust yourself."
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This water is getting muddy fast. The reason we summoned you is because we trust your judgement. If Dakang IS part of this mess, bringing Gastedim to him will reveal that we may be on to his plot and that worries me... Is there somewhere that Gastidem could be detained for some time while we sort out any other evidence that may be available?
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"I would recommend we at least restrain Gastidem until the truth can be reached. He has threatened to run off and he has admitted to causing the mutilations of several temple members. I fear he cannot be trusted in any encounter with Dakang."
Fendahl checks his pack for rope in the event it is needed.
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"I would say guard him, but he would attack again, or run and require interception, and he might not survive either. He might also have other traps about; if he can be so clever once, and ever thought ahead to the irate return of undigited disciples. But I remind you, it was suggested, we would let him go." With a dark look at Gastidem, Gristav adds, "I remember it also being suggested, he would tell the whole truth."
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"It sounds like we agree he cannot be trusted if or when we confront Dakang. What next then? Vors, what do you think? Vors? Now where did he wander off while we were talking? Last I saw him, he was by the boarded up doors with Keebler. Have any of you seen him?"
Looks like our group is down to five?
As you all ponder what to do, Gastidem looks on with varying degrees of fear on his face. "It is quite possible I'm wrong, quite. You bade me speak the truth, and I have. Should you not live up to your own bargain?"
Zhuang ignores the gnome's pleadings and asks a question of his own. "You say you fear to confront him with Gastidem present, yet he appears to be quite wounded still. I don't see how he could pose a threat. And should not a man be allowed to defend his innocence, particularly when guilt is by admission of one who has already been known to declare a falsehood?"
"Though you did mention connections to the Abyss. Whatever did you mean by that?"
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"Gastidem has demonstrated his intent to inflame. We do not wish flames. And taking him to Dakang, now, means taking him among all of you. Tell me, do you guess your fellow disciples will take as long to ponder as you have? With Dakang, perhaps, joining Gastidem's chorus? If battle broke out, what of all the innocents about? It is not Gastidem's lies or his truth that we avoid, it is his spark, among that tinder."
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Keebler frowns at Zhuang's inquiry. "While we were going through the books in your library, I noticed a number of inaccuracies. The books speak of locations such as Vantian and Ishiar in reference to Korada. However, any student of the planes can tell you that these locations are located in the Abyss - not in Nirvana where Korada dwells. Ishiar, in fact, is the realm of the demon lord Dagon. It is quite clear to me that your holy texts have been altered. I suspect most of the missing ones have simply been destroyed."
The gnome glares at Gastidem, "You are correct, Zhuang, that Gastidem is of no physical threat to us. Our dear Fendahl nearly dispatched him by accident when he wasn't injured. However, I believe my companions fear that the rest of the acolytes will not give us the chance to properly defend our actions here before the paskiainencan* can incite them against us." Keebler looks to the other Pathfinders and then concluding with Zhuang, "If you can assure us that we will be given a fair chance to speak our case, then I think it's in our best interest to go before the others."
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"While I never raised a hand against Gastidem, I certainly would not have felt any sorrow if he had passed to the final judgement. Keebler is right in saying I healed him so that the others of your order could fairly hear the truth and see the harm done to them by the imposters. Justice will be served one way or another."
"A fair chance will be given, that I can assure you. We are an enlightened people, and while I do not understand how Gastidem's actions could have gone so long without notice, I do believe the truth will be revealed. Shall we proceed then?"
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"I will go with you, Master Zhuang. I am not empowered to speak for the rest of the Pathfinders. Since there is no place to leave you, Gastidem, you'll come with us. We will be seeking calm and discussion. You should, as well. If any sort of battle begins, and you were injured, we might be too busy to revive you a second time.", Gristav says grimly. "Oh, and your plant? It would be a risk to try and transplant it. You should try to make what peace you can, here, if anything here is precious to you. The plant has roots. Take that as a lesson."
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"Hrrm yes, Gastidem, please come along peacefully. I will not heal you again if you cause mischief or any harm to the people of this temple. You have done enough harm already."
"Unless there are any objections from our fellows, I agree with Gristav and we should go with Master Zhuang. Although I am suspecting there could be passionate resistance when confronted with the truth."