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Amarok runs his hands over the mural, feeling the crack and removable pieces for any clue to how they might work, he doesn't yet remove anything and tries to keep his touch light enough not to actively disturb the tiles. Waiting patiently for one of his group to decipher the strange message left for them.
"Found anything if interest Korasu?" he calls over softly.
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Xûll thinks to add his observations to the mix, but Toorin seems to have the situation well in hand Instead, he offers a prayer to the carving of his god.
"Nethys, watch over me - your disciple - in these times," he bows his head, "And let your energies flow through all of us, guiding our way."
Pooka seems to have an interesting point. "Nice work Pooka!" praises Xûll, "So, Toorin, whose names are on the cartouches?"
The Pathfinders begins to emulate the portion of their creedo Explore. Taking out various care-worm leather journals, they begin the task of identifying the cartouches to decipher their meaning.
THey make quick progess and are able to identify all 6 of them quite quickly.
Finally Toorin is able to identify the salve inside the canister.
The canister contains an oil of greater magic weapon (at caster level 8th)
As the Pathfinders begin to move towards the sounds of running water, in addition to that tingly feeling they have right before they pee, they all notice that Warpac, usually in the front, is slowly falling towards the back of the line. Confused glances are exchanged, words of encouragement are delivered, but try as he might, Warpac cannot seem to keep up with the rest.
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...tingly feeling they have right before they pee...
Xûll looks over the cartouches with the rest of them. He tries as hard as he can to make an intelligent observation.
"Some of those things seem to be opposites. 'Preservation' and 'Destruction'. 'Prosperity' and 'death' not so much, but still. Perhaps we need to arrange them so they are opposing... or maybe in the order of the cycle of life."
Xûll marks down the current order so they can put it back should they need to, but does not move the pieces.
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Korasu grimaces at the macabre scene. Sightblinder, what a bad way to die...
He calls out, "Ah, I am unsure what exactly killed this unfortunate man, but it appears he was left for days to die here. I do not suppose anyone has Speak With Dead or any meaningful way to interact with the body? If not, it might be advisable to give funeral rights and destroy the corpse. I know a thing or two about Vengeful Spirits, and this has all the hallmarks of one..."
Korasu glances around, a bit nervously. "Ah, any ghost or haunt that might be present, I do wish you swift departure to the next world. Please do not take that out on this messenger..."
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Amarok studies the mosaic in more detail with Xull's revelation, not knowibng a great deal about Nethys himself he is unsure of the direct relation of the cartouches to the depicted God-king.
"I agree Xull, this does seem to be a puzzle worthy of the God of Knowledge. Maybe something related to the dualistic nature of the God himself? Though I have not studied him so I could not know if a 'side' of Nethys represented Creation or Destruction specifically. It is just a thought path."
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Pooka nodes sagely to Korasu's observations. "I'll be right over, perhaps I can help. Most of my time is spent with animals. Running a ranch and farm, I have seen my share of unfortunate ways a living thing can die. Its a shot in the dark, but perhaps I can lend some insight. First though, I am going to see if we can arrange these things to get this door open."
Pooka slaps Xull on the shoulder to affirm his theory, or at least affirm that it is worth a try. After he finishes his notes and sketches, he moves to help the large man begin swapping the stones out.
Warpac grips the stone in his hand, he motions to throw it away and finds that in his forward motion, his fingers cannot open to allow the stone to exit his grip.
He asks for help and his companions cannot seem to get a grip on the stone. It seems to be always staying with Warpac.
Korasu makes no progress determine how the person died.
Pooka begins to move the cartouches around. As he grabs the first one off the ledge, all the other Pathfinder cringe anticipating a disastrous consequence.
Sadly, nothing happens other than a Halfling playing with a cartouche.
Moving the “destruction” to Nethy's burnt side, and “preservation” to Nethys’s healthy side seems to make things right.
The others nod along as he does this. For a moment nothing happens. The ever so slowly, they can all hear a "Creeaaaakkkk." as a secret door opens to room east of them.
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...
Pooka smiles broadly at having guessed the order correctly on the first try. He nods to Xull, in thanks for both picking him up and for the idea of the opposites, but finds that he is already over near the dead body, expertly assessing the situation.
Pooka shrugs his shoulders and moves over to the fountain, not wanting to leave anything undone before moving on.
As Pooka walks over, he notices Warpac trying to get rid of the rock. "What seems to be the problem there? That's not one of those crazy glue tricks is it? Ha! Sorry old pal, thats a shame. Wait, you say you feel sluggish and slow? Ok, that really is odd for a dwarf. Yikes, I don't know much about magic, but could that thing be cursed?"
Pooka flashes a worried look that only slightly betrays his relief that he wasn't the first to pick the stone up.
"For a warpriest of Desna, you sure have some terrible luck my friend."
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As Pooka walks over, he notices Warpac trying to get rid of the rock. "What seems to be the problem there? That's not one of those crazy glue tricks is it? Ha! Sorry old pal, thats a shame. Wait, you say you feel sluggish and slow? Ok, that really is odd for a dwarf. Yikes, I don't know much about magic, but could that thing be cursed?"
Pooka flashes a worried look that only slightly betrays his relief that he wasn't the first to pick the stone up.
"For a warpriest of Desna, you sure have some terrible luck my friend."
"I fear you are right. I think this is an cursed lodestone. Well, Desna is a goddess of both good and bad luck. I've heard that she will sometimes 'bless' her priests with a run of really bad luck for instructional purposes. I sincerely hope that this is the case and I'm just going to praise her for showing such special attention to a lowly priest such as me."
In spite of his words, Warpac is wearing a particularly dour expression that embodies the archetypal dwarven scowl.
"And hope I learn whatever the lesson is quickly."
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With the cartouches moved into the correct places and the door opening Amarok smiles and gives Pooka a pat on the shoulder, before moving over to the fountain himself and taking his time to search over it. He pays particular interest to the statue in the centre.
"Well done Pooka, so it was relevant to the God-Kings aspects, well spotted on the swap. Now this fountain is an interesting piece.
One of the many arcane practioners casts a spell to detect the presence of magic. They are rewarded with a glowing belt around the dead body.
As Xull moves over to identify the body. He shakes his head at the senselessness of it all. He can clearly see the emaciated frame, marks as if the person was chewing on things that were not food, and other tell tale clues that all point to starvation.
Following Amarok's lead, the others move towards the fountain, trying to clear their heads of the disturbing thoughts of the person's demise.
The crystalline waters flow unabated in the dryness that surrounds them, and has for some time. They marvel at how the water can flow so freely in this place. A tall marble statue of a woman holding a sword aloft adorns the central pedestal while the strange shapes that ring the pedestal open to allow the waters to flow forth. They can all see at the bottom of the 6-foot deep fountain something that looks like a wayfinder, and a wand. The wand is glowing faintly underwater but they cannot tell anything from it's aura.
Pooka is daydreaming about the flowing fields of his farm while Luna disengages to stride over to the corner. There she squats, finally relieving herself after listening to the flowing waters of the fountain for too long. The more observant Amarok, Korasu, Toorin, Xull, and Warpac all notice that there is something more in the pool. Something alive.
Bursting from the waters, a female figure emerges from hiding and perches next to the statue to watch her visitors in the open. She appears to be made entirely of water bound in a human appearing body and stands close to 8 feet tall.
"<the sounds of a babbling brook>"
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Xûll steps back, holding his blade tighter before rethinking and sheathing it.
"Is she trying to communicate?" he asks, completely confused before addressing the thing directly and deliberately, "Do... you... understand... Taldane? We... are... here... to discover... and find... the diamond sage. What... do... you... want?"
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Toorin looks at the arcane glow of the belt around the dead man. Following the teachings he learned so long ago, he says, "That belt is magical. Looks like a belt of mighty const..." He pauses, mid sentence, cocks his head sideways, shifts his position. Something in the aura was off. He could only see it when he moved his head. That determined it. "No wait! Don't touch the belt! It is cursed. It will make you less healthy!"
Toorin gladly passes on the steel canister with the Oil of Greater Magic Weapon to whomever would make best use of it.
When the water woman emerges, he cannot understand her, but he tries to piece something together of what she might be saying from what he knows of other languages.
He also speaks a polite greeting ("Greetings and blessing be upon you") in elven, draconic, sylvan, Osiriani, Azlanti, and Kelish, pausing between each utterance to see if she responds, just in case she understands and speaks any of them.
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Pooka bows to the mistress of the water, not wanting to spoil anyone's efforts at making a good impression. He waves his hand behind him after he straightens back up.
"Sit."
Luna plops her hindquarters down in the sand where she licks her lips, waiting for the next command.
"Nepředpokládám, že mluvíte halfling, že ne? Nepravděpodobné Myslím, ale okouzlil, že vás poznávám všechny stejné."
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"I have no idea what she's talking about, but I bet it has to do with those items in her pool. She may be willing to trade if we can communicate. I have a scroll here that will allow someone to understand what she's saying, but nothing that will help speak. Xull, want me to cast the spell on you?"
Warpac doesn't even bother to try his languages. Not likely the lass is going to speak Dwarven, Abyssal, or Undercommon.
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"Sure!" agrees Xûll heartily, "If I understand what she says, maybe I'll be able to try some non-verbal communication. There are some in my old tribe who used a series of hand signals to communicate with those unfamiliar with our tongue. I don't remember many of them, but I can certainly try."
For no apparent reason, Xûll checks to see if the water creature does indeed have hands.
Xûll raises his hand to his ear and leans in close as though listening carefully this time. If she says nothing, he rolls his hands over in a repeated gesture.
Seeing a look of understanding come across Xull's face after Warpac casts his spell, she once again address the Shoanti (group).
"Careful adventures. Don't do something rash."
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"Rash, me, rash? Hmph. Tell her that we have no intention of stealing any of her stuff. We might trade for it if the deal is right, but we are not thieves. Scratch that last part. Some of us may be thieves for all I know, but for now any thief will keep their grubby hands off the ladies stuff. Agreed?" He addresses that last question to the group.
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"She said, 'Careful adventures. Don't do something rash'," Xûll translates faithfully, "But I think she meant 'adventurers'. Can't be sure."
In immediate response to her question, Xûll shrugs his shoulders and looks all around the place. He shrugs again and puts both hands palm up, gesturing all around. He raises his eyebrows and shrugs a final time. Be careful of what? she might think he asked.
Xûll looks quizzically at Warpac when he says his part. Did he forget how his own spell works? I can't tell her anything. At least she didn't understand him. I'll try to soften it...
Xûll points to the items in the pool, and opens his purse to reveal coins and trade gems. He then gestures between the two sets of items and clasps his hands together and then moves them up and down in a self-handshake. Would you like to trade for the items in the pool? he seems to say.
The Shoanti then mimes sneaking up behind Toorin and mock stealing his purse. He then stands straight and shakes his head while waggling his finger. One might almost think he was saying, We are not thieves.
At the last, he gestures towards the wayfinder and points to his own. He then points to all of his companions, specifically at any visible wayfinders they have out. He then holds his hand out palm up and looks at her imploringly. He couldn't be more obvious or polite about what he wanted if he'd said, Please pass me those items.
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Upon the appearance of the lady of the pond, Amarok gives her a deep bow in greeting, though he is unable to understand her, her posture does not seem to be threatening and so he holds his bow loosely, down at his side. Warpac uses the scroll and Amarok looks at Xull with a raised eyebrow, unsure of his theatrical display.
Like the others, Amarok tries the language he knows that doesn't seem to have been tried yet, for a moment his voice has a sing-song quality, the tongue of angels used in greeting.
"Welcome from my heart, we are but travellers in search of a sage. This sage comes from an ancient order and has been missing some time. Know you of any diamonds?"
Assuming that doesn't work, Amarok bows to the lady with a warm smile, he places his fist to his heart to symbolise himself, before indicating his eyes and cranes his neck to symbolise looking, finally he assumes a lotus position in one smooth movement and upon his face is the look of serene contemplation. He tries to communicate the following: "Greetings, we seek a man of learning"
Xull begins his elaborate pantomime, clearly communicating with the water woman that he would like the items at the bottom of the fountain.
She gives him a flat stare. "What can I do with your shiny metals? They will not help me here."
Amarok begins his own routine, speaking in a language she does not understand. She cocks her head to the side, then turns to Xull expecting the man to either talk to her or play-act something out.
Before Xull has a chance, Amarok begins his own interpretative dance, finishing gracefully by sitting on the sandy floor.
"Oh my, is he talking about the Jeweled Sages?"
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Warpac starts rummaging through his equipment, in particular his scrolls.
"Well, I do have a few items of interest. A scroll of Air Bubble, A scroll of Bless water, and, oh, Endure elements! Do you think she might be interested in moving to a larger body of water that isn't in the middle of the desert? Would Endure Elements help you think?"
...
"Dimblefudder! I forgot that I had two scrolls of Comprehend Languages. I could use the other one on her if she was willing and that would make this whole communication thing much easier! Do you think you could get her to let me do that?"
Not that I would have wanted to miss that most amusing display of charades if I HAD remembered
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"Uh, yes... I really think that would help in our situation," Xûll agrees regarding the scroll.
Xûll blocks his ear with one hand and mimes something talking with the other. He frowns, shakes his head and then motions towards the scrolls and pretends like it has been cast on him. He smiles, removes his hand and does the talking motion again, this time nodding his head along with the 'conversation'. These scrolls helped me to understand you.
He then points back to the scrolls and over to her. He repeats the motion of putting his hand up to an ear, except away from himself pretending it is her ear, and then takes it away. He looks quizzically at her and raises his hands while tilting his head as if to say, would you like to understand also?
If she agrees, he breathes a sigh of relief and once it is cast says, "I'm going to retrieve these items now... and yes he is talking about the Jeweled Sages, specifically the Diamond Sage. Do you know where he is (or any of them are)? We heard he might have been here recently..."
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"You are right, lady of the fountain, jewels don't really do you much good here. In fact, I suspect that you don't do you much good here. All this sand must seem like a prison to you. Am I far off my guess? I think Warpac has the right idea. Perhaps there is a way we can help you escape this prison?"
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Korasu looks a bit dumbfounded by Amarok's dance. You'll never see me prancing around like that He looks a considerable amount more sure of the situation when the Second comprehend Languages scroll is produced. "Ah, friend Warpac, that is timely aid indeed! Oh, and other than the Jeweled Sages, we should ask too if the elemental knows if what killed that man."
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Pooka enjoys the charades that Xull does for the water woman, and chuckles when Warpac remembers the second scroll.
"Hahaha! Warpac you are an interesting dwarf my friend. Hopefully the lady here doesn't take your constant string of bad luck as reason to not take her chances with us rescuing her from this place."
Pooka looks back up at her as Warpac and Xull work on the spells to help everyone understand each other, nodding at Korasu's suggestion. "It appears he died of starvation. But why he was left here is another matter." Pooka adds.
"Milady, while those baubles in your fountain are intriguing, the real reason we are here is to search for one of the jeweled sages. We are pathfinders, and the Sapphire Sage is our benefactor. And someone else is on their way here as well, searching for the same thing. If possible, I would like to be gone before they arrive."
[dice=Diplomacy, aid]1d20+9
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Toorin studies the liquid lady, trying to determine what manner of creature she is. Water elemental, perhaps? he thinks. They are not usually so civilized. I need to study my outsiders more. Don't know much about them.
"Perhaps we should start with the name of this place. Why is it called Seeker's Folly? Is it that those who seek wealth find cursed items? If so, what do those who seek wisdom find?"
As Xull holds up the scroll mentioning that he wants to cast it on her, she moves around the fountain. Though she does not leave the waters, she extends a hand, as if reaching for him. "You and I are now friends. You can stay here and keep me company."
Warpac casts the spell and now she can understand Xull and Xull can understand her.
"and yes he is talking about the Jeweled Sages, specifically the Diamond Sage. Do you know where he is (or any of them are)? We heard he might have been here recently..."
"The Jeweled Sages. There were many here. Some say three, some say four. They called me forth. Some are no more. And here I stay. Alone and bored. But now you are here and you can stay with me. Xull will be fun. Yes?"
we should ask too if the elemental knows if what killed that man."
"You will talk to me and entertain me just like Kiras used to. Then he stopped and just lies there in the corner, being boring and not fun. But Xull will be fun. Yes?"
"I'm going to retrieve these items now... "
"You want the shiny things? I am here to guard them. That is what the Sages told me. No ones breaks down the secret door. No one steals the items. Here I stay. Bored and guarding. But Xull will be fun. Yes?"
In fact, I suspect that you don't do you much good here. All this sand must seem like a prison to you. Am I far off my guess? I think Warpac has the right idea. Perhaps there is a way we can help you escape this prison?
"This is a prison. And I hope to leave one day. But I do not know how I can leave. So I sit here. Bored. But Xull will be fun. Yes?"
Why is it called Seeker's Folly? Is it that those who seek wealth find cursed items? If so, what do those who seek wisdom find?"
"Why do any of you silly humans name things? Maybe it was because the sages fought here. But to me they are all boring names. But Xull will be fun. Yes?"
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Pooka moves to speak, but stops short as things process through his brain. "How long ago was this? Was Amenephous one of the sages who was here? Did he command you to stay and guard this place?"
Pooka non-chalantly walks over to Luna, standing next to her.
We are either about to take this elemental from this place, or slay her. I am suddenly thinking the latter... Pooka flashes a concerned look to Xull as he grips his lance a little tighter and wraps his other hand around Luna's reins.
"We can take you from this prison, contain you in a jar, or a bladder until we cross the desert sands. I have an exceptional bath house in mind where you could really enjoy your time and have many people to entertain you. What favor would that earn us?"
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"Xull is fun, yes, but he will grow boring after a while and worse, like the fellow over there, will eventually stop. It is the nature of our kind. If there is a way to transport you then there are FAR more interesting places you could live. What exactly is keeping you in this pool? Is there an enchantment or is it just the desert that surrounds us? Pooka had some really good ideas there, but they may not work depending on the nature of your imprisonment."
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Wow... she wants me for a companion? Xûll thinks nervously.
"I feel for you... umm... what should I call you?" Xûll begins haltingly. None here can remember seeing the normally eloquent Shoanti struggling so hard for words, "But if I stay, I will eventually die... and die in a much shorter span than your full lifetime." Yes, this is the way forwards... don't deny her, just disappoint her, "Any relief from boredom I bring you will be fleeting at best. You need to leave here!
"To that end, if anyone can figure out a way for you to get out of here, it is one of the Jeweled Sages - after all, it is they who put you here in the first place. Which of them survive? Is the Diamond Sage still alive?
"I ask, because when we have found the Diamond Sage - or news of his demise - we can contact the Sapphire Sage. If anyone knows how to get you out of here, I'm sure Amenopheus will!"
Xûll ponders the situation for a while, nodding along with Warpac's line of questioning, "Yes! Tell me, what are the terms of the agreement that binds you here? What are you sworn to protect and who from? Exact words, if you please, we may be able to find a way to save you from this yet without the Sages' help."
Since she does not object, he scoops the wayfinder and the other objects from the base of the fountain.
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Pooka flashes a concerned look to Xull as he grips his lance a little tighter and wraps his other hand around Luna's reins.
I sincerely hope that Pooka can keep Luna from relieving herself on the Elemental... she must really need to go still...
Korasu chimes in, "Ah, friend Xull can be amusing at times, but sadly, we are all quite boring. Not worth forcing any of us to remain here until our untimely demise, for certain. Truly, it would be in the best interest of all involved that we find some way to free you from your responsibilities here. Those most be getting terribly dull by now." He nods sagely.
How long ago was this? Was Amenephous one of the sages who was here? Did he command you to stay and guard this place?
"Before now, it was. I do not know this Amenephous. But Xull will be fun. Yes?""
"We can take you from this prison, contain you in a jar, or a bladder until we cross the desert sands. I have an exceptional bath house in mind where you could really enjoy your time and have many people to entertain you. What favor would that earn us?"
They called me forth ... I do not know how I can leave. "I do not know favors."
What exactly is keeping you in this pool?
"They [Sages] called me forth. But I do not know how I can leave."
what should I call you?
"I am <the sound of rain splashing when it hits water>. "Xull will be fun. Yes?"
Which of them survive?
"Well the three of them fought and fought. And I think they are like him." She points to Kiras. "But Xull will be fun. Yes?"
"What are the terms of the agreement that binds you here? Specific please."
"Hmmm. Terms. I am to stay here. I cannot leave. And I am to guard. I am to guard the secret door. If someone opens it without moving the cartouches, I am to attack. I am to guard the shiny things. If someone is to steal them, I am to attack. I am to guard the room. If someone damages the room, I am to attack. That is what I do. That is why it will be so much fun to have you here to pass the time. But Xull will be fun. Yes?"
Since she does not object, he scoops the wayfinder and the other objects from the base of the fountain.
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"So you say that you will not attack anyone who opens the door who has moved the cartouches? Because I have already placed them in their proper location. So we can enter and you will not be forced to attack us, correct?"
"Let us go in here and see what we might find first. Perhaps we might find a solution to the answer we are looking for. The wand and wayfinder in the bottom of the pool can wait for now I think."