-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
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.
They are from Scattered throughout the cave are inscriptions from The History and Future of Humanity, the principle holy text of Aroden- the dead god of Humanity- and images that depict these passages. Each of you recognizes the basics of the parables, but you've never seen them like this. Only four of these parables—are at all decipherable. Still, it's not an easy task. Thankfully the Society trains you just for such a task.
- Knowledge (History)
- Knowledge (Religion)
- Linguistics
- Appraise (not quite right so you have a -2)
- Perception (not quite right so you have a -2)
Clearly, Brillig paid attention in school!
He manages to decipher all of the remaining images. The interesting thing is, they're all slightly different from what people commonly know.
The Artist is depicted painting murals on the walls of impressive buildings, associated with Aroden having painted the city of Absalom with beautiful colors so that it might awe all who visited.
The Beggar is depicted kneeling with an alms bowl raised high, representing Aroden espousing humility in all, lest they forget their shared humanity.
The Hunter is depicted slaying a giant serpentine creature and then parading a trophy through the city streets—a sign to all humanity that the wilds are safe to inhabit once the monsters are slain.
The Soldier is depicted bearing a lantern through the streets of a city, following the dead god’s prophecy that the vigilant shall carry light to the darkest corners of the world to banish the shadows.
It appears the tunnel continues on to the east. Brillig takes detailed notes.
We waiting on everyone to make a check, yeah?
Actually, Brillig rocked it hard enough that you guys don't think there's anything more to learn here.
Boram leads the party forward through the bottleneck and into a room rife with archaeological finds. 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. At the edge wades a portly man with gills on his neck! He seems not to notice you for the moment.
Here the cavern’s ceiling stretches 20 feet overhead and is crowded by dozens of stalactites, some measuring 10 feet long from base to tip. Despite the impressive geology, you're most impressed by the model.
The diorama as an intricately detailed model of Absalom, easily identifiable by its Starstone Cathedral.
What do you do adventurers?
Interestingly enough, he doesn't respond at all to Than's question. As you approach, he continues doing....whatever it is that he's doing.
At almost 20' away he turns and is startled by your presence. He seems neither happy nor angry at your arrival. The only hint as to a reaction is his left eyebrow, slowly rising.
He speaks in Taldane, slightly accented, "Ho there explorer. What bringeth thee hither to this chamber?"
He is eyeing the cloak that Hobbes is wearing with interest.
The gill man is wearing a faded and worn cloak of the same make as the one Hobbes found.
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"Well, as it turns out, what brings us here is simply to find out what brings you here. You have to admit, it's not commen for most gillmen to venture inland to caves like this, yet here you are...and there have been reports of others, too. And then, with all the carvings and etchings, well, could you provide any insight?"
He looks completely unimpressed by Boram's explanation. "I suppose if you'd like you can go through the rituals. Please don't bother me though."
The man has already turned away from you at this point...
...
[dice=Sense Motive]d20 + 0
"Hobbes, is it?" the elf says quietly to Hobbes, stepping rather close and turning away from the gillman. "He seemed keen on your cloak. Perhaps a comrade of his had it, and he thinks we stole it."
Yes, sir. I noticed his attention. I know not what to do. More likely, he wonders why I am wearing the cloak at all. He has one like it, I suspect it is some kind of ritual gear.
Chris, what is the gill man doing? Can I observe him for a few minutes? Is there a pattern or ritual to what he's doing? If so, I want to try to duplicate it.
He seems to be meditating in the water. While deaf as can be, he apparently is focusing on the motion of the water, occasionally splashing it close by. If he's interacting with either the model or the wall art, you can't tell how.
What now Pathfinders?
Boram, make a diplomacy check
The man at first looks at Boram like he's offended, but the attempt at mimicry actually puts him at ease, tapping into a desire to share.
"My name is Uori." He breaks his silence with a fatherly tone. "You have entered a site sacred to us. It was once sacred to Aroden, the dead god of humanity, as well, but over the past century, the carvings in the nearby room have weathered and melted, and I speculate that soon Aroden’s influence will have faded completely from the whole area."
He then returns to what he's doing.
What now Pathfinders?
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"Well, thank you Uori, I suppose I'll leave you to it."
Boram hops out of the pool and wrings out his clothing as best as he's able. Trusting that Thann has been diligently taking notes, he sets out towards the northern passage. Looking back at his mute companions, he calls out, "On we go, then. No need to stand there in a stupor. It's just a gillman in a pool worshiping a long dead god, after all."
One for north, anything else?
The cave’s damp air becomes increasingly stale as you continue down through the tunnel, and as you approach this area, the stench of decay grows increasingly evident. The passage turns to the 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 ...something... lies face down toward the back of the cavern.
Bhielli: 11
Four of the corpses come to life and advance with a hatred for the living!
Round 1:
Than: Go
Bodta: Go
Hobbes: Go
Brillig: Go
Bhielli: Go
Skeletons: TBD
Boram: TBD
Zombie: TBD
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In his thick accent and deep voice, Bodta declares Prepare here. I will slow approach.. He strides into the narrow passageway, and drops to one knee. As he smashes his palm into the stony ground, it sinks to the wrist. His shoulder bunches, and the ground distorts with jagged stone and loose scree surrounding the Oread. They will be slow through corridor. Watch your step
Move 10' then Use treacherous ground. The 10' of corridor that is 5' wide is difficult terrain (including what Bodta is standing on)
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Round 1
Brillig looks over into the adjoining room with a look of disgust.
Bah. Abhorrent creatures. I know someone who'll have a bone to pick with you.
He extends his hand and vapors stream forth from his fingers into the space across from Thannaen. They coalesce into the form of a small, four-legged creature. Then with a nearly inaudible pop, the smoke solidifies into a handsome, well groomed Anduran Pointer.
The hackles on the pointer's back raise and it lets out a low growl, ready to bite the first enemy to reach it.
Than prepares some mystical ability while Bodta steps into action, the very floor beneath him cracking and bending. The summoner brings forth allies.
Round 1:
Than: Prep
Bodta: Oread stuff
Hobbes: Go
Brillig: Summon
Bhielli: Go
Skeletons: TBD
Boram: TBD
Zombie: TBD