|
Gilfroy walks along with Helg.
"This is rather embarrassing, good sir. When we were contemplating an appropriate choice of gift offering for the monastery, we had heard that you had had a poor harvest, and thought the grain a practical, yet thoughtful and considerate choice. However, looking around, your fields seem to be thriving. I hope we do not offend."
|
Vrald does his best to create a good impression as he walks the village, offering to help carry water from the well for someone who needs it.
He starts slightly at the words of Gilfroy. "Maybe the wider region has not had the care that these folk can provide to their fields"
Good point though, Gilfroy is so smart.
|
|
"What you heard is true, our last harvest was poor and we used almost all of remaining grain to sow this crop. The present you bring means much more to us than any gold or jewelry." the monk answers.
You have modest lunch in the Pahmet Heights with several other dwarven monks. During the lunch the monks ask about the Pathfinder Society and your past missions, about Absalom and other regions you visited. The monks seem to be very interested in what you have to say.
The meeting with Itephta takes place right after lunch. "Welcome to Tar Kuata, Pathfinders. My name is Itephta. I hope you had a pleasent journey. I can confirm that the relic you are looking for is present within the monastery vaults. The Ouat monks are willing to part with it if I so decide. We would willingly bestow the relic upon one that we feel is worthy to carry it away." Itephta welcomes you.
|
|
"Thank you for your greeting. We have been made to feel so welcome, I am confident we can establish a strong and long-lasting relationship, no matter the outcome of our quest for the relic. As a token of that friendship, we at the Society heard of your recent troubles and crop failures. It warms my heart to see that you have recovered so well, but your storehouses must be nearly bare. Despite all that, you feasted us as guests. Please accept this small token, and I pray that it's bounty will help you through this lean season."
He nods to Vrald to hand over the bag.
|
|
Claire watches Itephta carefully as she describes the expectations, and attempts to show as much solidarity with Gilfroy as possible.
Claire also tries to ascertain her intentions with the challenge, "Is this a group challenge, or will each of us have individual tests? Our friend Vrald is as strong as Gilfroy is charming, and Molos is as brilliant as Tori is nimble. Certainly you would agree that we all have different gifts, strengths, and weaknesses."
She watches the room for any reaction to her questions.
|
|
Vrald hands over the grain with a bow and grace.
"We would be grateful to hear more about how you would like to test the worthiness of us. As my companions mentioned, we would also like to do what we can to help regardless of the key. The pathfinder society has much to share, and also much to learn from you and your people."
|
|
Itephta bows "Thank you, this will help a lot! Be sure that we will not waste your present!"
After hearing Claire's question he answers "You are going to do the trials as a group." and he turns to Menkha "What is your opinion about our visitors?"
"I think they shall try the trials and I'm sure they will succeed. In the short time I know them they showed respect, knowledge and wisdom." Menkha answers.
"Well, then. You seek something we would give freely, but the relic is one heavy with the weight of history. Just as I would not ask a neophyte to lift a boulder before he can lift a stone, I cannot in good conscience burden you with this bauble without knowing your capabilities. When our students request greater responsibilities or greater challenges, we first ensure that they have mastered what they have learned before. I propose you experience the same courtesy I would extend to a student by undergoing a small portion of our training. It shall strengthen your body for the return journey and prepare your mind to weather your future trials."
Itephta requires you demonstrate their abilities over the course of six trials and a small mission before rendering a decision. He calls upon an aging monk named Aeotsep to serve as your guide, instructor, and evaluator.
Aeotsep is a Garundi man whose sun-weathered features and kind face are traced with a network of wrinkles.
"If you don't have any further questions I ask you to follow Aeotsep. He's a good teacher and will take you through the trials." Itephta says.
|
|
Gilfroy looks at the open book.
"From what I've read, trials like these can be anything, and not always announced. We should assume starting now that the trials have started and that anything and everything could be a test."
He pauses and smiles. "In fact, the trials probably began from the moment we arrived. There really shouldn't be anything to worry about. If these tests are designed to test our character, if shouldn't be a problem, since all of us are honourable people."
|
|
"I'm sure it's a matter of the degree, Vrald. There's a difference between being curious and being nosy. However, since they put us in a study room means that they have study rooms, which means they value knowledge and its pursuit, which means showing these good people that we aren't heathen ignoramuses--or is it ignorami?--can only help us."
"However, like I said, we don't have to act any differently than normal. There's no need to put on airs or false personae. I'm sure that we are people of good enough character that just showing them who we truly are will be sufficient. And if an illusionist and devout lay priest of Sivanah tells you you don't have to hide anything, you can take that seriously!"
|
|
Molos and Tori see that the book is a copy of Unbinding the Fetters. Claire scans the room but it seems that it is a normal study room without any traps or secret doors.
The open page elaborates on complex and subtle metaphors that compare stages of self-perfection to the creation of the world, implying that mortal knowledge is a spark of divinity that spins order out of chaos.
|
|
After about an hour Aeotsep returns. "Please follow me to the Hall of the Inward Gaze!" he says leading you to the Hall of the Inward Gaze. On the way he casually starts to chat about the pages' content as if he don't know that the book was there.
The Hall of the Inward Gaze currently contains several broad reed mats, racks holding wooden weapons and a pile of small wooden boards. "Physical might is often mistaken for brute force. Strength without control accomplishes little." he says.
To illustrate the point, Aeotsep takes a wooden board from the pile and outstretches his arm, holding the board in front of his face. With a swift movement, he releases the plank and strikes it in mid-air, breaking the board into two symmetrical halves.
"Who wants to repeat the feat?"
|
|
Vrald steps forward.
"You speak of things that truly I don't understand. Just as I see the surface of the pond, I hear your words. But there is meaning beneath both. Still, I would try your test with the board. At the very least, it may teach me my own limits."
Vrald will wait for permission, and then pick up a board.
"Do you have a suggestion for me before I try?"
|
|
Vrald smiles at the monk, and then takes his time to looks at the board an practice his moves before trying them for real.
"Let me see if I can peer below the surface."
He adds, trying to keep to what he thinks may be a monky metaphor.
Then he releases the board.
Too busy thinking about pond surfaces he completely forgets to try and hit the board.
"Sorry, I was distracting myself."
|
|
Claire attempts to discuss the challenge with the wise escort. She genuinely appreciates the philosophical discussion.
Furthermore, she will try to learn from Vralds example on the board break. She picks up the board Vralds dropped, and takes her chances:
"I think that an empty mind matches the empty hand quite well." She winks at the big, chivalrous knight. "Sometimes you have to give that masculine, powerful, handsome brain of yours a rest."
|
|
Vrald takes the board, throws it in the air and tries to hit it. The board travels through the air, almost hits Vrald on the head and lands in front of his feet.
"I think you need a little more practice." the monk says and nods.
Claire tries to do the same. She picks up a board and throws it up in the air. When it comes down again she hits it in the middle and breaks it apart.
"Well done! You seem to be very talented." the monk says.
|
Tori stands up, does a couple of stretches, and attempts to mentally prepare herself for the task. She has no trouble hitting the board as it flies by, but her strike isn't quite strong enough and the wood remains intact.
Afterwards she looks quite embarrassed, especially after Claire's pep talk and performance. "It's not as easy as you'd think."
|
|
The rest of you tries to impress the monk, but nobody else succeeds. Gilfroy hits the board, but not hard enough to break it, also Tori hits it, but the board hits the floor in one piece. Molos throws the board high and when it comes down he misses, but you can hear the noise of a fist cutting the air.
The monk smiles and make a comment on every attempt, he's always friendly and encourages you to do the exercise at home.
Aeotsep puts away the wooden boards and takes a quarterstaff and a blindfold from the weapon racks. He then requests that everyone in the room close their eyes and be silent. As he walks around you, he tells you to pay attention to the sound of his footsteps and the aroma of incense in his robes. The monk exhorts that consciousness is achieved through the sum of senses, and relying on only one of them creates a false perception of the world. He tells you to open your eyes and asks for a volunteer to demonstrate what she has learned.
|
|
"Most of my livelihood is based on the premise that most creatures rely only on their sense of sight to tell themselves about the world around them. I might be in trouble if you pass this teaching around too much." He adds a friendly smile to his words, hoping to make it clear that he's only joking as he closes his own eyes and listens.
|
|
"Aeotsep, many monks encourage the quieting of the mind. My family has historically been completely unable to do so. We have, however learned to harness the proactive mind, at tuning all of our senses for ceaseless observation." Claire gestures with her hands as though treading water gently. "All Lee-O'Blivyus senses are heightened. "
|
|
"Yes, try to feel it with every cell of your body." the monk answers to Vrald's question.
Molos volunteers and the monk blindfolds him. Molos stands in the middle of the hall and Aeotsep moves around him, trying to be as silent as possible. Suddenly the monk reaches out and hits Molos on the shoulder. It hurts, but the hit was not hard enough to injure the Tiefling.
Tori and Vrald go after Molos. Vrald is not able to determine the monk's position correctly, but Tori does.
Gilfroy and Claire also try their blindfight abilities, but they also don't hear or feel the monk's position correctly. The monk nods at Gilfroy's comment. "That's true, but those who know how to do it have a big advantage."