Pradip nods at Alwyn with big eyes, "Tuma mujhē lagatā hai ki aisā karanē kē li'ē sīkha sakatē haiṁ matalaba hai? Sahī māyanē mēṁ?!"
You get a sense at that the girl is thrilled with the prospect, but she's half tempted to pinch herself to see if she'll wake up.
She then gapes at Pratavh's offer, and seems flustered as she replies, "Vaisē maiṁ Uhhh, lēkina niścita rūpa sē, maiṁ... Maiṁ kyā, maiṁ vāstava mēṁ' ḍŏna hōgā. Lēkina mujhē kyā pahananā hōgā? Mujhē lagatā hai ki, hām̐ mujhē khuśī hōgī kahanē kā matalaba hai!" She has gone a fetching shade of pink in the face...
[spoiler=Vudrani]Well I uhhh, but surely, I... What would I, I don' really. But what would I wear? I mean that is to say, yes I would be delighted!
Mistress Tari acknowledges Mohktar as he and Shikyo take their leave, and the acolytes open the heavy oaken doors for them.
They walk across the road to the serene grounds of contemplation. Outside in the evening light, great torches have been lit and there is a class in the quad. In a perfect square twenty ranks by twenty, white clothed initiates are practicing the second kata. Their moves are more or less in perfect synchrony with the orange robed monk leading the class.
Mohktar and Shikyo walk past the class and enter the temple. The vaulted ceiling is very high and is decorated in places by carvings illustrating sections from Irori's scriptures. In the echoing central room, which you notice has perfect rotational symmetry, you spot several monks meditating before a statue of Irori. One of them is Maeda Atsuko, the monk you spoke to before.
They shift slightly so that you two may join them, but otherwise make no comment.
Lilly raises her head back as mistress Tari approaches her.
"Hmm? Oh, hey there. Well, the vision or dream i had was really weird, to say the least. Disturbing would be a good word for it, i don't know what to make of it."
Lilly shares everything of it with mistress Tari.
"..and that's it. I'm at a loss, i only know i'd be happy to destroy that altar."
Mistress Tari nods when Lilly says she had a vision, "There have been at least three other visions associated with the relic. The first was Elric the Brave, a Paladin of Saranrae who had a vision about 250 years ago about the black dragon Ixixatachetl who was bringing doom to the villages along the Ullawater. Legend says he fought the dragon to a standstill single handedly, although history doesn't mention either of them again. Then there was Dandak Alokar, he had a vision about one hundred years ago, relating to a great Kracken lairing in a cove far to the south. The Kracken had sunk a great many ships and had devoured countless sailors. Neither he or the Kracken where seen again."
She pauses and looks Lilly in the eye as she says, "I was the next to have a vision and well I've already described part of that. Now then we must consult the archives, and decipher the meaning..." She leads you to a very old section of the complex that you've not seen before. You feel the spidery touch of numerous wards as you walk down a spiral staircase into an underground library.
Tari whispers an arcane phrase and hundreds of eldritch lights in sconces flicker into life, displaying rank after rank of shelves piled high with books, scroll cases, maps and other oddments. She ignores most of these and takes you to a small room with the label, "Pratibandhita" There seems to be some kind of guardian floating in the air with a ethereal halberd. It bows as you pass.
[spoiler=Vudrani]Restricted[/b]
Tari puts on a pair of kid gloves and picks up an old blackened book about 1 yard square from one shelf. The book looks disturbingly like it was crafted out of human skin...
"This thing always gives me the creeps, now let me see," she flips pages until she finds something. There is a drawing of an altar out of some black material complete with manacles and in front there is a font containing some fetid ichor. "From your description I believe you saw the 'The font of corruption'. A most baleful artifact, sacred to Dhalavei and the center piece of many unspeakable rituals, including, according to this book, the creation of soul destruction curses."
She thinks for a moment and then tells Lilly, "I suspect the images you saw where the lives of innocents stolen by the artifact to power various necromantic rituals. Supposedly one can live forever if one a year they steal the lives and damn the souls of others..."
After some hours in contemplation, Maeda Atsuko suddenly addresses Mohktar and his companion. So many words at once feels shocking after the calm of the temple has soothed your spirits, "Sudeni toshi wa kurīnā, 1 nebukai kaiyō o setsujo sa rete iru kanji. Soredemo watashi wa mata, sakujo suru hitsuyō ga arimasu haruka ni ōkīga, enpō no kata ga aru to osorete imasu. Watashi wa anata ga nozonde ite dekiru sensu, mada teki ga waribiki sa rete wa narimasen. Sore wa watashi no chikara ni natte iru baai, watashi wa sukēru o katamukeru to baransu o kaifuku suru tame ni, anata no onkei o fuyo shinakereba narimasen."
Shiko bows deeply to the old monk. Anata no kenmeina masutā ni kansha.
With Pradip's desire to travel with him, Pratavh tells the young kitsune, ""Mujhē lagatā hai ki āpa hamārē sātha yātrā karēṅgē khuśa hūm̐. Jahām̐ taka kapaṛōṁ kē rūpa mēṁ, mujhē lagatā hai vaha, mujhē lagatā hai vaha āpa isa ghaṭanā kē li'ē ēka pōśāka kā cayana karanē mēṁ madada milēgī śarta nahīṁ hōgā, bhalē hī vaha kē rūpa mēṁ acchī taraha sē vahām̐ kī yātrā karanā cāhatē haiṁ tō misa lilī pūchanē kē li'ē yōjanā maiṁ isē madada kara sakatē haiṁ āpa hōnē kā cayana jaba taka. , Āpa phira sē akēlē nahīṁ hōgā."
Pradip looks at you with wide eyes and nods solemnly, and tentatively asks you, "Yaha baṛhiyā sara hōgā! Āpa uha, kyā lagatā hai. Vaha yaha hai ki banātā hai, tō āpa Bahni bhī ā sakatā hai?"
Smiling at the child Pratavh says to her, "Vaha tō ānā cāhēṅgē tō vaha svāgata sē adhika hō jā'ēgā"
Pradip is delighted by this offer! She busies herself thinking about what both of them should wear and pesters Pratavh with many questions about what the other guests are likely to wear.
Lilly's mind jumped quickly to what that could mean and a pissed off and worried look comes upon her face.
"If that is the case, the festival is going to be an utter opportunity.
Plenty of people to kill and the number of souls will increase by a major number. I guess that's another reason to go see it. Are there ways to prevent a soul of being damned?"
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar is unable to understand the exchange between Shiko and Master Atsuko, but he feels the tone in the words and remains silent. There is more to be done...
In a smooth mutton he withdraws his ancestral weapon, the worn and decorated scabbard and temple sword are lay in front of where he is kneeling. He bows low, forehead to the ground and says, "Honored teacher, this weapon has been in my family for six generations. As it passes from one hand to the next, that owner will add a change that represents the greatest challenge of his days. I seek to endow this sword's edge with the ability to strike at the spirit world. If it is in my fate that such enemies will stand against me, so be it."
Maeda Atsuko nods sagely, and replies, "Karuto shinja no kakurega wa kegareta rei ni yotte yogosa remasu. Sore wa anata ga karera no saishū-tekina nokori ni sorera o michibiku yoku arimasu."
The sword is taken reverently and placed in the arms of a statue of Irori posed in the stance of a warrior thrusting a weapon. To your surprise the sword fits the statue's hand perfectly. A number of monks arrive and begin a slow rhythmic chant. There are no words to their ululations but somehow the ensemble feels right and there are deep patterns to the intertwining chant. You stay there meditating as afternoon turns into evening and evening into night.
You start as a gong is softly sounded to mark the middle of the night. Maeda abruptly gets up and fetches the sword from the statue. The torch light must be playing tricks on you, for you could have sworn you saw the statue flex it's fingers slightly. Of course that would be impossible, it's just a statue. Anyway Maeda bows and hands the sword back to you Mohktar.
You notice nothing different about the sword at first however the hamon seems to have changed subtly and you notice the waves seem to alter slightly every time you look at it. Curiously you never actually see the hamon change, even if you stare at the blade for hours.
Tari frowns, "That is a most disturbing thought Lilly. Still from what you told me earlier it seems you and your friends have disrupted the cult's activities in Niswan. I suspect the vision relates to events in Leckumgee. Still it would be wise to take precautions, even without the cult what we are attempting to do for Bahni is risky. Most of the spirits are unaware of the mortal world, but some will sense it. Many of them will be accompanied by living family and will likely behave. Some others may be unquiet and could present a threat. The various temples are used to this and jointly ensure that the spirits end up where they're supposed to, without endangering the onlookers. The thing is, transporting Bahni along the parade root is unprecedented. I'm hoping you can help keep her safe."
She looks at Lilly hopefully.
Pratavh takes the time to describe the kind of clothing his sister is likely to wear, and what the guests are expected to wear. He takes the time to help the child take her mind off of what is going on and simply be a little girl. After a while Hirati wakes up and begins to discuss accessories with Pradip for a while. This will be a very interesting day tomorrow, I should make the time to send a message to my family and make arrangements for the extra guest or two. I suppose I should find out who all wishes to go.
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
While the weight of the blade hasn't changed, there is "more" to the weapon's firm than steel. Mohktar expresses his gratitude to the wise master and to those who participated. Then he takes the blade in his hands and sheaths it.
I am seeking this path, to combat those wicked spirits that would see my grandfather's lands soiled by evil. This blade, my grandfather's blade, will be as much a part of me as it will be a part of this fight.
The ceremony completed, he nods to the gates and says, "We should rejoin the others, Shiko-san. The morning comes swiftly. And our confrontation awaits. First we protect Bahni. Then we go to Lekumgee to end this pestilence once and for all."
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Alwyn attends to his weapons and enjoys a moment of quiet reflection. His bow already has the ghost touch property to it that Mohktar is going to the Temple of Irori to petition for and is his primary weapon of choice, preferring to stay at range when possible. However the coming day and weeks following will have them against a very evil cult and perhaps he will not be able to stay at range.
Moving through the temple to meet with Mistress Tali...
"Mistress, the issues we have ahead of us will necessitate our encountering beings and items of true evil. Would it be possible to bestow Sarenrae's blessing upon our weapons, even if temporarily while we are upon this quest to rid the land of this evil?"
Mistress Tari leaves the archives with Lilly in tow and meets with Alwyn. She considers giving your weapons an appraising look, "Hmm let me think, I'm sure there's something we can do..."
After a few moments she comes to a conclusion and says, "It would likely take quite some time to arrange for permanent enchantments. But I believe I have just the thing for this mission..."
She leads the pair of you into a musty store room in a little traveled part of the complex. On a rack of shelves is a number of boxes. She looks for a particular one and asks, "Give me a hand please, this is somewhat heavy."
Inside the box is a number of neatly labelled potions...
5x Weapon oil of Evil Bane; This temporarily applies the Holy enchantment to a weapon. Lasts till sundown.
10x Cure Critical Wounds Potions at CL 7
1x Elixir of Acidic protection (The elixir grants the drinker 100 points of protection from acid damage he takes after drinking it. Unused points of protection dissipate 1 hour after the liquid is consumed).
A small silvery horn. (Functions as a Horn of Goodness)
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Alwyn reaches up helping to retrieve the box, "Thank you, Mistress Tali, these should be very beneficial to us in our coming quest. Speaking of quest though we have a job to do tomorrow. What time should we return tomorrow to assist with the Parade of Souls?"
Alwyn will will finish with preparations at the temple before returning back to the Inn for a night's rest.
She looks at Alwyn and smiles, "Ah the parade! The biggest day in the year for us in Jalmeray. The spirits will start assembling over the Lake at day break but they won't start the procession till mid day. It usually takes just under an hour to get from there to the ocean. I'd suggest you head here early, the roads will be crowded and travel may take longer than you are accustomed to."
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"We shall be here early then, goodnight."
Alyn will take his leave, returning to the inn to sort out his thoughts of the day and record them in his journal. Of course on retelling there will always be embellishments but the facts will be recorded.
Before leaving, he will say goodnight to Pradhip and send a message to Mohktar and Shiro about tomorrow wishing them a quiet night of reflection.
After awhile, Pratavh prepares to leave with his companions and return to the inn to rest. On the way to the inn he looks to his allies and says, "I wanted to extend an offer to all of you and since I need to send a message tonight I wanted to ask now. When this is all over I will be continuing on my way to Vudrah, I was headed there already for my sisters wedding and then all of this happened. I intend to go there once all of this is completed and thought I would invite all of you to journey with me. Pradip is coming with me when I leave here and I intend to ask Bahni as well once she has recovered at Pradip's request. I need to let my family know if others will be coming with me so that they can make arrangements." He looks at each in turn, "So, are you interested?"
What are your plans for the evening? You still have a hotel room paid for.
I would guess that Shiko and Mohktar would spend the night at the Temple of Irori.
Lodgings are indeed available at both temples and I'm going to assume you make use of them.
After a fitful night's sleep, you rise before the dawn. At each temple, those there join the acolytes in a simple repast. You are rested fully and all sounds from the previous day have been healed.
You are informed that there will be a small dawn ceremony to watch the spirits gather over the lake. You have been invited to join should you so wish, or if you would prefer you could stay with the litter bearers who are going to transport Bahni down the parade route (note this is marked on your map.)
What would you like to do? Also please tell me if you are making any special arrangements and if Pratavh wants to change the Spells memorised.
Pratavh finishes writing the letter before bed and seeks out Mistress Tari, once he has found her he asks, "Is there a mail service in the city, I need some way to send a letter to my family in Vudrah to let them know I am on my way and will be bringing guests with me. Is there any way you can help me? Also, I want you to know that I spoke with Pradip, she plans to travel with me to Vudrah when this is all over, I likely should have spoken to you first, but I thought it would do her good to get away from this city where so much tragedy has touched her life.
Mistress Tari beams at Pratavh, "What a wonderful idea, I think that would do her spirit a power of good! Yes there are several commercial companies, there's the United Tea Mail and the Niswan Express. They have offices in the commercial district. There is also the diplomatic corps who might be willing to help too considering all you've done for the city."
Lilly checks up on the fox girl. Having offered to protect her, before the attack in the house, she did feel concerned, to her surprise, like a big sister would towards a younger sibling.
Like most Kitsune, Pradip tends to appear in one particular human form to avoid confusing friends.
Anyone other than Alwyn for the morning ceremony or shall I move us forward?
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar awakens from his sleep at the temple, still in the Lotus before an altar with an empty pedastel. Like most temples, this most holy of location bears no statues of the Master of masters, Irori's flawless form being unattainable by the hands of mortal artisans. Mohktar runs a hand over his freshly shaved head, ending in the long, single braid at the back. This he coils away under his dumalla before rising and stretching to ready himself for the day.
Over the horizon, the sun's first fingers of light begin to caress the sky. Eager to rejoin the party, he goes to see if Shiko is ready before heading over to the Sarenrae temple.
Once there and in the company of the others, he addresses the offered topics. "Pratavh, if it is further into this country you wish to travel, I would be honored to accompany you to this wedding. It will grant me the privilege of exploring the land of my grandfather."
Regarding the dawn ceremony, Mohktar nods interest. "To see such a thing would be truly wonderous."
Yes, Mohktar. We have seen how wondrous it is...when the Asura itself tries to slice our throats. Shiko snarks
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
"A jeweled necklace is no less beautiful in the claws of a scorpion." Mohktar responds with a smile.
You join a small delegation from the temple, with senior clergy plus a couple of trusted acolytes. The clerics all carry a strange looking lantern. Shaped like a box, a foot high and half a foot across at the bottom. With smoky glass plates and edged with brass and an ebony handle. Inside is a magically enhanced oil lamp which, with the smoky glass door open, is painful my bright. When the door is closed only a wan light is seen which seems barely strong enough to guide your path.
Your delegation joins others from all the major temples, for today is a celebration of all faiths and creeds. In the pre-dawn darkness your mind's eye envisages the twinkling river of lights as a migration of fireflies drawn by some unknown force to surround the little Lake to the west of the temple District.
Soon a thin line of lights surrounds the placid Lake. Despite the hour, it's quite warm for this is mid summer after all. There is no wind at all, and the lake is perfectly flat, like a mirror. At some unseen signal all the clerics start a slow chant, speaking ritual words in Vudrani as one.
"We bear witness."
There is a long pause and at first nothing happens. You stare expectantly at the lake, looking for something, anything to happen. After quite some minutes you sense a shuffling of feet as if attention is waining. Suddenly that stops for deep within the lake you spot a glimmer of movement.
A bluish light dances seems to rise from deep below and it weaves a slow majestic dance as it weaves it's way to the surface. It crests the surface at the exact moment that the sun rises over the crags if the distant mountains. Standing a few inches above the water, well within the confined if the lake, is the shade of a beautiful elven woman. She moves as if she is speaking but there is no sound.
The clergy all chant as one, "We guide the way, we follow the path, we bear witness."
Soon there are other spectral lights from within the lake, at first a couple start their slow ascent. Then another couple, then another, and then dozens start rising
Their lights intertwine in a slow yet intricate dance. Before long there are thousands of lights within the lake and hundreds of shades upon the surface. You feel a chill from the direction of the lake and notice a thin film of ice forming under the greatest concentration of shades.
After perhaps half an hour there is a great hoast of shades, many thousands milling about. Most of them seem to be young, manifesting as they saw themselves in life. Most are wearing normal civilian cloathes, a few are armed and armoured. A handful appear as fantastical creatures from myth and legend.
After some point one last spirit rises and there are no more. The clerics chant as one, "We await the appointed hour and guard the way." The acolytes begin filing out but the clergy remain.
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Alyn joins Mohktar and the procession of clergy. Dutifully translating for him.
"They said they are here to bear witness."
When the clergy become silent once more, Alyn looks on expectantly but not sure what to look for - he seems to be looking everywhere at once. After a while a glance to his companion reveals the monk patiently staring at the lake with the others. how does he do this, he and I both know somethings gonna happen but he's as calm as if staring at a clear blue sky. I feel like a thunderstorm is about to hit
Alwyn starts and stops the beginning of several cantrips afraid that they might interfere with what is about to happen should he complete them. As he dismisses the dancing lights weave he'd begun the lake in font of him gives off a bluish glow, frantically turning to Mohktar "I didn't. ..." only to see the briefest of smiles, almost as if it wasn't there, and a finger to his lips; before pointing back towards the lake. Turning back to the lake the young bard is momentarily smitten by the beautiful spirit there. As the clergy once more chant "Now they say they follow, guide, and once again they bear witness......oh my would you look at that....."
In unusual silence and stillness the bard watches the remaining souls as they join the host above the lake.
"Now they say that they are awaiting the appointed hour? And they will guard the way. ...... Do we stay here or go with the other back to the temple?" The young man says as the acolytes begin filing away from the lake.
Pratavh goes to observe the ceremony after preparing his letter and asking one of the acolytes to mail it for him should he not return from defending Bahni's body. He stays silent and observes, even Hirati sense the solemnity of the occasion and behaves herself. He continues to remain there and waits for the signal that it is time to begin the procession.
One of the Acolytes tells Alwyn that, "Paramparā kē anusāra parēḍa samudra, aura dōpahara mēṁ atikramaṇa gēṭa taka pahun̄canē kē li'ē mānā jātā hai. Ātmā'ōṁ yahām̐ mēṁ rakhā jātā hai tō, lālaṭēna kē mādhyama sē bhēṛa kī taraha herded. Parēḍa 11:00 Para śurū kara dēnā cāhi'ē."
Mistress Tari meets with you in the atrium of the Temple. Two burly acolytes, Fahad and Wadi have a kind of Palaquin carriage. It consists of a heavy wooden beam they carry over their shoulders. A small litter bed is slung by ropes from the four to the middle of the wooden beam.
The acolytes seem to have little trouble carrying the emaciated bag of bones that is the once beautiful and graceful dancer, Bahni Sarr. Poultices of herbs and an incense censor can do little to mask the sickly sweat smell of corruption. He skin is waxy and covered in fine wrinkles as if she was approaching her eightieth summer rather than her twenty first.
Mistress Tari meets your eyes and tells you, "I think Bahni will last for a few hours more. Should be enough time to comfortably get to the end of the parade and enter the gate. That is as long as there are no surprises... I can follow you for a little while, and explain what's happening. Unfortunately I'm needed for the gate ceremony so I'll have to rush on ahead. I'm very grateful for your presence here, we, well all the temples are stretched to the limit on this day. As you will see the streets are lines on both sides by lantern bearers to guide the way. This is for everyone's protection, people and spirits."
Far away a great gong sounds and Mistress Tari remarks, "Well it's time. Lets do this."
You form a small protective screen around Palanquin carried by Fahad and Wadi, and head out of the temple towards the lake you visited earlier. As soon as you get close to the parade route, you realize it's as if the entire population has come to line the parade route. There are more people here than you think you've seen anywhere before, they've come in their tens of thousands. There are rope barriers lining the inner parade route with people crowded six ranks deep on either side. There is a general carnival atmosphere with many people in fancy dress. They have white outlines of bones painted onto their tanned bodies and they are wearing skull masks. Some are beautiful others hideous. Every so often alchemical fire crackers are set off and there are many sacks piled high with colored powders, confetti and water, which will be thrown over the parade as it passes.
Lining the inner pathway is a thin cordon of acolytes, each with the heavy lanterns. They look somewhat nervous since the crowd is so large it could easily push them out of the way, which would cause the event to descend into chaos.
Mistress Tari has to shout to make her self heard over the noise of the crowd, "It's always a bit like this, but the crowd is particularly big this year." Fortunately the crowd seems to be well behaved for the most part and they part to let your group through. You hear another distant gong and a hush descends over the crowd and everyone looks towards the distant lake. You see an unbroken line of lantern bearers leading back to the lake and you notice some movement near the lake.
Parade route map is here.
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Alwyn will move to the side of the litter bearing Bahni. Allowing his more directly martial companions to move to the front.
"Mistress Tali, will magic of any sort on my part cause disruption of the processions flow? My thoughts are to bring the music of the opera troupe our dancer here was a part of. To remind her and those around of a better time."
Should it be ok, Alwyn will use Ghost Sound to bring an orchestra alive as they walk. Staying away from the finale's music...
Shiko moves toward the front of the procession, trying to blend in with the crowd and stay inconspicuous.
Tari smiles, "That should be fine, I dare say you won't be the only one who had that idea."