Kembe's attack is barely able to break though the corpse's body and magical defenses. Yet is still devastating, burning the demon and causing it to unleash a reverberating screech.
You think your strength isn't faltering! Sif'kesh grants me power for actions I have taken. It gives me power for the heresies you have committed! You think your piety is untouched! Fools! Even their meditations are filled words I have driven into their minds!
While it isn't clear the threat he calls to, Mera feels her first blow weighed down, shackled by the meditative chant she gave hours ago. The words ring throughout her mind and make it difficult to get enough power in that strike. And yet ...
And yet the words fade to nothing, replaced by that moment of calm within the meditation. Some other power comes from this, shattering the mental shackles and both blows collide straight with the villain, nearly breaking it under the barrage.
The demon is given only a moment of respite as Arin's magic fails to take hold, but it won't be able to easily recover from the damage already dealt to it.
- Round 1 -
Jahz
Pai
Arin
Mera
Kembe
Feelo
Dakang (37 damage)
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Feelo had joined the others at the font, dipping his sole starknife in the blessing water; things will have gone badly if he needed to use it, but he'd be grateful to have this blessing if it came to that.
Inside Dakang's chambers, he murmers a prayer as he steps to block the stairs, drawing that same starknife as another shimmering starknife appears in front of the halfling, powered by Feelo's faith in Desna alone!
Pai's attack may have not have disabled the spellcaster, but it has still dramatically increased the pressure on him as he is forced into a corner.
You may think your weapons are able to tear down the pillars I have created, but it is nothing before the power I have been granted through my devotion!
And yet for all the boasting, pushed into the corner, it is unable to focus on the magic for the pressure from Kembe. With another quick prayer it creates an illusory duplicate of itself to defend.
- Round 1 -
Jahz
Pai
Arin
Mera
Kembe
Feelo
Dakang (37 damage)
Kembe's second attack breaks through this illusion created only leaving one left, but Dakang is able to block the remaining blows from Mera incoming with faith and dead flesh.
Your pride is even greater, I have spent centuries building this place! I have created this from nothing! I have persevered before you were born and I will not let you end me!
- Round 1 -
Jahz
Pai
Arin
Mera
Kembe
Feelo
Dakang (37 damage)
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Seeing Kembe and Mera step between him and the demon, Jahz looks around for an alternative - and spots one! Moving over to the dresser, he tries to hop up...
...and swings at the demon from above! "Your works are built on nothing, and thus shall they amount to!" he cries heroically.
Climbing onto the wardrobe leaves it beginning to crack underneath Jahz's weight, but it puts him in position and lets him deal a final cleaving blow to the vile demon.
With the body on the ground silence returns to the room and it appears as though the party have succeed in ending this creature's horrid schemes.
Across the table are many of the missing holy texts of Korada, each with notations on Abyssal describing ideas for ways to change or pervert the teachings to that of Sif'kesh. In the wardrobe, among with various oversized robes for Dakang, there is the body of Wei lying alongside well chewed bones from other humanoids.
Upon entering the guards are disgusted by what they see as the magnitude of the betrayal sinks in. One seems to need to restrain his own tongue from the rage he feels.
"We never saw this in him and I doubt we would have ever done so in our lives. Above all else, we thank you for revealing him to us. I will speak for those here and tell you that you are more than welcome to remain here as long as you need."
They take the body of Wei elsewhere for the moment as they find an appropriate way to lay the body to rest.
Slowly the other worshipers are introduced to the reality of Dakang. It takes a while to work through them all. None are anything but shocked and disgusted to see Dakang's form. Aside from Gastidem who, while surprised by the body, seems far more content that he is in better shape than the former priest.
General reactions from the other worshipers are mixed. Liso and her sons are heartbroken as Wei's death begins to sink down upon them. Zhaung is disheartened, but feels a bit lost on his own direction. While each of their reactions are different, they are all thankful to you with most interested in continuing their life within the temple and separating the faith of Korada from Dakang's heresies.
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After the commotion of revealing Dakang settles down, Arin convenes with the party about confronting Gastidem.
One last loose end. Gastidem has not really been taken to task. On top of what we already knew about him being in on the ruse, he didn't seem very surprised at Dakang's true form. We could confront him directly ourselves, or advertise his transgressions to the guards and temple population and let them decide how he should be dealt with. Or, I suppose, we could do both of those options. Thoughts?
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Jahz spends as much time with Liso and her boys as needed, listening to what they need to say and playing with the children to allow Liso one to grieve on her own. The freshly-weeded garden is a wonderful playground, though he makes sure to remove both the statue and flayleaf beforehand. He asks if there will be a remembrance ceremony for Wei or any other worshipers, and offers his voice to tell their stories if needed.
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Kembe lets the silence at the end of the battle wash over him. They defeated the creature, but now the real work needed to be done. He nodded in agreement with Arin as he calls the guards in, then consoles them as best he could. "Dakang was likely at first a true man, then was taken by this beast and perverted. Don't feel ashamed, we would have never figured this out just by speaking to him." He clasps each one's hand and nods.
He stays mostly silent when the others are brought in, seeing the truth for themselves. At least until Zhaung arrives. Kembe knows what this must be doing to the man and offers his assistance. "I would like to stay here for a few extra days. I have spent much of my life in and around temples of learning and meditation. I could help you get your mind and soul back aligned with the true teachings of Korada. Will you do me this honor Zhaung?"
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After the commotion of revealing Dakang settles down, Arin convenes with the party about confronting Gastidem.
One last loose end. Gastidem has not really been taken to task. On top of what we already knew about him being in on the ruse, he didn't seem very surprised at Dakang's true form. We could confront him directly ourselves, or advertise his transgressions to the guards and temple population and let them decide how he should be dealt with. Or, I suppose, we could do both of those options. Thoughts?
"I would let those of this place decide his fate. They are of a different world than you and I, it is not our place to cast final judgement on him. They can do that for themselves."
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"I agree, Kembe. They all revere Korada; and that has to be respected." Feelo contemplates this for a moment.
"Not everything that we read in that library was falsified, and these people still know Korada's spirit. Part of Korada's domain is forgiveness; reformed evildoers are commonly a part of his flock." Feelo shakes his head, sad to admit it. "There may still be a place for Gastidem here. Everyone is safe now, I think we have to leave this for them to decide."
Feelo helps out for another day, making sure their research is complete and that the people of the Temple have a path to recovery in front of them, but he doesn't linger beyond a single extra night. The following morning, his happy Desnan feet are ready to get moving again, and he finds his mote out in the field and returns to the Grand Lodge.
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Pai feels bad for these people. Really bad. I mean, they were duped and betrayed! They thought they were worshiping a good god with all their hearts, and it was totally hijacked by an evil demon! I'd feel awful if it happened to me. She stays for a couple of days to help as much as she can, doing chores to allow the folks time to grieve and offering to carve wooden sculptures or draw portraits for any of the residents (to commemorate good memories or remind them of the hope for a better tomorrow, etc.).
Before the end of the same day, she asks her group: "So, what about that deal in the kitchen. Is it still creepy? If that's still there, we should probably see what we can do to take care of that so no one else gets hurt, or worse. They really don't need that now."
The following day, at meal time, she wonders if the food will be more palatable now that the demon menace is gone, as well as if the residents will notice any difference. After the meal is called down, she cautiously takes a sniff...
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Mera is keen to help the monastery get back onto its feet.
"As for Gastidem, we should leave his fate to the residents of the monastery...show them the entire truth, and let them dole out justice as they see fit."
"I suggest Zhuang and Miriya start combing through these true texts about the worship of Korada. While Dakang's depredations were unfortunate, they are at an end, and through proper guidance of the true at heart, this temple can once again be a true center of worship for Korada.
"And while Miriya and Zhuang seek out the true nature of the worship of Korada, with guidance from my friends with knowledge in such matters, I would be delighted to put my strong back into service of the monastery: First, we must begin with a vegetable garden, and then start planting crops. Honest work and a healthy meal are the real foundations for self-betterment."
Jahz spends as much time with Liso and her boys as needed, listening to what they need to say and playing with the children to allow Liso one to grieve on her own. The freshly-weeded garden is a wonderful playground, though he makes sure to remove both the statue and flayleaf beforehand. He asks if there will be a remembrance ceremony for Wei or any other worshipers, and offers his voice to tell their stories if needed.
Liso is grateful for the moment of respite. She speaks of Wei over years and others join in sharing the friendship they had with him and praying for his safety in the beyond. Stories of other worshipers over the years are set aside and a memorial is created for those who have passed in their memory. The memorial asks for their forgiveness of those who have passed and Pai's carvings take a prominent place within the display of hope.
More so than for when he was pleading for his own safety does Gastidem plead to Jahz as in defense of the flayleaf. It is unlikely his words will do little to sway, but his tone is frantic as though you planed to deny food or water to him.
He stays mostly silent when the others are brought in, seeing the truth for themselves. At least until Zhaung arrives. Kembe knows what this must be doing to the man and offers his assistance. "I would like to stay here for a few extra days. I have spent much of my life in and around temples of learning and meditation. I could help you get your mind and soul back aligned with the true teachings of Korada. Will you do me this honor Zhaung?"
It looks as though a weight is taken from Zhaung as seems to have discarded his role as elder teacher and taken up the role of student once more. "I would be honored by the chance. I would be grateful to be able to have the opportunity to purify this rituals once more."
Through these exercises Kembe finds that the meditations are true and untouched and it was only the chant, a hidden prayer to Sif'kesh, that was tainting the sacred ritual.
Before the end of the same day, she asks her group: "So, what about that deal in the kitchen. Is it still creepy? If that's still there, we should probably see what we can do to take care of that so no one else gets hurt, or worse. They really don't need that now."
The lingering presence that demanded others bring themselves to harm within the kitchen has faded and vanished. With Dakang's passing, it seems that the party has dispelled the haunt that once held strong here.
The blessings from the banquet table though still tasted tainted to Pai's senses. The rest of the worshipers, to their embarrassment still can't tell anything ill of the food, but are far less willing to continue consuming it. Within the books within Dakang's chamber Miriya and the party are able to find a potential reason for this. The table was a blessing to used in celebrations, a rare reward rather than a daily tool. The fact that it has been used in lieu of other food sources every day for centuries under the secret corruption of Sif'kesh has tainted the previously sacred magic item. The others are disheartened, but still resolved to remain here at the temple.
They quickly take to the suggestion of Mera to build out a vegetable garden, as well as leaving the temple to gather food and setting up trade with other villages to get the resources they need to make the temple self-sustainable once more.
Upon the advice of the party, the worshipers consider and agree to allow Gastidem the chance to stay, if the truly intends to repent and work hard alongside everyone else to redeem themselves and this temple.
The gnome has no intent however on cleaning up his life or his own personal use of flayleaf. He abandons the temple before even Feelo returns to the Grand Lodge. The other worshipers state their commitment spread warnings of his danger to other villages, "We do not wish to match the pain dealt to us back to him, especially as we spent so long following this dark path. However, we will not let others unknowingly be harmed by our inaction."
The following morning, his happy Desnan feet are ready to get moving again, and he finds his mote out in the field and returns to the Grand Lodge.
You return back to the other side of the tapestry, the room still a bustle of activity as another Pathfinder team is being chastised by Zey. Upon seeing Feelo he dismisses them as he proceeds to request, "I am hopeful you didn't repeat the mistakes of your fellows and set ablaze the ruins you were sent to investigate. I'm ready now for your report."