Netopalis' Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (PFS 2013 PBP Game Day) (Inactive)

Game Master Netopalis

Just iżommu me bogħod minn dak kċina, u l-gnome creepy. Agħti me bieb solidu li tissospendi lura u I għandhom ikunu ok.

Lily nods in agreement, "Now that we have completed our assignment, we should confront the Abbot. Though, another option would be to let Aram kno... y'know what? I'd rather face the Abbot. Let's go see him."

I still wonder why it was so difficult to enter the crypts, and why they had such guards there. Something else for the Abbot to answer for, I guess.

I'd like to wait until tomorrow, heal our wounds and be at full strength. If it is a demon I want every ounce of strength we have at our disposal.

"We started down this journey, I say we end it now. No use in delaying what you all want to do."

Shan starts to make his way toward the abbot's office.

No use? Hawk turn and glowers at Shan. I would rather see us alive then dead. You yourself took injuries. We were given rations for a week for a reason and the fact that we managed to do our tasks this fast given everything that has been going on is nothing short of amazing. We don't need to rush in half prepared headlong into a fight. Heal, rest and we will confront them tomorrow.

"Those are but scratches. You only cast two spells all day. Does anybody actually need to rest? Anybody else injured? By opening those doors to the crypt, we have set ourselves on a path that needs to be finished. Do you expect the rest of the temple to remain in stasis as we sleep under its roof after we trampled on sacred ground. If you are preparing for a fight, you will get one. I hope these matters have a logical explanation with a peaceful solution. Battle is the last option."

A third to heal you, then I'd like to cast two more to prepare for combat before the Abbot, which will run me on empty.

Look, we've cataloged a library, cleaned up gardens, faced down some skeletons, discovered a poisoned dinner, dealt with a gnome mutilating people. That's enough for one day for any man or dwarf.

"Hawk, I'd tend to agree with you friend, though Aram didn't consider into his calculations occupants and a demon-run cult. Neither did we. I imagine the abbot, if he knows or finds out about all we've done and learned, would view our cavorting about his temple as no less than an affront to his livelihood.

"We could rest here and risk ambush or another kitchen incident. We could leave through the Tapestry, rest and prepare, and have no idea what we'll face when we return..."

Mizunoken pauses for effect.

"Or, we could wrap up our business with the Abbot. Soon. Hope he hasn't seen or heard what we've done and get the hell out."

Mizunoken nods in agreement to Shan.

Mizunoken offers his Wand of Cure Light Wounds.

"I can't use the blasted thing, though I've seen what they can do."

"I agree we have a week, but NOTHING here has been as expected. I expect a solid door might be all we need to safely rest. But then I expect focusing on dedication to Karada might be all you need to keep all of your digits." Aikio waggles her fingers, emphasizing them with a small spark.

Lily tilts her head in amusement, I wonder if she realizes her fingers always spark like that... Oh, my, I certainly hope she does!

She turns to everyone else, and politely waits for a break in the conversation, "Before we come to any decisions, we should find Tamerius. He said he'd be in the library, I believe, recataloging the books. Or he might've already confronted the Abbot and slain half of the temple's population by now. It's hard to tell what he's going to do. Regardless, we should find him. If he hasn't confronted the Abbot already, and we decide to take that route, I'm sure he'd love to be along when we do. He might be a self-abso... we might not see eye to eye, but he does have some valid points. Let's go find him, first."

Speaking of spell use..., she turns to Daisy. "Oh, dear, I am so sorry, sweety! No wonder it took you forever to waddle through that door!" She then closes her eyes and calls out to the land around her, calling upon the power of the wind, green light emanating from behind her closed eyelids, and casts a spell on Daisy, who just rolls her eyes in annoyance. "Well, you should've reminded me, then! I can't think of everything, and with everything going on, you can't blame me. You only have yourself to blame." Daisy snorts in response.

during this time in the library

With Lily's list and the books he found in the library, Tamerius was writing a list of altered or missing things.
He hoped to be as complete as possible as to be able to present his evidences to the cultists.

They found a lots of evidence of what is wrong here. Altered or missing books, the garden's tricks, the garden itself, the false teachings, false korada's symbol. But Tamerius know he must found more evidences against the abbot to be able to convince the cultist and the guards to open their eyes.

He just hope his comrades didn't alienated the cultists by entering in one of their most sacred place...

So, are you folks headed to meet with the abbot now?

Works for me.

Do you think we have enough proof to confront the abbot ?

"Ahh, Tamerius, so good for you to join us. I don't believe its a question of proof but more of questions that require answers. With the answers he supplies, that will determine how we shall proceed."

I know I'm good

Said Tamerius when his comrades came in the library.

But do you really think his guard will let us pass to interrogate their master ? I don't think so.
It will be better to have some proof to show to these guardian before asking permission to interrogate the abbot.

Do you find something worthwhile in the crypts ?

"If undead sentries are proof, then perhaps.

Mizunoken considers everything thus far.

"We need to entertain the notion that absolutely everything'll have to go perfectly for this ordeal to end peacefully with the abbot, lest we leave now. If we want th' support of the people, we need to convince another champion, otherwise we might be met with a couple dozen irate zealots on our way out."

"Yes, we have proof, but we can't guarantee it'll be accepted. We need't bank on it not bein' accepted, truth be told. Our meeting with th' abbot needs t'be private and quick, and if the very next step isn't leavin' the temple, then we're guaranteein' ourselves problems."

If we want speak privately with the abbot, we need to convince his guardmen.
If we can't, the only moment we can confront him it's during one of his preaches.

"I'm afraid we will just have to insist. The members did say we are free to look around. That should include the Abbot."

Do you think if the guards of a city said you can look around you can sneak around the king's chamber ?

Hawk thinks about all the evidence that can be presented. He will talk the head of a skeleton. Undead roaming the crypts should cause some concern amongst the residence.

Apart from the books that Tamerius has gathered there is the poison from the food, a drugged up gnome that ran away and his device that mutilates fingers and these skeletons.

Has that been all the evidence gathered so far about corruption in the temple?

"Speaking with the Abbot during one of his public sermons could get really awkward really fast. I suggest a more private meeting. I don't think any evidence short of the Abbot confessing the truth will convince the people here of anything. They have been here most, if not all, their lives and have lived and moved around everything we have found. The Abbot , and any possible accomplices, have had ample time to weave tapestries of lies with regards to everything we've found, and very likely more that we have not even fathomed."

Lily shakes her head, warding off any advice to the contrary, "No, I think we should leave the people here out of this as much as possible until some form of resolution is found, else they might get hurt. I think we should probably makes sure we know of all possible exit routes in case of emergency. Y'know, just in case. Also, the fewer folk around, the better the exit, right?"

"The gaurds of the city have no right to the king's chambers. The King's guards do, and the king himself. Our hostess did offer the place for our perusal and study.
Aikio takes a moment to think back on the conversation.

Di responds, You may feel free to go anywhere in the temple, save the crypt or Dakang's private quarters. You are permitted to visit any other area."

If there is some sort of demonic activities here it's our duty to find it, destroy it and burn it.

And now you do not want to address the Abbot? Are all followers of tyranny this... capricious?

I'm ok with that and if you can let me kill the false abbot I will be more than happy. But you seems to stay out of trouble and care for the people here.
This is why I tried to recommend a legal approach. May be the evidence we gathered could be enough to convince the majority of the cultist here and with their help depose the tyrant who misguided them...

Shan approaches the aasimar guards.

We would like to speak with the abbot. We hope he can enlighten us about some questions and concerns we have about the temple.

Approaching behind Shan the Tengu repeats the mantra learned in the mediation room as she bows to the aasimars.

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

Please, we think something is wrong here and the abbot could be of great help to us to resolve it.

The Aasimar says, "Can you please tell us your concern? Dakang usually does not allow visitors, but given how many times you've been here, we might make an exception...if the reasons are valid."

(When posting evidence, please make a diplomacy check to go with it. One diplomacy check per PC, I'll treat the lower rolls as aiding the highest one.)

Tamerius showed to the guard the list of missing books and the altered one

There is a lot of missing books in the library and the last remaining books were altered to link Korada's teaching to the abyssal realms. One of the book he showed the book in abyssal is even written in this foul language !

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Given his lack of people-skills, Mizunoken will keep quiet.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Do the guards have their full 10 digits?
Aikio nods to the other Tengu. Mizunoken and others noticed a large patch of the illicit flayleaf growing in the garden."
diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 16
I'll let others chime in first, but if noone else does, Aikio mentions the haunt, trick kiss of Korado, and poisonous dinner. Tamerious is the only one who noticed anything during the sermon. Now I am thinking we missed clues in the meditation chamber and the hall of statues. :)

Skeleton remains, Hawk took the head of one as proof.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Sorry if I missed it, are we approaching the abbot directly or the guards outside of his chambers first?

The Aasimar guards.

Thank you for allowing us this opportunity. I would like some answers to the spirits that inhabit this temple that wished my death.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Yes, flayleaf in the garden by the gnome who fled the temple intsead of facing the abbot. A worst than that, the trick of Korada's Kiss ! Instead of a true test, it was a simple trick to desactivate the trap.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Tamerius continued with other stories

The meal as my comrade said was not one of the celestial sphere but had the taste of hash and was poisonned

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

The is more than that. What the cultist painted on their face is not Korada symbol but one of a demon lord, Sikfesh

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Worst of all, I fear, one of the cultist is even a demon in disguise. A vermlek demon. It's a demon which has the power to inhabit human bodies and wear their skin as if it were a disguise.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Reroll (shirt) Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 16

The aasimar looks troubled. "You raise important points. Perhaps it is important that you speak to Dakang. But, first, follow me..."

He leads you to the chapel, where you earlier saw the dry fountain. Placing both hands on the sides of the basin, he says, "Dip your weapons in this. It will give them the blessing of Korada and make them hardier to withstand any opposition.

Knowledge Religion (Tamerius): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Knowledge Religion (Shan): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Knowledge Religion (Hawk): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Tamerius and Hawk: You are able to figure out that dipping your weapons in this font will act as Bless Weapon for one hour, giving them the Good descriptor.

Tamerius looked uneasy as his weapon was bless by the water. Nevertheless he took the aasimar's gift.

Thank you for trusting us in this matter Aasimars and of course for Korada's Blessing.

Tamerius - his face a mask of determination - followed the guards to see the false abbot, Dakang.

@Natapolis : Does Tamerius has time to put his armor ?

Besmara guide me, even the guards are swayed.

Mizunoken watches as Tamerius dips his weapon into the water.

Well, if it's good enough for him...

Mizunoken dips his katana, whip, and arrowheads into the water.

Tamerius: The guard doesn't put your weapon in it, it's your choice to dip or not. You likely have time to put on your armor unless the party doesn't want to take the time.

Once everybody has posted whether they are dipping and what they are dipping, we can move on.

"What opposition should we be worried about? This is just a simple conversation of events."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

The guard replies, "If what you say is true, then things may come to blows. If not, there should be no altercation."

The guard seems to be truthful. (I'm admittedly sort of speeding up this RP encounter so that we can finish this up, given how long it's been going.)

Well I'll be, there is a part of the temple that yet remains free of corruption

Hawk will dip his spear and his morning-star in the water. Thankful that something seems to be going well for once.

Thank you for this blessing of Korada. Hawk gives a slight bow.

Somebody can help me to put my armor ? asked Tamerius

After 4 long minutes Tamerius came back in a full black and red plate armor The mendevian's color wielding a long glaive.

He put it in the holy water and said

I'm ready

Hawk will be glad to help Tamerius don his armor.

Aikio looks at the water then at her fingers. Then an Daisy's tail. Then at her fingers. Finally she decides to dip her rapier in, but only after those more familiar with their weapons have done so.
"I would hate to take advantage of a gift so graciously offered," she bows her head to the aasimar in thanks.

Lily dips her scimitar in the basin, then glares at Daisy, "Don't you dare even think it."