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Maria exclaims, "AHA! That makes more sense. Running away from the holy justice we are bringing. Evil always flees. Now we just need to finish off that mindless cube thing before it eats the world."
She darts forward towards the garden, knocks an arrow and with a significant boost from her allies, fires at the cube.
for
Both Maria and Hepsubia take aim at the cube as well, their arrows easily connecting and leaving the monstrosity peppered with holes. The cube sluggishly attempts to strike back at its attackers, lashing out at...
...Rumble! Having been ready for just such a thing, Rumble easily sees the attack coming and steps aside.
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Zithembe
Mitoko
Parison
Rumble
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Chosen Cyan
Chosen Purple
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Maria
Hepsubia
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Cube
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: Garden (Difficult Terrain)
Zithembe, Parison and Rumble are UP!
The cube certainly does take a walloping! In fact, the combination of Parison's surprisingly-powerful scimitar strike, Rumble's Sledge, and Zithembe's imbued weaponry is enough to finish the cube off. Full of holes, the globby goo that makes up the cube's interior leaks out and the entire mass basically just sort of deflates and shrivels up into a soggy husk!
With the cube defeated an eerie silence falls over the area once more, punctuated only by the patter of rain and the frightened shrieks of the second Chosen who seems to have gotten himself mired in the overgrown garden next to the well. The paralysis that the other Chosen was inflicted with by the cube quickly wears off and she drops to her knees with a pained and confused expression.
"Cái...cái gì vậy? Chuyện gì đã xảy ra?"
"Wha...what was that? What happened?"
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"Ye'll lay on tha ground, demon scum!" Rumble says, pointing Sledge at the kneeling Tengu and hoping his message is clear enough to get past the language barrier. It's for the sake of the lad I haven't delivered you to the Boneyard already!
"Aye'll compromise with ye, Parison. Leh's tie 'em up an' then go fer tha leader. Buh aye'll nah leave 'til they cannae," he declares.
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"We should do that for their own protection. They were a sacrifice," Parison agrees as he sheathes his scimitar. "They were set on reaching the well. And that thing," as the adept waved a hand at the desiccated husk, "didn't seem to care that they have sided with the Storm Prophet. I don't feel safe in letting them go if they're not acting of their own free will. And if they are, they could reveal our presence if they're discovered by the Storm Prophet or anything that serves him. Let's let Zithembe talk to them and see what they have to say."
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Visibly fatigued after the brief battle, the shabti waves Mitoko closer. "Mitoko," he asks, "Would you mind serving as our interpreter? Could you ask them how they are feeling now, while I investigate the auras around them?"
Zithembe turns his bronze eyes towards the closest Chosen and concentrates.
Though both of the Chosen are confused and injured they don't resist as you corral them and start binding them up - especially not with Rumble pointing Sledge and barking orders at them. While they may not understand the words, the meaning behind the dwarf's actions are perfectly clear!
Mitoko nods in response to Zithembe's request and turns to the two bound tengu.
"Thật tốt khi bạn không đấu tranh. Người lùn trong sạch trái tim nhưng ít tha thứ hơn nhiều so với linh mục," she begins, giving them both a solemn, serious look as she gestures first to Rumble and then to Parison. "Điều đó nói rằng...hai bạn cảm thấy thế nào?"
The pair of tengu, one male and one female, look at each other a bit confusedly and then look at Mitoko. "Ốm...tôi cảm thấy ốm," the female admits as the male nods in agreement.
"Tôi không nhớ nhiều...Tôi nhớ một cách mơ hồ, nhưng đó là một nỗi đau. Và tôi cảm thấy như mình vừa thức dậy sau một giấc ngủ sâu, giống như đầu tôi đầy những mạng nhện như một căn gác cũ," the male adds, frowning.
"It's good that you don't struggle. The dwarf is pure of heart but much less forgiving than the priest."
"That said...how do the two of you feel?"
"Sick...I feel sick."
"I don't remember much...I remember the Choosing, vaguely, but it's a haze of pain. And I feel like I've just woken up from a deep sleep, like my head is full of cobwebs like an old attic."
Upon hearing this, Mitoko frowns as well and turns back to the group. "They feel sick. One of them says he doesn't remember much about the Choosing besides the haze of pain. And that he feels like he's woken up from a deep sleep, like his head is full of cobwebs."
"They might be lying and perhaps one of you can be a better judge of whether or not they are, but if they aren't...it sounds like the Storm Prophet's influence goes deeper than we thought..."
She casts a worried look back over her shoulder at the looming shrine, once a place of light and song but now seemingly filled with darkness and shadows at every turn.
Though you're unable to determine the exact name of the magics at play you do sense a rather powerful aura emanating from both of the Chosen; a mixed aura of enchantment and transmutation.
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"Thah's disturbin', tah say tha least," Rumble admits when Mitoko explains that they don't even appear to be fully aware of their actions post-Choosing. "Even more reason tah leave tha pair bound an' 'ead straight fer tha priest. Do either o' them know where 'e is?"
While still unsure of their allegiance, the Dwarf lowers Sledge after inspecting that their bonds are secure. His eyes, however, remain on them at all times.
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As you watch the pair you're pretty sure that they're being sincere. You also suspect that after the day they've had they're in no mood to tempt fate by trying to give you guys the slip!
"Bạn có biết hoặc nhớ Chosen Megari đã đi đâu không? Hoặc bất kỳ ai khác đã ở bên bạn khi bạn rời Yiangma?" Mitoko asks of the pair. Both of them appear to think for a moment and then shake their heads in the negative.
"Không...tôi không thể nhớ. Chúng tôi đi và đi nhưng sau đó trí nhớ của tôi lại trống rỗng," the female sighs.
"Của tôi cũng vậy. Tôi nghĩ tôi nhớ mình đã nằm xuống...rồi lại là sương mù cho đến khi trận chiến nổ ra," the male adds.
Mitoko sighs, looking a bit frustrated. "They don't know where Megari or those other priests went. Maybe the cube ate them? Or they might be further inside the shrine."
"Do either of you know or remember where Chosen Megari went? Or any of the others that were with you when you left Yiangma?"
"No...I can't remember. We walked and walked but then my memory goes blank again after that."
"Mine does too. I think I remember lying down...then it's a fog again until the fighting broke out."
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"We'll have to enter the shrine if we're going to stop the Storm Prophet, Megari, and the others. We also need to find a safe place for them," Parison says, looking at the tengus. Noting the wounds that one of the wayward Chosen took from the gelantinous cube, he removes a slender wand from the folds of his robes and taps the tengu on the shoulder with it.
After giving the injured tengu some medical attention, Parison turns his attention to the rest of the group. "If Leiping's friend was placed in this well by the Storm Prophet, there could be a chance that his remains or something that belonged to him might be in there."
The adept moves to the lip of the well and peers down into the water below.
As Parison peers down into the well he does indeed see many, many bones scattered about. There's also a vial containing a pale blue liquid, a necklace that looks to be made of pearls, about 30 gold in loose coins and several holy symbols. Most of them appear to be holy symbols of Hei Feng but there are a few that are different.
It's a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds.
You recognize these as holy symbols of good-aligned deities of the Tian Xia pantheon:
Shizuru - Katana in front of the sun
Tsukiyo - Jade crescent moon
Qi Zhong - Wagon wheel with spokes made of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood
Kofusachi - String of seven coins
While some of you work to fish said items out of the well, Maria does what she can to examine the skeleton that was held within the cube itself. Unfortunately there's not much that can be learned as any identifiable articles of clothing or other belongings seem to have been digested along with the person in question. That said, these bones seem relatively...fresh. So they do, most likely, belong to Laiping's friend.
The injured tengu looks up at Parison with some surprise when the priest gently taps him with his wand, a surprise that quickly turns to a look of gratefulness.
"Cảm ơn bạn. Tôi vẫn không chắc chuyện gì đang xảy ra hoặc Nhà tiên tri Storm là ai hoặc bạn là ai nhưng tôi biết chúng tôi sẽ chết nếu không có tất cả các bạn," he manages, looking to Mitoko to translate for him - which she does.
"He says, 'Thank you. I'm still not sure what's going on or where the Storm Prophet is or who you people are but I know we'd be dead if it weren't for all of you'," she explains.
Mitoko glances over her shoulder again at the shrine, a look of unease and foreboding on her face. "Do you want me to accompany you inside or would you prefer I wait here with these two?"
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Zithembe shakes his head at the potion. Once the holy symbols are fished out of the well, he says, "This may be the fate of the guardians. The symbols are comprised of the good gods of Tien Xia."
He looks to Mitoko and says, "Your presence may be a boon when we encounter Megari. I feel that one is a true believer in Hei Feng and merely beguiled."
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Parison shakes his head. "Zithebe's right, Mitoko. I don't want to leave these two unattended," he says, "but we need you with us. You knowledge of Hei Feng is key if we are to put right what is wrong here. We should find somewhere to hide them," as he cast his eyes upon the rescued tengu, "where they will not be discovered."
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Maria dabs her finger into the potion and tastes a drop, attempting to discern the contents. "Can't tell, but I agree it would be better with lemon."
She weighs on to the other issue, "Well, we have them tied and gagged and we need Mitoko with us. Let's just move quickly and hope the enemy is not aware of us already."
The hopefully sneaky elf sets her backpack with useful but not necessary items on the ground and starts sneaking deeper into the compound.
"V-very well," Mitoko nods, swallowing hard. "If you think I might be of help then I'll do what I can. As for these two...um..."
She looks around, pondering the options. "Maybe we could leave them in the administrative building," she suggests, pointing to a small, aged-looking office building that stands off to the right of the path leading up to the shrine. "If it's empty, I mean."
As if realizing that she'll need to help play guide Mitoko adds, "Over there, that's the ritual dance stage," she points to where a small staircase leads up to a raised wooden stage. The platform is covered by the same style of roof as the other buildings, with eaves that sweep out over the top of the walls. Even from this distance you can see that at the back of the stage is a decorative, ceremonial chest.
"And then the big building, the first section is the main building where the keepers lived and worked while the second section at the back is the celestial shrine itself."
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With a plan agreed upon, Maria and Hepsubia are the first to approach the administration building while Zithembe, Rumble, and the rest hang back at a safe distance. The pair of sneaky elves circle around the building, one going one way and one going the other. As they move they take care to listen for sounds of movement as well as to occasionally peek inside one of the darkened windows. There are no sounds of movement from within and neither do they spot anyone or anything inside - moving or otherwise.
After meeting up on the far side of the building and silently comparing notes the pair determine that it's safe for the rest of the group to approach and so they beckon all of you over. Once the group is ready Maria falls back while Hepsubia tries the only door leading into the building, which is unlocked.
Upon entering, all of you can see that a pair of low writing desks as well as several shelves packed with books and scrolls cram the otherwise sparsely decorated space. The building appears to be empty but also remarkably undisturbed. All is quiet.
Examination of the books and scrolls upon the shelves reveals a number of texts detailing various rituals employed by the shrine and records of when they have been performed.
Further inspection of these texts identifies the ritual components necessary to call upon the power of Zepha’s talisman.
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Hepsubia finds something, some scrolls she starts to read, quickly.
Hey, look at this! It's .. explains many things. Not everything, of course. You won't know why my cousin Ruther married that silly, pampered fool of Gothina, or why dragons can't fly on their back, or why the hedgehog can't be buggered at all, or my mom's delicious recipe of… Well, at least it explains how to activate and use the power in Zupha's talisman. Might be helpful. There just a passage I can't understand, about a spanking well deserved for someone whose initials are "G.M. L". But I might have made a mistake translating that part of the text.
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Squeezing Sledge, Rumble advances cautiously forward. It's quiet... TOO quiet... "Anythin' magical in 'ere?" he asks over his shoulder, only just willing to break the eerie silence.
Until Hep opens the floodgates. Shocked, Rumble gawks a little at the Elf. "Buh, buh why would somone wanna bugger a 'edgehog? Ah spankin'? Are yah sure thah's wha' ih said er are ya foolin wit' me?" Damn Elf must have gotten hit in the head in that last fight, we might have to force her to lie down for a day after this...
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Zithembe enters the administrative building in the dark, his constructed eyes survey the room. Noting the numerous texts and scrolls, he removes the prismatic crystal from his pouch, which blooms with candlelight in his hand. Scanning the spines and flipping through some of the pages, he begins to select tomes and scrolls with more and more precision.
"This is interesting," the shabti says. "Look at this."
Though Maria and Rumble overlook it in their haste to secure the building interior both Hepsubia and Zithembe are quick to notice a number of texts that detail various rituals employed by the shrine as well as records of when said rituals have been performed in the past. Not only that but the pair also realize that these texts identify the components one would need to call upon the power of the talisman that Zepha gave you.
It had seemed like a minor, last-minute thing. That day, as you were preparing to depart from Zepha and set out for Yiangma, the archon had handed you something - a paper talisman with the Tien character for “seal” written on it in elegant calligraphy. The word he spoke echo in your mind: "If properly used, this talisman can ward away any evil influence from a small area. Give it to the priests of the shrine as a gift, to remind them of their duties."
While it seems less and less likely that you'll be giving this talisman to anyone you now realize, thanks to the texts, that you may have just found another use for it...
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Parison contemplates the information that his companions have discovered. "Is it specific on what rituals were done?" he asks. Noting the the interior of the building and that there seem to be no obvious threats within, he looks to Rumble. "Looks like this is a safe spot as any to secure our friends here," he says, gesturing with his hand toward the two tengu.
Deciding that the administration building is as good a place as any to leave your two 'prisoners' for the time being, you carefully deposit them in a nearby corner and make your way back outside, taking care to shut the door behind you and lock it.
As before, Maria and Hepsubia attempt to slip into the late evening shadows as they move towards the ritual dance stage. Given that the platform is open despite having a roof over it neither elf seems terribly concerned about staying hidden, especially after the both of them end up slipping and sliding a bit on the wet grass.
Once the pair reach the stage they can see the ceremonial chest sitting there at the back, closed and fitted with a small lock.
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Hepsubia bounces on the floor, clasping her hands, overjoyed
Oh please, please, let me try this! Just like when I was pretending I was a professional thief, years ago! Maybe I can check for traps, and use theses nice, shiny tools I just found in my pocket on the lock! Oh please, can I?
Not even waiting (unless you count a few seconds) for an answer, the lunatic elf start to work on the chest, checking for traps first all the way to the chest, then on the item itself.
Using her thieving tools, she works on the lock like a boss.
Taking the lead while Maria (and the rest of the group, from a little further back) stand guard, Hepsubia eagerly sniffs about the stage for traps like a hound searching for the scent of a fox. Finding nothing amiss on the stage she then moves to the box itself, repeating the process. The chest is also trap-free, she's certain, and locked with a rather boring and mundane lock. In no time flat she's got the chest unlocked and opened, revealing...a pot!
It's actually a large clay pot with cords wrapped around it and tied in an ornate knot. The interior is filled with what looks, smells, and tastes like rice wine of reasonably fair quality.
It's actually not just rice wine, but sacramental wine that has been blessed by the priests of the shrine. Furthermore, the wine's power appears to still be intact which means that you could make use of it in the same manner as you would holy water.
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Parison takes out his waterskin and empties the contents out onto the ground. "I have one container if that's how we want to portion the holy rice out."
The adept then walks over to Mitoko. "It's ok to be nervous, Mitoko. I'm nervous, too," he says, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "When I have a chance to put something right that is wrong, it's rare that I don't have feelings of self-doubt. If I'm up for the task," he says, as he self-consciously grasps his holy symbol. "But any time that I feel this way, I tell myself that I'm not alone. Sarenrae is with me, to guide my steps and show me the way. She believes in me, just like Hei Feng believes in you. Like we believe in you," he says, filled with confidence in their guide.
"Whatever challenges or obstacles lie within the shrine, we will face them. Together," he says, showing his confidence in his fellow adventurers.
As the group congregates near the dance stage and portions out the holy rice wine Zithembe continues to study the ritual texts you discovered in the office, surmising that it would take an hour of preparation and then another hour to actually perform the sealing ritual. When it comes to the question of just how powerful the ritual is supposed be, well...things are less clear. A few of the texts make mention of further preparing the ritual area by way of minor acts of purification and it seems likely that by doing so, the ritual's power may be amplified.
"I know," Mitoko nods, staring up at the dark and forbidding shrine, brows furrowed with worry. "And you're right. I have to be strong, especially if I'm the only true devotee of Hei Feng left in this place. This is a test of me, of my faith." She drops her gaze from the shrine and glances over at Parison. And smiles. It's still tinged with worry, with fear, but also with resolve.
"And with Hei Feng and all of you by my side, I know I cannot fail. I will not fail."
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Feeling more and more an increased sense of urgency all of you ready yourselves and now turn your attention towards the shrine proper. The path leads to a short set of stairs ascending to the entrance of the main shrine. What must have once been a place that inspired reverence is now darkened and exudes menace. Faint light spills out from the torn and tattered window covers but no sounds of movement can be heard from within.
Hepsubia initially takes the lead, slipping into the shadows as she makes her way up the stairs. The rest of you wait below, though Maria also takes care to conceal her presence as you do. Upon reaching the great double doors that lead inside, she pauses to examine them for traps or anything else that seems amiss. Finding nothing alarming and seeing that the doors are not locked, she beckons the rest of you forward and then pushes the doors open.
Light spills into a simple, darkened entryway that seems to be used to store sandals and boots. Several pairs are scattered in front of the step up to the interior’s wooden floors. Though the shoes appear to be covered in dust, the wooden floor is strangely clean and waxy, given the state of disrepair evident throughout the rest of the grounds.
Beyond the entry way is a room covered in straw mats and lit by a pair of hanging lanterns. A low table sits in the north of the room. To the south, a scroll hand-painted with mountain scenery hangs, flanked with bamboo vases that once held flowers. A sliding door leads north.
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