"The mention of an obscure fishing village that only a native of Zahvroma was likely to even know of went a long way towards indicating that Roshan was telling the truth.
[b]"That's a long way to travel alone. Finding the answers you seek must be very important to you."
He nods, "It's taken me a long time to find this place. The history of my family is important to me, but so is Zahvroma."
Sādhanā shares a look with the others. He genuinely seemed sincere.
Looking around he adds, "I got tired of sitting around and watching other people suffer, so I left home and started wandering around. Nothing major really, just helping folks out here and there as I could. I thought that the more I learned about the past, the better equipped I would be to ensure a better future. Not just for myself, or the people I care about...but for all Zahvroma. This is my home, and I'm just tired of people mucking it up."
Sienna raises an eyebrow. "What's that look for, Sādhanā?"
"I'm inclined to believe him. Not sure why other than it comes across sincere and matches up with little details that seem unlikely to be made up." the magus replies to the sorceress.
Roshan tilts his head to the side slightly and regards Sadhana with his golden ophidian eyes, "And what reason would I have to lie? If you wanted to hurt me, you would have probably already done so. It's obvious that I'm outnumbered and outmatched, so what would be the point? Unless there's a reason I shouldn't trust you? I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt though. Not everyone is out to destroy everything on Zahvroma." He says in a bit of a huff, feeling that these women were bringing his character into question without even knowing him.
Finishing her dinner, Tesia puts down the book. Standing up she says, "I had better go find some wood for a fire."
As she heads off to find what they would need for a fire, Tesia keeps her senses alert to any possible danger. Having already been warned that they were likely not alone out here, Tesia pauses before leaving camp to see if anyone else wanted to go with her. A small smile creeps across her lips as she thinks of her wife, and how unlikely it would be that Rhy would want her to go into the woods alone. Tesia never knew how much she could love someone, until she met her wife.
Sienna shrugs. "Well, I'm not worried about his motives or anything. Usually the things we face these days are a lot less human. I guess we were just going to poke around here, Roshan, but, if we'd just get in your way, we'll set up our camp and be on our way in the morning."
She looks to Cyna and the others. "It's not like we have any business here."
The nearest trees are about a few hundred feet away from Tesia, but they are sparse enough to see if there's anything lurking among them.
Roshan shakes his head, "You're not in my way. You can look around if you want. I'm not even really sure what I'm looking for yet." He states honestly.
Looking over the group again he adds, "You must be that group of heroes I keep hearing about. I kinda thought there were more of you though from what I've heard."
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Sienna shrugs. "We were drawing a lot of unwanted attention so we split up for the time being."
"There are some things for which a smaller group can be more effective," Sādhanā adds, agreeing with Sienna. "It also allows us to deal with more than one issue at a time."
Getting a contemplative expression on his face he nods, "Yes, I can see how that would make things less stressful, and much more efficient. Sometimes less is more." Roshan shrugs his shoulders slightly, "I was just curious really. I apologize though, if I am asking questions that are too personal. I have a very....inquisitive nature." He explains while seeming to study the tattoos on Sadhana and Celia.
Rhadaya joins her wife as she looks through the woods, flying along right at her side and keeping an eye out for trouble.
As they head to the woods together, Tesia looks up at her wife. "So, what did you think about what that old guy was saying? Do you think there's more to the story like they said. He seemed a bit....paranoid to me, but who am I to judge?" She asks, thinking back on her recent reactions to various things.
"That's not necessarily a good thing," Sienna says. "We've had people being 'inquisitive' and lying to us."
Wanting to set the Tiefling's mind at ease, as well as the others, he says, "Well, I can certainly understand your feelings then, since they come from the experiences that you've had with others so far." Placing a hand upon his breast and the other in the air he says with all seriousness, "I swear to you on my family and all that I hold precious to me, I will not be dishonest with any of you in any way." Lowering his hands to his sides as his face takes on a more serious expression, "I do not believe in being deceitful, it serves no one. I am curious, but that's just me. I love history and all the things it teaches us, as long as we're willing to learn from it. That's why I've been searching for this place. I want answers and I was hoping I would find some kind of....archive, or library...who knows what kind of things might have been left behind. Don't you want to see what some of the first explorers of this beautiful Island might have left us?" He asks in all seriousness, the excitement of such possible discoveries obvious in his eyes as well as tone.
"I guess you're too cute in a mannish way to let go exploring alone where there might be a slavering monster waiting to devour you alive," Sienna says with a wry smirk.
Roshan smirks and gives them a slight shrug, "Eh, dangerous places are kinda my thing too. Lots of things lurk around this Island in all sorts of places." He sighs while going back to the doors and opening them, gesturing for the women to go first.
"I've been exploring all sorts of places alone, or mostly alone for quite a while now. It doesn't really bother me to be alone, but I don't mind extra eyes watching my back."
"Sounds good." Sadhana says leading the way in. "Having someone to watch your back is invaluable."
Nodding as he follows them in Roshan says, "This place is really large. We might be looking around for a while."
Sienna looks around as they enter the temple. "Where would they most likely keep things like records?"
Roshan thinks back to earlier things he had studied. To try and figure out where they might keep them.
Roshan figures that any records or manuscripts would be kept in the offices above.
After thinking for a minute or so he says, "I believe those things would be kept in the offices on the floor above us. Want to go up and check it out?" Roshan asks as he turns and starts looking for way to get up to the next floor.
Behind the altar, Roshan spies an iron spiral staircase leading to the next floor.
Sienna looks to Cyna, Celia and Sadhana to see what they wanted to do.
Roshan goes over to the staircase, "Well, it looks like this is the way up. I'll just go on ahead and see what's what." Roshan gives them a smile and starts heading up the staircase.
"Sure, we'll be right behind you." Sadhana replies, taking up a position behind Roshan. [b]"If they were going to trust him, it seemed that he had a talent for finding his way in places, which would definitely be helpful.
Taking the Shield off of her back she settles it on her arm before following the archeologist.
The second floor is a hallway leading to several rooms. Some of the doors to the rooms have been broken in many years ago. In the dim light, the group sees another metal staircase leading upward at the end of the hallway.
Roshan goes through the upstairs, methodically door by door. Checking to see if there were any doors that were not broken into already.
Three doors remain intact, being reinforced by iron bars. Two are on the left side of the hallway and one to the right. Passing by the open rooms, Roshan notices that the furniture has been smashed and it would take some serious searching to find anything of value in those rooms.
" I suppose better to check the sealed doors first. We can comb through the empty rooms afterward if need be." Sādhanā suggests.
Looking up he nods, "Alright, it might take a little bit. Are you sure you have the time? I wouldn't want to keep you from anything important. It's just that with things in this condition it might take me a little longer than I thought it would."
As he waits for Sadhana to decide whether or not they wanted to stick around since it seemed that it would take a lot longer than he originally thought, Roshan goes to one of the sealed doors and inspects it while looking for traps.
"Better safe than sorry. Since we'll be looking through the place together, we should probably introduce ourselves properly." Sādhanā replies. "I'm Sādhanā, this is Cyna, Sienna and Celia." the magus says extending a hand to clap the Vishkanya's forearm.
Roshan gives them a smile and slight bow of his head as he takes her hand. While his grip is firm, it's also gentle and slightly hesitant as if not used to greeting very many people.
Seeming somewhat distracted he says, "Thank you. This place is even larger than I imagined it would be, and I guess I'm just a little distracted by....well, everything really. It's good to meet all of you." Roshan says, his thoughts in so many places makes it hard to concentrate on the door and what he needed to do.
As they head to the woods together, Tesia looks up at her wife. "So, what did you think about what that old guy was saying? Do you think there's more to the story like they said. He seemed a bit....paranoid to me, but who am I to judge?" She asks, thinking back on her recent reactions to various things.
"To the average person, without magic, not particularly trained, the dark is...the enemy. Filled with things to be afraid of." Rhadaya says after considering the question. "Remember love that the natural world where we feel completely at home, is scary to someone who only knows their village and neighbors. It's hard not to be paranoid when you feel like the smallest and weakest thing, surrounded by dangers you can barely imagine."
Tesia let's out a sigh, "I know...then...why have I been having so many doubts about everything? I don't know what to think about things half the time anymore, andc it's getting so I...I feel like I...I don't know." She says, sounding frustrated at not being able to put into words the things that are bothering her. Mostly, she didn't know hows to explain to her wife, that she was starting to doubt herself.
Roshan determines the door is locked but not trapped.
Pulling out a set of tools, Roshan gets busy trying tuo open the door.
Celia keeps an eye out for anything unusual as Roshan works to deal with the door.
Roshan opens the lock easily enough. Celia doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary aside the unnerving silence in this place.
Roshan lets out a sigh of relief as he feels the lock disengage. Smiling, he opens the door and holds it for the ladies.
The smell of rotten food and wine hits Roshan in the face as he opens the door.
Roshan barely manages to keep the bile from rising in his throat, "Ugh...we might need to leave that room alone for a while, unless we can do something about the smell. This must have been their food storage room." He says, trying to keep control over his stomach.