Coronus visibly relaxes at Kyrah's reply. Then, his mind starts whirling. That means that the gods are not infallible, omniscient, nor omnipotent. If she's telling the truth. She could be Kyrah, but lying like the trickster god who she is supposed to be. Or, she could be lying that she is a goddess. All these thoughts strike like lightning before he realizes Kaia grabbed her. He can't add anything more on the subject than Mateo.
The centaur nods in agreement at the plan for the scouts to reconnoiter the temple. He breaks out the lunch that the innkeeper packed for the Heroes and starts passing it out.
"Kyrah, what concerns you about the silence from the oracle Versi? How does she normally contact you? What enemies would she have? Who wouldn't want to know the future?"
Kaia stops reacting at Kyrah's rebuke, as if she had been physically slapped. She allows Mateo to move her away from the goddess without incident.
Lysander's demeanor had shifted once Kyrah revealed herself. He'd accepted the silvered spear, just in case, but had forgone any other wealth at this point other than the golden arrow offered by his theía . The weapon was worth far more than his share, and others needed the gold more than he did. But despite having a new weapon to add to his existing armaments, Lysander grew quiet. He wasn't melancholy, but thoughtful.
I've walked into the den, the places I wished to avoid. But at least I managed to avoid flirting with my theía, unlike poor Mateo. But the longer we remain in the company of divinity, the more likely we will be pulled into their schemes- and ultimately I'll end up forced to deal with my sire.
The big man's introspection had consumed him through much of their journey, but Lysander is drawn from his thoughts by Mateo's plan. "If you two are planning on scouting ahead, do not engage. Fall back once you've spotted anything awry and we'll move in together. I've no interest in losing friends today." It wasn't the first time that Lysander wished he could speak with his friend from a long distance when in the field.
Before they leave, Lysander turns to Kyrah. "Theía, does the Oracle have attendants? Someone we should be prepared to contact or protect if Novyn and 'Teo find them? And how would we recognize them?"
@Coronus>> "Usually she appears to me in my dreams... not every night, but a least 3-4 times weekly. I also have the ability to reach out to her in my dreams as well, and have been trying nightly... no response".
She then turns to the rest of the group a thoughtful look on her pretty face. "As far a enemies... well... Sydon has forever been angry with his daughter, but would never harm her directly due to the pact of peace... however that wouldn't stop him from sending some of his agents to interfere with her. Now that you have become known he might take action to silence her until your threat can be obliterated".
She then turns to @Lysander.. and addresses his question. "Her Manservant Proteus should certainly be there, and she has a never ending stream of attendants. They can all be recognized by their Aqua and lavender robes, as well as their youth and beauty. Proteous is older, but should have a silver circlet encircling his head".
As the scouts prepare to leave. "Please be careful. Remember I can only assist you in certain ways, and to act directly against the forces of the Titans would violate the Oath. It's really up to you the heros".
The Temple of the Oracle is located in a cleft in the earth, many leagues from the nearest settlement. As you descend into the chasm, the forest disappears, replaced by steep walls of craggy rock. Warm vapors rise from cracks and vents along the floor of the chasm, filling the air with an eerie mist. You feel yourselves sweating from the heat and exertion.
"Don't worry, my friend, we will return back safe and sound. After all, if I was gone, who would be the joy in your life?" With a wink and a casual wave, Mateo follows behind Novyn to scout ahead.
The chasm opened up ahead of them, warm mist covering the ground. Even in his light armor, sweat began to coalesce upon his skin.
The Odyssean kept up with the thief, split up enough that they could cover each others' backs without being caught together. He moved with practiced precision; each footfall was perfectly made. With keen eyes, he looked for any sight of battle or any or the servants that served the Oracle.
Novyn, used to being the stealthy one is surprised when she quickly loses sight of Mateo as they enter the mists. She is startled when all the sudden he appears at the edges of her sight, a couple of yards away. Both of the scouts easily avoid a couple of steam vents, as they venture deeper into the cavern. Large boulders, and obvious steam vents, make the path both treacherous, and difficult to perceive. The entrance to the temple should be just ahead on the right.
As the upper reaches of the shrine come into sight through the mists, you think you see some vaguely humanoid figures further up the canyon towards the temple... for just a second.
The remainder of the group waits patiently at the entrance to the cleft. Though the day is already hot, the humid heat coming from the mouth of the canyon is almost a tangent force.
Mateo moves with a swiftness that would make any thief proud and as he ends up at a nearby rock away from Novyn, he views the area carefully. His eyes focus on temple's entrance for a moment, narrowing before he turns towards Novyn. She begins to give hand signals to him and a smirk spreads across his face. What had started out as a criminal technique had spread to the scouts of Mystros, a silent form of communication.
The military scout, with his bow in hand, would stay low and use the mists of the steam vents to cover his movement between the rocks. Sweat stung his eyes for just a moment before he readjusted the cloth tied around his head, keeping the stinging moisture out of his eyes. The heat, rocks, and steamy mist was as much of a detriment as it was a benefit. If he was careful, he could use it to his advantage.
Coronus listens intently to the scout. "Who exactly are we drawing out? Did you see any priests or threats? Large mythical boars?"
"I guess I'll be large, distraction. It's not like I'm half-goat." The centaur looks down the chasm trying to plan out his descent which doesn't have him rolling down and losing his his equipment and dignity.
Aristeides nods to Coronus's question. "Yes, who are there?"
Kaia doesn't say anything.
She had nothing left.
Instead of keeping up with the group, she trundled up the mountain behind them, arriving some time after the scouts when to scout but before they came back.
@Mateo>> For your reference the movement you spotted was not figures moving towards the temple. It was vague figure movement further up the canyon. You saw it when you looked at the temple. Also need another DC14 DEX save as you work towards the other side of the temple.
DM Rolls
Perception on Mateo
@Coronus>> This will be normal movement for you, as there are many open areas in this terrain. Many have visited the Oracle over the years, and the ground is clear in many places... just a lot of vents, boulders etc. to have to dodge through. Any DEX Saves you make however will be at Disadvantage due to the close proximity of these natural hazards.
Standing at the center of the portico are four men clad in bronze mail and bright blue cloaks.
Mateo creeps through the canyon floor, careful to not place himself anywhere where the steam is violently vented into the air. Once in position, his eyes notice the men dressed in armor standing there within the portico.
"The attendants would be wearing aqua and lavender, robes of it in fact..." Mateo thinks to himself as he readies an area and takes a deep breath. Kyrah had been clear about the garb of the usual attendants; men in bronze breastplates were not the usual garb at all. Looking up the path, he waited for his comrades to arrive and hoped things were going to go better than he was imagining they would.
While readying his shield, Coronus replies to Novyn with a grin, "she thinks I'm cute."
When he's ready, he leads the obvious troop into the chasm. The clopping of hooves echoing around the rock walls.
Aristeides invokes some protection magic and follows Coronus.
Everyone entering the cavern must make DC14 DEX Checks. I'll allow Advantage on this, as the scouts show a supposedly safe path.
While he doesn't have claustrophobia, the walls of the cave crowd the centaur. His hoof falls echoing off the walls. Now the steam water his eyes, so he barely sees the path in front of himself. He grips his shield and holds his hand on his sword handle.
Aristeides slowly advances, ready to cast some baleful magic of an ambush his the group. Realistically, he'll probably throw some magic projectiles which won't ever hit their target while the rest massacre the enemies without mercy, but who knows... maybe one day he'll master those super fancy spells his teachers showed him at the Academy.
While her spirit might be weak, her reflexes remained as quick as ever. Tracking movement, she notched an arrow and fired into the mist before even realizing what she had done.
@Aristeides>> The young mage takes a deep breath before entering the canyon, and with a moments thought, casts a spell to gird himself in mystic protection. He then enters among the others. Nobody is more surprised than he is, when a vent opens up next to him releasing a column of steam.
DEX Save (Advantage from direction)
He freezes for just a moment, then barely ducks under the jet of steam.
@Novyn>> . Warning the others of dangers she had noticed on her trip in, Novyn missteps, looses her balance for just a second, and narrowly avoids one of the very hazards she was pointing out. She then moves forward towards the temple entrance.
@Coronus>> Coronus was busy watching where his hooves landed to make sure he made as little noise as possible, when he pulled up short just before a low angled jet of steam would have made him a gelding. He leaps aside just in time causing several rocks to tumble away from him. He cringes expecting an awful cacophony of sound, but the thick mists, and trick terrain seem to absorb much of the clatter.
@Kaia>> Moping and keeping to herself, Kaia finally arrives with the others, just as they start into the mists. Her sharp eyes catch movement from the corner of her eye, and she quickly loads and fires at something she apparently spotted in the mists up the canyon.
Bow - Normally would be disadvantage due to cover of fog, but "sharpshooter" feat offsets.
Damage
The arrow seems to hit something, as you don't hear the clatter from the other side, and in fact you hear a gasp as if something was injured.
@Mateo>>: The soldier keeps one eye on the scene at the temple porch, and one eye on his approaching mates, wincing as they dodge the ever present steam jets. He is most surprised to see that Kaia's arrow seems to have found a target somewhere north of him in the steam.
DM Rolls
As the group gets closer to the temple they can clearly see four soldiers standing and pointing as they close. None of them seem to see Mateo, but the approaching group seems to draw their attention. Hey converse for a moment, then slowly back towards the door of the temple, open the door, and prepare to enter.
Mateo watches as his comrades descend closer to the temple, frowning and wincing every time that one of them narrowly avoids dodging one of the steam vents. It was the sound of a gaso as Kaia's arrow struck true. She must've seen something that he had not. As tge shadowy figures begin to move, he lifts his himself up and takes aim at one of the retreating shadows. An arrow flies free, whistling through the air.
Ducking down behind his arrow, Matteo tries to keep out of view and lose the sight of his enemy.
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Aristeides quickly takes some sand from his pouch, spreading it around in the air and pointing at the for soldiers up front. "Hypnos!" he shouts, moving meanwhile to the doors in case they manage to close them.
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"Lysander, let's go." Coronus motions for the demigod to grab hold before the centaur gallops toward the door. Along the way, he draws his longsword.
"Lysander, let's go." Coronus motions for the demigod to grab hold before the centaur gallops toward the door. Along the way, he draws his longsword.
From where you guys are (60') away you won't make it to the temple. In addition you have to cross a shallow stream, and climb steps to get up to the temple leves... where you encounter closely placed columns... however that's so cool, I'll allow you to get up the steps and onto the surface of the outer temple platform, before the soldiers disappear inside.
Re-post of Oracle Temple exterior
Oracle Temple Exterior
You guys are currently almost off the map in the lower RH corner.
DM Rolls
,
@Mateo>> Mateo is sure he hit one of the shadowy figures, as it hisses in pain, but whatever you hit remains in the steam... seemingly without being affected by the super-heated water.
@Novyn>> Novyn sends a fletched bolt in the same general direction as Mateo, but she sees it hit a boulder due to her different angle, and fly off harmlessly into the mist.
@Aristiedes>> You target the knot of soldiers beating a quick retreat, and are rewarded as the last slumps to the ground beside the door, with the others pulling it shut, and leaving him to his fate.
You hear one of them scream at the man, with a final plea, before shutting the door. "Come on in you lazy oaf!. Those are the heros of Thylea!. Then the door closes.
Kaia started moving forward with the others and fired another arrow at the
shadowy figures as she moved.
While readying his shield, Coronus replies to Novyn with a grin, "she thinks I'm cute."
Lysander leans in to Coronus. "You're not cute." then smirks good-naturedly. The centurion adjusts his helm to maintain a shielding position near the front of the group.
Narrowly avoiding a steam vent, Lysander wipes the sweat from his brow and points off in the mist to where Kaia sends her arrows. But before he can speak, he finds himself astride Coronus' broad back.
Sliding from the centaur's back after their valiant charge, he manages to avoid making any reference to a gallant steed as he drops to the ground. "FORM UP!" he calls out "There are more in the mists."
As he begins to tie up the sleeping soldier, he gives a look to his centaur friend. "Think we should knock? Or wait for their reinforcements? I vote knock."
DM Rolls
@Kaia>> Your arrow seems to once again found purchase on something in the mists... (Not a gorilla). With a whooshing sound you see several other shapes disappear into clefts in the rocks, seemingly returning to wherever they originated. All is quiet except for the gentle snoring of the soldier on the ground.
The last round everybody got to the steps of the temple. This round you could walk up to the dual brass covered doors, weaving between the columns, and begin to tie up the sleeping soldier. It would take another round to finish tying him up.
Next!!!
Aristeides quickly takes a rope and starts tying the fallen soldier before he wakes up. "Those strong or crafty enough maybe have a way to open that door?"
Kaia moved up the steps and grabbed cover from one of the pillars while notching another arrow. She prepared to fire again when an enemy broke cover.
@Kaia>> Kaia sees nothing to fire at among the mists, but sends off an arrow at the last general direction anyway... which hits a cleft in the rock. {The beasts withdrew from the active scene last round).
As Novyn attempts to work the locks on the doors, she realizes that they are temporary doors, and not locked.
There are four soldiers seemingly listening to the orders given by one of obviously higher rank. As you look to the right you can see the three remaining soldiers that just ran through the door standing at attention.
The leader is angrily arguing with an older man in lavender and blue robes with a circlet about his head about something. On the steps behind the argument are three young adults cowering together in fear, dressed in lavender and blue robes. Behind them are the torn and bloodied bodies of several other attendants whom appear to be dead.
You can overhear the old man shouting at the leader. "Stop the witch! Don't let her harm Versi".
Kaia will line up a shot on one of the thugs threatening the attendants and fired, then pulled another arrow and fired again
Eight soldiers led by one. Head priest with three children. Versi and a witch not in sight. "By Chiron's Tail," the centaur announces.
He maneuvers into the temple attracting as much as attention as possible, then his voice booms impossibly loud echoing throughout the temple.
Striding into the chamber, Lysander grins at Coronus' bellow and raises his shield and spear. With a breath, he charges directly for the leader. "Take them down fast and clean. Then we get to the Oracle's side!"
"Wait! WAIT! "
Aristeides finds there's something is about this. It seems no one here wants to harm Versi, so...
"WHO'S THAT WITCH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
Initiaties:
group 1 Kaia, Mateo
group 2 Soldiers
group 3 Aristiedes and Coronus
group 4 Braeca
group 5 Novyn and Lysander
@Kia>> quickly draws an arrow, and releases at E5, dropping him before he can form a shield wall with his brothers.
@Mateo>> Mateo moves towards the soldiers who were first encountered and engages E3.
Dice 13+5=18 hits for Damage cutting a shallow wound into his shoulder before he can get his shield fully up.
Soldiers The remaining groups of soldiers converge on the PC's.
E1 On Mateo Shortsword
E2 On Mateo Shortsword
E3 On Mateo Shortsword
And one of the soldiers is able to get through Mateo's armor and score a wound. Mateo 5-points Piercing damage
The other group of soldiers quickly forms a shield wall, and advances on the party with long spears ready.
E5 on Aristiedes Longspear (Martial Advantage) But he is obviously confused by the words spouted by the young mage, and knocks his own spear from his hand with his won shield.
E6 on Coronus: Longspear (Martial Advantage) And the soldier to his right also hits his spear causing it to miss it's target.
E7 on Lysander: Longspear (Martial Advantage) And the experienced soldiers in the party begin to wonder if these guys have any formal training.
@Coronus>> The Centaurs voice booms out rattling the columns supporting the roof, and causing the flames to gout and flicker. The young acolytes on the dais huddle even closer together.
@Aristiedes>> Your question seems to go unanswered, as the Senior Acolyte turns to the man threatening him, and laughs. "Ha. How you'll pay for your treachery. The Heroes of Thylea are here to bring you to your reckoning".
Braeca is up next after Coronus and Aristiedes finish their turns.
[dice=Initiative]1d20+2
"Wait! WAIT! "
Aristeides finds there's something is about this. It seems no one here wants to harm Versi, so...
"WHO'S THAT WITCH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
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