Temple of Empyreal Brute Squad (Inactive)
Game Master ThorGN

Well met, Petr Galdr of Erastil. I’m sure you have already discovered several ways to learn the teachings and practices of Korada in our fair temple. Any of the monks are happy to assist in your instruction. We have a higher calling to attend to, so if there is nothing pressing we should return to our chambers.

Tall with white-blond hair and piercing blue eyes, the Aasimar are are quite handsome in their shiny gold breastplates and spears.

I wish I was that pretty...

Tanrov's eyes go wide as he remembers something important.

"Uh, thank you for inviting us inside your temple", the young barbarian begins. "I've heard that someone like you is able to summon physical representations of Korada's... greatness."

"Like maybe a flower?"

We have a ritual during our high holy days when this fountain produces holy water and lotus flowers.

Erin leans in closer, and whispers again, with a grin.
"Wait......I think they are talking about flowers. That is the last thing I would picture that guy being interested in."

Tanrov scratches at his unruly mane.

"When's one of those?", he asks. "I'd really like one."

We don’t have a festival for several weeks now, nor would we insult Korada by using the font for personal gain. Excuse us, we must be going now.

The young barbarian frowns, "Okay..."

Tanrov studies the assimar as he makes his exit.

Sense Motive - 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Petr takes stock of what the Aasimir have said and continues,

Yes indeed, I have found your meditations techniques to be most calming. How long have you resided in this temple? What more can you tell us of your charismatic leader or your order, Dakang? How long has he been living in the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment? And what did he do before arriving here?

Two of the Aasimar continue on, but one stops to answer your questions.

I have been here all my life, and Dakang has been teaching here for generations before that. He teaches us not to dwell on life before enlightenment. What he did before he came here hardly matters now. He is fully devoted to Korada, his teachings, and this temple. You would be wise to heed his instruction.

Tanrov was more asking in hopes that our visit coincided with their holy day, not that they'd activate the fountain just for him.

I'm generally Sense Motiving looking for half-truths and deception.

Erin leans in closer, and whispers again, with a grin.

"Wait......I think they are talking about flowers. That is the last thing I would picture that guy being interested in."

"Tanrov? Maybe he's asking for one for you. Wouldn't put it past him. Either that or he really likes flowers"

"There's no way he works for Torch. Way too trusting and good natured. Unless that's all a ploy. Gonna have to watch him."

"Or maybe he's asking for one for you, Ashur. Horns and long hair, what full-blooded barbarian could resist..."

Sense motive to realize he's messing with you.

"Either way, it would seem I was wrong about us being in danger... I seem to have been wrong about quite a few things. Maybe you fellows should stop listening to me" he says with a slightly pained look.

"Though I will say I think we should go to the Aasimar and ask him why that city was mentioned. He's alone and we might get some answers."

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Ashur rolls his eyes."That would imply that we have listened to you. You want all of us to go ask him? I think at least I should stay back."

"Hmm you have a point... If they are as bigoted as you say they are, seeing us with a Tiefling might cause them to distrust us or overreact. If we are going to ask him, I say Erin and I goes and you wait here. Come after us if things go badly."

"You mean when. And yes, I will."

Arkwright grins at the tielfing, then strides into the room towards the Aasimar, bowing deeply.

"Greetings, friend. My name is Arkwright, and it is my pleasure to meet an Aasimar for the first time. I was wondering however if I could ask a question about the ceremony."

Erin laughs, dodging Ashur's statement.
"Try picturing him with a flowers in his hair. I could totally see his enemies scattering before him looking like that. Either that or it was for you. He was rather envious of your zombie slashing capabilities. I am going to go back Ark up, who knows what these beings are capable of."

She then follows Arkwright back into the room.

Erin

"Yea, he has some hero worship issues. I think he'd idolize a common thief if he was around one. Have fun with that by the way."

"Did I touch a nerve? Hmm..."

You catch up with the Aasimar as he enters the hall to their quarters. He turns and stops, taking up most of the passageway.

Yes?

During the sermon, the preacher spoke of Korada’s holy city of Vantian, the City of Open Windows? I was wondering if you could tell us a little more about that city?

Without time for a verbal response Erin shoots a glare back at Ashur as she hurries to catch up with Arkwright.

Ashur realizes what he said too late as Erin shoots him that look. "I didn't mean.... Damn it all. This'll bite in the ass."

I'm sorry, was the teaching not complete? If you would like to do more research on the subject, there are books in the Library for your reference. As for me, I have never been there.

"So, you aren't aware that the city lies within the Abyss, that it is in the realm of the demon lord Sifkesh and is unrelated to Korada? You are not aware of that?"

"I'm sure they give people flowers there", Tanrov mumbles under his breath.

Arkwright hesitates then pushes on- "And you aren't aware that all the food the people in this temple ate yesterday was poisoned? Or that you appear to have a minor zombie infestation in your crypt?"

Erin stops next to Arkwright catching the end of the conversation, and gauges the reaction of the Aasimar.

Petr attempts to calm the mood of the conversation,

Please excuse my friend, what he lacks in tact, he makes up with his devotion to what is good and right. There are merely a few things that seem odd to us.

Isn't that right, Pathfinder Arkwright

Arkwright winces slightly at the quiet reproof and takes a small step back.

"I mean no offence, sir. As my colleague says, there are merely a few things that seem odd to us."

The Aasimar takes some offence at Arkwright’s words, but with Petr breaking in he refrains from reaching for his spear.

You have come to our fair temple and we have served you without question, given you our beds to sleep in, offered you our food, and freely instructed you in our ways. It is unsurprising that our simple way of life may seem odd to outsiders, but you repay us with baseless accusations and foolish ideas? Why exactly are you here? Your questions are not of one who seeks enlightenment.

I have eaten our food all my life, and I am well and strong. Perhaps the food is not appetizing to the impure? I have never seen the creatures of which you speak. Furthermore, you imply that the teaching of Dakang is incorrect, a man who has devoted multiple lifetimes to the study of Korada. You ask me to believe your rather questionable word against our holy books and a lifetime of study and teaching, without proof? Perhaps stranger, it is you who are mistaken. You who needs to open his mind to the truth.

Once more Arkwright winces, taking another step back at the Aasimar's harsh words.

"I... you... I apologize, sir. You have shown us uncommon courtesy, and I have repaid it with suspicion. Please do not look angrily upon my companions; my words were mine alone. I will try to avoid troubling you further. However, I feel I must say that I believe that my knowledge of Vantian was correct. You are fully entitled not to believe me- you offer good arguments for why I am mistaken. Nevertheless, I would urge you to please keep in mind what I have said about Vantian, despite my rudeness. I will bid you farewell now, sir. Thank you for taking the time to answer me."

Arkwright walks slowly out of the room, rests against the wall and turns to his companions.

"I am sorry, friends, I believe I may have made things worse."

He looks intently at the tiefling.

"Ashur, what do you think about this?"

Erin walks with Arkwright down the hall.

"I am half-tempted to drag that guy down to the crypts and show him these zombies for himself. Knowing the way they have been fending off suspicions thus far though I sure he would just claim we are a bunch of grave robbers..."

She then finishes her sentence, while giving Ashur a quick, heated glance.
"... and petty thieves.

"However, Petr very likely bought us a little more time, the society only required us to gather this information and report. We are not obligated to deal with these people. I would feel horrible if they are being drugged or otherwise kept here against their will though."

Seeing Arkwright conflicted helps snap Tanrov out of his own insecurities.

"Don't worry about him", the young barbarian suggests. "The assimar are just descended from angels right? They're still only men."

"Maybe they're being fooled just we were when we first got here."

"So you don't think I have ruined everything for us?" Arkwright gives a quick sigh of relief.

"You do have a point. We don't need to confront anyone here. In any case, it is starting to seem that if there is anything dangerous going on at this temple, it is only being done by Dakang. The aasimar and the other worshipers are plainly convinced by his genuineness, and are not in on any plan to attack us. I don't think they are being drugged or affected, though I still believe they are being deceived. I would suggest that we accomplish our mission and report out findings to the Society on our return."

Arkwright quietly mutters "and I was so looking forward to my first meeting with an Aasimar..."

Arkwright smiles at Tanrov. "Thank you, friend; it's good to know you fellows don't think I have made too great a mistake. They might be only men, but they have a withering gaze that could set an entire town alight..." He shudders slightly at the memory.

I don't think you have ruined anything Arkwright. If anything you have planted a seed of liberation in their minds. Lets finish our appointed tasks and see if that sheds any more light on these contradictions.

Where to next party? Shall we take another crack at the library?

Arkwright grins at the party. "Thank you all for your support. I would suggest we head to the library now; thanks to my words to the aasimar, we have the perfect excuse to be reading the teachings of Korada."

"I am for hitting the library again. I want to take on more look for an existing catalog before we begin making our own."

You return to the Library. No one is currently there.

Shall we search as a group? Perhaps all of us can help one person so we don't end up searching the same place twice? Who has the sharpest eyes?

Tanrov steels himself against the terror that is literacy.

"I'll help."

After some 20 minutes of intense searching, you find an old catalog for the library in the office. This will greatly decrease your time here.

Tanrov loudly cheers when the catalog is found.

"Can we go somewhere else now?"

Have we completed all four tasks? Did Ashur get the layout we needed of the garden?"

"Excellent! This catalog should speed things up. I would enjoy spending some time with a ledger and a pen looking over this neglected library. Who would like to help?"

Tanrov gives the priest a look of indignant disbelief as if he'd just asked permission to sleep with his sister.

"..."

No, you have not gotten the layout of the garden yet, and finding the catalog means it will take you less than 2 hours to complete your task, rather than 5 or 6, assuming all of you are working on it. Your job is not over yet. :)

With a groan of pain, Tanrov opens a book again.

"Just tell me what to do", the young barbarian says.

"I will give you a hand Petr."

Erin says as she pulls up a chair nearby.

"What do you need me to do?"