The Temple District has the greatest concentration of public temples and shrines dedicated to Torag. There is at least one large place of worship dedicated to each of the major dwarven deities
A cracked, squat idol sits atop this raised, irregular platform. It depicts a toad-like being with a bloated head and numerous tentacles wriggling from its loathsome form. Green mold lines a slimy indentation before it and runes ring the platform’s edge, glowing with a sickly, purplish hue. The idol’s sightless black eyes glare malevolently.
You a hear the bolt impact on the stone idol. Other than a fresh chip, nothing else happens.
Nothing triggers as Yangri approaches or as Morka climbs the idol.
Morak picks up the book and instantly feels a cold, damp, yet invisible tentacle wrap itself around her neck.
But is able to fight it off with sheer will.
Written in dwarven along the spine is It Crawls in Darkness. The tome is physically intact, yet most of its pages are blank; those with text are scattered at random throughout the book. The tome contains references to the Seer’s, Mines, and Monuments districts of Jormurdun. In addition, the tome acts as a scroll that contains several spells.
|
May I have a look, please? As Paffies, we have to cooperate, remember. No one can be able to do everything.
If Morka lends her the book, Desynthia studies the spells
The first spell is a protective, divine spell, called "Shield of Faith". The second is an arcane spell used to make people bigger, "Enlarge Person".
Pathfinders have claimed the Temple District!
The Seers’ District and Miners’ District are discovered.
Reinforcements arrive in the Temple District wherever Pathfinders are still involved in an encounter. (GMs, please allow your players to finish any in progress encounters, but please look at the top of page 12 to see the consequences of the reinforcements)
|
|
Yangrit jumps back as Morka jerks momentarily as he touches the book, then rolls her eyes and huffs at Morka. "Yer going to get yourself killed being so hasty and thoughtless--along with whoever's close to you. Stop and think first!" Her glare is almost enough to turn Morka to stone. Almost, but not quite.
Hundreds of stalactites extend from the ceiling thirty feet overhead. Dirt and stony debris litter the cave floor, along with discarded scrolls, bits of bone, and a few jawless skulls. Moisture drips from the stalactites into seven natural pools scattered about the chamber, which bears a putrescent odor.
The scrolls on the floor of the cave are ancient and crumble to powder as soon as they’re disturbed. The bones are those of small animals—bats, lizards, snakes. The skulls are those of dwarves and they are etched with artful designs.
As the agents make their way through the cave. Four of the skulls rise and start flying towards the PC.
Everyone go
Desythia's spell connects and is quickly followed up with a nunchuck, which shatters the skill.
Aldran moves up and pulverizes the flaming skull.
Yangrit moves up and attacks the floating head with her kama.
And slices it in half.
The remaining flaming skull charges ahead.
It collides with her and threatens to catch her on fire.
Morka his arrow right in the forehead, exploding the skull on contact.
|
— 2 charges
The laws of average would suggest that this should be enough. You okay Des? You got hit pretty hard?! he wanders over to his friend healing her with his wand.
Lets keep going, this is starting to get interesting! Let’s see why these spirits have their kickers in a twist!, he looks around quickly with a take 10 for 17 perception and proceeds down to the rest of the seers district.
Although this area appears to have open sides, it is actually a room enclosed by walls along the map’s periphery. There is a 10-foot-wide entrance in the center of the south wall.
A large two-tier platform with a rectangular stone altar dominates this chamber. A narrow channel stained red runs around its floor, twisting in strange patterns. The platform is flanked by six statues of demonic mien that reach out with wicked claws.
From a distance one can see that there are some implements on the altar, though details aren’t discernible without closer examination
|
|
"Hmm... Yes. You're right, Morka. Now don't do anything without thinking first. The magic may still be active here, like in all the other areas." Yangrit is clearly making an effort to channel a patient teacher vibe...
...which isn't entirely fruitless, though not spectacular.
She takes a few pensive steps, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. Scanning carefully, she does her best to check for traps.
No traps can be seen from Yangrit and no magic is detected from the anything in the room.
|
|
As an afterthought, Yangrit fishes a potion out of her pack and gulps it down.
Pausing a moment to assess its affects, she mutters: "Barely worth it." With a grunt, she turns her focus to the statues around the room.
"My concern is that those statues might be more than they seem." Yangrit admits as she begins to cautiously ascend the stairs, pausing on each step to look for trouble, until something happens or she is standing before the altar so she can examine the items upon it.
Yangrit moves over to the statues. Other than some creepy critters, nothing out of the ordinary.
|
|
Morka finally approaches the implements and picks one up to take a closer look. With his detect magic not picking anything up, there is only one way. Well, lets see what we have here? Obviously used something used to look into the future! Woooooooo-ooooo-oooo! he says as he picks up an obviously glass ball and twirls it around in his hands.
he tricks the party trying to writhe in pain for a brief moment. ...Or is it going to be Aldran? he ponders for a moment...
As Morka heads up the second set of stairs, he can clearly see 16 tiles.
These 16 tiles are a divination aid akin to oracle bones, harrow cards, or a spirit planchette.
Just as he is looking over the tiles, a red liquid is released from skull mouths carved in the base of the altar on its left and right sides.
After a few seconds (two rounds) the liquid completely fills the twisting channels made in the stone.
You smell a strange odor of cinnamon and vinegar
once used in divination magic that fell out of fashion.
|
|
When he gets to the top of the stairs, Hey guys, check this out! Shapes! I love shapes! They are MAGNIFICENT!
He scratches his head at the puzzle. Something to do with the skulls, maybe? The liquid is strange too...
Noticing the smell he excitedly jumps up and down! Cinamon and vinegar! Now isn't that a MIGHTY combination of flavours! I wonder if this is some sort of cooking competition! Hey guys, do dwarfs like to cook?
Definitely a cooking puzzle... as he takes out some salt and sprinkles it over the pool of liquid.[/b]