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Takega grins. "Of course Ystrizz-san. Take hold, and be careful when you get to the water, it is deep."
Refrain from making a drowned rat joke, Takega.
He offers one end of the silk rope to Ystrizz and lowers him down.
Once Ystrizz has transferred to the rope on the opposite pit wall, Takega pulls up his rope and sets about the task of running it through the block and tackle pulleys, affixing them securely to the cave wall with a hammer and piton, then uses the other silk rope to create a makeshift harness for Matsukaze using his military saddle.
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After some finagling, the group gets across the pit, snatching the Cloak of Resistance in the process. Matsukaze, well trained, didn't even complain. At this point, the ceiling begins to climb to a height of 20 feet, and Takega can once again mount his loyal steed.
The group continues through the tunnels. Approximately 30 feet beyond the pit and out of sight around a corner is a long, 3-foot-wide wooden plank that rests against the cave’s wall. The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been twelve beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions adorn the walls, but have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.
Only four of these murals are still decipherable. Each requires a DC 15 Knowledge (History or Religion) or DC 17 Appraise or Perception to understand what the picture is depicting.
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Sirius immediately runs into the room, staring intently at each mural. Right away, he notices that they are select passages from 'History and Future of Humanity', the principle holy text of Aroden.
Brundie, while unfamiliar with The Artist, recognizes the other three murals from an exhibit in his favorite library.
Hanzo also recognizes some murals, perhaps from a past life.
The writing is in Aquan and Azlanti, but you are able to recognize it nonetheless. The cadence and phrasing is iconic of these well known passages.
You also identify that the sections of the holy text depicted are slightly diferent than those that appear in the known version of the History and Future of Humanity, suggesting that these might represent an earlier version of the work.
The ever burning torches continue to flicker in the southern passageway.
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"Hold up! If there are torches, it means that some one(s) or some thing(s) are down here, else why have them lit? Expect an ambush or trap!"
"Caution is indeed warranted," Takega states as he slowly and quietly draws his katana with his main hand while keeping his off hand on Matsukaze's bridle. "Let us investigate further." Takega and Matsukaze slowly advance to the southeast.
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As the group approaches the southern corridor, the soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a fat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern foor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
You identify the diorama as an intricately detailed model of Absalom, easily identifable by its Starstone Cathedral.
Kneeling in the water is a lone gillman pilgrim. His head is bowed, and he makes no reaction as the group peers into the room.
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Once Sirius enters the water, the Gillman moves for the first time. Slowly, his head raises and he looks over this newcomer. Once you meet eyes with him he nods in greeting, his face indifferent to this new presence.
Upon closer inspection, he is on his hands and knees before the pool, with his hands and knees in the water. He lowers his head and closes his eyes again.
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As Brundie speaks, the Gillman makes absolutely zero reaction.
As the group looks on at the city of Absalom, those with experience in the faiths make a connection.
Aroden helped establish mankind. Perhaps those murals and this statue are related.
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As Brundie approaches the pool to look for a farm, the gillman moves again. He turns to look at Brundie, and his eyes widen. Slowly, he turns his head around, looking at each member of the party in turn. His attitude towards you seems to be one of indifference, though his eyes show curiosity.
Suddenly, Felix, struck by inspiration, runs from the back of the room towards the pool. He runs straight into the pool, towards the model of Absalom. By the time he reaches the model, he is up to his shoulders in water. Clambering on top of the model, careful not to crush any of the buildings or slip on any of the coins or polished stones, he begins to shoo the cute white frogs off the large statue.
The gillman looks up in shock, and a small amount of irritation, as Felix runs by him. However, watching Felix attempt to herd the frogs, he soon cracks a wry smile and watches the commotion.
At this point Ystrizz walks up to the gillman and says hello. He turns to the ratman and nods, as a greeting before returning to watch the Half-Orc fumble around on the rock.
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"They're just frogs, Felix... I don't think they're hurting it... though I guess they might sh!t on it... go ahead... shoo them out!" Ystrizz chuckles softly then sighs, turns back to the gillman.
"Hi.. I'm Ystrizz. My friends and I are Pathfinders... I was wondering what brings you here to pray or meditate? Is this place sacred to you and your people? Do you worship ARoden?"
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After staring at the gillman for a few moments, Takega realizes that he skipped the "Local Tribes" class.
As the last frog leaves the statue, a faint gold light bursts from the rock, towards each of the adventurers.
The gillman looks at Ystrizz respectfully as he speaks, but does not react or speak until he hears the word, "Aroden". At this point, he makes a slight grimace and shakes his head sadly.
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Sirius, inspired by Felix's success, begins to craft the finest frog slippers the world has ever seen. Well, items that might resemble frog slippers. In the dark. When he sets the "slippers" down on the carved city, a a slightly stronger gold light bursts from the rock, towards each member of the party.
The gillman, not perceiving Sirius' crafting, had returned to meditation and does not appear to have noticed this burst of light.
Felix, after taking a closer look at the gillman, you remember something from your previous travels. Gillmen can hear above water and below just the same!
"Hey, is there a relationship between the murals and the diorama?"
As Brundie takes a step back and assesses the situation, he realizes that the gravel near the pool looks oddly similar to the pebbles in the Farmer's mural...
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Felix tries his luck with the gillmann.
Tapping him on the shoulder he shows empty hands and speaks up.
"Yo, friend, we are here to look around and find out why you are here. You know, because that is very great, haven´t seen one of your kin, like never. Mightly impressed, and I will tell me kin for this honor!"
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Felix tries his luck with the gillmann.
Tapping him on the shoulder he shows empty hands and speaks up.
"Yo, friend, we are here to look around and find out why you are here. You know, because that is very great, haven´t seen one of your kin, like never. Mightly impressed, and I will tell me kin for this honor!"
Takega joins Felix in engaging the gillman. He bows respectfully and begins speaking when he has re-made eye contact with the gillman.
"My friend Felix-san speaks true. We are honored to meet your kind. We are explorers from the city represented by this shrine and wish to understand more about you and your kin's relationship to this place."
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Felix, backed by Takega, goes up to the gillman and begins to open up a conversation. He watches your face intently as you talk. Suddenly, he speaks in broken Common to Ystrizz.
"You came for me? I thought you came for the shrine. My name is Uori. I, like many before me, have traveled to this site to listen to the holy waters. The pure waters of the spring are a sacred sign for us gillmen. Please, treat this cave with the respect it deserves."
He turns to Takega and continues. "You come from the city of the shrine? This shrine was once sacred to Aroden, the dead god of your people. But, over the past century the carvings in the nearby room have weathered and melted. I think that soon Aroden’s infuence will have faded completely."
As Brundie and Hanzo begin to get bored with the rituals and conversation, they circulate the room.
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Taking out his notesheet, Felix adds the words to his report. Trail, cave minotaur, cave entrance, trap pit murals, Uori, pure water shrine.
"I understand why you come here. I mean pure water must be rare. Well I promise we will treat it with respect mate. Even performed our rituals in Aroden pleasing way!" The huge half-orc assures the Uori.