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Post by greentongue on Sept 27, 2015 17:21:30 GMT -6
Huruyan: Huruyan pulls Kumahl aside and tells him quietly, "In my opinion, we don't want someone like Panjang involved. He is interested only in himself, and that could be a real problem in a delicate project like this."
Junior Priest Panjang: "The Brothers from my Order are not responsible for the sacrilege of the Chegarra shrine to the best of my knowledge," Panjang said convincingly.
"We have our own shrines and they are protected from desecration by things more active than a mechanical trap." "Since they are active, the guardians can travel and you may cross their paths is all I was saying."
"As to how many Ditlanas below the shrine's level, that is anyone's guess." Panjang's expression said that his guess would be very accurate if he was to make one. "The tradition goes back thousands of years."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 27, 2015 17:23:30 GMT -6
Huruyan: Turning to Grujung, "From what I have heard, it seems that we will need the Drop of Sunlight and the Eye for this commission even more than the last one. Will it be possible for us to use them?"
Clan Accountant Grujung: "Temporary use of those items should not be a problem." "I do caution you however that the number of uses of the Eye is unknown and limited."
Huruyan: "Understood, I will use it only if necessary, hopefully it won't be."
Kumahl: Looking at Junior Priest Panjang and saying it loud enough so that Clan Accountant Grujung could hear, Kumahl says, "Brother Panjang, your knowledge of what might lay beneath is only valuable if you are able to relay it directly to His Holiness. I myself cannot vouch for your value based on conjecture and speculation. As we have never worked together and seem to be at visible odds in our beliefs, I will need to excuse you from this commission."
"Brother Grujung, were we able to find out details about the extent of the flooding to the shrine? I am not certain I understood you correctly last time if you did."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 27, 2015 17:24:29 GMT -6
Clan Accountant Grujung: "They are not sure how long it took as the shrine is not frequently used."
"The water starts at the last flight of stairs down and is five feet deep above the entrance door."
"The mechanical guardians should have kept anyone out but, obviously they couldn't keep out water."
Huruyan: "Grujung, can you please find out as much as you can about these mechanical guardians? They could be a real problem if they attacked me as I try to stop the flooding."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 27, 2015 17:25:44 GMT -6
Clan Accountant Grujung: "As a follower of Chegarra you will not activate the automated defenses."
"Depending on what you find, you may be able to command them to help you." "At least that has been my experience in other shrines and temples so I would expect it to hold true there as well."
Kumahl: Nodding in response to Clan Accountant Grujung, "That is a lot of water. Essentially the whole shrine is submerged."
Huruyan: "How can I command them when they and I are under water?"
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Post by greentongue on Sept 27, 2015 17:26:59 GMT -6
Kumahl: "Not entirely sure, my brother."
Clan Accountant Grujung: "Even more reason to remove the water."
"That may be why the shrine was flooded!" exclaimed Grujung. "Someone wanted to remove that first line of defense."
Huruyan: "If the mechanical guardians are the first line of defense, do we know anything about the rest of the defenses?"
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Post by greentongue on Sept 27, 2015 17:27:46 GMT -6
Clan Accountant Grujung: "I'm sure His Holiness Temple Priest Rodlan'ga will tell you in private what he won't tell me." "While it would be safe with me, I do understand that temple secrets are shared on a need to know basis."
"I'm sure it is something powerful if the first is a mechanical army."
"Do you have any idea of what you will need provided?" "It may take some time to assemble your equipment and we want to get these boring arrangements out of the way so we can get the party started."
While you have been talking you hear musicians warming up and several mostly nude dancers undulating and flexing.
A barrel of wine was been wheeled past and you glimpsed a couple of hookahs being polished.
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:13:22 GMT -6
Huruyan: Huruyan goes over to where His Holiness Temple Priest Rodlan'ga is and waits respectfully to be noticed.
Junior Priest Khivasha: One of His Holiness's entourage acknowledges Huruyan's presence.
"I am Junior Priest Khivasha of the Blazoned Axe." "I am pleased to find a fellow worshiper in this clan that is known for its faith in the teachings of Dlamelish."
Huruyan: "I am pleased to meet you. I am Huruyan and I have honor to be the one going into the temple to try to solve the flooding problem. I was hoping to talk to someone about the defenses the temple has so I can avoid them or even have them help me if it seems possible or desirable."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:14:13 GMT -6
Junior Priest Khivasha: "As I will be there with you, you have but to come and consult with me if the source is past The Chamber of the Assembled Host."
"It is not that I don't trust you, it is that knowledge can be taken from your mind by those that have the power." "I have been trained to resist the use of mental force against me."
"The defenses are hard to change and the fewer that know what they are the better."
Huruyan: "You will be able to come with me underwater?"
Junior Priest Khivasha: "You have to come back up for air eventually." "As long as you don't touch anything, you will be fine." "Once you have inspected the main shrine, you can come back and we will discuss the next steps."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:15:08 GMT -6
Huruyan: "I will strive to avoid touching anything. Is there anything else you think I should know before going into the shrine?"
Junior Priest Khivasha: "We fear that The Eye of Ruling as a King in Glory has been stolen." "It has been kept there for years."
"Look for anything that doesn't belong in a Chegarra shrine." "It may help us track down the culprits."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:16:15 GMT -6
Huruyan: "Where is the Eye usually kept? I will look for it while down in the shrine."
Junior Priest Khivasha: "It is inside the pedestal the statue of Chegarra stands upon." "The catch to open it is hidden in the scroll work covering the outside."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:18:20 GMT -6
Kumahl: Not wanting to interrupt Huruyan's conversation, Kumahl waits until the discussion breaks for a few minutes then leans over to Huruyan, "Any chance that device was active and was what was keeping the water out in the first place?"
Junior Priest Panjang: With a smirk Junior Priest Panjang says to Kumahl, "From your look, I'd guess you don't know the devices of the ancients like I do."
Huruyan: "Ruling as a king in glory doesn't sound as though it has anything to do with water."
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:19:41 GMT -6
Kumahl: Looking sharply at Panjang, "Get beyond your own self interests. Share your knowledge now or remain silent."
"Huruyan, let me explain. I believe the device provided a protective field around the shrine. Part of what may have been kept out was the flood waters."
Junior Priest Panjang: "It is an eye that causes a crowd to follow the user loyally and obey his commands for a time." "It can be dangerous in the wrong hands."
"You could easily have found that out from your Thumis temple here in the city."
"Since I have studied many of the devices of the ancients, I am familiar with all the common ones and many that are less common," he added proudly.
[Private to GM: would like to try and decipher the meaning of the device's name.] [Private to Kumahl: "Ruling as a King" has to do with commanding people.]
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Post by greentongue on Sept 30, 2015 18:22:39 GMT -6
Huruyan: "As I said, it doesn't sound as though it has anything to do with water, or keeping it out."
Junior Priest Khivasha: "Hunter Huruyan, since you are not a diver, will you be using the Helm of Walking Among Fish?"
"We came to your clan when we got word of the device."
"Are you the one that uses it?"
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:51:51 GMT -6
Kumahl: "Panjang," Kumahl says to get the man's attention, "I am a man of action and have not had the time to pour over ancient tombs and musty writings. As I said before, my first duty is to the clan and not my own self interests, of which I have none."
"Brother Khivasha, what details have you heard about the Helm of Walking Among Fishes? I would like to make sure we are talking about the same Helm."
Junior Priest Khivasha: "I only know that it is a wondrous devise that allows members of your clan to stay under water almost indefinitely."
"It sounded like just the right thing to use to investigate the cause of our situation."
[Private to GM: Does Kumahl know enough about the rank and class system yet, to determine where Panjang falls in relation to his own rank and class?] [Private to Kumahl: As a new arrival with no established position in a hierarchy, everyone is above you by default. As a level II character you can claim rank "from back home" equal to Panjang.]
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:53:24 GMT -6
Huruyan: "Then you will be able to come underwater with me?"
Kumahl: "Actually Brother Huruyan, I believe that information states that we have this Helm amongst the clan. However, we did not use this on our last commission, Brother Khivasha, so actual familiarity with the device is limited."
Junior Priest Khivasha: "If Hunter Huruyan can find the source of the flooding and deal with any intruders by himself, then that is fine with us." "We just need the shrine to be restored as soon as possible."
Junior Priest Panjang: "I would be happy to use the Helm and accompany you Hunter Huruyan, if I only had skill as a diver." "Unfortunately, I have spent most of my time pouring over ancient tombs and musty writings as Craftsman Kumahl calls it."
"I can share the knowledge of the ancients that I have, as needed for the success of this commission, if I am with you."
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:54:27 GMT -6
While the discussion continues, much to the apparent distaste of His Holiness Temple Priest Rodlan'ga, wine begins to flow into the cups of the clan members.
His Holiness accepts a cup and sips at it politely.
The dancers become more frenzied and explicit in their movements to music being played.
It is getting hard to communicate without huddling close together.
Already inebriated clan members are rubbing themselves against you trying to get you to dance, or other things, with them.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:55:51 GMT -6
Huruyan: "I suggest that we take a break and plan on going to the shrine first thing in the morning."
Clan Accountant Grujung: "So Craftsman Kumahl, do you have a list of the equipment you will need or who will be required to accompany you?"
"From what I gather, space is limited so only essentials should be included."
"You can always send a messenger back for forgotten things but that will cause unavoidable delays." "I don't expect that Hunter Huruyan can stay underwater as long as that would take."
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:56:19 GMT -6
Huruyan: "I think I know what I need to take," and with that Huruyan goes of into the crowd and starts to dance.
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:57:27 GMT -6
Kumahl: "Brother Grujung, do we have access to the Helm mentioned? If so, I believe that is what we would need. Otherwise we are taking rope, our tools, and our weapons. Our safety is being granted by our employer."
Kumahl will wait for Grujung's answer before moving off the boats completely towards the docks and the shore. It appears that something has got Kumahl concerned and distracted, to where he cannot or will not join in the festivities.
Clan Accountant Grujung: "It is one of our clan's most valuable pieces of equipment for earning the clan glory ... and income." "If you have the skill to use it, then it is at your disposal."
"It would be good to be able to put it to use more often."
"While we all enjoy these parties, they are indebting and some of the owed favors are hard to pay back."
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:57:48 GMT -6
Kumahl: Kumahl stops in mid stride after hearing Clan Accountant Grujung's comment. Returning to a spot near the Accountant, "Brother, with the Helm, we can certainly complete this mission. Huruyan and I will be the only ones needed on this mission, unless you foresee something I might be missing?"
While Kumahl waits on Grujung's response, he continues his sketches on the weighted vest. His figures show attachable ballast bags that are layered down the front and back in two columns. These bag can be removed individually, or in solid rows if necessary.
Next, Kumahl works on a ballast bag sketches that allow the bag to empty its contents as opposed to be being attached and then re-attached. The idea being that there would be two rows, one removable over top the second, which can have the weights changed when necessary. Kumahl stops in his sketching and posses another to Grujung, "Do we have any Chlen-hide available? Maybe a couple of large front piece sections or one large solid back section?"
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Post by greentongue on Oct 4, 2015 6:59:15 GMT -6
Clan Accountant Grujung: "Chlen-hide in large sections?" "They can be gotten if needed but, that is not something we have just laying around."
"Is this something you will need for your commission?" Grujung asks distractedly as he drifts slowly in the direction of where the wine is being served.
Kumahl: In response to Clan Accountant Grujung, "Not entirely necessary. Just looking at providing some extra protection for Brother Huruyan. I can attend to that matter after this next commission. Will you be able to secure some for me after this commission is complete? "
Clan Accountant Grujung: "Anything that is needed for clan business can be requisitioned." "If it is truly needed, we will figure out a way to compensate the supplier."
"If you just want it for personal use, you will have to acquire it on your own." Grujung gives a Kumahl a piercing look.
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