Kyra walks over to the sitting girl
"Miriya, sorry to disturb your reading, but I was hoping we could talk for a bit? I was wondering how long you have been here?, Has the ceremonies been the same or have they changed over time? Has Dakang always been the leader?"
Miriya seems exasperated as the Pathfinders talk, throwing them annoyed glances as she tries to read in peace. When Kyra approaches she sighs and stands up. "He's been here longer than I have, and I was born here. And it's always the same, day after day after day. I wish I could live like the people in these books sometimes. Well no... I mean, it's nice here and everything. Everyone is always really happy." She sighs again. "I'll just go read at the table out there..." She mumbles as she exits the library.
Taking time to go through the thousands of items on the shelves in the main part of the library as well as the office is going to be a time-consuming task that will likely take a full day on the part of the Pathfinders. Some of the books are nearly illegible due to age, making them difficult to catalog.
Player Map - Slide #1
The Pathfinders set to work, and after about three hours Miriya wanders back in, rolls her eyes as only a young pre-teen can do, puts her book away and bids them a good evening as she heads off to eat an early supper.
The windows that face the garden indicate that dusk is nearly upon this strange demiplane - though how does that happen exactly? Is there a sun? A moon? - when they make a startling discovery in the office that leaves them shaking their heads in dismay. A centuries-old catalog that details all of the books in the library, which would likely have cut their time in half! Still, it also indicates that about half of the holy texts to Korada appear to be missing.
They find that the holy books that are present do have references to the holy city of Vantian the Unshuttered, which continually crumbles in the sea of Ishiar while residents continually rebuild on the far side of the city. They also find descriptions of the double-arrow symbol of 'celestial silence and contemplation' that should be drawn over the mouth and eyes of adherents of Korada.
Vladamir notes one big inconsistency and a disturbing fact that he has already suspected based on what he heard during the sermon.
First, Vantian and Ishiar are not locations connected with Korada. In fact, they are not locations in Nirvana at all. These books have most certainly been altered. The sorcerer knows that Ishiar is a great ocean located in the Abyss. It is the realm of the demon lord Dagon, and connects to several other Abyssal regions.
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When Vladamir informs the group about his findings, Gery runs his hands through his hair nervously as he glances around him. "Do you think it is safe to rest here? Maybe out in the garden area?" He stifles a yawn, "We need to find those other texts! And also anyone who has not been...swayed by these teachings!"
When we rest we will need to set up a guard rotation."
A couple other items of interest turn up during the course of their cataloging, a scroll and a manual - both of which radiate magic when their contents reveal writing of the sort favored by spellcasters. Shortly before sunset, Di wanders in to let the Pathfinders know that evening prayers will begin shortly, if they are interested in attending. But their work is going well and they are eager to finish the task before it gets too awfully late.
Gery takes a look at the garden through the windows as dusk deepens, wondering if it might be a better place to camp. 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 barely seen 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.
By the time night has fallen, nothing can be seen through the windows and it seems a wiser course to sleep inside the building proper, despite the disturbing hints of a great evil that might be lurking these halls. At least in here they'll have a chance to see what's coming at them, whereas outside in the garden it is pitch dark. Still, at Kyra's suggestion a rotation schedule is determine for a watch and the night passes uneventfully - save for when Di stops by to make sure their new guests are comfortable. She even offers some spare blankets which they can use as bedrolls if needed.
Light streams in through the windows of the library, and as the Pathfinders make themselves ready for this new day, Di stops by to wish their guests a good morning and to let them know that morning services will be held in about fifteen minutes, if they wish to attend.
Treasure found
Magical Scroll
Magical Book
Player Map - Slide #1
"Yes we should go and see what information we can gleam to stop this blastphemy."
"Or we can go to the gardens, since we were to draft a detailed plan of the garden’s layout.
looking at the others
"On second thought. I am thinking that everyone here is brain washed of this place, so I am not sure what else we will get at the services. But we can finish our mission by going to gardens and tomb."
Vladamir is able to use a cantrip to read the scroll, upon which is scribed a spell of Lesser Restoration. The book is a Manual of Calm Reflection, he learns after a few moments of study.
Most of the group believes that attending another service would either be distasteful, boring or useless considering the brainwashed state of those that dwell here, and so they head to the gardens, intending to investigate that place and then perhaps the tomb.
The group heads through the doors just north of the library, which lead into the garden. Seen in person instead of through the window, they confirm that it 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. Rocks painted the color of lilac spiral outward away from the central fountain to form a broad path on one edge of the garden, where the Pathfinders can see two sets of doors leading into the northern section of the temple.
The gnome with green clothes they saw yesterday at mealtime is kneeling near a bush on the far side of the turtle fountain. He turns around when he hears the door open and the party enter the garden, then rises to his feet with a grunt and starts to head in their direction. "Morning, honored guests. How can I help you?"
Player Map - Slide #1
Greetings sir, I am Kyra and I am new to this temple. What is your name? And why are the gardens so poorly attended? The temple gardens that I have been at have always been well taken care of."
Kyra moves toward the gnome.
The gnome wipes most of the dirt off his hands and approaches the party. "Aye, you're aright. Damned mess this garden is. But what's one lonely gnome to do, eh? Twelve years I've lived in this temple as a pilgrim, and it don't seem important enough to the others fer me to bother with it too much, truth be told. Name's Gastelum. And feel free to explore all ye'd like."
Asked about the plant life, he leads the others in a bit of a tour of the tangled mess, pointing out plants and shrubs here and there. Finally he arrives at the center, next to the fountain depicting the tortoise. "Any of you interested in partaking o' the Kiss of Korada ritual? Tis a sacred rite that all of the worshippers here have taken. Merely thrust yer hand into the mouth o' the hallowed turtle statue there and receive the inspirational visions of Korada Herself."
Player Map - Slide #1
"But even one person could maintain a small area. What other duties are required of you?"
Gastelum shrugs at Kyra's question. "Not much else really, but as I said, the others don't seem to care too much about its appearance. Why should I?" The cleric gets the sense it's mostly just laziness on the part of the gnome.
Turning to Gery, the gardener responds. "Water hasn't flowed through that fountain for as long as I've been here, anyway. Most of those inside have sought Korada's Kiss, and that's just since I've been around.
Gastelum gazes at Finnius with rapture in his eyes. "Inspirational visions of Korada and her blessing are given to the faithful. The beauty is indescribable." The gnome answers breathlessly.
The gnome smiles benevolently at the gunslinger. "Merely lay your hand within the mouth of Korada's celestial turtle. Then will She visit you with visions and rapture, if your heart is pure."
Regnum bravely takes Gery’s place, putting his hand inside of the turtle’s gaping mouth. He feels a tiny pinprick, and then a sort of dulling of his senses… the turtle seems to be smiling at him… and the bushes have faces… the vines on the walls are writhing like snakes… Gastidem’s face seems to be expanding and contracting at the same time…
The gnome smiles. “Yes, reach in further, my friend! Let Him reveal His secrets to you!” And in the next moment of reaching, as a weird sort of lassitude settles into his mind, the gunslinger yelps as a sharp pain slashes into his hand, and he pulls his arm out quickly. Blood flows freely along his wrist and down his forearm, and Gastidem shakes his head. “Ah… you have felt the sharp kiss of Korada. You have been judged unworthy and impure in His eyes. Perhaps you should speak with Zhuang and meditate upon your failings.”
Kyra has heard of Korada, though she has never heard of the ‘sharp kiss’ before.
Player Map - Slide #1
Gastelum - 12/18 [2 WIS Damage]
Kyra - 13/13
Gery - 19/19
Finniums - 30/30
Vladamir - 8/8
Kyra picks up a stone, casts light on it and tosses it in the turtle's mouth to see what might be in there.
She also checks Regnum's wound. and what may have caused it.
To Regnum, the pain is rather distant and almost divine as he gazes at the blood running down his hand and arm. Kyra tosses a lighted rock into the mouth of the turtle and examines Regnum and determines that the injury was caused by a small blade. She also determines that the gunslinger is suffering hallucinations and a lassitude that is common with toxic drugs - for these symptoms, she believes it to be from the flayleaf, a recreational hallucinogen made from the leaves of a certain variety of plant.
She is also quite certain that drug use and maiming are common to demon worship and not to Korada.
Vladamir spots the blades hidden deep within the statue's throat, just barely visible to his eyes - and even then, only by a sudden bit of luck as he pulled away and the light glinted off its keen edge.
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Gery shudders briefly as the effect of the so-called Kiss manifests itself. "Look, the drug was derived from flayleaf right? Where else would it be grown but here?" He turns to face the gnome gardener, "I am sure you know where it is being grown, right?" While his voice is still level, his hand does stray to the hilt of his rapier.