PFS 3-21 Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Osric pays close attention to the techniques shown to Donkey Teeth. He speaks to Zhuang.

"Brother Zhuang, you have very striking eyes, and hair too, if I may say so. Are these features by chance ones you shared with your parents?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Zhuang invites any others of you to join as well. He gives any interested a set of three glass orbs, each the size of a plum, and instructs you in spinning them in your hand. Sleight of Hand or Dexterity check

Once you start to get the spinning of the glass orbs, he puts you through a series of postures think Tai Chi and instructs you to recite a mantra:

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

Why yes, sir Osric, my father's line to the beginning has had these traits, for as long as has been recorded. Will you join us in meditation?

"Indeed I will. Perhaps we can speak for a moment when we are finished?"

Dex check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Uh...Maybe I can take 10? And P.S. Thanks GM!

Ball rolling: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

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

Donkey Teeth drops the balls.

Glad my fingers weren't on the line

Rekkr normally can not sit still long enough in order to meditate...but considering the occassion he gives it a shot; struggling a bit with the glass orbs.

Dex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Zhuang smiles patiently as he watches, occasionally offering instruction when he notices you falter. You realize that it is very difficult to combine the movements and quiet your mind.

The total procedure lasts 15 minutes. After a single pass-through, you have it documented enough to fulfill your mission.

--

Well, too many already doing it, i'll just watch and record, maybe something weird happens.

Do you mind if I only watch master Zhuang? I get very uncomfortable with my eyes closed...

Perfect time! Taking notes!

Nuntio looks uncomfortable at the idea of meditating. I shall merely watch. Too much religious context in meditating. Bah.

Zhang just smiles and nods, choosing to silently accept your decisions.

EDIT: After completing the full 15 minutes, you don't feel very enlightened, but Zhang smiles and says, Keep up the practice and you will get it soon enough.

Sutekh looks around for someone that can hopefully explain the magical doodad on the ground

Once in a while, Sutekh, someone passes by, and when you ask, then seem perplexed and respond, It is a blessing of Korada. We do not ask the whys and hows, for in the grand scheme of our lives, how this works means little. I am sorry that I cannot give you a better answer. Perhaps, Master Dakang knows?

He resigns himself to ask dakang

A loud bell rings through the temple. Zhuang looks up and comments, It is time for dinner, will you join us, or would you prefer to explore while we eat?

I will join you. I'm more of an underground explorer

He smiles and heads to the replace where everyone is headed

Home cooking? Count me in.

Dissatisfied with is inability to juggle the glass orbs Rekkr never gets the chance to utter the meditative chant. "Perhaps later. Or maybe relaxation is not for the likes of me. Let's move on."

I bet even the food is magical!
Falksat says that smiling, but his eyes seems cold and he looks to Donkey Teeth.

Let's hope he's smart enough.

If zhang leaves Donkey Teeth may attempt his move, unless he convinced him with the diplomacy roll from earlier.

As you arrive, several of the worshipers are already there. Di Dang leads the worshipers in a short prayer, ending with, Korada will provide.

At the end, she says a word in Tien and magically, the darkwood table fills with fruits, grains, nuts, and juices enough for up to 24 people. Lu's two brothers pile food onto three wooden plates and leave, returning later to take their place at the table absent the plates that they left with just a couple of minutes earlier.

Please, Di Dang smiles, Join us.

In all, there are 11, besides you, in attendance. One, a gnome, stands out from the others with his shock of brightly colored hair in sharp contrast to the white tunic that they all wear. Of the remaining 10 worshipers, four are halflings, and the remaining six are human.

Untrained knowledge local on humans to see where they are from. Favoured enemy

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Well, off to bed. Will reply sometime during the day. Don't die on me now :-P

Osric joins the party at the table. While he's not quite shocked at the sudden appearance of the food, being a veteran Pathfinder, he still almost startles when it first appears.

Is Korada among the diners?

"Many thanks for this bountiful feast." Osric offers a silent prayer to Erastil, as lord of the harvest, thanking him for the fruits of the earth.

lots of me sized people here

@Osric: If you ask the worshipers, Korada is always with them... ;p You probably meant Dakang? He does not seem to be present, and at least two others, since 3 plates were delivered elsewhere.

@Donkey Teeth: Yep! Don't you feel at home? Maybe you did come from here! Maybe you are Lu's lost brother! :p

Falksat keeps looking at Donkey Teeth and the others for a while, as if waiting for something. When everyone starts eating he will too. And that's pretty much for my dinner part.

Well, if there's something harmful in this food at least we're gonna die all together ...

Donkey Teeth is excited that the temple has eating utensils small enough for his hands.

@Donkey Teeth: Yep! Don't you feel at home? Maybe you did come from here! Maybe you are Lu's lost brother! :p

I honestly just wrote that history with no knowledge of this scenario, funny how much sense it makes though.

I am assuming that everyone is eating? If anyone is abstaining, let me know.

The foods are quite simple, yet delicious. I will give a little more time, if you wish to converse about anything during dinner, then we will move on.

"Does Dakang not join you for dinner? I am surpirsed our host has not made an appearance yet. We have many questions we'd like to discuss with him. In any event, there are more place we'd be especially interested in seeing in the temple. Perhpas if Master Dakang is indisposed we could have permission to conduct a more thorough tour?"

Ah, Master Dakang does not join us in dining, Lu's brother, Xifen responds proudly, He is sustained by Korada's holy will alone!

Zhuang smiles, Patience, friend, the sermon will be delivered after dinner, and then you will be able to speak with him.

Nuntio keeps his sword at his side throughout dinner. He says little, and eats only enough to avoid hunger.

I apologize for not being as consistent as everyone else so far. The last few days have been really crazy, but hopefully that's over now.

It is understandable, Nuntio. As long as you guys don't mind me moving things along, if there isn't much response, I don't fret too much when people become quiet.

After dinner, the worshipers shuffle off to the cathedral for their daily vespers.

Unlike the other rooms in the temple, the chapel’s ceiling is 30 feet high. Tall windows look out into the riotous overgrowth of the garden. Several evenly spaced prayer mats cover the floor here. An elaborate stone font stands at one end of the chapel, although the font is empty. In the chapel’s farthest corner, a balcony 15 feet above the floor contains a podium.

Once everyone is in place, an obese human man steps confidently to the podium on the high balcony in the chapel. He is draped in layers of cloth trimmed with small bells that jingle lightly as he moves. The man’s bald head is surrounded by a thin fringe of gray hair, but the lower half of his face is wrapped in a white silk scarf stitched with a line of unusual double-arrow symbols.

Dakang opens the service by welcoming their guests (you all) and leading his congregation in a few meditative stretches. Soon, Dakang launches into a lengthy sermon about Korada’s holy city of Vantian, City of Open Windows, whose sacred residents are eternally engaged in prayer and
maintenance of the city.

After his sermon, Dakang instructs his worshipers to “assume the symbols of celestial silence and contemplation.” The worshipers produce vials of ink and begin marking each other’s faces with double-arrow symbols above and below the eyes and above and below the mouth. The worshipers attempt to do this in reverent silence. They gesture to the PCs, offering to decorate the PCs’ mouths and eyes as well, although they do not press
any of you that refuse to participate. You do notice that neither Dakang, or his three aasimar bodyguards take part in this ritual.

Once the face-inking is complete, Dakang breaks the silence with the command, “Wash the symbols from your face and enjoy the beautiful day Korada has provided.” The worshipers cheerfully wash the symbols from each other’s faces and exit the chapel to return to their normal business.

Donkey Teeth allows them to paint on his face, and contemplates whether or not he actually came from here or not.

Noone will paint anything on him. He steps back, refusing politely

Rekkr is beginning to get spooked by this lot...politely yet firmly refusing the face painting.

Osric observes the ritual with great interest, but does not participate. His curiosity is growing too great for him to remain silent, and he addresses Dakang directly:

"Master Dakang, we have come here seeking to learn the ways of Korada and to study the temple. Would you be willing to answer some of our questions?"

Of course, the heavy-set man calls down from the balcony, A moment, and I will join you presently.

A minute later, he enters the chapel flanked by his aasimar bodyguards. What could I, a mere servant of Korada do to aid you?

Sutekh waits his turn before he speaks, he really wanted to know more about the spiral doodad so he will wait till it's his turn. You know, manners and all that.

"One thing we'd like to do is tour some more of the temple. We have been tasked with gathering a great deal of information. May we have your permission to access the temple's library, gardens, and crypt? I am sure my companions have other questions to ask of you."

By all means, go ahead, the obese priest bows, The only areas that I would request remain off-limits are the quarters of myself and my three attendants.

He then turns to Sutekh, You seem anxious, my son. Is there something I can help you with?

Since things are changing for Season 5 (gaining prestige will no longer be tied to Faction missions) I will be granting 1 prestige, if you gain xp, and one prestige for completing the mission set for you by Aram Zey.

okay. Sounds interesting.

Well, not anxious, I'm eager. I like learning new things, and that spiral in the entrance hall, it's beyond my current knowledge, it would be an honour if you can enlighten me on what it is and how it works

Sutekh gives a respectful bow to the portly human.

Ah, it is a simple enough clock of sorts. Every hour, motes of light will emerge from the spiral of Korada, and spiral up to the ceiling. I am not sure how it works, though I am sure that some artisan devotee created it long long ago...

Sutekh nods

Fascinating use of it, must be quite the attraction

You think you see the cloth over his mouth shift as if you imagine the overweight man smiling.

--

Yang and Lu stop by as they are leaving, the young halfling cheerfully speaks up, We will be taking meditation time, so should you need anything, I am sure that anyone would enjoy helping you!

Where to first?

He nods. Smiling.

Now for the crypt

He smirks, that's more to his liking, more his element.

Nuntio also rejects the face paint, but raises his eyebrows when the aasimar enter. Is there such need for so many guardsmen...?

Nodding to the font, he speaks. Father Dakang, I have heard that this font sometimes produces lotus blossoms, and although I myself do not much care for anything with religious connotation, I have a friend who finds much more use in such things. Might I take a few of these flowers to give to him? His voice trails off hesitantly, not knowing how Dakang will respond.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Ah, flowers? You mean the lotus flowers, ah yes, we only activate it on holy days. But I am unable to, it takes one of celestial ancestry to be able to activate the font, Dakang shifts a bit, I have a bit to see to at the moment, please excuse me.

Assuming you do not push the issue too much, he shuffles off toward his chambers, followed by his guards.

"Where to next, comrades? Perhaps the crypt to take some rubbings? This place seems safe enough, but I am not eager to split the party."

Falksat also does not accept the painting, with a short gesture of his hand and head.

I would like to Sense Motive Dakang's answer about the spiral. It just doesn't seems right. Could it be a coincidence we saw a light going up the exact moment we entered?
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 19

The cripts seems good enough for me. Maybe we could find some action there. And also it's on the plot.

And maybe discuss safely...