In addition to putting their heads together, the party decides where they will go next!
...
"This... evening..." Cirri shudders. "Unless anyone has more clues, maybe we can try the southern room?" Cirri stands up and moves towards the northern door.
"First, I wanna check outside." Cirri tries to open the northern door.
The Oracle of Pharasma studies them for a moment.
After identifying the Prayer Beads the Orc nods to Cirri.
Perhaps, us not being in the kitchen/pantry area later this evening would be a wise choice.
The Oracle then nods sagely to no one, before heading out with Cirri to examine the northern door.
EDIT:
The party follows Cirri north, back outside, the clinging of the morning dew to the tropical plants since fallen back onto the ground, the mugginess of the increasing heat filling the lungs with humid jungle air, as the temperature climbs in tandem with the sun rising high into the sky!
...
Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) to Search @ ??
Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) to Search @ ??
Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search w/ Trapfinder @ ??
Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search @ ??
Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) to Scout @ ??
...
"Back already? Have you cleared out your Home Base yet?" from a meditating position, Ingdani doesn't bother to uncross her legs, nor open her eyes, as if somehow sensing the party's presence.
"Nope, not yet. Turns out you shouldn't visit the kitchen after sunset, though!" Cirri giggles as she inhales the humid air.
She takes a moment to stretch her wings and let the breeze go through. Some of the wings are dirty from the dust inside. Others are messy from the bruises the ghosts gave her. Ah, if only she could stay out here forever...
"I just wanted to make sure the door actually went outside. You never know when you walk into an illusory trap of some kind." She stands up and rolls her head around her neck a few times.
"Ingdani, we're going back inside to look around some more. See you." Cirri waves goodbye (knowing somehow, Ingdani noticed the gesture) and heads back into the cursed cutlery kitchen.
"North is clear for now. I guess we head south?" Cirri will return where she came and make her way to the southern room.
"By the way, Max: Did you find any good grub in there? Potatoes are nice if you cook them just right. Salt, oil and some fire goes a long way!"
While the others puzzle out the decanter and the beads, Aoibhean spends a bit trying to identify the properties of the potion she found.
"Right behind you," she tells Cirri, following the druid to the south.
Audi waits just outside, as Cirri speaks with their guide a bit. The Orc smirks as the druid returns and begins searching the southern area.
First these voices in my head and now a strix making me dizzy!
The Oracle follows along at Cirri's side though.
Bumping into Ingdani, the "reality check" succeeds and the party head back into the Temple, through the Refectory, down the twin stairs, through the Courtyard, up the opposite twin stairs, and through the open double doors, arriving at what looks like a dorm with rotted mattresses and small wooden chests that cover most of the floor. Across the room, another entrance to Outside, which, presumably, works...
...The party scour this room!
Then decide where to go next...
...
...
10 min
Aoibhean to Identify Potion from Pantry
Audi to Search Dorm
Cirri to Search Dorm
Max to Search Dorm
Osh to Search Dorm
20 min
Aoibhean to Search Dorm
Audi to ??
Cirri to ??
Max to ??
Osh to ??
...
A strange stone with rune carvings!
Some weapons and jewelry, mostly broken or rusted, but perhaps of some value.
Adventurer's equipment, assorted, mostly worn, but perhaps of some value.
A Small hide pouch containing a handful of tiny opals, and three heaps of assorted coinage.
A strange stone with rune carvings!
Some weapons and jewelry, mostly broken or rusted, but perhaps of some value.
Adventurer's equipment, assorted, mostly worn, but perhaps of some value.
A Small hide pouch containing a handful of tiny opals, and three heaps of assorted coinage.
A strange stone with rune carvings!
Some weapons and jewelry, mostly broken or rusted, but perhaps of some value.
Adventurer's equipment, assorted, mostly worn, but perhaps of some value.
A Small hide pouch containing a handful of tiny opals, and three heaps of assorted coinage.
...
Audi peers into the guest room with his usual smirk. The Orc frowns though, as if someone was talking to him, but no one actually hears them, except the Oracle.
The Orc then smiles as he finds the rune-carved stone.
"Huh. A stone. Does anyone know the significance of the carvings? Maybe it's historical in nature."
"I also fond some weapons, jewels. And some coins, too." Cirri retrieves a small pouch and collects some jewelry.
Osh follows the others. He smiles as he watches the others scour the room. "Weapons and jewels? We can sell those, I'm sure. I have no need for those silly things."
Osh will poke his head out the doors, checking to see if any more threats are hanging right outside the doors. "Come out, come out, where ever you are!"
The party looks around, inside, outside, and at the cache they discovered...
...
...
These items seem to have once been offerings to the temple. The runestone looks incredibly valuable, you wonder what other items of value the monks who once lived here might have hid away in this place.
The coast is clear.
...
10 min
Aoibhean to Identify Potion from Pantry
Audi to Search Dorm
Cirri to Search Dorm
Max to Search Dorm
Osh to Search Dorm
20 min
Aoibhean to Search Dorm
Audi to Identify Rune
Cirri to Identify Rune
Max to ??
Osh to Search Outside
30 min
Aoibhean to ??
Audi to ??
Cirri to ??
Max to ??
Osh to ??
...
"Runestones are always a good find," Aoibhean comments, before looking back the way they came. "Looks like there's only one wing left. Shall we go, or do we want to check the outside here as well?"
"The runestone is very valuable..." Cirri ponders. "I think these were offerings to the temple at some point. I wonder if we can offer them again? Maybe that will put the spirits at rest." She shrugs. "I hate ghosts."
"Let's double check outside before we try the east wing."
Heading north through the Courtyard once more, down the twin stairs, the party makes their way east, up the adjacent twin stairs, and into an open-air chamber. A sandy area in the center of the atrium surrounds a pond full of dark, dirty water. From the center of the pond rises a small stone statue structure with a wide, flat top. Large, open doorways lead to the north, south, and further east, as well as from the direction the party entered.
...
...
Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) to Search @ ??
Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) to Search @ ??
Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search w/ Trapfinder @ ??
Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search @ ??
Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) to Scout @ ??
...
Audi nods at the discovered runestone, places it in a pocket, before following the Strix further through and back outside.
This is complex.
The Oracle wonders up the steps to begin looking over the Reflection Pool.
or
from Oracular Warning(Max)
Frowning at the voices telling him that something is in the pond just daring them to enter, Audi does smack Max in the arm for a bit of warning.
Cirri takes a keen look at the water. "How bad is the water? Mold? Algae? Just really dirty?" She peers at the pool. It hasn't been maintained and it's not connected to the river bed. Typical "civilized" maintenance. Uncle Kaye always made a mess of his water supplies, and Cirri always warned him.
"Hmm, what's with the statue? Any historical significance?"
As the party enters the room, a lingering fetid stench gently permeates the senses...
...
...
Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) to Search @
Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) to Search @ ??
Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search w/ Trapfinder @ 33
Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search @
Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) to Scout @ ??
...
This source of water looks like a home to a smelly creature who is currently not here... Large Quadruped tracks and a strange consistency in the water... drool?
...
The pillar is for meditation - blocking the reflection one might otherwise see in the pool below, enabling the sense of "self" to disappear - and connection to the sky.
Ingdani would likely spend a lot of time here once this temple is cleared out!
"Wow, that's... much stronger and smellier than I thought."
Narrow Failure!
You can open the spoiler, but not attempt the check inside...
"Huh." Cirri hops on alternating legs, trying to jog her memory. "I've heard stories about this. Parent told me... four legs... drools in the water... strong smell... tip of my tongue... bah! I can't remember!" Cirri squats.
"Whatever uses this habitat isn't here right now. We might be intruding, so be careful."
After a suspicious glance at the filthy water, Aoibhean ponders the pillar in the center of the chamber.
"I've seen plinths similar to this before," she says, her face thoughtful. "Used for 'emptying the mind,' I'm told. I imagine the pool could be quite useful as a focus for a scrying ritual, if it were cleaned."
"Oh. Well that makes more sense. The monks made this big pool to meditate. But now they're gone. So nature took over and we have a new owner?" Cirri cups her hands around her cheeks. Mysteries are so fun to intuit.
"Okay, we find a way to clean up, figure out whoever lives here and maybe ask them to leave. Or reclaim the area."
Osh watches the others curiously. "What is that stench!? Is it coming from the pool. You know what they say... bring a deer to water, but can't get him to drink from it. No way am I gonna drink that!"
Audi watches the waters carefully, as the Orc goes to investigate the pillar. Smirking at the voices
Audi chuckles at the back and forth about the possible inhabitant of the water.
Probably a hydra.
The Orc then begins to follow the group to the next area needing investigating....
...
The pillar acts as a focus for the entire temple - Once per day per pillar (so, once), a character with an Occult or Divine Tradition who spends 1 hour meditating on the pillar can Refocus their entire Focus Pool!
...
Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) to Search @ 30
Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) to Search @
Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search w/ Trapfinder @ 33
Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) to Search @
Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) to Scout @ 17
Aoibhean heaves a deep sigh and rolls her eyes, but remains kneeling in seiza. The man in front of her sits in a lotus position, speaking in a voice so soft she strains to hear it over the chatter of songbirds in the forest around them.
"That's impossible," the monk continues, ignoring her peevishness. "Instead, focus on your breathing. In, then out, and in again. As thoughts and worries come up, acknowledge them but allow them to simply pass on."
Aoibhean takes a deep breath, holds it for a moment, and then slowly releases it. Breathe in...breathe out. Breathe in... There's no room for other thoughts to crowd in.
As time goes on, she can feel herself relaxing. Until her nose begins to itch. She tries to ignore it, but eventually it's too much and she raises a hand to alleviate it. She gives the monk a guilty look, but his face is unreadable.
"Sorry," she tells him. "I had an itch, and needed to scratch it."
"Did you, though? Or did you want to?"
While the party explores the "swamp" surrounding the Pillar of Ascendant Meditation in this sunlit room, the lingering smell begins to subtly intensify...
...just within the radius of the fetid odor, Audi is the first to sear his nostrils from the inside out!
S > Immune for 1 minute
F > Sickened 1 (w/ a -2 penalty to retch w/in Aura)
CF > As Failure, plus Slowed 1 concurrently while Sickened
...then, having snuck so close and being discovered, the Large Long-Necked Dank-Furred Antlered Quadruped closes the distance to Audi, and lets out a disgusting belch, funneling horrid fumes and chunky bits into a 60-foot Cone,
◆) Stride
◆◆) Toxic Phlegm
...
Stank Beast (???)
➤Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋) @ Save vs Toxic Phlegm
➤Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) @ Save vs Toxic Phlegm
➤Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) @ Save vs Toxic Phlegm
➤Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) @ Save vs Stench, then Save vs Toxic Phlegm
➤Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) @ Save vs Toxic Phlegm
...
"So... anyone see anything?" Cirri looks up just in time to see... it.
"Salted waters, protect me!" Cirri wraps her wings around her mouth and nose, protecting herself from the toxins.
And when dealing with the stench, would [url=https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?ID=763]>Breath Control<[url] apply? Cirri would get a +1 circumstance bonus against inhaled threats. Also if she rolls a success she also gets a critical success instead.
"Oh! That's what took over the pool!" Cirri points excitedly.
...
A booger beast? A deer of disgusting doom?...
You have no idea what this creature is!
Audi hears the warning from the voices just as the Stink Monster shown itself. With a roar of challenge, the Orc screams his rage at it!
Audi shrugs at the Stink Monster! The Orc wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and spits on the ground.
Audi hefts his greataxe.
Got a big'n here!
The Orc Steps forward, swings his great axe and casts Shield.
** spoiler omitted **
Politely repeating request!
Osh coughs. "What... was that? Looks like a bigger, meaner, uglier, me. But I swear I would never vomit all over my friends. Though perhaps over my enemies, I would."
◆◆ Stride x2 (80 ft of movement, which puts Osh right behind Audi)
The deer approaches the 'large long-necked dank-furred antlered quadruped'
Osh shrugs off the sense, his poppet nose must be stuffed from the phlegm - whether his own or the creature's.
The poppet lowers his head and tries to interconnect antlers with the creature, similar to how bucks ram into each other during mating season.
"Well, cousin. This will hurt, trust me."
◆ Grapple (10 ft reach, Titan Wrestler)
Aoibhean is nearly knocked senseless by the blast of disgusting phlegm, but not enough to stop her from making a quick magical counterattack. She points her staff at the monster, throwing out a lance of freezing energy with deadly accuracy. As the spell itself fades, rime begins to creep across her staff and up her arms.
Cirri struggles to consider what she knows...
...Osh races up to grapple the similar beast but it reverses him, capturing him in it's antlers!
...Fortunately for our heroes, Aiobhean's aim is true - she puts the creature on ice, it's legs caking with icicles slowing it's movement, spiraling the icy magic around her!
...
Stank Beast (???) @ (-36 frost) @ -10 speed
Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) @ (-48 snot) @ Reverse-Grabbed by Stank Beast!
Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) @ (-48 snot) @ Cascade (Cold)
➤Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) @ ??? (see request)
➤Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋)
➤Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) @ Save vs Toxic Phlegm
...
"Um... well." Cirri hops around. "That's pretty yucky. And you messed up the water, too!" Cirri squawks and moves towards the thing.
Cirri spreads her wings and lets the wind carry her to the statue with the flat head. Then she prepares to finish leaping across the pond.
The smell gets worse. Way worse. Reminds her of that one time a fellow researcher brought her to a cave full of "gold" nuggets. Turns out the natives loved eating lots of tumeric and saffron. She knew it was bad as soon as a shovel started the gold rush on top of them. She couldn't get the stench out of her wings for weeks, poor dad was scrubbing her every day.
But you get used to it.
Covered in Phlegm, screaming, Audi steps up and narrowly misses the Stank Beast...
Cirri attempts to High Jump to the top of the Pillar, instead merely Leaping and landing into the murky water, but a second quick Long Jump puts her most of the way across the pool - and she shrugs off the stench!
Meanwhile Max, covered in Plegm, charges full speed ahead, as the Stank Beast fails to react to his reckless dash!
...
Stank Beast (???) @ (-36 frost) @ -10 speed
Osh w/ Antlers (0✋) @ (-48 snot) @ Reverse-Grabbed by Stank Beast!
Aoibhean w/ Staff of Evocation (2✋) @ (-48 snot) @ Cascade (Cold)
Audi w/ Greataxe (2✋) @ (-24 snot) @ Shield
Max w/ Hammer (1✋) + Shield (1✋) @ (-48 snot)
➤Cirri w/ Staff (1✋) + Shield (1✋)
...
"Gonna have to wash this off..." Cirri jumps and flaps her way across the gooey pool.