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

Game Master Sior

Insidion laughs maniacally for a few moments before tapping his nearly-severed finger with a wand.

"This is the best part of the pain!" he says as the wand of infernal healing knits his finger back together. "Ah, the sweet pain!" he says.

Once he regains his composure, he says quietly to his companions "The one thing I know is this is no lovey-dovey aasimar compound..."

"Needles, Vanya?" Shungur's face grows serious. "Insidion..er…Henrick, let me see your hand. Needles make me think of poison. I am no expert, but…"

The shaman examines the dwarf's calloused hand.

Heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"Well, doc? What's the diagnosis?"

The pin prick on Henrick's hand shows no sign of infection or contamination from poison or anything of the like.

"Whatever... gnome! What do you have to say for yourself?" says Vanya taking her scimitar out of its scabbard

The gnome backpaddles a few steps, hands raised. "Woah woah woah! What makes ya think I got somethin' to explain. I just tend the place."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Th fact that turtle's maw is filled with razor blades and pins, not someting a god like Korada qould endorse... Am I right?. No way you don't know about it since, as you eloquently put "you tend the place"! And the fact we know something in this place is very wrong! But feel free to surprise me... give me an explanation as to why do you ask people to put their hands into a contraption meant to scar and wound the. Consider your words carefully though: if you lie I will put YOUR hand inside the turtle's mouth and we'll see how enlightened YOU are!"

Sense motive check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Erm, ya wanna throw an Intimidate check in there for that one?

I wanted to know if he was really innocent or not but yes, I can do that too

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

With the harsh words from the scimitar-weilding woman, the gnome quickly speaks, "Okay! Yes! Fine! I made the statue! Thought it'd be a bit of fun for all the supplicants to come by and constantly get bit by the blades. You should see 'em when they start trippin' on the flayleaf! Never laughed so hard in my life when the one guy... but, uh, perhaps not the best time for a story. OH! But! But! Dakang knows all about it and, when he gone and found out, he told me to keep doin' as I was doin'!"

His words ring truthful, if not overly blathering.

"Not funny."

Henrick gives the gnome the stink eye.

Then he asks, "Who is this Dakang?"

Awed that she was outdone by a human of all things, Acel laughs "Haha! I could learn a thing or two from you, Vanya."

"Dakang's the current leader of this temple. I guess this is what 'Divine Enlightenment' is all about. Sucks to not be on the winning team, right Insidion?" Acel is positively delighted in the temple's subversion.

"Let's get to the crypt and get those rubbings, already. Then we can talk to Dakang."

"Yeah, what she said," answers the gnome somewhat pointlessly.

"Right... guess this wound is clouding my brain."

Henrick rummages around in his pack and pulls out a wand. "I brought it to help stitch me up, as I am constantly getting into scrapes. Anyone else?"

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"hmm...a joke, and a dangerous one, in a temple of enlightenment. And then, the...library. Well, let's get to the crypt indeed, Acel." Shungur looks like a cloud has passed over his face.

Vanya gives Acel a wide grin and then turns to the other gnome:"I've got an idea: why don't you try your invention yourself? I'm sure it'll be good fun! So... start walking and push your tiny grubby hands in that turtle's maw..." says Vanya as she poits her scimitar at the gnome's belly.

"Personally, I'd love to destroy this fake idol, Vanya," says Shungur, glowering. "But we are tasked with investigation. Unless something or someone attacks us." He stares down at the gnome. "And then you'll find us to be more than mere supplicants."

The gnome is very aprehensive, but finally cows to your demands that he try it. He moves up to the turtle and hesitantly puts his hand in the turtle's mouth....

Nothing happens.

"Well, I guess ya broke it! Dammit, now I gotta spend who knows how long repairing it!" With Vanya's inevitable look of stern disapproval, he backs down. "Or... I'll let it be as it is..."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Perc: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Acel has +3 perception, so she can't make DC 25

Acel laughs again. "I guess your Divine Enlightenment requires tricking people into getting their fingers chomped off. What a joke!"

Come on! I need 19 or 20! XD

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Edit: bad dices BAD DICES!

Vanya shrugs:"Very well... you are either very nimble or you know a way not to cut yourself. No matter... you are coming with us to the crypts, and then we'll have some words with this Dakang, and I want you to repeat what you just told us!"

"What, you want me to tell him what he already knows about this thing? And no, I think I'll stay right here and keep tendin' the place. I ain't goin' to no crypts. We don't go there. It's creepy. Lot more creepy than the kitchen, but that's another story."

"You can either come with us willingly or unwillingly. And if you want to complain try remembering we can always show the other people here how exactly you twisted "Korada's Will" for your fun.... I bet they will be thrilled to learn that particular piece of information..." says Vanya pointing her scimitar at the gnome

Insidion scowls at the gnome.

"Let's get moving, then" the fiend says.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The gnome seems to calm down. "Fine, bring 'em here and I'll tell 'em. Hells, you get Dakang to tell 'em. They'll listen to 'im before they listen to me. Besides," His lips curl up in a smile. "You really wanna threaten me with harm if I doesn't do what you want? But get all uppety for me takin' some happy from the minor pain of others? You ain't any better'n me, if that's the case. So go on, do what ya will. Sink down to this level. Eh?"

The gnome crosses his arms and leans on the tower, openly curious about what your next move is.

Ok... I suggest we alert the other residents about what this little s#@XT was up to. Anyone against this?

As long as you can make a convincing case. No one listens to Acel! We've met only one person so far that seems to be nice and is willing to talk to us. If the leader Dakang allowed this to happen, then I'm not sure how much speaking to authority will do.

And we still have to copy those engravings...

"Let's just go to the crypt for now," says Shungur. "We shall deal with this later. We have a mission."

"I agree - mission first."

Seeing how the others are not willing to punish the gnome Vanya shrugs:"Very well... It seems my collegues don't agree with me on your account, at least for the moment. I suggest you spend your time reflecting on what you did because when we come back from these crypts you are going to pay for what you did, or I'm personally going to feed your oversized head to that turtle you made!"

Let's proceed then

When able, Henrick slides up to Vanya. He whispers, "Hey, I'm with you, but I am getting the sense that this place has something very wrong about it. I am not sure charging down the straight and narrow path will get us the information we need. Actually, I am starting to worry about if we will get out unscathed. I say we try to get our objectives accomplished first, as quiet and unassuming as possible. And then let's figure out what is going on here! But keep a cautious eye in any case..."

I could be way wrong... but just don't feel right.

Vanya nods and wisphers:"No hard feelings, mate. I was just trying to call that bastard's bluff. But I was entirely serious about feeding him to that turtle of his..."

Henrick chuckles. "Yah, I am with you there. Don't know what I was thinking sticking my hand in there... should have stuck his in with me!"

"We'll get to that," says Shungur, walking beside them, his mystical adornments swinging on his attire. "I have no detection spell bestowed upon me today, but we shall surely know who means us ill soon enough. I am certain it's some of them, if not all."

The gnome sits back, obviously calling you on your own bluff as he watches you go.

Assuming you are going to the crypt.

You leave the garden by the way you came and make a sharp turn to your left to se a hallway.

Most of the everburning lanterns hanging in this hall are dark, but the dimness does not diminish the grandeur of this corridor. Along the north wall stand several statues, each depicting an angel or other good outsider. Some are depicted in dramatic poses befitting a holy warrior. Others have heads bowed in eternal contemplation and hands cupping glass spheres. The southern wall bears a large set of double doors, but these doors are boarded up. Smaller doors stand at opposite ends of the hall. A few bits of stone and other debris litter the floor and a musty odor hangs in the air.

Need a marching order. Who's going in first?

Vanya in the middle if possible

Henrick can lead.

Acel can bring up the rear.

That makes Shungur second. Shungur withdraws a scroll of Bless on the way in.

Placement for Aelin and Insidion?

Sorry, busy weekend. I'll post up next to Shungur.

Oh glorious GM. Insidion mentioned he would be intermittent this week. He had mentioned he would take the frontline, so he's probably alongside Shungur Edge-of-Sky.

Insidioun utilizes his wands of shield and mage armor, then takes the lead with a malicious glint in his eye.

Yeah, and you can bump the shaman back further in lieu of rager/biter/swordy types.

Insidion and Henrick take the lead down the hallway, passing the double doors which would lead into the garden. They are, however, boarded up.

Once nearing the door, Henrick stops the party. Seems there may be a trap connected to the door, something to do with the statue nearest the door.

How would you like to proceed?

"What is with these statues?" Henrick grumbles.

"Anyone got some skills with traps? Not really my area of expertise."

"A trap in the masoleum? Haha! Right, 'cause who would want to pray to their fallen allies?" Acel's sarcasm is full of joy. "I'm not much of a trapper though, sorry. I could melt the statue if you gave me an hour..."

"We could throw the gnome at it..." Aeilín says with no hint of humor in her voice, hooking a thumb back toward Gastidem's garden.

"I like that idea..." Insidion grins, but he casts a spell on the door and statue.

detect magic