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"It had been my experience that the completion of certain puzzles will stop the automation of some animated construct guards-on the chance we have found ourselves in that sort of situation, we need to attend to the lamps. Dart, if you can take a more defensive approach and simply occupy the stone guardians attacks you may buy us the time we need. As Malusha has identified the semblance of Amenopheus and there appears to be a corresponding statue, we need to put a lamp on that one...I think. As he has already identified Nethys in another, we need to be looking for another corresponding statue. Nefti, instead of looking for statues that won't create the desired hues, look for statues that correspond to the paintings...specifically Nethys, for starters. Malusha, we need you to attend to Phoebee's wounds and try to find us two more depictions. Umbrato, would you be so kind as to take a lamp to the statue found that resembles Amenopheus, please."
Damiel looks for a statue that looks like Nethys, as Malusha pointed out
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"My experience is that dead things don't punch me and most pathfinders take a long time to solve puzzles."
"Bring all the lamps to the Amorphaus statue and find which one produced a blue sapphire light that will cut your guessing on the other statues dramatically."
Umbarto gave us the answer "As the light aligns, so too do the sages stand." 4 sages, 4 lamps, 4 coloured lights
"Was Nethys a sage if not I would ignore that statue."
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"Phoebee, watch out!" Malusha cries when the guardian smashes down on her. With a quick motion he raises his arms towards the sky can calls on Sarenrae's blessings to heal his companions. When the wave of energy fades, he looks around the room and points to a couple statues. "Those ones. We need lamps on those!"
Damiel sees that the greenish looking guardian is somewhat reminiscent of Nethys' depiction, and with his keen knowledge, he knows that this guardian is likely a graven guardian of Nethys. He also sees that another of the statues looks familiar. While it doesn't look like Nethys, it does look like the Ruby Sage, whose corpse you spoke with briefly.
Nefti says, "The Grippli speaks the truth of it. This place is dedicated to the Sages, and they must give permission to move forward just like the crystal!"
He stares at the next statue, unable to see what color it might emit from the angle.
Two of the four gemstones light up with the correct colors, blue and red at the beginning and end of the line as soon as Damiel and Umbrato place the lamps on the respective statues. Dart casts a spell and his fists alight with flame. Malusha channels energy from his god and heals Phoebee from unconsciousness, who then restarts her song.
The guardian continues to knit its 'wounds' and then steps up to Malusha after seeing him heal its enemies.
Bold may act.
Active party buffs: bless, inspire courage (+2)
Environmental effects:
Round 4 / 5
Damiel
Phoebee (-24, prone)
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Graven Guardians (Blue, Green (-13))
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Dart
Umbrato
Malusha (-13)
Nefti still can't figure out the next statue.
Malusha heals Phoebee. Dart strikes the greenish statue with several hard strikes.
Bold may act.
Active party buffs: bless, inspire courage (+2)
Environmental effects:
Round 4 / 5
Damiel
Phoebee (prone)
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Graven Guardians (Blue, Green (-47))
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Dart
Umbrato
Malusha (-13)
Umbrato and Damiel both work with the lamps, trying to solve the puzzle. Phoebee tries to move away from the creature but opens herself up to attack on a misstep, but can't connect.
The green statue then steps down and strikes out at Umbrato, eyeing the lamp in his hand.
Bold may act.
Active party buffs: bless, inspire courage (+2)
Environmental effects:
Round 5 / 6
Damiel
Phoebee (prone)
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Graven Guardians (Green (-45))
===========================
Dart
Umbrato (-8)
Malusha (-13)
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Damiel moves to the second statue and places the lamp upon it,
"I am guessing the light will reflect from two spots from each side...process of elimination in progress from that proposition. Due to my proximity of the rest of the statues here, Nefti, would you be a pal and try and discern the light reflecting capability of the statue directly to your right"
With a loud CRACK the last statue crumbles to the floor. Umbrato and Damiel place the lanterns on the statues and they happen to light up in the correct order! The crystalline door bisects and the prism surrounding Amenopheus drops away.
"Apologies, I did not recall that particular defense mechanism," he says. "We should continue on through the door before more of the guardians animate."
You continue through the diamond door and in the room beyond A broad, simple, flat-topped column of sandstone rises from a deep pit in this circular, domed chamber with a white tiled floor. Though no wind can be felt, particles of sand slowly blow around the pit as if circulated by a lazy breeze, their movement creating a soft, rasping susurrus.
A beautiful Garundi woman stands in the center dressed in noblewoman garb.
"Good day, Pathfinders."
"Yes," the woman says before Amenopheus can speak. "My name is Tahonikepsu, and I am the caretaker of the diamond jewel. It's impressive you managed to reach the Sanctum before the agents I hired."
She sweeps her gaze across those assembled and her eyes land on Kafar and Nefti, who display silent, nodding toward her in apology.
Amenopheus clears his throat. "Those agents that you hired were Aspis agents then. They have since declared to amend their ways, but the Aspis Consortium is a dangerous group of individuals not interested in preserving history. And that has me worried, that you would employ such an institution. As keepers of the jewels and Sages, we must preserve the legacy and knowledge and structures that they've left behind."
Tahonikepsu folds her hands and says, "No, I disagree. I believe that the Sages organization must be bold and move into the future. The collapse of the order was not an accident. This was a weakness in the organization, when Osirian was invaded by the Keleshite empire they needed to be more innovative and not focus on the past."
Amenopheus looks like he's been slapped. "I disagree! The invasion was simply a mere happenstance and unfortunate that the Pharaoh would start to hunt down the Sages and decry the collection of history! We must preserve the old ways, the ways that these Sages sacrificed to protect."
Amenopheus says after a long pause. "I invoke a Convocation of Sages. It is an old rite to decide the fate of the organization and its future. I cast my vote with preserving history."
Tahonikepsu says, "And I cast my vote with restructuring the Sages to move into the future, guiding Osirion's political structure."
The two turn to you. "What say you?"
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Malusha is taken aback that these two luminaries of Osirani legend would be asking him for his opinion. He starts slowly and uncertainly. "I believe that we must preserve the past." As he continues to speak he gains more boldness. "If we chose to abandon the past in favor of the whims of this age, we are only doing so by making the assumption that we are wiser than the ancient ones of the past." Malusha starts to realize that maybe he has overstepped his role but he continues none the less. "We are implying that they were mere simpletons driven by primitive and unenlightened points of view. Unable to do anything else but to react to ignorant superstitions. Unable to apply reason to the world around them. To make this assumption, it seems to me, is supremely arrogant."
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Damiel listens to the debate going on and provides,
"Although themere happenstance proved that the old ways are flawed and vulnerable in places, which denotes a need for modernization, I do not think they should be altogether so readily abandoned. Why have we come to an either or-all or nothing debate? Cannot the old ways somehow be preserved, at least in their original intent, while being modernized and updated at the same time? Cannot a compromise be made? Is there a way of amending these old ways respectfully to bring them into the changing times and yet preserve their original placement?"
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I think that we need to remember the past and how it has been used to influence the future. We need to remember our history so that we do not need to repeat it. That is partly why I sing my songs, even though people do wish that I wouldn't repeat them she laughs. I think I vote with Tahonikepsu she says giving Froggy a high 5 or a way down low
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"If you are adamant it must be one or the other, then I feel you are loosing yourselves on both ends. However, I would agree we must update our ways to survive." replies the small man.
Folding a scroll into a swan, he smiles. "An example, if I may. Parchment has been around for centuries and yet...none to my knowledge ever used it as a weapon or a shield. I take the old written form of our sacred spells and slice people open with it."
"Could we not use a similar philosophy with the jewels? With the Sage tradition? Keep the old, but employ some new ideas to shore up the weaknesses."
"If I am forced to vote for one side or the other, I'll hold true to the old traditions. However, if we can in fact add the third option of updating, but keeping to the old ways, I'll vote for that."
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Dart, looks upon the group and address them.
"Amenopheus, friends do you actually believe that the Sages fell through no fault of their own?" Would you abdicate all responsibility? Do those that have power not bear the most fault?
Darts voice become solemn.
"Today I almost killed a man in pursuit of the goals of the Sages. I did not get here alone, but my actions did contribute to our success. I own the good and the bad I brought into the world on this journey like enabling the worm Torch, which will be a problem in our futures."
Frustration consumes Darts face.
"Siding with tradition when tradition failed is neither rational nor wise. Please do not accept the excuse of 'mere happenstance' or fall prey to fallacy of tradition that belief is weak and fatalistic. Chance is to be born into slavery a tradition older than all in this room."
"For my people, I'm am the channel of time and our ancestors."
Dart channels the spirits of grippli warriors that surround and protect everybody in the room.
"Even with this as my charge I know we need to understand the faults of our past."
Amenopheus takes his time with a measured response to Damiel. "Yes, there will be compromises I suspect, but this is a discussion for the overall trajectory of our order. We disagree on a fundamental level on how to structure the organization. It seems your companions are deadlocked, so you will be the tie-breaker."
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Damiel shakes his head,
"If I must vote one way then, sir, I suppose I must go in a way where I see there being the most compromise. The old ways have proven penetrable...and now obstinate...I must vote with Tahonikepsu and hope the innovations to come are able to keep some of the traditional integrity intact as they usher in a new age of the sages,""
Amenopheus's shoulders slump slightly but he regains his composure the moment after. He says, "Very well then. As the speakers for the Ruby Sage have declared it, so it shall be. Now, let us discuss our plans for the future..."