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

Game Master Aerondor

Durlo cut him down and would bring it to the monks, not letting anyone get near the table if he felt it trying to effect him.

In the garden, Durlo says to the gnome. "This place is a mess. How do you suggest we go about cleaning it up? Is there a specific tool we should use, or a pattern your acolytes prefer, or can we use any implements we desire?"

To showcase this, he points to the large greatsword currently sheathed on his back in a worn leather scabbard.

"Oh, if you start to hack at the weeds. Mostly folk just come here to take the kiss..." he says, gesturing to the statue.

Looking around you can see the path once had a spiral pattern, with three small ponds scattered around it.

"Well, I guess we'd best get to weeding." If there are tools, Birseko uses them. Otherwise he improvises.

Durlo draws his greatsword.

"Then we do it the Deadshield way."

He takes a massive swipe at the biggest collection of growth, trying to get as much of it as he can.

Durlo and Birseko set to work in the garden, while the others continue their work in the library.

After an hour or so, they discover a wiry shrub with red-brown leaves.
know(nature) may be helpful here

Surely it will be dinner time soon.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Birseko ponders the shrub with interest. "Where have I seen one of these before...? I wish my memory were better..."

Birseko recognises it as flyleaf, a recreational hallucinogen.

"Hmm, I wonder if a hit of this would help me remember who I am? Or forget that I've forgotten?"

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"It sure looks like the gnome has been showing some interest in it. Let's ask him about it."

If the gnome is still around...

"My friend, we found some flyleaf under all your weeds. Have you ever tried it? What does Korada say about it?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Durlo scoffs. "A forgetful half elf, a gnome, and a drug, it sounds as if it were the start of a tavern joke."

He clears his throat and addresses the gnome. "Yes, tell us, did you plant this here?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Never seen it before" admits the gnome.

"I don't think Korada has any teachings about particular plants to be honest with you."

"Then we should get rid of this weed. It is a drug."

Durlo watches the gnome for any signs of aggression while he bends down to uproot the plant.

"Is it.... oh we shouldn't' destroy it...

"Is it.... oh we shouldn't' destroy it...

"We're going to destroy it," Durlo says. He studies the gnome for a moment, then draws his greatsword and lifts it high over his head to begin chopping at the plant.

Studied Target on the gnome.

"No, no, wait..." cries the gnome, throwing himself between the blade and the bush.

"It's the only thing that makes life here bearable. "

Magrat attempts to make the kitchen bearable.

"Then tell me why life here is so unbearable." He leans closer. "Tell me what's going on here."

Magrat finds that whenever she gets close to the table, the urge to off-herself tries to overcome her. But staying away from there she starts to tidy up.

BAck in the garden the little gnome looks resigned. "Have you seen this place? And all these 'Oh I'm so good' worshippers of Korada. So I try to spice things up a bit with the kiss. I mean, nothing happens here. Well.. apart from Dakang. He isn't a believer either. He's been perverting their faith since long before I arrived. I suspect long before any of them either. No idea who he really worships but it's some evil thing, not Korada."

Birseko observes Durlo preparing to take his greatsword to the psychedelic shrub with some wistfulness. Perhaps this is my last chance to discover who I truly am... But he realizes that for the sake of the mission he should probably not partake, at least not just now...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Realizing that the gnome is being less than completely honest with them, he joins Durlo's efforts to get information from him.

"Well then why are you here? How did you get here and why don't you leave?"

"At least here is safe and there is food. But how can I leave? I have no idea. And further out there... there are really nasty monsters."

Durlo huffs. "We are Pathfinder Society agents sent to document this temple and how it behaves untainted. We need to observe the rites and rituals of Korada without some evil creature perverting it, so, tell us, how do we reveal Dakang's true nature? Also, tell us of the true nature of the Kiss of Korada? Why do people lose their fingers to it after failing? If you help us you can leave with us, or not. I don't care. Tell us what we need to do or I will end this charade."

If Durlo gets a satisfactory answer, he will lower his weapon and go back to the library to finish helping Esper and Kett and relay what he and Birseko have learned.

"I don't know!" cries the gnome. "But I'm not stupid. The books in the library... they have been changed, you can see that if you spend some time there. As for the kiss.."

He flushes a little. "There is a trap in the mouth of the frog..." he shrugs.

"But how will you leave?"

Have we gathered sufficient information to have drafted a detailed plan of the garden? Or do we still need to do that. If so, Birseko suggests that we proceed with that task.

As for leaving, I can't remember, were we told anything about how we get out of the tapestry? Oops, that could be awkward... Maybe we'll wind up as devotees of Korada after all...

You need to finish clearing the garden in order to do the map of it. That will take considerably more time.

And while you didn't ask about getting out... you could have. When you appear in the tapestry, a mote of light appears where you arrive. Each can only be seen by the person who appeared there. You return by touching your personal mote of light.

Birseko reassures the gnome that they will do their best to help him find a way to leave as well, when the time comes. Then he rejoins his comrades in the library.

"There's something fishy going on around here. We'd all best stick together. There's lots more to do in the garden but why don't we all work on creating the library catalogue that we were asked for? Once we finish that we can deal with the garden and find the meditation room and the crypt. Though I've a feeling we may have to deal with this Dakang before we get too much further... Keep your wits about you..."

The team spends the rest of the afternoon working on the catalog. After a few hours Miriya stands up. "There will be a service starting soon. We should head to the chapel.."

"A service?" Esper asks. "How lovely! Does everyone attend?." After a moment she adds, "You go ahead Miriya. We'll follow you shortly."

Esper continues to work on the catalogue until Miriya is gone. Then she puts down the books and looks at the others. "Should we all attend the service? There is a chance that Dakang may be using enchantments to augment his hold over the temple. It may benefit us to have one person miss it, just in case."

After a moment, she adds, "And if that person were to take a glimpse into Dakang's room..."

"Or perhaps we could skip the service entirely and take this chance to record the names in the crypt?"

"What do you think?" she asks Durlo, and Kett.

"I am not to quiet and when I break into a room, it leaves a mark." so I'll join the service.

Also not one for subtlety, Durlo adds, "You might be the best one for that job, friend Esper. I say the rest of us take this thing head on, expose its nature, and destroy it. We should confront it at this ceremony."

"If we're going to confront them during the ceremony, it's best we stay together. Let us all attend this farce, then."

Esper heads off to the chapel when everyone is ready. Being sure to find that loon Magrat on the way.

Ready to proceed to the chapel when everyone else is.

"Perhaps we should yet bide our time and see what we can learn of this Dakang and his plans and motives. If we attack it at the ceremony we will surely end up fighting all the cultists, many of whom are perhaps simply confused and do not realize what is going on. I for one am curious to learn what is taught in the sermon - as a seeker after enlightenment myself, I hope I will be able to detect whether these are genuine teachings of Korada or not."

@GM, in working in the library, has the group seen anything that would confirm what the gnome told us about altered materials?

"Yes. I'm not ready to hurt the mislead. If we can let us buy more time."

Once the kitchen is suitable Magret prepares more ration sandwiches (rations squeezed between more rations), and rations soup (rations in water) in the kitchen, singing while she works.

"♬ Going to the chapel and we're gonna to get married.
Going to the chapel and we're gonna to get married.
Gee, I really love you and we're gonna to get married.
Going to the chapel of love. ♬"

"Very well. If we take a measured response, I will see if I can gain entry into Dakang's rooms. Although, it's highly unlikely. Breaking and entering is not in my skill set. It's likely I'll join you in the chapel not long after the ceremony begins."

When Esper goes to fetch Magrat.

"My, what lovely... rations you've made, Magrat."

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"There is to be a ceremony in the chapel. Care to attend? You'll be wonderful at heckling this Dakang fellow, I'm sure."

You have certainly found some clues. Assuming you have shared them among each other, a know(planes) check might be interesting in light of what you learned from a good in the library. (back here)

In the kitchen, Magrat finds no fresh food.

So the plan is that everyone but Esper goes to chapel, and she tries the priests room?

That was my understanding.

As Magrat joins the others Durlo says, arms folded, "Well Miss Magrat, I suppose since you likely--what is the word? cavort!--yes, cavort with otherwordly things, what do you think of this Dakang creature from the information we've assembled?"

Correct. I can't help with the check, though. Planes aren't my speciality.

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 Not sure if that will be good enough to tell Birseko anything...

When Esper goes to fetch Magrat.

"My, what lovely... rations you've made, Magrat."

"Oh thanks, I made extra so I'll make sure you get more. I would hate to see healthy, nourishing food go to waste."

profession (cook): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

As Magrat joins the others Durlo says, arms folded, "Well Miss Magrat, I suppose since you likely--what is the word? cavort!--yes, cavort with otherwordly things, what do you think of this Dakang creature from the information we've assembled?"

"Well, have you observed how many nipples he has?"

knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

LOL.

Durlo blinks. "Nipples? Good ever-flowing sand, woman, what fiendish earworm crawled into that head of yours?!"

"Oh no. Nipples are terribly important in planar study. You can't tell a succubus from a dark child of Shub-Niggurath, with out taking a careful accounting of the number and location of their mammalia. Why the Earth Mother herself-" She blushes. "Well, haven't you ever given it any thought?"

Magrat knows some things...
Firstly Vantian and Ishiar are not locations connected with Korada. They are not locations in Nirvana at all. These books have been altered.
Secondly Ishiar is a great ocean in the Abyss. It is the realm of the demon lord Dagon and connects to several other Abyssal regions.
Also Ishiar is a great ocean in the Abyss. It is the realm of the demon lord Dagon and connects to several other Abyssal regions.

Now you think about it... you might also (all of you) want to make a religion check.

untrained knowledge (religion, MAX 10 result): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Untrained Religion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Nothing from those rolls. Untrained knowledge checks max at out 10 unfortunately Esper :-(

religion; trained: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

"I'm not finding anything about Vantian in 'The Empyreal Lords, a Study Guide'"

Kett recalls that none of the rites or symbols described in the library are actually connected with Korada. There is no such “symbol of celestial silence and contemplation.” These books have been altered.

"Change of plans, we must find and kill this Dakang before he does any more harm. Turning a library into a place of lies is an unredeemable evil!" Kett fumes as he tenderly cradles an altered book in his hands.