The half elf will collapse onto her knees and begin to weep Has hope been lost? Are the gods playing with people? Are we dice to be cast when needed? she states as she hold onto the statue.
Hearing the weeping, Goldmoon rose and came to Mariel's side. The statue caught her eyes and she strode past the weeping priestess, a woman transfixed. Standing on her tiptoes, she lifted the blue crystal staff above her head and placed it in the statue's open hands. It flared brilliantly, its cerulean hue painting the chamber. And the statue came to life, stepping down from its pedestal.
"You are my beloved disciple," the statue told Goldmoon in a kind, resonant voice that seemed as much song as speech.
It turned to the stricken Mariel. "Weep not, child," Her hand settled on Mariel's shoulder, light as the breeze but full of unspoken strength. "Know that in you we are well pleased."
"The gods have not turned from you, and will not while stars shine in the sky, though the people of Krynn turned from us to chase after false gods. But the end of darkness nears. Krynn will soon face its greatest test and you will need truth more than ever. You must return the truth and restore the balance."
"Far below this temple lie the Disks of Mishakal, round plates of platinum. They hold and are the truth, are all you need to call upon my power. You must recover them."
"The path will not be easy. The Disks now lie in the lair of a dragon. Therefore I bless your staff; if you present it boldly, firm in your faith, you shall prevail. But even then, your journey will not end. You must go from this place and search for a true Leader of the People."
The statue was at once back on its pedestal, inert stone again save for Goldmoon's staff, which it now offered back. The plainswoman, unashamedly trembling, took it up in great reverence.
Wiping the tears from her eyes the half-elf will look around in disbelief Thank you Quen Illumini, Mishakel. I do believe the gods have returned or through seeking them we have returned to them.
"Holy S~$#! Did you all see that statue talking!"Jakun exclaims.
He then smiles sheepishly, "Sorry, I have spent perhaps too much time with the Kender. It seems we have not been led astray in our quest here there is indeed a reason for us to be here. We must now find a way down. Gavin, are you well enough to continue or must we rest?"
Thistletorp grins and stares in open awe at the statue. Woooooooooooow! She talked! The statue talked!. He climbed atop the statue and rapped his knuckles on the stafues's head a few times. Woooooow!
Tania watches with a mix of awe and terror as the statue spoke to them, then seemed to look at her.
Then, as the statue spoke to the group, it spoke to her, inside her head! The message was clear, and so was the mission.
And so was the cost. She would have to leave her friends, and perhaps never see them again. But Mishakal's calling was clear. It couldn't be otherwise...
And so she waited a day, before letting her friends know of her special calling. They took one last happy meal together. And then she left, in the middle of the night, following the stars to her destiny.
Caitlyn flinched and had her weapon in her hands when the statue moved. But it soon became apparent that something wonderful and unexpected had transpired. The statue had been animated by the will of the true god Mishakal.
Looking shocked, Caitlyn spoke as if in a daze, "Our quest is down. Down is where the dragon went." The prospect of fighting the dragon scared her beyond reason, but Goldmoon's staff had become a talisman representing hope.
Cautiously, as if she was about to suggest something immensely foolish, Caitlyn announces loudly, "Well then I suppose we'd better get going. These disks won't find themselves..."
She starts looking for a possible way down. Preferably one that doesn't involve the well. Now that would be scary!
Thistletorp grins and stares in open awe at the statue. Woooooooooooow! She talked! The statue talked!. He climbed atop the statue and rapped his knuckles on the stafues's head a few times. Woooooow!
The statue made no answer to Thistletorp's ministrations.
Cautiously, as if she was about to suggest something immensely foolish, Caitlyn announces loudly, "Well then I suppose we'd better get going. These disks won't find themselves..."
She starts looking for a possible way down. Preferably one that doesn't involve the well. Now that would be scary!
Caitlyn begins searching the temple. She discovers a pair of worship rooms to either side of the antechamber, only accessible from beneath the dome. Farther flung, she discovers a pair of round chapels. The first contains little more than a forgotten altar and benches, but in the second she finds five squat figures clawing at the wall with their filthy hands. Gully dwarves.
"Claw, mates, claw! We gots to get through this picture. Just know humans kept their pretties in pictures like this," one said.
They were far too absorbed with the wall, which bore a faded mosaic, to notice her arrival.
Thistletorp put his finger up to his mouth. Shhhhh! He tiptoes towards the dwarves with his hands up. Sneak. Sneak Sneak.
Thistletorp put his finger up to his mouth. Shhhhh! He tiptoes towards the dwarves with his hands up. Sneak. Sneak Sneak.
[dice=stealth]1d20+18
Thistletorp came to within touching distance of the gully dwarves without their noticing.
Jakun checks the room with the altar in case there is a secret passage.
Perception
He makes sure that his raven is with him keeping a close eye.
Caitlyn wrinkles her nose, if anything the filthy gully dwarves smelt worse then they looked. Still she doesn't make any offensive moves. She figures they've probably been here for some time and if Mishakal truly objected, well she didn't seem so far away anymore - the gully dwarves would surely know it.
She waits to see what if anything her companions make of them.
Jakun checks the room with the altar in case there is a secret passage.
Perception 1d20+8
He makes sure that his raven is with him keeping a close eye.
Jakun found no evidence of secret passages, but in the gloom at the very back of the temple where Caitlyn's search had yet to take her, he found another large pair of doors like those the Companions entered through.
Caitlyn wrinkles her nose, if anything the filthy gully dwarves smelt worse then they looked. Still she doesn't make any offensive moves. She figures they've probably been here for some time and if Mishakal truly objected, well she didn't seem so far away anymore - the gully dwarves would surely know it.
[dice=Perception - are they armed?]1d20+9
She waits to see what if anything her companions make of them.
Caitlyn saw a few belt knives, but nothing particularly threatening.
The cleric will watch the intereaction between the Aghar and will whisper Maybe they can help us?
Jakun places an ear to the door to listen for any sounds coming from the other side.
Perception
Caitlyn agrees and whispers back, "Worth a try. With luck they might know the layout of what's down below."
Putting her weapon aside for a moment, Caitlyn fiddles with her hair considering how she'll approach them, 'Ah heck I'll just wing it.'
She walks in lightly and clears her throat, and calls out inquisitively, "Ah hmm! Can I help you?" She notes what they're doing and gently admonishes them, "You do know this is Mishakal's temple right? I'm not sure she'd appreciate that, unless there was a good reason of course! Anyway I'm told Mishakal is the forgiving type, so you're probably OK. What? Who am I? Oh sorry, name's Caitlyn! Who are you?"
Jakun places an ear to the door to listen for any sounds coming from the other side.
Perception1d20+8
Jakun heard nothing save his companions whispering and the distant work of the gully dwaves.
She walks in lightly and clears her throat, and calls out inquisitively, "Ah hmm! Can I help you?" She notes what they're doing and gently admonishes them, "You do know this is Mishakal's temple right? I'm not sure she'd appreciate that, unless there was a good reason of course! Anyway I'm told Mishakal is the forgiving type, so you're probably OK. What? Who am I? Oh sorry, name's Caitlyn! Who are you?"
The gully dwarves started and scurried back from Caitlyn, hard into the wall. After a moment of confused gaping, they whirled around and answered her question.
"Shorty!"
"Fizz!"
"Pefopp!"
"Goop! I mean Scrapper! Goop was my name yesterday."
"Tunket! We're all of Clan Glup"
Caitlyn smiles and says with total seriousness, "I'm pleased to meet you Clan Gulp. Do you live here? I'm visiting with my friends and was hoping to see what's down below. Perhaps one of you would be kind enough to show us around? I'll be more than happy to help you in kind if you do."
Caitlyn is imagining either doing them a good turn or actually paying them some coin, should they prove helpful.
Caitlyn smiles and says with total seriousness, "I'm pleased to meet you Clan Gulp. Do you live here? I'm visiting with my friends and was hoping to see what's down below. Perhaps one of you would be kind enough to show us around? I'll be more than happy to help you in kind if you do."
Caitlyn is imagining either doing them a good turn or actually paying them some coin, should they prove helpful.
The dwarves nodded along.
"We live down below, in the city. It's very nice," Tunket said. "But we can't show you. The Highbulp needs pretties! Very important!"
Diplomacy
And what kind of pretties would those be? inquires the half-elf.
Gavin eyes the dwarves and digs around his pockets for anything they'd consider pretty, but comes up blank.
Jakun enters the room where the others have encountered the dwarves, "I found another door and... oh hello there little dwarves".
Caitlyn smiles sweetly and asks, "The Highbulp eh? Can you tell us about him. I assume it's a him, anyway. I'm guessing the Highbulp somebody important?"
Diplomacy 1d20+15
And what kind of pretties would those be? inquires the half-elf.
Pretties! Tunket said as though it was obvious. He gestured vaguely at the wall mosaic. "Humans keep pretties in them."
Jakun enters the room where the others have encountered the dwarves, "I found another door and... oh hello there little dwarves".
Jakun received a volley of happy greetings.
Caitlyn smiles sweetly and asks, "The Highbulp eh? Can you tell us about him. I assume it's a him, anyway. I'm guessing the Highbulp somebody important?"
The dwarves nodded.
"He's the thane! Great Phudge Highbulp!" The dwarves snapped off salutes. "Important! Powerful!"
Jakun grins down at the dirty dwarves, "Do you know where the door in this other room leads to?"
Caitlyn considers for a moment then a smile creeps across her face as a plan comes together, "If we uh where to help you find pretties and shines for the august Phudge Highbulp, Thane of Xak Tsaroth. Would you show us around then?"
The half elf will look around and ask the kender if he has anything pretty or shiny in his pouches that might help the Aghar.
Jakun grins down at the dirty dwarves, "Do you know where the door in this other room leads to?"
The dwarves shrugged, "Down below. To the lift!"
Caitlyn considers for a moment then a smile creeps across her face as a plan comes together, "If we uh where to help you find pretties and shines for the august Phudge Highbulp, Thane of Xak Tsaroth. Would you show us around then?"
"We're not supposed to tell secrets. The dragonmen get mad. Maybe we can draw a picture?"
At Mariel's bidding, Thistletorp searched his pockets. He came out with dozens of things, each of which the dwarves soberly proclaimed was not a pretty. Pretties came in walls.
I wonder if they mean mosiacs or even gems the cleric will ask.
I wonder if they mean mosiacs or even gems the cleric will ask.
"Humans always keep pretties in walls."
Caitlyn is bemused by this talk of pretties in a wall and decides to talk about something more down to earth, "Dragonmen eh? We came across some of them earlier. They where very rude! Do they show the proper deference to his majesty Phudge Highbulp?"
Her question was asked in a particularly innocent tone, although deep down Caitlyn was sure she already knew the answer.
"Dragon men not lizard men?" asks the Minotaur.
"Are there any of these dragon men behind that door in the other room?".
Caitlyn is bemused by this talk of pretties in a wall and decides to talk about something more down to earth, "Dragonmen eh? We came across some of them earlier. They where very rude! Do they show the proper deference to his majesty Phudge Highbulp?"
Her question was asked in a particularly innocent tone, although deep down Caitlyn was sure she already knew the answer.
"Sometimes. They're scary, but the great Phudge keeps us safe. Sometimes he has us work for them."
"Dragon men not lizard men?" asks the Minotaur.
"Are there any of these dragon men behind that door in the other room?"
The dwarves nodded.
Caitlyn blinks, this wasn't going the way she'd hoped they clearly weren't going to act as guides. Time to try a new tack.
Without any hint of exasperation, Caitlyn says, "Well I can see you're all very busy! My friends and I should pay our respects to Thane Phudge Highbulp. Can you tell us where we can find him?"
Aghar aren't very bright lol
"More Dragon Men," Gavin whispers to no one in particular. "What kind of work do you do for the Dragon men? Perhaps if you take us to Thane Phudge Highbulp, we can lend our hand and help, too!"
Aghar can tend to be very opportunistic, I caution, if we meet with the Thane, not talking too much about our goals. she says.
Caitlyn blinks, this wasn't going the way she'd hoped they clearly weren't going to act as guides. Time to try a new tack.
Without any hint of exasperation, Caitlyn says, "Well I can see you're all very busy! My friends and I should pay our respects to Thane Phudge Highbulp. Can you tell us where we can find him?"
[Dice=Diplomacy]1d20+11
The dwarves converse amongst themselves, often in circles, for several minutes before agreeing upon directions.
"You go through the big doors*, down the steps, then left -no, right-, -no west-, then down the lift. In the bucket! THere's dragonmen there. Then take the tunnel east again. -Sure this time!- And up north from to the big circle. -With the dome thing!- The dragon's there sometimes. Go up through that until you get to the waterfall. -It's very loud!- Turn right -I mean left!- and go straight down to the tunnel on the right. Take it allllll the way to the end. The tunnel with all the vines. Don't go in early, that's the Sluds. They're dumb. Go to the last door. Phudge keeps guards there."
"More Dragon Men," Gavin whispers to no one in particular. "What kind of work do you do for the Dragon men? Perhaps if you take us to Thane Phudge Highbulp, we can lend our hand and help, too!"
"We mine and do things. And find pretties."
Head spinning from this confused description, Caitlyn replies "Uhh thanks, I think." She then goes over to her companions to confer, "Time to go? It seems there is some kind of bucket lift a little way past the double doors. Oh and there will be more dragon men."
Head spinning from this confused description, Caitlyn replies "Uhh thanks, I think." She then goes over to her companions to confer, "Time to go? It seems there is some kind of bucket lift a little way past the double doors. Oh and there will be more dragon men."
Jakun grimaces, "Is there no more secret way to visit your Highbulp? I've no desire to fight past a dragon to meet a gully dwarf, I think its time you start showing us where we want to go little ones or else..."
Intimidate
Perhaps we should explore this Sacred Place a bit better before we descend into the lower levels of the ruins of Xax Tsaroth? inquires the cleric.
Jakun grimaces, "Is there no more secret way to visit your Highbulp? I've no desire to fight past a dragon to meet a gully dwarf, I think its time you start showing us where we want to go little ones or else..."
Intimidate 1d20+8
"No secrets! None! We told you! Don't hurt us!" The gully dwarves made an unintentionally comic show of trying to hide behind each other, each in turn realizing that he'd come to the front and rushing to the back. A pair of fresh, familiar, and unpleasant smells filled the air about them.