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"Who is Dakang? I haven't come across that name in my readings of Korada's texts." Baram asks Zhuang. "Also, I respect your desire to leave the dead alone, but just for the report, do you know about how many people are entombed here? Are they exceptionally important or is this a place followers of Korada can choose to be entombed?" Baram asks as he pulls out paper and and a writing utensil to take notes, which he realizes has a note from his faction already, "Oh, and do you have a set of brass scales I could purchase or take with for my shrine to Korada?"
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Vanna sets about helping catalog the inventory. She writes down the information as the others dictate the information.
This is a big change from cracking heads, I tell you. Safer, but not as fun. I think this meditation thing has opened up my eyes. Might have to pursue this further. I can't think of anything else, Zhuang. You have been a great help.
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Despite his bordem, and obvious contempt for the philosophy of the temple, Kal'ryon tries to help out his fellow pathfinders as best he can- with the catalogue. Overhearing the conversation about the tomb, his face shifts into a smile.
A place they do not want us is likely to be far more interesting than a library of dead knowledge..."
Taking an opportunity, he begins to look around (as best he can) for the entrance to the crypt.
"Dakang is the immortal, enlightened master of our temple. It is he who has taught us the ways of Korada and given us the knowledge of his glory," Zhuang exclaims in answer to the question.
"Indeed. You will meet Dakang soon enough. He gives a sermon everyday but not for a while. In the meantime, I can show you around the library," Miriya says. "It seems that our new friends want to spend some time here, Zhuang. I can take them from here."
"As you wish, Miriya," the man says with a smile and bow. "It was a pleasure to meet you all. I look forward to talking to you more." The last seems directed at Vanna more than any of the others.
Miriya waits until Zhuang has gone before addressing the group. "I have always found it a bit strange that we are not allowed to see the crypts. I won't go myself as I have promised not to, but they are easy enough to find. When you go out of the library turn left and you'll come to another chamber. There will be a single door and a set of double doors on one wall there. The double doors take you out into the garden. The single door takes you to a hallway that leads to the crypt. I would consider it a favor if you told me what you find there when you explore it."
She returns her attention to Baram's questions. "We have been told that saints are buried in the crypt, but none of us have ever seen it, except Dakang. And no, I don't believe anyone has any scales here. Maybe there are some in the kitchen?"
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"You accept what Dakang tells you without question? That seems rather odd, wouldn't open dicussion of Korada prove more effective in learning of his ways? I don't believe that Korada is normally the "forbidding" type in my research. After all, if Korada teaches forgiveness, why would something be forbidden to begin with?" Baram says with a little skepticism and disbelief.
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Tofang listens and is obviously also interested in this religious discussion.
”Hmm ... I am very reluctant as faith has very different sides. Look at my goddess Chaldira. Some pray to her as she is fearless on battle. Some pray as they hope for a turn of events during a dire situation. And some just pray that their community is lucky and safe!“
"Not without question, of course. But it would be foolish for us not to accept the guidance of one who has the knowledge and wisdom of centuries behind him. Dakang has been here the longest so it is only logical that he would also know the most about Korada."
She cocks her head to the side and purses her lips thoughtfully. "But if nothing is forbidden in the first place there can be nothing to be forgiven. If everything is allowed, and nothing is forbidden, there can be no wrong doing and therefore no forgiveness for wrong doing."
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Baram looks over at Kal'ryon in surprise, "Until we meet this Dakang fellow and figure out if he is...being less than truthful with my brothers and sisters here, I would prefer if you didn't violate the rules here. In fact, I will personally attempt to stop you from entering the crypts myself if it comes down to it."
"I suggest avoid that as much as possible and go talk to Dakang immediately. I do not wish for violence to occur in Korada's house." he says in general.
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"But it would be a favor for our new and dear friend, Miriya, here. It would simoly be repaying her kindness with a favor. Nothing more."
Once again, Kal'ryon's face twists into a bit of a smile.
"Isn't that right, Miriya?"
"Where might we find this man of enlightenment? Surely he is available for counsel to those visiting the temple!"
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"Kal'ryon, Vanna, Tofang, I understand your impatience. The crypt sounds more suited to your talents than this dry and dusty library. But we have been given a series of tasks by Spellmaster Zey, and one of them lies here at hand, needing only one hour of our collective time to complete. Surely, we should take advantage of what is in front of us now..." Castinus gestures at the catalog and the books lining the walls, "before we start a separate task and risk not being unable to return? We all know Pathfinder assignments can turn sour in the most unpredictable ways..."
""I share your suspicion of this Dakang figure. I share your interest in the forbidden crypt. Let's freely take what we need from here first." He looks to Itam sat at a desk with an open book in front of him, and Baram confronting the others, for support. "There may even be clues to unearth in these papers, relating to the crypt or Dakang."
Castinus supports getting the library quest sorted before raising hell ...
"I still think we should speak with Dakang soon as I believe thats the best way to prevent any possible violence, but if you want help with the library, then lets get to it and move on, Castinus." Baram says as he begins grabbing books to help out.
Miriya appears a bit disappointed that they're not going to the crypt immediately, but pleased to have people to help her research the library.
Not only does the catalog dramatically reduce the time it takes them to complete the task, but also they are able to determine that almost half the documents that are in the catalog are not actually in the library.
Many of those that are left talk of Korada’s holy city of Vantian the Unshuttered, which continually crumbles into the sea of Ishiar while
residents continually rebuild on the far side of the city. The books also describe the double-arrow symbol of “celestial silence and contemplation” to be drawn over the mouth and eyes of adherents of Korada.
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Kal'ryon, without any training in either planar studies (or religion in general), contents himself helping in the library. Random fits of laughter come from wherever he happens to be standing- with intermittent mumbling to himself.
"Most of these are gone! Isn't that surprising? Where could all of these important texts have gone to? Do you think someone could have put them in the Crypt?" followed by more laughter.
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After some time sorting through the catalog and perceiving a pattern of missing documents, Castinus turns to the librarian for an explanation."Madame Miriya, I wondered when I arrived at the state of this library, and I see my worries are well founded. I see a good proportion of your documents are missing, according to your own records. In particular, those dealing with Vantian the Unshuttered, and the double-arrow symbol. Can you explain this? Are these documents stored elsewhere? Do any of your fellow monks check out documents and not return them?" He appraises her reaction carefully, watching for signs of reticence or dissembling.
To the others:"Guys - find anything of interest in these dry old records?" He frowns at Kal'ryon's frivolity from across the shelves, then shakes his head in irritation and makes further annotations to his notes on the Ganzi's behaviour.
"Here less than a day and you've already determined that our whole way of life is wrong. If only one of your massive wisdom and intelligence had come here years ago and saved us from our ignorance," Miriya replies to Kal'Ryon. It doesn't take much to sense that her sarcasm is largely fueled by her surprise and dismay in finding that there are texts missing.
"People are free to take books as they like but I'm certain no one has taken that many. I spend a great deal of time here and would have noticed. And would have seen them around the monastery if someone had them," she answers Castinus' question.
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.
The double-arrow symbol is sacred to Sifkesh, demon lord of heresy and suicide. Drawing this symbol over and across the mouth and eyes would resemble stitching, and Sifkesh is depicted with eyes and mouth stitched shut.
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Tofang contemplates for some time and looks at books.
He frowns but then addresses Miriya with a halfhearted smile.
”Would you mind to leave my friends and I alone for a couple of minutes?“
If she does not leave he sighs but continues nonetheless.
”Baram, I am not an expert in your faith but I have to admit that these books and this symbol have nothing to do with your deity. Vantian and Ishiar are not locations connected with Korada. They are not locations in Nirvana at all. These books have been altered! Did you hear me? Altered! This is a blasphemy for an engineer like me.
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!”“
He waits a moment so that this can sink in.
”The double-arrow symbol is sacred to Sifkesh, demon lord of heresy and suicide. Drawing this symbol over and across the mouth and eyes would resemble stitching, and Sifkesh is depicted with eyes and mouth stitched shut!!“
Tofang opens his mouth to continue but ... he remains silent.
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Castinus listens carefully to Tofang's outburst with growing alarm. Standing up from where he had sat documenting the library's contents, he strings his shortbow and turns to the rest of the party with a set jaw. "Missing books, heretical teachings, off-limit crypts - it sounds like this monastery has been subverted from the inside. It may be that our visit will achieve more than simply the academic aims we were set by our masters." He turns to Kal'yron "Kal, you have my apologies - your instincts were right. We may have more need for your sense for trouble ahead."
"What do we think - investigate the crypts now? It might make more sense to first discover hard evidence to support our fears, before we confront whoever is behind this. "
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Listening to Tofang, Baram grows very concerned, "Are you certain!? If that is the case, we MUST find Dakang immediately and confront him on this. If you follow a god of heresy, what better way to spread his power than to falsely lead a religion?"
If we know where Dakang is (can't remember if it was stated), he begins marching towards his location, if he not, he asks, "Where can we find Dakang. I must speak with him and discuss our shared belief of Korada."
Fortunately, Miriya ducks out of the library when asked, taking her book with her. She is not present to hear (or refute) Tofang's revelation (and implied accusation) nor the debate that follows.
Most of the everburning lanterns hanging in this hall are dark, but the dimness does not diminish the grandeur of this corridor. Along the north wall stand several statues, each depicting an angel or other good outsider. Some are depicted in dramatic poses befitting a holy warrior. Others have heads bowed in eternal contemplation and hands cupping glass spheres. The southern wall bears a large set of double doors, but these doors are boarded up. Smaller doors stand at opposite ends of the hall. A few bits of stone and other debris litter the floor and a musty odor hangs in the air.
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Itham finally gets his face out of the book when the conversation about heresy happens. I think I agree with Baram personally. We can act like we know nothing about the going ons around here and maybe we can learn something from him. At the very least we hopefully can find something suspicious enough that it eases Baram's mind about entering this place.
He sees that his argument doesn't go over well so he follows along with his magic missile wand ready to blast.
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"It is fine Castinus, pay it no mention again. It is such, in the chaos- where hunches can be right, and careful research can be wrong. Now is not such a time to worry about these things. What is, is."
The serious and reflective tone seems very discordant coming from Kal'ryon- though his face also betrays the depth of his words. In an instant a wiley smiles comes back across his face and a glimmer into his eye as the moment passes.
He looks on at the struggle of some of the other pathfinders in reconciling the temple and the truth's exposed by Tofang, and you sense a small bit of amusement in the circumstance.
"Come, let us explore these crypts. I will follow right after you, Vanna."
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Castinus nods at Baram, and clasps him on the shoulder. "Fine. Yell if you need us and we'll come running. We'll do likewise - if we are attacked there by followers of this god of heresy and betrayal, will you feel able to come to aid us?"
In the anteroom to the crypts, Castinus listens at the doors to the garden, then examines the statues in the hall, before listening at the door to the crypts and checking to see if it is locked. He is alert and ready for action, shortbow in one hand and tanglefoot bag in the other.
Castinus doesn't hear anything out in the garden but his sharp eyes spot an anomaly on the angel statue closest to the crypt door as he examines it. The wings have been arranged in such a way and connected to the door so that they will fall on anyone standing there and those around him or her if it is opened.
Tofang's first try is not quite good enough. But he realizes it and his mistake and takes another run at it. This time, he easily deactivates the erstwhile trap, leaving the room beyond open to the Pathfinders.
When they open the door they see a vaulted mausoleum that holds six large sarcophagi, each bearing the carved image of an aasimar dressed in ornate robes and holding glass spheres in one hand and a bell, a book, or a lotus flower in the other. Innumerable runes crowd the top edges and sides of each sarcophagus. A solid wooden door stands near another door that has been boarded shut.
A trio of skeletons stand idle within the room, one of them clearly more aware and adept than the other two. Yet, the torpor of years hangs over all of them and the Pathfinders are able to strike first.
As all the sarcophagi are still sealed, it seems unlikely that any of these creature's once lay in them.
Vanna
Kal'Ryon
Itham
Tofang
Skelemans (Black)
Castinus
Baram