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

Game Master Silbeg

Jaender glares at the gnome and goes about cutting and pruning the garden to help, secretly enjoying the beauty they slowly uncover.

Some time into the work, Jaender randomly asks, "so who are you anyways? Are you the leader of this group of people who... 'seek enlightenment?'"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Ophiuchus does not detect any magic on the turtle.

Gastidem says to Jaender, "No, no. I am by no means the leader here. You should have seen him at chapel... Dakang is our leader, and has been for long before I came here. I am but a humble supplicant, doing my best to be at peace and harmony with the world. "

After looking over the statue once more, the youth thinks to himself. I wouldn't try the Kiss of Korada for anything... Well, maybe with Dakang's hand. The last thought comes to him with a smile.

As he helps the others clear away the vines and leafy-growths, he speaks candidly to his companions. "I must say, I don't know what is going on here. Or what we should do next," he says with a sigh.

Turning back to Gastidem, Vox continues, "Why do you think you are able to complete the Kiss of Korada while the others cannot? What is the mechanism that makes you different from those who have lost fingers?"

"Yes, Gastidem... and I ask again: why do it at all?" Arturo is so befuddled that he pushes the point, "If you get no benefit other than affirming your faith, then why risk fingers? As for affirming your faith, if it needs affirming, then you're most likely to lose a finger in the first place!"

The confused Arturo stops work so he can stare at Gastidem until he answers.

The brute pauses in his gardening as Arturo asks his question, turning his icy eyes upon the gnome. He was tired of this whole ordeal, honestly. There was something foul going on, something they just couldn't put a finger on definitively. He was about two more phrases about enlightenment and testing faith away from just tearing the place apart to look for whatever was wrong with these people.

The gregarious gnome looks at Arturo, eyes slightly out of focus. "Man, you never have to take the test. But the visions, man, the chance to see the visions! That's why you do it!

"But, if you don't think your faith is strong enough, dude, don't do it. Ain't no thing but a chicken wing to me... your loss if you choose not to try."

Arturo is pretty sure that the little gnome believes what he says.

"Jaender, I think you'd best stop burning those plants over there," cautions Arturo, "I think the resulting smoke is having an effect on our gnome friend over here. He's high as a kite."

Will continue to clean the weeds and pocket the weed.

Was Jaender actually burning stuff?

"No, dude," says the gnome. "Like, I am just all enlightened and shit. You know, take the test, and Korada gives you visions... that's all that's going on, man. The visions... the colors!"

Was only trimming with a blade, but very tempted to burn....

-Posted with Wayfinder

So, unless someone is going to try the test, I will move on.

Kn: nature: Vox: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Kn: nature: Vox: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

With Vox's guidance the team is able to clear the garden enough to determine the original plan in only an hour! However when he was clearing an area (near where Jaender was considering using his fire breath to clear the overgrowth faster) he finds a wiry shrub with red-brown leaves. Jaender recognizes the leaves from the pouch he acquired, and it has a pungent aroma not dissimilar to what they smell on Gastidem.

Vox takes a careful look at the plant, and determines that it is flayleaf, a mildly hallucinogenic recreational drug.

"This is interesting," the youth says, holding up one of the leaves and giving it a brief sniff. "This plant is..." begins Vox, and proceeds to explain the details of flayleaf to the others.

"We should probably make a note of it for when we report back," he says, stepping closer to the statue. Without sticking his hand inside, Vox leans in close to the turtle and examines it for any manual mechanisms which could be used to loosen someone fingers from their hands, if they weren't paying close enough attention or were otherwise distracted (or impaired) while attempting the Kiss of Korada.

perception, checking the statue for hidden blades inside and manual means of activation(take 20): 20 + 9 = 29

As Vox starts studying the statue, it is apparent that it is a complex piece of machinery. Deep within the statue's throat are a series of tiny blades. Even further in are some larger blades, large enough to remove a person's fingers. When Vox points this all out, Arturo realizes that there is a hidden switch in the ground below the statue's mouth. Together, they realize that it isn't a manual way to trigger the trap, but a manual way to bypass it.

"Well spotted, Vox! Let's see here..."

Arturo has a fiddle with the trigger bypass mechanism. He'll test it out by putting some a branch in there without activating the bypass followed by a branch while activating the bypass to compare the results.

"Oh, I can't wait to tell the rest of the poor souls who have needlessly sacrificed their fingers to this deception. All we need now is to find what twisted mind is behind this..."

"I am also curious as to why it is painless," adds Arturo, "Those blades look very painful!"

Playing around with the device, Arturo realizes that the smaller blades are coated with some sort of sap-like liquid. It has a similar aroma to the pipe that Gastidem was smoking, and the flayleaf plant itself. Talking with Vox, the two think that the drug would have an analgesic effect, and as such, numb the person to the more vicious blades.

Arturo also thinks that even the inner blades won't always sever a finger, but an exact hit would do the trick.

Arturo finishes up his investigation, but then realizes that Gastidem has been paying a little too close attention to him... especially for someone who seemed quite done in with his drug use.

The brute continues to clear away the brush, oblivious to the findings of the others. As Arturo and Vox start experimenting with the statue, he stops what he is doing, taking a break as he looks on in curiosity.

"So, it's just an elaborate mechanical trap? Quite far from divine, I would say." Roudantaimi says, glad that his companions were able to find out the mechanics. Still, keeping his eyes fixed on the gnome, he asks: "And you knew of this? Of course you knew, having all your fingers intact. But sitting here, you let the others cut their fingers, without saying a warning. Rather, you just encourage people to try it... Is this statue and its trap your doing? Answer very carefully now... I've had enough lies and deception for one day!"

"Yes, as have I," says Arturo, "I think it is high time we confront you - and your little false cult's other leaders - about the justness of maiming small fücking children, you horrendous fücking monsters!" Arturo unconsciously draws his rapier at the last comment and slams it into some of the last remaining overgrowth.

"Oh," he adds, calming down somewhat, "And it wouldn't hurt to maintain this gods-damned garden once in a while also, instead of chewing that leaf like a fücking useless layabout. Surely enlightenment and peace can also come while engaging in manual labor."

Jaender's frustration is already plainly expressed by Roudantaimi and Arturo. A satisfied smile makes its way onto the dark-skinned wayang's face and smoke begins to roll out of his nostrils as he prepares himself to do something about this deceiving cult and its leaders.

"Tell us the truth behind the deception, this falsehood here, and be quick about it. There are spells that allow us to extract the information from your corpse, so don't think I need to keep you alive to get what we want."

The gnome looks absolutely horrified that the ruse has been exposed. "But.. but... it was all Dakang's idea! He's the one corrupting the temple! He... he is corrupting the temple to follow some secret evil."

It is clear to everyone, including Ophiuchus, believes that he's not telling the whole story there. He also keeps looking to the flayleaf crop, obviously concerned about its well-being.

Roudantaimi, the gnome does detect as evil.

Damn it! He is not high enough level to have detected as evil. Please retcon this detection to not detect him as evil, please. I am sorry about the mistake... probably one of the most common ones made in Pathfinder!

"Right, then," says Arturo, approaching him with his scimitar drawn, "Out with it all or we will show you what a blade feels like without the flayleaf to dull the pain... or perhaps we'll get you to put your hand in there after I've disabled the manual override. Perhaps I'll get my wayang friend over here to 'burp fire' all over the crop."

Oh, now there's an idea... disable it and trick Dakang into taking the test... perhaps also remove the flayleaf coating... yes! YES!

Arturo intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 -- He's better at diplomacy, but he's in no mood for such things right now!

"Ok, ok!! Yes, I did it all so that I could stay here, and raise my flayleaf. That, and to avoid the Bleaching... you have to keep experiencing things, you know? Dakang let me do it, because it suited his needs.

"Please don't destroy the flayleaf! Let me take it, and go. I won't bother anyone here ever again!" The gnome is in tears at this point... and believes he is telling the truth.

"It is time you faced the music for the ruse and what you have done. Saying you are sorry is a good start, but it does not replace the extremities of the people and children in this place. Spare me your tears, for I have no pity for you. And what about Wei? Why should this evil have to claim his life? You think that you just get to say you are sorry and not pay a price for your devilry and deception? Nay, trickster."

And with that, Jaender finally unleashes his fiery temper by breathing a burst of flame on the flayleaf, breathing multiple times to make sure it is all burned up.

"I'll not allow you, or this filth any opportunity to defile the youngster's that live here, or continue to defile this temple."

Now I have a good reason to burn it up... Interested to see his reaction! I love the internal monologue idea you have Arturo - we need to get him to take the test in front of his followers to help expose the deception!

"Jaender... wait!" Arturo cries out, too late, "Ah well, I suppose you are right and it is for the best. I was hoping to leave things in tact a little longer so that we might provide a little ruse for Dakang. I think you know what I'm thinking about here... even if he knows what has happened, I suspect it will be hard for him to refuse to take the test."

GM Silbeg, is it possible to prevent the manual bypass from being triggered and/or to remove the flayleaf extract?

If it is ok, Jaender will hold his action when Arturo calls for him to stop - Totally plan on burning that up though! If anything, in order to maintain the ruse for Dakang we can blame it on Jaender using his fire to help clear the foliage, honest mistake right?

For the retcon... we'll say that Jaender started burning it, but moved the flame away from the shrub in time to save some. Cost... 1 use of the fire spit.

Arturo, you could try to modify it, yes. However, you aren't sure if you can remove all of the flayleaf extract from the blades without disassembling the whole thing. Also, be wary... torture is considered an Evil act, and while I can understand wanting to give Gastidem a taste of his own medicine, watch your alignments, please.

"Noooooooooo!!!" cries out Gastidem as Jaender spits fire at his precious crop. He runs to the shrubs, and looks like he is willing to throw himself in front of the flames, if it came to that.

Heal check and/or knowledge: nature on Gastidem would be appropriate

Sure. Let me know if I violate my alignment. Always happy to move towards neutral if I continually behave that way. For now, Arturo is totally steamed up enough to remove the flayleaf extract.

Arturo tries as hard as he can to remove some of the extract from the blades. Let him scream and retract his hand in pain - it will show his followers how barbaric what they were doing truly was. No magical removal, but slashing and cutting blades... and drugs. Argh! Drugging children, too! Ye gods, who are these people?

When he is done removing as much of the flayleaf anaesthetic as he can, he has a go at disarming the mechanism for turning the blade trap off. "Quite the nasty surprise should be waiting for Dakang now! I hope his followers rip him apart when they find out the truth. As for you, Gastidem, play along and we may just let you go. Though, considering the part you played, the best you can hope for is to hold on to your miserable fücking life."

Disable device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

"There, now let's test it out," Arturo looks to his companions, and back to the gnome, "Say a prayer to Korada. Best pray to the real one this time, and hope he shows mercy. Maybe you have enough of the flayleaf in your system to not feel it. Maybe you'll be able to pull out when you realize the disabling mechanism doesn't work."

Arturo will reluctantly (and I will happily) let someone talk him down from this course and test it out with something non-living if possible.

Jaender looks up from his search for a stick to see Arturo coercing the druggie gnome to sticking his fingers in the mouth of the statue.

"Are you sure you want to do that? If Dakang sees his partner in crime with a missing finger, bloody or not, he will know something is amiss. Let's just test it with this stick here."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Arturo relents to Jaender's pleading. The stick snaps in half as it is shoved into the mouth, while Arturo stands on the trigger.

With the barest glance at the gnome, Ophiuchus moves to the center of his group. "Friends, I know not what a duck does when it is faced with a duck that is stupid, but I think that we have enough evidence here to comvince sane people that they are stupid for staying here, playiing with glass balls, chopping up fingers, painting faces, taking drugs, and eating each other. We have the changed books from the library, we have the finger chopper, we have the dead man in the kitchen. It is time to end the charade. But the question remains, can they be convinced or are they too dumb. If we cannot convince them is it right, moral, just to force intelligence upon them? And who is our enemy? The gnome falsely speaks of an unseen evil. Dakang is evil, but is he THE evil thing is making this place crazy. How shall we end this. Mr. Hairylips this is not time to carve your woman a phallus. We have to save people from eating each other."

heal: 1d20 ⇒ 8. Why don't I have ranks in heal. Going to fix that next level.

"Arturo..." Roudantaimi begins, perhaps using the rogue's full name for the first time. "Evil must be punished, yes. But this is not the way to do it. No tricking them, no torturing. We confront Dakang, and hear what he has to say for himself. If we find him guilty of these crimes, then we shall bring justice onto him, and punish accordingly." All this serious talk makes Roudi feel weird. Well, at least Sir Dramott would be proud...

The gnome squints his eyes tight and shakes his head vigorously to get rid of the feeling."And Artie, since you're pretty handy with the mechanics, couldn't you disable the blades altogether? Then everyone could stick their hands in and see there's no enlightenment."

"Right, next stop: Dakang, correct?" With the mystery partially solved, and road to save the innocent is found, Roudantaimi starts to be picking up the good mood again.

The brute shakes his head solemnly. "No losing fingers for this one. The question is simple...does he get to leave, does he accompany as a witness, or does he become a meal for the worms and daisies? Willingly playing along in causing such misery surely has earned this piece of dogshit worse, but we are better than that."

Once a consensus has reached about the gnome, the large man gives Roudi a firm nod of his head. He was glad they were finally done with the trickery. A sudden thought pops into his head. "This one believes we must still visit the crypts, as well, to perform the drawings the Venture Captain requested."

"stay that little man that talks so many languages. I believe that there is one other place we need to search before confronting the evil Dakang, the crypt. The crypt is where we find all the evil. Maybe there will be hordes of undead, or some evil lurker in the dark ready to spring upon us, or maybe the rightful ruler of this place is being held captive and we have a chance to rescue then. What if there is a chute from the finger chopping device and it terminates in the basement. There could be a huge pile of fingers, like Finger Mountain, or Digit Hill, or Knuckle Ridge.". Turning to Vox, "Are you writing this down?"

"Yes, to be honest, I quite like the idea of everyone here being able to stick their hand in the statue without losing a finger, yet still receive no "enlightenment". Can you make that happen Arturo? Then Dakang can answer to what is happening here, when his subjects begin to question him.

And a trip to the Crypt sounds like a blast, oddly enough. Maybe there will be something there I can burn without affecting my moral compass."

Feeling the weight of the corruption on this place, the Pathfinders contemplate their next move. Will they try door #1, the single door to the west? Or perhaps barrel their way through door #2? Or maybe be cautious, and backtrack to door #3?

"Lets take this door here. Maybe this leads down to the crypt. We still have lots of work to do anyways."

As they move to the door, Jaender breaths another gout of flame, lighting the flayleaf in a flash. He takes care to hold his breath so as not to breath in any of the toxic fumes.

"We really need to confront Dakang as soon as possible, before he can figure out that we have uncovered his ruse."

"I am sorry my friends, but I'd rather not go down to the crypt just yet," says Arturo, "We need to confront Dakang as soon as possible. I will not disarm the blades - the only sign of enlightenment is not lacking a finger. I would hate for everyone to feel enlightened when they are not. I say we tell Dakang the truth: we have found and disabled the mechanism. If we are lying, then he is welcome to prove it by putting his hand in. That way, he's doing it to himself or admitting the evil he perpetrated. Either way, he will be discovered." Arturo will not move from this stance, nor will he disable the blades. It is clear his blood is boiling at the innocent men, women and children who have lost their fingers because of this monster.

"We need to find Dakang, and now. Gastidem, where is he most like to be found at this time of day? Please take us there. We will allow the good people of this temple to decide what their justice for you is. Were it up to me, I would have you stick your hands in that machine again and again until your arms are nothing but bloody stumps... and then let you bleed to death slowly. Luckily, your crime was not perpetrated upon me but others and those others preach forgiveness and peace."

Okay, to sum Arturo's position up: 1 Not disabling blades; 2 Getting Gastidem to lead us to Dakang; and 3 Will leave it up to the temple's inhabitants to decide Gastidem's fate.

Going through your standard procedures...

Roudi checks the door with his gloves of reconnaissance. However, all he can see is darkness beyond.

When the Strong Brute tries the door, after Arturo determines that there are no traps on the door, he discovers that it seems to be stuck somehow. It is unlocked, but doesn't move.

Strength check?

Based on Arturos post, is that the door to find dakang? I am in agreement, we need to find him before we do anything.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Honestly, you have no idea where the door goes. But, I did miss Arturo's post while writing mine... took longer for a small post, 'cause I was doing a lot of referencing. Yeah, that's it.

Gastidem replies to Arturo, "His rooms are over there" He points to the southwest, (I missed uncovering an area... too complete with my fog of war). "To get to them, you'll have to go through his Aasamir guards, and have good reason. I don't have any pull with them... no reason to bring me along." He does not seem to be lying.

"We'll decide why we want you along," says Arturo, "If for no other reason than to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't run off. As for the guards, we will have an excellent reason for speaking to them. If I don't miss my guess about Aasimars, they are a goodly folk and will be as interested to find the truth as we are. At the very least, Dakang will need to come out to face these allegations. I don't much care if I see his rooms or not, so long as he shows himself."

Taking 10 on a knowledge local check (result 20) should tell me Aasimars are descended from celestial outsiders, right?

Arturo thinks for a while before adding, "My friends, do we have any means of taking out the guards non-lethally should it come to a fight? I would rather not assume everyone associated with Dakang is also guilty."

Jaender bites his lip at Arturo's question.

"Eehh...."

"I can attempt to magically knock them out, but if they are strong of will, or just simply strong, it may not have much of an effect. Best case, it will give us an opportunity to restrain them. Worst case, we all get a pretty light show.

As the others ponder the wisdom of different courses of action, the Brute puts his shoulder to the door, attempting to jar it loose.

Str Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

The youth stands behind the others while Strong Brute forces the door. As he stands, Vox holds his lucerne hammer at the ready and signals for Einhardt to stay on guard. "So far, nothing has been as it seems," he warns as his massive companion's shoulder slams into the door. "I would venture a guess that these aasimars are not actually aasimars... if you catch my meaning."

"It is probably one more devious trick, told to the others to keep them in line."

"Yes, I can see both things being possible. Either the Aasimars have been tricked, or they are more wolves in sheep's clothing... There are still more questions to be answered here. Starting with where Dakang actually is..."

Arturo prods Gastidem with the tip of his rapier, taking care to hit a belt strap so as not to draw blood, "Are you developing a hearing problem you drug-addled gnome?" asks Arturo impatiently, "Lead on."

Arturo quickly sheathes his rapier once the gnome begins moving, It would not do to approach this supposed man of peace with weapons drawn.

Looks like everyone's happy to head to see Dakang and keep an eye on Gastidem in the process. Not sure where the rooms are, but please move us there if you please, Mr. Silbeg!