Feral's Temple (Inactive)

Game Master Feral

Taklinn will assist with the cataloging as Castien directs him (which will probably just entail retrieving and carrying books, given his academic level).

During the search, the party ends up flipping through some of the books. They appear to be books on meditation and Korada's teachings. Castien and Terrill notice that the content isn't entirely accurate.

None of the rites or symbols described are actually connected with Korada. They regularly reference a “symbol of celestial silence and contemplation” but there is no such thing within Korada's teachings. These books have been altered.

Castien actually recognizes the mentioned double-arrow symbol as sacred to Sifkesh, demon lord of heresy and suicide. Drawing this symbol over and across the mouth and eyes would resemble stitching, and Sifkesh is depicted with eyes and mouth stitched shut.

Castien, not wishing to alert Miriya as to his discovery, surreptitiously informs the rest of the group, and suggests that they keep the information to themselves until they know more.

"Curiouser and curiouser," Liadain mutters, although agrees with Castien's suggestion of subtlety in the interim. "Although I suppose the question remains whether the temple was originally a ruse or has been co-opted by forces unknown in the interim..."

"Anyway," she says, louder this time, loud enough for Miriya to hear her, "since cataloguing the library is likely to take all day, we might as well move on and leave this task until the end. How does striking out for the meditation room sound?"

I'll get a map up once I conquer this hangover.

"The meditation room? That's just down the hall a bit on the left, back towards the entrance", she answers.

Any result from my detect evil?

Missed that. No evil detected.

Taklinn's definitely up for a little exploring. All this book-work has left a kink in his shoulder.

Lia shoots Miriya an award-winning smile, tipping her hat to the strange woman and belying none of her suspicion. "Thank you kindly, m'dear. We'll no doubt be back soon. Do enjoy your study."

If no-one protests as to their next course of action, Liadain will lead the group down the hallway back towards the meditation room. As usual, she'll listen at the door before opening it.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

The meditation room is a lofty, open space. The stone walls are carved with several figures in various meditative poses. A few large mats cover the stone floor. The only other furnishing is a rack containing a few wooden staves and several stacked glass spheres, each no bigger than a plum.

An older Tian man with hazel eyes and a streak of white in his hair is seated on the floor in this room. He nods gently when the party enters.

Liadain's brows arch once more upon sighting the Tian man, although... yet again he did not seem at all dangerous. So much for an "abandoned" temple. The bard hesitates to enter, instead calling out, "Excuse me, um... sir. May we enter and speak with you?"

Given what they'd found in the doctored tomes in the library, Terrill is suspicious of all they find in the temple. As Lia addresses the Tian man, Terrill looks at him closely, his senses tuned for the presence of evil.

Detect evil on the meditatin' man.

Taklinn nods to Liadain and mumbles "Ye go ahead and do ye're thing. I'll be at the door watchin the hallway for any 'surprises'".

I'll roll a perception check to make sure nobody tries to sneak up on the party.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Terril detects no evil.

The man looks up at the party without breaking his expression of serenity. "Welcome visitors. Are you here to meditate? You have the look of ones carrying a great burden."

Terril detects no magic.

Yeah, that's because I was detecting evil... But I'll assume that's what you meant.

Fixt.

Besides invading people's personal space, what does Terrill want to do?

"It is true, sir," says Terrill. "We have travelled far, and seen much, and our burdens are not so light as they might be. We have heard that the acolytes of this temple have developed special meditation techniques, that confer great benefit to their practitioners. Can you tell us anything of this?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The old man nods gently. "Meditation to Korada has two components: the physical exercises depicted in the wall carvings and the repetition of a short mantra. If you would like to try it, I would be happy to show you. If done properly, you will be filled with a sense of rightness and calm that some would describe as magic."

Terrill can't help but study the old man's speech and gestures, for any indication that he's not telling the whole truth. At the same time, he responds, "I would be interested in having you show us, though I will have to think on it before I try it. I serve another power and, though she is not a jealous one, I do owe my life and faith to her."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Terril doesn't get any sort of special read off of him. He seems like a genuinely calm and helpful old man. He is hopeful that he'll have someone to share his meditation with.

"Meditation is about spiritual calm and self improvement. It doesn't have to be a sign of faith", he explains.

"But if you'd like a demonstration, I'd be happy to show you. I just ask that you remain as silent as possible."

The old tian man goes through a series of stretches along a vertical pole before settling into the lotus position on the floor. After a few minutes of silence in this position he picks up three of the glass orbs from his side and rotates them in his hand while chanting a mantra.

Light combined,

My peace find;
Calm my soul,
To control;
Woes I sift,
Catching gifts

Rotating the orbs in his hand looks to be very challenging but the old man's fingers move with surprising deftness.

When it's done (about 15 minutes in total), he takes a deep cleansing breath and nods to the party. "That is all."

Any visable changes to the monk after he completes his meditation ritual?

Nope.

Terrill says, "It would seem such meditation would take years of practice to perfect. But if you would guide me, I'd like to try it."

He then moves to the vertical pole and attempts to duplicate the Tian man's movements, looking to him for guidance and corrections.

Can't help thinking of a stripper pole here...Not what usually comes to mind in a PbP.

"I am Zhuang", the old man offers along with a bow as he stands to help Terrill through the motions. He proves to be a very patient teacher and never appears frustrated or angry.

The most challenging part of the exercise is the rotation of the glass spheres. As Terrill tries it, Zhuang repeats the mantra for Terrill to follow along.

Roll a sleight of hand check. Anyone else that wants to follow along can make the same roll.

Liadain watches closely as the meditation master goes through the series of stretches, hurriedly taking out a journal and scribbling down as many notes and simple diagrams as she can. When he is done, she smiles and sets her notebook and backpack down on the ground and begins to unbuckle her boots.

"Seems interesting. I hope I don't barbarise the scene too much."

She does her best to follow through with the meditation alongside Terrill, drawing on her skill as an actor to add flourish and panache to the performance.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zhuang. My name is Liadain Serelion."

Are alternate skills allowable? I have Acrobatics, and I also have Perform (Act) - I think that it makes sense that she could copy the movement of the Tian man in a theatrical sense... perhaps. :)

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6 Crash?

Terrill struggles to rotate the delicate spheres in hand properly. He drops them several times but each time Zhuang picks them up and offers them to the half-elf again. "Nobody said enlightenment was easy."

You might need to lose the armor. The DC is 20. =P

Liadain removes her buckler as well before she tries the sphere rotation. She'll continue to try until she gets it. Unless there's a reason why I'd have to stop.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"Augh! I almost had it..." She groans as the balls slip out of her hand at the last moment.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"I really just don't have much experience handling balls..."

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Finally, finally, after a lot of clumsiness and failed attempts, she manages it. Amazing!

Zhuang smiles gently after Liadain finally gets the orbs rotating in her palm. "Well done."

After a bit of frustration, a sense of peace and calm fills her.

Liadain gains the effect of a Bless for the next hour.

Terrill realizes he'll never succeed at this task with his awkward armor on. He doffs his breastplate and sets it down by Lia's feet. He then sets himself to completing the exercises set for him by Zhuang.

Will take 20, for a 21.

so I suppose Taklinn doesn't see anything sneaking out of the shadows to kill us all from that perception check he made?

Indeed. The murderous shadows are biding their time for now.

Dear god, don't remind me of The Darkest Vengeance. Pls no.

Lia continues to meditate for a while, waiting for the rest of the party to be done. She will then, of course, proceed to take notes of her zen state (my how clear did everything look!) as a result of mastering the meditative routine. She also copies down the carvings on the walls.

"Zhuang, thank you very much for teaching us that. I certainly feel much calmer now than I did before. I will remember your teachings whenever I feel anxious or frustrated."

Liadain glances over at the various small spheres stacked up, "I have a request of you, Zhuang. We come here as part of the Pathfinder Society, a worldwide group of adventurers and archaeologists. I am sure the Society would be most interested in learning these meditative methods as well. Would you allow me to take a couple of the orbs with me so that I may demonstrate it to them? Alas, all I can offer in return is gold or - perhaps - a brief private performance from the theatres of Oppara, as well as my most sincere gratitude."

Sorry for the lack of posting, I apparently at some point clicked the (x) to not show updates on my campaign screen...bleh.

Castien stands idly by as he watches the others attempt their meditations. After discovering the alterations in the library, I can't imagine anything in this place is precisely what it seems. I'll not partake in anything these people have to offer, lest we somehow bind ourselves to this meta-plane.

Zhuang quietly ponders the request.

"I'm afraid they are not mine to give. They are property of the temple", he finally answers with a sad shake of his head.

"But you should speak with Dakang. He is the leader of this holy place and the one with the greatest understanding of Korada's divine will. He could permit it."

Taklinn merely shrugs his shoulders and says "Eh, if we can't take em, it ain't the end o' the world. It ain't like we can't be comin back to this place once we leave.

"Where might we find Dakang?" Castien asks, eager to finish their mission and leave the temple.

"Dakang can be found just across the hallway in the chapel. I believe he's in the middle of service now", the old monk explains.

"Service!?" cries Taklinn. "Just how many o' ya are there?"

The monk pauses to consider the question. "Twenty-eight counting the four of you", he finally answers.

It's probably only because of her current zen state of mind that Liadain doesn't immediately baulk at there being two-dozen odd people in an apparently abandoned temple. Instead, she merely straps on her buckler and boots and bows pleasantly to Zhuang.

"Thank you for your patience and lessons, Zhuang," she says with a smile. "We will go speak with Dakang and see about these orbs." She moves to the door and gestures for the others to follow.

Once the group is out of earshot of Zhuang, Liadain will pause in her stride. "Just what the heck is going on here? None of this makes sense!"

Sorry. I meant for this to be asked before we walk out of the meditation room.

Taklinn is completely stunned by the monk's response. When he finally composes himself, he asks "And just how long ye all been living here?"

As Terrill straps his breastplate back on, he adds to Taklinn's question, "And where do you live? What do you eat? You're surrounded by a whole lot of nothing. And where did you come from?"

"I've been here almost as long as I can remember. My parents sent me here to study Korada's teachings when I was very young. Dakang has been this place's master since before that."

"There are quarters along the temple's southern wing where myself and the others that call this place home rest. It is a simple living but it is peaceful. We have gardens at the temple's center where we grow some fruits and vegetables. Dakang has arranged for food from nearby villages to be brought in to supplement what we grow."

Terrill shakes his head in wonderment at Zhuang's answers, though he disguises it with a quick bow to the monk. He then catches up with Lia in time to hear her comment about the strange state of affairs in the Temple. "I agree - I dn't understand it at all! Zhuang is an old man, and he says he's lived here since he was a boy, and Dakang has been master here longer than that! Twenty-four people living here? We'll have to explain to Zey what 'abandoned' means when we get back to Absalom." He casts a glance over his shoulder at the glowing orb, as if to reassure himself it's still there, and remind himself that Zhuang and the others can't see it.

"Well, let's go see this Dakang, Lia. You do the talking, and I'll keep a close eye on him."

Taklinn looks to Terrill and says "It ain't just a couple dozen monks we're dealin with here. He said they be getting supplies from nearby towns! This whole durned tapestry's had hundreds, maybe thousands, o' people livin in it for Torag knows how long!"

"Assuming what he said is correct," Lia pipes in. "I'm not yet convinced they aren't all ghosts or some such."

"Let's talk to Dakang. He seems to be the leader here. Maybe we can get some sense out of this nonsense." When everyone's ready, she strides off down the hallway towards the chapel.

Sure enough, the chapel is across the hall as the old monk described. Unlike the other rooms in the temple, the chapel’s ceiling is 30 feet high. Tall windows look out into the lush growth of the garden. Several evenly spaced prayer mats cover the floor here. An elaborate stone font stands at one end of the chapel, although the font is empty. In the chapel’s farthest corner, a balcony 15 feet above the floor contains a podium, presumably from which the mysterious Dakang leads these services.

It seems the party has arrived just in time to observe one of the services as eleven worshipers of varying ages and genders kneel on the floor mats quietly. A few gesture for the party to join them. Three strikingly beautiful aasimar stand guard along the west wall dutifully with weapons in hand.

Terrill joins the worshippers on the floor, curious about what will come next.