"Good luck, my dear." She then proceeds to open a book and starts whispering to Niv.
Kazmuk goes to the door and listens. If he hears no one in the hallway he will quietly open the door and step into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
The temple isn't large; small enough for Kazmuk to quite easily scout out the rest of its contents, carefully passing by a few more aasimar guardians; not many, it seems only about two roam the temple tonight. He finds the temple gardens, as well as a door west of the chapel where two aasimar stand guard constantly.
Moving through the northern part of the temple, Kazmuk enters a large hallway. Most of the everburning lanterns hanging in this hall are dark, but the dimness does not diminish the grandeur of this corridor. Along the north wall stand several statues, each depicting an angel or other good outsider. Some are depicted in dramatic poses befitting a holy warrior. Others have heads bowed in eternal contemplation and hands cupping glass spheres. The southern wall bears a large set of double doors, but these doors are boarded up. Smaller doors stand at opposite ends of the hall. A few bits of stone and other debris litter the floor and a musty odor hangs in the air.
Kazmuk will check out one of the smaller doors. He will approach it, check it for traps, and gently check to see if it is unlocked.
Make that the small door at the west end of the hallway.
Crossing the corridor silently, a statue up near the roof gives a tiny shudder; Kazmuk doesn't see it, until it topples over and smashes to the floor over his head, creating an almighty clamor throughout the temple.
At the clamor, Kazmuk hears the sound of pounding footsteps as the aasimar guardians come to investigate. Taking a weighty blow, many drops of his blood litter the floor.
Kazmuk will try to make sure he's not dripping blood too badly and Stealth his way back as best he can. Moving at 20 feet per round.
Distracted by the clamor, the guardians miss Kazmuk's creeping footsteps and he makes it back to the room.
After a few minutes, one of the aasimar knocks at the meditation room and opens the door. "Excuse me for disturbing you; there seems to have been a disturbance, with someone hurt. Were any of you out?"
Kazmuk does his level best to just appear to be asleep in his bedroll.
"No, I believe not. Thank you for worrying, though I believe that we should all rest now.", says Rose, her tone implying that they are interrupting her rest, and they should leave.
After they leave, Rose goes to Kazmuk, and, after seeing his injuries, sighs and says, "Darling, was there a trap or something? Doesn't matter, we should just take a rest." As she says that, in a loud whisper she speaks some words in a ancient language, and the shadows around the bedroll go fluid around Kazmuk's injuries.
"I believe that was enough events for one day. Let's simply wait for tomorrow."
Kazmuk replies, "Thanks for the healing. Found a trap the hard way. The strange thing is that I'm not sure who set it. I'll brief everybody in the morning."
The dawn breaks.
Kazmuk gets up and tells everybody who is interested what all he saw and did during the night. He describes the location and condition of all rooms and hallways he could get to. He finishes up saying, "They had a double guard on one set of doors that I assume would go to the crypt. So I couldn't get in even though Rose had made me invisible. I ended up exploring an abandoned hallway in the northernmost section of the temple. I must have triggered a trap because a statue fell on me making a heck of a noise and hurting me pretty badly. Thing is, I don't think the monks set the trap. I think it was set by whoever had been using the temple before the monks got here."
The guards nod, and leave.
A new day comes, and several events await the Pathfinders. They could investigate the garden, attend the chapel service, attend midmeal... What shall they decide?
Kazmuk says, "Why don't we check out the garden? I would just as soon skip their meal. Attending their service would be interesting, but I wouldn't want them drawing their symbol on me."
Kazmuk makes a quick meal of a trail ration.
"Excellent idea, darling. Oh, in case you need to clean something, feel free to borrow my wand. But do try not to overuse it, I'd hate to be stuck somewhere without a way to refresh myself."
Rose rethinks Kazmuk's words, and says, "Drawing their symbol? Oh, you mean the arrow one. I don't believe I've seen anyone who has one on himself in here, though I am afraid I mostly pay attention to words and gestures, and not appearances.". The witch's expensive looking clothes and jewelry seem to point towards the opposite.
"I do believe we could have a reasonable excuse to visit the gardens before eating, yes."
Moving through the temple, a few monks give you polite but cautious nods; word of the accident seems to have gone round, and they're a little wary of you all.
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 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. Sitting beside a fountain with a large ornate turtle sits a male halfling in dirty white monk robes, arms behind his head, napping.
And their gardener is even worse than the librarian... I can't wait to go to more competent people.
Rose sighs at the state of the gardener and the garden, then seems to delve in thought.
"I suppose we must aid them in order to get in their good graces since the unfortunate accident last night. I believe I can give you some tips on how to approach the situation. Although, Ealasaid, darling, I do believe that your rustic background would give you a bit more knowledge in such situations that I have. Please do share your advice, if you have some."
Rose remembers that turtles are held by some to be an animal favored to Korada; however, he has never expressed any opinion on the subject, so it is speculation only.
Kazmuk gets Rose's wand to work on his second try. Kazmuk should be able to clean everything that needs it using only one charge. Kazmuk hands the wand back to Rose and says, "Thank you."
Later Kazmuk surveys the garden with the rest of the group and sighs. He helps as needed with the grunt work to clean the garden.
Of course... - She answer to rose
Ealasaid pokes the napping halfling
Hey you...
The halfling stumbles into awakedness and rubs his eyes, blinking at you. "Wazzat? Urgh..." He sees Ealasaid fully for the first time, and quickly dons a smile. "Oh, hello... One of the visitors, eh? Nice to meet you. I'm Gastidem, a pilgrim."
A pilgrim...interesting, pilgrim from where?
"Oh, from... everywhere. Everywhere that likes the word of Korada." He grins again, before quickly adopting a solemn face and gesturing to the turtle statue next to him. "I'm also in charge of one of his rituals... a test of faith, if you will, the Kiss of Korada."
"Would the dwarf or one of you like to attempt it?"
Perhaps rose, she wants to learn as much as possible of Koradas teachings.
After being corrected the first time by Ealasaid, Rose frowns for a split second, before realising that she's being irrational. Afterwards, she listens attentively and tries to learn.
Ealasaid appears to have many layers... I never would've expected such broad knowledge of the topic...
Rose approaches, and adresses the halfling staring at Ealasaid. "My dear, could you tell me more about this test? It does sounds quite interesting. I am assuming that the Kiss is purely metaphorical, of course."
"Oh no, very real." He gestures to the mouth. "The supplicant bends and presents his hand deep into the mouth of the celestial temple; if he is properly faithful, he receives inspirational visions of Korada's glory."
Ealasaid holds her impulses of strangle the little devil... lets see how she play this
"Quite fascinating... And if the supplicant is not faithful? I do enjoy the teachings of Korada, but I am afraid that my fear itself will interfere with that. If I may suggest something, why don't you, as the wise master of the teachings, show me how to do it properly, like master Iatzu did? It would greatly ease my mind.". Rose gives the halfling an innocent look.
If he's honest, he loses nothing. If he is not, he chose the wrong person to deceive...
"Oh, the ritual is rather harmless for those not of sufficient faith. Almost no one is absolutely lost to the path. I'd be happy to instruct you in how to perform it...? No? You wish for a demonstration? I am but the pilgrim, already blessed, I do not perform the ritual except rarely..."
"...yes, perhaps it is such a time." He gulps a little, but turns to the statue. "Oh Korada the Enlightened, Korada the Wise... grant me a glimpse of your sight."
He presses his hand deep into the turtles mouth for a good two minutes, before turning back to the rest of you and smiling beatifically. "There. Quite simple, really."
If nothing out of the ordinary is detected, Rose will go and study the turtle statue for a while, cast Message to Ealasaid, asking in Elven "Anything I should know?".and then repeat the ritual.
If not, she will simply attempt to deflect the subject of the statue and try and focus on the halfling's origins.
Rose is able to discern that Gastidem was merely pretending to be nervous before; he has been feeling fairly calm and confident throughout this. You feel he may be laughing at you.
Rose takes a long look at the halfling, smiles at him, and begins the ritual.
Hm, almost fooled me... I guess that's twice in an hour... Rose, dear, you should really stop underestimating people...
Pressing her hand into the turtle... nothing happens. Rose thinks for a second she perhaps heard the movement of metal, but it could have been her imagination. After a few more minutes, she withdraws her hand.
"Were you blessed with visions, child?"
The entire situation in the garden is a bit much for Zinthar. The wizard was raised amongst elves, true enough, but wild nature was never his strong suit. Looking around at the overgrowth he cannot even begin to imagine how many hours of work it would take to clear the place enough to complete their task.
Then Rose and the halfling begin talking about the statue and the ritual and his curiosity is piqued again. As the woman attempts the ritual herself Zinthar quickly whispers an incantation to study any auras that might reveal themselves.
Ealasaid is more interested in climbing to the roof than the ritual, let Rhose deal with that.
Ealasaid concentrates in the task at hand (enter rage)
Kazmuk watches Ealasaid try to climb the wall. If she is unable to make it Kazmuk will offer to help her with his Grappling hook and rope.
"I can't say that I have, no... Though I did hear a metallic movement. Or it was just me. I'm afraid I'm not as enlightened as I though."
"Ealasaid, what a wonderful idea. A draft of the layout of the garden would most definitely be a delightful thing to have."
Assuming that the halfling doesn't do anything, Rose will resume drafting the garden.
Karthan abstains from the activities within the garden for now and watches carefully form a good vantage point with a hefty glower.
"Ain't stickin my hand in no fake turtles mouth. Too many folk with less fingers than they were born with around here."
Together, you manage to create an effective map of the gardens.
While searching and pruning, you discover a small red and yellow plant hidden in the once-overgroth.
Kazmuk will also try the test, putting his hand in the turtle's mouth and repeating the mantra.
"Oh Korada the Enlightened, Korada the Wise ... grant me a glimpse of your sight."
Rose will relegate the knowledge of Flayleaf to her companions.
After the map is done, she will turn to the people attending, and ask, "I suggest that we head to the daily service now. It would be rude to miss a second one, I think."
Before leaving, Rose will take a long look at the turtle statue, and try to think about the mechanical noise.
Kazmuk notices a tiny pin-prick on his hand for a moment.
Ealasaid gets a good view of the garden, but otherwise nothing special; unless you wish to admire the beautiful planar landscape.
Rose can think of nothing engineering related to the turtle.