"This here is a temple of Torag. We should be safe here and see here lad, the lassie needs to rest after all it cannna be easy fer her with one leg."
So saying Goron proceeds to explore the temple. Testing the water in the basin first.
Levelle lets the others work on calming the irritable man, Levelle knowing that here entreaties would bemet with distrust or distaste. The summon does look around though and ask Cao to do the same.
The creature wordlessly slinks about taking in scents and looking in various places of the temple for things of "interest".
Goron, you find sparkling clean water in the basin.
Horgus seems to calm down some, but Anevia seems insulted, "Your really siding with this man Sana!? You? A servant of the gods? He is to much of a coward to admit his own faith!" With that, Anevia folds her arms and faces away from the group.
Horgus's reaction to her comment is shock and speechlessness.
Sana tilted her head slightly. So... was she siding with the man before or after she'd refuted his position and said that not abandoning Anevia was the right course of action? Some people could be quite strange. Still, people who were worried and afraid didn't always say sensible things. "You're right, I am a servant of the gods." she said quietly, though firmly. "And that's why I think it's better for all of us to do our best and work together, rather than arguing or being selfish." She had, after all, offered to give her food to them, despite having no idea how long they'd be underground...
Shaking his head, Tomas walks up to the dwarf at the basin.
Goron, what do you think? Can we find a way out of these ruins? We need something before these people start ripping each other apart!"
Tomas gathers some of the cool, clear water from the basin and takes a deep drink, clearing the dust from his throat.
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Goron hefts his warhammer as he turns to Thomas. Pitching his voice loud enough for the others to hear. Letting it rumble towards them.
"I don't know if we be getting out. I lack those skills to truly make such claims. I will however do my best to bring all of us out of this place in Torag's name and on this holy ground dedicated to him."
Holding out his warhammer.
"This here is a hammer I be forged myself. It started out as dross and I had sent many an hour on it. Many a time I had thought it done only to recast it again and again until I be sure with its shape."
Pausing to indicate Horgus.
"This man here, I'll admit I detest. However for what reason he holds or why he does not openly declare his faith. I care not fer what matters.....is here Tapping his chest.
His gods, be it Torag or some other god watching us, knows that as well.
We all be serving the gods differently Sana and I. She with an intimate relationship, blessed by the gods with thar power and I be drawing upon my faith to do battle. I be but a smith but here I be a warrior, a defender against yon foul beasts."
Pausing as he allows his gaze to capture everyone's attention if they have not being captured now.
"Horgus here be the same as me hammer. He is dross being forged for some reason that perhaps only he and the gods knows. I cannot judge him. I do not have that right. Yet I not be forsaking him for he beg aid and I'm obliged to do so."
Holding up his hand to forestall any other protest.
"Yet Anevia yon lassie, you're tired and wounded bearing injuries that pain ye still. I have yet the skill to call upon Torag's blessing to ease yer pain and fer thar I beg yer forgiveness then. Ye too I'll not leave behind fer thar is not be the way Goron Boulderstep rolls. If needs must, lassie, I'll bear ye for yer travels if haste demands it. My back and will are strong yet remember I not be alone. We have among us Sana, Levelle and Thomas and ........... hesitating for a moment not knowing what manner of being is Caomhnóir. ...ummm Levelle's friend, begging yer pardon. Together we have survived to reach this Most holy of Torag's Grounds and together we shall win our freedom to the surface. We should rest now and gather our strength fer who knows what manner of foul beast seeks to block our path for the surface.
Raising his hammer to his chest, bringing his shield to rest upon his breast. His eyes twinkle, his voice quiet yet confident and far reaching.
"I Be Goron Boulderstep, Paladin of Torag and as he and the gods be my witness, thus I swear."
Tomas nods and smiles as the dwarf gives his speech. He stands close to the paladin, showing the others that he supports Goron.
"Well spoken Paladin of Torag! We shall overcome this setback and escape these ruins! We have all shown incredible strength and courage already....let us not lose faith now."
Anevia doesn't turn to the group after Goron's speech and Tomas's support, but her shoulders do relax, and she lets out a long sigh.
So involved is Goron in his speech to settle ruffled feathers, he does not notice anything else except that Anevia is still probably depressed.
Perception:
Tomas was also too busy to notice the sounds, it would seem!
Sana was busy looking around the rest of the temple as the others talked. After a few moments, though, she did glance back in their direction. Anevia did look at least a little better, so that was a good sign, though they still had a long ways to go before they were out of the area. That being the case, hmm... what could she do to help everyone else?
With the attention of the eidolon fixed on something beyond Levelle holds a hand up and offers her words quietly.
Caomhnoir says there is something about behind the door.
Levelle looks to the others as to a course of action...
Goron looks up at Levelle's words.
"Understood. Stay behind me as I open the door then."
Holding up his shield and warhammer, Goron approaches the door and waits for the others to position himself before opening the door.
Goron opens the door to reveal a dwarf, mouth gaping open and skin rotting. It lurches forward to attack.
Initiative:
Sana reacted surprisingly fast as a new threat rose up, but she'd been distracted, and her reaction time wasn't quite enough to let her interfere with the monster's action... though, upon seeing the monster's skin, she furiously tried to remember if she'd read about anything matching its characteristics.
"Urghh ye be downright ugly and being a dwarf that's saying meself, that be saying something."
On my init; attack w/ Longspear from behind either Cao or Goron (yay reach!)
The eidolon snaps at the creature but does not connect...
The creature gazes for a moment, and then sees the symbol of Torag on Goron and charges!
both class bounce harmlessly off of Goron's armor!
Sana's eyes narrowed slightly - and then the girl pointed at Goron, their dwarven protector. Or, rather, she pointed at what he was holding... "Y'stell'bsna fm'latgh n'ghft!" the girl spoke in a very unusual language indeed, calling upon the power of her gods - with immediate effect.
The dwarf's weapon began to shine with a holy light, illuminating the area around him and granting his weapon a special boon. That ought to work very nicely in helping him hurt the foul creature. "Strike quickly; that won't last for long!"
Tomas extends his had towards the creature and speaks a few eldritch words. Two glowing darts of intense blue colour spring from his outstretched fingers and streak unerringly to strike the undead horror.
The beast continues it's enraged assault on Goron
Again Goron's Armor, or perhaps his god, protects him.
Feeling its power thrumming quietly around his hammer, Goron throws Sana a thankful glance.
"Me thanks Lassie. Now foul beast taste dwarven steel!!!"
There didn't seem to be much else she could do at the moment; by the looks of things, Goron had made a truly powerful attack, and Tomas was doing quite well with his own offensive blows. The girl quietly brought her arms up and lightly held them in front of her, ready to cast if need be - but for now, she was simply working on keeping herself as far out of the way as possible so that the others could do their tasks without worrying about her getting in the way.
Levelle continues to drive at the creature with her longspear, keeping Goron and Caomhnoir between her and the rotting dwarf.
Again the eidolon snaps at the creature but finds little in the way of progress. Cao offers an aggravated *sqwak*
Tomas will wait to see if his allies have destroyed the creature before he casts a force bolt at the creature
Goron's blow is enough to slay the beast. Broken stone benches line this narrow room. The air is cold and stale, and thick layers of dust cover the floor, benches, and a large altar at the far end of the room along with a master piece of a war hammer.
Goron Detects evil.
"Torag Guardian of the Forge, guide my senses."
"Stay back friends, The stones are not right, the temple seems dimmed, and there maybe other dangers. Guard yourselves."
Sana watched from beneath her hood as the Paladin sent out a warning - and she was quite willing to trust his senses on matters like this. She had to be strong for the sake of everyone else, and quietly focused on the divine power within her... quite ready to support the Paladin if need be.
Levelle offers a "harumph" to her companions. Not surprising, everything down here has an air of...corruption. Levelle stands a little taller suddenly feeling ever self conscious of who and what she is.
Tomas keeps his eyes peeled and ready for action should any more undead show up
"The temple is defiled!!! I must restore it!!!"
Turning to the rest of his companions, a fervor in his stance.
"Friend's there is no further danger in this area however another battle has begun. I must cleanse this sacred ground in Torag's name. Rest well my friends, but for me this will be a battle to restore this. I do not ask this of you for the worship of the Guardian of the Forge may not be one for you but I'll not turn away your aid."
So saying, Goron will begin to first clean the temper, dispose of the body of the dead priest after performing the proper burial rites. He'll repair the slabs, altar and any other repair works he may have to do. Finally setting up a makeshift forge to begin the ritual to cleanse the temple using his own warhammer, afterall the warhammer though far better than his own belongs to the temple and should be cleansed as well.
He'll spend the night doing all of the above to restore the temple.
Tomas, if he is allowed, will assist in the cleansing of the temple. As a stout supporter of the crusade, Tomas feels that by assisting the other good gods, he is helping fight against the evil of the worldwound, and the hated creatures within.
"Allow me to help you with this task, if I may. Torag is a warrior of good and enemy of the evil that oozes from the Worldwound. As such, to help him is to strike a blow against the monsters from that demonic land.
Tomas uses his spells to help light up (light) and clean (prestidigitation) the temple.
Sana was not what other people would call a physically imposing person - in fact, she wasn't very strong at all, considering the most she usually carried around were a few books. On top of that, though the others didn't know it, she followed gods who had ideas very different from those of Torag. Or, well, she thought they were different... with her deities, who knew?
On the other hand, Goron had done more than his fair share in protecting everyone else, and she'd felt rather useless earlier. She had no objection to helping those who'd helped her first, though, and quietly joined in on the efforts to clean the place up... primarily using Mage Hand to work on cleaning places that were hard to reach normally. Several accidents did occur while she was cleaning - minor spills, falling rubble, and things of that nature, and she did have to spend some time fixing that as well.
The girl simply fall asleep on the floor close to midnight, rather tired from all of the day's events and unable to concentrate any longer. If anybody wanted a peek under her hood, which she'd kept up the entire time, now was probably the best chance they'd get.
Seeing the girl falling exhausted amidst her efforts to aid him restoring the temple to its former glory, Goron does make time and effort to place her in a comfortable place to sleep as he continues his nightly virgil reciting prayers of blessings over the forge.
Picking the slumbering girl up and placing her gently on the ground already cleared of debris. Covering her with a blanket, he continues on his duties, including all those who helped in his prayers as his way of thanks even if they do not hear him.
Fort save vs Fatigue (DC-15):
Tomas sees the young woman lie down and fall asleep and watches as the dwarf creates a safe place for her to sleep. He adds his bedroll to the small nest, nodding to the dwarf as he settles her in, then gets back to work moving rubble and assisting in cleaning.
Goron nods in gratefulness to Thomas.
Chanting was hard work. Seriously....Goron had no idea when was the last time he had to do this..
Levelle attends to basic tasks and offers assistance but it is clear that she has neither the zeal nor the fortitude for such an endeavor. At some point as other choose to press themselves on she will simply mumble something about needing rest and will excuse herself and find a quiet place. Checking in with Cao, the tiefling contemplates what it "means" to be dedicated to an ideal and care about it so greatly. Before drifting off to fitful sleep she will only say to Cao Such certainty must feel nice...
You begin to rise the next day as Goron and Tomas finish their work. As Goron finish the last part of the chant, a light of the purest light washes out from the shrine and covers the entire temple and yourselves before fading away.
Goron is invigorated by the light as his he finishes the last of a religious litany.
Exhilarated, he lifts his hammer up to commemorate his success and realises with a start that he's being holding a different warhammer all this time. His own still hooked to his belt.
The warhammer espied during his first glance at the altar. It seems indeed a masterpiece of a warhammer. He takes a moment to study it.
Sana winced slightly as bright light flooded out of the shrine - it felt good, but it had also woken her up, and her feelings were a little mixed about that. She didn't really remember going to sleep, but the job seemed to have gotten done... go team? Her stomach growled, and she sleepily reached over to her pack. It took quite a bit longer than usual to actually open it up and pull out some food, but she did manage to eat some of her trail rations and wake up a little more. That done, she looked up to see how the others were doing.
...It was kind of hard to pay attention to anything when she was still so sleepy, though.
Witness to the completion of the task Levelle indeed feels invigorated in a way that was uncommon. She filed the experience away in her mind to contemplate for later, A noble job done sir paladin. With that firmly completed shall we attempt to continue to find an exit?
Nodding towards Levelle, Goron shows her the hammer.
"I lack such arts but could you asertain if this is magical?"
You travel for sometime without coming across any more beasts.
"Oh my...." says anevia as you enter a large caveran Stone figures are carved into the walls of this cavern. Each
depicts a different crusader clad in armor and wielding weapons,
but their carved stone features contain expressions of sadness.
Sana looked with interest at the carvings - she wasn't much of a student of history, but she did rather enjoy seeing nice works of art. "...Does anybody recognize these?" she asked curiously, looking at their expressions. That was a little unusual for any sort of carving, right? As far as she knew, carvings were usually more... noble. She didn't know how relevant it would be, but considering how much danger they were all in, it was probably for the best if they considered as many things as they could.