Primma downs a gulp or two of holly water from the flask before looking between it and her companion Carmen. "What should we do about her?" Primma waves her hand through Carmen's body, demonstrating her incorporeality. "She can't really drink."
You drink the water and it tastes good.
You then briefly cross through the one room to climb up the stairs. This rise overlooks the Keystone Exhibit, and despite the best efforts of previous looters, its hallowed enchantment remains.
A mosaic resembling the flag of Crisillyir lies here: a hand wrapped by a thread and fishhook.
A character might recall (Knowledge (religion) DC 18)
Religion DC 25
Femi grudgingly moves forward into the next chamber, though his mind lingers on the macabre scene they just left.
"Pretty mosaic. It is said Crisillyir does some of the most impressive magic research around, but of course one must bow to the clergy at all times. A hard road to follow for some."
He turns to their host, "We drink here too?" If so, he passes the cups around.
"I am interested in speaking to you. Interesting name." she responds to the Lady of the Forked Tongue.
Iva thanks the cat for his information, and follows the others down the stairs. She does drink in the first room, and willing completes the ritual first.
"Let's see what happens then." she cups the water and touches the mosaic.
Isaac shrugs, "Others have been guinea pigs already, I guess it's my turn." He then gets some water and places his hand on the mosaic hand and drinks.
The sultry voice says, "Come to chamber nine and then we can speak."
On the side of the mosaic there is no writing on the doors, however when you go to the other side you see a lay out of the vault: They are embossed with the names of the nine chambers:
1. Main Gallery.
2. Heretical Texts.
3. Unholy Arms & Armor.
4. Blasphemous Artwork.
5. Accursed Items.
6. Afflicted Innocents.
7. Damned Souls.
8. Beasts of the Infernal Horde.
9. The Prison of Ashima-Shimtu, Lady of the Forked Tongue, Last of the High Fiends, Seneschal of the Demonocracy, Keeper of the Secret Which Must Not Be Lost.
You move into the next room and you see in what you assume to be similar binding circles a large book closed and on the back cover the name is Legex Diaboli; a sword ; and a simple length of gold chain,
As Femi feels the blessings wash over him, he thanks Gauthier, ”Nice bit of knowledge that. Well done!”
He examines the layout of the vault noting to himself, Seneschal of the Demonocracy huh? Doubt that's a good thing.
He follows Gauthier into the next chamber and observes the three items. From a distance then, he tries to identify each one, casting Detect Magic, before stepping into the circles.
He tries also to see if he knows what Legex Diaboli means...
Though with that luck, surely he knows very little indeed.
Femi
Femi will enter each circle, starting with the book, using his rolls above if possible.
He'll also bring each item out with him.
Femi grabs the book and it has some magical rituals inside and it seems to be the book of the laws for the Demonocracy. The rituals are not in your kind of magic probably should be looked at by someone with religious based magic.
Femi
You put the blade down and it whooshes 1= Chretien, 2= Falko 3= Iva 4= Isaac 5= Primma and 6 = Ottavia
The sword then vanishes and reappears trying to stab Ottavia's breast plate
but bounces off and appears on your belt.
The sword talks to Femi, "Master, my name is Reciprus, this is what I can do! I appear and attack the hearts of our live enemies."
The gold chain each link of which is inscribed with a holy verse asking for mercy.
"ooof! Sorry there Ottavia, the uh, sword did that."
He looks sternly at the blade, and wonders what to do. "Someone else should take this thing, I don't know how to use it, and don't like my gear acting without me." he holds out the sword to someone, anyone... He tells whoever takes it what it can do (please feel free to read my spoiler above).
He also holds out the book, "This is divinely inspired. I might read it, but probably won't understand it as well as someone more attuned to it's wavelength... if you know what I mean."
Unsure what to do with the chain, he'll slip it in his sling bag for now - unless someone wants it. He'll take it out and read the holy verses slowly, one link at a time, when he has a free moment here and there. "Heavy prayer beads." he murmurs.
Femi looks incredulously at Gauthier, "You mean... leave them behind?" he looks at the objects in his hands and clearly pouts.
He hopes others quip up to support his position, but if not, he quietly replaces each of the items back on their pedestals. "If we need these later, we can always come back for them." he grins at the thought.
Ottavia says, "A couple of years ago, I would have told you to leave those items where they were in those circles but now, the book alone is worth perusing to figure out what is out there and the chain may be able to help us get out of the vaults. If you say that the sword is ghost touched then we may be able to use it against any possible undead things we may see in this vault."
Femi grins like a kid who gets to keep all the candy, though he still tries to give everything away but the chain.
He also takes a closer look at the helm to see how it works, having forgotten to do so in the excitement earlier.
Cretien remains quiet, saying nothing to the new individuals or the woman with whom they entered this place.
Femi
You take your things and make you way down to the room you have not see yet and you leave the foot of the staircase.
The vaulted ceilings of this seemingly empty chamber rises up 40 feet. Magical darkness shrouds the ceiling, and the moment anyone crosses the middle of the room or attempts to examine the ceiling, this chamber’s prisoner plummets, screaming. Then her descent snaps to a stop just at eye level, as she reaches the end of her chains. Six golden chains descend from the ceiling, ending in silver hooks that dig into her arms, legs, and back. Sinewy and starved, she thrashes and screams again, reaching out desperately. Blood stains her feathered wings the color of rust, and her eyes have sunken so deep they appear to be black pits.
The angel in chains wails louder and louder screaming, "Kill me... please... The betrayal!!!! The betrayal!!!!! I am Linia. The betrayed Angel by the Clergy. Was a companion of Trigenes."
Femi too cannot believe what he sees. HIs mouth hangs open in a silent scream as he attempts to take it all in.
Femi
After his kingdom was established, Triegenes undertook the greatest challenge left in the mortal world: to defeat the demonocracy that oppressed the lands to the east. He confronted the abyssal lords who had taken residence on this world, sacrificed himself to banish them forever, and then left his mortal shell and ascended to godhood. He is the father of the Clergy, sadly your knowledge of who Linia is not enough. Whatever is holding the Angel, is beyond your comprehension.
If no one will take the sword Iva will. "Hello there. You seem interesting."
She jumps back as the angel begs for death. "Does anyone know who this is? I can't stand to see someone suffer. Unless their crime was so evil they must as part of their punishment."
The sword responds, "Well met, I am reciprus. Are you going to be my new friend? I really like being used, this place is no fun, it looks like you enjoy the little blades, but I am way more fun, you can use one of those with me... but save the fun for me. I do like hacking and chopping and stabbing... that is my favorite. Yes indeed. I do love it so... please keep me working... I love to work... hmmm yes...
Ottavia Knowledge Religion
Ottavia says, "Linia, yes she was a helper to Trigrenes in his lifetime, she allegedly betrayed the hierarchs by being blasphemus, I had heard she had been sent back to her plane."
Linia says, "Falsehood that be thy stating. Thou hath not fully understood thy sacrement."
The angel says, “He travels in your breath, on your words, in the rustle of your hair in the breeze. You are not possessed. Don’t believe the voices in your ears. Believe only the voice in your head. You have no torches. You’ll go blind. You’ll die of thirst, but drink with the left hand! Please leave now and beg them to cut me down. I’ll agree to their lies. I’ll call them gods. Please let me die.”
Femi adds, "For those who do not know, one thousand years ago a human fisherman named Triegenes from what today is Danor discovered the secret of divinity while lost in a storm at sea. He returned and preached about the divine spark within all mortals, and how by constantly challenging oneself, a person can become like a god. He inspired followers to fight beside him, and together they toppled tyrants, slew legendary monsters, and eventually established a new nation, based upon a hierarchy of divinity, where rank and reward were based solely on merit."
"After his kingdom was established, Triegenes undertook the greatest challenge left in the mortal world: to defeat the demonocracy that oppressed the lands to the east. He confronted the abyssal lords who had taken residence on this world, sacrificed himself to banish them forever, and then left his mortal shell and ascended to godhood. He is the father of the Clergy."
He sighs as the angel continues to suffer, but he doesn't know what to do. He turns to her, "Well the voices in my head are telling me to go to the ninth room and make a deal with a demonologist, so I'm not sure that's the voice I want to trust either."
"If Ottavia is speaking falsehood, what is the truth? If you were excommunicated as a heretic, how did you end up here?"
Linia the angel does not seem to understand the question and says, "Kill me please... I want to go home, why have I been here so long?"
Ottavia says, "An hour ago, if you told me this were the truth I would have said you were crazy but seeing is believing. The hierarchs turned on her. I wish I knew how we could free her but that magic is way too strong."
Falko
She pats her new sword. "I'll keep you busy I'm sure.
"I hate to see her here. It's not a proper end for her. Is there no way to help? I'm not one who knows religion." Iva looks at the angel with pity.
Ottavia says, "This was performed by the highest of the hierarchs millennia ago, the only one who possibly could, would be the one or two of the current hierarchs. There is nothing we can do at this time."
Your group in order to be thorough makes its way first to G and sees Three skeletons in tattered priestly robes lie here, each burned with a single hand-print that seared cloth and bone. Ottavia explains that this is a similar chamber she has seen in other ancient Clergy locations and that this was a sort of test chamber for priests to show off their piety.
And you continue onto section E which is a long corridor and up the side stairs, scripture and religious doctrine line both walls, though most has been defaced.
Ottavia says, "You can try. I would imagine that the hierarchs have thought of that."
You are able to open the doors without having to pick open a lock. You all cross across the thresh hold being able to see with the dancing light spell.
You can see that the hallway extends for about 400 feet. Once everyone goes through the doors, they close.
You move forward figuring that you need to get to next chamber to fullfill your blessing.
The of you carrying gold feel as though your items have doubled in weight.
Perception DC 44
Femi, not liking being boxed in, immediately tries opening the doors again.
Assuming he fails, he trudges down the hall uncomfortably, and on edge. When his purse grows heavy, he says so, "Anyone else notice their gold is, well, heavier? Did these folks have vows of poverty or something? Should we leave our gold at the door for our return?" he wonders.
Only to see if it's doubled in size... (he says hopefully)
When those of you look at your golden item or things with gold you can see they have turned to lead. But otherwise function in the same manner.
The doors do not open.
The doors do not budge.
Ottavia says, "We are going to need to get the rest of the blessings before we can go back through those doors."
Ottavia says, "If you remember on the doors, there are nine vaults, so we need to drink from the other seven as well. So we have to walk to the other vaults and then we can probably go back."