Sarasanna searches for an entrance to the temple. Halberd in hand, she circles the edge of the structure toward each corner of the chamber, though always keeping her counterparts in view.
Lucifer moves around carefully, his shovel in one hand at his side, hoping to recognize anything that could show the temple's patron deity or other purposes.
[dice=Perception]1d20+8
[dice=Knowledge (religion)]1d20+6
You are able to find an entrance on the left side of the building. It is blocked by one of the boulders, but a DC 20 Strength check (all of you can pitch in to push it) can roll it out of the way.
Lucifer nods as he looks around. "This temple was definitely dedicated to Torag, the patron deity of dwarves. Respects honor, tradition, and community, also strength." At this he sets his shovel against the wall and throws his weight at the boulder.
The rock starts to shift as the android pushes at it, but he isn't quite moving it out of the way. "If... someone... could help..." he grunts.
Dakkar picks up the shovel and holds it for Lucifer, happy to assist!
Sarasanna sets her halberd down on against the wall, removes the new backpack and places it on the ground next to the halberd.
"Let's remove... this obstacle..." Sarasanna breathes as she turns and braces her back against the rock, pushing with her legs.
Akkramar nods and leans against the wall assisting Lucifer.
He doesn't seem to manage a decent grip however, and falls back guarding the area and giving a chance to another at the task.
The boulder starts to roll back, and you find that the stone door is now easy to get to.
After the stone has shifted, Lucifer nods to Sarasanna and Dakkar. "Thank you for your assistance." He takes his shovel back and peers at the door. "Who will go first?"
"I suggest we peer from the edge to see what immediately awaits us," Sarasanna proffers.
"Then he or she among us with the best defensive abilities should lead."
Sarasanna slings the mwk back-pack over her shoulders again and picks up her halberd. She then moves to the edge of the door, takes a look around from the threshold.
"I suggest we peer from the edge to see what immediately awaits us," Sarasanna proffers.
"Then he or she among us with the best defensive abilities should lead."Sarasanna slings the mwk back-pack over her shoulders again and picks up her halberd. She then moves to the edge of the door, takes a look around from the threshold.
[dice=Perception to see what is immediately past the door with darkvision] 1d20 + 9
You see what appears to be an antechamber of some kind. Along the south wall there is a bench, the far wall has a basin of water atop a stone pedestal, and the north wall has another door, again with an engraving of a hammer.
Sarasanna turns to her allies.
"The antechamber before us appears to be uninhabited. Though we should be on the lookout for any hostiles, just in case this temple is no longer controlled by the followers of Abadar."
Turning toward the door way again, Sarasanna is about to enter before she looks over her shoulder. "In addition to defensive abilities, we should send the one us who has a good eye as well. I shall go first, unless Akkramar, or you Lucifer wish to take the lead."
"This temple appears to be dedicated to Torag, not Abadar," Lucifer comments. "But either way, I agree we should use caution. I can take the lead."
If no one objects, Lucifer steps into the room, shovel at the ready, glancing around for any signs of danger. If nothing happens, he beckons the others to enter.
"This temple appears to be dedicated to Torag, not Abadar,"...
"Torag of the dwarves... Perhaps that is why this structure is built underground." Sarasanna replies, quietly acknowledging her mistake.
She steps aside to let Lucifer pass by her, and then momentarily follows him into the room, halberd at the ready. She scans the area for any sign of movement.
Bethune trudges forward through the temple with clenched teeth. The thought of Gods and Deities brought about an odd reaction in the android. He knew that these entities had directly influenced Golarion but still he felt no connection to the distant concepts. He keeps a bolt notched in his heavy crossbow that he carries at the ready on Lucifer's flank. He keeps his eyes ahead as he looks for any potential traps.
Other than the door to the north, there is nothing in here.
Seeing that the room is unoccupied, Sarasanna expresses her attitude toward deity as reconstructed from the deceased Sarasanna. Though it was slightly adjusted to suit her new life as a pragmatic android demon slayer. She speaks softly, aware that something may be in the next room.
"I often get the names Abadar and Torag mixed up. Both are concerned with tradition and community, correct? Deity is a difficult concept for me. However, I do respect the power of the planar energies wielded by the followers of deity."
Sarasanna investigates the water for a moment. "This water for instance, appears to be infused with a subtle energy that shall make it harmful to evil creatures. Does anyone carry an empty flask that we may collect it?"
While awaiting a response, Sarasanna looks around for an empty flask for carrying holy water.
You find nothing that could carry the water.
There is a dull thud that comes from behind the door.
Sarasanna approaches the door in a defense stance, listens for any further sound from beyond the door.
Akkramar follows close, ready to defend hi companions.
At the sound of the thud, Lucifer also grips his shovel and raises it, moving near to the door by the others.
Standing by the door, Sarasanna waits for a moment by the door. She attempts to catch the eyes of one of her counterparts.
"I don't hear anything. Shall we proceed?"
Someone may be trapped, should we assist?
Dakkar eyes the door warily, they had just fallen into a chasm during an attack by demons...
"That may be. It is possible someone has fallen from above, as we have." Sarasanna acknowledges Dakkar's suggestion.
Sarasanna looks around again. If there is no objection from her companions, she attempts to open the door. She holds her halberd in one hand, and works the door with the other.
You open the door slowly; although it is stone, it opens relatively easily. Inside, you find a narrow room, filled on either side of the central path with broken benches. The air is cold and stale, and there is a thick layer of dust on everything. At the front of the room, you can see a large alter. Before it, on the closest pew, you can see what appears to be a dwarf, based on the size of the figure and his (?) posture.
Lucifer does mention to the others before they open the door: "Caution advised: I heard a grunt, sounded like heavy lifting. There's someone in there."
When the door is opened, he steps in cautiously, his shovel head-forward before him. Focusing in on the dwarf, Lucifer quickly scans his data banks for information on what kind of dwarf this is.
Sarasanna steps into the room, an eye on the dwarf. She stays toward the back of the room for the moment, since speaking to a likely follower of Torag would better suit Lucifer, designated the party's religion expert.
Is the dwarf injured or well, and what, if anything, is depicted on the altar? Does anything seem to have recently been moved in the room?
Akkramar steps carefully into the room, his Bardiche poised ahead of him defensively. Taking up a position next to Sarasanna, and addressing the dwarf - "We'll met" - he states flatly.
Lucifer does mention to the others before they open the door: "Caution advised: I heard a grunt, sounded like heavy lifting. There's someone in there."
When the door is opened, he steps in cautiously, his shovel head-forward before him. Focusing in on the dwarf, Lucifer quickly scans his data banks for information on what kind of dwarf this is.
[dice=Knowledge (local)]1d20+5
Akkramar steps carefully into the room, his Bardiche poised ahead of him defensively. Taking up a position next to Sarasanna, and addressing the dwarf - "We'll met" - he states flatly.
You see the dwarf turn its head. Facing you now, it begins to stand, warhammer at the ready. You can now tell that this might have been a dwarf at some point, but it's not now. Rotting flesh falls off its face and hands, and the dust that practically covered him falls off in waves. The distinct odor of decay fills your nostrils. It begins to move towards you, its mouth open in a silent scream.
Unable to tell anything about the specifics of the dwarf , Lucifer tightens his grip on the shovel when it turns to face the group. Seeing that it's clearly undead, he analyzes it to try and determine what nature of necromancy this is.
He then takes a few steps forward and swings his shovel sharply, bringing the edge of the tool's head to connect with this creature's skull.
Sarasanna's databanks are primarily loaded with planar information. However, that does not prevent her from noticing the obvious that this is some kind of undead creature and is clearly hostile.
Should the creature still be standing, Sarasanna moves to flank with Lucifer, possibly provoking an attack of opportunity.
Flanking, Sarasanna slashes with her halberd at the undead monstrosity.
Bethune seems almost to be in another place, daydreaming if he has the capability, as they make their way into the small stone room. All of his 'memories' up to this point had found himself in hospitals, wards, and white rooms. All of these were intense settings, but he had little to nothing to compare with what he was experiencing now. He spots the undead dwarf after Lucifer and many of the others are already in motion encircling it. He pulls his crossbow up to shoulder height and steadies his aim.
Akkramar stares at the creature ahead of them, now realizing this is no dwarf, not anymore.
Moving swiftly forward, he swings his weapon hard - "Have we determined the level of the threat?" - he questions his companions.
My data banks are also missing vital information regarding this type of creature.
Somewhat surprised by the encounter, Dakkar quickly whips his crossbow up and pulls the trigger. Next time I should probably try aiming... Dakkar thinks to himself as the bolt flies off across the room.
- 'Dwarf' (Undead Type) - Init 15, -0 hp
- Lucifer - Init 21, 5' diagonal left from dwarf
- Dakkar - Init 15 (before 'dwarf'), 10' from dwarf
- Sarasanna - Init 14, 5' straight from dwarf (not flanking)
- Akkramar - Init 9, 5' diagonal right from dwarf (all of you are facing the dwarf at this point)
- Bethune - Init 4, 10' diagonal left from dwarf
None
"The level of threat shall soon be zero," Sarasanna predicts in a calm monotone. A slight smirk plays across her face, an echo of the original Sarasanna's reconstructed personality.
The android is not entirely sure what the facial expression means, or the purpose of her comment. This was not data she actually possessed, yet she was confident. Why report something in uncertainty? This was a remark- to what end?
In my previous life, I was 'witty.' Even in high-stake situations. The android determines, internally. Meaning of such classification to be discerned later.
After getting hit by Lucifer's (non-crit) shovel, the 'thing' throws his warhammer into the air at Akkramar , and then attempts a dual claw attack against Sarasanna.
After its attack, he then gets sliced by Sarasanna's halbred at close range, before finally being put down by Akkramar's bardiche.
"I appear to be damaged, though the threat is now passed, as predicted."
Sarasanna checks her wounds for any sign of poison or other affliction.
After the group dispatches the creature, Lucifer decisively brings his shovel down on its neck, and with a good stomp, removes its head from its body. "May your soul be free and cleansed to be judged by the Lady of Graves," he intones solemnly.
Upon hearing Lucifer's ritual, Sarasanna pauses for a moment, her face blank, though one might say the android was "deep in thought." Sarasanna then regards Lucifer with something resembling child-like curiosity.
"What is a soul, Lucifer? And what happens to it, when someone dies?"
As Sarasanna and Lucifer debate matters of metaphysical nature, Akkramar sets about and carefully searches both the body of the fallen dwarven undead, and the premises.
Lucifer looks up and leans on his shovel slightly, though it's clear his weight balanced, ready for movement. "The question of a soul? It's hard to say. Some believe that there is no such thing, and that it is simply a desire for understanding in a world that offers all too little--many of these are also atheists and do not believe in the gods, their power, or their place above mortals. Many, however, believe the soul to be a somewhat real manifestation of the true essence and being of an individual, and it is the soul that contains all of their hopes and dreams, fears and desires; what makes me me, or you you.
"I believe--" here he pauses for a moment, blinks rapidly, and restarts--"My data suggests that followers of Pharasma, as well as most theists, believe that when an individual dies, their soul goes to the Boneyard, Pharasma's domain, wherein it is judged by that goddess. Pharasmites also tend to believe that undeath corrupts this process, trapping a soul in the mortal realm, and that undead should be destroyed so that the natural process of life and death can continue without this perversion."
He hefts his shovel onto his shoulder and pauses again. "Of course, there is no data to suggest or prove that androids have souls. I do not know what happens to our kind when we cease to function."
Sarasanna blinks, and then gives the same blank stare of an artificial mind in thought, if such a mind "thinks."
"The Boneyard... I have no memory of such a place, although I have died. Does a soul remember what happens after death, if it comes back?"
There is a brief pause, and then android attempts to answer her own question. "I have- been given- knowledge of the planes. To me it is a matter of energy, and other worlds with different substances than the prime. Good and evil are real forces in the planes, and yet matters of morality. If this is so, isn't a soul necessary?"
Sarasanna trembles for a moment and glances toward the altar, shifting her stance. "I know this body is artificial, but I was human once. This body was made as a vessel for- me- my soul?- when I was resurrected. That is what brother says." Sarasanna speaks as if citing a document, flat and emotionless. Yet, somewhere in the empty tone, there is the slightest inflection of a person trying to convince herself of an uncertain but important truth.
Sarasanna looks to Lucifer, and nods. "I assess that it would benefit me to hear more of your commentary; however, we should probably continue to search the area."
Lucifer also takes on the blank stare of 'thinking' before responding to Sarsanna's last comment. "I concur. We should speak of this later."
Sarasanna nods again to Lucifer, and then joins Akkramar in searching the premises of the room. She specifically seeks a way forward.
"Indeed, I've never seen any medical evidence of the existence of a soul. But perhaps there is no need for such a metaphysical concept to have a physical counterpart..." The words roll out of his tongue in a similarly flat tone as his companions as he aids Sarasanna in seeking a way forward. " But I certainly feel I am me and you are you, Perhaps soul is a synonym of conciousness."