"Yes, you destroyed that like a professional, Kyson." Khazmia shakes her head, still awed by such violence by the normally quiet scribe.
Kyson looks around, breathing hard. His hands and wrists hurt from the numerous clumsy (and accidentally solid) hacks at the altar he had committed with his scimitar.
"...wordswords..."
"Oh, what? Why...? Why didn't you help me? Where you just watching me the entire time?" Kyson asks, wondering how many swings he took while others just watched. He looks concerned for a moment, then checks he blade (wiping it off on some rocks to get it clean) and placing it back in the scabbard.
"Oh nevermind. Did any of you see a door around here? Where to next?"
A series of stone benches line the walls of the nearest chamber, which is otherwise bare of furniture. The remains of rotten and broken cabinets lie under the benches, but a search reveals little more of interest.
Continuing to the south, you return to the room that contained the stairs downward, but this time press on to the south, to a domed room, its 70-foot-high ceiling supported by a ring of pillars carved in the likeness of tree trunks embraced by coiling feathered serpents.
A cycle of bas-reliefs on the wall represents battles between Olman warriors and flightless dragons. The Olman warriors are led by a heroic swordsman who wields a sword that seems to be made of lightning. He is crowned emperor after his victory in a carving on the southern wall. A design of three rings of circles is engraved in the floor.
Three 7-foot-tall stone statues on circular bases have been placed around the circle, one to the west, one to the east and one to the south. All three represent similar-looking men dressed in imperious robes and wielding scepters. The western statue's scepter ends in a sun, the eastern's a moon and the southern's a star.
Engraved on the floor between these three figures are three rings of circular depressions. Three stone spheres sit in three of these depressions. A sphere bearing a carving of a moon sits in the inner ring at the westernmost depression, while a sphere bearing a star carving sits at the southernmost depression of the outer ring. A third ball bears a carving of the sun and sits in the easternmost depression of the middle ring.
The swordsman in the carvings is an ancient Olman hero named Macutotnal, who is said to have fought all manner of dragons and beasts with a sword given to him by the gods.
"Does anyone else feel it strange that the iconography of the Olmans have been left undisturbed? I am no expert but to my understanding many demons and their ilk are jealous creatures. I cannot fathom why they would leave something like this undisturbed", Linah says and takes a few steps into the room. She rummages through her sling bag and produces the stone disc Noltus left behind. "Would it be wrong to assume that these are depictions of Tezcatlipoca , Tonatiuh , and Quetzalcoatl? Although I do not know what the star is supposed to represent. Quetzalcoatl is their god of air."
Kyson airwalks over and looks around, thinking about Linah's analysis.
Know (Religion) - anything to add or correct on what Linah said
He examines the spheres, rings, and depressions.
Know (History)
Kyson realizes the disc resembles a map of the chamber , with the eight circles corresponding to the pillars, the room's entrance at the bottom, and the three figures corresponding to the statues in the room.
The three figures represent Tezcatlipoca (the statue with the moon scepter), Tonatiuh (the statue with the sun scepter), and Quetzalcoatl (the statue with the star scepter). In addition, the serpent coiling around the pillars also represents Quetzalcoatl and the direction indicates a rotation from left to right.
As for why the demons haven't desecrated the place, there are two likely answers -- they are strictly controlled by whatever brought them here or the protection of the Olman gods remains strong enough to keep them from doing so.
Zstelian, each of the stone spheres radiates moderate conjuration magic.
"Wonder if them balls move?", enquires Sekathral. "Reckon I should try shifting 'em?"
If nobody objects, Sekathral will try moving the stone balls around so each ball is in front of the statue whose image it matches.
Noltus' disc
A diagram of the room
Seka moves the stones to in front of each statue to no apparent effect.
Khazmia tries to see what everyone else does in the disc. "huh, if you say so." She'll move to the help Sekathral move the balls in front of the statues, hopefully getting the right one with the right one.
Kyson airwalks around, trying to make sense of things. He watches as Sekathral moves the balls around and helps as needed
"Sure, we'll try this first, but I'm not sure what we are trying for," Kyson mentions. "Even I doubt there are any maidens in this part of things."
Moving the stones to Sekathral's configuration has no apparent effect.
"Do they need to be in different rings? Like the one for the sky closest, the one for the moon next, and then the one for the stars? Something like that? Or should we roll them around in their 'orbit's?" Khazmia continues to ponder the balls and the statues.
Kyson helps Khaz do her imagining of the stones.
"Explain what you want Khaz," Kyson asks while thinking about what all this might accomplish.
Know (religion)
"Maybe try casting spells on 'em", suggests Sekathral. "They must do something, unless the Ancients just came down here to play a nice game of ****ing marbles"
He peers at the disk.
"Are the balls supposed to go where those pictures on their heads are?"
He'll help Khaz with her suggestion, then (if it doesn't work) try his own.
"Do they need to be in different rings? Like the one for the sky closest, the one for the moon next, and then the one for the stars? Something like that? Or should we roll them around in their 'orbit's?" Khazmia continues to ponder the balls and the statues.
"That is a really good idea, Khaz!"
Linah ponders the situation. "I think we can all agree that this disc and this room is connected. But the disc and the circle do not add up. On the disc Quetzalcoatl is on the north side, but his statue is placed to the south. Perhaps his orb should be placed north? Or Tezcatlipoca’s orb and Tonatiuh’s orb should be placed in the opposite side as if we have lined up the disc to match Quetzalcoatl’s position. But Quetzalcoatl is also to the south in his feathered serpent form on the disc. Aw, puzzles are just not my strong suit!" she laments finally. "On the disc there are 11 moons, 12 suns and 13 stars on the border. Do you think that has some significance?"
Neither Khaz nor Sekathral's attempts to place the stones seems to have any effect.
Kyson tries something else, based on his total and complete understanding on what he sees. Kyson points and directs others to do his bidding, whatever it might be.
Know (religion)
"By all the Fires of Heaven, I can't make this make sense." Khaz studies the spheres, but can't seem to make heads or tails of them.
"Maybe there's a ****ing chant we need to do or something?", suggests Sekathral.
The number of moons, suns and stars are odd, as Linah pointed out. They don't seem to have any religious significance, but maybe they indicate something else?
Kyson rubs his chin, thinking, then explaining.
"As Linah said, the number of moons, suns and stars are odd. They don't seem to have any religious significance, but maybe they indicate something else? I can't figure it out, but that's what I think," Kyson says, still staring and thinking.
Linah paces back and forth deep in thought. Her gaze shifts between the etched circles on the stone floor and the tablet in her hand. Then her eyes grow wide when Kyson speaks of the moons, suns and stars. ”I have an idea!”, she says excitedly and starts to gather the orbs. ”Let us assume that the orbs were already in their proper circle, and start off with the moon to Tezcatlipoca , the sun to Tonatiuh and the star to Quetzalcoatl . Then we move each orb clockwise, a number of spaces equal to the number of symbols on the stone disc. So 11 steps for the moon, 12 steps for the sun and 13 steps for the star. That would place the moon here , the sun here and the star here .” The paladin nimbly dances around the etching placing the orbs where she thinks they belong. Once she’s done she looks at the circles with ill hidden excitement. ”I hope this is right.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Kyson begins to help Linah do whatever she thinks is best, pushing and grunting like a man when necessary, cheering at other times. He seems very excited by the ideas of the warrior woman, especially one so devoted to the light (and sent to protect him, which is pretty nice too).
Kyson waits to see what Linah's brilliance has wrought.
Sekathral claps Linah on the back.
"Nice one, mate"
As Linah places the third and final stone in position, blasts of wind blow through the chamber and a spray of stars, a ray of sunlight and a ray of moonlight envelops their respective statues.
The stars grow brighter for a moment as you all hear in your head -- in Olman, you're sure, though you each understand it -- Our worshippers are few, and soon we will move on from this world. None of our children survive to free our ancient home from evil and rebuild our glorious civilization. Still, we can help you, strangers, in a fight that is both revenge for the past and hope for the future. Heed our words.
The stars dim and the sunlight brightens.
In time of need, be the hawk to hunt your enemies, another voice intones.
Then the moonlight brightens and the sunlight dims.
In time of need, be the night to chill your enemies, a third voice intones.
In time of need, break the ground to bury your enemies, the first voice replies, the stars brightening again.
Finally all three voices speak: Take the sword of Macutotnal, hero of the Olman people and first ruler of Thanaclan, and use it well in your battle against evil.
Finally, the lights stream into the center of the room and condense into the shape of a scimitar, which floats in the air...
"Woahhhh" Khazmia stands within the winds, listening to the voices in her head and gazing in awe at the lights. These are not her gods, and yet, somehow, she thinks The Lady would approve, though of course she is no religious scholar. She waits to see what Linah will do.
Kyson's eyes go wide at the intonatons, the words of sorrow, and that of revenge. His hands briefly tempt toward the scimitar, but Kyson quells them and hopes Linah will take the blade.
"Oh, we will! We'll battle ALL the evil!" Kyson says to the voices. "We'll battle them good!"
Sekathral turns to Linah.
"Take it, mate", he says, nodding towards the scimitar. "You deserve it"
Despite being a paladin, Linah is still caught somewhat off guard by what seems to be direct messages from the dieties. She takes a few careful and awe admiring steps towards the scimitar of light and graps the hilt of the blade. Holding the blade in her hands she turns to her companions. "I do not know what to do."
As Linah collects the weapon, she feels a surge of knowledge of what it can do.
"This is indeed a great weapon", she says while studying the blade infused with crackling energy. "But I am not sure I should be the one to wield it. I have already crossed paths with Thalachos' rise which must be some kind of gift from above."
Be worth a couple of coppers, too, thinks Sekathral, feeling slightly guilty after doing so.
"Yeah, we're not leaving that behind," Kyson echoes Zstelian. "If you want, I'll hold onto one of the sacred blades, Linah. You just tell me which one. I promise I won't break it. I've learned to take care of my blades now. I scrape my scimatar with a rock every night to keep it strong. It's not losing its edge at all."
Kyson seems prouder of his blade work.
Kyson looks for exits.
"Are we done here? We killed a few demons, rescued a good sword from its imprisonment. Now what?"
"I think we go on. I'm sure there must be more to do beyond this." Khazmia nods at the hallways as yet unexplored beyond this room.
"Then I shall wield this blade to the best of my ability", Linah says. "Zstelian, you fight with a scimitar, do you not. Would you want to wield the Thalachos' rise? It would be an honor to have it employed by a fighter of your stature." Then she turns to Kyson. "I am not trying to diminish your fighting prowess, but you look more comfortable wielding spells than a blade."
"East and then North?", suggests Sekathral. "We ain't been there yet"
If everybody is in agreement, Sekathral will move off.
You pass down the hallway, into a room where a dozen man-sized niches shrouded with thick cobwebs line the north wall. Ten of the 12 contain mummified corpses propped up in a standing position. The shriveled bodies wear the rotting garb of ancient Olman warriors, their feathered, painted shield blasted by decay and obscured by centuries-old dust. Most of them are also draped with golden masks, earrings, bracelets, pectorals and other gem-encrusted pieces of glittering treasure. The west and east wall are dominated by 10-foot-tall bas-relief carvings of Olman imperial warriors with ritual masks and feathered cloaks. A passageway opens to the south.
Kyson takes a moment to examine the Olman carvings for any hints about what might be to come.
Know Religion
Then he is ready to move on. He ignores the glittering treasure.
Kyson, this obviously was some sort of burial chamber, likely for some sort of Olman princes.
Khazmia scans for anything magical, but unless anything is just overwhelmingly interesting, she too is ready to move on. "This is all very pretty, but I don't think these are for us."
Curiosity get's the better of Linah and the paladin reaches out to touch one of the mummified corpses. "I can not get over the fact that the Olman artifacts we keep finding are as undisturbed as they are. I wonder who these people was. Any hints in the iconography on the walls?" Linah asks as she looks at the burial chamber in amazement.
"Don't know", replies Sekathral. "I can speak the lingo, but this might be beyond my ****ing capabilities"
Once he's succeeded/failed to work the text out, Sekathral will scuttle off along with the others.