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As Einn and Bishop approach, they can clearly see that the gillman has his eyes closed, and seems to be mumbling some words under his breath, deep in meditation. He does not even notice when Einn comes up beside him, but when Bishop disturbs the water, he looks up with a start. His hand quickly reaches down to the staff beside him, but he stops before picking it up, noticing that neither of you have your weapons drawn. He leaves the staff lying on the ground and holds his hands up to signal his nonhostile intentions. He glances around the cave, noticing the other four in the party, but turns his attention back to Einn and Bishop beside him. He does not say anything, however, apparently waiting for you to speak first.
From their position next to the pool, Einn and Bishop can now see the carving on the top of the column of rock rising from the middle of the pool. 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. Along the edge of the pool, the smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
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Seeing no other threats, and the gillman look right at him Luurg will come out from the shadows towards the pool, still using his spear as a walking stick.
"Umm hi I be Luurg, who's you gillman?" He says rubbing his belly nervously. He then sees the weird frog thing. "You know dere's a big frog in yer stuff right?"
"Hey dats our city dere! A mini version.. full of frog slime.." He kind of wrinkles his nose at the thought of the frog trampling the city.
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Begrilda keeps a careful eye on the gillman as she moves up behind the rest of her companions.
Despite the presence of so many figures, the gillman hardly seems to move. Yet Begrilda remains a short distance back from the figure, so as not to alarm it into attacking.
She doesn't notice anything about the gillman in particular, but her attention is drawn moreso toward the intricately carved model city atop the stone pillar in the middle of the pool.
"You're right, Luurg. It seems to be a model of Absalom. See? There's the Starstone Cathedral!"
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Bishop looks at the gillman and then to the others as they announce their findings. He turns back to the stoic gillman and points to the miniature carving of Absalom
"You know that place? We come from there." Outstretching his arms, "What is this place? Is it a temple dedicated to Aroden? Are you a priest or a guardian of this place?"
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The gillman initially stares suspiciously at the half-orc, his gruff nature and broken Common makes him uneasy. However, as the rest of the party approaches non-threateningly, more curious than hostile, and especially when Bishop addresses him not with hostile intentions but seeking to understand, he gradually smiles warmly back in return.
”No, my child. I am no guardian of this place. Who but the gods can claim guardianship over any part of this world, especially this holy of site?” His voice is stilted, and almost gurgling in nature. In addition, the intonation is unusual, but he is still understandable. He places both hands across his chest, and bows to each of you in turn.
Turning to address Einn, ”Do not worry, traveller. This is no taboo against speech in this place. I am sorry that I am staring at your lips. I know it can be disconcerting. I depend on reading your lips to understand you. You see, the gods have seen fit to deny me the gift of hearing. But in return, they have given me so much more, so much more ways to see, and hear the world.”
”My name is Uori, here on pilgrimage. Our prophet Gorem discovered this abandoned cave about 10 years ago. This spring produces the purest of water and that is rare and sacred. Despite the distance and dangers, we the gillmen have been coming here to meditate and listen to the holy waters. We do this during the full moons when its pull brings the waters alive.”
He turns back to address Bishop. ”Yes, I believe these caves were once a sacred site of Aroden, the dead god of humanity. I believe you would have seen the weathered carvings in the previous chamber? The site was likely abandoned though shortly after his disappearance more than a century ago.” He pauses here and looks around the entire cavern slowly. ”However, I sense some remnants of his divinity that remains, especially in this room, although in time even that would fade completely.” He points at the stone column with the city of Absalom carved on top. ”You say that is your city? That is not surprising. Aroden founded it. He set the Starstone raised from the depths of the Inner Sea on this Isle of Kortos and grew the city around it for its protection. I sense the source of divinity centred on this stone column, and from the items left on it, I believe that it had once been used as an altar for prayers to Aroden. The rituals are likely linked to the carvings in the previous chamber.”
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"Is it ok if we 'splore deez caves more? Bossman in da city ask us to come and 'splore deez caves. Dey like deez kinda tings." He gestures around the room, especially at the city carving as well as back towards the murals. "Dey put it all in books to keep safe. Mebe dey help keep dis place safe too, keep dem minitars out." He then rubs his belly quick when another thought surfaces. "You seen a half woman today? A minitar chased her off from us."
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Uori brows creases here. "My people have a ... strained relationship with Aroden. Do not misunderstand. We have no hostilities against him. We respect the many miraculous deeds he accomplished, including his ascension. Some theologians in fact theorise that his death was a sacrifice to save Golarion. Those of my people with longer memory, however, resents that despite being a fellow Azlanti, he did not attempt to rescue us from our ... enslavement after Earthfall. We freed ourselves eventually, but ... So forgive me that I have not attempted any of the rituals myself."
He pauses here to collect himself, and continues more calmly. "However, I can certainly share my speculations. What I theorise are that the carvings in the previous room outline the rituals to be conducted at this altar, which represents the city of Absalom itself. Each of the twelve carvings represent one of Aroden's twelve guises, each an important component of the people of the city."
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Hmm, that one would interesting to try.Damiel takes a look at the sunrod he holds and then at the small city. He makes his way past Bishop, "'Cuse me fella's, I would like the take a look at the city, it's very intriguing." And tries to be as polite as possible as to not show signs of hostility while he approaches the city. At the altar, he looks for a large road, and places the sunrod on it, illuminating the city street, but mostly the cavern with magnificent shadows of the city, especially that of the Starstone citadel. Does this fulfil the ritual?
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Confused a bit about all this religious talk and rituals but seems to understand what Damiel is trying to attempt. "Um... I can try the The Beggar ritual. If I remember correctly I just need a bowl and kneel in front of the altar. Would that be correct?"
Jerrid looks around for a possible bowl that could be used.
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Bishop watches Damiel wade into the pool and place the sunrod on the city.
Ahhh I see now. Let us try this.
Opening his journal he scans over images and text he recorded in the earlier roo m with the guises of Aroden. Pulling out his dagger he traces four parallel lines in the sand leading from the pool. "To represent The Farmer." He follows this up with reaching into his coin purse and dropping a gold coin into the pool. "To represent The Beggar." Next he opens his journal and begins to write something and then tears out the sheet. He turns to the party and gillman reading aloud, "And were it not for the careful eyes of Janira Gavin this holy place of Aroden would have remained lost to all but the gillman..." Bishop goes on to recount the history of Janira finding the temple and of the group investigating it to find a forgotten temple of Aroden. Finally he walks to the pedestal with replica of Absalom and with his torch shinesight over the darkest corners found on the replica.
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Einn keeps a wary eye out when Bishop, Damiel and Jerrid begin to attempt to recreate the rituals. She doesn't look at all sure that this isn't going to bring some horrible thing out of the water, the ether or an unseen cavern. Keep an eye out Luurg. No telling what will happen.' She make sure her face is turned to the gilman.
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Luurg's happy to watch and see what everyone does, making prayers to some long dead God. He nods in agreement to Einn, and starts scanning the room to keep watch for anything odd happening.
But mostly his gaze keeps returning to the pile of flashy bits in the city model. "If dem coins is in da way I'll be happy to hold on to dem for yous, ok?"
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As Damiel lays the sunrod on the miniature city, you realise that the glow coming from the altar is not just from the sunrod itself, but the entire stone column gradually brightens up from within, bathing all of you present with a warm glow, both external and within. The light gradually fades, but the glow remains within.
Jerrid shapes a rough bowl from the clayish soil at the edge of the pool, and kneels down next to the altar in supplication. Again, the same glow emanates from the altar, and this time when it fades, a sense of serenity and humility infuses you.
Bishop bends over and starts drawing furrows in the gravel next to the pool. As he completes the fourth furrow, again the glow shines forth from the altar, bathing all of you in its orange glow. When it fades, it leaves you with a stronger sense of vitality.
Bishop's other actions, however, do not elicit a response from the altar.
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Bishop's hand goes to his waist where a small pouch hangs from his belt. He gives it a squeeze as he thinks where he went erred. He feels he is close and turns to the others. "The ritual of the scholar...I have missed something let us put our thoughts together to see where I have gone wrong. Yes Begrilda maybe you should try it."
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Damiel feels proud of his accomplishments, and starts to jot down every single meticulous detail he can of the encounter of the rituals, almost as meticulously as he writes his alchemy recipes. The warmth of Aroden has seem to calmed him over any anxieties that the trip has cause him, in support of the last ritual he turns to Begrilda like the rest. "Oh yes Begrilda, I'm sure as a religious person yourself you would want to see the effects of this first handed!"
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"I-I'll try." She steps toward the altar and studies her notes about the guise of the Scholar. After a few moments, she drafts a quick entry in her journal, then begins to read aloud, facing the city as if she is speaking to the frogs and other creatures crawling about on the model. She tells of an agent from the Aspis Consortium who had discovered some of the organization's evil deeds too despicable for her to stomach. The woman came to the Pathfinders to help her end these evils. Begrilda tells of the ragtag group who came to the woman's aid and ended the Aspis's evil. She concludes by telling of the wisdom of this former Aspis agent to see evil for what it is and to seek aid in putting a stop to it.
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Despite Begrilda's preaching her wisdom to the frogs and other miscellaneous creepy crawlies, there is still no reaction from the altar.
Seeing the party looking somewhat dejected, Uori steps up. "Curious. I would have thought that would work. Perhaps it is akin to the Soldier ritual. How the Soldier brings light to the city would be how the Scholar brings learning to the city as well."
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Luurg rubs his gut as he eyeballs the coins and shiny bits from the city model. "Oh, hrm, didn't work? Mebe try putting dat bit of paper down in the model? Like Damiel and da light when you done readin? And umm.. see if anyting else dere good for bossman too?" He then points to all the different offerings that have been make in the past.
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"Good idea Luurg. Begrilda walk up to the model of the city and read it aloud then place the paper there."
Bishop observes Damiel walking around. There goes that half elf again.
"Damiel don't go too far who knows what beast might come out of the shadows to claim you as a snack." he then turns his attention back to Begrilda.
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As Begrilda lays her parchments on the model city, the familiar glow bursts forth from the standing stone, bathing all of you. When the light clears, you feel as if your mind has gained greater clarity.
With all the rituals completed, you stare at each other in wonderment. Except for Damiel who is eager to move on, despite untold dangers waiting to pounce on the party.
Uori bids you farewell. "Although I bear no love for Aroden, I thank you for the opportunity to witness such a spectacle today. With or without Aroden's presence, these caves are indeed blessed." He glances at the impatient Damiel. "I believe that you would be on your way. Be careful. I believe these caves are not entirely safe. Some of the earlier pilgrims did not return. It is a danger that I accept willingly, but here, you might find this of use. It can grant you magical protection for a short time. " He pulls out a wand and hands it over to Bishop.
With that, he returns back to his meditation by the pool.
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"Thank you. You have helped us greatly in learning more of these caves then we would have otherwise. If we find the remains of these pilgrims is there a blessing or prayer we bestow to them?" Bishop hands the wand over to Begrilda. "Protective aids typically fall under the domain of a priest. So hopefully this will be of use to you."
When they are ready to leave Bishop draws his bones and with a couple of shakes casts them on the ground.
He looks it's over and reads the bones. "The sun rises high in the east but the shadow stalks the lost. Danger in the west but we cannot escape it. I suggest we head there for first."
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With some “guidance” from Bishop’s divination bones, the party decides to head down the western passage.
The passage leading from the gillmen’s holy site varies from 3 to 6 feet wide and is coated with the omnipresent bioluminescent fungi. Though you encounter several points where the tunnel branches off in different directions, all of those paths either narrow beyond your abilities to traverse, lead back to the main trail, or are blocked by a cave-ins. You trek through the twisting passages for approximately 20 minutes when the tunnel opens up to a large cavern.
The persistent glow of the bluish fungi dimly lights the way deeper below the Kortos Mounts. The tunnels broaden to reveal a shallow river that bisects an immense tunnel stretching to the north and south. To the east a small passage exits the chamber at a steep incline.
Within the cavern, the dim light fades into darkness to the north and the south. The cavern stretches nearly 100 feet in each direction, but is otherwise unremarkable save for the inlet and outlet of the ancient river responsible for creating this chamber and most of the surrounding tunnels over the centuries. The river through this part of the cavern ranges from 10 to 15 feet wide but is only 1 foot deep, and it flows languidly at an almost imperceptibly slow speed; treat squares with water as if they were a shallow bog
What grabs your attention as you exit from the tunnel, however, is a group of 3 small humanoids and a giant creepy crawly on the other side of the river. They do not look pleased to see you and make ready to attack!
In rapid succession, each of the humanoids waves their hands in the air, gesturing at the three of you in front. In a high-pitched voice, they yell some indecipherable words at Einn, Jerrid and Luurg, and sense of doom descends on the three of you! They then spread out along the opposite shore of the river.
The creepy crawly deftly work its way across the river towards the party with its many legs, and bites down on Einn with its mighty jaws. Einn is caught flat-footed and the creature manages to bite into her side, injecting her with poison!
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Luurg smiles seeing new challenges appear as he hollers out what they are to his teammates in broken common. He pulls out a bright yellow banana and gulps it down, as he does his arms lengthen considerably, giving him much longer reach with his spear. "Now Luurg a monkey too! OO Aahh OO!" He then takes a running jump to try to clear as much as the water as possible.
However... as he begins to take off and launch from the shore he steps on his new found long arms and does a simple face plant into the muddy water. A few gurgles followed by an embarrassed "Oops" Are heard shortly after.
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Begrilda hustles forward as she hears Einn call out in pain at the terrible bite she suffered from the insect. As she moves, she pulls a long, thin wand, made of some strange pink wood and bedazzled with shimmering beads, from her side. "Oh Einn, my dear, that bite looks rather nasty! Here, let me take a look at that!"
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Jerrid shakes his head to clear it of whatever they cast at him. Seeing the big bug die, he focuses his attention on the creatures across the river.
Jerrid looks for a path to take and suddenly burst into a run and leaps over the river to stand next to the northern most creature. He rises from his jump looking down at the creature balling up his fist smiling down at it.