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Not really having anywhere to store the cape he retrieved previously, Brik flicked it over his right shoulder as he looked around the room with awe.
I can feel it, Sithiel. Even for a dead God, this place still feels holy and pure.
Slowly circling the area, he briefly laughed as he rubbed the left side of his jaw.
You know, if Aroden was still around and I didn't admire Cayden for his accidental Godhood, I could see myself following this guy. This place is pretty impressive.
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Shalagor shakes hos head at the warrior but notices him drawing the board back to their side. [i]"maybe he's smarter than he appears, "[i] he thinks to himself looking down at oso, who responds by raising his head to look at him. "You're right oso, probably not. "
As they continue Shalagor is less impressed than the others at the carvings. "I know nothing of this Aroden but if he is a god, as you say, what is he doing catching fish and herding sheep?"
When they enter the room Shalagor immediately goes to the water and peers into it beckoning Oso to stay close.
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The Halfling is able to identify it as a Cloak of Resistance +1
Before the half orc can enter into the room, he notices a man kneeling before the pool of water.
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"I'm not particularly pious," says Sithiel guiltily, "but Arodan was a human god that has since died." She suddenly realizes that doesn't sound too impressive, and adds, "I really don't know the details."
She notices Shalagor come to a sudden halt and creeps behind him, peering around his thigh at the kneeling man.
The nagaji notices that even though the man is silent, his lips are moving as if in prayer.
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As Sithiel became distracted mid-way through identifying the cape, Brik followed her and quietly said Take it, passing the cape to her before making his way to the waters edge.
Noticing the praying man, he had a strange feeling about the situation, almost as if this person didn't belong in this world or perhaps, time.
Curious, Brik sat down next to the man and stared out towards the centre of the pool of water, at which point he spoke out.
So this is what remains of your power then Aroden. This memory.
There's no other word for it. This room was empty of life when we first entered and yet, out of nowhere, a man now kneels before the shrine. This has to mean something, though I'm sure we're about to find out.
The followers of Aroden are long gone...
The man opens his eyes and raises an eye brow in annoyance at the nagaji's touch and demand. He goes back to his prayers.
Krstani Diplomacy check and perception please.
The man continues to sit there and pray.
Brik and Shalagon you notice that the man has gills on his neck.
After a few more moments the man opens his eyes and asks
"Who are you strangers, what brings you to this holy place?"
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With the way he addresses us, I guess he might not be a remnant of Aroden's power after all. Still though, why worship a God no longer among us?
Turning to face the Gillman, Brik looks him in the eyes in an attempt to gauge the man himself and answers; We're here to investigate this Cave system, but with no guide currently, it's down to us to move forward, recording our findings as we delve deeper into the supposed secrets of this island.
We didn't see you as we came down that last tunnel and if you used the water system here he said, looking to the mans gills, we didn't hear any splashing or movement of the water either.
How long have you been here for and why do you pray to a God no longer with us? You're as much a mystery to us as we are you.
Brikon please make another perception check.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply
sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top
of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same
stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such
as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately
braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama,
and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is
covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and
several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their
search for prey.
The pool looks to be about 25 ft long and 35' wide.
Brik you can see that rather than listening to what you are saying he is watching your lips move.
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"What were those carvings of the dead God about again? Some kind of Shepard?" Shalagor asks the party.
Not waiting for an answer he walks out into the water gesturing Oso to stay put.
As he wades in the cool water feels refreshing on his bare feet. Getting closer he sees the tiny frogs and an idea sparks in his head. He crouches low and begins humming. The frogs stop their jumping as if to listen to the large half orcs melody. "Come here," he whispers to them "Follow me into the pool, the water is fine."
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Sithiel giggles in spite of herself as Shalagor "sings" to the frogs. She believes Brik has things well in hand with the gillman. She is quite interested in the trinkets on top of the column of rock, but the yucky centipedes keep her from getting too close. Seeing other coins there, she flips a copper to the top of the column, being careful not to hit a frog.
The little frogs scamper into the water of the pool.
The gillman responds to the query "I am on my pilgrimage. It is a custom for the gillmen to visit this place." I am Uori, and proper respects to this sacred site are well received.
These cave's waters are of significance to my people, as its calm and clarity represents what we aspire to. Clarity and peace.
Though these were once a site to the worship of the now dead god Aroden, god of humans."
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Well Uori, it's a pleasure to meet you. he says, holding out his slightly angled hand as he offered a hand shake.
I hope you don't mind, but I've got a few questions for you. The first is how much further will your pilgrimage take you? I'll be honest and say I've never come across someone of your appearance, though that goes for the majority of those I travel with too. Guess I didn't get out much eh?
Anyway, the second was a little more important to our mission. We're looking to further progress through this system, so if you'd be kind enough to share what information you may know, that'd be great! I'm hoping it's not the case, but there's a chance our guide won't return and so it'd be handy to know if there are any dangers or creatures you're aware of that we should steer clear of.
Then, I guess the last and more important question is, do you drink?
Who am I kidding? I bet he drinks like a fish!
Brik laughs to himself a little, though it's not clear why to those around him.
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Krstani, annoyed slightly that the old gillman had flatly ignored her, shifts her attention to the diorama. Seeing Sithiel's success with the frogs, Krstani decides to try another one of the stories from the murals.
She takes a small portion of food from her ration and places it in the city on the diorama, trying to replicate the Fisherman.
catch of small fish to take back to Absalom, illustrating
Aroden’s declaration that a great host of creatures could
accomplish a great task, whether that be taming the wilds
or feeding a nation. To complete the Fisherman’s ritual, a
PC must snatch one of the blind cave fish that swim in the
pool (requiring a successful unarmed attack roll against
AC 15) and place it in the miniature city.
The Gillman states As I stated earlier, these caves are sacred to m people. I would mention though, I have not ventured further down these tunnels. Strange noises and a foul stench come from those tunnels. As such, I can share no knowledge of what lies beyond. Do you think that you could investigate it and clear out whatever it might be, if it is harmful?"
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The grippli follows Shalagor and the frogs into the water, enjoying the wet sensation on his sore feet. Remembering the image of the Scholar they saw in the previous room, he takes a piece of parchment from his backpack and scribbles on it:
A single coin in a pot rattles the loudest.
Enrique walks to the miniature city and reads this out loud. He then folds the paper and places it in his pocket.
"This is humorous Grippli wisdom: a person with nothing in his brain speaks the most. Do your people have any similar wise parables you like?"
While we wait on that let me move this on just a bit.
The cave’s damp air becomes increasingly stale as you continue down through this tunnel, and as you approach this area, the stench of decay grows increasingly evident.
The passage turns to the east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper, and other unusable detritus. Another ody lies facedown toward the back of the cavern.
Also disturbing is the sight of 2 skeletons and 2 zombies...
Azora
Brick
Enrigue
Kristani
Shalgor
Oso
Sithiel
Zombie #1
Zombie #2
Skelenington #1
Skelington #2
Iniative Order
Skeleton #2
Kristani
Shalgor
Skelington #1
Zombie #2
Ebrique
Azora
Bricj
Oso
Sithiel
Zombie #1
Go ahead and yourselves on the map heading into but not all the way in the cavern with the undead
The X is the cloaked body.
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Shalagor is visibly shaken by the sight of the undead. He lumbers forward hefting is heavy falchion and as he passes Brik suggests. " Maybe we should fall back, let them come to us? " he suggests with a shrug. When he gets within range he takes a 2-handed swing at the skeleton. It's not at vicious of a stroke due to him being very cautious. "These things should stay dead"
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