Silbeg's Slayers: #3-21: The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

The brute looks to his companions, unsure of whether to accept the face painting or not. After Roudi and Vox's turning down of the paint, and Ophiuchus' rousing speech to the masses of a better life with more digits and less euthanasia. He rises to his feet, shaking his head with a sullen glare at any who try to approach him with the face paint. "This one thinks there are other ways to attain enlightenment other than losing parts of your body as punishment. When the whip was applied to this one, he learned to perform a task correctly in body, but his soul was woefully incomplete. Barren, even. Each lash of the scourge drove this one to seek a different way of living. If the people here choose this life, so be it. This one does not wish the enlightenment offered here."

With that, he follows the mighty duck warrior out of the structure.

Arturo does indeed stop in stunned silence at the woman's request, but not because of her insistence.

I've never heard the Strong Brute say so many words at one time! Arturo marvels to himself, Trust him to come to a temple of silent contemplation before he finally starts speaking in full sentences.

After the ceremony, each of the worshipers cleans the face, and they head over to the Refectory for their meal.

Almost everyone is assembled here, and Di Duang, the halfling matron invites each of the Pathfinders to join them in their daily meal. "Korada will provide!" She rings an alarmingly loud hand bell, indicating that the meal is ready.

Everyone bows their heads in devotion, as Di Duang says, "Korada
please provide us with our daily sustenance, that we might continue our feeble attempts to achieve perfection and join you in Nirvana"

At this the table is filled with fruits, grains, nuts, and juices sufficient to feed far more people than are here. Di Duang pile three plates full of food, and leaves with them.

Jaender perks a singular eyebrow up at the sudden spread in front of him. The previous incidents have made him skeptical and distrustful of this place, but this doesn't seem to fit with his newly developed notion of distrust. Maybe this is just dinner, after all. However, one can never be to careful.

cast detect magic - want to see what aura of magic emanates.

"Praise Korada for some food!" says Arturo. He is not particularly hungry, but at least it was better than meditation and prayer. He waits for someone else to start eating, and then joins in.

"So, friends, while we should keep our wits about us, I don't believe we're in immediate danger. Unless we try to 'kiss' Korada, of course."

Jaender casts detect magic, and sees a lingering conjuration effect on the table itself.
Jaender Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
He isn't sure what the table is, but he's pretty sure that the food is real (it is not glowing magically).

Everyone offers thanks, and starts eating. Arturo tastes the food, and finds it quite delicious.

The woman he is sitting next to says, "I am Miriya. Sorry we I couldn't talk earlier... but silence is part of the ritual. I am sure you understand. If you have some time, later, perhaps you'll come down to the library where I am studying." Arturo is getting all sorts of 'naughty librarian' vibes right now.

The food is legit, even if the "blessing of Korada" to bring it here is a farce. These so called leaders have these people duped. I am convinced now. Just how to prove it is the question...

Jaender partakes of the food silently for a time, but at the earliest opportunity, takes a second to secretly share his conclusions with everyone else in his party. At the end of his description, he asks them, "So how can we prove that this is all an elaborate ruse to these unfortunate sheople?" sheep + people...not a typo

"Wow! Sven, I think you just told more about yourself than you have done all this time I've known you. You might have also doubled the word count you have used so far." Like Arturo, Roudantaimi is really impressed with Strong Brute's verbal display. "But wait! Is that really him? Maybe it's same forces that make people here sacrifice their fingers and lives, that make our big friend speak so many words! But he did talk like he normally talks. Just ... more. Oh, what to believe? This is making my head hurt and stomach grumble. Did someone mention dinner?"

At the table Roudantaimi follows the others in devotion to Korada, and then whispers a short prayer to Shelyn. Food is food, and the gnome doesn't hesitate to help himself a plate full of the table's offerings.
"Agreed, so far everyone's been very friendly. Quite unlike some of our earlier missions. I think we should put grumpy-face Zey's mission on hold, and instead find out what is happening in here. I see no evil, but something is out of place. "

Arturo raises a curious eyebrow at the woman seated next to him, "A pleasure to meet you Miriya. I would love to come to the library with you and 'help' you with your 'studies'." Perhaps something may be salvaged from this mission after all... Arturo muses.

"This may not be a ruse perpetrated by those in charge," Arturo suggests quietly to his friends, "But perhaps something perpetrated from... higher up. A friend of mine from the society, a Shoanti bloodrager called Xûll, was telling me about this inquisitor of Iomedae who thought she was communing with her god, but was in fact being tricked by an imp of all things! I would have thought inquisitors were better at discerning falsehoods... but, as Xûll said, people tend to believe what they want to believe - even when the truth is plain to see. Here we have the worshipers of a kind and forgiving deity being totally fine with taking fingers from children as punishment for being less than 'perfect'. Perhaps they don't question what their deity says because the alternative is to horrible to consider..."

Roudantaimi tries the food, and finds it quite refreshing and filling! Rather than hurting his head thinking about the Strong Brute's sudden
loquaciousness, he devours a halfling's portion of the bounty.

The team does notice a healthy number of missing digits around the table, as they eat.

---

Miriya blushes noticeably at the not-so-subtle double entendre in Arturo's response. She smiles at him, but cannot seem to come up with a response. Arturo is surprised to perhaps have found someone even less worldly than himself! He wonders if he wasn't imagining the "vibes", but shrugs it off. She quickly finishes her meal, and excuses herself. "See you later, Arturo!" she says, once again blushing furiously. She hurries off, as many of the others are finishing up.

Jaender stands up from the table after eating his fill and slowly meanders out of the door into the hallway as many people still eat. Curious about where Di Daung went, he sneaks through the halls, searching.

A being born from shadow, Jaender flits about, listening behind doors and casting detect magic often to scan the area for more clues.

Jaender can cast vanish to help avoid being caught. But otherwise he will sneak in whatever shadows he can. He will also keep his eyes peeled for the groups original purpose for being here, the art and statues and areas where we need to make rubbings.

Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

"Well, we were supposed to read some books from the library, right?" Arturo says once Miriya has left, [b]"Why don't I begin on that particular quest while you guys enjoy the rest of your meals and see what's going on around here..."

Please don't let me split the party!

The worshipers disperse, and go their separate ways. Jaender disappears into the corridor, and notices Di Duang walking down the hallway, humming quietly to herself. She does not appear to have noticed Jaender, yet, but there isn't anywhere really for him to hide (unless he turns invisible).

Arturo gets up to leave, noticing that Miriya wakling down the corridor past the chapel and meditation rooms.

Please move your tokens to where you are going, and state your intent

Of an additional note... it should be safe to remove any of the grey tiles if you enter a room. However, I'd ask that you only remove a single tile at this time... just in case.

So here is what I would like to do. I will cast vanish, which based on my level only lasts for 24 seconds (4 rounds). I will cast it immediately before entering the first room I go into. I am there to observe only, and will leave immediately once I have had a chance to scan the room. Essentially I will cast, go into the first room, spend a few seconds looking around, then try to move to the next room. I expect I will need to refresh the vanish spell in between each room, so I will do this one room at a time, and wait for you to tell me what happens in each one. Depending on what happens, I will make another post to move on to the next room.

Just to make things more confusing... there is a verbal component to the vanish spell. To help cover my tracks, I will use my racial ability to cast ventriloquism to make my voice sound like it is coming well away from where I actually am. (ie down the hall) ventriloquism lasts for 4 minutes, so it should cover the duration of what I am going to attempt.

Stepping out into the hallway, with no one looking, Jaender casts ventriloquism on himself. Disregarding his initial intention to follow Di Duang, he then walks up to what appears to be a small closet. He disappears from sight in an instant after casting vanish and opens the door to see what is inside.

I am fine with that, Jaender

Jaender: Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Jaender walks into what actually looks like a very small bedroom. There is a slightly acrid odor to the room. A bowl of nuts sits on the floor next to the bed, and Jaender notices a small brass bell under the bed, as well as a small leather case.

The bed is unmade, and Jaender notices a small leather pouch tucked into the pile of bed clothes.

Oh for crap's sake. Wayfinder appears to have eaten another one of my posts...

Jaender looks around, and since no one seems to be in the room, quickly snags the leather pouch and looks inside. He then looks inside the leather case to see what is inside.

Why does it feel like I am grasping at straws here? There has got to be something to let me know what is going on here...

The brute smiles sheepishly at Jaender's words, shrugging. "This one wanted to explain himself to his host's, so as to be less rude."

He wanders back inside the door, glancing around to see if the meal is completed. Finding that it is, he calls out quietly, "Where to now, friends?"

Following behind strong brute ophiuchus is on the lookout for any clues that might help them unravel this mystery

"maybe we should go look for the thing to rub. This place feels - wrong. And not the creepy let me cut off your fingers and paint your face creepy, but another kind of creepy. Know what I mean large man that sings and now delivers rousing speeches?"

"I'm all for finding something to rub... both with the statues, then in the library," says the suddenly lascivious Arturo, "But I think we should probably stick together for now. The library, later on, will be a solo mission though. Has anyone seen Jaender?"

Arturo picks a room at random, open the door and peers inside. "Hello?" he calls out, "We're looking for some carvings. Have you seen any?" Best to be friendly, just in case the room is occupied.

Room revealed on the tactical, Arturo is at the doorway.

Jaender
In the small leather pouch are dried, reddish-brown leaves that have a rather pungent aroma. Also in there is a small clay pipe.

The larger case has a variety of tools, which are relatively well maintained.

Arturo
This room contains mundane stores used by the temple’s inhabitants. These include blankets, bandages, tools, empty barrels and crates, some wooden stools, several empty shelves, and rolls of the same white cloth the
worshipers’ robes are made of.

Am I to assume that the majority of you are with Arturo? Also, did Ophiuchus, Strong Brute, Vox and Einhardt eat? I am going to assume yes, unless I hear otherwise

Although I feel I will regret this Ophiuchus did eat.

Pipe weed and pipe, tools, this is the janitor's room. Noted

Jaender puts the stuff back as it was and leaves, closing the door behind him.

He does a quick scan to make sure no one else is around, and refreshes his spell of vanish just before he quietly opens the door to a larger room with a fireplace in it. Once again he scans the room, looking for anything that stands out.

That last room worked out exactly like I was hoping it would as far as procedure... lets do it again! :) I will post his reaction once you tell me what I see. Likely if there are people in the room, I will observe, and duck back out before my invisibility wears off. Token and square moved/removed.

Jeander
The temple kitchen is long abandoned and smells faintly musty. The kitchen’s massive stove and rows of cooking implements are all covered with a patina of rust and dark flecks of mold. Dangling in the center of the room, above a solid oak table, swings a halfling man on a stout cord.

What is this wickedness!?

The horror of the scene and the sudden urge nearly overwhelms the little wayang, and he is keenly aware of his awful this could have been without his friends nearby.

Chocking back tears, he explores the room quickly, casting detect magic to find why he had such an urge to end his life, and who this halfling might be.

Something is deeply wrong here... I've got to get back to the others.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Detect magic actually doesn't detect anything.

The halfling hanging from the ceiling looks like he hasn't been her long. Of note, there are no fingers remaining on his left hand.

Jaender makes the mental notes necessary, and opens the door at the other end of the room, wanting to make sure everything is clear before he goes back to find his friends.

Assuming nothing happens...

Running as fast as his little legs can carry him, he makes sure no one is around to see him pop back to visibility. He makes his way to the dining hall in an effort to catch up to his companions.

"Back at last I see, Jaender," says Aturo cheerily, "Nothing but stools, shelves and blankets in here. Let's try... this room, shall we?"

How about we proceed as discussed earlier? Detect traps, detect magic & eavesdrop, check / open the lock and then Strong Brute steps in.

Assuming that's okay, let's open the next door along (I've revealed it on the map).

Arturo steps outside and checks the little alcove room to the south east of the building.

Jeander notices empty tins, unsealed bottles and jars holding only remnants of their former contents, hole-filled burlap sacks, and mildewed barrels bereft of food or drink within the pantry.

He then runs back out, paler than the Slayers have ever seen him, past the still dangling body of the halfling. He finds most of the team still sitting around in the refectory.

Arturo - let's wait until Jaender can say what he needs to say.

If I ate halfling .....

Pale faced and out of breath, Jaender pops back into visibility with only his friends around.

"There is something deeply evil about this place men..." Jaender goes on to tell his companions about the halfling hanging in the kitchen.

"He hadn't been there long, but the kitchen and pantry look as though they haven't been used in quite a while. That would make sense when you have a magical table that produces a feast when you activate it. I am worried that I ate the food... this place is... haunted. I swear something is just not right here. The worst part was, when I went into the kitchen, I nearly couldn't stop myself from cutting my own throat. It was as if I had no control over my mind and will to live. I don't know how I shook it off, but it was terrifying!"

The youth pulls his lucerne hammer free and looks over his shoulder at their flank after hearing Jaender's words. After casting a sidelong glance at the massive wolf standing nearby, the posture of both Vox and Einhardt clearly show that they are on edge, ready for a fight to break out.

"We knew this place was all wrong," Vox says coldly. "Now we have proof."

"I think we need to proceed with caution and get some answers. I'll use this," he motions to his lucerne hammer. "... and Strong Brute, you draw your quill and take some notes about any statues we pass."

"That's it, nobody goes wandering alone any longer! Let's avoid the kitchen for now, and search the other parts of the temple first. Onwards! Where goes the stench of evil, so goes the cleansing wind of Silbeg's Slayers (who's Silbeg?)!"

With some action about to happen, the gnome digs up his latest purchase - the Wand of Longstrider, and tries to activate it.

UMD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
UMD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

"Suicide compulsion?" Arturo asks incredulously, "Well, I guess we know how Wei died. I wonder if that was him, still left there hanging. These people are starting to get on my nerves... well, most of them anyway."

Arturo steps outside for some air, and notices doors to a room not accessible from the inside, "Well, that looks inviting. Shall we?"

Actions as posted above to open the door.

The brute listens in horror as Jaender explains the scene he just encountered. He shakes his head at the wrongness of this place, then nods at Arturo's question. "Aye. The time for games is over." The big man drops all pretense of being a humble guest, a scowl on his features as he walks with Arturo to the door.

Is anyone going to cut the poor man down?

Arturo
Some tack and blankets for horses lie discarded in this stable. It apparently has not been used for centuries. The smell of horses has dissipated, and only the empty stalls and remaining equestrian equipment reveal the room’s original purpose.

"Well, shall we try another room?" asks Arturo, "We should also consider not telling anyone about the dead man. Best not to rouse suspicious about what we're doing here... I don't think 'we found him because we're searching the place' is really a good explanation. Besides, he's dead and going into that room may make us want to kill ourselves."

Arturo wants desperately to go to the library, but he's prepared to let someone else pick the next room.

I don't want to be the one to kill us... so someone else can have a turn. Arturo will still check for traps, etc.

The brute goes down a different corridor, waving the others to come behind him. He looks about, then throws open the door in front of him.

"Jaender, was the compulsion you felt only noticeable after crossing the threshold into the room?" Vox asks, turning to the wayang. "Could we shoot out the rope and find a way to pull him out, without ever entering the room ourselves..." Before he can wait for a reply Strong Brute leaves the room, and Vox immediately begins to follow.

The youth moves to stand behind Strong Brute in the hallway as the man begins to open the door. Holding his lucerne hammer at the ready and prepared to rush in after his compion should the need arise, Vox nods to Einhardt. Just behind the youth the wolf stands in a lowered and tense position, as if ready to spring forward should her master move into the room.

"Yes, it wasn't until I opened the door and went in. I agree with Arturo. If I never have to go back to that room, it will be to soon. We didn't put him there, and I believe whatever force put that compulsion in the poor man is here."

Jaender follows the large man, peering in cautiously from outside the room.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Oh, wait, wait! Procedure, procedure!" Roudantaimi tries to yell, waving his glove-clad hands. But too late, the big warrior has already kicked in the door. "Oh, I suppose that'll work as well."

The stands near Strong Brute, his hand resting on his pistol's grip. Such temple of serenity feels like a wrong place to start a fight, but they must find source of this madness.

Arturo also follows Strong Brute, looking back over his shoulder he says, "I think we missed a room back there. We'll have to have a look in it later, though, I guess. I wonder where the library is..."

Token moved on the map. Ready when you guys are.

The Strong Brute throws open the door, only to see a small room, with a neat little bed, a small chest of drawers, and a night stand. It all looks halfling (or gnome, or wayang) sized.

Arturo and Roudi see Di Duang coming around the corner. "Well, hello there, friends! Can I be of any assistance? These are just our living quarters back here. I am sure that the library or the garden would be far more interesting to you. Just go past the meditation room, and you will find both!"

The two believe that she is telling the truth.

In the other rooms are two humans. The man is Hamada, the woman Ziya. They are both quietly resting (separately) in their rooms. They are cordial when you talk to them, but also suggest you go meditate with Master Zhuang, check out the library, or the gardens.

The brute shrugs, heading off to go with Arturo and the rest to whichever weird, foul place they decide to visit next. He scowls as he walks, not giving a pretense of friendliness at this point.

"Well, it is about time we visit the library then!" Arturo says, unable to contain his excitement, "I guess we can all go, but I'll continue the... erm... mission in private afterwards. Okay?"

Taking the directions from the nearest person who's just told them to move along, Arturo practically skips to the library. Not bothering with standard procedure - after all, Miriya said she would be there - he flings the door open wide and steps through.

"Miriya?" he calls out softly, "Are you in here?"

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.

Arturo sees Miriya at a table, reading a rather large and dusty looking tome. She looks up, and says, "Well, hello, Arturo. Have you been enjoying your explorations of our little temple? Please, have a seat, grab a book, and start reading! I am sure there is LOTS for you to learn, here!"

"Uh, sure..." Arturo is genuinely disappointed to learn that Miriya is genuinely interested in reading, "Do you have any books that are not general knowledge? Esoteric kind of stuff? Failing that, anything about the history of this temple would be... ugh... great."

Essentially trying to find books on topics that Arturo thinks wouldn't also be covered in Absalom's library (or anything else that boring git VC has access to).

Ignoring the books for now, the brute heads over to the windows that overlook the garden, looking down upon the scene while the others converse with Miriya or peak inside the tomes within the library.