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"Now this is worth documenting," Zithembe says as he enters the next chamber. "The details are exquisite."
Ylva's approach of the water draws his attention to the figure in the water. He follows after the Ulfen girl and rests a gentle--albeit cool as stone--hand on her shoulder, waiting patiently beside her.
As several of you approach the kneeling man, taking no particular care in being quiet, you can see that he sports a small set of gills on each side of his neck. In spite of the noise Ylva, Zithembe, and Tupp's footsteps make as they cross the cavern, the man does not stir or give any acknowledgement of their presence.
It isn't until Ylva physically sits down beside the man that he finally glances over his shoulder with a look of puzzlement that quickly shifts to surprise as he sees Ylva, Zithembe, Tupp, and Sori all gathered closely behind him. He quickly climbs to his feet and adopts a wary stance as he turns to face all of you. Now that you can see his face clearly you see the wrinkles that line his face and the silver hair mixed in with the black. Green eyes regard you with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"You. Who are you? What are you doing in this place?" Although the voice is clear and deep, there's also an odd monotone quality to it that seems out of place.
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"I am Ylva Whitescale. My companions and I are Pathfinders who are seeing what is in here. One of our number noticed that someone was coming to visit and wanted to see what was in here to visit. I must compliment the lighting here. It reminds me of the auroras back home," she answers, a friendly grin on her face.
As Ylva addresses the man she notices that he seems to stare intently at her face and mouth. "I am Uori," he replies, still speaking in his odd, monotone voice. "I did not expect to see land-dwellers here. Please, step closer so that I may see your faces more clearly," he adds, beckoning to Zithembe, Tupp, and the rest of the group. It seems a simple request, rather than a harsh demand.
"You say that you and your friends are just here to examine these caverns, Ylva Whitescale..." Uori studies the group for a moment and then nods his head. "Yes, I believe you. No harm to me - but what of these caverns? Do you mean to simply sight-see or do you...Pathfinders...take a more hands-on approach? Such as collecting souvenirs?"
You happen to notice that the gillman's robe is of a similar color and style as the cloak the group found earlier in the pool of water.
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Ylva raises an eyebrow, first at how intently he seems to be studying her face, and then at the word "sight-see."
"Well met Uori. Seeing as we would be stealing from you rather than finding and bringing back long forgotten relics, we will only look and touch with permission." She thinks for a moment, seeing that his robes remind her of something she'd fished out of the water recently, she asks, "did you have a cloak when you came in here? I think we may have found it in the pool in the passage that lead down here."
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Tupp smiles warmly and gives the beckoning gillman a friendly wave as he steps forwards... Well, he's a man with gills, at least, and that's good enough for the young halfling. "Hi!" He chirps just before feeling the telltale thud that indicates that his chicken has just 'landed' on his backpack. "Buk bok bok" She clucks quietly in his ear as she settles down with a view over his right shoulder. Tupp continues walking forward and ends up standing just behind Ylva, watching warily as Uori intently studies the young woman's face while she gives a description of Pathfinder business practices. He wonders if it's because the gillman fancies Ylva, but believes that's no excuse for staring and coughs politely, trying to draw Uori's attention away before things get too uncomfortable for his new friend. "Yeah, we wouldn't dream of stealing anything... We just sort of like to explore and stuff, and if something has been lost to time, we recover it and give it the recognition it deserves."
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Sori flies up and crashes down on Tupp's backpack, "Buk bok bok!" She clucks, craning her neck over her ward's shoulder so that she can get a better view.
Oh, this should be interesting!
She's not particularly good at gauging the emotions of humanoids, but with Ylva's waggling eyebrows and Uori's longing stares, she's sure that love is in the air. Wishing she had some popcorn, she wills Tupp to get closer so that she can watch the beautiful scene in these beautiful surroundings play out. However, she also knows what Tupp is like, and decides to give the young halfling a little divine guidance in the desperate hope that he doesn't ruin this touching moment between two lovebirds.
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The restless Hepsubia looks at the crowd taking, and talking, and talking, and quickly got bothered.
They won't mind if I get a look before everyone. Maybe there's danger ahead, and they will be happy if I warn them.
She tries to discreetly snatch a glance at the caverns on the left of the gillman's pool
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"Greetings, descendant of Azlant," Zithembe says as he steps forward as beckoned. "As Pathfinders, we seek knowledge--lost and hidden. Much of the time we explore and record. It is true that we take from time to time--samples or lost treasures--or participate in ancient rituals, but we have no intention of stealing from you."
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blasted elves... Sylvak thinks as he steals yet another glance at the once again clothed Hepsubia, I can’t tell if she’s fifty or five-hundred... old enough to be my mother at any rate... if, you know, my mother hadn’t been an elf too...
As the Pathfinders venture deeper into the cave he remains quiet, choosing to learn all that he can about his now comrades rather than draw attention to anything he can do. He takes special interest in Theo’s unusual approach to magic, and smiles proudly at Ylva’s mention of the auroras back north.
When they find themselves conversing with one of the gillmen, the androgynous half-elf keeps quiet and does his best to study the creature from a distance while other, more qualified,team members do the talking.
As most of you step forward to introduce yourselves and to offer words of reassurance, Uori's gaze shifts to each of you in turn, always staring intently at the face of whoever is speaking.
You realize that it's not exactly faces that Uori is staring at so intently, but the lips of whoever happens to be talking - not just Ylva.
Seemingly satisfied with your answers to his question, the gillman seems to relax and he even gives you all a smile. "There are too many land-dwellers who would not appreciate what can be found in these caverns - instead of seeking to understand they would simply seize what they could or destroy it. I am glad to see that you seven are cut from a different cloth. Or rather, you eight," he remarks, eyes twinkling with amusement as he glances at Sori.
Uori spreads his arms wide in a gesture meant to encompass the entire chamber. "To answer your other questions, this site is sacred to my people and is a place to which pilgrims often journey to meditate and listen to the waters. However it was once sacred to the dead god of humanity, Aroden." Uori gestures back towards the direction you came from earlier. "You saw the carvings and reliefs, yes? My great great grandfather once told me that when Aroden still lived, the people of these lands would journey to this place to perform rituals of worship. Of course, that was long ago." He shrugs. "There may yet be some spark of Aroden's power left in this place but I imagine with time it will eventually fade to nothing."
Now that you've gotten closer you realize that the miniature city is a representation of Absalom itself, easily identifiable by its Starstone Cathedral.
Uori gives Ylva a slightly puzzled look when she mentions a cloak but then he notices said cloak still crumpled in Theodric's hands and his eyes light up. "Ah! The cloak is not mine nor do I know who its exact owner might be, but it was surely lost by a fellow pilgrim who passed through these tunnels. I will endeavor to return it to its owner, if you are willing to part with it?"
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Bored with all the talk of history and introductions and just talking and talking, Hepsubia decides to make herself useful and slips into the shadows. She moves quietly towards the left tunnel that leads out of the main cavern and takes a peek inside.
As best as you can tell, this tunnel seems to run for several feet before disappearing into darkness. There also appear to be other, smaller, tunnels branching off from it.
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"It is a fine cloak that I am sure many would be pained to part with. If you could return it to its owner, I am sure that we would be most grateful for your help," Ylva says with a smile, which slowly shifts to a puzzled frown, then a look of understanding as she watches Uori speak with the others.
He is deaf, at least on land. I will ask him of it later. I am sure he would not wish for me to announce to all his troubles.
Zithembe ensures that he has Uori's attention before he speaks. "This is quite a remarkable find--a scale sculpture of Absalom--and this place should be preserved. Do you know anything of other parts of the cave?"
"Yes, I fear one of fair folk with us has grown bored or curious. Perhaps discussing what is ahead will bring her back," Ylva says loudly enough for Hepsubia to hear her clearly.
"Thank you, kind ones - as I said, I will do my utmost to return this cloak to its rightful owner," Uori smiles as he accepts the cloak and carefully folds it up, setting it down near the pool of water.
Uori then gestures to the west. "That way lies a small underground river as well as another route to the outside world. I had thought to walk down to the river to enjoy the rush of water against my gills but as I approached I came upon two strange little lizard-like creatures working at something on the riverbank." Uori chuckles a little. "Whatever it was that they were doing, they seemed to disagree on how to accomplish it. Eventually they were rolling about in the gravel and kicking and biting at each other and so I left them to it. As long as they do not pass this way, they are of no concern to me."
Now, Uori frowns as he motions to the eastern tunnel. "That way...I only traveled a few feet past the tunnel's entrance before the scent of death hit me." He shudders. "I proceeded no further so I am unsure of what might be further on. Hopefully just the remains of a creature whose time in this realm came to a natural end but I cannot say for certain."
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Tupp blinks at Uori, a slight frown on his face as he tries to figure the gillman out...
But nothing springs to mind. However, he seems friendly enough, even if he is a little stare-y, and Tupp smiles warmly when Uori includes Sori in the conversation. He listens carefully as the others converse about Aroden, Absalom, and lingering powers, nodding occasionally as if he knows what's going on.
He doesn't see the resemblance in the model himself, but trusts Zithembe knows what he is talking about. He stares at the miniature city for a few moments, thinking. A spark of Aroden's power? I wonder if it's like the todo list in my special book? If I stop bandits and keep lovers from being separated, I'll get super powers to fight evil doers. Do the right thing here, and maybe we'll get super powers to... herd sheep? However, talk of bickering lizards in one direction and mystery (albeit a smelly one) in the other, pulls the young halfling out of his reverie. "I don't understand... Why is this place sacred to you, when it was originally dedicated to a human god?" He scratches his wispy sideburns and looks up at Uori apologetically. "Sorry, I'm not very good with religious stuff."
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Sori watches closely as Ylva hands over the cloak, wondering if their hands will momentarily touch and sparks fly. However, this close, she is able to figure out the truth of the situation... Disappointed, the nosy chicken stops craning her neck over Tupp's shoulder and instead, sinks further into the hollow she has made in the top of Tupp's pack as she clucks grumpily. "Bok bok."
He looks too old for her anyway...
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”Little lizard creatures working on a project and bickering sounds like kobolds to me,” Sylvak offers with a look of annoyance, ”and kobolds rarely go anywhere with only two of them... there could be a whole warren down here somewhere. We can check out the smell first if everyone prefers, but the lizards may prove to be the bigger threat...”
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"Maybe it is something in need of a bath," Ylva suggests as the others begin speculating on what lays in the tunnel beyond.
"Thank you for talking to us, Uori. May we meet again when we can trade tales and enjoy food and drink if we do not have time after we see what hides in the dark places," she says to the gillman, "Desna smile on you and give you safe passage."
She stands and goes to the corridor that Uori had smelled death coming from. She peers into the darkness, her eyes narrow as she wonders if it is only death, or if it one of the monsters she'd heard tales about in the taverns she'd often performed in to earn her keep.
"I don't understand... Why is this place sacred to you, when it was originally dedicated to a human god?"
"My people have known of these caves for generations," Uori replies after taking a moment to kneel down a bit to be on eye-level with the halfling. "They are sacred to us due to the presence of a sacred freshwater spring near their center," he continues, gesturing at the pool. "Many that seek spiritual enlightenment make the journey here during the full moon to meditate by its waters. It also serves to rehydrate us for the return trip to the sea. We also carve our own petroglyphs into the innermost walls of the cavern."
The gillman shrugs. "Though we avoid carving near the reliefs of Aroden they continue to fade as if worn away by unseen waves. Most mysterious, but not really a concern to my people."
"Thank you for talking to us, Uori. May we meet again when we can trade tales and enjoy food and drink if we do not have time after we see what hides in the dark places," she says to the gillman, "Desna smile on you and give you safe passage."
"And you and your friends, Ylva Whitescale," Uori bows. "I will remain here for some time yet to finish my meditations. If you should need my assistance, please return to this chamber and I will do what I can to aid you."
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"Ah! Yes, of course," Uori replies, gesturing towards the city with a sweep of an arm. "Examine as long as you wish; it will not bother me."
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Tupp nods as Kiango discretely fills him in, his eyes going wide in realisation. "Ooooooh, so that's why..." He clears he throat and leans in, trying to be as discrete as his new friend. "So that's why he keeps staring at us? That's pretty clever!" He has no idea how the wise Samsaran could possibly notice these things, but he gratefully takes heed of his advice the next time he speaks.
As much as I want to see the bickering liz- kobolds, the others might be right. If it's more than a dead or dirty skunk in the other passageway, it might be more important to check it out first.
Tupp waves at Uori to make sure he has his attention and says, "Thank... you... for... your... time! It... was.. an... honour... to... meet... you,.. sir!" Making very sure not to shout or speak too quickly. He then gives the gillman a respectful little bow of his own and chases after Ylva, only to skid to a stop when Zithembe expresses an interest in the sculpture. As he waits patiently for the statuesque man to conduct his examination, the young halfling sidles up to Sylvak and asks, "So... how many kobolds do you think are in a warren?"
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Zithembe records his observations of the diorams from the shore and then removes his pack and unstraps the cleverly crafted breast plate. He touches the copper cuffs at his wrists, causing his explorer's outfit to transform into a sleek diver's suit. The jade man wades into the water toward the miniature, stone city.
"Thank... you... for... your... time! It... was.. an... honour... to... meet... you,.. sir!"
Uori raises a bemused eyebrow at the wide-eyed halfling but then smiles and nods. "And you, earnest one. But please, speak as you would normally do - I have had many seasons to perfect my lip-reading."
As it first appears that the group is about to move on to the eastern tunnel, Uori turns and resumes his position kneeling in the pool of water. But when he notices that you haven't left the chamber yet and that Zithembe is taking a more noted interest in the diorama, he seems content to watch instead of immediately returning to his meditation.
"Hmm...you know, I suspect that that stone city must have once acted as an altar for worship," Uori muses aloud. "Perhaps what little of his power that remains in this place is concentrated within it?"
Once Zithembe finishes recording his notes and observations of the diorama, he then magically alters his clothing into something more suitable for swimming and then wades into the pool towards the miniature city. Nothing seems to happen and the numerous frogs and other cave-dwelling insects continue to clamber around atop the diorama.
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Tupp apologises sincerely to Uori for accidentally speaking too slow, and gives him another little bow before running off to follow his fellow initiates.
On the other side of the pool, the young halfling laughs at Ylva's answer, "Aww, they can't be that bad..." And watches with wonder as Zithembe magically pops into something more appropriate for the situation, and wades into the pool. Curious about the promise of Aroden's power, but in no hurry to go for another swim, he tries to be helpful from afar. "You should try saying a prayer or leaving an offering, Zith!" He calls, raising a hand to his mouth to help direct the sound. "I heard that gods like that sort of thing... My cousin's husband's sister paints beautiful little pictures and leaves them for Sheyln whenever she comes across an altar."
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Zithembe wipes the water from his hands as he surveys the diorama. He nods to Tupp’s suggestion. ”Maybe if I enact one of the aspects of Aroden—his death was one of many surprising realizations after I was freed—the altar will respond. The Craftsman, perhaps?”
The jade immortal gathers several of the braided loops and a few colorful stones. He unties the loops and then tries to weave them into a headband that he decorates with the stones. The efforts are child-like but equally child-like in earnestness.
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"I little," Ylva answers as she steps back and wiggles her hips, "I did watch some dancers from the east one time. The men just gawked at them and their swaying hips." She chuckles as she stops her little impromptu demonstration. "I tried the next night and well, it's a good think I'm tougher than I look. I've been trying to learn some of the dances from my homeland, but not many of the ulfen in Absolom know them."
While Ylva and Hepsubia discuss dancing, Tupp hollers helpful suggestions to Zithembe as he approaches the miniature stone city. Deciding to enact one of the aspects that the group learned about from the carved reliefs earlier, the enigmatic shabti sets to work weaving a small headband using the loops and colorful stones at hand. The work is rather crude and child-like but sincere...and it is this sincerity that seems to resonate with the diorama and within each of you. There is no great flash of light, no booming voice, just a brief surge of warmth reminiscent of having a hot drink on a cold day. As quickly as the warmth comes, it fades away...leaving your senses just a little bit sharper.
As if sensing this small miracle, Uori smiles. "Ah. It seems I was correct, yes? Some of Aroden's power still remains in this place. How fascinating!"
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"Woah!" Tupp's eyes go wide and puts a hand on his stomach as the warm feeling subsides. "That felt weird... Do it again!" He cheers excitedly, but changes his mind when Kiango makes a new suggestion. "Corral... Like sheep?" He looks up at the Samsaran with a wide smile, then back at Zithembe in the pool, "That's brilliant! Yes, do that instead."
In his excitement, the young halfling starts bouncing on the balls of his feet as he tries to answer Hepsubia, not taking his eyes off Zithembe for a second. "Zith said he was 'enacting an aspect of Aroden' or something..." He shrugs, "I don't really know what that means, but while you and Ylva were dancing, he made this nice little headband, a bit like the craftsman statue we saw, and put it in the city. So, maybe you could try acting like one of the other statues?"
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With everyone's attention now on Zithembe and the miniature city, it's Kiango's turn to offer a suggestion of trying to corral the frogs hopping around. Though a bit dubious, Zithembe reaches down and begins snapping his fingers, trying to get the frogs to move in one direction.
The frogs seem to like the sound as they begin jumping in time with each snap. Turns out that Hepsubia and Ylva aren't the only ones who like to dance! With a flourish, Zithembe finishes his impromptu snapping tune and the frogs leap into the water with numerous small splashes. Another feeling of warmth comes over everyone and then quickly fades away...leaving you all with a feeling of determination to see each other through whatever trials may come.
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So, where are the dice? I remember this game, I think I played it in a temple of Abadar once..you have to buy every house and temple in the streets, and people have to pay you if they stop on one of your house! Twas called "I own everything!" or Something like that. There was another game like that, played on a whole world, called "Citizen can!" but even I hadn't the time to play...
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Whatching Zithembe herd frogs out of a tiny city is enough to make even Tupp want to follow suit and take out his books. He shrugs off his pack, forcing Sori to grumpily abondon ship, and pulls out his journal and ink. "Haha! That was brilliant! Right, so that's two out of four." He scribbles down what has been tried so far, how it feels when the blessings happen, and most importantly, that frogs will dance if you click a fun tune. "What should we try next."
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