[PFS_Aerondor] 03-21 Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Victory in the Ruby Phoenix Tournament earned the Pathfinder Society a pick of the legendary treasures of the Tian sorceress Hao Jin, and the Decemvirate knew just what item to select: a frayed and dirty tapestry hidden deep in Hao Jin’s vault. This unassuming tapestry acts as a doorway to another dimension in which Hao Jin stored her most massive items, including entire buildings, battlefields, and the ruins of ancient civilizations. The Pathfinder Society is now methodically exploring and cataloging the diverse locales tucked within this extradimensional space.

Deep beneath Absalom’s Grand Lodge, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Spells, Aram Zey, gestures at the tapestry hung on the wall, surrounded by ladders and scaffolds. Scholars and diviners scurry around the tapestry, analyzing its abstract patterns and comparing insights.

Zey snaps his finger to quiet the room and speaks rapidly. “The aasimar nation of Tianjing contains a handful of temples to Korada, Empyreal Lord of forgiveness and foresight. The Pathfinder Society is interested in exploring these holy sites, but the aasimar disciples in Tianjing are reluctant to grant the Pathfinder Society full access to their faith’s secrets. Fortunately, the custodian council of Tianjing gifted one such temple to Hao Jin centuries ago. This temple—the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment—now sits vacant within the museum demiplane of the Hao Jin Tapestry. We need well-trained explorers to survey the isolated and abandoned site."

He glances around at the team. “We will transport you to the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment within the Hao Jin Tapestry and provide you with a small cache of supplies. We need a complete report on the temple with a focus on four key locations. First, locate the temple’s meditation room, find evidence of any meditative techniques described there, and record any effects of performing those techniques. Second, prepare a comprehensive catalog of all works in the temple library. Third, find the temple gardens and draft a detailed plan of the garden’s layout. Finally, enter the temple’s crypt and take rubbings of the carvings on each sarcophagus."

He pauses, looking at each of you in turn.
“You will enter the tapestry within the hour. Any questions?”

A hulking Kellid is practically jumping in joy, oversize hammer swinging on his back and a thin book in hand 'Ancient Osirian and you: an illustrated guide to the last 8000 years'. "Oh great! A long lost temple! This is everything I've dreamed of! I must collect rubbing paper, and coal, and a mapping kit; oh how to catalog the library?! Oh and a meditation mat!"

Running out of fingers to count supplies on, Kett turns to Aram Zey. "Small cache of supplies? What are you providing?"

Reaching back and stopping the sway of his hammer before it damaged a scaffold, Kett slowly speaks his mind. "How did we find out about about this temple? Scouts within the tapestry or from Tianjing histories? Should we expect trouble?"

Kett will stop in the library while gathering supplies and pick up a masterwork tool: "The Empyreal Lords, a Study Guide." for a +2 bonus to knowledge religion checks regarding the Empyreal Lords.

An exotic looking woman dressed in fine scholar's robes and elaborate scarves examines the tapestry with interest. Though her skin tone is quite pale, her features and attire clearly mark her as Kelishite. Her elaborate feathered earrings sway as she looks up, taking in the tapestry's full size with her golden eyes.

"A magnificent prize," she comments with a smile. As Aram Zey speaks, she begrudgingly tears her eyes from it's wonder and listens attentively.

"Fascinating! This is a rare opportunity." The woman bows her head slightly to Aram, "I thank you for the privilege. Rest assured we will make the most of our time within the temple."

At the Kellid man's enthusiasm, Esper smiles with amusement. Then she turns her gaze to the Master of Scrolls, waiting patiently to hear his response.

"There is always trouble when magic is involved," says a grimacing Pahmet dwarf. He speaks in a rough Osiriani accent, wearing sun-stained armor with a sheathed greatsword slung over one shoulder. The dwarf looks at the tapestry and wrinkles his nose. "I can tell by the stink of it, friends. This will not go how we think it will." He always seems to keep the tapestry in his peripheral vision, as if expecting it to come alive and start ripping the scaffolding down around them.

He turns his attention to the Master of Spells. "Master Zey, do you or these scholars know much about Korada? What type of Empyreal Lord is it?"

Then, after his questions have been met with responses, he greets his colleagues with a bow of the head. "My name is Durlo Deadshield. I hail from Osirion, from the Brazen Frontier where my ancestors hailed. My family has hunted the workings of evil magic use for generations. I have particular experience with the blade and the inner workings of arcane magic."

"I can tell by the stink of it, friends. This will not go how we think it will." He always seems to keep the tapestry in his peripheral vision, as if expecting it to come alive and start ripping the scaffolding down around them.

Esper smiles. "Most things don't, Master dwarf."

Then, after his questions have been met with responses, he greets his colleagues with a bow of the head. "My name is Durlo Deadshield. I hail from Osirion, from the Brazen Frontier where my ancestors hailed. My family has hunted the workings of evil magic use for generations. I have particular experience with the blade and the inner workings of arcane magic."

"Pleased to meet you, Master Deadshield." She remarks, inclining her head in greeting. "It is a pleasure to see a fellow traveller of the sands so far from home. I am Lady Esper Zevral. A scholar and diplomat, of sorts. I hail from Thuvia, but I have travelled most of the desert realms in recent years. Usually in search of magnificent artifacts, such as this." She gestures at the tapestry.

"You may fear it all you like, Master Deadshield, but I am thrilled to be entering it's weave. Danger does not always equate with evil."

Her smile widens and she turns to the tall Kellid man and holds out her hand. "And you, sir? Who might I have the pleasure of meeting?"

"I am Kett of the Raptorscale Tribe. You are both for the southern sands? I am so jealous! I've been trying to see the ancient ruins of Osirion ever since I left my tribe. I too am a scholar, well..." Kett shrugs in his heavy lamellar stone armor and frowns; "I want to be a scholar. Everyone has refused me as an apprentice so far."

After a second Ket smiles, "Soon I'll make it south to Osirion and will find ancient wisdom!"

"Refused you?" Esper muses aloud. "How unfortunate! Knowledge can be acquired, mannerisms can be learned, but enthusiasm? That cannot be taught. You seem to have it in abundance." With a smiles she adds, "Sounds like the scholar's you seek to learn from are the fools."

"Ah, yes! Wisdom. Ancient or otherwise, many search for it. I wish you luck in your quest, Master Kett."

"All of us? In there?" Magrat says pointing at the tapestry.

She's a thin, pointy woman with frizzy hair full of split-ends the color of damp hay. She wears simple but functional blue robes dappled with mystical symbols like big clunky stars in a night sky. Her arms are draped with similarly adorned silver bangles and charm bracelets reaching from her wrists to her elbows.

"Looks a bit old. *sniff* Ugh. And it needs a good airing." she adds, pinching her aquiline nose. "Maybe we should take it out and beat it a bit first."

"'ello. I'm Magrat Garlic from Mad Stoat." She says offering a hand. The jewelry along that arm shifts with the motion.

Zey rolls his eyes as he answers the inevitable tide of questions.

"Kett is it? The supplies include food, water, ink, charcoal, parchment, rice paper and measuring twine. All the regular things an expedition needs."

He steeples his fingers as he continues. "We have no reason to think there will be any trouble in there. The temple is likely uninhabited except by ancient guardians or traps, although I suppose some scavengers may have found their way into the structure.”

He nods to Esper "It is indeed, make sure you don't waste the opportunity. I am looking forward to your reports, in detail."

He turns his gaze on Durlo."If you were not paying attention in your class on religion, I have not the time to expound on the teachings of Korada now. Maybe one of your companions was not sleeping."

He looks horrified at the words of Magrat. "Do you all fit in a doorway? No! You pass through it. And anyone beating the tapestry will be sent to the Master of swords for a demonstration of what a beating really should be."

Sighing he finishes with
"Now, any last questions?"

Of course, you might know some more..

Zey rolls his eyes as he answers the inevitable tide of questions.

He steeples his fingers as he continues. "We have no reason to think there will be any trouble in there. The temple is likely uninhabited except by ancient guardians or traps, although I suppose some scavengers may have found their way into the structure.”

"Nits and fleas. You get those sometimes in old rugs. It's just more reason to give it a good beating with a broom. I'd do it myself, but my broom flew off after I arrived. I think there's something wrong with the parking break."

He looks horrified at the words of Magrat. "Do you all fit in a doorway? No! You pass through it. And anyone beating the tapestry will be sent to the Master of swords for a demonstration of what a beating really should be."

"Obviously you've never tried going through a doorway with Nanny Ogg." Magrat says putting her hands on her hips (touching off a small avalanche of jewelry) and turning up her nose.

Durlo says, "Is there a time limit to report our findings? I believe that is the end to my curiosities."

He turns now to the others, looks them all over in detail. Kett: simple enough to identify this one's proficiencies; Esper: slight, frail, charismatic, armor, and weapons, perhaps a performer of some kind like Janira; And Magrat: all the indications of magic use.

Durlo quickly excuses himself from the rest and runs upstairs to buy a few more potions.

Durlo will buy two potions of cure light wounds. Due to Durlo's distrust of arcane magic (superstition talent) he has to save against Magrat's beneficial spells. Just a heads up.

He nods to Esper "It is indeed, make sure you don't waste the opportunity. I am looking forward to your reports, in detail."

"Of course, sir." Esper replies with a smile and a grand bow.

---

Esper lets out a gasp at Magrat's suggestions to beat a priceless artifact.

"I dare say, Miss Garlic! You will not be the caretaker of any relics we acquire. Artifacts such as this need be treated with care."

Kett rushes back down to the basements, flipping through his new purchase: "The Empyreal Lords, a Study Guide." trying to find any reference to Korada.

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
Both trained.

"KOH-rah-dah? How is that spelt?" Ready to depart.

I think we're still waiting on someone, aren't we?

---

As their departure time approaches, Esper draws Kett aside.

"I have a boon to offer you, if you will allow me," she tells him with an enigmatic smile.

After a moment she turns to him, places her hands upon his shoulders and look him in the eyes.

"Look deep into my eyes, Kett. Lose yourself in their depths. You're in a pool of golden light. Yes? This light will protect you. Let it in... In... In!" She removes her hands from his shoulders and steps back.

"You're welcome." she says with a wink.

Esper is implanting a psychosomatic surge trick on Kett, and using her split trick feat to implant it in herself as well. The next time either Kett or Esper takes damage, Esper can choose to trigger this trick. Triggering the trick causes whichever of us was hurt to gain 1d8+1 temporary hp for 1 hour (or until discharged). If the damage that triggered this trick would cause that person to be reduced to 0 hp or lower they instead gain 2d8+1 temporary hp. Once this trick is triggered it is no longer implanted in either of them. For further details, see Esper's alias.

"Umm, Thank you. What was that golden light? I feel warm." Kett asks a few confused questions but nods, grateful for the blessing.

Esper smiles enigmatically. "It will protect you. You will see."

She offers no further explanation.

Esper lets out a gasp at Magrat's suggestions to beat a priceless artifact.

"I dare say, Miss Garlic! You will not be the caretaker of any relics we acquire. Artifacts such as this need be treated with care."

"And maybe washed once in a while." Magrat says to under her breath. Maybe they don't wash as much in foreign parts. She turns to Durlo hoping for a warmer reception (or at least cleaner hands from the dwarf). She sticks out her hand. "'ello, I'm Magrat. I'm the witch from Mad Stoat, in the River Kingdoms. What do you do?"

Earlier that day: a strange figure is slumped in the corner of the Venture Captain's office, snoring loudly. He is covered in tattoos, all of them displaying words in a variety of scripts and languages, so many of them that it's a bit difficult to make out whether he is human or perhaps an elf or perhaps something in between. He is wearing a wayfinder over a set of tie-died pajamas and the pajamas appear to have a variety of notes pinned to them.

He startles violently, stretches lazily, yawns, spits, and looks around the room with bleary eyes. "Oh. Hello. I'm - I'm - I'm..." He trails off in confusion. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm..." He looks around the room, as if perhaps he might find some clue or indication, something to get his bearings. He rubs his eyes to be sure that he is actually awake, and gives himself a good strong pinch. "Ow! Hmm, well I'm awake, no doubt about that, but that doesn't help much to know that, if I don't know who it is that is awake, now does it? I don't suppose any of you know? Frightfully embarrassing, I must say, I'm sure that it will come to me in just a moment, but for just now, I have to admit that I don't have the faintest idea who I am or what I might be doing here. Perhaps you can assist me?"

Pinned to his pajama shirt is a note with large, bold writing: "Birseko Naam - if found, return to nearest Pathfinder Lodge."

Staring down at the note, the figure reads it, and then softly whispers, "Birseko Naam, birseko naam... I wonder if that could be me? I feel so unsure of everything just now, it's as if you wake from a dream and you can't decide if you are awake or still asleep..." He pauses, and then exclaims, "Dreams! Yes, that is one thing I DO remember, in my dream, though it was REAL, not a dream at all, mi'lord appeared to me, assuring me that his time is coming, and that I should go forth to herald him. Lord Ranginori returns! Let all know and tremble!" A look of consternation and confusion crosses swiftly over his brow. "That was real, wasn't it? I saw it in my dream but I'm quite sure it was real, as sure as I am of my own..." He trails off, uncertain, eyes aglow with a mixture of fervent devotion and the straining for memories that seem to dance just out of reach.

He looks around at the assembled pathfinders. "So, my friends, here I am, whoever that is, and I am at your service. You may call me Birseko Naam."

One by one you are ushered up to the tapesty and shown the place to touch, and one by one you disappear, into whatever place the great work takes you..

The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment is a wide structure atop a forested hill. The graceful building has no sharp corners; the white marble walls are carved with soft, round edges. The edifice appears well-scrubbed, but despite this obvious care black flecks of mold cover its surface. A gravel path leads into an airy courtyard and up to a pair of large wooden double doors. The doors are carved with an image of four spheres resting inside an open lotus flower.

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The ground in the open courtyard is covered with crushed white gravel. An ornate set of wooden double doors leads west into the temple, clearly the structure’s main entrance. Functional wooden doors lead to the east, one set on each side of the flagstone path leading into the courtyard

"Oh you poor man. Let me see." Magrat begins tending to the obviously confused man. She puts the back of her hand to his forehead. She takes his pulse. She puts a stick in his mouth to keep his tongue flat, and asks him to say 'Ahhh'. She borrows Kett's taiaha and uses the hammer end to test Birseko's reflexes. "What year is it? Do you know who the current Primarch of Absalom is?"

Esper raises an eyebrow at the strange, forgetful man.

Greeeeeat. We're to care for an amnesiac. Where do they get these people?

With a forced smile, Esper nods her head in greeting. "Well met, Dreamer."

---

As Esper approaches the tapestry she smiles widely, clearly excited at entering a demi plane.

She looks around in amazement at the world within the tapestry. "Amazing!" she exclaims.

After mastering her excitement, Esper turns her gaze to the wooded hill. With her elaborate wooden quarter staff held in one hand as if it were a mage's staff or a royal's sceptre, she climbs the hill. She examines the ancient marble temple, and follows the gravel pathway up to its courtyard. She moves to the main doors send examines the carvings.

She removes her journal and charcoal and makes a quick sketch of the lotus flower symbol on the door, then replaces her journal into her bag.

Quarter staff in hand again she gestures at the front doors. "Shall we?"

Perception on the courtyard and doors: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Esper starts to take a rubbing of the carvings. Aside from the lack of weeds in the entrance, nothing appears surprising.

Birseko's reflexes seem normal, but he cannot answer questions about the year or the Primarch of Absalom. His brow furrows with puzzlement before he stammers, "It's very peculiar, I do feel as if I know things, perhaps quite a lot of things, and yet, it's difficult right now to remember them..."

K Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"For example, I remember..." - his eyes roll back and he speaks in a strange monotone - "I remember that Korada is the Empyreal Lord of foresight, forgiveness, and peace. He is a force of good, dedicated to peace and contemplation. Korada spends his time meditating in the Dream Lotus on the plane of Nirvana, balancing the spheres of existence in his mind and conversing with other enlightened beings. Devotees of Korada are scholars and mystics who are often contemplative pacifists. Korada’s worshipers meditate by spinning small glass spheres in their palms. Practiced disciples spin three glass spheres in each hand simultaneously while meditating." He trails off in confusion as his eyes return to normal.

"For example, I remember..." - his eyes roll back and he speaks in a strange monotone - "I remember that Korada is the Empyreal Lord of foresight, forgiveness, and peace. He is a force of good, dedicated to peace and contemplation. Korada spends his time meditating in the Dream Lotus on the plane of Nirvana...."

"'e sounds nice. I bet you 'e washes his lotus before gettin' in." she says with a sideways glance at Zey, before turning once again to her patient. "Still, 'e's not the Primarch is 'e? How many fingers am I holding up?"

Before entering the tapestry.

Durlo looks at Magrat's outstretched hand as if it were an asp ready to strike, but still he manages to calm his mind long enough to say, "You are a member of the Society, which means you have not succumbed to the perils your kind always face. These powers you wield, and the things granting them, are not always--how do you say--good for the peoples' health."

He takes her hand and clasps it tight, perhaps tighter than he would any others, and whispers, "Turn away from this path. It only ends in sadness."

Durlo grunts at Birseko's arrival, and most would assume that it's his way of laughing.

After

After being transported through the tapestry, Durlo stares in awe for just a moment before his instincts snap back. He scans the surrounding area for danger. Then he moves up to the double door and listens and inspects the handles to see if there is a locking mechanism attached.

Before entering the tapestry.

Durlo looks at Magrat's outstretched hand as if it were an asp ready to strike, but still he manages to calm his mind long enough to say, "You are a member of the Society, which means you have not succumbed to the perils your kind always face. These powers you wield, and the things granting them, are not always--how do you say--good for the peoples' health."

"Oh no, You've got it all wrong. I only wield willow bark, mandrake, and ginseng. They're all-natural you see. I'm very health conscious."

He takes her hand and clasps it tight, perhaps tighter than he would any others, and whispers, "Turn away from this path. It only ends in sadness."

"I was gonna say the same to you. You can catch a lot of nasty, crawly parasites from a dirty, old rug."

Birseko glances at Magrat's fingers and easily counts them, "एक दुई तीन" before shaking his head and trying again, "one, two, three..."

Once they arrive through the tapestry, Birseko glances around nervously before drawing out a scroll of mage armor and casting it on himself.

Durlo finds the double doors open smoothly.

This wide entrance is a communal center of the temple. The floor here contains an engraved Spiral of Korada, but the spiral is badly scuffed from centuries of traffic.

Esper enters the temple and looks around, curious if it's as well tended inside as it is outside. She examines the spiral engraved in the floor... Worn, but still visible.

She walks around the room, glancing at each door she passes and peering down the hallway.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Does she hear anything in the temple?

Eventually she returns to the room's centre, standing right atop the middle sphere engraved upon the floor, and follows the purple spiral along its course, right up to the double doors.

"...This is the one." she remarks suddenly.

When we're all ready to leave this room, Esper votes for the double doors.

The temple rooms and halls are 20 feet high and lit with hanging lanterns containing everburning torches. Walls are smooth, rounded white stone.

Esper hears nothing of particular interest.

Esper votes for the double doors.

If only that had been an option in 2016.

"Looks like it could use a cleaning on the inside too."

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

On the way through the front door, Kett stops and picks at the mold. "Weird." Confused, he looks around for any clues to who is maintaining the grounds.

perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

Kett looks at his hammer then the others. "Think the devotees will find it rude if we walk in with weapons drawn?" Kett pulls the straps tight on his cestus and joins Esper at the door.

"That doesn't seem friendly at all." Magrat says in response to Kett.

"Yes," Durlo says, agreeing with Magrat. "We should not present our own selves as hostile."

He keeps his greatsword sheathed and walks up to the double doors, ending up behind Esper. "Ms. Zevral, I would exercise caution. Aram Zey did speak of traps and other dangers left behind."

Magrat sees no sign of dust in the area, well, very little. This does not appear long abandoned to her. Her keen ears also hear the sound of movement from beyond the double doors.

Esper nods at Durlo. "I appreciate your concern, Durlo." she takes a step back and gestures at the door. "After you?"

Birseko moves up to join the others in the room and examines the Spiral of Korada with interest.

"Well, I guess we're in the right place. Perhaps we should go inside - what could possibly go wrong?"

Absolutely nothing...of course

You open the door to a large dining room...

There is a truly massive table in the middle of the room, a single slab of darkwood. A woman stands near the edge of the table, arranging plates. She turns as you open the door and looks at you with astonishment.

"Hello!" she smiles. "Welcome to the temple. Have you too been called to contemplate here?"

"More like ordered actually. I'm Magrat from Mad Stoat. And you are?"

"Oh, I'm Di Duang. It is almost time for our mail meal. Would you care to partake of it as well?"

"Is it vegan?"

Esper looks around the room warily, then examines the woman with interest, curious how a person could be alive after being trapped within a tapestry for so long...

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Is she alive/real?
Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Durlo sniffs the air. ”Good day miss. We have been called here, yes, but out of cont…em…plation? I am not sure. This word is unfamiliar to me. What is your job here, and how have you managed to stay alive in this place for so long?”

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

He moves over to the table and looks over the table and the plates. ”Are you expecting someone?”

"We have not been travelling long, but a meal sounds nice to me."

"Called to contemplate? We are here to learn of this temple and it's god. That is like contemplating?" Kett looks at the strange woman, suspicious of the strange woman, a suspicion offset by the offer of food.

sense motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16 +2 sense motive vs political corruption - mwk tool - Essays of Alysande Benedict.

If the woman answers Durlo, Esper does a sense motive on her.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

She nods to Magrat. "Yes. No animals were harmed in the creation of the food. It consists solely of nutritious fruits, grains, nuts and juices."

So far as Esper can tell the woman is alive and well. Although she does seem to be missing a finger.

"Korda provides the food we need to live lives of contemplation." she explains to Durlo. "There are sixteen of us who live such lives here. You have arrived in time for dinner."

So far as the team can tell she seems genuine.

Duang moves toward the side of the room and rings an alarmingly loud bell! Soon you hear the sound of many feet approach.

"Gracias." Magrat says, and then adds: "That's how they say 'thank you' in foreign parts."

"I'll be happy to eat with you. Can you give us a tour of the temple later, and teach us of Korada?"

"I, or any of the faithful here, seek enlightenment and to help others who also seek it. We will be happy to show you the temple and techniques after our meal."

Is anyone not eating?

Birseko bows deeply to Di Duang. "I too am a seeker of enlightenment, though alas, I I know not who it is that seeks." He gazes approvingly at the meal on the table. "Perhaps after we have eaten we can compare our techniques for seeking awakening and self-knowledge?"

Birseko will participate in the meal, but if possible he would like to use the Read Aura occult skill unlock to read the alignment of Di Duang. This requires 10 minutes of concentration, so it's GM call on whether that is doable while seated at mealtime with the group. If it's possible, it's a Perception check with a DC of 15+her HD, with success telling him her alignment and the strength of her alignment aura. If you feel this is doable, he'll also cast Acute Senses on himself before attempting the skill unlock (because it's a psychic spell, it has thought and emotion components, rather than Verbal and Somatic ones, so it will not be obvious to her that he is casting a spell, or doing anything really). It gives him a +10 on Perception checks (including the read aura check) for 20 minutes.

If the GM allows the use of the skill unlock in this situation:
Read Aura (Alignment) Perception, Acute Senses: 1d20 + 6 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 10 = 31