While Corindus carries on his conversation with the two women, Kinshara approaches Darion to hold a quiet conversation. "You were granted a vision, correct? What did you learn?"
With a smirk on his face Darion casts the Message spell and directs it at Corindus. He then whispers ”Looks like you’ve got a women’s fan club, ha,ha,ha. Good luck with that”. Darion knows that the jest at Cordinus May earn him a punch in the mouth or worst but he just couldn’t resist. It is only when he notices Kinshara coming to speak to him that Darion cuts the spell short.
Darion only half hears Kinshara’s comment and he feigns a look of deep in thought after she speaks to him. Mostly to reprocess what she said and to stall for time to respond
Finally gathering his thoughts Darion relates the dream within a dream vision he had of the winged woman to Kinshara ”She said she had a job for me to do, but I don’t recall her ever saying what it was. I’m not to fond of cryptic messages I will have to try and puzzle it out further. And you?”
Eve:
Eve replies to Vona's words
"Best to ask now then get crushed later."
"Oh, nothing like that," Corindus says with a fluster that only deepens when he hears Darion's teasing in his ear.
"I've never," he starts but then, glancing at the diviner, grows more quiet so only the women can hear him, "I've never had a girlfriend or anything like that. Mary's a riverboat captain, like my boss Ludwig. However, while Ludwig and I usually have to sneak into town at night, Mary's tough enough that she can come and go as she pleases. No one dares mess with her."
Eve:
Eve smiles at Corin's words
"Oh.....
Well then I don't think we'll have any issues with men if ill intent that server under her, Vona."
Mary only tends to hire female crew members to stop any problems men could cause on the boat and prefers hiring those in the Farmer's alliance or are friends of the farmer's alliance since they are against the LC.
Also something is nagging you in the back of your mind about the statue of the man.
Something is nagging you in the back of your mind about the statue of the woman.
The sun shines in the east though you can see some clouds in the west as you eat.
Vona:
Vona's face shows her concerns have faded
"Oh that is good to hear, I was afraid I'd need to worry about that happening and that evil deeds would go unpunished.."
Nodding toward the statue of the woman, Kinshara says "I saw the woman grieving over the loss of Mr. Hildrinsock's old home that was destroyed in an act of the gods. A winged woman also warned me not to wake an evil that was sleeping beneath the monastery. I've received that warning before." Kinshara seems troubled by the vision. "The two stories seem linked in some fashion, though I'm not sure what to make of it."
Kinshara regards the statue of the woman more closely. "Who was this woman, and what role did she play in these events?" she asks, mostly to herself.
The statue of the woman seems life size, and the even with great age the statue still has great detail.
The pedestal the statue rests on is also in great shape.
Though grass seems to cover the all sides of the pedestal.
Darion moves closer to the statue of the woman almost like it is beckoning him there. He is grateful for something else to focus on other than the flirtatious conversations between Corindus, Eve and Vona. He is sick of the taste of bile in his mouth from watching this horrible show of courtship amongst them
He whispers to Kinshara as he inspects the statue ”Yuck, I’m about to throw up from watching this flirting! Did you feel drawn to this statue too?”
”There is something that has interested me to be drawn to this statue but I don’t know what it is”
Mr Summers also approaches the statue of the woman.
"Dam she looks fine..."
Mr Summers parts the tall grass in front of the pedestal
"There is some text here..a bit worn out...
Lady of the Promise,
Servant of the Son,
The Redeemer."
Kinshara will try to get a better look at the pedestal, clearing away more grass.
After Mr. Summers mentioned something about text on the statue Darion begins to inspect the entire statue for more text and clues.
The statue is still has details that should not have survived the passage of time.
The face of the Woman has a sorrowful expression also most exactly like the one you saw in your vision.
You also notice at the base of the statue at the front is a perfectly circular flat indent of 2 mm that has since filled with dust and dirt.
The position and design of the indent hints an object was placed here.
** spoiler omitted **
Darion finds nothing, object could of been stolen long ago.
Corindus paces restlessly, balancing conflicting instincts.
On one hand, he wants to guide Vona and Eve to town, reasoning they've been through too much already to deserve an unescorted jaunt through the woods.
However, he cannot possibly forget that many more people are depending on their group's journey. The weight of such responsibility is alien to Corindus.
Watching his companions fawn over the female statue leaves him with an undeserved sense of impatience. He wants to urge them back onto the trail, but what right does he have to give orders?
In his frustration, Corindus turns to the male statue, as though expecting the answer to his dilemma to fall from its stony mouth.
However, he is likely too distracted to notice anything of importance.
The statue of the man seems life size, and the even with great age the statue still has great detail.
The pedestal the statue rests on is also in great shape.
Though grass seems to cover the all sides of the pedestal.
Vona:
Vona follows Corindus to the statue and noted that areas the other's looked at with the statue of the woman.
Vona looks near the feet
"Something was at his feet, but what?"
She then parts the grass looking for what it could be
"There is text here as well;
Man of the Law,
Servant of the Father,
The Judge."
She backs away and looks at his face after reading and saying "The Judge"
"This statue still has great detail that should of faded with time, he has a calm yet serious face.
And I get the feeling he is not one you mess with...."
Then looks at the statue of the woman and back to the man again.
"These two are quite the mystery......"
Eve:
Eve looks at Vona adn the statue of the man
"Your quite observant, and I'm going to agree with you, he looks like someone you don't want to mess with cause you don't know what authority he has..."
Vona:
Vona looks at Eve then to the statue of the man with a face of concern
"Authority, ..... another one to ask is what is his sovereignty?"
"Indeed," Corindus says, slowly nodding in agreement with the women. "I'm beginning to suspect these two, this Judge and this Redeemer, may be the ones we have to thank for defeating those hags. Those chains...perhaps that was their sovereignty at work."
Vona:
Vona replies
"I don't think so.... The feeling I get from these two statues is different from the feeling of the one from the chains.
Maybe another servant, but one of lower rank?"
Remembering the dream, Corindus leans over to read what - if anything - is written on the tablets carried by the male statue.
He also wracks his brain, trying to make sense of this matter.
These tablets are blank
But you recall seeing something in your dream near the statue's Feet.
Bending down with a groan, still feeling a tightness in his muscles from the hag's foul touch, Corindus examines the statue's feet.
"What are you searching for Darion?"
Kinshara will join him in searching the area.
"What are you searching for Darion?"
Kinshara will join him in searching the area.
1d20+2
Darion tells Kinshara ”Mostly I’m avoiding the scene of those two women throwing themselves at Corindus. Ok I admit that I sound a little jealous, but truly I’m a bit repulsed. In my avoidance however I did notice at the base of the statue at the front is a perfectly circular flat indent of 2 mm that has since filled with dust and dirt. The position and design of the indent hints an object was placed here. Do you have any ideas what it could be. See? Look here. Do you think it might be a seal or holy symbol maybe?”
Darion states to Kinshara as if he is giving a lecture while pointing to the circular indent
The position and design of the indent hints an object was placed here.
Eve:
Eve adds
"Get that that everyone is interested in these statues but aren't you also going against time,
you've all spent an about an hour looking over them."
"Grr, that's right," Corindus says, frustratedly running a hand across his forehead and close-cropped hair.
"We only have the pickled root. We still need the moss and the mushrooms. People are counting on us, and we're whiling away the day looking for some blasted set of scales."
Vona:
Vona replies
"Why would a pair of scales be at a Judge's .......
Oh........
That scale could represent him balancing the crime with it's punishment.
A redeemer would not have scales but something else....."
”We best be off everyone whatever secrets these statues hold we’ll have to puzzle out later” Darion announces as he gathers his things and makes eye contact with Corindus and then motions with his head for him to take the lead again
Eve:
Eve jokingly adds
"And how would he move to balance the scale at his feet, it's not like he'd magically move it."
Eve gets ready to go
"I think I'll tag alone until we all reach town."
Vona:
Vona replies
"The scales were likely a symbol, representing a fair judgement for one's crimes,
I doubt it was actually used, though if it were I'd imagine little tablets or ingots being placed on one side first, then the other side would be balanced with another set of tablets or ingots."
Vona adds to Eve's words
"I'll join you as well until we reach town as I don't know the way back and the risk of being attacked by something is likely high."
"You're right. We should go."
Corindus withdraws Ludwig's map then shoulders his pack and checks that his weapons sit readily at hand in their holsters on his belt.
"We'll do our best to keep you safe," he says to Vona and Eve, "But by the same token, let's hope the rest of our search is not nearly as fraught with danger. Our next destination should be the oldest tree in the forest. Let us be off."
He quickly consults the map and his own knowledge of terrain to guide the party towards the tree and its elderwood moss.
Corindus finds the route to the oldest tree
You walk for a good number of hours before you reach it in the afternoon.
The dense trees and thick brush of the forest give way,
parting seemingly in respect for the titanic darkwood tree that dominates this clearing.
Several times taller than a temple minaret,
in one direction the obviously ancient tree reaches into the sky with branches like a giant’s arms,
while in the other it plumbs the earth with roots thicker than a man’s waist.
Its limbs broad and strong, its bark thick and so richly colored as to almost be black,
and its leaves the size of bucklers, the giant thing is less a tree and more a cathedral of boughs and branches.
Darion searches the area weary of enemies while searching for the moss also
Relying upon his knowledge of nature to lead him towards where the moss might be. He carefully remembers to keep his companions in sight
Corindus draws his cutlass as the party approaches the clearing, but his mouth falls agape as the massive darkwood tree comes fully into view.
"Even a giant's ship wouldn't have a mast half as tall," he gasped.
Corindus inches towards the tree. He tries to keep alert for danger, but undeniably he remains somewhat distracted by the elder tree's majesty.
"Stay close," Kinshara cautions the two other women as she approaches the rest of the party with her sword drawn. She's keeping an eye out for other threats rather than trying to help search the area at the moment.
Eve:
Eve replies
"Oh that won't be a problem."
Perception checks
Despite his attempts to stay alert Darion is soon preoccupied with his search for where the moss could be and he notices little if nothing else but the flora surrounding the tree
Corindus tears his eyes away from the mighty tree to bend down and examine the ground. He parts wispy stands of grass to examine the soft earth beneath, searching for traces of any animals, particularly predators, that frequent this clearing.
Meanwhile, he also keeps alert for other dangers that may lurk unseen among the canopy or the wooded edges of the glade.
Ultimately, however, the impressive elder tree continues to draw his focus and Corindus is less than watchful.
"Ah Guys, what is that up in the tree?"
Mr Summers points to something up in the tree Looking down on you.
Slithering like a large snake, this creature has the
head of a dragon and a pair of clawed arms to
help it move along and grasp prey. A sickly green
mist wafts from its open maw.
Init Checks please