Gell scratches his head as the elf maiden speaks in a tongue unknown to him. He looks to his companions for a translation, while shrugging his shoulders.
"Unless anyone objects, let's be movin' on to the temple. Got some elves need savin'!"
The elf maid says: "I think they are evil spirits that can possess people!"
The party advances to the entrance to the temple without incident, to the young elf's surprise. "We made it!"
The temple gates are silver double doors and thirty feet wide overall. They are ornately carved with forest scenes and ominously, silently shut. The other walls of the temple are twenty feet high and covered in vines. At the corners of the south wall are delicate domes that rise ten feet above the walls.
Rahasia speaks: "I will be safe hiding in the woods until your return, I am a elf after all."
The double doors open to a courtyard eighty feet wide and ninety feet deep. Once well cared for, the courtyard is filled with weeds. In the center of the courtyard is a large pool, and just beyond the pool are steps into the temple proper. Four sheds are along the east wall and four sheds are along the west wall. In the southern corners are two buildings thirty feet wide covered by the delicate domes.
The dwarf readies his shield and steps up. "I'll be takin' the lead, 'less there is a strong objection. We may be tryin' to avoid too much spilt blood, but I'm guessin' these ghosty elves won't have the same intentions."
Ed remains silent for a while, following the gnome's decision to help the elves here. At Broldun's pronouncement, he nods in agreement.
"I'd like to take the second position, so that I may support the attack should the need arise"
"I would suggest that I stay somewhere in the middle." With these words, Caelmah strings his longbow and carries it in his right hand as the group prepares to move into the temple.
"You're all good men, glad to be with you." Gellumniq said nervously. The eerie quiet and lack of activity was unsettling to the happy-go-lucky gnome.
The gnome falls in to the rear position, hoisting his shield and his holy gold nugget, readying an action to cast Bless on the party if any incoming hostile action occurs.
"I'll stay up front," Mungo volunteers. "Gives me a clear shot with my crossbow, and if they make it to me, I can give 'em a whack with my flail!"
Ceweldyn falls into line in the middle of the group, sling at the ready.
Talon follows along wondering what we are getting into.
Before departing, Rahasia reminds everyone of what she wrote and recites in clear elvish and repeats in Traladaran.
"To Thee of Valor and Honor ~
I am an Elven maiden called Rahasia. In the Hantu Valley at the foot of Gray Mountain, our village thrived in peace for many years. Our elders tended the forest. Our youth studied and worshiped in the temple on the mountain. We made our homes in peace—but our peace is no more.
It was two weeks ago when the stranger came. He was a handsome man with deepset eyes and a soft, persuasive voice. Anyone hearing him speak was almost certainly lulled into agreement. But my Father did not trust this man, who called himself The Rahib. When he made unwanted advances toward me, my Father drove him from our village and cast him forth. It was then, as this man retreated to the forest, that The Rahib uttered such a curse that the sky darkened. In a deep, rich voice, he intoned an evil chant we could not understand.
He then vanished into the forest. The next day, the elves who study at the temple and their teachers did not return to their homes. Their families became worried and went to the temple, but were driven away by the students, known as the Siswa. My Father and Hasan, my Betrothed, went to investigate, but they have not returned.
Two days ago, we recieved a message for The Rahib. He boasted that all the devoted Siswa were under a spell that will not be broken until the village gives the Rahib three maidens, including myself. We refused. That night, the Siswa attacked and kidnapped two of my friends, Sylva and Merisa. They tried to take me as well, but I escaped. They took all our weapons and armor, leaving us even more defenseless than we already were.
All of the villagers are in misery. With the Rahib controlling the sons and fathers of our clan, there is nothing we can do. Some have begged me to give myself over to the wicked Rahib, but I dare not, lest I find that he has lied, and will not break his curse. I fear that unless we are helped I shall never again see Hasan or my Father and my friends. I have sent this message in hopes that it reaches those who would rescue them and force the Rahib to remove his curse upon the Siswa. A great reward will given anyone who can succeed in this mission. Without help, I have no choice but to give myself to the Rahib and pray that he keeps his word and releases the others.
~ Rahasia
"
Rahasis emphasizes the following:
"Their families became worried and went to the temple, but were driven away by the students, known as the Siswa. My Father and Hasan, my Betrothed, went to investigate, but they have not returned."
She suggests: "Maybe the source of this evil is in the temple??"
"Well, there's only one way to find out."
The party thinks about the different places to explore in the courtyard.
Ederet uses his knowledge of the faiths to determine which building the priests might use for personal writings and rest and heads that way, making sure not to leave the party too far behind.
He hopes there will be some books of learning or a journal he can find that might explain what went on here, or at least the events leading up to the current situation.
Along the way, he keeps an eye out for any enemies as well as any objects unfamiliar to him that might be worth examining.
Gellumniq casts Detect Magic toward the pool in the center of the courtyard.
-IF it detects as magical, Gell indicates to the group..."Neato... that pool of water is magical. Let's go check it out."
-IF it does not detect as magical, Gell says..."Lotta weeds in here. Almost looks abandoned. Hey, lets go check out those sheds." Gellumniq starts counting on his fingers.
"There'z four here, and four there...that makes eight. He seemed proud of this arithmetic.
"Lets start looking over here"... the cleric indicates to the party that he thinks they should check out the sheds on the east side of the courtyard.
"Lets get movin' then..."
The dwarf has shield and axe to hand as he sets off towards the east side of the courtyard at a pace the party should be able to easily match.
Caelmah follows 10 ft. behind Gellumniq.
Talon wanders toward the buildings to the south. carefully checking them out wondering what wonders may be hidden within.
Gellemniq discovers an aura of conjuration magic on the pool.
Talon approaches the domed buildings to the south. He has not seen anything amiss, but has not entered one either.
When Gellemniq announces that the pool is magical, Caelmah says as he walks towards it: Interesting. Let me see if I can discern anything further."
"Cael my elven friend, take a look with me, I need your expertise. I'm seeing...conjuration magic? What could it mean?"
Noting Gellumniq's use of a nickname, Caelmah smiles and says,"Conjuration magic could mean several things...Gel. The pool could have a connection to another plane. That connection could have a variety of purposes. It could be the means of giving a creature from the plane to which it is connected access to this plane. It could be a gateway to the Astral Plane that allows one to take a shortcut through the Astral Plane to another place in our world. It could have healing properties. However, I think the most likely option is that the magic in the pool is creating the water in the pool. I'll check more closely to see if I can confirm that, though." Caelmah gazes intently at the pool.
Assuming they are likely to be living quarters or storage sheds, Ed begins searching nearest shed on the east side.
Ed begins searching the sheds. They are ten foot wide and twenty foot deep. The back wall is the courtyard wall. They are woven reeds on a wood frame.
Concentration on the pool/fountain continues. No further magic details are revealed by the detection spells on the forty foot long by thirty foot wide pool whose water has grown blackish allowing no visibility into its depths. The black surface is glossy as if covered by an oil.
"This water is gross. See that oily sheen? Yuck. Let us catch up with Talon and examine those buildings to the south more closely."
"What do you think those buildings in the south are for?", Mungo inquires.
"Barracks, perhaps?" Ceweldyn notes impassively.
The magical pool turns out to radiate conjuration magic throughout the huge pool of medium strength.
Ed finds in shed number 7 from the east, two sacks marked with the single Traladaran word 'Tithe'. They are leather with an embossed black panther and each hold 250 copper pieces.
"Actually, Gel, I think I'll stick around here for now. I'll catch up in a minute."
Ed gathers the sacks and returns to the rest of the team at the pool.
The symbol on the bag seems to have no tie to any religious order Ed is familiar with. With all the sheds searched, the party considers the exploring the domes in the southern corners, the large fountain that detects magic, or entering the temple proper through the steps to the entryway.
The magical fountain looks forbidding.
His curiosity gets the better of him, and Mungo approaches the leftmost of the two domes to the south. He checks the door for any sort of obvious trap, then opens it to see what lies beyond.
Caelmah stares at the pool again, grimacing in thought. "Gel, I've got a bad feeling about this pool. I think it could be important, but I can't put my finger on exactly what it does. Maybe we should come back later when I can devote more time to understanding it. For right now, let's not let the others get too far ahead." Caelmah walks off towards the buildings to the south.
"Agreed Caelmah. Lets stick with the group for now."
Gellumniq once again readies his action to cast Bless at the first sign of hostility or danger. The cleric moves over near Mungo to provide any needed aid.
Broldun keeps pace ahead of Gellumniq and crew, shield and axe at the ready looking for something to swing at. "I'm not likin' the look o' that water. Somethin' is eerie about this place. Rather have somethin' I can swing at then all this... this."
Ceweldyn remains vigilant, not particularly liking the eerie quiet. "Like a calm before the storm," he notes.
Bringing the sacks to the others at the pool, Ed asks: "Do any of you recognize this symbol? I don't recognize it as religious."
Caelmah wracks his brain trying to figure out what the symbol is.
The dwarf snorts, "I'd be wagerin' that it says don't be drinkin' the water. If it don't say that - it should."
It looks like so far we've:
Talon and Mungo search the domes. The first dome has a statue fifteen feet tall with a beard and huge hammer.
Talon and Mungo move to the second dome, it has a similar statue as they enter, they look to see if something is amiss.
No one has disturbed the surface of the oily pool in front of the steps ascending to the front door of the temple.
"There's something a-glinting behind the statue," Mungo whispers to Talon. "Coins, I reckon. Don't know who the dwarf is, but I'll bet he'd be mad if we took them. Hard to separate a dwarf from his coin."
"Agreed Mungo. Dwarf or not, I don't think it's very wholesome to take money from a temple-- unless it's an evil god's temple!
Anyone find it odd that there are dwarf god statues in this temple frequented by local elves?"
Gellumniq scratches his head yet again. This place was confusing him.
Gell will cast Detect Magic in and around the domed structures, and on the statues themselves, and then finally on the coins that Mungo spotted.
"Well folks, nothing to see here I reckon. Wanna go up inside the temple?"