After the coughing corpse is tucked away tightly. Trap cleans off the general area....
knowledge religion
"What the frick do you guys make of these statues?"
Durom lost in thought of his friends severe injuries, the dwarf tries to shake off the blame he wishes upon himself he tries to distract himself and looks towards the statues.
Written in an archaic script common to old Solamnic is the description of the temple:
Fear not the darkness; instead shine light upon it. For it is in the dark that evil hides. We fear no evil, we hold faith in Paladine and Mishakal, Kiri-Jolith and Habbakuk. In their grace, we shall banish these gods from the worship of men. See them. Learn them and their weaknesses, for it is this knowledge that shall help us defeat them. And keep to the faith. Stray not from the light.
...and if you cleaned off the altar, roll a fortitude check.
|
Once the body is down, and covered s well as we can, I'll pull out my Hooded Lantern and begin to helf clear the alter. I'll take the time to clean it, as I don't want to spill anything.
Fort: <Endurence Feat>
As I'm probably the only one that can read it, I'll read it aloud.
"Fear not the darkness; instead shine light upon it. For it is in the dark that evil hides. We fear no evil, we hold faith in Paladine and Mishakal, Kiri-Jolith and Habbakuk. In their grace, we shall banish these gods from the worship of men. See them. Learn them and their weaknesses, for it is this knowledge that shall help us defeat them. And keep to the faith. Stray not from the light."
These seem to be a pantheon of evil. It is possible this is some sort of riddle, as they do seem to have been hidden away. Odd, it mentions the three patrons of my order, and the consort and mother of the three. Also, it speak of "the evil" as if they are real beings. Most literture I see, most priests and prophets takeh more a tone of an inpersonal force, or a pety immortal.
"I think I have seen this lady recently. SO this is a place to bring the dead?"
When it became obvious that the fallen doors could not be moved short of an entire group effort, Hu follows the others inside. He eyes the statues from a distance. "Perhaps there is power in this evil ones," he suggests. "And someone wanted them hid away."
"I wonder iffen tha ol man is followin a evil one or more a neutral one."
The illumination from the lantern shows the fine craftsmanship of the statues. The Solamnics put a great amount of detail into their display of the evil gods: although there doesn't appear to be any worshiping areas in this temple, it's a clear sign of the respect for the power over men's lives the evil gods wielded in the last age.
The labels below each statue tell some of the stories of the evil nature of the gods. Some tell snippets gleaned from unholy ceremony. Others describe the cruelty of the gifts granted to their followers- always a lesson about the cost of choosing to worship the dark. In each tale, unlimited power was offered to a faithful member of the church accounting for superhuman powers. In the end, though, these faithful are granted the unending torture of being bound to various levels of hell.
The whole building seems more of an education diorama than temple- a place of learning about the enemy. Xak Tsaroth was known as a place of learning, only dwarfed by Palanthas and its great library.
Perhaps there was another area of the city, like another temple, where the gods of good were given equal or greater stature. And perhaps, if this representation of evil survived the destruction of the cataclysm, the holy place of the good gods might also have survived...
The broken walls and crumbled buildings begin to fare better; some of the structures begin to look like buildings and the main road through the city is passable. Ahead, bigger structures loom in the near fog. The city rises in elevation as you travel deeper, following the ridge line dividing land from the sea.
Ahead, the path through the broken structures widens into a large plaza. Two building seem out of place- almost untouched compared to the collapsed structures around them. Both are similar in size, round with domes that reach nearly 3 stories in the air. The northern building, made of solid marble, has large doors decorated with human figures. Its doors are closed. The building to the west stands open, with their massive doors broken and laying scattered on the steps leading up.
A large well, or perhaps a fountain, spans the center of the plaza. It's center is a black abyss.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Finding no use for him within, Hu returns outside. He eyes the fountain at a suspicious distance. Should the fell beast return, it will have done with us.
He found it curious that the dragon had fled so quickly when they'd scarcely scratched its scales. Had the gnome tasted so poor? Certainly, he was full of enough alcohol to poison one not accustomed to such drink. Still. Why not finish the deed? The knight would have fallen quickly, leaving Hu, the dwarf and the kender alone against the monster.
His eyes fell upon the other building. Having naught else to do, he wanders over and tries the doors.
The dwarf staring at the evil statues gritting his teeth with anger at that dark witch and her swamp lizard for what happened to Rumal, but a lot of that anger was at himself for telling the gnome to cover him. ”I should of covered them, I should be the one dead…..” To focus on his inner turmoil he doesn’t join in the conversation and only breaks out of it when he notices the elf go outside. The dwarf follows trying to slip away without notice from the kender or Donner.
Once they are out of earshot of the others the dwarf says to the Elf, ”Where ye be going pointy ears?” As he speaks he keeps one eye on the sky and one hand tapping his grandfathers warhammer for guidance.
Trap snaps his fingers....
"Of course doors always got someting behind them!"
Hu slows, then stops. He glances at Durom. "Someone should keep eyes out, for the dragon's return. I still hold that we should secure the fountain. It may only slow the monster, but it would give us time to prepare, at the least." He shrugs. "The others..."
He leaves the rest unspoken, realizing at some level that he may be being insensitive to their loss. The death of friend was not new to him, and though he'd not known the gnome well enough to bestow that title upon him, he recognize the bonds of brotherly love between his companions.
He looks away and nods toward the other building. "Thought to have a look. Might be better to lay the gnome - Rumal, I mean - behind closed doors."
Seeing how distraught the dwarf is, he can't help but add, "Come along?" He immediately regrets the invitation - the dwarf was as insufferable as the rest of the lot. "Or no? It matters not to me."
Perception
Automatic perception check within 10 of a trap
Stealth
"Time for a go-see."
At the touch of your hand the marble doors slip open, revealing a room full of light. Similar to the first temple, it contains 6 large statues arranged on pedestals around the room. However the contrast between the two temples is night and day: this room has a bubbling fountain a few feet in, two rows of pews span the middle of the room. From the altar, clear of debris, flashes a silver gleam.
The room is brightly illuminated by 9 flickering orbs of light hanging in braziers around the perimeter of the room.
The other major difference between temples is that this one is inhabited: immediately in front of the fountain a large mastiff bares its fangs and drips a stream of spittle out the side of its mouth.
Annoyance flashes across Hu's face as the kender rushes in front of him to open the door. He starts to ask how the little man managed to get there so quickly, but his mouth merely sags open as he looks into the building.
On Hu's turn, he steps cautiously inside, showing his bare hands to the mastiff. He murmurs softly to it - "We come with peace."
|
|
He looks away and nods toward the other building. "Thought to have a look. Might be better to lay the gnome - Rumal, I mean - behind closed doors."
You are correct. I am, uncomfortable leaving him in this place. I shall be right behind you., [i]as I collect up Rumal's remains and begin to transport them to the building Hu indicated.
Initiative
"Yeah lad I'll come wit...*Hearing the mastiff*..blasted Kender what did Trap do now." With that Durom hefts up his heavy repeating crossbow ready to take down this mutt.
The mastiff bounds forward, jaws open showing sharp teeth, and leaps onto the elf...
Only to place his front paws on Hu's shoulder and run a big leathery tongue across his face.
WOOF! it cheers, sitting on it's haunches.
Rubs the dogs under-carriage as he licks the elf face....
"Yep they sniff asses as a greeting!"
Rubs the dogs under-carriage as he licks the elf face....
"Yep they sniff asses as a greeting!"
"Just like Kenders, Bwhahahaha" The laugh is little forced but sound welcoming.
"We shall call him the canine of Kendershore...."
Hu'tonkton barely keeps his feet as the massive dog bounds into him. He grins as the mastiff plants a wet one on him.
"What are you doing here," he asks the dog as it settles back to the ground. He ruffles the hair behind its ears. "Locked up, all alone... for how long?" He glances around the room, looking for indication of how the dog sustained itself.
Reaching into his pouch, he produces a strip of salted mutton and offers it to the dog.
Hu pats the dog's head again and tosses the salted mutton to it. He moves deeper into the building and takes a closer look at the fountain.
The hound pauses it's greeting, sniffs the air, and howls. It runs back to the fountain, laps up a mouthful of the sparkling water, and then runs out into the courtyard. It dashes over to the other temple, and stops at the body of your fallen companion Rumal.
You see the dog bend over and release the mouthful of water over Rumals slashed face. It pools into the deep gash left by the dragon. Moments later, the wound begins sealing itself, and the poor tinker gnome begins coughing and sputtering. He sits up, grasping his chest as air floods back in. He's still severely damaged, but alive.
"Rumal! Good dog! Good dog!"
Hu watches the dog bound away, curious what would cause it to change attitude so quickly. How long has he been here, alone?
He crouches over the fountain. Magical waters, these must be. How else to explain the dog's existence, with no food to sustain itself. After a moment, Hu cups his hand and dips into the water, bringing it to his face. He sniffs carefully before taking a sip.
*COUGH* *cough* "Whattheheckisthat? IwasdreamingIhadsettleddownforadrinkofsomeofthebestaleevertasted, andnextthingIknowI'mstaringdownthemugofaslobberingdog." He props himself up on his remaining elbow, "CanIgetadrink?Myheadiskillingme, andsoismy.... AHHHHHH! WHERE'SMYARM!? WHATHAPPENED?! THEDRAGONWHEREISTHEDRAGON?!"
"By Reorx's hammer, how can this be....." He runs over to the gnome. "Rumal how can this be....I mean bout time ye came back you were making the kender and Solomnic worry." The dwarf says with a sigh of relief.
|
|
And what nature of beast is this, that it's playful licking can revive the dead. Lil' Rumal, how do you feel? As I kneel down besides him to inspect, looking at his pupilar respoce, check pulse, etc. . . . Lay still, my friend, let us not look the gift-horse in the mouth and overexert thyself before ready. Tell me, what did you see? Do you remember us moving thee?
Once things calm down a bit, That dragon, after slaying thee, left us in darkness, with a warning to leave. We retreated to a building filled with statues of "evil gods", and made a place for thine remains. The other began to look about, and I decided that such a place was not suitable for thee, even for a temporary accomidation, and began to carry thee to the next building. The, . . . dog (?) rushed at us from nowhere, and it licked thee, and thou awoke.
I, I admit, with you falling, I hadn't the heart to continue. I, . . . You faught with bravery. I am proud of you.
Hu feels the water turn from cool to burning in his throat. All his wounds and fatigue fade.
The dog
The dog leaves Rumal's side and lopes back to the temple of the good gods. It lays down in front of the altar.
"Was it tha dog slobber or this fountain water?"
Hu'tonkton's eyes grow wide as scratches and cuts from past days mend and fade away. He fumbles for his waterskin, upending it to spill to contents onto the floor. Bubbles rush to the surface as he dips the skin into the fountain. Capping and stowing it away, he rejoins his companions outside.
Seeing Rumal sitting up - and talking - he stops short. "But... how?". He glances back toward the fountain. What manner of water brings one back from death? Surely it must also work on father, who yet lingers in this world, last I saw him.
"We have discovered a true wonder here. I must needs return home and bring this water to my father's lips."
Rumal looks like he doesn't quite get what's going on, "Dogsandevilgods? Slobberinghealing? Ididn'tfightwithbravery, myhandcaughtfireandIwasjusttryingtoputitoutwhenthatbigthingcameatme. IsawbigclawsandteeththennextthingIknowI'mdrinkinganicealeinaspectacularbrew house." He licks his lips, while searching around with his remaining hand for one of his vials, "MaybeIdreamtitwhenthedogslobberedalloverme... Ineedadrink." He finally fumbles one of his containers at his belt free, and nips off the top to upend its contents into his mouth.
"Bad dogs err called hell hounds, this ones a good dog I guess tha makes it a heal hound!"
woof says the dog. Not a bark, a simple stated woof in a deep human voice. He continues Elf-man. This is a holy place. The waters lose their powers the further you go. The same is true for more. Before the cataclysm my lords called all of the faithful priests home, but spared this chamber. The altar holds the first pages of each of the gods' holy books, however the disks are not complete. The more powerful prayers were kept in the treasury vault of the city. I sense that they are still here, below the city, shrouded by some immense evil. If one of you is to champion the return of goodness to the land, you must have those disks. Be forewarned, the evil chapters have been stolen as well, and their new owners have had months to study them.
The disks are as series of thin platinum sheets with a long platinum chain connecting them. You can see how the disks fit together, and would form a round book about a foot in diameter. Right now the collapsed disks would be 4 to 5 inches thick. There is no way to estimate exactly how thick the complete set would be other than it could reach 2' if the platinum chain were stretched tightly. They weigh 1lb currently.
Reading the disks grants you the ability to take a level as a good aligned cleric: the basic prayers and rituals of each church are here. Included are 1st and 2nd level spells. Advancement beyond that requires the rest of the writing. Each of the statues have a compartment containing three copies of the deity's holy symbol.
The water continues to heal drinkers in the chamber, but reverts to simple holy water when it leaves more than 25 yards. Unfortunately, it cannot repair a missing limb, so Rumal will have to find another solution for his damage arm.
Reads with growing excitement.....
"Maybe I can follow more than one!"
|
|
I of course, am very interested, and would like to take the time to study both the discs, the dog, the waters, and all.
Completely caught by surprize, and wonder at the dog speaking, it take a moment to form a thought. . . You say, "If one of you is to champion the return of goodness to the land". Does this mean that only one of us might be a champion?