The Orc looks at Eby and Lorian with hope when he sees their holy symbols.
"Brothers and sisters, you have come to my aid!" he says in common and slowly tries to stand up on his one good leg.
Inga realizes that the orc's leg and arm have been mangled by the Reaver and cannot be used without a restoration or regeneration.
He then checks out the rest of the room, for threats or anything else.
]
Rallas' uncanny perception reveals that the liquid inside the bowl is produced by the statue, which houses a fragment of a bone.
This is probably bone from the skeleton of a former cleric which is used for rituals of healing.
Rallas realizes that the bowl’s contents are warm to the touch.
Lorian indicated himself and Elbe by pointing to each other. "I am Lorian Theran, called the Peacemaker, and this is Elbesamiya dy Bulaka, we both serve the Dawnflower, tell us what happened please." he asked the orc as he started to introduce the rest of the group.
The orc is clearly in stress and afraid. With fast words he answers, “I came here with several others from my tribe. Mahja Firehair sent twelve of us here to cleanse the temple and capture the red reaver. The Twisted Nail was here before us, and it seems they too want the reaver for their own purposes. We had thought we could remove the beast and let it loose on our enemies in Belkzen, but it is larger and more aggressive than we anticipated. It cannot be contained or reasoned with.” and he looks at his damaged body.
“There are other orcs here, but I am the last of my band in this awful place. There were a dozen of us when we arrived two days ago. We arrived quietly and set to work laying traps for the reaver. Then one of our party was tracked back to our camp by Twisted Nail brutes. The fight drew the reaver, and the last of us fled here. Grunsh and I were caught on the steps. She sacrificed herself so that I could escape, but that thing caught me. I thought I would die here like all my friends, but it would seem Sarenrae has other plans for me.” he says and holds his wooden holy symbol.
The orc looks a little confused but eventually pours the liquid on his leg ... but nothing happens.
But when he takes a sip from the bowl you see a golden light shine through his eyes ... almost angelic!!
Within seconds his broken bones starts to mend and suddenly he starts to move and stand properly.
"This ... this is a miracle! The Dawnflower is with us!!" the orc says beaming.
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Hearing the story, Lorian lowered his head. "May her spirit enjoy the afterlife with the Dawnflower. he solemnly said. "I have a few questions. he said prompting the orc for his name as the group checked out the bowl.
"Mahja Firehair, are they the leader of your tribe? Would you know the leader of the Twisted Nails? What about the leader of the band that chased you in here? he asked. "There was a village that was attacked by the Red Reaver, was that your band or the Twisted nails that got slaughtered." describing the village and the bodies that were found.
When the orc took a sip from the fountain and was healed of the serious injuries, he gasped "The dawn brings new light. We are glad to see that you are well." Lorian said, having few occasions to see the Dawnflowers grace in his homeland.
"I am Ulrich! Thank you for your gift!"
The orc smiles with the new power he feels.
"Mahja Firehair, a devotee of Sarenrae, is the orc chief of our quite unusual Burning Sun tribe, formed mostly of outcasts from other other tribes. She strives to turn the orcs under her command away from their evil ways, a pursuit that has earned her many enemies in the Hold of Belkzen. The Burning Sun tribe is will one day turn our people away from their selfish and destructive natures."
He then stands up.
"The orcs of the Hold of Belkzen congregate in tribes, which is the extent to which they are organized into any semblance of order. The Twisted Nail are a tribe of what is colloquially referred to as "mountain orcs": primitive clans who live in the high mountains of the Hold of Belkzen, and who are seen as violent and uncultured by the lowland tribes. The Twisted Nail tribe lives in the northern Mindspin Mountains, and are known to prefer the flesh of their own kind over any other meat. I do not know their leader! And I do not know if they are still here but with ... with the monster here I doubt it." he says with some fear.
“The creature is very good at sniffing out intruders. We had set up camp north of here, just beyond the edge of its territory. The creature is not very smart, so it can be tricked, but do not try to reason with it. I think its time here has made it more aggressive. It is connected to the healing font, and perhaps some of the other relics here as well. If you can break those links, you might weaken it. We laid a trap for the creature in the main hall but it isn’t set. If you activate the pressure plate and cables though, the harness should hold the reaver for a time. I hope that helps.”
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Lorian pondered the new information. "What can you tell us of what you have already found in here? We started searching clockwise from the entrance. We found your set up in the main hall but like you say, we wanted to reduce its power before we deal with it. We have a good start already as we have recovered the helmet that was in the font. We could feel its power get reduced." he asked.
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"U-Ulrich ohloniphekileyo, nam ndandikhe ndanoburhalarhume kwesinye sezizwe ze-orc, ndaza ndagxothwa. Ndifumene ukukhanya kwe-Sarenrae, kwaye ndiyenzile ebomini bam ukuba ndilwele uxolo nobulungisa kunokuba ndenze igolide kunye nomhlaba. Nje ukuba mna nabahlobo bam sijongane neRed Reaver, ndingathanda ukudibana noMahja Firehair. Kazi uthixokazi undizisele apha ukuze ndifumane ikhaya elitsha nelanga livuthayo."
Ulrich turns to Lorian.
"Well, I saw these relics. I have seen this reliquary here that healed me, and the font in the back of the Bastion. Search the second floor as well; you may find something else there. Stay away from the windows and be quiet. The relics and rituals within this temple were meant for followers of Sarenrae, so I expect the rituals here to be tied to her. Oh and the helmet lies within the font in the back of the Bastion. Tread carefully in that place however. The reaver has made a den of that chamber and filled it with all the things it treasures. There is powerful magic in that place, and I think the helmet is an important part of it. If you mean to take it with you, remove it carefully.”
When Elby talks orcish with him, Ulrich is clearly astounded and glad at the same time and answers in orcish.
"It would be an honor! You are a shining light and will be able to convince others to follow our path!"
You suddenly see the orc freeze.
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"We should probably let you rest here until we trap or kill that reaver."
Inga suggests to Ulrich and the others.
She gives Ulrich a serious look.
"Just know that we are doing all that we can to make this a holy refuge again. Once that beast is destroyed, there are plans to restore this temple to its former glory. You and your tribe will be most welcome here."
She turns her attention back to her team.
"We never did find out what that helmet can do, did we?
Is there a way to find out?"
She pulls out one of her scrolls of object reading.
"I might be able to reveal a few interesting tid-bits about its history."
Inga holds out an expecting hand, waiting for Leinad to hand the helmet to her.
"I have come across many interesting objects and relics throughout the years during my travels as a merchant. I may have heard about this helmet from a noble or priest while wheeling and dealing. Let's see what I can find out..."
Inga reads the scroll. She closes her eyes and concentrates on the helmet while moving her hands slowly along its surface, sensing for strong psychic impressions left by the original owner.
Psychometry.
Leinad is typically oblivious, but is a little paranoid in this place...
[dice=SenseMotive]1d20+2
... but remains oblivious. "It's a helmet, see," miming, "I thought that was clear" he says at the stunned orc. He looks around. "My performance wasn't that bad was it?"
"Ehh ... no ... no I got it!" he says a little shaken.
"You worry because you are still alive. You have a purpose to spread their heroism in the process of removing the taint in this sacred place. Elby, may I have the helmet. Here wear this so you can let us know how we are doing. Share with us their stories as we travel.
You can all feel how Lorian's words would rally any dispirited ally.
The orc opens his mouth and he is absolutely honest now.
"I ... I can feel courage in my heart! If you allow I will aid you with my spells ... but I ... but I would not want to confront the beast again!" he says.
Leinad, who hasn't yet touched the helmet, will retrieve it from Inga and carefully offer it to Ulrich, "Please take this and know, 'Good Will Prevail!", ending in a (tiny) bold stance.
"I ... I do not feel worthy! Please you carry it! Please!" he says stuttering.
After Inga inspects the helmet she sees visions of the past ... almost as if she sees the histories of those that touched the helmet in the past.
Prior to the orc raids and the red reaver’s occupation, the church served as a fortified stronghold during the early years of the Shining Crusade.
Housing numerous Sarenite warrior priests and other heroes of the Shining Crusade, the church not only served as a staging ground for various military actions but also acted as a place of redemption, researching rituals and techniques to cleanse the souls of the warriors transformed against their will into undead monstrosities by the Whispering Tyrant and his servants.
Unfortunately, many of the details related to these rituals were lost as the clerics developing them were called to the front, never to return.
Inga suddenly see a picture .... in a blessed font within the temple, a helmet rests beneath the crystal waters.
The helmet was originally placed there as part of a cleansing ritual, though exactly what was being cleansed remains unclear. Those that touched the helmet remember different stories as it seems.
Inga is not sure if the helmet belonged to a noble warrior who was transformed into a fearsome undead knight, with his helmet placed within the font after his defeat so that his soul could be fully cleansed and released to the afterlife his mortal deeds had earned or the helmet is the source of the font’s blessing and that it was placed within the font by a righteous warrior who survived many battles against the Whispering Tyrant’s undead hordes due to the helm’s blessing.
"Let us clear out the rest of this floor and then head upstairs. As far as the Reaver, we should us its curiousity to our advantage. We can distract it from one location while the rest of us proceed along a safer route."
"Let me help you before you go!" the orc says and it is clear that he feels as if he is in your debt.
You believe that Ajax has a clever idea and proceed into the hallway again to go to the next level with the decoy that Ajax suggested ... but it seems as if the Reaver has recently destroyed access to the stairs!
Thus, you hastily move into the next room without attracting the reaver and leave Ulrich where he is!
~
You move through the next room and only see blood splatters and dirt.
~
The next room again shows a gruesome scene. Gore and body parts of at least three different orcs are lying in several pools of blood.
Blood is visible everywhere!
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Hmm...a thought...perhaps if I touch the helm it might give me a glimpse of how to harness it's powers...I might be able to make it work for me...
Later as he sees the blood spatter and gore.
We should be more vigilant from here on in...that blasted beast can get in here easily it seems. We have to find how it's tied to this place and sever its connection...and quickly...
Ajax realizes that this bloodshed happened before you all entered and fortified the bastion!
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"That is understandable there Ulrich. Since you have been here for a while, can you start documenting what short time repairs will be needed until it can be surveyed by some engineers and such for more serious repairs, like the stairs as Ajax reported." Lorian said. "That way you can report what needs to be done to Mahja Firehair when we finish clearing it out. Oh, and please protect the font, I hope we do not need it but you never know. he added before joining the others.
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Leinad peeks in at the gruesome scene, but assuming Ulrich's tribe doesn't have any relics upon their persons, is determined to press on. "We don't have long before the beast finds its way back... inside!" he says with a purposeful dramatic pause. He stands readied beside the next door if nothing is noticed about the room or on the bodi.. body parts.
Ajax looks for tracks of what could have caused it.
"Ara, do you smell anything that is not orc, reaver, or one of us in here?"
Ajax waits for the one-paw two-paw signal.
Ara cannot smell anything that is not orc or the reaver or the party.
Inga curls her lip in disgust.
"Ugh.""May their spirits journey safely."
She mutters solemnly.
"These poor souls must be members of Ulrich's tribe."
Rallas aides Inga and you really see parts of a shield with the symbol of the sun. Members of Ulrich’s clan seem to have been attacked here.
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Inga carefully steps over the carnage.
"Yes, let's keep moving and find those relics to sever the link to the reaver."
"Wait, Ajax."
Inga calls out quietly.
She looks towards Klaus then points at the door.
The phantom wolfman gives Inga a nod then moves towards the door. He places a large hand on Ajax's shoulder as he moves past and gives the ranger an "I got this" grin.
Klaus steps through the wall directly next to the door. Moving into the room beyond, he leaves a blueish film of ectoplasmic slime on the wall.
"Don't worry. The ectoplasmic residue won't hurt you."
Inga says to anyone curious of the slime.
"Some people only get a small rash, like an allergic reaction, after touching it. It's quite harmless. However, it can be mixed with other ingredients to make a splash weapon that frightens those that are weak of will."
She opens one side of her vest and waves a hand toward two delicate glass vials filled with a glowing blue liquid.
Klaus' incorporeal form moves to the next room and finds it empty and filthy.
You open the door and find nothing magical here.
The smell of orc is more intensive to Ara.
Ajax hears voices from the next room.
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"Remember, they are just as likely trapped in here and we can try to talk to them. I will step in and see if we can parley. Someone hang on to my belt in case you need to drag me out of the way." Lorian said, hoping that he can be of use.
"Iparley!" Lorian said as he entered, praying that he was not about to be greeted with a great axe to his noble face.
Lorian and Inga open door! Five orcs are here and it looks as if they are rummaging through the various books!
Although you are talking so nicely, the five orcs grab their weapons and are eager to attack you as soon as they notice you.
Inside the room stand a number of shelves and bookcases, many bearing old scorch marks and the blackened remains of old leather-bound books.
Scrolls and papers, some little more than decayed piles of ash, lie strewn across the floor.
But it seems as if much of the text is now useless due to years of decay and smoke or direct damage from the fire 11 years ago.
Built into the wall along the southern side of the room is a large pictorial shrine to Sarenrae. The shrine is carved in the shape of a large ankh, with a hollow in each extremity and another in the center.
Scattered on the floor beside the shrine are several small statues and the remnants of a broken wood tray.