Gastidem holds his hands up as he tries to dissuade any incoming beating. Despite Pai's shocks, it takes him a long moment to realize that he is being shocked and reacts with more confusion and fear than pain. "Hey! Hey! Hey!" The gnome tries to make some room as he creates some plausible explanation that doesn't involve him being beaten.
"You all know, and I know that Dakang isn't any sort of saint. I don't know what his con his, but all of these saps are buying into it. I don't know much about Korada, but I can tell that the stuff he is teaching is not worshiping any old angel. I didn't think it was any of my business and it seemed like a fun enough ride to join in for, you know?"
After a moment he waves his hands and moves toward the turtle statue.
"That all this was you know, some lively experience among all the boredom here. I thought, well if these fools would just do anything the priest says, what if there was a holy ritual to that nicked off bits of their hands? Well so came up with this idea," he pauses a moment in his panic as he realizes what he is saying is not productive to his goal of not being beaten and quickly jumps to claim, "I mean, I know there is no such thing as the Kiss of Korada, but once I came around he told everyone in the temple that I was a true pilgrim and that this ritual was real and got everyone here convinced they should be doing it. He put me right here to help perform the ritual even!"
He pleads as he continues to generate excuses to buy him any freedom.
"I mean, these fools deserve every bit they got, you know? You guys weren't fooled at all! They are the ones throwing themselves into this sham and isn't my fault they can't see it for what it is!"
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"While we should remove your hands as justice for these poor souls you've fooled, my Lady Lila tells me I should be more forgiving and give someone a chance 'to redeem themselves' before dealing out the pain....so, you're going to tell everyone here EXACTLY what you just told us. Or, face my justice." Mera looms over the gnome and let's out a small growl before turning back to her party.
"Waddaya think? We could wait for the next service and confront Dakang in front of everyone. Or we could go to next meal and convince the regular worshippers first. Or just round them up and tell them now? Or one at a time? Or just go confront Dakang now...I'd like that, but I'd rather not have to fight the duped innocents--not to mention I'd hate to be caught between Dakang and his goons and the regular folks. We've got this one's confession, the log showing missing books from the library, and the false information in the worship with the strange markings. Oh, and the demon..." Mera's eyes go wide with a bit of panic. "What about the meditating I did? I spun those balls...do I look like I'm turning evil?" Mera opens her eyes as wide as she can. "Do my eyes look Demonic?"
Mera turns back to Gastidem: "Is Zhuang in on it? Does he know Dakang is false? And what about his guards? Are they in on it? They must be, right?"
While Mera often stands around looming quietly, once the floodgates open, she does tend to chatter...
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Arin tries to hide his sudden look of shock as Mera lashes out verbally at Gastidem, unleashing the array of accusations based on the group's current thinking.
On the other hand, Arin has less nerve than Mera with which to press the halfling, and so he's thankful that she said something to get a more meaningful response.
Gastidem cowers quickly when faced with the threat of violence, he certainly isn't happy with the idea of informing everyone, but he clearly is in less charge of this decision. He avoids the topic as he answers Mera's questions.
"Zhuang has been around longer than anyone, but I don't believe he could keep a charade going. He is a believer through and through, suggesting prayer and meditation over the Kiss. Even tried a couple times himself and I was able to deal him a few cuts to that pompou- that poor confused man."
"I'm less sure about the aasimar, but they are the only ones ready to fight anything and I've never seen them even try to abuse that power. Really a waste of if you ask me, but they were a bit upset with the Kiss of Korada until Dakang told them it was a 'real ritual' with his blessing. They swallowed that line hard, I don't think any of them are smart enough to sell a lie that hard."
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"Wow, this is a lot to process Gastidem. And you know you're culpable, right? Desna's stars, but you can't just cut off people's fingers for a lark, just because they're gullible enough to believe it means something!" Feelo just shakes his head at Gastidem's blatent admission of his role in the plot.
Feelo turns and speaks with the other Pathfinders. "I'm not sure about a full confrontation in public, yet. Maybe we could reveal what we know to one or two of the disciples, and see how they react before we draw everyone in. Maybe Di Duang or Zhuang to start? Either way, the aasimar seem likely to side with us when presented with the evidence." He returns his attention to Gastidem. "Gastidem, we're going to see an end to this... is there any of the disciples that you think might be a little more willing to accept the truth about Dakang and his lies?"
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Pai glances up, up, up at Mera's eyes, squinting to see if there's anything out of the ordinary there. "Mmmm... I dunno. They look normal to me."
She then snaps her gaze back to Gastidem, glaring at him with hard eyes. "Wow. You are an evil son of a biscuit maker. Sadistic! Cruel! You probably think those are compliments!" Addressing the group as she continues to sear Gastidem with he infuriated stare, lightening still arcing around her body, she proclaims: "I say we march this malicious conspirator over to the Aasimar right now and make him spill the beans. All the beans. NOW." Her body is quivering with barely contained fury at the duplicitous, barbarous injustice of all of this malarkey. (And maybe just a little bit of fear, because if the Aasimars don't buy it, things could get really deadly...really quickly.)
With a shrug Gastidem answers Feelo with a shrug, "I don't know. All of them are about as gullible as each other. You could get them to believe anything if you just say 'enlightenment' a lot. Maybe say you 'received a divine vision.' They are suckers for divine visions."
After the torturous little gnome demonstrates a lack of honesty, he is does look a undaunted by Pai's criticisms up until until the lightning begins arcing at which point he cowers and shuts his mouth.
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Kembe looks Mera in the eyes to humor her "Nope, no demons in there.. at least ones that apply to our current problem."
He then continues listening and watching the back and forth, keeping an eye on the motivations of the Gnome and also making sure the others don't go over the line with the little deviant Gnome.
The party finds Zhuang alone within the meditation chamber as he silently meditations. Your entry draws his notice as he sees the questions on your mind. After rising to properly address you he says you to all, "Welcome guests. I'm glad you have returned Mera with the rest of your companions. I recall some of your number expressing continued interested in the meditations. I would be happy to walk you through them. They require a focused mind, but from what I have heard from the recent changes to the gardens, none of you seem to lack focus."
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Arin begins, as solemnly as he can with Zhuang.
I'm afraid it's nothing as simple as that. We've started to notice troubling evidence around the temple that things are not as they seem, particularly for you the followers of these ways. Specifically, it appears that Dakang is in fact not leading you to Korada, but something more demonic in nature. We've kept our minds and our eyes open, but we've just had a little chat with Gastidem that confirms some of our fears...
Arin proceeds to relay the evidence the party has found in the various rooms, and the accounting of who has all of their fingers or not.
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"Zhuang, I know this may be hard to hear. Desna lives and breathes within me. If I thought that my connection to her may have been perverted... I can't think of it; it's horrifying to contemplate!" Feelo holds a hand out and shakes his head. A little dramatic, perhaps, but he doesn't linger long before concluding, "but I would want to know. I'd have to know. And you have to know this now."
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"Indeed, my wise friends here have found all sorts of things that don't add up, from demonic elements added to your worship, to demonic information added to your library--and a bunch of texts on Korada are missing. And then, of course, there's the demon that just attacked us. Help us cleanse your temple of this Dakang, and restore the glory of Korada."
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"And Gastidem admitted to us that he and Dakang made up the Kiss of Korada. It was just to make a mockery of you and your faith. That's the whole reason they did it! And a lot of the visions people have had here can be attributed to the flayleaf plant we found in the garden. With Gastidem's tracks around it. It causes hallucinations. And there's a button on the base of the turtle statue that he can press to make it chop off your fingers. He thinks you deserve it!" Pai's words trip over themselves as they breathlessly rush from her lips.
Zhuang listens as a looming sense of darkness grows around him as the information fills the air around him. Despair and a sense of failure follow around him as he finds objections, but your responses continually find information that he can't find fault with. He looks at you all, seeking any sign of duplicitousness or deception but finds none.
"I wish to believe it is not true, that you are all mistaken or this was merely a test of my faith. I have spent my entire life here under Dakang's teachings and practiced it enough so that I might be able to teach others as well." He moves upward to run his hands against the etchings on the walls and glass spheres as he reminisces over his life, questioning every moment up until now.
"I can at least be glad about Miriya. She has been suggesting she has been ready to attempt the Kiss of Korada," he pauses a moment before giving a strict look at the gardener before adding, "along with Gastidem as well." He drives the bit of fury back with a thought as he refocuses on the party. "I thought it was more proper for her to focus on training and studying for longer until she did so and she thankfully took my advice to heart."
"Yet I do not believe I can aid you in this task. My martial training is meditative, not a tool for combat and despite my years here, I don't believe I can present this as well as you. Even now I feel doubt in my heart and that is not fit for any sort of focus here or a debate."
"I can't think any ill of Dakang or anyone else that might be complicit in this, I wouldn't have even thought of Gastidem, " he mutters as he touches the scars on his hands. "I am little use as guide, but my spirits says to speak to his guard. Convince them of the things you have seen here. I do not believe they would guard a person who compels others to sin. I pray that they will stand aside and you would be able to do the same with Dakang and resolve this without violence. I can speak to the others if you wish and, if the worst does happen, keep them from the fighting and guide them out of this place."
As the party speaks to him it seems clear that Zhuang had no idea of any of this corruption was taking place. He is surprised when the matter of the demons is brought up and the weight on him feels like he had no idea he was doing anything other than being a loyal worshiper of a celestial being.
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Arin nods at Zhuang, glad that he is reasonable in his reception of the heavy information.
We understand that this is a lot for you. We would appreciate that you talk to the others, but soon in your own time as you process what you've heard and collect yourself. With your training you can no doubt regain your focus, but alongside better perspective. We will try Dakang's guards with this information now, and see if they will join us.
He moves to lead the group to Dakang's chamber. Along the way he remarks to the party, It would be ideal to draw the guards away from Dakang's chamber, so that we might converse with them without him hearing and intervening. This may not be easy.
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Kembe nods in satisfaction with the teacher. He claps his hand on the man's back and smiles. "Your wisdom and strength will be needed. Speak to your students while we try to resolve this with Dakang and his guards. Afterwards I would like to learn your meditations." And with that he bows out with the others, to go confront Dakang.
"Would any of you be able to try my mage armor wand again? In case this gets ugly. Feel free to use it on whoever needs it."
The party has not problem in going to address the guards. They are still on their guard, but seemingly no more or less than they were before. You are able to convince one to step away a short distance from the door. Not enough to separate them all, but enough that your voices wouldn't be clearly heard through the doorway. You make your initial claims and she immediately balks at the claim.
"You are strangers here and Dakang has saw fit to let you study here. You ask us to give up our sworn duty on your word? What has happened to your short time here, what have you found to convince you that our faith is a lie?"
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Well, to start with we found references in the library replaced with those of demonic entities. Then, for the Kiss of Korada, Gastidem admitted that he can control who loses fingers or not. So, if it helps we could go talk to him now and discuss what he's in with Dakang on. We can point out the discrepancies in the library as well, if one of you is willing to come with us.
She looks to the others in silent confirmation before agreeing to see the evidence in person.
She questions Gastidem to determine if he acted outside of Dakang's influence. There is no question she holds Gastidem in low judgement, but is able to see the switches on the statue after clear direction.
Looking through the library she questions they party, "This is what is always has been. What demonic entities do you see here?" She withholds judgement as she takes in your explanations and other information.
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"To start with," Jahz explains as he makes a quick sketch on a scrap of parchment, "the holy symbol of Korada usually involves three circles like the glass balls used in meditations, or lotuses or monkeys. This one," he pauses to hold up the sketched "symbol of silence and contemplation", "is the unholy symbol of the demon lord of suicides and heresy, Sifkesh. It has no place in a holy place like this!"
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In Tien, Mera says, "And we fought some kind of demonic wretch that attacked us in the crypt. And heck, there were undead there as well. And those poor creatures became undead while on Dakang's watch."
Switching back to common, she says "Kembe, what was that you found in the library...or didn't find?"
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While in the garden, Pai leads the Aasimar to the location of the flayleaf plant. "See this plant? It's call flayleaf. It causes hallucinations. See the footprints? See the nick in the sole in this print here? They match Gastidem's shoes. It appears that he used flayleaf to induce the "divine visions" some have experienced here, as well as to numb the pain of the amputations during the Kiss of Korada farce."
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Kembe winces a bit as he's asked to present his evidence, not being one with words he stumbles a bit as he speaks, but the evidence speaks for itself.
"See these books? None of the rites or symbols described are actually connected with Korada. There is no such 'symbol of celestial silence and contemplation'. These books have been altered by someone."
Her questions become less frequent as she listens to the outpour of evidence. She seems rattled by the information but still states, "I must speak to the others of this."
Allowed a moment with the others, they converse with each other in the Celestial tongue. The conversation is terse throughout, but there is certainly a tonal change part way as they clearly have made at least one decision.
After a few minutes they step to the party and one declares, "We will allow you to step forward and face Dakang. We pray for his soul, but clearly we have little knowledge of if this was his true intent or if he has been corrupted over time. We won't fight alongside you though, we have spent our lives defending him, to turn about in an instant on him would be traitorous, we will guard the exits to make sure the combat doesn't spread to the temple. We can offer one boon though," she says as she moves past the curtain into the chapel.
She moves over to the fountain within the room, covered in a thin layer of dust that comes with disuse. As she makes a silent prayer, water begins to flow from the fountain, sparkling and clean with a radiant glow extending from it.
"We believe this relic, if any, would not be tainted as we only use it for the most blessed ceremonies like the birth of a newborn. Dakang has never called for their use himself. Blessed water flows from this fountain. Any weapon you bathe in these waters will be granted strength over evil."
The party can prepare themselves and their weapons further before as they move through the halls into Dakang's chambers. You pass through far less used halls and the doors into small rooms, each likely for the aasimar. At the end of the hall you find the priest's personal quarters. Inside is a spacious chamber with a simple bed, writing desk, and enormous armoire. A Spiral of Korada is drawn along the north wall, but the drawing is made up of several small marks resembling double-headed arrows. In the corner of the room you see a short stairway that leads to the balcony on within the chapel.
At the table, he appears to be working on a journal and seems surprised by your entry. He rises to address you, "Travelers, I know you are strangers here, I do not know our ways, and not all these rules fall upon yourselves, but these are my private quarters and I ask that you leave these rooms be. If my guards know you have slipped in here, they would be forced to do harm to you in my defense. As you stand here though, I can clearly see you have something on your mind my children. What trouble forces you here?"
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Kembe bows deeply to the trio of guards "We appreciate your wisdom and hope to fix the evils in this place." He too dips his fists into the fountain, wiping a bit of the water on his forehead and taking a moment of silence for himself to focus. He then dips the remaining weapons in and heads off with the others, purpose in his steps.
"Please try to convince this demon to leave on his own, without violence if it can be helped. If not then bring the fury on his head!" Kembe isn't usually this expressive, but he's seen enough in this place to have worked up his conviction.
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"In our short time here we have uncovered your ways. We have shown these clues to the rest of your 'soul farm' and they have agreed. It is time for you to leave. Even your personal guard can not overlook the evidence against you." Kembe stands tall and confident but not aggressive in his manner.
"You will dupe these people no longer."
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Seeing Kembe dip all his weapons in the fountain, Mera thinks to herself. Stupid, stupid, STUPID. I should've gotten all my weapons blessed. But, I can't go back up there now, I'd look silly. Oh well. Hopefully my fist and spear shall suffice...
After entering the office, Mera says
"Whether its chains and whips, or false words and sham ceremonies, the chains of oppression will be broken! Surrender now, confess your crimes to the members of this congregation and face their justice...or be destroyed!"
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Jahz studies the wall decorations. "How fitting for your work here," he says grimly. "A pretense of Korada made of Sifkesh worship. Much like your food, your teachings, and your driving these good people to suicide as they fail and fail to reach the false perfection you dangle in front of them. No more!"
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After dipping her dagger and hands in the water, (Because what the heck. You never know!), Pai skitters into Dakang's chambers, squeezing in between Mera and the bed.
At Mera's intimidation attempt, she thinks to herself: I like this woman! The arcing electrical currents are still buzzing and zapping around her, her hair still on end. The expression on her face is one of cold, controlled contempt. "Korada would be most displeased learn of your so-called Korada's Kiss. You'd better surrender peacefully! This is a fight you can't win."
As an afterthought, she calls out: "Jahz! Feelo! Block the stairs so he can't get away!"
She then glances around the room to see if there's anything there that could sway the outcome of the fight that she is sure will break out any moment.
"I assure you are mistaken. There is nothing, but ..." He stops himself as his heavy flesh leans with a weighty sigh. He ponders on the books and his garments as he considers your complaints. "It is as I feared, I wished to avoid confrontation if possible, but if they have seen ill in my actions, maybe it is time for me to pass on, it would be unfortunate to leave this flock without a priest, but one of you would be willing, the the grace of your heart to take over and lead these souls in a new direction and this would be a mere interruption on that path."
He nods his head as he assents to the idea a line of blood running from below his mask, "Yes, I'm certain they would believe that." With little other preamble the obese head explodes revealing a monstrous and vile worm with five jaw writhing within.
Dakang's voice is not silenced though as you still hear him in your head as the monster gazes upon you. I knew this confrontation would leave me a mess! A shame, but change must come someday.
- Round 1 -
Jahz
Pai
Arin
Mera
Kembe
Feelo
Dakang
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Kembe's eyes go wide as he sees the twisted... THING the man becomes "Strike now!" He hollers and tries to move in to get behind it, readying a strike for a weak spot in the creature's neck.
Would being on the desk count as high ground? And thus grant an additional +1 to hit? Also do I need to make an acro check to get up there?