Shonne is able to describe the ritual to the group. If performed well, it performing the ritual should be enough to release the helmet, though if no one is skilled enough to do that, even a poorly performed ritual will cause the vines to relax enough that someone might be able to slip the helmet out.
While the ritual doesn't go exactly right, it is good enough that Ingrge and Skivven can work together to pry the loosened vines off of the helmet without damaging the font or the helmet, and remove it from the pool of water. As it leaves the pool of water, you hear a loud, mournful roar from the reaver stalking around the Bastion - removing the helmet seems to have had some effect on the beast. You have completed your main objective, but there are still some rooms to explore. You've spent about an hour in here, and while the reaver continues to prod the fortifications, you think you still have a fair bit of time before he is able to find his way in.
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Solstice, ever softly spoken and quite used to norther barbarian bombasticness, responds to Crowe's complaint.
"Not yet, Crowe. I think that as we locate its sources of power we weaken it. Eventually, though, it will be able to get to us and then you will be able to fight."
...
"Wit respect," she adds, not noticing how ironic it is for her to suggest this, "You may want to invest some time into non-combat oriented skills though."
Solstice also tags along and helps Skivven look for things and stuff.
Scattered among the remains in this room, you can find a magical scimitar with a pearl in the hilt, and a magic suit of full plate, though you are unsure what exactly either do.
The font the helm was in radiates some sort of powerful conjuration effect, though you're not sure what exactly. Some sort of healing seems likely given the history and location of the font.
Moving on, the group passes through one empty, dirty room. The following room has a large pictorial mosaic shrine to Sarenrae. It is carved in the shape of a large ankh, with a hollow in each extremity and another in the center.
You may all make a Kn Religion check - DC 15. If you succeed you can identify one object of your choice, and another for every 2 you beat the DC by.
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"I wonder if you are supposed to put something in those hollowed out areas of that holy symbol. Is that the symbol for Sarenrae? Sometimes I get these things confused. I mean, why not have a symbol that makes more sense. Like a honkin' battle axe for a god of war, or some bandages for a goddess of healing? Why all these weird shapes?"
Solstice finds a spot to perch and watch the others do their thing, casting mage hand and then trying to juggle some rubble with her three hands.
"Hey, Crowe. I've always wanted to learn how to juggle. Seein' as we have to sit here and wait while the others figure this stuff out, how about you join me?"
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Crowe seems to be wary of the suggestion to juggle.
”Hmm .. I can juggle. A Varisian circus once needed a bodyguard. Chelish idiots wanted papers. I showed them an earth breaker instead. The clown showed me some tricks then!“ he says with some comfort that this is a trusted environment.
He looks at Solstice for a moment and thinks.
”Well, let me show you... “
Crowe picks up two stones from the ground. He starts to move forward and suddenly is upside down and balancing his body on one arm. He has the two stones in the other hand and starts juggling with those.
Suddenly his facial expression changes and he seems to be almost ashamed of his performance.
”Arghh!! Look what this inaction is making me do Solstice!!“ he says clenching his teeth.
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Crowe seems to be wary of the suggestion to juggle.
”Hmm .. I can juggle. A Varisian circus once needed a bodyguard. Chelish idiots wanted papers. I showed them an earth breaker instead. The clown showed me some tricks then!“ he says with some comfort that this is a trusted environment.
He looks at Solstice for a moment and thinks.
”Well, let me show you... “
Crowe picks up two stones from the ground. He starts to move forward and suddenly is upside down and balancing his body on one arm. He has the two stones in the other hand and starts juggling with those.
Suddenly his facial expression changes and he seems to be almost ashamed of his performance.
”Arghh!! Look what this inaction is making me do Solstice!!“ he says clenching his teeth.
....
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"Why Crowe! You have a hidden talent there."
Solstices efforts look pretty pathetic compared to his. The added mage hand does make things a little interesting, but the objects don't stay airborn for long. It's obvious that she has never done this before. But she sticks to it and the parties efforts are accompanied by the sounds of pieces of furniture clattering to the ground.
"Show me how it's done, will you? Except for that whole upside down thing. I'd be just happy with keeping three balls in the air for more than 2 seconds without using a spell."
The figures are as follows:
The Golden dog is Charlabu. The golden-haired hound archon Charlabu often masquerades as a mortal dog, seeking ways to look after those in need without betraying his disguise. Small acts such as these are the foundation upon from which redemption arises.
The amber wheel is Bryla. She is the burning wheel. Bryla of Sacred Fire has thrice answered our prayers, manifesting as a glowing halo to illuminate the way forward and burn away evil.
The four armed angel is Sunlord Thalachos. The mighty herald of Sarenrae is her bodyguard and companion. Just as he appears at auspicious births, so too does Sunlord Thalachos welcome the sun as it is born anew each day.
The silver soldier is Aeabos. Sheathed in the scales of a thousand stars, Aeabos travels the nighttime sky to distant worlds, sharing the healing light of Sarenrae’s grace.
In addition to those four, Flynn remembers you found some similar figures in the packs of the orcs you slew previously.
A copper sword, Mystmorning. Mystmorning is simultaneously the shining blade and the crowned steed. Her rose-gold fur reflects the last rays of our goddess before night, reminding us that the Dawnflower’s light shall return to conquer darkness once more.
Izorai, the Alabaster Lioness. Where shadows pool, evil oft arises. The huntress Izorai sniffs out villainy, yet the same jaws that kill can gingerly recover the abused and carry them to safety.
The golden holy symbol, Sarenrae. She is the Dawnflower, the heart of light, hope, and redemption.
The idea that some of the items need to be put in the holes as suggested by Solstice seems correct to Hamish and Flyn. Now it just remains what goes where?
Aplogies - there are 5 slots - there is one at the bottom of the Ankh as well.
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While Ingrge awaits to see if anything happens when placing Sarenrae in the middle, he talks things out with his companions...
"While I'm fairly certain that the holy symbol (Sarenrae) would go in the middle, I only have guesses for some of the others. The four armed angel (Sunlord Thalachos) is mentioned as her bodyguard and companion, so I'd guess placing him to the right, a position of honor...and then perhaps the dog (Charlabu) at the bottom, at her feet. The amber wheel (Bryla) is mentioned as a halo, perhaps that would go on top so as to be above her head..."
He then frowns. "To the left, I dunno...the sword maybe? Or the soldier? Or perhaps the lioness? Any ideas?"
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Skivven joins the conversation, intrigued, "Hmm... if the Sunlord welcomes the sun in the morning, that would be to the east, so to the right of the compass, and if Mystmorning reflects the last rays before night, that would be to the west, to the left of the compass. The name Mystmorning does not help untangling this confusion here. I have no idea what would fit above or below the goddess, assuming Ingrge's assumption that she's at the center is correct..."
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Ingrge nods. "Had not thought of that with the Mystmorning, Skivven...let's try this then..."
With Saranrae (holy symbol) in the middle, Ingrge will put Bryla (amber wheel) in the top, Thalachos (4-armed angel) to the right, Charlabu (dog) at the bottom, and Mystmorning (sword) to the left...and then step back and await to see if anything happens...
With an educated guess as to the position of a few figures, the group puts the Holy Symbol in the middle slot, and Mystmorning and the Sunlord in their logical places, then proceeds about trying combinations of the other pieces. It takes only a few minutes before it becomes apparent that the position of the first three is correct, as when Bryla is placed up top and Charlabu is placed below, each extremity begins to glow with a golden light, which pours into the holy symbol in the center, which now radiates a soft golden light.
The three rooms in the red oval are unexplored.
The party leaves the room, leaving the now glowing, magical holy symbol where it lays to check out the last rooms. Exploring them, you find nothing of note - rotted books and robes, office supplies. And after exploring those, you believe you have thoroughly searched the Bastion of Light!
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Hamish returns to the glowing holy symbol statue, "I'll check this thing out since we didn't hear any screams of pain from the creature when we activated it. Maybe it is something we need to actively use against the monster."
As they discuss the upcoming battle he gives his thoughts, "Someone fast can open the front door and run, if no one else wants to do it I can. Have Crowe standing on the other side of the trap challenging it to come at him. Everyone else find a spot to hide for an ambush once the critter is trapped. Then we unload."
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"Whoever's going to hit it hard should perhaps carry the glowing symbol of the Dawnflower, just sayin'... maybe SHE will look down on us favorably for trying to reclaim one of her sacred places? Crowe? Shonne? Hamish? not me... for sure... I... do not plan to go toe-to-toe with this beast and will aim to support you all from... a distance..."
When Hamish grabs the holy symbol, you hear another low, mournful howl from the Reaver outside. Examining the holy symbol, Hamish detects some sort moderate conjuration magic on it, but exactly what he couldn't say.
The group takes a quick look upstairs, but with a few sections of the roof collapsed, everything that might have been interesting rotted away long ago.
@Shonne, in addition to its cries as you took the two artifacts, you still hear it shuffling, grunting, and roaring occasionally outside.
Go ahead and do any buffing you want to do and place yourselves on the map. Also, let me know how you want to open the doors. If you open them yourselves, someone will have to be by the doors to remove the various barricades you put in place. If you decide to just wait for the Reaver to break in, you can but it introduces some uncertainty as to when the fight will start, making buff timing harder.
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Ingrge nods to his companions. "Got an idea on how to get the Reaver to take the bait on the muzzle trap...
"We could drag one of the Orcs we slew into the entry chamber and either prop him up or sit him in a chair with a weapon drawn just on the other side of the trigger plate. My guess is that the Reaver will be so frustrated when he finally gets in, he'll run straight to the first person he sees and fiercely attack...if so, he'd step onto the plate and set off the muzzle trap...what do you think?"
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"Still, it is worth a shot to make him invisible if for no other reason than it will make him harder to hit while it lasts. So here goes..."
Solstice walks up to the barbarian and says, "I always did cheat at hide and seek."
Besides that she also casts invisibility on herself, elemental body, protection from energy (cold), and haste (one round before the door is opened).