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Post by greentongue on Mar 30, 2008 14:39:30 GMT -6
After the briefest of appraisals, the apprentice's eyes locked onto the flyer. A dim flame of understanding lit and he motioned for the group to follow him.
He lead everyone away from the other patrons and towards a tall screen sectioning off the back of the room. Behind it was several doors but he stopped at the first one and directed them to enter it. Behind the door the room was fifteen foot square with another door directly across from the one they had entered. The wall to the left of the door had garish orange and purple curtains mostly blocking a wide stairway leading down. A dim orange glow emanated up the stairwell.
"Down there," said their impromptu guide as he backed out and closed the door they had entered by. =
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on Mar 31, 2008 17:01:54 GMT -6
Gereshma leads the way down the stairs, muttering a mantra to Gruganu; down is a good direction, his deity is lord of underworlds.
'Remember, three fingers, right forearm,' he says to the others, 'Sign of the Flame. And keep your hands near your weapons - the Chitengi should expect that, being sado-masochistic madheads - er apologies Hrunal, no disrespect to the Green Lady...'
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Post by greentongue on Mar 31, 2008 18:30:12 GMT -6
Gereshma noticed that something looked different about one of the steps further down. He had seen the squeaky board gambit before.
I assumed that spotting traps and secret doors are both an ability to spot things that are "a little off". Forgive me if I am wrong and pretend you didn't notice anything. ;0 =
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Post by Epengar on Mar 31, 2008 22:15:54 GMT -6
"No offense taken, cousin, and may I say that you've done a nice job of getting us in."
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Post by greentongue on Apr 6, 2008 19:06:39 GMT -6
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Post by Epengar on Apr 15, 2008 19:02:57 GMT -6
Hrunal gets nervous, and decides he needs to cast a Clairvoyance spell so he can look ahead and see what's around corners and beyond doors. He does so as unobtrusively as possible, and if he fails the first time, he'll try twice more (assuming failed tries don't count against his total castings of the spell each day).
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Post by greentongue on Apr 16, 2008 9:15:08 GMT -6
Hrunal casts a Clairvoyance spell after the second attempt.
Private to Hrunal. As the spell range is 20 feet and you are stopped on the stairs down ... You can see that at the range of your spell the stairs end and open out in both directions. There is a flickering glow as if from fire only with a strange unnatural purple tint. =
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on Apr 27, 2008 11:14:12 GMT -6
'Come on,' says Gereshma, 'I am scared too, but we need to brazen this out as long as possible. I suggest using your clairvoyance when we are in the temple chamber itself to spy out an escape route.'
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Post by greentongue on Apr 27, 2008 15:52:39 GMT -6
As the party continues down the stairs they step on a loose stair step along the way. Faintly up ahead a bell chimes.
The stairs they are on open from the center of a thirty foot wall. Ahead, a little more than a bodies length, is a doorway with a flame colored curtain suspended across it.
On either side of the curtain are columns carved to look like piles of children’s bodies. Between these are murals of warriors in orange and purple armor chopping down women and children or throwing babies into roaring bonfires that glow with enough magical light to see clearly by.
This flame is the source of a magical light with a faint purple tint.
As everyone reaches the bottom of the stairs, two guards in plate mail and holding heavy maces pull back the curtain and block the way.
"Who are you and why are you here the one on the left demands." =
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Post by Epengar on Apr 28, 2008 13:37:56 GMT -6
Hrunal looks to Gereshma, who has the leaflet. While he does so, he uses his clairvoyance to search beyond the walls and curtain for exits.
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Post by greentongue on Apr 28, 2008 18:08:51 GMT -6
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Post by calithena on Apr 29, 2008 6:53:54 GMT -6
Kevuk twitches, ready to jump in and say something if no-one else speaks up - this stealth ill suits his warrior's nature, and he is ready for a battle!
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on Apr 29, 2008 12:06:28 GMT -6
'We were given this...' he shows the man the flyer, 'and come seeking enlightenment through agony. We are of the clan of the Orange Shell, we come from the far Isles of Fire in the southern ocean. It has been our practice to hurl people into the pits of molten rock at the heart of our land, but we understand things are done differently in this country, and we wish to see for ourselves.'
OOC: Guile roll to see if he falls for this farrago of bullshirt? If the Gm is allowing the skill of 'Extemporised Fraudulent Mystical Gibberings' I think Gereshma qualifies.
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Post by greentongue on Apr 29, 2008 18:27:20 GMT -6
Gereshma's smooth talking and the official looking flyer almost convinced his own party that they were of the Orange Shell. The flyer was even right side up when he presented it.
The two guards held the curtains back and allowed the party to enter the chamber.
"We were not planning to have a ceremony today but since you have come so far, maybe his holiness Ssiyor hi Zalvim will be willing," said the guard on the right. =
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Post by greentongue on Apr 29, 2008 18:28:28 GMT -6
As they entered the shrine there were two rows of four wooden planks on each side. Tapestries hanging on the walls to either side of these planks were lit by standing lamps. They depicted various atrocities against children that can occur during a war with a hated enemy. A rack was standing at the front of the shrine with chains hanging from it. These chains were sized for holding a child. There were many blood stains on the floor around this rack but no body hanging from it. At the very front of the shire were three roaring fires contained in decorated identical fireplaces (with torture implements heating in them.) Over each of these are carved sayings. Above the right fireplace is, “Fthbjyt jot mdsj poeius lkd qwsufygf ijhtfvd.” Above the center is, “Oniug ythgd iegdtgff.”. Above the left is, “Wuihjk loimktfe siuyrnvlk hyg ddokm pojtrvcd zytxnmb. Map of the chamber: home.earthlink.net/~djackson24/shrine1_a2.JPGPrivate to Hrunal: home.earthlink.net/~djackson24/shrine1_b2.JPG=
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on Apr 30, 2008 0:27:28 GMT -6
Gereshma looks round for a gong or some such mechanism for summoning priests or guards; if he finds one he removes it quietly and hides it under a bench.
He then examines the fireplaces - are they real fireplaces or do the loons who run this place enter and exit through the fire? ie is there any secret entrance at the back of these fireplaces?
Finally he looks to Hrunal, and says quietly (so the guards at the entryway won't hear) - 'Any ways out of here? Can you detect any secret cells nearby?'
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Post by greentongue on Apr 30, 2008 7:23:45 GMT -6
Best as you can tell from where you have entered, the 3 fireplaces contain actual fires.
The murals on the wall you entered through have magical flames.
There is no obvious gong or bell.
Only seconds have passed. =
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Post by Epengar on May 1, 2008 9:03:41 GMT -6
Hrunal first shrugs his shoulders ('maybe') in reply to Gereshma, and very quietly replies "these are remarkable tapestries, and deserve closer admiration." He then steps over to the tapestries on the right, examining them (and casting his mind's eye further beyond them). If time allows he will do the same on the left and behind the fireplaces, but if anyone above servant status arrives, he will stop and turn his attention to them.
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Post by greentongue on May 1, 2008 19:30:02 GMT -6
As Gereshma moved forward he could clearly see the carvings above the fireplaces. The guards don't seem to know how to react to a large group of worshipers arriving unexpectedly. As Hrunal stepped to the tapestries and looked around, a man in much fancier plate armor than the other two guards pulled back the edge of the tapestry. He did not surprise Hrunal, with his magic vision, but the man's mace arm began to swing at Hrunal. Clearly Hrunal had surprised him. Private to Hrunal: Beyond this man, you see two others in the process of donning their plate. home.earthlink.net/~djackson24/shrine1_b3.JPG=
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Post by greentongue on May 1, 2008 19:40:33 GMT -6
I need to confirm that Gereshma goes forward and Hrunal stepped to the side. If so, Gereshma cannot "says quietly" anything to Hrunal.
Also, is everyone else in a knot near the entrance and the guards?
Does anyone read Tsolyanu? =
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Post by Epengar on May 1, 2008 21:15:01 GMT -6
uh oh. Hrunal jumps back and makes the sign of the flame, while saying loudly "a thousand apologies, we were told to come here by those above!"
ooc: Sorry for the confusion, I didn't think about what Gereshma did before speaking to Hrunal. We could assume that Hrunal accompanied Gereshma to the fireplaces, and only stepped to the side after they spoke.
I don't know if Hrunal is literate or not. It makes sense to me that he might be, but according to the rules, only priests get language skills. The only professional skills sorcerers have are spells.
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on May 2, 2008 11:32:21 GMT -6
OOC: AFAIK Gereshma is literate in Livyani, Salarvyani, Engsvanyali, Bednjallan and presumably Tsolyani as well.
'Hold!' says Gereshma, 'What do you mean by this attack!'
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Post by greentongue on May 2, 2008 12:09:24 GMT -6
At Hrunal's apology and Gereshma's exclamation, the newly arrived man halted his reflexive swing. After a quick scrutiny of the two of them and their companions, he asked, "What brings you to our shrine? Where are you from?" and "Who invited you to come here?"
He was not rude in the way he spoke but it was clear he was used to giving commands and having them followed. =
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Post by calithena on May 4, 2008 21:25:41 GMT -6
Only Kevuk's quick reflexes save him from trying to cut the warrior's throat before he bashed Hrunal.
The warrior is a-quiver with anticipation, looking out for threats from all corners while trying to keep a jocular smile. The priests seem to be keeping it together for now, though, so he continues keeping his mouth shut.
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on May 5, 2008 5:24:07 GMT -6
'We have come to see the manner of your sacrifices, we are travellers form the Isles of Fire and not cognizant of the latest nuances of practice communicated by the Lord of Pain. May we see what you do here?' says Gereshma.
'How, for example, do you prepare your victims for communion with the Great Chiteng? On our island we tie them to a tree with a hornets nest in it, or seat them on a fire-dri mound. A few days of such agonised contemplation is good preparation for spending eternity drowning in incandescent lava. May we see where and how you keep your sacrifices?'
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Post by greentongue on May 6, 2008 11:30:56 GMT -6
After listening to Gereshma, the warrior's face was expressionless. "It does sound as if things are done differently where you are from," he replied, "but it doesn't explain how you found our shrine ... and who have you brought?" he asked, using the 'you' that implied a person of a status barely tolerable to speak to. =
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on May 7, 2008 16:09:11 GMT -6
Gereshma scowls and looks the guard up and down.
'Just who do you think you are talking to?!' he says. 'I, the High Priest of the Mighty Volcano of the Deep Ocean and my acolytes, spoken to by mere functionaries and rude mechanicals!'
'Had we been on my home island I would have you coated liberally in honey and lowered into a fire dri-pit for your insolence! Brothers I fear we may be mistaken in our quest. We must find another repository for the Iron Effigy of Ygar the Effulgent Lava-Titan, there is no enlightenment to be found here...'
With that, he looks disdainfully down his nose at the guard and turns as if to turn his back and march out in high dudgeon. In fact his hand rests on the handle of his war-club - he looks significantly at Kevuk; the way of deception may have run its course and heads may need to be cracked.
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Post by Epengar on May 7, 2008 20:53:06 GMT -6
Hrunal speaks first to Gereshma: "Mighty One, please, we have labored long to bring the Iron Effigy to this far city. Let us not be turned aside by a simple misunderstanding. Perhaps if you would allow me to show the temple guardian the sheet we received?" then quickly turns to the guard: "Noble warrior, we were invited to this shrine, and were well pleased, for it seems a fitting location for the Iron Effigy, our statue of Ygar, the Devourer of Children. We have brought the iron work, and the treasure is guarded by our compatriots aboard ship. The Mighty One and these warriors are here to arrange matters first. We brought no one. We are only here to see the shrine, and learn whether you keep your sacrifices in the manner that is pleasing to Ygar. If it is the case, we will rejoice and return with the Great Iron Presence."
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Post by greentongue on May 9, 2008 6:18:58 GMT -6
All but unnoticed, a priest of Chiteng has entered the shrine from behind the tapestry near the left fireplace. He hears Gereshma's proclamation of being a high priest of "the Mighty Volcano of the Deep Ocean."
Moving to where Gereshma and Hrunal are confronting the guard commander, he addressed Gereshma. "Though your shabby dress proclaims otherwise, if you are who you claim, you surely can tell be the aspect beseeched by the demon Kalimarri when pinned by Our Lord's spear." =
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on May 9, 2008 18:35:49 GMT -6
Gereshma walks slowly up to the priest, his face a carefully crafted image of incandescent rage, his eye twitching.
In the meantime he grips the handle of his club...
'Oh mighty one why ask such paltry questions when the truth is so immediately obvious...'
He bows, and as he raises himself back up brings his club into violent contact with the priests temple.
'Get the bastards!' he screams to his comrades.
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