Not recognizing anything about the faded and weathered murals, the party moves on through the caves. As you turn a corner, 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. As you move into the cavern, you notice a man sitting in the water.
|
Guntir looks around also.
He turns his attention to the man in the pool, but opts to let the man respond to his companion.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
The tengu keeps his eyes on the east and west entrances to the room, crossbow out and loaded as if expecting something to come from either direction at any given moment, using the shadows and any convenient rock formations for cover.
He doesn't interrupt the party efforts to communicate with the fellow in the pool, but will attempt to pick up on any noteworthy or dangerous features of the huge cavern.
The figure in the water makes no response to Jidai's call, and just continues to sit there, his back to you.
|
|
Zykon will point out what he's observed to the rest of the party.
"I think he might be of the people we're looking for, and that cloak there looks like that thing we found in the pit?"
The tengu picks up a small rock and sends it skipping across the water so as NOT to hit the person in the water, since the guy is ignoring Jidai.
Startled, the man leaps upright at the disturbance in the water, turning to face the party with his arms crossed and a look of displeasure.
As Jidai starts speaking, you can see the man lean in, intently watching her face as she talks. When she finishes, he looks over the cloak and the party for a long moment before nodding his head. "It does not belong to me, no. However, I believe that it may have belonged to one of my brother pilgrims." Once finished speaking, several of you can see him eyeing the cloak with obvious desire, but he does not speak.
The gillman steps forward and takes the proffered cloak, then bows deeply to the party. "You have my thanks, and that of this pilgrims kin. They will be glad to get this back." Looking next to Yyrkoon, he answers "My people have come here for many many years. The waters here are holy to us. Although we are not the only ones that have found our gods here, we are the ones currently using this place. Although it has not been safe for us of late, we still journey here to commune with the waters."
|
|
"Hmph. Holy waters? Holy from who?" Guntir shuffles his feet and clears some phlegm from his throat. "What other gods have been met here?"
"Is it that minotaur outside what's making the place unsafe for you?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
In response to Guntir, Uori responds "Many of your folk used to come and perform rituals at the miniature city here in honor of their gods. They received blessings of one sort or another once these rituals were completed. The Minotaur tribes do not concern us, and allow us to pass freely between the waters of our home and this cave." Now including Jidai in the conversation.. "No, the danger is within. There are some very vile things that are new to these caves. The way that you have come and this chamber are just about the only safe areas left."
Turning fully to Jidai, he continues "As I am in the middle of my meditations and rituals, it would ill fit either of us for me to teach you now. Perhaps you could visit my people after a time, and we could be more accommodating."
|
|
Zykon will impart the knowledge he has about the items that the other party members helped him research earlier.
The tengu will move towards the 'eastern' (right exit) and observe it quietly for a few moments as the rest of the party discusses with the new friend they found. He's not doing much in the way of social interaction, it would seem.
After an extended period of observing the area, he will then go to the other side and repeat the same process, patiently, while waiting for the party to resolve whatever things they are planning to do.
Once he discovers or not anything in particular about either direction, he will then tersely relate it to the party and go back to a wary overwatch, weapon turned away from the person the party is parlaying with. It looks like people better than him are set on that.
|
|
"Rituals? What kind of rituals? I imagine the lodge'd be pleased to know about 'em."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Lore tells us that disciples would study the carvings in the outer hall, and then duplicate what they say with this model" Urori says, pointing at the miniature city
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
The hunter finds the Tailor in the city, to see what can be done. "It showed a tailor depicted sewing together a long cloth featuring many patterns that wraps around a city like a moat, referencing Aroden’s proclamation that when the fate of all peoples is woven together, it shall be humanity’s greatest strength."
He then tries to locate the Farmer. "The Farmer is depicted plowing four lines in a field, retelling Aroden’s prophecy that humankind would prepare the rocky earth for planting and over generations wear the pebbles down into fertile soil.
Finding the farmer, he draws 4 lines in the field.
|
|
Guntir grunts. He wades to the miniature city, dips his finger in the water, and uses it to poorly imitate the artist painting a mural on the side of one of the buildings.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
Jidai responds to the gillman.
"I would like very much to visit your people and learn of your methods of meditation. Perhaps someday I will be able to do so."
She watches with interest as her companions perform rituals around the miniature city, but otherwise prepares to explore the remaining caverns.
As Gravedigger draws the furrows, The entire party suddenly feels more robust and healthier.
When Guntir follows suit and paints the walls of the city, the party all feels more aware of their surroundings, noticing things that they did not know that they missed.
"So may it be one day." Urori says to Jidai with a bow.
|
|
Guntir, satisfied with what he's found, makes his way out of the pool and takes some notes about the two rituals performed and their apparent effects.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
After the party has done their thing and started packing up, Zykon will head on over to the mini-city and peer at it thoughtfully. When he feels like he doesn't have any eyes on him, he's going to attempt to take one of the trinkets from the display, and then replace it with a gold coin.
I'm not a thief, but that's what the thing seemed to indicate. But what's better to truly appreciate art than to commission it?
That all done, he'll shrug on his pack and return his crossbow to the ready, loaded and set for the continuing journey.
|
|
Guntir grunts at the suggestion and begins walking down the tunnel, axe at the ready.
-Posted with Wayfinder