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Marigold stabilizes the giant's wounds then heals both JJ and Maxim.
Ahead of the massive pair of double doors Kikinnin finds two beautifully sculpted pillars frame a massive onyx altar encrusted with runes and elaborate magical glyphs. The jet-black walls have been painted' with images sacred to Pharasma: stylized sarcophagi, obscure magical symbols, and other religious imagery. Two massive tapestries cover the wall directly behind the altar, giving those standing to the west an impressive view of the altar and its imagery of the death goddess. A single door sits in the corner of the room to the southwest.
You instinctively feel a strong evil aura emanating from the altar.
Each wall hanging weighs 120 pounds and sells for 100 gp in the appropriate marketplace. Selling them in Cauldron can easily call for trouble probably though.
You find out the iron door is locked.
Not wanting to get left behind in such an immense space Marigold moves to catch up with Kikinnin, making sure to keep a wary eye out.
"I h-hope those were the only two g-giants they've got here," she remarks as she looks around, eyes flitting across the massive tapestries behind the altar. "Th-that one acted like he was afraid of s-something...d-do you think C-Calmus or someone else th-threatened them if they d-didn't do the work here?"
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Maxim eyes the downed jotunn with disdain;
"Big Uns threw down on us first. Reckon leavin' em breathin' means they get off light."
He belts his wand, then eyes the chamber with a commercial eye;
:
The merchant notes the various trappings of the altar, but fails to put a price to them.
With a shrug he moves forward, attempting the inviting iron door...
"Locked. Must contain some choice church riches no doubt..."
Producing his lock pick the gun-mage tinkers with the lock
:
"Damn complex one at that..."
Taking a deep breath, Maxim delicately works the lock;
:
...then hears a "click" that elicits a wide grin;
"Well what do ye know... Some acolyte musta left this unlocked... Be bad form not to have ourselves a looksee eh?"
Kikinnin holds up on the altar, his focus quickly sharpened to a point. "Calmus had himself a potent fixation of evil, here on this altar. It's still radiating." The black beard extends a gloved hand towards the Altar of Pharasma, as if it were a forge glowing red hot, keeping his hand from touching it.
Given that his Axe is still glowing, Kikinnin takes a test swing, or two, at the thing of evil.
When he's assessed what damage he's managed, he looks over at Maxim.
"Damn complex one at that... Well what do ye know... Some acolyte musta left this unlocked... Be bad form not to have ourselves a looksee eh?"
"As long as Ryan keeps lookout, street level, I suppose we have ourselves some time to do what we think best, before we try for the higher levels, and try to locate Ike Iverson. Just be careful moving forward, and call out your findings."
Kikinnin can't pull himself away from the evil altar just yet.
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Kikinnin bashes the altar breaking some of the stone carvings and vandalizing some candles and oils. The aura persists though.
Meanwhile Maxim approaches the iron door and easily unlocks it.
The now open door gives way to a corridor that turns to the left. Another door is set in the norther wall, while a series of doors hide more chambers at the left corridor.
"W-wait...er, okay..." Marigold begins as Kikinnin lays waste to the altar of evil. "Um...it'd have b-been a little easier to t-try and figure out wh-who this really belongs to when it was in one p-piece..."
While Maxim fiddles with the locked door Marigold carefully studies the cracked and damaged altar, trying to determine if there's anything differentiating it from a true altar dedicated to Pharasma.
Kikinnin raises an eyebrow, bringing his Axe back to his side. "Uh, sorry. Seemed like destroying it was an able idea at the time. Doesn't appear to have lessened the residue, either." He gives Marigold a wide berth, moving to support Maxim in his push through a recently-locked iron door.
For his protections, Kikinnin is more than agreeable to head down the hallway first, and take a throw to the chin before his bror does.
"Ahh guys.." says JJ as Maxim and Kikinnin start on the temple.
"This is a church to Phas... the lady of bones. Let's take some care. We are not robbers..."
Well I didn't think they were, and I know better than to steal from a church..
Maxim pauses at JJ's words, then flashes another wry smile;
"Surabar have faith. We ain't mere looters nor plunderers... Think of it as more repossessin' ill gotten gains so it can be distributed back to the needy and deservin' o' this fair city..."
The gun-mage takes point, carefully moving forward the northern door, cocking his ear at the portal before trying it...
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"Calmus had his own idea of diplomacy, JJ. This place might look like a Church to you, but it's starting to look like the worst kind of front. Don't let decorum stay your weapon, should something foul step out of the shadows."
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"Before Calmus was here, this was a church to the lady of bones. No way am I going to risk her wrath. Touch all you want, I want none of it. Let's find out what is going on here and be gone."
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"Oh, I think She'll understand. You think the stone here is Her body? The construction is certainly worthy, but Her Church isn't the stone, it's the flesh of Her followers. I hope you're not suggesting that we're offending Her by slaying Her evil priest. No, you're just worried about thieving, I gather. You'll have to take that up with Maxim. If you allow him to take what he finds, you're condoning his action." Kikinnin smiles with his eyes, as he pokes at the boy's morality play.
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"As are you." mutter JJ.
"Maxim... there are other priests who might want to use that for legitimate church purposes..." he starts before turning back to Kikinnin.
"The priest may have had a wicked heart, but that doesn't mean he still wasn't one of Her priests. I can't help but think the Saint would be upset with someone cutting off your head in front of his altar, and then smashing the altar up."
The symbols in the altar are truly Pharasma's ones. There is an intriguing set of oils though. This is a component used on undead rising spells. Despite being the goddess of Death, she is a goddess of passage and her priests look to give peace on the undead. Then, using that kind of spells as the oils is anathema to Phrasma's religion. Which would suggest vandalism or a rebel cult of the official religion is at works.
Maxim hears no one at the other side of the door, and thus, he pushes it open.
This well-appointed chamber houses several comfortable chairs. The walls are pleasantly decorated with hanging art, and a long polished wooden table rests against the northern wall. Two bookcases hold a few minor religious texts, writings of those devoted to the service of Pharasma.
This is the typical chamber used by priests to prepare themselves before addressing a gathering of followers or performing rituals at the high altar.
The texts in the shelf should be useful to know about religion, specially about Pharasma's one.
You notice this room has seen little activity recently. Perhaps in a couple of months or more.
The holy texts are worth at least 500 gp to any temple or pious buyer.
Ignoring JJ's chiding the gun-mage scrutinises the room before entering;
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He frowns, put off his stride by JJ's chiding;
"Look Surabar, every place we plundered has been someone, something's home, workshop or place o' worship. Didn't hear them moral complaints before now... Right nor wrong ain't got nothin' to do with it. An' if them legitimate priests wanted to avoid this, then they should've stuck around to defend their faith and place o' worship..."
He shakes his head as he moves deeper into the church complex;
" 'Sides I ain't sequestered nothing yet so reel that righteous neck o' yours in."
Maxim pauses at the first of the series of doors and once again listens ahead of trying the portal;
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"Not all the places we have been have been claimed by a goddess who will judging my eternal soul. points out the lad.
"Look at this dust. Nobody has been here in months."
"C-can we save the b-bickering for later?" Marigold sighs as she looks up from the altar and moves up behind the others. "Th-the altar's still d-dedicated to Pharasma but s-someone's been using oils that are c-commonly used in, um, n-necromantic rituals."
She waits a moment for this to sink in.
"S-someone's been using the altar to c-create undead. Which either means v-vandalism or there's s-some sort of rebel c-cult at work."
Marigold takes a moment to peer into what appears to be some sort of study or reading room...
...but doesn't notice anything beyond what's already been pointed out by JJ.
"N-not used in months? This is b-bad..."
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Maxim finds the door is locked, but thanks to his skill with his tools he quickly forced it unlocked and the door "opens" itself before anyone can notice.
A single bedroom, strikingly empty holds a simple pallet, a small wooden dresser, and a sconce to house a torch. Other than these simple furnishings the room is unremarkable.
As you get deeper into the chambers you remember your time here visiting your sister. These were the lesser priests chambers, and the other door at the west of the passage lodged a larger ritual room where Gemma slept unconscious during months.
Maxim acknowledges Marigold's words;
"That seals it. Risen dead being made like cakes in a bakery... This place is a nest o' evil. Any o' the clergy that was worthy are turning a blind eye, dead... or worse. Best we liberate any riches fir the benevolence o' their families an' such - less a finders fee o' course."
He pokes around the simple dwelling chamber, then with a disappointed shrug moves to the next door;
"Knock-knock..."
"H-hopefully not all of them are d-dead..." Marigold frets as she continues following Maxim and the rest. "B-but if they are I h-hope we can f-find some sort of evidence or r-reason about what's been h-happening here...I have a f-feeling we're going to n-need it..."
"If they were really making undead here... well... I can't believe that the priests of the bone lady would really stand for that. I somehow doubt they are still alive. "
JJ pauses. "Which means we might find them animated... or worse.". A shudder goes down his backbone.
"But why would they do this?"
Kikinnin walks as quietly as he can, recognizing the hall as previous patient quarters. For the talk of creating undead by lotions or ointments or salves, he wracks his brain for any memories of those vile vials being anywhere near to Gemma.
"But why would they do this?"
"That's a question I'd like to put to Ike Iverson, when we find him."
Kikinnin waits for Maxim to peel back another door, half-expecting to see his søster laying on a bed...
One by one Maxim forces open all the chamber doors only to find they are empty as well. But when he reaches the one before the last he finds out a surprised man laying in the bed. He partially incorporates, sitting in the bed and quickly handing a dagger "You!" he clearly seems to recognize Maxim "What are YOU doing here forcing my chamber at my sleep?!"
The man seems familiar to you, and although you cannot exactly place him, you know you don't know him from Cauldron.
Marigold blinks, standing on tiptoe to peer in at the man and then back at Maxim.
"Um...you kn-know each other? B-business associate of yours, M-Maxim?" she whispers.
Kikinnin pulls up short at Maxim's side, not sure why they haven't stumbled upon Ike or one of his acolytes. He does set eyes upon the stranger, and gives him a Look, his senses on high alert.
If the stranger-sleeper radiates even a trace of the black shimmer, Kikinnin steps in front of Maxim, forcing the blond beard to talk over his shoulder. As much as he'd like to open the conversation, he understands there's something between Maxim and the stranger.
"Hello there!" says JJ.
"Boy are we happy to see someone alive and not trying to kill us." he adds with a smile.
"Just curious... but do you normally lock your door at night inside the temple?"
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At the man's reaction, Maxim steps back with a discreet shrug toward Marigold that indicates he's unsure of who the fellow is...
"Whoa there friend - no need fir the blade, we come in peace. Apologies - don't recall makin' your acquaintance... Care to reintroduce yourself fir our collective benefit?"
:
As JJ spills that they have been involved in combat he grimaces inwardly
Cards close to chest Surabar! Fella ain't got a notion why we're here... No need tae mention killin' and such!
The man seems to get increasingly nervous, he stands up from the bed and starts shouting with all his breath ""
He stares at Maxim keeping his dagger pointing between him and the dwarf while he searches something in a bag over his bed table "This is the second time I catch you sneaking at our businesses. The temple is closed, leave NOW or there will be no third time !?"
You see a faint evil aura on the man.
"Does it bother you? Would prefer me to lock you with me blondie?" the man throws back his words at JJ when he shows up through the door.
As Maxim requests identification the man just shouts "Out! "
"But if we don't know who you are or what your business is, how are we to avoid it?" asks 'blondie' as reasonably as he can.
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Maxim scowls at the man;
"Plane Walker? Listen fella I ain't sure where you think you know me from... Lessen you been followin' our travels..."
before focussing at the blade he is being threatened with;
"Wise man once said Never bring a knife to a gun-fight..."
The gun-mage steps back drawing his double barrelled pistol.
"Now drop the blade an' start explainin' yourself."
Though loathe to potentially start a fight, Marigold coughs from somewhere behind Maxim and JJ.
"Um...you d-do realize that if we g-got this far that C-Calmus and his f-friends won't be coming to s-save you, right? I think it'd b-be in your b-best interests to p-put the knife down and t-tell us just what's going on around here," she points out.
"My f-friends aren't g-going to be inclined to ask q-quite so nicely if you keep p-pushing the issue..."
"Who I...?" the man looks stern at JJ "Are you trying to play me? "
The man does not hesitate upon Maxim's gun menace "What's that? Are you menacing me with a broken crowbar?" he seems to finally find what he was searching for. Without losing sight of the dwarf, he picks up what seems a potion and moves it to his lips.
Just by the time Marigold tries to let now the man's friends are not coming to help, the two remaining doors sound unlocked and then open, ruining the halfling's menace attempt.
At the western room shows up a man dressed very much like the first one "What's going on...? Uh, who are you?!"
"Anthon! These are the guys of the Cysts!" shouts the first man.
"Oh, gotcha! I remember that. "
Meanwhile at the other room, it shows up what cannot be other but a human zombie.
As the dawn of realisation hits Maxim, he nods in acknowledgement;
"Ah now I got you. Y'all are the graverobbin' scum from Occipitus... Didn't recognise ye without a corpse in yer hands!"
In a flash he imbues the pistol with arcane energy and calmly pulls the trigger ;
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Before shifting to the right to allow the others to funnel in if necessary...
With his shot Maxim takes by surprise the man and escalates the situation! A large bleeding hole opens up on the man as the bullet strikes on him.
Slower than usual, as his mind tries to square this hall of healing with a den of blasphemy. He hears muffled talk. Where he should hear Marigold's clarion caution, Maxim's muzzled threat, or JJ's question for clarity, he hears Ike's admonitions. Take care not to raise your hopes too high, Kikinnin. Your sister hasn't gotten any worse, this we know. We need more time to see if she'll respond to our ministrations...
The moment Kikinnin lays eyes on an undead his vision tunnels and his skin prickles. "Show us your true colors then, you angel defilers. Did you participate? Are you allies with Calmus? Choose your words carefully, Pharasmites. Or should I say Parasites?"
The black beard waits for their actions, what little hope might show they are better than the beheaded.
"Maxim!" cries JJ. The youth steps forward staff at the ready, but not striking... yet... while he waits for an answer to Kikinnin's quesiton.
Ignoring the protestations of JJ, Maxim keeps his pistol levelled and once again siphons his magic into the weapon .
When Kikinnin bellows his challenge, the gun-mage takes his cue and fires the second barrel!
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The gun-mage then drops the empty firearm and draws his shortsword ;
"Time fir you to meet yer precious Lady O' Bones!"
Marigold's Round 1
So THAT'S where we ran into these people before! How could I have forgotten already?
Though Maxim seems intent on putting the first man into the dirt Marigold still holds out some hope that they might get some answers out of the second. She adopts a defensive position and begins casting...
...and points at the second man as the spell concludes!
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Kikinnin holds on, cradling for answers, while Maxim's shot shatters the man's shoulder.
Without answering any question the man downs his potion and JJ quickly reacts crushing his skull with his staff. Pieces of bone and brain splash all over around under the powerful strike. Just by the time the corpse fells to the ground, it magically disappears.
Marigold casts an incantation and the other man's body becomes rigid like a stone.
A woman priestess, which you recognize as Velasia, shows up her face at the far door "What's all this fuzz?" and at your sight she points at you and commands the zombie "Attack! Finish them!"
The first zombie moves up forward over Kikinnin walking oddly like a duck, and a second zombie moves after the first one while Velasia casts a spell.
shield of faith
While the second man remains rigid in place, two more appear by the door. One steps out to stab Marigold with a dagger.
But it only find the halfling armor.
The other one casts a spell.
true strike
"What are undead doing here?" asks JJ somewhat concerned that the man he had been trying to only knock out seemed to have died...and then vanished.
He steps up to Maxim, just as the dwarf takes a hit, and slams his staff into the nearby zombie.
Marigold's Round 2
Whoa Nelly, where'd they all come from!?
More priests, great...
As more foes begin pouring into the hallway Marigold quickly takes a step back into the empty room behind her to allow Kikinnin some room to maneuver. She then adopts a defensive position once again and begins casting...
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As their foe is eviscerated, Maxim nods at the evil graverobber's just death.
He hears the sounds of spellcasting o'er the clamor of battle, attempting to discern what enchantments are being invoked;
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Recognising the words of both he hails the others as he recovers his dropped pistol before loading one barrel with shot and powder
"First spell cast was Shield o' Faith. Ware the second spell's caster y'all - tis True Strike will grant them an unerring attack!"
AC = 27
HP = 124/124
Weapon Equipped = +5 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Divine Bond, Prayer
Kikinnin finds himself toe-to-toe with a zombie, so does what comes naturally, and hacks his way as best he can through it, making room for more intimate confrontation with the priestess.
If these wretches turn out to be one-hit wonders, Kikinnin 5' steps into the next one, pushing forward.
"You many have the numbers, but if we're competent, you'll find yourselves outnumbered shortly. If you consider surrender, we'll consider it the same."
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JJ steps forward and delivers a set of quick powerful blows with his staff. The zombie seems specially resistant to his attacks, unerring as they are, but ultimately it collapses shattering into dust under the accumulated awesomeness of the young man.
Marigold casts a spell in the defensive, raising a prayer that affects both enemy and allies, except for Maxim. She then steps back into the room.
Informing about the incantations being cast, thanks to recognizing common casting words, Maxim readies his gun once more for shooting.
Convinced by the presence of the zombies, Kikinnin quickly steps over the dust of the first one, and slashes powerfully at the second cutting it in half. The zombie shatters to dust exactly as the first one did.
Velasia looks at the dwarf with hate. She takes a speak in her hand "You are gonna regret meddling on our businesses" and says divine words that make her free hand glow with a dark aura "You have seen enough!"
With a step forward she attempts to touch the dwarf. Kikinnin dodges her but a slight graze on his armor delivers the spell. Velasia's satisfaction look quickly turns to confusion when she finds out the dwarf is immune "What?! For all devils! What kind of thing are you?!"
The man in the door keeps held on Marigold's spell.
The first in line moves past Marigold to attack Kikinnin, generating an opportunity to attack from the halfling.
But the dwarf blocks the dagger with his shield.
The last one moves after his companion and takes on Marigold.
He finds a spot on the halfling's breastplate and stabs his dagger on her. She feels poison going into her veins.
Marigold's Round 3
"ರೋಗ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಂಕ್ರಾಮಿಕ ರೋಗವನ್ನು ಹರಡಲು ಅವಳು ಡಾರ್ಕ್ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಳೆ," Marigold calls out, more a warning to JJ and Maxim than to Kikinnin who seems to be blessed by Abadar to be able to shrug off such things.
"She's calling on dark powers to spread disease and contagion"
She then instinctively takes a swipe at the first man as he rushes past her...
...and then flinches as she feels the sting of the second man's dagger and then the burning sensation of poison!
Rather than allow any of the man's other allies space to join him in his attack, Marigold holds her position at the doorway and adopts a defensive posture as she begins to cast...
...and then projects a blast of light from her palm!
Marigold swings her mace as the man passes by, but only finds his armor.
Seeing he cannot bring any weapons or magics to bear directly against his foes Maxim decides to bolster his companions.
Reaching out he flashes a wry smile, touching his bror's broad shoulder;
"Bloed van helden ontwaakt!"
"Blood of heroes awaken!"
He then loads his second barrel with an alchemical cartridge
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AC = 27
HP = 124/124
Weapon Equipped = +5 Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Divine Bond, Prayer, Heroism
Kikinnin looks down on his plate mail, as the priestess's hand withdraws from her touch. He imagines that her goddess just allowed her discretion in meting out some malicious magic. He also imagines Abadar placing His hand over his breast, preventing the magic from taking root, so thanks Him quickly. In response to his inner prayers, he feels his bror's steadying hand on his shoulder, and his mind's made up.
"Up until now, I would have accepted your surrender, priestess. We would have sworn off aggressions, at least as long as we needed to investigate the rest of this temple. Throwing zombies and blades at us was a blunt way of telling us you're accepting no quarter, were we to give it. Prepare to cross over. Say 'hello' to Calmus."
JJ, standing in the doorway, sighs as the onslaught of zombies and priests continues.
Hefting his staff, he lays into the priest in the corridor
The staff whirls around in its deadly dance.
If the first person drops, changes targets to hat man with white border
+2 to hit and damage if they are human or half-elf/orc