The necrocultist rises to bring the temple courtyard into view, the mountain breeze coiling in a cold vortex behind him, sending Tanbaru into a flat spin.
While his hands beat an irregular cadence, Salouris throws back his head as his oily, black pupils turn milky white …
Although he cannot see the green snake's eyes from this range, both Salouris and Harmonius note the serpent begins twisting and turning like a writhing, hissssing Arcadian Island hula hoop above the temple stairs.
While Pitbull climbs to Harmonius’ aid, Asbo’s beak and claws flash around the stone corner, connecting twice with yellow. Unfortunately, the critical threat does not confirm and the owlbear seems to have the same problem with lesser damage output that Dusk and Harmonius do.
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: /58 hp
Tanbaru recovers from his spin, soaring up to Salouris’ level to watch the fight in the temple courtyard.
"You'll never take me alive!!"
I believe that’s their intention, Harmonius.
Harmonius’ next melee attack cracks the open jaw of blue. Unfortunately, he stumbles while attempting to cart wheel to safety, opening himself up to opportunistic attacks from both snakes.
The duelist slaps the sapphire snake’s whole body into the air, cutting it neatly into three pieces before it hits the ground.
Although blind, the emerald snake is aware of the aasimar’s last position.
What Sarenrae did for Harmonius, Findeladlara does for Dusk and the cobra venom is neutralized before it can affect the snowcaster elf.
Although not a priest, Dusk takes the form of an elven blade barrier, his main hand attacks shredding Yellow into road sacred-trail kill, before his off-hand attacks inflict minor nicks and scratches on Red.
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: 44/58 hp
Startled by Hailey’s shoulder tap, Kishara nearly drops the shortbow in her left hand, before recovering her senses quickly to draw a short sword in her right. She crouches slightly on the balls of her feet, assuming a defensive posture.
The emerald cobra rises and seems to *sniff* the air, before slithering 5’ to the east.
Ruby also sidewinds 5’ to the east. Overwhelmed by all the humanoid targets on offer, its pea-sized brain settles on …
Asbo!
But only gets a fangful of leather barding for its trouble!
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: 44/58 hp
Pitbull makes it to the top of the cliff and climbs over the edge like a redback onto a roof. With Harmonius now in sight, she continues moving west to support him.
Asbo skewers the feisty Red-bellied black snake with one claw, before shaking it vigorously in his beak, like a kookaburra shaking a … Red-bellied black snake … before releasing the reptile back onto the ground.
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: 44/58 hp
|
As Pitbull approaches, Harmonious'll give her a thumbs up, "Thanks for coming, who could've predicted something would jump out at us!"
Turning to look the blind snake, noodling about, "I'm gonna just wait for it to come to us, but you can have it if you want it,"
Attack = (3) + 11 + 4 = 18
The perfect gentleman, Harmonius graciously allows Pitbull to precede him if she wants to. The dashing bard continues to maintain snake-eye contact with the emerald cobra.
Speaking of dashing … Dusk mades a bladed dash, 5’ to the west, his sharp, blending blades purée Ruby, creating a cool, strawberry-colored serpent smoothie for Asbo to enjoy.
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: 44/58 hp
|
" ..no more snakes...now to get safely to the others...this looks hard.." Hailey looks up at the steep cliff, then notices Dusk's wound
"Here, let me help you with that"
With a flick of her wrist Hailey produces a wand which she uses to tap Dusk after she takes a step closer - so she can actually reach him.
|
With a tight smile as he sees the last snake below being dispatched, Salouris flies towards Harmonius and Pitbull and alights behind the aasimar. Reaching to the readying swashbuckler, the elf brushes his hands against the man's scimitar. "This sword has cut and fought many animals. Let's bring it to its full potential."
Hailey steps forward, pulling Dusk back from the brink with a CLW spell.
Tanbaru zooms over to his wingman’s side, genuinely interested in the occultist’s spellcraft.
“Hey, Sal! Sal! Can I call you ‘Sal’? C❄❄❄❄❄❄l spell.”
The oni almost sounds shy. “Can you show me how you did that some time?”
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: /58 hp
Having identified Harmonius’ direction by smell, the emerald cobra charges east!
To the serpent’s surprise, before it gets the chance to sink its fangs into aasimary goodness, pain like a forest inferno rips down its back, as Harmonius’ readied chop connects.
Harmonius: 39/52 hp
Dusk: 48/58 hp
Blind to all the enemies conspiring against it, the green snake has its body pinned to the stone of the Sept courtyard by the flat of Pitbull’s blade.
Finally aware of its fate, the creature lifts its head in astonished protest, like a treasonous noble about to be beheaded by a spiteful young king.
"We flank, we carve this up"
The half-orc’s words ring as true as Harmonius’ blow, which cleanly separates the cobra’s head and body.
With no imminent threats apparent, the party faces the task of reuniting all of its members.
Tanbaru helpfully informs the others, "At least I’ve made it up here safely."
|
|
Tanbaru helpfully informs the others, "At least I’ve made it up here safely."
"Yes, yes you have." Salouris says to the floating oni. "And I can see what I can do about honing your bite some time. But for now, let's see if there are any more surprises."
The elf turns towards Harmonius and Pitbull. Can you help the rest of them get to the temple. My attention may be...divided for a moment.
Salouris draws out a handful of Harrow cards from a pouch by his side. Drawing forth a card The Vision his mind begins to wander...
Apart from a few alarmed from Asbo as he is hauled up the side of the cliff face, Operation Unity is completed without incident.
While gathered in the courtyard, the party can take the opportunity to get a closer look at their surroundings. The ground and walls bear signs of centuries of combat practice.
The most recent weapon marks are from spears and arrows, though no arrowheads are present.
There is also a curious set of burn marks on the ground.
The burn marks were caused by a scorching ray cast within the last 2 days.
Salouris’ wandering eye notices three sets of stairs lead up to a ten-foot-high stone platform surrounding the courtyard on three sides. Several buildings stand upon the platform, some built directly into the mountain face.
While discovering the contents of each of these buildings will require a closer inspection, they currently all appear to be deserted.
|
|
After being man handled up the cliff - but understanding that it's the most efficient way - Hailey takes a look around, notices something and points it out to the others
"Look over there;The most recent weapon marks are from spears and arrows, though no arrowheads are present.
There is also a curious set of burn marks on the ground. But I have no clue what could have caused it"
"So where are we going now, Pathfinders?"
Tanbaru adds frowning at the scorch marks. "I remember nothing about the temple layout at all."
|
|
"The last two days?" Salouris says, eyebrow raised. "Well, we may not be the only explorers still interested in this place.
He looks up to the west. [b]"Well, all of the buildings ringing these courtyard seem bereft of life at the moment. Let's go record what's still here. Come along Tanbaru: maybe something will jog your memory."
"Come along Tanbaru: maybe something will jog your memory."
The oni looks doubtful but condescends to trail behind the necrocultist without needing further encouragement.
“Well I’ve got nothing better to do.”
Pitbull and Asbo’s cautious scouting confirms what Salouris’ Mind’s Eye revealed – a large space divided by stone columns. Apart from a pile of blankets lying in the southwest corner, the room is deserted.
“I’m drawing a blank.” Tanbaru *sighs* “Where to next?”
|
|
Harmonious offers his hand out, ”I can also use your wand, by all means I’d forgotten I’d been injured, I better tap myself once or twice as well!”
He’ll tap himself with his wand of Infernal healing, delighting in the wicked grace that comes with it, looking around at the group shrugging, ”I mean it did take both Saranrae and Asmodeus to defeat ol’ Rov-y”
Before uncovering more of the Undermountain’s secrets, the party makes use of a number of resources to restore Dusk and Harmonius back to full health.
The party scouts then lead the group into a space in the east of the temple that smells of old paper. Its walls are lined with draws carved from the living stone. Between the shelves, three windows offer majestic views over dozens of snowy peaks.
Sitting on the only open drawer is a pile of old guestbooks.
You notice nearly all the entries in the guestbooks have been made in the Autumn and Spring, around the time the mountain streams freeze and thaw respectively.
After the year 3945 AR, the number of visitors dropped to just a few pilgrims per year. They then stop altogether for several hundred years.
All records from the last 300 years are written in Nagaji. According to the last entry, persons named Kolmorrow, Marsiass and Ngon Le arrived 3 months ago.
|
Kishara moves to look over the guestbooks, watching carefully for any hazards. "It's custom to sign in. Might as well. Maybe those who came before did us did too." She gets out her pen from her Scrivener's kit and writes in their names.
"Hmm, a lot of info here. Can anyone make heads or tails of it? I do have a scroll that will let us read it if nothing else. Hailey, I think you can use this, yes?" She pulls a scroll of comprehend languages and offers it to the cleric.
While she can’t read the guestbooks, Kishara does find an unlocked, untrapped box labelled, 山紧急
Hidden in a stone drawer at ankle-height, the party burglar also finds a beautifully illuminated manuscript. The cover’s flowing gold script reads:
trò chuyện yên tĩnh trong Gỗ
Entitled Whispers in the Wood, the ancient text is written in an early dialect of Dtang, describing kami of all kinds.
|
|
As Kishara mentions the purpose of the books, Salouris picks up one and carefully scribes his name in Elven, with as much careful caligraphy as possible.
His quill still dripping, the elf proffers it to anyone else who would care too before hurrying over to the manuscript within the concealed drawer.
"This, this is in pristine condition! Whispers in the Wood: I've seen copies of this text on the kami before but never one so fully engraved. The binding also seems to indicate this is an early edition. Perhaps when we return I should spend some time familiarizing myself with the Dtang tongue..."
Realizing the rest of the party may have slightly different priorities, he pauses enough to nod towards the box the rogue found. "Oh, and that seems to be some 'mountain disaster emergency case'. Whatever that means."
The walls and columns of this small building are covered in carvings of mythological scenes. Three sitting pillows of slightly different sizes lie on the floor.
On the northern wall, two inhuman creatures with hair burning like flames hold down a third creature with rough, chiseled features atop an anvil. The two fiery creatures have hammers raised as if shaping their victim in a blacksmith’s forge.
Behind them, a towering monstrosity crushes an army beneath its elephantine feet.
The background image suggests a scene on the Plane of Earth, with the colossus crushing fiery creatures.
The east wall depicts muscular, horned humanoids — one holding a crystalline spike the size of a spear — clambering up a hill toward a fiery circle. The monstrous creature from the north wall storms after them.
The south wall shows the horned humanoids driving the spike into the monster, pinning it against the wall of a cavern far above a pool. Within an abstracted inset, possibly miles below the impalement scene, a giantess with ibex’s horns curling from her head howls in pain.
The west wall’s carvings depict a mortal woman who carries a battered suit of armor, gazing up at a towering, tree-like old man standing over her.
With one hand he points to the snow-capped mountains behind him. The other he uses to gesture palm-outward to the woman, as if instructing her to go no further.
As the story goes, she sought to destroy the graveknight’s armor with Yamatsumi’s fire, but the Mountain Lord spoke of a slumbering evil that the armor might waken. Instead he bid her to melt down the fragments and forge them into a powerful weapon to wield in his name.
In fact, this temple is in the foothills of those very mountains.