After a few minutes of turns and dead ends you arrive in a wide courtyard. The twisting path of the hedge maze widens to a long stone causeway roofed by marble arches. The causeway leads to a courtyard surrounded by ancient stone structures, the largest of which must have been a palace. >An enormous marble statue of a robed figure< stands on a pedestal at the center of the courtyard, and a garland of red flowers adorns the statue’s brow.
If you critically succeeded, open the spoiler below.
The large statue depicts a bearded, balding man in a rustic, voluminous robe. He carries a staff made from a gnarled oak branch in his right hand and has a sparrow sitting on the left hand’s palm.
The garland sitting on the statue’s brow is made of roses from the maze. The statue’s head is 15 feet up. If you wanted a closer look you would have to get up there or bring the garland down.
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"How sad!" Clover says as she views the statue. "A medusa once lived here. The old man depicted here is Forest King Narven, who created the maze. Do you think he was one of the Medusa's victims, or is this a normal statue?"
Clover attempts the climb, but cannot quite make it. "Does anyone else want to try?"
As Clover smells the garland, the scent is off. Less floral and more faunal? It seems to breathe and pulse in her hands and then comes to life. It turns into a flock of red sparrows who quickly fly up and away.
You decide to make your way to the Stone Temple Pilgrims.
In this clearing, vines cover an ancient shrine built from stone. Four stone pedestals surrounding the temple stand empty, while four stone statues depicting humanoid creatures are lying in the grass and leaning against the temple’s pillars. Inside the temple is a large bell, and a text on the wall above it reads: “Sound the bell to greet the pilgrims standing tall and proud and be greeted by four echoes.” A faint scent of incense emanates from the shrine.
The four empty pedestals bear the following inscriptions:
- Top-left “Sunsear, the Healer”
- Top-right “Green Ghost, the Traveler”
- Bottom-right “Midwinter, the Hunter”
- Bottom-left “Stoneroot, the Gardener”
The shrubbery encroaches the pedestals, and you suspect returning the statues can restore harmony to the area and set the area back to normal. But... which statue goes where?
Nicole makes several critical discoveries about the Human and Dwarf statues.
- The Human statue's equipment includes a set of lovingly detailed stone working tools, indicating he may have been a sculptor or stonemason. His sickle is clearly not suited for combat, but herb gathering. She notices some graffiti saying don't put this on the Top-right pedestal!
- The Dwarf statue has a practical robe, often worn by field medics. Studying the base of the statue, she realizes it cannot fit in the Bottom-Right pedestal.
- The other two statues confuse her and she is unable to discover more information about them.
Fran makes a few discoveries on her own.
- The Elf statue's clothes are crafted in the style of Ilverani elves, a group hailing from the frozen north of Golarion. She also notices it will not fit in the Bottom-left pedestal.
- The Human statue is wearing a robe that looks similar to what many in farming communities wear.
- The Dwarf statue looks to be wearing clothes and accessories typical for desert peoples, suggesting she might have been an Ergaksen surface dwarf, and upon closer inspection, her satchel might be one traditionally used by those people to store poultices.
- The Donkey-Headed statue is interesting. Except for the donkey’s head, everything else about the statue—the scales, its proportions, and the bone armor worn—seems to indicate this creature was an iruxi, a reptilian humanoid.
Vardarel is having a difficult time inspecting any statues besides the Donkey-Headed statue. The amulet and trident suggest this pilgrim followed Gozreh, deity of nature, the sea, and weather.
Nicole (Cannot investigate Elf or Donkey-Head)
Fran
Vardarel (Cannot investigate Elf, Human, Dwarf)
Stitch (4 checks, +2 bonus)
Clover (4 checks, +2 bonus)
Roark (4 checks, +2 bonus)
- Nicole (Crafting): The Human statue's equipment includes a set of lovingly detailed stone working tools, indicating he may have been a sculptor or stonemason. His sickle is clearly not suited for combat, but herb gathering. She notices some graffiti saying don't put this on the Top-right pedestal!
- Fran (Society): The Human statue is wearing a robe that looks similar to what many in farming communities wear.
- Nicole (Crafting): The Dwarf statue has a practical robe, often worn by field medics. Studying the base of the statue, she realizes it cannot fit in the Bottom-Right pedestal.
- Fran (Society): The Dwarf statue looks to be wearing clothes and accessories typical for desert peoples, suggesting she might have been an Ergaksen surface dwarf, and upon closer inspection, her satchel might be one traditionally used by those people to store poultices.
- Fran (Society) The Donkey-Headed statue is interesting. Except for the donkey’s head, everything else about the statue—the scales, its proportions, and the bone armor worn—seems to indicate this creature was an iruxi, a reptilian humanoid.
- Vardarel (Religion) The amulet and trident suggest this pilgrim followed Gozreh, deity of nature, the sea, and weather.
- Fran (Society) The Elf statue's clothes are crafted in the style of Ilverani elves, a group hailing from the frozen north of Golarion. She also notices it will not fit in the Bottom-left pedestal.
Clover has a few insights on the statues.
- The Human statue's style and size of his pouch are such that he most likely carried seeds or herbs in it.
- The clothes and equipment of the Donkey Headed statue looks like they can withstand a variety of conditions and weather.
- The Elf statue's pendant depicts a canine paw print, which suggests she belonged to a druidic order of shapeshifters.
The dwarven statue completely bewilders her.
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Meat Wagon races his engine, startling a dozing Stitch "Easy now, I was just giving them a head start before I cleaned it up." He slowly climbs down off the buckboard and checks out the statues, like Nicole, focusing mostly on construction details.
"Ya know, when we're done.. maybe we just carve slots in the bottoms so only the right one fits on the right base? Since we all know this is going to happen again."
Stitch double checks the statues and confirms most of Nicole's findings. In addition:
- The Dwarf statue cannot fit in the top-right pedestal. It would probably wobble and fall over.
- The stone surface on the Elf statue’s armor has fine seams and multiple different textures, both rough and smooth, suggesting her hide armor was stitched together from the hides of many different animals and other creatures.
- The donkey’s head doesn’t match the overall sculpting style or technique.
Nicole (Cannot investigate Elf or Donkey-Head)
Fran
Vardarel (Cannot investigate Elf, Human, Dwarf)
Stitch
Clover
Roark (4 checks, +2 bonus)
- Nicole (Crafting): The Human statue's equipment includes a set of lovingly detailed stone working tools, indicating he may have been a sculptor or stonemason. His sickle is clearly not suited for combat, but herb gathering. She notices some graffiti saying don't put this on the Top-right pedestal!
- Fran (Society): The Human statue is wearing a robe that looks similar to what many in farming communities wear.
- Clover (Nature): The Human statue's style and size of his pouch are such that he most likely carried seeds or herbs in it.
- Nicole (Crafting): The Dwarf statue has a practical robe, often worn by field medics. Studying the base of the statue, she realizes it cannot fit in the Bottom-Right pedestal.
- Stitch (Crafting): The Dwarf statue cannot fit in the top-right pedestal. It would probably wobble and fall over.
- Fran (Society): The Dwarf statue looks to be wearing clothes and accessories typical for desert peoples, suggesting she might have been an Ergaksen surface dwarf, and upon closer inspection, her satchel might be one traditionally used by those people to store poultices.
- Fran (Society) The Donkey-Headed statue is interesting. Except for the donkey’s head, everything else about the statue—the scales, its proportions, and the bone armor worn—seems to indicate this creature was an iruxi, a reptilian humanoid.
- Vardarel (Religion) The amulet and trident suggest this pilgrim followed Gozreh, deity of nature, the sea, and weather.
- Clover (Nature): The clothes and equipment of the Donkey Headed statue looks like they can withstand a variety of conditions and weather.
- Stitch (Crafting): The donkey’s head doesn’t match the overall sculpting style or technique.
- Fran (Society): The Elf statue's clothes are crafted in the style of Ilverani elves, a group hailing from the frozen north of Golarion. She also notices it will not fit in the Bottom-left pedestal.
- Clover (Nature): The Elf statue's pendant depicts a canine paw print, which suggests she belonged to a druidic order of shapeshifters.
- Stitch (Crafting): The stone surface on the Elf statue’s armor has fine seams and multiple different textures, both rough and smooth, suggesting her hide armor was stitched together from the hides of many different animals and other creatures.
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Given the current information, Vardarel says “Perhaps we should try to place the dwarven statue first. According to Nicole and Stitch, it must be either Sunsear the Healer or Stoneroot the Gardener. It will not fit in the other two locations.”
“The pouch for poultices that Fran noticed would point towards the healer.”
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"There is a very good chance at the Dwarf being the healer. Us Dwarves are known to be excellent with our hands." He blows on his fingernails and pretends to buff them on his tool belt.
"I mean, if Feathers here can't make up his mind we may want to try something out without him?" He tests the weight of the statues, curious just how difficult it will be to move them around.
Vardarel moves the Dwarf statue onto the top left pedestal, and it remains stable. Hopefully it is the right option.
The four pedestals bear the following inscriptions:
- Top-left “Sunsear, the Healer” Dwarf
- Top-right “Green Ghost, the Traveler”
- Bottom-right “Midwinter, the Hunter”
- Bottom-left “Stoneroot, the Gardener”
Nicole (Cannot investigate Elf or Donkey-Head, 3 checks)
Fran (3 checks)
Vardarel (Cannot investigate Elf, Human, Dwarf, 3 checks)
Stitch (3 checks)
Clover (3 checks)
Roark (4 checks with a +2 bonus, 3 checks)
- Nicole (Crafting): The Human statue's equipment includes a set of lovingly detailed stone working tools, indicating he may have been a sculptor or stonemason. His sickle is clearly not suited for combat, but herb gathering. She notices some graffiti saying don't put this on the Top-right pedestal!
- Fran (Society): The Human statue is wearing a robe that looks similar to what many in farming communities wear.
- Clover (Nature): The Human statue's style and size of his pouch are such that he most likely carried seeds or herbs in it.
- Nicole (Crafting): The Dwarf statue has a practical robe, often worn by field medics. Studying the base of the statue, she realizes it cannot fit in the Bottom-Right pedestal.
- Stitch (Crafting): The Dwarf statue cannot fit in the top-right pedestal. It would probably wobble and fall over.
- Fran (Society): The Dwarf statue looks to be wearing clothes and accessories typical for desert peoples, suggesting she might have been an Ergaksen surface dwarf, and upon closer inspection, her satchel might be one traditionally used by those people to store poultices.
- Fran (Society) The Donkey-Headed statue is interesting. Except for the donkey’s head, everything else about the statue—the scales, its proportions, and the bone armor worn—seems to indicate this creature was an iruxi, a reptilian humanoid.
- Vardarel (Religion) The amulet and trident suggest this pilgrim followed Gozreh, deity of nature, the sea, and weather.
- Clover (Nature): The clothes and equipment of the Donkey Headed statue looks like they can withstand a variety of conditions and weather.
- Stitch (Crafting): The donkey’s head doesn’t match the overall sculpting style or technique.
- Fran (Society): The Elf statue's clothes are crafted in the style of Ilverani elves, a group hailing from the frozen north of Golarion. She also notices it will not fit in the Bottom-left pedestal.
- Clover (Nature): The Elf statue's pendant depicts a canine paw print, which suggests she belonged to a druidic order of shapeshifters.
- Stitch (Crafting): The stone surface on the Elf statue’s armor has fine seams and multiple different textures, both rough and smooth, suggesting her hide armor was stitched together from the hides of many different animals and other creatures.
Clover pokes at Roark, who suddenly remembers that he is supposed to be investigating the statues with everyone else. Lacking most most of the book learning needed for this challenge, he looks around and makes wild guesses.
Like Clover, he apparently doesn't know much about dwarves.
Roark observes the Dwarven statue and is bewildered by it. He then looks at the other statues.
- The Human head and eyes are ever so slightly turned to the left, and there’s a faint hint of a smile on his face.
- Donkey Head'ed statue has cracks at the base of the statue clearly don’t match the bottom-right pedestal. It can't fit in there.
- The Elf statue's look in her eyes is aloof and ruthless. He realizes from the cracks that it cannot fit in the top-left pedestal, either...
Stitch double checks the statues for any religious significance.
- The symbols the Human statue wears and his longbow suggest he likely followed Erastil, a deity of family, nature, farming, and hunting.
- He agrees with Vardarel: The amulet and trident suggest the Donkey-Headed pilgrim followed Gozreh, deity of nature, the sea, and weather.
- The Elf statue's clothes and items bear no religious symbols. She may have been a follower of the Green Faith, who venerate the natural world rather than a deity.
Vardarel inspects the Donkey Headed statue and thinks everyone's observations are correct. In fact, he realizes the Donkey-Headed cannot possibly fit in the bottom-left corner. The pedestal is much too soft and would crumble under its weight.
The four pedestals bear the following inscriptions:
- Top-left “Sunsear, the Healer” Dwarf
- Top-right “Green Ghost, the Traveler”
- Bottom-right “Midwinter, the Hunter”
- Bottom-left “Stoneroot, the Gardener”
Nicole (Cannot investigate Elf or Donkey-Head, 3 checks)
Fran (3 checks)
Vardarel
Stitch
Clover (Cannot investigate Dwarf, 3 checks)
Roark (Cannot investigate Dwarf, 3 checks)
- Nicole (Crafting): The Human statue's equipment includes a set of lovingly detailed stone working tools, indicating he may have been a sculptor or stonemason. His sickle is clearly not suited for combat, but herb gathering. She notices some graffiti saying don't put this on the Top-right pedestal!
- Fran (Society): The Human statue is wearing a robe that looks similar to what many in farming communities wear.
- Clover (Nature): The Human statue's style and size of his pouch are such that he most likely carried seeds or herbs in it.
- Roark (Perception): The Human head and eyes are ever so slightly turned to the left, and there’s a faint hint of a smile on his face.
- Stitch (Religion): The symbols the Human statue wears and his longbow suggest he likely followed Erastil, a deity of family, nature, farming, and hunting.
- Nicole (Crafting): The Dwarf statue has a practical robe, often worn by field medics. Studying the base of the statue, she realizes it cannot fit in the Bottom-Right pedestal.
- Stitch (Crafting): The Dwarf statue cannot fit in the top-right pedestal. It would probably wobble and fall over.
- Fran (Society): The Dwarf statue looks to be wearing clothes and accessories typical for desert peoples, suggesting she might have been an Ergaksen surface dwarf, and upon closer inspection, her satchel might be one traditionally used by those people to store poultices.
- Fran (Society) The Donkey-Headed statue is interesting. Except for the donkey’s head, everything else about the statue—the scales, its proportions, and the bone armor worn—seems to indicate this creature was an iruxi, a reptilian humanoid.
- Vardarel (Religion) The amulet and trident suggest this pilgrim followed Gozreh, deity of nature, the sea, and weather.
- In fact, he realizes the Donkey-Headed cannot possibly fit in the bottom-left corner. The pedestal is much too soft and would crumble under its weight.
- Clover (Nature): The clothes and equipment of the Donkey Headed statue looks like they can withstand a variety of conditions and weather.
- Stitch (Crafting): The donkey’s head doesn’t match the overall sculpting style or technique.
- Roark (Perception): The Donkey Headed statue has cracks at the base of the statue clearly don’t match the bottom-right pedestal. It can't fit in there.
- Fran (Society): The Elf statue's clothes are crafted in the style of Ilverani elves, a group hailing from the frozen north of Golarion. She also notices it will not fit in the Bottom-left pedestal.
- Clover (Nature): The Elf statue's pendant depicts a canine paw print, which suggests she belonged to a druidic order of shapeshifters.
- Stitch (Crafting): The stone surface on the Elf statue’s armor has fine seams and multiple different textures, both rough and smooth, suggesting her hide armor was stitched together from the hides of many different animals and other creatures.
- Roark (Perception): The Elf statue's look in her eyes is aloof and ruthless.
- He realizes from the cracks that it cannot fit in the top-left pedestal, either...
- Stitch (Religion): The Elf statue's clothes and items bear no religious symbols. She may have been a follower of the Green Faith, who venerate the natural world rather than a deity.
- Top-left “Sunsear, the Healer” Dwarf
- Top-right “Green Ghost, the Traveler” Donkey-Head
- Bottom-right “Midwinter, the Hunter” Elf
- Bottom-left “Stoneroot, the Gardener” Human
The bell chimes once, reverberating through the temple. Smoke shakes off of the donkey head, revealing a lizardfolk's head. The hedge walls withdraw, appearing neatly trimmed again.
With the shrubs clear, you see an exquisite silver incense box sitting in the shrine, its intricately carved lid featuring a stunning image of an imperial dragon.
Six painstakingly trimmed topiaries stand in two rows within this clearing in the maze. They’re shaped like fierce-looking beasts: a giant ape beating its chest, a stately unicorn, a giant mantis in mid-strike, a menacing cobra, a rearing owlbear, and a boar poised to charge. A gentle breeze makes the topiaries rustle and sway almost as though they were alive.
In the center of the area is a patch of mud between two dense clusters of trees, which is where the attack mentioned on Sigvard’s report happened.
almost like it's breathing. You get a +2 bonus to initiative checks.
As you investigate the topiaries and inspect them for damage, Vardarel and Clover realize they aren't swaying in the wind. Rather they are acting on their own, waiting for a target.
All of the topiaries come to life, except for the Bear. The Unicorn and Owlbear move so quickly you are caught off-guard!
The Unicorn bears down on Clover and tries to frighten her with its majestic presence. Then it moves in and tries to knock her over with its horned branch.
Another topiary stands upright with the body of a bear and the head of an owl. It hoots silently as it steps on the "Owlbear" sign. It moves towards Fran and hoots silently again to unsettle her. Then it impales her arm with its razor-sharp claw branch.
Unicorn, Owlbear
Stitch
Clover (Frightened 1)
Cobra, Ape, Mantis
Fran (Frightened 1, 10 damage)
Vardarel
Roark
Nicole
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Stitch looks up from something, obviously not paying enough attention since the statues. Its funny, ever since Meat Wagon starting driving itself Stitch gets more distracted with other things. "Living bushes? Not good.. but I bet they're flammable!" Stitch buckles his imaginary seat belt and breaking out the WD978 Patent Pending.
Overdrive ◆:
*Crit Success: +5 damage to personal and construct damage rolls for 1 minute.
The lubricant hits all the right spots, revving the engine into critical overdrive. "Let's get to it, time to mulch!" He commands Meat Wagon.
Oh, that's just right. Feel the power! Meat Wagon's wheels spin in the soft ground, heading straight for the mantis with ramming speed.
Its mower blade switches on to cut that topiary down to just a ground cover.