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Okay... - agrees the barbarian, once he considers they found a safer place. He looks around the items on the backpack, together with the others, and tries to somewhat organize it.
Who can use these wands? - he asks, not knowing much about his companions. Maybe the short shadow guy?, he considered, ... Or that beautiful Lady-priest of Shelyn?
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Talia looks at the barbarian digging though the backpack. "Can I see the wands, and scrolls?" she asks before kneeling next to Bahboom.
After a brief inspection, she adds, "I can only use the healing wand, and this scroll," holding up the scroll of obscuring mist. "Everything else is outside my Lady's influence." She looks at the other items, "Does anyone else want to use any of this?"
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"I can use the other wand. Though if someone else can use it and wants it, I am fine with that as well. I can also easily activate all of the other scrolls except the entangle scroll. Though again I will happily relinquish any claim I have on them to someone else if they want them."
Alakhest casts an appraising glance at the others, taking in their various armor and protections,"I think that Leira should get the Scroll of Mage Armor if they can cast it," I hope I used that pronoun correctly "if not I will gladly cast it on them."
Alakhest hesitates for a moment and then looks directly at Leira, "I have noticed you use the plural pronoun when refering to yourself...selves... Did I get that right?"
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Umbru studies each of the item in deep thought, before speaking up. "I would suggest the the front-liners like Bahboom or Alakhest use the potion of barkskin and to keep a healing potion. The antitoxin as well. The feather step potion would be of use to Alakhest? I notice you thread more heavily than the rest of us. I have little use of any of the scrolls, and while I would likely be able to use the acid flasks and alchemist's fires to great effort, I do have a number of bombs already, so please feel free to stock up. I would like to keep the flask of holy water, tanglefoot bag and thunderstone to round off my alchemical gear."
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Leira's penetrating gaze turns on Alakhest. "Indeed, we do use the plural pronoun...we are not one, but many. We are the collective consciousness of any that have died in our presence. They are reborn in us."
Looking at the scroll, she says "We would be happy to utilize this, should it prove necessary."
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Alakhest nods at Umbrutari, "I will take the Featherstep potion as your suggestion has merit, Umbrutari, and as no one else has asked for them I will take the scrolls except entangle, obscuring mist, and mage armor." he looks at the remaining items and does some thinking.
After a moment of complete stillness he speaks up again, "I would like to offer the following suggestions. Bahboom take the potion of barkskin and Bahboom and I each take one of the cure potions as Umbrutari also suggested. If anyone has the ability to activate scrolls of spells they can not otherwise cast,""they should take the scroll of entangle. I have this ability, but I think someone not at the frontline should have the scroll instead, if anyone else can activate it."
Alakhest pauses for breath before continuing, "I think Umbrutari should take the acid and alchemists fire as you can make the best use of them, but if someone else wants them speak up. The potion of Vanish and the smokestick could go to Leira and/or Talia as they appear to be the most focused on casting and might be able to use them to maybe get off a spell in a dangerous circumstance. The antitoxin and sunrods don't really matter where they go as whoever needs them can get them when they do. How does that sound? Did I forget anything?"
I hope I did not overstep my bounds with everyone just now
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The narrow tunnel twists and turns for several hundred feet before slowly opening to a wider passage. A large hole spans the cave’s width and stretches ten feet down the path. At the bottom of the pit lies a small bundle of cloth floating in several feet of water. The corners of the pit are rounded, and the tunnel walls don’t look easy to climb either.
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"The pit doesn't look natural to me."
Alakhest crouches down and peers ahead into the tunnel, looking for any place a grappling hook might find purchase on the far side of the pit. While doing this he begins pulling knotted rope, hammer, pitons, and a grappling hook out of one of the sacks attached to his backpack.
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After a moment's gawking, Talia gathers enough sense to realize that they're supposed to be recording what they find. So, she begins to make quick sketches of some of the glyphs. Eventually, when the group reaches the pitfall, she finally pauses from that work with she lightly bumps into Alakhest.
"Oops, sorry, " she offers before looking down into the pit. "Say, Alakhest, Before you toss your grappling hook across, do you think you can use it to snag that cloth bundle? Maybe it'll have a clue about this place?"
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Umbru studies the pit quietly for a while. "I have a set of grappling hooks and rope as well. Could we not set one up on the near side of the pit, for us to descend by. Picking up the bundle of cloth would be of no trouble. From the bottom of the pit, we could then toss the other grappling hook up the opposite side to ascend by." He looks around his companion quietly for commends, before adding rather practically, "I suggest Bahboom to go first. There might be other surprises down below."
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Alakhest leaves covers on the grappling hook point so it will not tear the cloth and, after making sure the ledge of the pit is stable enough to support him he begins lowering the grappling hook into the pit. As he does so he replies to Umbrutari, "That is certainly a reasonable plan. I just figure we can get the cloth before we go into the pit, and if I can anchor this rope on both sides of the pit we can climb across the top of the pit instead down into it and then out of it again, less distance that way. Also with this we could possibly make makeshift safety harnesses with other rope so that if someone loses their grip they don't fall and get hurt at the bottom of the pit."
After a bit of fishing Alakhest pulls up the cloth and hands it off to the first person to take it. He pulls the covers off of the grappling hook tips and begins the work of affixing it on the far side of the pit.
If we climb down then up
If I fail a roll and need to catch a ledge or something to stop my fall or catch someone else if they fall and I am in the right place to catch them
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Alakhest reaches the other side without difficulty, and grabs the dirty cloak. The rest of the party doesn't cross as smoothly, though everyone eventually makes it to the other side with just a few scratches and bruises.
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These parables are slightly different than those that appear in the known version of the History and Future of Humanity, suggesting that these might represent an earlier version of the work.
Even though Aroden disappeared over a century ago, these caves store a hint of his divine magic (like a wand with a single charge left) that can impart a minor blessing to those who perform a short series of rituals based on the parables.
About 50 ft. after the pit, the tunnel curves and you find a plank big enough to span the pit. The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.
The carvings here are different in style from the petroglyphs found elsewhere. It seems like there might have been a dozen carvings at some point, but only four are still decipherable. As best you can tell, they are images from the History and Future of Humanity, the principle holy text of Aroden.
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With his weak arms, Umbru struggles quite a bit to pull himself across the makeshift rope bridge but with the help of his stronger compatriats, he eventually gets across, rope burns and all. He nods to Alakhest in silent thanks. He does not take the cloak though.
Umbru stoically continues the journey after taking a short breather. He does look at the plank with some interest, pointing it out to the rest of the party, although he does not quite figure out why it is there.
When he reaches the large cavern, he stops and stares at the carvings in wonder, but fearing to touch them to not damage them further. These must be ancient. Being unfamiliar with the history and cultures of the west, he fails to decipher them, however.
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Talia shrugs as she climbs down the first rope and up the second. "I suppose this is the safest route through here." Upon getting access to the cloak, she quickly searches it for any distinctive markings before hanging it over an arm as the party continues forth.
Talia becomes almost giddy upon seeing the carvings though. Without hesitation, she bounces between the carvings studying them, and attempting to sketch them. After several moments, however, she starts getting frustrated with the carvings.
"I know these.... I know I know these, but it's just off enough and just worn enough that I can't quite place them, besides being Arodenite." After several more minutes of bouncing about in frustration, she eventually stops by the torches, pouting just a little with her arms crossed over her chest.
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Alakhest, upon seeing the plank, grabs it and returns back to the pit after asking the others for a moment, "Give me a moment, I think this plank is long enough to span the pit back there." Using the plank he collects his rope and returns with both, putting the plank back where it was.
Alakhest sheathes his sword and pulls out his journal again and begins making sketches of the carvings, adding notes about his interpretations.
He notices Talia's frustration and walks over to her and starts to explain what he sees, "I think what we are seeing here represents an older version of Aroden's holy book. This one here represents the Farmer, one of the aspects of Aroden." Alakhest continues on to explain its significance and then waits to give the others a chance to explain some of the other legible carvings. If no one else supplies any details he continues on explaining what he understands about all four, otherwise he just fills in what others miss.
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Hmm... - the barbarian grunts as the others speak. He didn't know the fancy languages of the past, and other than Nature itself, didn't have much background about the things of history or religion. In top of it, he didn't see to notice anything special until people started pointing the details.
Bahboom keeps guard. Take, take notes. - he finally speaks to the others, a little ashamed he can't contribute much on the brain side of the matter. After climbing, he pulls and keeps his greatclub at hands.
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The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
This cavern is not unoccupied though. A lone gillmen kneels in the water, seeming thoughtful and unaware of your presence.
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Alakhest follows along behind Umbrutari attempting to move quietly, and he hangs back knowing he is not so quiet but knowing he can not move as fast either wishes he could be a bit closer.
When Umbrutari looks for approval he shrugs seeming to be okay with Umbru going forward but attempts to signal that we should try a peaceful solution before violence.
we don't know if it is dangerous to us and if we can talk to it we might get some straight answers to why they come here
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Bahboom approaches, following right behind Umbrutari. The barbarian was a brute, but he smiled towards Alakhest as if agreeing with the Oread - such that he confirms it by shaking his head positively. He'd rather try to talk to the creature before, but he's ready to use his greatclub if it comes to that.
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"That's it! How embrassing that I couldn't grasp that," Talia exclaims before trying to further document the gylphs, her frustration immediately forgotten. However, when the others creep forward, Talia finally notices the second room, as well as the gillman within.
"Hello, good sir!" She calls out as she follows with a grin on her face. As she approaches, she gestures in greeting toward the man.
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As his companions begin speaking to the stranger, Alakhest sheathes his sword and approaches closer to where he can openly be seen, still remaining somewhat back so as to not intimidate the stranger. He attempts to help the diplomatic efforts by appearing friendly and non-aggressive. Unfortunately, his efforts do not appear to be very effective and he continues to allow his companions to do the speaking for the group, while he keeps quiet for now.
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Seeing Leira approaching the gillman diplomatically, Umbru steps out gradually from the shadow with no sudden movement. Making sure that the gillman has seen him first before speaking to not startle him, Umbru then adds on softly, "My name is Umbrutari Shadnani, from the Isles of Minata far to the east. We are from the Pathfinder Society, and are on an expedition to learn about these caves."
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"Greetings, Pathfinders," the gillman finally responds after Umbrutari's introduction, "I am Uori, and you have entered a cave sacred to my people. It was once sacred to Aroden as well, but the dead god's influence has faded from this place as those carvings have weathered and melted away.
"Soon, his influence shall be gone completely. If you wish to perform any rituals to the dead god of humanity, I suggest you do so soon."
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Talia looks regretful upon hearing Uori describe this as the last vestiges of Aroden. "I- I think I need to get better copies of the remaining murals. If we're going to lose this last works of art, then at least the memory of them should be brought back to the Society."
She takes a look at the carved city, "Can someone try to sketch that carving out as well?" And with that, she slips back into the first room, with some more of the paper from Janira's bag, in order to better document the carvings that still exist.
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As Talia goes to head back into the Mural Room, Alakhest speaks up, "We should make rubbings of even the more faded murals that we could not identify earlier. Perhaps the rubbings with draw out details our eyes missed. Also we can take them back and by comparing them to other copies or Aroden's holy book we can figure them out. If you don't have any I have some chalk you can use to make the rubbings."
Alakhest pulls out the chalk as well as some of the paper and the inkpen.
"I will try my hand at making a sketch of the diorama. Once that is done I would like us to try to perform Arodenite rituals. I follow the Inheritor and I feel it only appropriate to honor the fallen god Aroden's memory. That said I do not mind if someone else is the one to perform the rituals."
Then, using the inside of his shield as a flat surface to work from, Alakhest attempts to sketch the diorama.
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While some of the party members return to examine the carvingsin more detail, Umbru stays in the chamber and studies the diorama of the city with some awe. Eventually, he places his palms together and gives it a solemn bow, muttering some prayers to Aroden, the god that Alakhest said the carvings were dedicated to. Recalling what he shared about the carvings, Umbru grabs some dirt from the cavern floors and mixes it with the waters of the pool. He patiently kneads the mixture until he gets some clay of the right consistency before he very carefully shape it into the simple form of a garuda. He then gently lays it as offering on the miniature city. Finally, he steps back, places his two palms together and offers a final bow.
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Alakhest finishes his sketch, takes a moment to utter a prayer to Iomedae and to Aroden. He looks on approvingly as Umbrutari pays reverence to the Craftsman aspect of Aroden.
When Umbru finishes Alakhest approaches Bahboom, "The depiction of The Farmer shows him plowing four lines in a field, with an implication of humans bringing fertility to barren land over time by wearing down pebbles to fertile soil over time. Perhaps you could make four furrows in the gravel beach while focusing on the symbolism of the action." If necessary Alakhest demonstrates to Bahboom what he means.
After talking with Bahboom, Alakhest moves toward Leira, "Leira, can you make an object produce light? Perhaps if you do this, and then move that object about the diorama bringing light to all the corners of it and then leave the object within the diorama you will be emulating Aroden's Soldier aspect."
When Talia returns from the other room, "Talia, do you have paint? If not, perhaps there is something within the cavern we could use to make paint. I suppose we could use some of the chalk if put to it. However we accomplish it, if you were to paint something on one of the buildings you would be emulating Aroden's Artist aspect like shown in the carvings. As a side note I would imagine this would be honoring your own goddess of Shelyn"
If anyone does not wish to go along with Alakhest's suggestion and there are rituals unperformed as a result he will follow his own suggestions as needed to ensure that the ways win which they can venerate Aroden in this place are done.
Taking 10 on Know(Religion) to identify Talia's goddess from her previous prayers, if she hasn't been open about her who she worships = 17
As I don't know what skill/attribute is appropriate for each I am just putting the d20 roll here and you will have to add the appropriate modifiers.
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The Shoanti looked at Alakhest with curiosity, but confusion. Yet, he wasn't opposing of honoring old gods. The barbarian had farmed before, so he wasn't completely ignorant about how to do the furrows, as much as his experience was minimal and ignorable. Yet, again, he was someone with a simple mind, used to more primitive ways, and the whole thing sounded solemn. He proceeded to follow the oread's instructions and pretend he was seeding the soil with little grains of rock.
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If you roll 21 or higher, you may ask for more information.
If you roll 21 or higher, you may ask for more information.
Round 1
Effects none
Terrain dim light, shallow bog (river)
- Talia -
- Alakhest -
- Leira -
- Umbrutari -
- Red -
- Yellow -
- Green -
- Purple -
- Bahboom -
Nothing noticeable, let alone spectacular happens as everybody follows Alakhest's instructions. Nonetheless, he is confident that everybody performed the rituals correctly, and trusts that the magic worked.
The damp air becomes increasingly stale, and the stench of decay grows as you travel down this tunnel. The passage turns east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper and other unusable detritus. The body of a male humanoid lies facedown toward the back.
But before you can check on him or search the room, several creatures lunge out of the shadows.
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to tell if the male humanoid is alive or dead
Move action to move 5 feet forward
Standard Action to attack Red Zombie
Alakhest is utterly still for a moment as he processes what he sees. Then he steps forward into the muck, "4 Hostiles, the 2 fleshy ones are Zombies, not sure about the skeletal ones. Bahboom don't waste your attacks on the zombies they are resistant to your blunt weapons like yours as well as piercing attacks"
Alakhest swings Narvak in an attempt to strike down the Zombie nearest him.
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Standard action - Begin Sermonic Performance(Inspire Courage)
Talia looks at the dead in the room, looking in equal parts sad and disgust. With a flick of the wrist, she untangles a couple ribbons from her glaive, and lets them flutter to the side as she brings the butt of her polearm down on a rock, letting that strike dully ring in the tunnel.
Then, in a tone that seems out of place with her usual jubilant attitude, she intones, "Feel for these lost souls, separated from their joy and love by foul magic! By our kindness, we only recourse is to free them, and return them back to the rest they deserve!"
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Round 1-2
Effects inspire courage +1
Terrain dim light, shallow bog (river)
- Red -
- Purple -
- Bahboom -
- -----Round 2-----
- Talia -
- Alakhest -
- Leira -
- Umbrutari -
Talia's performance seems to lift everyone's spirits and push back the stench of decay. Even that isn't enough to help Alakhest's wild swing, though. Leira knocks over one of the skeletons with a bolt of translucent energy. Umbrutari's explosion takes out two of the abominations though!
Both creatures quickly come after Alakhest, but he escapes with only a large scratch.