GM Sior's Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (PFS #3-21, Table 1) (Inactive)

Game Master Sior

"Well, this is disturbing. Why would they change these books?"

It's still unclear to me what kind of test is needed to catalog the library, sorry. If it's profession, librarian I dount anyone has it... XD

I think it just takes an hour of us doing the work. We already have a catalog, just need to mark off the missing books, right?

Henrick is correct. It just takes some manpower. Everyone working will take an hour of work. Longer if people decide to use the manual of calm reflection at that time.

Let's spend the time to do the work, folks. :)

Hmpf. Work, work work it is, then.

Agreed

Vanya shrugs and keeps whispering on:"Well... we might be unto something but we still have work to so. I say we catalog this library and countercheck what's not here. Then we carefully investigate on this possible abyssal connection"

After an hour, you have successfully finished cataloguing the books, discovering only that which you discovered before.

Where would you like to go from here?

"Let's look through the garden, next. Leave her to her book." Acel shrugs. "Oh, and I can't figure out what this scroll is. Can anyone take a look?"

Vanya carefully eyes the creepy gnome before answering:"Well... we might as well do that... and we might also keep an eye out for trouble as well, just to stay on the safe side, you know"

Once they enter the gardens Vanya looks around suddenly uncertain on how to proceed:"So... what now? Anyone's got an idea on how to map this place?"

The temple garden is badly overgrown with tangled vegetation. Vines and briars climb the temple walls on three sides, surrounding the large windows into the chapel and the smaller windows into the library. The garden itself is a profusion of flowering bushes and weeds. Except for a clear space in the center of the garden, the dense weeds grow taller than an adult human. At the center of the garden sits a crumbling fountain, long dry, with a statue of a noble turtle in the center. Heaps of foliage choke two similar fountains, each with a large stone orb resting in the fountain’s center.

Kneeling in one corner is a gnome, who is pruning some weeds from a patch of plants.

If you are ever going to map the place, you will need to get through the thick overgrowth and down to the original plans of the garden. If one has experience in gardening, either with Knowledge (nature) or Profession (gardener), their knowledge might aid them in speeding up the process.

Insidion enters the garden, his perpetual smirk on his toothy maw.

"Greetings, gnome...can we give you a hand?" the tielfling says with more than a touch of grace.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"Looks like a lot of weeding needs to be done here..." he adds.

Insidion moves to examine the fountain and turtle.

detect magic on both

"This garden kinda reminds me of what's-her-face's home." Acel grins as they enter the garden. "She never took care- no, that's wrong. She LOVED it messy. Easier to tangle adventurers. Unless they were druids. She didn't count of four of them clearing a path, that's for sure."

"So uh, you." Acel squats next to the gnome. "Where is everyone else, anyway? Why haven't they helped you with clearing this?"
Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Acel manages to sound consoling without patronizing.

Acel lacks both skills. She could spam acid orb to melt some plants, but that's probably not a good idea.

Same here, Vanya isn't the type of lass who takes up gardening as an hobby... she will help cutting down the weeds"

Vanya greets the gnome:"Hi there! I'm Vanya and these are my companions... we are here to try to get a better understanding of this place and your beliefs. In order to do so we'd like to clear all the weeds around here... if that's not a problem, of course!"

Aid another diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

You'd think a shaman would have Kn Nature, but noooo, they are hamstrung for skills...

Shungur lets the others diplomatize and takes a back seat, watching the gnome's reply.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"Come on, folks. I'll show you what to do - we can make quick work out of it. First, the right tools..."

The gnome grumbles at being interupted. "Yeah, sure, just leave some stuff for me, eh? Prunin' these plants is one'a my only joys. Good time for meditation and mental focusing. Or somethin'. Ain't that good with the words. Name's Gastidem, by the by."

Shungur determines that his words ring with truth while Henrick susses out the best way to clear back these plants. With his know-how and everyone working, it will take about an hour to clear the area enough to document the original placements.

Will throw this in as well

As you are working, you discover an odd patch of a wiry shrub with red-brown leaves.

While Insidion looks at the fountain and turtle, you hear a jingle of bells as the gnome stands and moves over to him. "Ye got an eye of things, don't'cha? This 'ere's called the Kiss of Korada. Dakang says that if ye are faithful in the Lotus and pure of heart, you can reach in there to receive inspiration from Korada Himself. If you're hesitant or unworthy, though... well, let's just say the turtle's got a bit of a bite, hahaha."

Knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"If any of your are interested, this shrub here is called flayleaf. For some, they use it as a mild recreational hallucinogen."

I believe we have found a hippy commune...

"Hallucinogen. That explains a LOT." Acel giggles when Henrick notes the plan.

Acel casts detect magic and focuses on the Kiss of Korada. "Huh. I wonder how it determines who is or isn't worthy..." Probably some superstition to keep people out where they shouldn't stick their noses.

"No need for dulled senses right now... Maybe later when we can celebrate another successful mission..."

Vanya shakes her head at Henrick offer:"No thank you... but let's clear this space and do our job. Then we'll deal with the little fellow there" she finishes pointing at the gnome.

Ready do clear the weeds!

"I am quite certain I would not be found faithful and worthy," Insidion sneers. "I better pass..."

He does assist in clearing many of the vines and vegetation overgrowing the garden.

"Where to next?" he wonders as they near the end of the task.

Acel senses no magic on the statue.

You spend the next hour clearing the overgrowth back to as close as you can to the original design.

Gastidem stands back when you have completed. He lets out a low whistle. "Damn. You lot have got to be the most well armed gardeners I ever seen. Korada has blessed you with gifts, even if it's just patience to do the work, hahaha."

Task completed!

When did that happen? You have one task left! Geeze, how time flies, eh?

Acel wipes the sweat off her brow and puts her hat back on after an hour of hard work. "Man, this place is weird. Everyone is too relaxed for my tastes." Too relaxed to notice a demonic invader, for one thing.

"Let's find the crypt. Uh, anyone good at politely asking this kind of stuff?"

"It seems like everyone is, even Insidion." Shungur dusts off his hands, exhaling. He strides over to the gnome and kneels in the dirt.

"Friend, we wanted to pay our respects in your crypt. Would you mind telling us where we should go?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

The gnome points to the doors you came through. "Head back through there, hang a left, go down the hall with the statues, straight on through. You'll know when ya get there."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Let's first talk about this trial of yours. What is it exactly? says Vanya trying to ingratiate herself with the gnome

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

When out of earshot of the gnome and any other residents, Henrick turns to the group.

Does this seem unusually easy and contrived to anyone else? Why send all of us in for this? Has no one entered before? If not, how did they know to set these specific tasks? And then there is all that about the abyssal connection. Something just isn't smelling right here..." Henrick taps his nose a few times.

Gastidem showcases the Kiss of Korada as if it were a public spectacle. "Korada is a god of self-perfection, so devised this test. To be perfect, you must first believe. What better way to show belief than willingly taking a test to prove it? That's part one. Part two comes with Korada judging the person's mind and soul and heart and stuff. If He deems ya worthy, you get inspiration and the like. If not, you're punished.

"It may be a bit'a negative reinforcement for those what fail, but every year we try again. No matter the pain or discomfort. Why? You wanna have a go? Korada awaits."

"I'll do it. I am confident that my heart and mind are as one, and I fear not the potential for punishment. What do I do?"

What exactly does this test require? What kind of rolls

No rolls. All you have to do is...

"All ya gotta do is focus yer mind and put yer hand in the turtle's mouth."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"This will end well," Insidion laughs, though it eerily sounds like two people laughing at once.

Reminds me of Flash Gordon...

Henrick sticks his hand in the turtles mouth.

Shungur's eyebrows look like they will climb into his hair.

Vanya considers the scene with dispassionate interest:"Nice seeing how we've got people who are not afraid to jump before knowing the distance they'll fall..."

Aeilín looks on in interest as Henrick offers up his hand in potential sacrifice.

Just in case, you might want to say whihc hand, Henrick - you know, just in case...

A one-handed dwarf ranger sounds pretty cool! Unless he's a two-weapon fighter, of course...Oh, one of the weapons is a hook!

"You sure you're up to the challenge? We've only been here for half a day."

Not my fault if it chomps your fingers off...

Henrick sticks his hand in the turtle's mouth. Nothing happens at all until... *snap*

Something bites down quickly, yet painfully on Henrick's finger!He pulls it out, blood dripping from a fresh wound, like a ring around his digit. 6 pts of damage

"Ah, Korada was generous to let you keep it, it seems! He must see some potential in you yet!"

Anyone else want to have a go?

"Naaah, I'm not worthy!" Acel quips.

Hmm, it almost bit off his finger! That's my favorite one, too...

ROFL Acel.

Insidion smirks viciously. It is an unsettling look.

"Try it again!" he taunts.

Someone had to try it! I wonder what the 'worthiness' test is...it didn't require a roll or anything. Could be alignment?

You could always find out by sticking your hand in it ;-)

Insidion laughs, then says "I could use a little pain today...sometimes it just feels so good!"

The tiefling maneuvers past the dwarf, who is nursing his hurt finger.

"Bite me!" he orders the turtle as he sticks his fingers in its mouth.

I think I already know how this will end, but I guess this is something he might do. :)

Kn Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Shungur tries to remember if Korada has these sorts of tests.

Ooops, that should be +5 for a total of 17.

Vanya studies the strange contraption carefully before deciding what to do, trying to understand the basics of its workings.

Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Disable device check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

While Insidion puts his hand inside the turtle's maw Vanya tries to understand how it works and how to disable it if needed

Insidion sticks his hand in the turtle's mouth and orders it to bit him. Once his hand gets far enough in, it obliges and clamps down, nearly severing his finger but thankfully missing a major nerve and not chomping through the bone. 8 points of damage

As Vanya watches with careful eyes, she sees some blades within poised to strike anyone who put their hand in. She also notices a little pin or needle, small enough to avoid detection even as it punctures one's skin. Sure enough, looking at both Insidion's and Henrick's hands shows a tiny puncture mark.

She does not notice, however, any way to try to jam it or stop it or disable it.

"Seems like Korada likes razor blades and needles pins... doesn't seem to me this has got anything to do with divine enlightment. It's just a machine meant to scar and maim people... And given what we know already this seems highly suspect... So... gnome tell us who do you REALLY serve. Korada or something else entirely?"

Intimidate check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"'Don't stick your hand in the spider hole' seems pretty enlightening to me. I kinda wonder when's the last time anyone passed this test." Acel giggles.

"Man, someone really messed this place up."

Wait, is she doing scary?

Aid Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Fail horn

I can do scary...I think?

Acel simply grins. Not very creepy.