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"I understand your need for neutrality quite well. You can only do so much in a dangerous region like this, and you would not want any one group to think that you are against them. What I propose is a trade, of sorts. As both the Pathfinders and the Reclaimers gain out of it, it would be a fair trade. Perhaps we should speak while sitting? We have been riding for hours within this desert and would like to sit for a few moments."
Sakura waits to see if the Druid responds amicably and then follows her.
Niva tilts her head at Sakura's words and then inclines it in a nod. "Sakura Sakamoto, you seem to understand our goals in this. If your companions would like to set up here in this clearing, I would be pleased if you would join me in my home to talk further." It is abundantly clear that this is a private invitation. Even the other druids raise their eyebrows at this, especially Jeraldus who opens his mouth as if to protest, but then closes it.
Niva leads Sakura into the green tunnel at the back of the clearing, leading around a bend and into another open area. Built against the boles of the large trees are crude huts of sticks and mud plastering. Roofs of grass and living moss cover these simple dwellings. At the east end of the clearing is a thick old oak with a few splinterlike branches atop its stunted trunk. Carved into this trunk is a crude face with a grim line of a mouth, a well-defined nose and two hollows for eyes. The entire carving gives the appearance of a giant wooden head resting on the ground. Green trails of ichor trickle from the hollows, like some slimy moss, collecting in a stone basin set before the old trunk. At the far end of the clearing these is another exit deeper into the grove.
Niva leads Sakura into one of the huts, a simple affair with little in the way of furnishings. Inside, there is a bed of fragrant leaves and soft mosses, covered by a simple woven blanket. Next to her bed is a large nest of twigs and lined with hair. At the center of the hut there is a tree stump, the top worn smooth with a few earthenware dishes.
As Niva is about to follow Sakura in, she is stopped by Jeraldus and pulled away. The two exchange a few whispered words, the younger man concerned but with an edge of irritation, Niva collected and confident. It is very clear who is the one in charge.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't you think it wise to at least hear what our guests have to say?"
"Alone? What are you planning on saying?"
"My friend, do you not trust me? Have I ever wavered from our goal? The turning of the seasons ever brings new growth. The least we can do is listen, and it is easier for her to speak freely if we are alone."
"You always say to be careful. To not get too close. To not listen to the words of outsiders, and listen instead to the word of Gozreh. She is clever with her words, Niva."
Niva smiles gently and lowers her voice even more.
DC 25
"You do not need to fear my heart softening from our mission, Jeraldus. If she can not offer us any aid for our goal, we will continue to serve the land as we always have."
Jeraldus leaves, seemingly satisfied, and Niva turns back to the hut. She enters, and closes the entrance with a leather covering. "Forgive me for the interruption. I am pleased that we have a chance to speak in private. My companions are zealous and faithful, which sometimes leads to singlemindedness. Something you are perhaps not unfamiliar with? Now, I am interested in what you would offer us, and what you would want from us in return." Niva sits down on the floor of the hut, a simple but clean mat of bark, and offers Sakura a bowl of fruit piled high with berries.
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Sakura sits down on the floor next to Niva and takes the bowl of fruit in hand.
"What we ask is actually quite simple, in fact. We have come to the Desolation for the exact purpose that I stated earlier, to find artifacts and explore this Desolation, but more importantly it is to explore the ruined city of Tsar that is nearby. We only have old tales and rumors to guide our path so far, so we would like to spend time researching the outskirts of the city first. While we have recently set up within the Camp and made amicable relations with the... inhabitants of the town, we would need more than one location to stay if needed during our adventures." She takes this moment to pick up another fruit and begins nibbling on it.
"This grove could serve as a minor stopping point along our exploration of the area. The camp itself is nearly 12 miles away, close to an entire days travel. Being able to stop here, without supervision, would give us more access to the ruins and more access to sites within the Desolation. Finally, you or some of your druids may know of landmarks nearby that we can explore on our quest for information." Sakura then places the finished fruit down. "What we offer you, is a solution to your problem. I don't know what it is yet, but I am sure that we can find a way to help you mitigate or solve the issue. My companions and I have a varied background and our adventures as Pathfinders have put us in many situations around Golarion. I'm sure that our expertise can help you. Think of our aid as a prepayment for the use of the grove as a resting stop without supervision of the rangers."
Sakura pauses and picks up more fruit, "Now, what is it that you haven't been able to deal with?"
Niva looks at the Tian woman thoughtfully. "You must understand that you are asking for a great deal of trust. And we do not trust easily. We have survived out here, alone, by relying on no one but ourselves for over fifty years now." She looks at Sakura, gauging her reactions.
"You see the Desolation out there. Earlier you commended our efforts to sustain a living grove here. Places like this scream out in pain to those who can feel the pulse of nature...a wasteland where not a single seed can sprout. The land is tainted from the bygone wars, demons and crusaders alike poluting the earth. There is no clean rain from the skies, no nutrients in the earth. When the Reclaimers first came here, my mentor among them, healing this land was an impossible task. For years they labored, surrounded by this bleak, lifeless land. I ask you, Sakura Sakamoto, is there a mission more noble, more worthwhile, than bringing growth and redemption here? What price wouldn't you pay to save the world as you know it?" Niva fixes Sakura with her gaze, and for a moment there is a desperate, terrifying, and anguished look from her. Niva pauses, takes a deep breath, and is back to her unruffled demeanor.
"Sacrifices have to be made. It is the balance of nature. Just as the lamb is preyed upon by the wolf to feed her cubs, so too must the wolf perish to nourish the grass that sustains the lamb. This is the undeniable truth of the world. In a land so scarred by the hand of man, it is only natural that through the same it can be healed." The druid stops, looking to see how Sakura responds.
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V watches Sakura and the rest of the Druids leave the clearing, but her eyes also note that the creatures that she saw before continue to lurk in the woods. Lucas is the last to leave and he nods to the Pathfinders, "There is plenty of game and food to gather. If you want to go outside the ring, let me know and I'll go with you."
The half-Orc huffs a little in frustration and surveys the area. She sets down her pack, stretches, and walks close to Momir. "We are being watched by some beasts in the trees. You probably spotted them also," she mutters in his ear. Then, louder, "lets make ourselves useful and set up camp and make some dinner."
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Sakura seems to take in Niva's words, and is deep into thought as the druid speaks. When Niva finishes, Sakura pauses for a short moment before answering, "I cannot guarantee our agreement to what you will propose, but I do agree that extreme measures must be taken to correct the wrongs done to this Land. Like I have said before though, I guarantee our secrecy no matter what. That being said, I am quite interested in what you propose and would like to hear more. I may not be as in tune to nature as the druids of this grove, but even I can hear the screaming of the land below us."
She sits in silence for a moment, collecting her thoughts and listening to the sound of birds outside. "We the Reclaimers have a powerful entity here that nourishes the land. Before you ask, it was a being sent to us from Gozreh himself, a divine connection to the land. It is not any sort of demon or foul beast, but a being of nature incarnate. He provides us with the life-giving force that has brought about all that you see around you. But he too must be nourished, fed by the blood and life force of beings. Over the years we have learned what is best for the land...they must be creatures born of this material plane, they must have thoughts and feelings...and the most effective of all is the blood of humanoids. The stronger the better to feed this land." Niva states this matter-of-factly.
"Before you think us heartless, know this. We do not undertake these actions lightly. We do what we must for the good of this land. Each of us is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to continue our mission, as those who came before us have." She looks meaningfully at Sakura. "If you truly mean to be our allies, then bring us those you encounter that would serve our purposes. I have no doubt that you would bring death to many who stand in your way. Should their deaths not serve a higher purpose? If you agree, then I will ensure your safety here in this grove, the same freedom from our defenses accorded to our ranger allies. And if you help us with your actions, then we can reward you."
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"Hrm. A 'hovel' sounds like a good idea, though from experience I imagine it's nicer than you make it sound. Guess that means we don't have to set up tents. I think I saw some wild fennel and morel mushrooms while walking in...would go well with some fresh rabbit or birds." V hefts her heavy crossbow and scans the forest branches around them. She turns to look at Momir after a second, and asks gruffly, "You alright? You seem confused. Thought you'd like being here with all this green stuff."
The Druid and Sakura exchange a few more pleasantries, but it's soon obvious that Sakura wishes to discuss the agreement with her companions. Niva escorts the the geisha back to the big clearing, where Momir asks about setting up a "hovel". The druid states with a shrug, "As long as its presence does not distrub the natural order of our clearing, you may do as you wish."
Before long, Momir conjures a sturdy hut that seems to grow from the surroundings, a building made of tree trunks and vines. V returns with a healthy selection of fresh vegetables and game. As the three prepare the meal, Sakura relates her negotiations with Niva.
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The half-orc blows gently on a spoonful of stew and puts it to her lips for a taste. Satisfied, she puts the top back on the cast iron pot and leans back. She looks back and forth from Momir to Sakura and sighs heavily. "We can't be overheard from in here, right? Well, I'll be the first to say it. I don't like this one bit. Not. One. Bit."
She jumps up from her stool and begins pacing the room, her heavy boots thudding on the floor. After a moment, she begins again, "So these Reclaimers are just snatching people off the Ashen Plains, sacrificing them to Pharasma-knows-what in the name of fertilizing their plot? I don't deny the fruits of their labors, but do the ends justify the means? No, don't look at me like that, I'm not advocating any kind of full-scale assault. I'm not so foolish as that. Besides, I'm well aware of our need for shelter and allies. Practically speaking, the druids obviously command a great deal of resources and agreeing to this deal would give us a huge advantage towards our greater goal, which we must not lose sight of. I'll even concede that we will likely encounter plenty of persons that we will have to administer justice to, and as Niva said, this method of execution at least gives some meaning and purpose. Lastly...these druids do not seem to be utterly irredeemable. While I would certainly classify their actions as no better than murder, perhaps by working with them we can set them down a better path. At least have some say in who gets butchered. So, if both of you believe it is in our best interest to work with them, as long as we are judicious in who we bring to them, I can certainly agree to that. There have been far worse allies made throughout history in pursuit of greater goals."
She stops pacing and looks intently at her companions, and her voice deepens in tone and emotion, "All that being said, if it were up to me alone, I would leave this place as soon as I could and never return. Blood rituals, no matter how benign they seem, are a very dangerous proposition, something that the Inheritor would never look too kindly upon...nor, I suspect would your ancestors or the Last Azlanti. These druids are not trustworthy, especially their leader. She keeps far too much hidden. But again, I am not alone...and if I was, I am sure that I would fail to form any alliances and quickly perish in this wasteland. Don't smile, Sakura, I know my own shortcomings! And if I was with a stout contingent of paladins, I'm sure they would do their best to burn this place to the ground, losing a quarter of their force in the process and gaining nothing towards retaking Tsar."
V sighs again, and sits back down to stir the stew. "There is no good answer to this conundrum, in short. Agreeing carries a great deal of benefits...but it is sure as hell risky."
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Examining his conjuration, he seems content with the hut, knocking his bow across several different spots, letting out a satisfied grunt, as though he was worried the structure would be anything but sound.
He pays attention to what V has to say, squatting down and drawing in the dirt with a stick, his brow furrowed. Often he nods his head, letting our a quiet, but rough, guttural grunt in agreement with many of V's points.
Once V has finished speaking, Momir begins, his eyes still firmly planted on his sketching in the dirt, his words more for himself than the others.
I would not be telling truth if I were to say I were to say I found this course as anything but reprehensible. I can only wonder how long this...entity will hunger for the blood of the deserved before the gaping maw yearns for innocent...for ours...
That said, as you say, V, these druids are not the...eh...bad guys, eh? They provide place for us to stay, and all we have to do is bring them someone we may have just killed anyway. This place...this area is wicked...who are we to bring our values of what is right and what is wrong, when clearly that scales holds no meaning here.
I would confer with the wisdom of those who came before me...if you'll excuse me, Mishra, Mishka, and need some time alone.
His compliment of animals in tow, Momir attempt to find some area, secluded from the party, some grove or clearing (one the druids have granted him access to, of course), where it seems to just be Momir and the sky above.
He begins to confer with Mishra, calling forth knowledge stored within.
Momir begins to chant and mumble, casting Divination, lighting incense he calls out to his Ancestors,
Elder knowledge, I seek within, to tell me if I go in Sin. These druid are of hidden fang, and sharpened claw, that spill the blood to th' hungering maw. We seek a friend, an ally to our cause and yours. Be they kind or be they ill, should we help them, tell me your will!
Momir makes to leave the hut when V roughly prods him. "Momir. There's Druids out there. And Tigers. And Kamadans. And Scythewings. And psychotic trees. Why the hell are we here again?" Momir starts, but thinks about it a moment and nods, "Point well made, I forget my surrounding," *awkward laugh* "I will do this in the hut, but I will require some quiet"
The smoke from the incense coalesces around Mishra, blurring the bird's outlines. Mishra's eyes glow with an ancient light, and faces seemingly emerge and disapear in the wisps. The faces regard Momir's question and then reply in a chorus of ethereal voices.
Desperate times call for desperate measures,
Allies scarce for all in desolate lands.
Yet best be wary amongst the lions,
For hungry beasts bite empty hands.
Their secret spilled,
Your alliance kept fulfilled,
Else the Wild seek out their demands.
Their task complete, the smoke ceases swirling and disperses normally. Mishra shakes as if removing droplets of rain, and the last remains of the incense disappear.
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Momir regards Sakura and V, relaying the message that his divination produced.
His face weary with exertion, and his eyes somewhat sullen from the realization, he comments, Well, we should consider making an alliance with these druids, at least that is how we feel, Momir quirks his head to Mishra as he says, a slight smile dancing across his face.
But, eh...hmmm it would seem if we don't feed them...they may...eat us? But, hey, whats another enemy out here?! He finishes with a dark laugh.
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Sakura patiently waits for Momir to cast his divination, every once in a while writing short and quick notes about the process. Once the smoke spirits begin to speak however, she fervently records the fortune, hoping to catch some small hidden meaning in the words.
At the conclusion, she speaks softly but firmly, "Well, this confirms my original suspicion. They want to keep this secret more than anything, and if we do agree to their request, we should fulfill their request." Sakura then takes a moment to look down at the paper again, seeming to brood over a few of the words. "These druids could potentially become allies in the future, if we do what they ask. Assuming that we do agree, however, this would not be a fair trade. They need to be willing to give us more than what I originally asked. I'm not sure what they have to offer, but the price on us is quite high. And a simple place for retreat is not worth a blood sacrifice. V, you are quite right that the Last Azlanti would not condone of these acts either. I believe that if bargain is only for a retreat, then we would be on the losing end of the deal."
Sakura then looks at both of her companions in a serious face, "The only question is... can we survive alone out in the desolation?"
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V waves her hand in front of her face to get rid of the smoke. "Didn't you say that Niva mentioned rewards for bringing her our enemies? Is it just me, or are Momir's ancestors sort of dire? Kind of a damned if we do, damned if we don't thing. As for surviving out in the wasteland...It's possible with this hut. But it couldn't hold off a flock of vrocks or a single glabrezu.
Thinking back to your bardic training, you look over the divination that your transcribed. You mouth the words over again...and recall Niva's final words to the other druid.
"Their secret spilled,
Your alliance kept fullfilled,
Else the Wild seek out their demands."
"You do not need to fear my heart softening from our mission, Jeraldus. If she can not offer us any aid for our goal, we will continue to serve the land as we always have."
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Sakura stares at her writing for a few moments, pondering the situation, when she suddenly exclaims, "Bái mù! Bái mù! I should have seen this earlier, Niva is not being honest with us. She doesn't plan on simply letting us go as she promised, if we do not agree to her terms, they will use us for this ritual of theirs. V, you are more correct than you realized... we really are damned if we do or damned if we don't. I do not intend to aid someone who is planning on backing out of a deal when convenient."
With this Sakura simply begins placing her writing instruments back into her backpack, and looks at her two companions.
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"What? Are you sure, Sakura? Why those..." V jumps up from her seat, but then pauses and begins pacing again, briskly. "Wait, wait. If they intended to double cross us from the start, then let's not get too hasty, nor too obvious. At the moment, we need the ranger kid to get in or out of this place. We already know that fighting our way out of this grove is nigh suicidal, right?"
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Sakura nods at V's statement. "Yes, fighting our way out would be suicide. I don't plan on meeting Pharasma just yet. However, I could easily fib our way out of here. 'We have discussed this issue at length, however we have decided that we require speaking with our gods to find the true path. We shall send a message in three days time with our response, as we need to use this time to explore the surrounding area as well.' I have some... magics that will aid me in this deception. Regardless, we should prepare for a battle in case Niva sees through the lie."
While finishing this last statement Sakura begins to take out a large case, which seems to hold a carefully padded tea set.
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Momir stands up from his cot, and puts his pipe away, a sigh escaping as he does so. So much for a night's rest...Anyway, this plan seems like good plan. I will prepare what magic I can to assist our escape, but let us hope it does not come to that. As Momir finishes his statement, his eyes fall to Mishka, which had become a lumbering mound of fluff in one of the shelter's corners.
The party steps out of the secure shelter and back into the quiet grove. While the party had been inside, Lucas had set up a simple camp of his own and was restringing his bow. He looks up to see the party seemingly ready to leave. He smiles boyishly, "Hey guys. Did you want to head out or something?"
"No problem, I'll go get her." Lucas jumped up, and returned a minute later with the Druid leader. He then briskly gathered up his supplies and whistled for his dog.
Niva looks over the Pathfinders and sees that they seem ready to depart. "Leaving so soon? I suppose it is yet early in the day. Good hunting. Have you made a decision yet as to our agreement?"
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"Yes, we still have much to explore in this area of the Desolation. While we have spent this time in discussion, we need to spend more time praying to our gods and communing with our ancestors." As Sakura says this last bit she briefly turns towards V and Momir.
"We should have an answer to you soon enough however. May the gods smile on your mission here while we are away and leave you in peace and calm." With the last words Sakura takes a modest bow towards Niva and then looks towards Lucas to have him lead the way out.
Niva blinks for a moment, considering. "And the Wind and the Waves smile upon you, travelers. The Reclaimers await your answer, but until then we trust that you will keep our secrets. Lucas will continue to guide you in and out of our sanctuary." Niva, her features serene and ageless, inclines her head towards the group, and watches them depart.
As they leave, Lucas pulls out the set of bells again, holding the cotton mufflers in his other hand. As they pick their way through the dense undergrowth, he chats pleasantly, [b]"Well, lets see here...if you want to be back here before nightfall, there's a couple of places nearby. To the northwest there's an old burial mound, probably full of treasure and stuff. We can even swing by the cursed phantom if you'd like a look at it, but I dare say I don't reccomend we get too close. Also, west of that big old pit is a huge old mausoleum, that they say has been locked up for a thousand years*. Anyhow, you're the adventurers, where do you want to go?"[b]
DC 5: It's been a hundred years since the First Crusade.
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Momir wears a sort of perplex expression on his face. Pulling Sakura aside, out of earshot of Lucas, he murmurs, I...uh...am please we decided to deal in honesty...although I am confused at the change of plan...perhaps later we can speak on what you...er...we intend to do with them, yes?
After hearing Lucas's descriptions, Phantoms, you say? Are we to be thinking this place is haunted? Is bad thing, spirits not allowed, or able, to pass on past life. If there's gain to be had, and we are able, I'd like to deal...with these restless spirits. Curious, though, why leave the mausoleum locked up for all these years?
"Well...it's sealed. There's no way in or out of it. They say the spirits of warriors from the great war are trapped inside, wandering around, howling. Sometimes you can hear them inside." Lucas drops his voice low, so as to seem "spooky". No one in the party seems very impressed.
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V lifts an eyebrow at Lucas's antics. "Well, sounds as good of a place as any. To be entirely honest, anywhere that is easy to get to has probably been thoroughly looted in the intervening years. While I'm not particularly fond of the idea of desecrating a Crusader's tomb, If there are any undead abominations inside we should disperse them." Her ominous expression leaves no doubt as to what "disperse" means.
Lucas informs the party that the mausoleum is roughly five miles away. Their summoned mounts gone for the day, the group sets out on foot. The journey is one of unbroken monotony, the gray fields stretching out almost featurelessly. Lucas gauges the party's position frequently, reading the swells in the plain and the occasional crevice or bluff. Spotting a gray lump is a welcome relief, and the party trudges towards it as it looms ever bigger.
The edifice rising from the ashen plain is constructed of some dense gray stone. A buttress emerges from the center of each of its four walls reinforcing its squat structure and making it look impregnable to any assault. On either side of each buttress is a large statue in bas-relief of an armored knight, hands crossed at his waist and resting on the pommel of a down-turned sword. His bare head is bowed with eyes closed as if asleep or grieving — or perhaps dead. Each statue is subtly different in its details, but each appears to depict the same individual. The gray walls and statues are stained darker by centuries of weathering. Atop the entire building is a dome built of the same gray stone. The look of impregnability is belied here by a large crack that has formed at the apex and runs partially down one side of the dome, probably from the years exposed to the harsh conditions of the Desolation. There is no visible entrance.
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Upon arriving Sakura recites a haiku to herself, seeming to bolster her courage. Before walking around the perimeter of the structure, she pulls out a small book, looking at the book, as well as taking a moment to whisper to one of her tattoos, to see if she can find any guidance on this building. Finally, she hums a small tune as she takes a few moments to look around the grounds, seeing if there are any hidden devices or cracks from which to enter.
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V walks up to the stone structure and puts a hand on it. "Impenetrable, eh? Not going to lie, that's what I would want if I died fighting demons out here. If we find any artifacts or interred bodies sacred to the church, I would like to ensure they remain safe," she looks back over at her party members. "Sakura, do you have enough magical reserves to bolster me as well? Many thanks."
V does a slow, careful walk around the building along with her companions. Seeing as how they failed to find any sort of entrance, she calls upon the power of Iomedae to enhance her perception as well, and takes an unhurried approach to her search.
Sakura consults her chronicles and reveals a bit of history to her fellows. Many tombs such as this were built during the First Crusade, testament to both the extraordinary courage of those knights as well as the devastating death toll. In fact, the Pathfinders had already passed some of the ruins in the wastes, but those that weren’t clearly ransacked were indicated as empty by their ranger guide. This one monument is distinguished not only by the fact that it is still sealed and intact, but the architecture seems to indicate that it is from the very end of the First Crusade that ended tragically in 4638. It is likely that the occupant of this tomb died in battle just before the occupants of Tsar and the entirety of the First Crusade made their flight across the plains to the ill-fated city of Drezen. From the intricately detailed statues and the effort that this building must have taken in the midst of a war, he was clearly a highly respected hero or general, though his name cannot be found anywhere on the tomb.
The stone mausoleum is ninety feet to a side, with buttresses that extend out 20 feet each. The party nearly completes their circuit of the building without any results, with V already looking mildly peeved when she pauses in her steps. She walks up to the northern statue on the west side and taps gently on it. Brushing and blowing away the fine ashen dust from the statue’s carved armor, V reveals a hairline crack that runs all the way around the statue’s breastplate, across his folded arms and down to his feet. She investigates the statue thoroughly and finds no traps, but also no locking or opening mechanism. Further testing reveals that it does not budge to V’s experimental push, and does not appear to be magically sealed to the casters.
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While V is testing the crack to see if the party can enter, Sakura thinks for a few moments about the situation. "Well, I know of a few magical ways of entering inside... however I personally do not have any of these available to me. I'm not sure what Momir has hiding in that familiar of his, but we might be forced to mundane and... brute... ways of entering this tomb."
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"No reason to desecrate this monument to these people's fallen hero...Would bring dishonor on the memory for this guardian...I, though, have no means of entering this statue, otherwise. Perhaps if we break in in such a manner that we could easily repair it?"
Momir sits a moment, regarding the statue, "There is much else to study, eh? Perhaps we come back to this when better prepared?"
The party reorients themselves and they set off in the same order as before: V leading the way, moving briskly even in her full armor, Lucas, Sakura riding Mishka, and then finally Momir. The party makes its way steadily across the plain, at least until a pack of undead wolves picks up their trail. Seeking an easy meal, the wolves appear out of the party's dust cloud, white powder caked to their rotting flesh and the retching smell of carrion filling the air.
V shouts a warning and draws her weapon, ploughing her way to the back of the group. Sakura simply waves her fan and it bursts into a shower of fireworks that streak towards the wolves and smothers them in a bright cleansing fireball. A few wolves remain barely standing, which Momir finishes off effortlessly with a rain of arrows. V sheathes her sword, sighs, and returns to the front.
In three hours, the group reaches the spot that Lucas calls the "creepy graveyard". The perpetual haze of dust parts to reveal a wrought-iron fence barring your way a short distance ahead. It stands only 3 feet high and does little to serve as anything but a decorative barrier. It runs in either direction where it turns away from you at right angles and continues on until turning again and meeting at the far side forming a square approximately one-quarter mile on a side. Surrounding this fence is a zone of rocky soil that has the appearance of recent upheaval as from plowing or some other such activity. Beyond the fence, within the enclosure is a peaceful-looking cemetery. White marble headstones stand in neat rows, weathered but mostly undisturbed. Only a few have fallen over or cracked. Gravel paths wander between these markers and have marble benches set along them at intervals. Near the center of this small area is fountain of some pinkish granite shaped like an angelic trumpeter in fl owing robes, wings spread wide, that still lets a trickle of water fall from its trumpet to splash in the otherwise dry basin below. The few scraggly blades of grass that struggle to grow here give proof that some water is present in this otherwise arid landscape. The most arresting feature of this scene is the angelic statue's face. It is diffi cult to tell if it is male or female in the smooth lines, but the expression is one of absolute peace — an oasis of respite in the deadly terrain hereabouts.
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Sakura takes a quick survey of the area before gingerly dismounting Mishra. "V, perhaps you will want inspiration again for this area?" Before seeing what the crusader's answer is, Sakura steps forward reciting a haiku twice and then places her hand on V's shoulder. Immediately after this Sakura then begins to cast various arcane spells on herself, until finally various images of Sakura appear interweaving to the sorceress.
After this Sakura takes a few moments to look around the cemetery seeing if she can find any hidden creatures, treasure, or entrances. She however waits for one of her companions to step forward first.
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"Strange." says V, looking at the curious arrangement of upturned rock encircling the cemetery. "It does seem to indicate some sort of defense system. Not unusual for graveyards in hostile territory. The question is simply what."
V draws her weapons and casts another perceive cues. She looks over her shoulder at her companions for their signal to approach.
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Studying his surrounding, Momir examines the ivory pearls hanging from his wrist, holding the slightly smaller pearl in his hand, Momir concentrates for a moment, before murmuring a prayer, asking for the protection of his elders. A white sheen envelops him as the prayer concludes.
Momir holds his hand up to the others as he looks around, taking his time as he goes, examining the area for anything the might show a trap. Mishra, his hawk, sits perched on his shoulder, swiveling its head, reexamining any area Momir has determined "clean."