GM Trex's PFS [Core] 03-21 Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

Dulcinea stays back, watching the men at work with a curious, amused, and detached manner.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Where to now, folks?

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Once Werner is confident the library has been catalogued he'll suggest trying out the meditation techniques/yoga poses that had been offered before.

Droghedor makes a face. (Wait, maybe that's just his face.) Dwarves aren't made to be flexible; they're made to withstand all the punishment life dishes out. I'll never be able to make those poses...

Despite his words, Droghedor tries out the flying mantis and rubber elephant poses.

Kayanor speaks up, but only when the audience is solely the Pathfinder team, "As far as I recall, none of the rites or symbols described are actually connected with Korada. I've never heard of a “symbol of celestial silence and contemplation" Perhaps these books have been altered."

Dulcinea leans back in a chair with her feet up on the table and her eyes closed. She holds up a finger to draw attention.

"Oh, it's much worse than that. That double-arrow symbol is the unholy symbol of the demon lord of heresy and suicide. It's based on the stitching Sifkesh--that's the demon lord's name--wears on her face."

She raises her head and opens her eyes. She smiles at the challenge.

"There's demonic trickery at work."

Garrick speaks softly so non party members can't hear,"Are you telling me, these people are being duped into worshiping so sort of demon?"

That's...urngh...demon worship...urngh... Droghedor is clearly straining, making his way into the Christened Wasp pose as he tries to speak. These people are doomed!

Maybe,maybe not my gloomy friend. We must find the source of this taint and wipe it clean. The Lucky Drunk wills it so He gives a knowing look to Werner.

Down the hall, the meditation room is a lofty, open space. The stone walls are carved with several figures in various meditative poses. A few large mats cover the stone floor. The only other furnishing is a rack containing a few wooden staves and several stacked glass spheres, each no bigger than a plum.

The erstwhile tour guide, Zhuang, sits on the floor spinning three spheres, his white-shot braid nearly reaching the mat. His sharp hazel eyes look up to take in his visitors. "A meditation before bedtime? Never a better moment for it! How was the library?"

Garrick smiles at Zhuang, It was eye opening actually, thank you. Can you show me what exactly you are doing?

Werner tries a few stretches, hoping he'll learn some drunken master styles from Zhuang. "Vhile I enjoy reading now and then, I did sit for too long. I too vould like to know these poses. It might help get rid of the soreness in my back."

"Certainly!" Zhuang enthuses. He springs up from his lotus position and points at the depictions on the walls. "There are two parts to the meditation technique. The first is to follow the stretches, poses, and techniques on the wall. The second is to say the sacred words while performing the last technique -- the spinning of the spheres. Shall we try together?"

A deft teacher, Zhuang leads the group through a series of light stretches, instructs on the proper lotus position, and places three sizable glass spheres in the palm of each Pathfinder.

"Now, spin the spheres in your hand and try not to drop them. Then speak the sacred words:"

"Light combined,
My peace find;
Calm my soul,
To control;
Woes I sift,
Catching gifts."

For those attempting the meditation, I'll take Dexterity checks to successfully spin the spheres.

"I'll give the spheres a go, though I am afraid I will have to decline the chanting. I am currently in a serious monogamous relationship with another Goddess." She winks and grins as she takes off her buckler and stretches her hands and wrists.

Dexterity: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Still more than a little cramped from sitting for too long, Keyawnah ends up with a pinched nerve while attempting to stretch. Noticeably uncomfortable, she passes on spinning the spheres.
I can hardly stand up straight, so there's no way I can do that!

She watches Ducinea with some degree of fascination while nursing her back.

Droghedor's eyes go wide as he watches Dulcinea deftly spin the globes. He looks at his own meaty hands and shakes his head. Never get those to work in my hands... he grouses quietly.

Werner follows Zhuang's lead through the chanting and the spinning of the spheres. He's not hopeful though.

Dexterity: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Garrick jots down some notes about the meditation technique along with the chat.
let me give those spheres a go

dex: 1d20 ⇒ 14

I'd also take Sleight of Hand if that's any better for this most dexterous of parties.

Zhuang is a little taken aback. "It's an important element of the meditation, my dear... but no matter, do as you will." Dulcinea's smirk grows an inch when Werner and Garrick have to pick up their spheres a time or two during the mildly relaxing exercise.

"Well, don't you feel better now? More wholesome? I certainly do. I believe that is my last meditation for today -- I am off the bed. Now that you know the techniques, though, feel free to practice in my absence! See you in the morning!"

What now, Pathfinders?

Droghedor waits until Zhuang departs, then laments, These people are following demonic rites! They're doomed unless we find out why they're being deceived! We should do some checking around to see what other abominations they're teaching people.

Garrick thinks for a moment, Dulcinea, does seem to be a affect by evil after this session. There must be something else going on here. Shall we find our beds and renew our search tomorrow, or should be see what is we can find after folks fall asleep?

Werner nods with Droghedor. "It vould be vise to explore a little. Our hosts have been very velcoming, but there is more than meets the eye. Vhere should we explore though? The other grounds?"

Two votes for staying up late! If you're in need of direction, perhaps you might consult the mission briefing which you all jotted down so neatly. Or else the map.

Dulcinea shrugs and sighs. She leans back against the nearby wall, hand on the pommel of her sheathed rapier.

"I would prefer to not skulk around at night. It is not the way of a knight."

She grins at the unintentional rhyme.

Perhaps not, Droghedor acknowledges, but if you're right and these people are being led down a path of demon-worship instead of Korada the Never-Heard-Of, intervention may be needed.

Not that it'll do much good, he adds quietly, though not quietly enough.

"I agree, but ve still have a garden to draw up details for, and a crypt to visit. I am fine vith resting, but these must be our priority tomorrow. Yes?"

To Droghedor he adds, "Ve must not jump to conclusions. Not yet at least. One sign does not signify subversion, after all."

The team decides to get some shut-eye, and follow Zhuang to the sleeping quarters, where they get a cozy but restful sleep. In the morning, the bell tolls brunch time back in the dining room.

Where to?

Hey guys, a lot going on ATM. I'll post as soon as I'm able, but it'll likely be late tonight. Kayanor is curious, but he's no leader. He'll follow someone else's lead.

That night before sleep, "Someone check the mission briefing. We should make a checklist of what we have, and what we're missing. I'd hate to go back and have to report that we straight up forgot to do something. I'm also worried that once they realize what's going on, our search won't stay peaceful."

Visiting that garden and sketching the layout is likely to be a better use of time than another meal of brimstone and treacle, Droghedor says. No doubt I'm allergic to all the flowers and plants there, though.

Werner nods in agreement with the dour dwarf. "Yes, ve should see the garden first. Let us make the most of the daylight."

Electing not to dine with the others, the team tries the doors to the garden.

The temple garden is badly overgrown with tangled vegetation--making a map of the garden's original layout rather difficult. 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.

Kn (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

The dwarf pulls out his dwarven waraxe with a sigh. Need to prune this vine to get at the rest of the garden, he notes while moving toward the base. Then, more quietly, he laments, Wasted ten years at the Academy, all to become a confounded bushwhacker...

"Ve should get started then. I vill follow your lead, Droghedor. Although I vish I had the right tool for the job," Werner says, hefting his greatsword. "Vatever it takes.'

Even with Droghedor's sage advice, the process of clearing the garden is a laborious one. After a half-hour of work, the gnome Gastidem strolls in, munching on a prune with a wry smile. "You missed a fine meal, you know. I see you're so hungry you're busy digging up someone else's garden." He leans against the turtle statue to watch.

Kn (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Steer clear of those flayleaf plants, Droghdor mutters as he continues his landscaping. Mess with your head more than an Extended Persistent charm person, that.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

As Garrick helps clear the garden, he pays special attention to what Droghedor is cutting and what he is leaving alone. It appears Drog knows what he's doing.

Garrick would also like to inspect the turtle when he has a moment.

Dulcinea raises an eyebrow at Drog's casual mention of flayleaf.

Knowledge (nature) untrained: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20
Holy crap, I've never had luck this good O_o

"Flayleaf? What are addictive mind-altering substances doing here?"

"You like the statue?" Gastidem sneers. "Would you like to take the sacred test of purity, the Kiss of Korada? Great Korada rewards the enlightened with great visions!" He smiles and waves toward the turtle's dark open mouth.

Dunno, the dwarf grunts, but someone's cultivatin' it, rather than it growing here naturally. He points a bootprint alongside the patch out to Dulcinea. See what I mean?

Probably gonna try and slit our throats when we sleep over it...

Garrick inspects the turtle:
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

He will also detect evil on the statue and Gastidem

Dulcinea nods to Drog, then suddenly points to Gastidem.

"Hey, you! You know soething about these drugs here?"

She rests her hands on her belt, "conveniently" leaving her sword hand close to the hilt of her rapier.

Kayanor doesn't miss the beat, and has his thumb playing his bowstring like a lute.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Kayanor flips through the mission in his mind:

We need a complete report on the temple with a focus on four key locations. First, locate the temple’s meditation room, find evidence of any meditative techniques described there, and record any effects of performing those techniques. Second, prepare a comprehensive catalog of all works in the temple library. Third, find the temple gardens and draft a detailed plan of the garden’s layout. Finally, enter the temple’s crypt and take rubbings of the carvings on each sarcophagus.

What can you tell us about this statue? Is this another form of meditation you use at this temple. He looks at his team and smiles at them We are here to learn and explore

"Drugs? What drugs? I know nothing of drugs!" Gastidem replies in some alarm. "What? Oh, the statue? Yes, it is the instrument for the sacred rite of the Kiss of Korada. Simply place your hand in the turtle's mouth. If you are pure, Korada grants enlightenment and visions. If you are impure, well... that has a price."

Droghedor pauses his labor a moment at the gnome's words, a frown on his face. A price? Is that what happened to the folk we met at dinner? He turns to Kayanor. Didn't you say that this Korada was an empyreal lord of forgiveness and peace? As Dulcinea pointed out before — that doesn't sound particularly forgiving, or peaceful. Something's not right. Under his breath, he continues, I knew it! We're all doomed!

Werner's eyes open with some alarm. "The price they paid vas their fingers? That vould be very cruel. Something that Sifkesh might prefer even, not Korada."

He says this last bit clearly, so that Gastidem hears this.

"I assure you, this is a sacred rite of our Empyreal Lord, Korada!" Gastidem says, his smile faltering and his weight shifting from foot to foot.

I'll take Sense Motive checks.