Hinagiku silent salutes the people in the office with a polite bow, and greets Valais with a small smile, much more natural now that she had had a few days to practice in front of the mirror (one of the things she did alone in her room). The monk then retires to a corner listening intently.
"Miss Valais, I understand your curiosity, but like miss Valaria, is right, entering the wound based on a dream seem unwise. How can we know that these dreams are not caused by the onic parts of your body?" she asks evenly.
"Dreams are the domain of my Lady Starsong. It is certainly worth looking into, lest it turn out to be important," Isilme says, adding her two copper's worth.
Turning to the commander, she brings up the topic of Shyael and the Sarkorian refugees.
"Shyael... She is a follower of Erastil no? I have heard she is more focused on aiding the Sarkorians than handling any issues that might arise due to demons. I would be interested to find out how it was she came to champion their cause." Isilme says. "Also, while I might be out of line in saying so, the Sarkorian refugees might take it poorly if the crusades were to set up a new base of operations deeper in without giving them an opportunity to make use of the land that was theirs. Offering them something once the forward base is established might soothe their concerns."
Commander Mazrarad shakes her head.
"No, your primary objective is to scout the region of the Worldwound from Nerosyan to Dredarin and to identify any potential outposts we could reclaim for the Crusades. We assumed that since you were the ones to rescue Valais in the first place, that you'd be interested in helping her solve her own personal mystery. If you don't want to bring her, you don't have to - but either way I do need you to rendevous with Shyael and return to me with her report. Investigating this connection to this Laktharis is up to you."
To Isilme, she nods. "That's indeed why we chose Shyael for the scouting mission. She is on good terms with the local Sarkorians and should work as a good diplomat to ensure that there is are no issues with pressing into the Worldwound to establish forward bases."
Valais stares at Hinagiku then clutches her head with her hands, shaking it repeatedly. "I... I need to know. I can't sleep until I investigate this."
"Onis?" Commander Valerys says, curiously. "Do you mean demons? I wouldn't worry. Valais is in control, for the most part."
Valais nods. "I get confused at times, but I am in control. Fighting and danger sometimes riles ra gol bâl though so I will leave any fighting to you."
Commander Mazrarad closes the balcony door and begins sharpening a mighty battleaxe. "If you have no further questions, you are dismissed."
"I didn't say I didn't want to help," Val points out. "I was just making sure that I understood what we're being asked to do."
Ary takes the time necessary with each member of her group, mostly focusing on what they desire in the near-term in order to make their jobs easier to fulfill, but quickly moving into questions such as their goals beyond simply winning the war. She's very much interested in their hopes and dreams.
With Hinagiku, it quickly becomes apparent that she's not going to convince Ary that their deaths were not on Ary's hands - but also that Ary viewed it as simply a mistake. One that was costly, but one from which they ultimately recovered. Ary is very much open with her feelings and thoughts on things with Daisy. As soon as she discovers the Kitsune's newfound sense of humor, she goes well out of her way to nurture it.
With Xanderghul, much of their exchange is tit-for-tat, becoming more of a truth or dare game that never ventures into dare. Her questions are very probing in nature, and it would be clear to a less self-glorifying man that Ary didn't trust him - likely that he wouldn't even notice given the situation, however. The questions begin with his origins, asking about how he survived within the Abyss, how he transferred to their realm, and how he'd found his way to the Crusades. Her questions then move through several of his missions, and also move into the realm of talking about his magical research (that he no doubt has performed). If he mentions returning to the lodge, Ary volunteers to go with him - possibly asking Ehren to loan her an Ant Haul, to ensure she's able to do much more significant amounts of work.
Ary also spends quite a lot of time alone, but she's almost always working when she does so; she writes several different short letters, filling out various requisitions, and refiling the most important portions of her reports in three separate locations, ensuring that information on what they had learned couldn't be bottle-necked. Any information others had requested she not share, she shares in none of the reports.
Likewise, she files a requisition form, requesting a ranged weapon specialist for her group; Valaria was capable, but the combination of 'cold iron' and 'attuned' and 'good' made her current style less than ideal. And besides, the woman was a holy terror in short range combats. She places Anevia at the top of the list, by making her the only person she asks for by name.
Ary inclines her head to Gilas as she returns the handshake, just as firm - but no more. "I'll do my best not to let that happen again." she adds to the children before smiling to the father. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, as well. Hopefully, next time under similar circumstances to the current ones."
Once more, Ary inclines her head to the new woman whom she'd not met prior. As Isilme introduces her, she smiles and nods. "Then the pleasure is certainly all mine, Captain." matching the tempo of her salute in return.
"How long ago did Shyael leave, and how will we be able to recognize her?" Ary asks after the first round of questions, and then once Isilme interjects about following the dreams, she nods in agreement.
"Have you requested any aid from Desna's followers on this?" Ary wasn't certain Valais needed to cleanse her soul or her body. The thing that was really hurting was her mind, and Desna's acolytes seemed a much better choice for prophetic dreams, in either case.
If given a chance to speak with Valais afterwords, and before the mission, she would, taking the time to talk with her about what she was going through, more intimately.
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He is far more at ease talking about their similarities, admitting that they have interested him since they first met.
"The ley crosses through many planes, and carries their influence into our own world. From there, it goes on to influence people, plants, animals... everything. I can sense the flow of the ley, but more so, I can sense what is and what is not of our world. Isilme, Valaria, and even Xanderghul's souls carry the influence of other planes.
"But your soul... your soul is different. Even before we acquired the power of the wardstones, it carried the glow of our world, and our world alone. No mortal soul has that kind of power. And so, it made sense to me when we learned how you were born. You are a child of the ley itself. I still do not understand how such a thing was possible, but I think I understand why.”
As it would turn out, Ehren has very little in the way of short term needs or wants, being more or less content. Everything that he truly desired was either out of reach or simply impossible. He finds communicating with her odd, and not because of her new appearance. She seemed aloof… distant to him. Not that he could blame her. When she asks about his hopes and dreams however, he pushes his concerns aside, falling into contemplative silence. A few moments pass before he speaks again.
“This war won’t last forever, you know. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but it will end. Perhaps even soon. You and I will be there to see it, I think. The others as well. Maybe not as we are now, but…”
Ehren stops himself and shakes his head, realizing that he is getting off track.
“Even once the Worldwound is gone, it will take a lifetime to rebuild Sarkoris. Several lifetimes, perhaps. But I do not think that would matter much to my people. They would work together to restore Sarkoris to its former glory, putting aside the conflicts of long past. They would remember the old ways, holding them alongside the new, and would pass them all down to their children and their children’s children. In time, the land would heal, and there would be green again. Things would never be the same as they once were, but perhaps they could be better…”
With a rueful smile, he adds, “I think I would give anything to be there. To see it all happen.”
I legitimately forgot that I had all that silver. Let's sell it and get some pocket money.
Since Hrut left to rejoin the Empyreal Guardians no members of the group are really able to appraise valuables. Luckily, Ary knows an honest Sarenrite merchant in Nerosyan and leads the way to Dawnflower Goods, helping the group sell Valaria's silverware for a total of 450 gp.
Commander Mazrarad answers Ary's first question. "Shyael is an elven archer with short blonde hair. She left three days ago. She's instructed to linger in Dredarin to meet up with her rendezvous, then travel southwest along the border looking for sites to reclaim."
Commander Valerys smiles warmly at Ary at her other question. "It seems you're already traveling with a Desnan, yes?" she says, her eyes lingering on Valaria's butterfly tattoo. "But in any case, Valais specifically requested to travel with you."
Valais nods vigorously. "Yes. I trust you."
-------
After arranging to sell Valaria's silverware, Ary negotiates with Cessina Clarenroth to buy some needed supplies for their trip. She exchanges her new commendation for three diamonds to eventually give to Sosiel to help herself and her newly reincarnated friends return to full strength. Xanderghul pitches in what money he has left from his last Pathfinder mission to help supply food for the trip, which she then tucks away into the extradimensional space inside of her bag of holding. They also purchase some diamond dust to help restore the damage Mesamorga inflicted upon Isilme's soul.
The heroes rest for the rest of the day while Xanderghul retires to his room to scribe two scrolls with his new spell components.
21-27 Rova 4713
The next morning the heroes visit Sosiel at the temple of Shelyn to give him their new diamonds. He spends some time healing Isilme - it had been so long since the night hag's wretched dreams that the trickster had almost forgotten what it was like to be at full strength.
As he finishes his blessing, he stands up and gives Isilme a look over before smiling. "Okay, it looks like you're ready to go. Good luck with your mission, friends!"
The group leaves to pick up Valais at the command bunker before leaving Nerosyan. Valais doesn't really know where she is going, but she says dreamily, "The paths here feel... familiar. Like a dance you can only remember when you hear the melody." Thankfully, they have Xanderghul with them -out of the group he is the most familiar with the Worldwound and is able to confirm that Valais is indeed leading them in the right direction as they travel.
Valais leads the group out into the Worldwound and towards the demonic city of Storasta, through the scorched hills that were once known as the Falling Forest. While no venture into the Worldwound is truly safe, the heroes do not come across anything that poses a significant challenge to veterans of their caliber. They encounter fiendish small animals and wandering dretches, the least of demonkind, which they dispatch easily without significant uses of their resources.
What is an issue, however, is food. Thankfully, whatever Ser Jorsal did to Valais seems to have left her without need of food nor water, and Hinagiku can go as long as four days without a single bite of food, seeming to derive energy and vigor from the land around her. Regardless, they are left with only 21 pounds of food remaining by the time they reach Dredarin - just enough to feed the group for the return trip.
Ehren keeps a careful eye on their food supplies, carefully weeding out the ruined food from the good. He is also able to provide water for the group for all but one day - thankfully Ary is always prepared and was carrying three waterskins with her just in case this happened, enough to satisfy the entire group for water.
Finally after a week of crossing the hostile Sarkorian Steppe, Dredarin is in sight. In the distance, the ground occasionally explodes in geysers of raw elemental energy, though otherwise the weather is cold and windy. The small town seems to be mostly ruined and abandoned until they come across what appears to be an excavation camp. Picks and shovels lay haphazardly around on the ground. The spire and roof of a stone building peek out from the dense, ashen mud. A small humanoid shape is visible on the roof of the building - which itself rises 10 feet from the ground. The sounds of picks and shovels hitting stone are audible even from a hundred feet away.
The partially buried cathedral stands on a cliff face, 20 feet up from the ground where the heroes stand.
Valais keeps a hood drawn over her face and stays behind the heroes, close to Hinagiku's side. She looks up at the group, silently waiting for them to decide what to do next.
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"Hey Ary, can you help me with something?" She motions for Ary to follow her up to her room at the inn. Inside, a large statue of her, utterly nude is standing in the corner. "Since we don't keep the room while we're gone, I need someone to hang on to this far me. It's a bit heavy for me to carry. While I might be beautiful and limber, I'm still kinda scrawny."
"I sort of know the feeling," Val mentions as Valias seems a bit... spacey. "Traveling based on dreams can be... strange. You know you've never been there, but you can sort of... feel the path that you're walking."
At the end of their journey, Xanderghul huffs a bit when they reach the town of Dredarin. "Seems people are here. Were we expecting people? I don't think I recall expecting any people here."
He frowns. "Unless it's demons...although I have a hard time imagining demons doing any mining. Let's go see!"
When Ary asks Isilme about her desires in the long term, she pauses for a moment before answering. "What I'd like beyond winning the war?" she asks. "The first thing I wish is to remedy the situation with Li'an's body. Perhaps if I am able to free my spirit from her body she will be able to return. Even if I was unable to return to my original form, restoring Li'an to life would be worth it."
"Beyond that, perhaps find what became of Elan's body after I escaped with Li'an. It might sound odd, but it would mean a lot to me. Afterwards I suppose I would go back to doing what I have always done..." She stops seemingly pondering her answer. "Though I must admit the thought of helping Aravashnial to teach his students appeals to me greatly," she says with a smile.
"As for what might make my job easier now, I can think of little. Besides not having commanding officers who are working against us, of course," she says with a laugh.
Isilme turns to Valaria, quietly, "We should scout ahead to see who is working up ahead." She then turns and begins moving stealthily toward the sounds of mining
When Ary asks Isilme about her desires in the long term, she pauses for a moment before answering. "What I'd like beyond winning the war?" she asks. "The first thing I wish is to remedy the situation with Li'an's body. Perhaps if I am able to free my spirit from her body she will be able to return. Even if I was unable to return to my original form, restoring Li'an to life would be worth it."
"Beyond that, perhaps find what became of Elan's body after I escaped with Li'an. It might sound odd, but it would mean a lot to me. Afterwards I suppose I would go back to doing what I have always done..." She stops seemingly pondering her answer. "Though I must admit the thought of helping Aravashnial to teach his students appeals to me greatly," she says with a smile.
"As for what might make my job easier now, I can think of little. Besides not having commanding officers who are working against us, of course," she says with a laugh.
Isilme turns to Valaria, quietly, "We should scout ahead to see who is working up ahead." She then turns and begins moving stealthily toward the sounds of mining.
"Agreed. We don't need to run in to something that wants to eat us."
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"Laktharis' temple?" Ehren guesses aloud, frowning at the cathedral. Clearly, someone had an interest in what was inside of it.
He nods to Isilme and Valaria as they creep on ahead, following their usual strategy. By now, telling them to be careful was redundant. Ehren kneels down and brushes a pinch of dirt against his bare heel, murmuring a quiet blessing.
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As the others begin to move forward, Ary nods, also slowing to keep her pace steady with theirs, letting them slip away little by little as they naturally outpaced her.
Isilme and Valaria approach the cathedral slowly and carefully, staying behind rocky outcroppings as they move in order to conceal their approach. They move seventy feet away from the rest of the squad, peering up the cliff face above to see what was going on. They see that the area is being excavated by what appears to be a small group of Kellids, with a blonde elf standing on top of the cathedral keeping an eye out while the others work. Three wolves patrol the perimeter.
Suddenly, the ground behind Isilme and Valaria erupts into a geyser of crackling lightning - the pair are able to smoothly avoid the blast but Valaria is forced to jump out of their cover to do so. This catches the attention of one of the nearby wolves. It turns, snarling.
"Hrida, beth ydyw? Pwy sydd yna?" calls out a female voice. She emerges - an older woman with short, gunmetal grey hair and leather clothes died a deep, blood-red. She peers down, then narrows her eyes as she spots the conspicuously horned tiefling.
"Shyael! Diafol! Diafol agosáu o isod!" she exclaims, riling the camp. She draws an arrow from her quiver, aiming it.
The elven woman carefully climbs down a rope she has anchored to the top of the cathedral, drawing her bow and an arrow as she reaches the bottom. She too aims it down at the two scouts.
"Halt! Show yourselves!" she says, her gaze not leaving the pair. She turns to the woman beside of her. "Dydw i ddim yn synhwyro unrhyw ddrwg, ond gallent fod yn cuddio eu gwir natur gyda hud. Byddwch yn barod." The other archer nods.
What with the two of them having been spotted, Isilme needed to move quickly to explain the situation to Shyael and the sarkorians. Lifting her arms up slowly, she pulls out her crusader's cross as she does, letting it hang down from her hand in front of her.
"Wait! We are here on orders from Commander Mazrarad. We merely closed on your camp quietly because we were unsure of who or what we would find," Isilme says. "You are Shyael, yes?" nodding at the elf, "the commander also wanted us to check in on you among our other tasks. There are five more of us, if you will allow it, I will call them forward so you can see them as well. One of our companions has an odd appearence, but please do not be alarmed, she has a kind heart and her appearance is not her fault," she explains quickly to Shyael.
Val skips out and pokes her head downstairs. "Hey Sosiel!" she calls out. "Can you do me a favor?"
"I promise we need no harm," Val says, raising her hands.
"Hold on a moment!" Sosiel calls back. After a few seconds he comes up the stairs. He grins as the statue of Valaria comes into view.
"Very lovely. I recognize the style... a sculptor who specializes in nude renditions of succubi, yes? They leave their works unsigned, which makes them very valuable, as its pretty much impossible to get commissions. You must know how to pull some strings."
The elf nods, slowly lowering her weapon. "Yes, I am Shyael." She turns back to kellids. "Ymlaciwch. Mae'r rhain yn ffrindiau. Rwyf wedi bod yn disgwyl help gan fy phenaethiaid."
"It is good to see you, I've been waiting to give my report. I met these Sarkorians here while traveling through the Wound. They say that they have been called upon by their god, Laktharis, to resurrect their old religion. Houna, ddweud wrthyf eto, beth oedd Laktharis ddweud wrthych chi?"
Houna returns her arrow to her quiver. "Laktharis addo i ni amddiffyn rhag yr staen abysyl a dychwelyd at yr hen ffyrdd os ydym yn teithio at ei eglwys gadeiriol hynafol a adfywio'r coed duw sy'n cael ei sownd yma."
"Yes, so, these people here turned to me for help, asking me for aid in recovering their ancestral lands. I agreed so long as we could build a fortress nearby to help keep the Sarkorians safe and patrol the Worldwound for other threats. I know nothing of the god Laktharis, but I respect their beliefs nonetheless," Shyael says.
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"Called upon by their god? Have they been receiving dreams? Or visions of some kind?"
Sosiel chuckles. "Perhaps you should be asking the Calistrians instead?" He grins. "I'm only joking. It's very tasteful. I'd be happy to find such a fine piece a suitable home until you return."
Shyael turns to Houna. "A yw Laktharis siarad â chi mewn breuddwydion? Neu gweledigaethau?"
Houna shakes her head. "Nid yw breuddwydion nac gweledigaethau. Yr ydym yn clywed ei lais yn ein meddyliau o bryd i'w gilydd. Mae'n galw i ni i adfywio'r grefydd ein hynafiaid."
Shyael translates, "No, she says he speaks to them directly, a voice unseen."
"Drat. I had hoped that we might learn more about Valias's visions. I suppose we should probably still talk to them then. Maybe they know something..."
Isilme ponders for a moment the fact that the sarkorians had been hearing 'voices'. Such a trick had been used rather effectively in Dawnton against the Inquisitor there. While it might be true they were receiving such a message directly, gods usually preferred to speak through signs and visions and dreams, not whispered in the ears of their agents. While Valais also being subject to the calling might be considered evidence of the veracity of the call, it could also easily mean that she was manipulable through her demi-demonic nature. It was something she would need to keep a close eye upon, lest they walk into some sort of a trap.
"Our friend who has accompanied us also seeks to aid Laktharis, she has received visions telling her to come this way, perhaps we could all sit and discuss what this might mean. I suspect that we will be aiding in your task to revive this 'tree-god'"
Shyael turns to Houna. "Maent yn dweud bod ganddynt ffrind sy'n gelwir arnynt hefyd gan Laktharis. Efallai y byddant yn eich helpu i adfer y goeden-dduw."
Houna contemplates this for a moment, then shakes her head. "Ni allaf ganiatáu i bobl o'r tu allan i fynd i mewn i'r deml oni bai eich bod yn profi eich defosiwn i Laktharis. Roedd Laktharis eni o duwies ffrwythlondeb y goeden calon-coed sanctaidd, a'i awdurdod dros natur a ddarperir ffyniant i'n hynafiaid yn yr hen amser. Gall Laktharis ymladd yn erbyn y staen y Abyss ac adfer y byd naturiol, ond mae'n gwobrwyo yn unig gweision ffyddlon ac ufudd gyda bendith mor wych. Os ydych yn mynd i mewn i'r deml, rhaid i chi drosi i achosi Laktharis," she insists.
"She says that she cannot allow you to help unless you swear yourselves as followers of Laktharis. This is a sacred site to these people," Shyael explains.
Isilme turns around and calls back to the others, telling them to come forward before turning to respond to Shyael and Houna.
"Gall ein cyfaill , Valais , wedi cael gweledigaeth gan y byddai amddiffyniad rhag staen demonic cynorthwyo hi unigryw . Gallai fod yn bod Laktharis anfonodd ei gweledigaeth oherwydd hynny , ac efallai ei bod yn dda am drosi , rhowch cyfle i siarad drosti ei hun yn y mater hwn hi, " Isilme responds, answering Houna in her flawless Hallit.
"Our friend, Valais, may have been given a vision because protection from demonic taint would aid her uniquely. It could be that Laktharis sent her a vision because of that, and she may very well wish to convert, please give her a chance to speak for herself in this matter," she says to Houna.
Shyael salutes the rest of the group as they approach. She and Houna wait for them to approach the temple before continuing their discussion. Houna's wolf saunters over to the group, sniffing them curiously. It reaches Valais and begins to growl, its ears pressed flat against its head. Valais draws her hood tightly around her face and backs closer to Hinagiku. She stares at the temple with a strange, vacant expression on her face.
"Hrida, sawdl," Houna commands. The wolf obediently trots back to its master and lays next to her feet, though it keeps its attention on Valais.
She then turns to Isilme, her demeanor more relaxed as she speaks to her directly rather than relying on Shyael for translation.
"Byddwn yn hapus i siarad â'ch ffrind, Valais, am y gogoniant a nerth ein duw, Laktharis." She smiles. "Rydym yn pryderu y gallai rhai creaduriaid neu gythreuliaid llygredig yn cael eu heintio deml ein duw. Byddem yn gwerthfawrogi'r cymorth. Rydym newydd orffen clirio'r y fynedfa i'r eglwys gadeiriol heddiw, ac yn fawr iawn yn awyddus i fynd i mewn iddo unwaith eto."
"We are concerned that some tainted creatures or demons may be infesting our god's temple. We'd appreciate the aid. We have just finished clearing the entrance to the cathedral today, and are very much eager to enter it for the first time."
Shyael translates, "She says that they could use help scouting out the temple for possible demons or monsters that may be sealed within. To be honest, I'd appreciate the help as well. I was going to do this for them, but ancient ruins aren't really my specialty."
"I think that we can manage that," Val says. "Killing demons is our specialty."
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Xanderghul hikes up the pair who had snuck ahead. Great job, Valaria and Isilme, being noticed. It was no big problem, though, as Isilme's silver tongue seemed to keep them out of trouble. Begged the thought about the value of differently-composed tongue. None could argue that Valaria's was made of silk, and that his own was made of ruby. Which was worth the most? Well....ruby WAS the most valuable material amongst those sampled... But also, it wasn't that his tongue was literally made of ruby...though it literally is. It's a metaphorical value.
He reaches the pair just in time to hear the Kellid woman ask for aid with their sekrit temple. "So, she wants us to convert to her religion in order to help her purge her temple of demons, yes?" He chuckles. "Seems backwards, but..."
He looks at the Kellid woman with the wolf, "Ble ydw i'n cofrestru i addoli eich natur - dduw ?"
"I'm having Rocky start those Hallit lessons as soon as we have a chance," Val mutters. "Does everyone here speak it other than me?" She grumbles a little. "So, how's your god's relationship with other deities? Because I kind of have a goddess already..."
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Ehren frowns as he walks up to join the others and gets a gist of the conversation. Ordinarily, he would be all too happy to hear that one of the old traditions was being revived; he had already told Ary as much. With Laktharis however, he could not help but to have a bad feeling. This god claimed that he could repel the Abyss and restore the natural world, when he had failed to do so all those years ago?
So it followed that Ehren's tongue was made of rough, unhewn rock.
"Yr wyf Ehren o llwyth Ferron," the druid starts, addressing Houna. "Rwy'n anrhydeddu'r hen ffyrdd, ond yr wyf yn tyngu llw i un pŵer, ac un pŵer yn unig. Dyna a ddaeth gerbron yr holl bobl eraill. A fyddai Laktharis galw fy mod yn rhoi'r gorau i'r Hen Ffydd?"
As she climbs up the cliff to join up with Valaria and Isilme, Hinagiku appears calm and at peace. However, inside, her mind is focused and sharp, ready to enter battle if necessary.
She is put at ease when Shyael salutes them. Taking it easy, but without taking her eyes of Houna, she slightly pats the wolf when it approaches to smell her.
"I don't speak it either." Hinagiku sofly says toward Valaria. "However, I do not feel particularly comfortable swearing myself as a follower of Laktharis... Mr. Ehren, Miss Isilme, could you ask them if there are any other way we could enter the sacred grounds without this vow?" she adds louder.
Ary is in much the same boat as the others, when asked to 'worship' this Laktharis. She didn't know anything about him, and thus really couldn't. But even beyond that...
Ary raises her shield, showing off the Holy Symbol that rises from it in cold-iron spines, motioning to it. "While I'm more than happy to make supplications, I've already got a particular deity to whom my soul belongs. So... worship is out. But as I thank Desna for good dreams and safe travels, and Shelyn for beautiful days not spent in the Worldwound, I figure there's something I could be thankful for with Laktharis..?"
"Great!" Shyael exclaims. She scans the group, her eyes pausing on Ary's captain badge, then her shield. "Captain Bishop! It's an honor. I joined the crusades when Ser Sebastian was around, the man was a legend. Here, let me share some of my supplies." She hands Ary four arrows. "These two with the black and white fletching are for undead. These two with the red fletching are for demons."
"Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn addoli Laktharis mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn barod i wrthod holl eilunod eraill. Laktharis yn dduw genfigennus sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol cyfanswm ddefosiwn gan ei ddilynwyr." explains Houna. She continues, "Er os yw eich 'Valais' hefyd wedi derbyn gweledigaethau oddi wrth ein duw , rhaid iddo fod ewyllys Laktharis eich bod wedi dod at ei deml ar y diwrnod hwn."
" Though if your 'Valais' has also received visions from our god, it must be the will of Laktharis that you have come to his temple on this day."
"She says that it must be the will of Laktharis that you are all here, since one of you has also heard their god's call." Shyael interprets.
Valais nods, lowering her hood. "This is definitely the place. I can feel it resonating deep within me."
Houna stares at Valais' horrific visage with curiosity. "Rhaid Laktharis wedi galw i chi yma i iacháu'r chi, fel arddangosiad ei nerth ddiderfyn ! Yna byddwch i gyd yn derbyn Laktharis i mewn i'ch calonnau hefyd."
"Houna believes that Laktharis will be able to restore your friend. Well, if you're ready, we just finished unearthing the front door today." Shyael walks the group towards it. "Shall we proceed?"
"Wow," says Xanderghul with a smile. "Laktheris must be even more powerful than the mighty Iomedae, whose most powerful clerics could do nothing to restore our friend Valais." He chuckles inwardly before moving forward towards Shyael. "I'm ready to go in. Hopefully some remnant of this immortally powerful being's presence remains within, that we may have a reward for purging it of demons."
Isilme carefully avoids dealing with the topic of worshipping Laktharis, as Houna seems satisfied for the moment knowing that Valais had received visions. She was, of course, steadfast in her devotion to the Song of Spheres, so better not to have to say as such.
"Yes, please, let us proceed Shyael," Isilme says as she walks with her towards the entrance.
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Hinagiku turns a benevolent eye toward Valais when she hears Shyael translate the faithful's optimism about Laktharis' ability to heal the pathfinder. Though she did not know for sure whether Laktharis could
"Mr. Xanderghul, not everyone might like to hear your astute remarks, or the tone you use, especially people with strong faith." she says, gently, her tone devoid of judgment. She says, omitting to mention that ridding the world of any oni would be its own reward for she knew that men like Xanderghul did not like to be too overly criticized.
When they finally reach a spot from which none of the kellids can hear them, Hinagiku speaks up again.
"The Master of master was once an incredible human, I can believe there are others like him, living gods. But one who demands absolute devotion does not sound like it should be awakened... it seems like it would be likely to dislike the strong presence of the Inheritor in the region."
Xanderghul laughs at Hinagiku's rebuke of his own remarks, but remains silent until they get farther away from the Kellids. "Surely the faith of those whose faith is strong is hardy enough to withstand the joking remarks of a man who finds himself in a ridiculous situation alongside deluded cultists." says Xanderghul, when they reach a point farther along.
"Of course I'm not on board with what these Kellids are saying inwardly. If it's not a demon, which it probably is, it's probably some lich from ancient times who managed to free himself from the dank hole he was buried in and now wants to reconnect with being godlike in power," he explains. "But honestly, it doesn't matter what it is. We have to play a part to get inside, and if he have to kill it when we do get inside, then we'll reassess there. If it turns out to be a being of godlike power who can push back the Worldwound when we get inside, then maybe we ought to be worshiping it after all. We have no information to act superior on, and no information to act cynical on either." Xanderghul crosses his arms, then, and appraises the group. "Let's just go inside. There's no benefit from arguing about it."
"Sure... Let's make a rule as a group then. Let's not antagonize people who might be able to help us until after they've actually helped us. Then you can antagonize them however you want. For now, let's just get inside and see if we're dealing with a crazy mage, or a demon in disguise, or an actual ascendant human of some kind."
Ehren bristles slightly when he hears the Green being called an idol, of all things, but he nods at Houna's words, more or less satisfied by their compromise.
"It would hardly be the first demon my people have worshiped," Ehren admits, once the group has a shred of privacy. Considering the diversity of Sarkoris' pantheons, the god could be anything from an angel to a demon to some other trapped monstrosity. For all they knew, it might not exist at all. Whatever Laktharis was, the druid hoped for Valais' sake that he could heal her as his follower said he could. "Yes. Whatever this tree-god is, please do not make an enemy of these people unless we truly have to. They are entitled to their beliefs, as are we all."
As Xanderghul laughs, and then makes fun of her (or the surrounding Kellids), Hinagiku remains silent, not out of spite, but simply because she does not know how to continue without antagonizing more the mage. She simply listen gracefully, without showing signs of being flustered.
When Valaria voices her opinion, Hinagiku simply nods in agreement.
"Antagonize? They don't speak Common..." grumbles Xanderghul. "What I said was a joke for your benefit."
Houna watches Xanderghul curiously, not fluent enough in Taldane to really discern his sarcasm. She and Shyael allow the group to move towards the entrance on their own, keeping far back while the heroes investigate the front doors of the temple. They pass few a few partially submerged walls made of exceptional stone masonry. There are several thick glass windows, but they are entirely obscured by thick layers of dirt.
The group proceeds through an earthen tunnel that leads to an elaborate door, shaped like an open mouth baring jagged fangs. The surface of the door is smooth except for six dials, each surrounded by spiked runes.
1. This is the rune for the demon lord Angazhan, the Lord of Apes and Jungles.
2. This is the rune for the demon lord Deskari, the Lord of locusts and infestations
3. This is the rune for the demon lord Kabriri, the Lord of ghouls and graves
4. This is the rune for the demon lord Haagenti, the Lord of Transformation
5. This is the rune for the demon lord Jezelda, the Lord of the Moon and Werewolves
6. This is the rune for the demon lord Lamashtu, goddess of monsters and madness.
1. This is the rune for the demon lord Shax, lord of lies and murder.
2. This is the rune for the demon lord Baphomet, lord of beasts and labyrinths
3. This is the rune for the demon lord Abraxas, lord of forbidden knowledge.
4.This is the rune for the demon lord Kostchtchie, Demon Lord of Giants
5. This is the rune for the demon lord Aldinach, Demon Lord of thirst, sand, and scorpions.
6This is the rune for the demon lord Areshkagal, the lord of portals and riddles.
1.This is the rune of the demon lord Andirifkhu, Lord of mariliths and sadists.
2.This is the rune of the demon lord Cyth V'sug, the demon lord of fungus and parasites.
3.This is the rune of the demon lord Jubilex, the lord of oozes and poison
4. This is the rune of the demon lord Gogunta, the lord of swamps
5. This is the rune of the demon lord Zura, the lord of vampires.
6. This is the rune of the demon lord Sifkesh, the lord of heresy and suicide.
After a moment, Shyael, Houna, and her wolf catch up. Houna looks at the door, awestruck.
"Rydw i wedi clywed am y drws hwn. Mae'n ein hatgoffa y bydd Laktharis ddifa rhai annheilwng i'w addoli ef, y rhai nad ydynt yn dangos ufudd-dod cyflawn."
The door was rather exquisite, if a bit unsettling. Seeing so many demon lord names inscribed on the door made her skin crawl. "These are all runes representing various demon lords," she says after studying the runes for a moment. She then takes the time to rattle off the names of all the demon lords one at a time, along with their portfolios.
She also takes some time to repeat herself in Hallit so Houna can understand what is written upon the door as well, saving Shyael the work of having to translate.
"Hmm, so we need to manipulate this in a way which demonstrates obedience to Laktharis?" she says to the others, half asking and half thinking aloud.
Val nods. "I recognize at least one of these. It seems... odd for a 'god' supposedly able to dispel the Abyss's power would mark his temple with these kinds of marks. I have this feeling that we're going to have a very bad time inside."
Ehren nods in agreement, the sight of the imposing door, only solidifying his doubts. Its reputation as described by Houna did not exactly help.
"It almost reminds me of the door in Ghalcor's tower..." Ehren remarks, eyeing the numerous dials. A test of one's faithfulness to their god. That was where the similarities ended, however. "I don't understand. Perhaps Laktharis shares a connection with some of these demon lords?"
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"Some of these are duplicated as well," Isilme says, taking time to point out the duplicates. "Deskari here and here, Angazahan, here and there, Areshkagal in these two spots, Pazuzu over in those two, and Aldinach over here and there. Also Cyth Vsug and Abraxas in those spots."
Hinagiku's attention only momentarily focuses on the door. It soon becomes apparent that this is another puzzle which her companions are better at solving than she is. Still, as she surveys the teeth and the surrounding tunnel, part of her mind dwells on the gate with the knobs.
"Or something else. The door might not have been there originally. It could have been installed by onis to keep the followers of Laktharis from entering it." she says in answer to Ehren.
At Hinagiku's suggestion, Isilme looks at the door trying to get a feel for if it was originally part of the structure or if it was added later.
Ehren nods slowly at Hinagiku's suggestion.
"...or to keep Laktharis from getting out. The servants of some of these demon lords were no doubt responsible for the slaughter of his followers."
The door is made of iron and has no visible hinges.. indeed it doesn't seem to be connected to anything from what you can tell, a mechanical impossibility, since the bottom rail is still suspended in midair, rather than laying flat on the ground.
Houna fidgets, pacing back and forth anxiously as the group takes its time addressing the strange puzzle-door.
"Fel Laktharis ein dysgu, 'allwed tiodi, seguryd'" she murmurs.
"Tch, boss, you find the most backwater places don't you? You shouldn't trust anything about this place. Why are you even here?"