|
[spoiler=Flavia]"Yes, and did you hear that their friend has disappeared in connection with the warehouse. Either he is just working there as they seem to think, or he has become a victim of the conspiracy as well it seems. Do you want to follow them and either ask them about it or continue to listen to their conversation?"[/url]
Flavia gives Rokuro a smile. "Sometimes, the direct approach works. Excuse me."
Slipping through the crowd, she moves next to the men talking about Hurst Gruhl. Planting herself in front of them, she says cheerily, "Excuse me, but were you talking about Hurst who works - worked - at Carthon's? He an old acquaintance of mine and I wanted to say hello now that I'm in town. But you say he's not around?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+7
[dice=Bluff]1d20+7
The two men eye Flavia suspiciously. One of the men answers, "You look a little young to be an old acquaintance of Hurst. Who are you and what's your business with him?"
Flavia shrugs and smiles. "I used to stop at Carthon's when I traded here, but haven't been in town for a year or so. Just wondering if it was the same Hurst. No point stopping to say hi if he isn't around. I'm just here to see the prophet. Is she as wonderful as they say?"
"Hmmm", says the man still eyeing Flavia suspiciously. "Cerpera is an amazing being. Since she made the fountain come to life, this town has come to life. She can be pretty radical at times, but I'm not complaining. Business has been good since folks like you started coming to town. You will see why soon enough."
"How exciting!" Flavia cries, clapping her hands and craning to see the fountain through the crowd, "I have never seen her before."
As the sun reaches its peak, A bell atop Pharasma's temple begins to toll. It strikes twelve times to mark mid - day. A door opens at the rear of the temple and a 6 dark robed priests and priestesses emerge in a single file. The crowd which had been murmuring falls silent, as the procession begins.
The priests line themselves on each side of the rope area, taking positions at the beginning, middle and end of the roped area. There is a pause then another priest and priestess emerge. Their robes appear to be much finer than the first clerics, and they bear an hour glass filled with red sand on each shoulder. Finally, behind the two clerics a young woman, clad in a simple, gray, hooded cloak exits the temple. A gasp ripples through the crowd as the Oracle, Cerpera, begins the journey to the fountain.
The two senior clerics lead Cerpera slowly through the rope lined path between the temple and the fountain. When they finally reach the fountain, They part and allow Cerpera to pass between them. She climbs a stone step up to the wall of the fountain. Standing on the edge of the fountain, Cerpera murmurs a quiet prayer, and then steps onto the water. Another gasp emerges from the crowd as Cerpera walks on the water to the center of the fountain. She pauses, standing in the middle of the rippling water, ready to speak.
Savendir takes in his surroundings watchfully.
Savendir notices that Cerpera uses the priests to guide her along the path. As he looks closely at Cerpera, he is struck by the milky cast to her eyes. He tries to discern how she is able to walk on the water, but cannot detect any spell that she may be using.
|
|
Rokuro's posture changes slightly when the bell rings, moving from taking in the crowd, to concentrating on the coming procession. He looks surprised to see Cerpera walking across the water. He guesses a spell, but tries to move closer to get a look at the fountain itself and specifically the water of her path.
Flavia has seen enough shysters, tricksters, and swindlers to know one when she sees it, though this is a good act. She looks for the rig in the fountain that allows the girl to appear to be walking on the surface, craning her neck to see.
Matsumoto and Flavia study the fountain intently. The water is clear and the bottom of the fountain can be seen clearly. Nothing but the water seems to be supporting Cerpera's weight.
"Pfft. She don't look like much. I seen crazier s~##."
As the crowd shifts and jostles to see the oracle, Flavia takes advantage of the crush to sidle back to Rokuro's side. She looks at the sturdy swordsman until she catches his eye, then shrugs, plainly baffled by the walking on water gig.
She waits for the girl to speak.
Cerpera, in a trance like state begins to speak. The crowd quiets.
People of Golarion, Why do put such stock in Kings and Queens and councils and such? Are they any better than you? Who put them into those positions? Why are you here, laboring in your fields, giving such large portions of your meager harvest to fill some far off Korvosan nobleman's larder?Enough I say! Do not turn to Golarion mortals to tell you how to live. To provide for you? Look at this fountain, left barren by a Korvosan government that spares narry a thought of you, except when your taxes are due. Ah, but you have not been forgotten. Pharasma has seen your plight. She has made the desert an oasis. She brought water to this fountain and blessed me with a vision of a better life. I do not speak for me, I am merely a conduit for her message. She sees this as a time of rebirth. An opportunity to throw off the yoke of serfdom and be reborn as free people, dedicated to a simple life of birth and death and service to each other and the land. Our current path leads to darkness. We must choose another. Do not follow me, follow Pharasma. She will provide for us.
Suddenly a tremor ripples through Cerpera's body and a dark look comes over her face. She continues.
No, not here. An evil presence has come into our midst. Someone here serves another. They foul this land with undead taint. They...
Cerpera pauses, and strains to resist something. And then begins to speak again. However, this time nothing can be heard.
The two elder priests, jump into the fountain, and take Cerpera by the cloak trying to lead her back. Suddenly, Cerpera's body goes limp. The priests calls out to the others to help carry Cerpera back to the temple.
Flavia wonders if this is all a part of an act and watches Cerpera carefully for signs of playing possum.
AS the priests carry her back, Flavia jostles through the crowd and nudges the man she was talking with before. "Wow, scary! Does this always happen when she speaks?"
Savendir looks about with alarm, trying to assess what just happened to the oracle.
"No", the man answers Flavia, obviously, startled. "Nothing like this has ever happened before."
You all see the same thing. The male priest makes a slight motion to the side of Cerpera's neck before she collapses.
It is hard to make out at the distance that you are, but Cerpera appears to be unconcious.
All of the Pharasma priests quickly come to Cerpera's aid. They lift up her limp body and begin to carry her swiftly back to the temple. Shock gives way to panic as the crowd tries to figure out what has just happened.
Savendir weaves his way through the crowd toward Flavia's position. He whispers to her quietly, "Did you watch her handlers there? I think she may be in danger."
Flavia nods at Savendir and whispers back, "This certainly isn't part of the usual act. Should we follow?"
|
|
Rokuro moves closer to Flavia and Savendir. "Someone has been casting spells on Cerpera. The reason she could not talk was because she was silenced and someone also caused her unnatural fear as well".
He thinks for a moment. "The High Priest definitely did something to her as well, although whether he cast the spells or attempted to help her afterwards is something I do not know".
Flavia nods at Rokuro. "Good pick up on the spells. Tracks led to the temple, now this -- right after the warehouse! I think we should follow." She grimaces in self-deprecation. "But maybe not split up."
"Yes, let's follow them. I'd like to find out what happened. Aaaaand, I'd like us to stay together this time, too." Mason grimaces as well.
Corvin digs his elbow in to Urzur's side, motioning to the retreating figures of the oracle and priests. Everything seems to have mostly gone over his head.
"Kid, that lady knows from anything. Damn good speech, that."
Are Corvin and Urzur close enough to everyone else to hear what Matsumoto said?
The priests carry the limp Cerpera into the temple and the door slams shut behind them. The scene around the fountain turns chaotic as people shout and strain to see what is happening. Some gather close to the temple to see if anybody will come and tell them what just happened. Others scatter, trying get clear of the fountain less a similar misfortune befalls them, also.
"This whole thing is fishy. Is there a back way in to the temple? But first..." Flavia squeezes through the crowd to the fountain and takes a step into the water where Cerpera was walking.
A dark look crosses Corvin's face at Matsumoto's pronouncement.
"This ain't natural. People messin' about with things."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"This whole thing is fishy. Is there a back way in to the temple? But first..." Flavia squeezes through the crowd to the fountain and takes a step into the water where Cerpera was walking.
Savendir regards Flavia's experiment with interest and remains on the lookout for troublemakers.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Flavia's foot plunges knee deep into the fountain and finds the water quite cold.
Just then the constable and her three deputies arrive at the scene. "Everyone, remain calm. The sermon is over, please leave." Constable Enyden Sust tries her best to break up the milling crowd.
"Sunuva!" Flavia steps back out of the fountain and rejoins her guys. "At least there aren't any alligators in there. C'mon, let's go to the temple! We need to save Cerpera!"
"I ain't never said no to a fight before. Ain't gonna start now."
The crowd begins to disperse.
"I think we should go around back, away from the onstables-cay, and maybe slip in a window, Rokuro," Flavia whispers, beckoning Corvin and Urzur over, "What do you think?"
Flavia, Mason and Savendir all notice a small door on the south eastern corner of the temple open. One of the Pharasma clerics emerges with a large basket of food. After struggling to balance the basket and close the door, the cleric finally gives up and begins her journey leaving the door ajar.