[PFS][PBP Gameday VI] 3-21: The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (1-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

"Gardens, huh?" Tellerin chews on his lip. "We were supposed to draw the layout of the gardens for the Society. S-so... I guess we'll have to meet this Gastidem one way or another."

Tellerin stays behind Sosuke as the halfling opens the doors.

As others mention Sifkesh, he swallows audibly "W-worshipping a what? Is Korada a..." His voice drops to a whisper "Sifkesh? A-are we going to be alright?"

religion on Sifkesh?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

" Sifkesh is a demon Lord as I recall. Heresy and suicide are their particular areas of interest." Fialka says after thinking it over again. "That would explain the poor Halfling and maybe there is something deeper here? Maybe this Gastdiem could enlighten us more?"

Following demurely, Fialka strokes down her dress and keeps makig sketches of the beautiful temple. Despite the evil afoot here, she was still interested in their mission.

"But where did Sifkesh come into the picture. Nobody has been talking about demon lords, just enlightenment... and rather nasty consequences."

The sylph looks around, wondering what she missed.

Sick-fish? Sosuke looks back at the whispered words at the mention of a demon.

Fialka realises that her conclusion hadn't been reached by all. "The Mantra. It is pledging the speaker's soul to Sifkesh. It is not a meditative technique but a prayer. I do believe the simple worshippers here are sincere in their belief of Korada." Fialka takes the time to explain in hushed tones as they move on. "Though it seems we will need to find more evidence"

You open the door to the library. This spacious room is crammed with narrow bookshelves and large tables. Many shelves are empty and the remaining scrolls and tomes seem tattered and sagging. A small open door looks into a tidy office. The room is clean and bright despite a general atmosphere of abandonment. Several windows look into a garden to the west.

You find one of the temple’s youngest inhabitants here, a woman named, poring over a tome.

"Hello" says Vagantem.

"It doesn't look like this room gets much use..." she mentions to the woman. "I'm Vagantem..."

The sylph glances over at the window, wondering about the view.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 6
"Good day...

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 "Oh, what a... collection of tomes. " Sosuke's words are sad at the dilapidated state of the library.

Seidr looks around at the dissolute shelves with a feeling of melancholy.

Hello, are you the librarian here? So much of this place is beyond my meager learning, could you help give us a tour?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

"Pledging... souls?" Tellerin stares at Fialka with eyes wide "Y-you mean they've been giving themselves to some demon lord and they don't know it? T-this Korada thing is just a... front?" He swallows.

"Do you think we can help them? Help the people here snap out of it? Whatever this Sif-kesh thing is?"

He follows the rest of the group into the library in a bit of a daze, nodding absentmindedly to the young woman, and staring with unfocused eyes as his brain tries to stamp down on his growing desire to leave. Eventually, he decides to looks around the library as a way of distracting himself.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 Aww, missed by one.

He wanders over to Sosuke and tugs at his armor. Once he has the halfling's attention he whispers "I don't know what the rest of you want to do, but I need to keep my mind and hands busy or I'm going to bolt out of here. I'll try to catalog some of the books. We have to do that, for the Society, right?"

] perception, aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Stepping into the library, Fialka smiles politely at the acolyte and moves to the closest shelves, her eyes running over the cracked spines of the books here to try and get a better understanding of the rooms contents. For the age of the building, Fialka is unsurprised at the poor condition but it saddens her none the less.

" Tellerin, I won't lie this place makes my skin crawl. Something is very wrong and if it weren't for my wolf I probably would have left already." Sosuke whispers back. "A record of what tomes are here would be useful. "

Pa Us whispers too: "It feels as though we are in crazy land, waiting for the hammer to fall"

Because Seidr's diplomacy roll was really good, I let Miriya tell you where to find the catalogue.

"Pssst, I'm here to read. Would you please be quiet. I'm not giving you a tour, but if you are looking for something in particular, just have a look at the catalogue in the office over there and I'm sure you will find what you are looking for." the young woman answers before taking the book elsewhere to read in quiet. her name is Miriya, I forgot to mention it in the other post

cataloging the library now takes only 6-person-hours

The catalogue shows that about half of the holy texts to Korada are missing from the shelves. You can read through the remaining books in detail and evaluate the lore they contain. The books here refer to Korada’s holy city of Vantian the Unshuttered, which continually crumbles into the sea of Ishiar while residents continually rebuild on the far side of the city. The books also describe the double-arrow symbol of “celestial silence and contemplation” to be drawn over the mouth and eyes of adherents of Korada.

-----

Seidr will set to cataloging, the sooner we have this information, the sooner we can expose this place.

She notes that there are enchanted items here, but lacks the ability to further identify them.

Pa Us points to the book and scroll that Seidr noted, and Pa Us casts Read Magic, to have a look at both of them - though he cannot identify the type of magic either.

Pa Us will also help in listing all the books...

"A celestial realm that always crumbles into the sea? That sounds odd indeed." mutters Vagantem.

As the others head over to the catalogue, she looks out the window at the garden, and sketches it from this angle, eventually, bored, she joins them, however the constant zephyr around her threatens to send papers flying...

Tellerin takes a deep breath to calm down and begins cataloging the library. When Miriya provides her advice he wanders over to the book, steels himself for a moment, then opens the cover. After a few more moments of hesitation he begins paging through. "Oh, she's right. Maybe we can just make a copy of this and check it against the library." Is it too strange that I half expected the book to be prayers to this Sifkesh demon lord rather than a catalog?

He gives a sidelong glance at the young woman to check if she's missing any fingers and to check which book she's reading.

"Even with so many books missing, there are an awful lot to jot down. Thanks for helping Seidr." He looks at the rest of the group "Anyone else want to help?"

When Vagantem and Pa Us do so he gives each a smile, though he holds his notes a little more firmly to prevent the breeze from scattering them.

When the magic tome and scroll are mentioned he takes a little break and checks them, casting Detect Magic on them first to check for any suspicious auras (Gotta make sure we don't get mind controlled again!) followed by Read Magic to examine them (Using Spellcraft in case its a magic item other than a magic scroll), if they don't seem to suspicious.

Kn Arcana for auras vs. scroll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Kn Arcana for auras vs. tome: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Spellcraft for ID if needed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

No Kn Religion or Planes here. Anyone else have them? Very curious whats in the spoilers :>

Pa Us sadly shakes his head, not being a very learned monk.

No Knowl' here

Having begun her search in earnest with the catalogue's help, Fialka's smile widens as she helps locate hidden gems amongst the deteriorating scrolls and works. Frowning at the passages found by her colleagues, the Psychic thinks on the hidden meaning behind the words.

Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"Hmm, these books have been subtly altered... Symbols of 'Celestial Silence and contenplation' isn't a Korada teaching at all. How odd." Fialka muses as she also attempts to detect the cause of the magical scroll and book. Sitting down, Fialka begins to aift through more of the tomes found here and starts to scribble notes on the subject.

"More alterations here too." she sighs after a while. "None of these places are to be found in Nirvana. They are instead with the Abyss, under the realm of Dagon, the Demon Lord. Vantian, city of Open the windows is the domain of Sifkesh and is said to be full of false temples to all sorts of gods. I am certain this place is not as it seems and there is some aubtle heresy afoot."

"False flag! So, these poor people believe they are serving a benevolent entity, and moving their souls towards Nirvana... but are actually being corrupted to serve in the Abyss?! By Apsu, this is work like that of Evil Dahak! We must break this ring of deceit".

"It certainly sounds like someone is trying to subvert this society... and all the fingers (perhaps most especially those which are missing) point to the leader."

"The leader and those who follow his corrupting plans knowingly. Maybe Gastidem is complicit?" Tellerin keeps his head down as he catalogs the works. His response is a whisper. "Is the plan to slowly drive the followers to s-suicide? D-deliver their souls to Sifkesh that way?"

"I'm with you Pa Us, we need to do something to stop Dakang and get these people out of here."

Lets see what he has to say for himself.

Sosuke will aid in cataloging the books.

Perhaps the conspirators will find themselves missing a few fingers or more...

The two magic items are a scroll of lesser restoration and a 8url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/a-b/ book-manual-of-calm-reflection/]manual of calm reflection[/url].

Once you finished cataloguing the library you continue to explore the temple. where next?

"We all need calm reflection in here, that's for sure... or to let off steam by giving someone a good pummelling!"
Pa Us looks around...
"So, up to the North, and check out the doors to the West of that room that's up there?"

Having finished their work, Fialka spends the time to read from the manual to steel her mind against any further attempts to sway or control them, advising her allies to do the same should they wish. "It seems prudent to use the resources to hand to defeat this place." she explains calmly.

Shrugging elegantly at Pa Us' suggestion, Fialka smiles. "That way is as fine as any, we still have a few places to examine for the Master of spells." With a sway of her hips, the psychic begins to follow the monk from the library.

Vagantem asks Miriya" Where would we find Dahak?"

Seidr will read up from the manual as well, but first in her best library whisper she asks Fialka, But you're sure this book isn't a secret demon book, right?

If Tellerin can read the manual at the same time as the others he will (otherwise its 1 hour per person, and while we have time, thats a lot to dedicate to a buff). He'll also pass the scroll over to Seidr for safe-keeping.

"We do want to find the places for the Society... but I'm worried about you-know-who realizing that we're on to him. After we take a look at the garden, we should look for our mastermind." Tellerin follows after Pa Us, Cupper on his shoulder. As they walk he whispers to the suli "A pummeling sounds like a good idea... I hope that's enough to break the d-d-demon lord's hold on this place."

planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 Incase there has been any alterations made

Flicking through the book, Fialka smiles at Seidr and chuckles softly. "I am sure it is just fine my dear, these are usually bound to the god of perfection." she replies as they read. Once done, she nods to Tellerin's suggestion. "Fine by me, Though I am not sure if completing the mission before we are under suspicion might be the best. I agree the man seems rather unlikeable and most likely a heretic Demon worshipper, but we do have our task."

Sorry for the broken in my previous post, when I tried to edit the post, the site was down again.

"He's most likely in his private quarters." Miriya answers angrily.

You think the manual has not been altered.

After you finished everything you move on. The next doors you open lead to the garden of the temple.

The temple garden is badly overgrown with tangled vegetation. Vines and briars climb the temple walls on three sides, surrounding the large windows into the chapel and the smaller windows into the library. The garden itself is a profusion of flowering bushes and weeds. Except for a clear space in the center of the garden, the dense weeds grow taller than an adult human. At the center of the garden sits a crumbling fountain, long dry, with a statue of a noble turtle in the center. Heaps of foliage choke two similar fountains, each with a large stone orb resting in the fountain’s center.

You spot a gnome, dressed in a green tunic adorned with several small bells, cutting down plants in the center of the garden.

Sosuke stands ready to fight if things take a turn for the worst but waits for the more diplomatic of the group to begin the conversation.

Pa Us steps into the corner of the garden, and looks around, bowing to the gnome gardener.

Vagantem wanders up to the gnome.

"It looks like there is more work here than one person can handle. Would you like some assistance?"

Seidr reaches out with mystically attuned senses to see if this garden holds any surprises.

Detect Magic

Tellerin quietly says "Not kept very well. Mustn't be very important to their current master?" before heading further out towards the gnome, together with Vagantem.

He waves at the fellow gnome and takes a deep breath to calm himself before launching into a friendly "Hello there! Its quite a shame that this garden is in poor shape? Don't you agree?" After a pause he says "I'd like to take a look around, is that OK?"

"Hello, my friends!" the gnome answers. "Yes, it's too much work for one person. I'd appreciate some assistance in cutting back the plants. And of course you may look around."

Seidr does not sense any magic in this area.

To complete your task of accurately sketching the original plan of the garden, you must significantly prune back the overgrowth to see how the original beds were designed. This takes 12 person-hours.

Snip snip, Pa Us starts helping in the pruning... but sighs, while doing so.

"Show us to the tool shed good gnome. Cutting back the undergrowth is right up my ally!" smiles Vagantem, pleased to be outside and able to cut something.

"Tell me about this place and the people here, while we work. Talk makes the day go faster."

If it is from before the corruption, we should help restore it.

Seidr will also spend some time pruning back the unkempt garden, keeping an eye out for any botanical bothers.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Sighing heavily Sosuke settles in for a few hours of gardening.

Tellerin joins in the garden tending, clearly happy again to do something with his hands. As they work he joins Vagantem in trying to converse with the gnome.

"I'm surprised that there's only one person out here working on this garden. If we weren't here to help, I'm not sure if you could ever get the place in order." Tellerin realizes the potential insult a bit too late and tries to soften the blow with a "Nothing against your gardening skills, but this is a big place. I thought one of Korada's precepts would be to keep it all nice and orderly..."

He wipes a bit of sweat off his brow, which furrows as he seems to think of something worrying. "There wasn't maybe another gardener working here with you before? A halfling?"

If it wasn't obvious already, it would be now. These people aren't following Korada in anything other than name. Otherwise they would never allow such an important place fall into ruin while maintaining other parts of the temple.

"I'm a pilgrim that has lived in the temple for the past 12 years. The temple was built for 24 followers, now we are only 12. There's too much work for us to do." the gnome answers.

"My name is Gastidem. I'm really glad you are helping me. When we are finished with the garden, I'd like to invite you to participate in a sacred ritual called the Kiss of Korada. From time to time somebody lends me a hand, but not too often."

While you cut the plants you discover a wiry shrub with red-brown leaves. Seidr identifies the plant as flayleaf, the source of a mild recreational hallucinogen.

"How did you get here?" asks Vagantem bluntly.

survival: 1d20 ⇒ 7

"And what more can you tell us about this ritual?"

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Tellerin freezes when he hears the name, but does his best to pretend that he was just pricked by a plant. He mutters out "Oh, what an ugly weed, I wonder how it got in here.".

Bluff to disguise his reaction to Gastidem's comments: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

As he continues working on clearing the garden, he wanders slowly away from Gastidem and tries to get the attention of one of the others (other than Vagantem) while Vagantem has the gnome occupied. While crouching over a particularly stubborn weed, he whispers "That ritual must be the one that takes off fingers. Lets see how he does it, and then take away his tools so he can't anymore. Might get him to drop this charade as well."

Balking at the idea of ruining her delicate fingers with gardening work, Fialka takes to pruning some of the finer trees to curb their wildness rather than the backbreaking work of ripping up the ground. Pausing often to take a drink from their waterskins provided by the society or to sketch part of an interesting sculpture brought to light by their work.

"Fascinating work! Has this garden any special meaning to Korada?" she asks good-naturedly, hiding a shudder at the mention of the ritual. "So, how does the Kiss work? Is it a meditative practice?"

"Well, I was passing this area on my pilgrim's trip. I liked it here, it's peaceful." the gnome asks Vagantem before ignoring her and continues to talk to Fialka. "You put your hand into the mouth of this statue. If your mind is impure, you get a punishment." he says and points at one of the statues.