Vallen nodded with the others, “It does seem even more off that they where told not to stop her...” he looks to Cailee, “It would seem that way, is it this typical for this order to send off people on summoning rituals?”
The small room the group has been taken to is rather simple in its function and design. There are a few bunks where monks can rest along with several trunks of personal items at the base of each bunk. With your monk companion having been tended to mostly in terms of a proper scrub and change of robes, it seems that she's ready to meet with the elders.
She looks to the group and says, "I will make sure that you are all rewarded for saving me. Whatever happened, they're going to want to hear about it from people that saw what was going on. My mind is still clouded and I'm afraid I won't be much help in explaining it all. I just know that I was here studying in the library and then suddenly I was with you all, drenched in water."
She continually thanks you all for everything you've done for her. She stands and leads the group through the earthen walls of the monastery. Carved into the dirt walls are strange patterns and symbols .
[Religion Check DC14 to read:
These symbols seem somewhat familiar to you. They represent the beginning of life, the aging process, death, and the afterlife. The patterns in the symbols help to show that life comes from death in a continual cycle. These are definitely in the line of teachings ones that follow Lugh would be familiar with. The sight of Lugh worshipers is rather rare as most had found faith in the new gods was more rewarding. The new gods were much more present in the world while Lugh has been more than absent for hundreds of years. The connection to Lugh was still very strong when his followers prayed in the wilds, but there haven't been any known responses to those prayers for quite some time.
Making their way down what amounts to be tunnels that branch off in many different directions, the group is finally ushered into a large underground dome that most likely sits under one of the large mounds they saw outside of the monastery. Large openings in the ceiling of the dome allow light to fill the room. A group of four elven monks are seated on wooden chairs toward the center of the dome. Each has a colored sash that is tied around their waist. Two have green sashes and two have black sashes.The first to stand and greet the group is one of the monks wearing a green sash.
"Welcome home sister. I'm glad to see that you are safe. Can you tell us what happened and where you went?"The others wait patiently for a response.
You companion monk looks to the group and says, "I was studying in the library as I was instructed. I can't recall which book I was reading and everything is very cloudy. I just remember waking drenched in water with these fine people gathered around trying to protect me. I have no idea how, but I was at one of the groves of Lugh. The obelisk... it called to me I think."
[All, you may roll either a perception check to look at the surrounding area or an insight check to look into the elven elder monks.]
Valyncia continues to stick close to Cailee as she looks on at this meeting with the elders. She doesn't really want to stick out any more then she already is, so for the time being she avoids drawing any more attention by simply staying quiet and watching the proceedings.
[I have found in both my campaigns that the religion centered classes tend to roll poorly on religion and it makes me laugh]
Buxton, Vallena, Jubal, and Valyncia would all see that...
The elders are exceptionally old even for elves. They've most likely been with this monastery for nearly a thousand years which is even beyond the life expectancy of the elves you've known. There is most likely some sort of magic at play that is preserving them enough to continue providing the monastery with wisdom. You believe that this small council may have been the original founders of the monastery. Based on the history you've heard and the age of these elders, you believe that this monastery was built around the time the new gods came into power.
Svent, being familiar with the wilds would know that this structure is exceptionally old. It's clear that it has been well maintained and tended to.
Cailee, having spent some time in the monastery but never entering this particular chamber, spends time taking it all in. She sees...
Carved into earthen walls are depictions of life and death and their cycle of starting and ending. The carvings are rather exceptional in styling. The dome of the room is made to look like the underside of a treetop canopy with thick leaves on the life side of the chamber and no leaves on the death side of the chamber. The entire room seems to reinforce the idea that life and death are part of the same system that keeps everything in balance.
The elders turn to each other and pass various expressions that move between interest and fascination. "It has been quite some time since one of our own have been called in this manner. What is it that you were to do?," one of the elders says wearing a green sash. While these conversations happen, the elders wearing the black sashes refrain from speaking choosing to listen intently instead.
"I'm not sure but I called on the help of beasts to begin digging at the shrine. It seems like I needed the obelisk exposed for some reason. I just woke drenched in water surrounded by hyenas and covered in red clay."
Your monk companion seems rather confused by everything and looks to the group for any assistance they can provide. "I don't know why this all happened. I've done everything I can to follow the teachings of the order. Am I going to be okay?,"she asks the elders with concern.
Cailee was hesitant to tell the elders the full extent of the monk's doings while possessed, fearing what consequences might come of elaborating on the event. As she deliberated to herself, she decided that this was likely anxiety-driven, and it would be better to simply tell the elders the full truth. Besides, she wanted to know more. "She appeared to be unconscious herself, but possessed by another entity entirely. We determined that whomever, or whatever, was taking control of her body was performing a summoning ritual, and the hyenas were trying to uncover the entirety of the runic circle beneath the obelisk. We're not sure who or what was being summoned."
Jubal bit his tongue. Cailee's straightforward report of the incident should only spark conflict if something was wrong. Smiling sagely, he watched the elven monks for a response.
Vallen watched the elders closely as Callie spoke, wanting to see how they may react to the news, he would simply nod in agreement with Callie's tale of the events.
Xinq watches the proceedings play out with detached curiosity. ((Insight: 13))
It crosses Xinq's mind to subtly* use magic to determine the thoughts of the monks, but for the moment he decides to rely on his eyes, ears and intuition.
Vallen and Xinq look to the elders trying to see how they react to the news. Given their age and experience, the elders show little sign of care one way or the other and seem rather neutral. It does seem that the elders with the green sashes are more invested in hearing about what happened in the grove.
The elders nod in understanding at the reports. "Thank you. I'm glad that you're okay," says one of the elders wearing the green sash. "We will send a small team of brothers and sisters to investigate this circle and determine what needs to be done with it."
She turns toward Cailee and asks, "Can you tell me more of the runic circle?" She seems very interested in knowing more about what it is and how it works. "Did it seem as though the circle had been activated?
[You all pick up on:
The elders seem to be disregarding/not mentioning the monk's loss of self control]
Cailee furrowed her brow for a moment; she couldn't remember for certain whether the runes were active or not, but she didn't think they were. "I'm not certain whether or not they were active. I did feel a sort of spiritual connection, though. I believe the runes were representing something about life and death."
Svent pays little attention to the content of the conversation, instead keeping his senses tuned for danger. Looking for anyone coming or going from the room, for shifts in the elder's tone or manner that would suggest hostility, or anything else that might be a threat.
Valyncia was getting angry at these elders who were seemingly unconcerned and uncaring about their disciple being controlled against her will. It also made her suspicious of their intentions. But this was not her town, much less her home. This was all still beyond her frame of knowledge. She would remain quiet for the time being and simply continue to observe.
Likewise, Xinq is suspicious and unwilling to venture the results of his own divining.
It occurs to him that he may not be the only one with the ability to read others' thoughts, and actively concentrates on making his mind a fortress. Not using any special feature/spell, but I'll roll an Int/Wis (same modifier) check just in case: 9.
((Don't worry. I haven't forgotten about you lot. Just dealing with a bit of a moment in the other campaign now that it's down to three characters, eek. I'm also timing some events that are unfolding so that there aren't any major spoilers.))
From what you all can tell, the elders wearing the green sashes seem to be interested more in the possession of one of its members and the monks overall well being. They show some signs of worry at the mention of the circle of runes but no so much worry at the mention of something being summoned.
The elders in the black sashes seem very focused on the circle of runes itself. They seem to get more interested when the mention of something being summoned is brought up. "Are you able to retrace your steps this this place?," one of the elders asks your monk companion. "I think it is important that the site be secured from anyone with nefarious intentions." He pauses for a moment before looking to the elders with the green sashes. "I'd thought these circles to be long abandoned. Has there been a resurgence of sentinels?"
The elders in the green sashes seem just as confused about the situation. "It is true the sentinels have mostly abandoned the sites, but I don't believe they had reason to clear the runes."
[Followers of Lugh may read the following as well as anyone that passes a religion check DC:12:]
Story tells of guardians in the forest known as Sentinels that were dedicated to defending the forest from threat. These Sentinels prayed to the old god, Lugh who was known to be the shepherd of life.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(( Religion Check:10 ))
Jubal listened to the ongoing conversation, finding the behavior (and apparent concerns) of the elders to be a bit... off. He even sensed a bit of hostility toward their party from the monks with black sashes, but decided to wait for the right moment before jumping into the conversation.
Vallen nodded with the others, “It does seem even more off that they where told not to stop her...” he looks to Cailee, “It would seem that way, is it this typical for this order to send off people on summoning rituals?”
The small room the group has been taken to is rather simple in its function and design. There are a few bunks where monks can rest along with several trunks of personal items at the base of each bunk. With your monk companion having been tended to mostly in terms of a proper scrub and change of robes, it seems that she's ready to meet with the elders.
She looks to the group and says, "I will make sure that you are all rewarded for saving me. Whatever happened, they're going to want to hear about it from people that saw what was going on. My mind is still clouded and I'm afraid I won't be much help in explaining it all. I just know that I was here studying in the library and then suddenly I was with you all, drenched in water."
She continually thanks you all for everything you've done for her. She stands and leads the group through the earthen walls of the monastery. Carved into the dirt walls are strange patterns and symbols .
[Religion Check DC14 to read:
These symbols seem somewhat familiar to you. They represent the beginning of life, the aging process, death, and the afterlife. The patterns in the symbols help to show that life comes from death in a continual cycle. These are definitely in the line of teachings ones that follow Lugh would be familiar with. The sight of Lugh worshipers is rather rare as most had found faith in the new gods was more rewarding. The new gods were much more present in the world while Lugh has been more than absent for hundreds of years. The connection to Lugh was still very strong when his followers prayed in the wilds, but there haven't been any known responses to those prayers for quite some time.
Making their way down what amounts to be tunnels that branch off in many different directions, the group is finally ushered into a large underground dome that most likely sits under one of the large mounds they saw outside of the monastery. Large openings in the ceiling of the dome allow light to fill the room. A group of four elven monks are seated on wooden chairs toward the center of the dome. Each has a colored sash that is tied around their waist. Two have green sashes and two have black sashes.The first to stand and greet the group is one of the monks wearing a green sash.
"Welcome home sister. I'm glad to see that you are safe. Can you tell us what happened and where you went?" The others wait patiently for a response.
You companion monk looks to the group and says, "I was studying in the library as I was instructed. I can't recall which book I was reading and everything is very cloudy. I just remember waking drenched in water with these fine people gathered around trying to protect me. I have no idea how, but I was at one of the groves of Lugh. The obelisk... it called to me I think."
[All, you may roll either a perception check to look at the surrounding area or an insight check to look into the elven elder monks.]
Religion: 11
Insight: 19
Religion: 14
Perception: 26
Valyncia continues to stick close to Cailee as she looks on at this meeting with the elders. She doesn't really want to stick out any more then she already is, so for the time being she avoids drawing any more attention by simply staying quiet and watching the proceedings.
Insight - 14
Vallen listens to monks speak as he watches them closely.
Religion: 3
Insight: 23
(( Jubal's Religion Check: 8
Insight Check: 16 ))
Whistler
Titus - V. Human Battle Master Fighter 3 - [Pic] - [Pic2] - [Traits] - in Shadowglass
Locke - V. Human Shadow Monk 3 / Undead Warlock 2 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in FOW - DMless West Marches
Flèche - V. Human Swords Bard 10 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in The Scarlet Mist
Sterling - V. Human Bard 1 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Svent follows along quietly, head scanning from side to side, taking in everything he can.
Religion, 16
Perception, 7
[I have found in both my campaigns that the religion centered classes tend to roll poorly on religion and it makes me laugh]
Buxton, Vallena, Jubal, and Valyncia would all see that...
The elders are exceptionally old even for elves. They've most likely been with this monastery for nearly a thousand years which is even beyond the life expectancy of the elves you've known. There is most likely some sort of magic at play that is preserving them enough to continue providing the monastery with wisdom. You believe that this small council may have been the original founders of the monastery. Based on the history you've heard and the age of these elders, you believe that this monastery was built around the time the new gods came into power.
Svent, being familiar with the wilds would know that this structure is exceptionally old. It's clear that it has been well maintained and tended to.
Cailee, having spent some time in the monastery but never entering this particular chamber, spends time taking it all in. She sees...
Carved into earthen walls are depictions of life and death and their cycle of starting and ending. The carvings are rather exceptional in styling. The dome of the room is made to look like the underside of a treetop canopy with thick leaves on the life side of the chamber and no leaves on the death side of the chamber. The entire room seems to reinforce the idea that life and death are part of the same system that keeps everything in balance.
The elders turn to each other and pass various expressions that move between interest and fascination. "It has been quite some time since one of our own have been called in this manner. What is it that you were to do?," one of the elders says wearing a green sash. While these conversations happen, the elders wearing the black sashes refrain from speaking choosing to listen intently instead.
"I'm not sure but I called on the help of beasts to begin digging at the shrine. It seems like I needed the obelisk exposed for some reason. I just woke drenched in water surrounded by hyenas and covered in red clay."
Your monk companion seems rather confused by everything and looks to the group for any assistance they can provide. "I don't know why this all happened. I've done everything I can to follow the teachings of the order. Am I going to be okay?," she asks the elders with concern.
Cailee was hesitant to tell the elders the full extent of the monk's doings while possessed, fearing what consequences might come of elaborating on the event. As she deliberated to herself, she decided that this was likely anxiety-driven, and it would be better to simply tell the elders the full truth. Besides, she wanted to know more.
"She appeared to be unconscious herself, but possessed by another entity entirely. We determined that whomever, or whatever, was taking control of her body was performing a summoning ritual, and the hyenas were trying to uncover the entirety of the runic circle beneath the obelisk. We're not sure who or what was being summoned."
Jubal bit his tongue. Cailee's straightforward report of the incident should only spark conflict if something was wrong. Smiling sagely, he watched the elven monks for a response.
Whistler
Titus - V. Human Battle Master Fighter 3 - [Pic] - [Pic2] - [Traits] - in Shadowglass
Locke - V. Human Shadow Monk 3 / Undead Warlock 2 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in FOW - DMless West Marches
Flèche - V. Human Swords Bard 10 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in The Scarlet Mist
Sterling - V. Human Bard 1 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Vallen watched the elders closely as Callie spoke, wanting to see how they may react to the news, he would simply nod in agreement with Callie's tale of the events.
Insight: 11
Xinq watches the proceedings play out with detached curiosity. ((Insight: 13))
It crosses Xinq's mind to subtly* use magic to determine the thoughts of the monks, but for the moment he decides to rely on his eyes, ears and intuition.
((*via metamagic))
Vallen and Xinq look to the elders trying to see how they react to the news. Given their age and experience, the elders show little sign of care one way or the other and seem rather neutral. It does seem that the elders with the green sashes are more invested in hearing about what happened in the grove.
The elders nod in understanding at the reports. "Thank you. I'm glad that you're okay," says one of the elders wearing the green sash. "We will send a small team of brothers and sisters to investigate this circle and determine what needs to be done with it."
She turns toward Cailee and asks, "Can you tell me more of the runic circle?" She seems very interested in knowing more about what it is and how it works. "Did it seem as though the circle had been activated?
[You all pick up on:
The elders seem to be disregarding/not mentioning the monk's loss of self control]
Cailee furrowed her brow for a moment; she couldn't remember for certain whether the runes were active or not, but she didn't think they were. "I'm not certain whether or not they were active. I did feel a sort of spiritual connection, though. I believe the runes were representing something about life and death."
Svent pays little attention to the content of the conversation, instead keeping his senses tuned for danger. Looking for anyone coming or going from the room, for shifts in the elder's tone or manner that would suggest hostility, or anything else that might be a threat.
Perception, 17
Valyncia was getting angry at these elders who were seemingly unconcerned and uncaring about their disciple being controlled against her will. It also made her suspicious of their intentions. But this was not her town, much less her home. This was all still beyond her frame of knowledge. She would remain quiet for the time being and simply continue to observe.
Likewise, Xinq is suspicious and unwilling to venture the results of his own divining.
It occurs to him that he may not be the only one with the ability to read others' thoughts, and actively concentrates on making his mind a fortress. Not using any special feature/spell, but I'll roll an Int/Wis (same modifier) check just in case: 9.
((Don't worry. I haven't forgotten about you lot. Just dealing with a bit of a moment in the other campaign now that it's down to three characters, eek. I'm also timing some events that are unfolding so that there aren't any major spoilers.))
From what you all can tell, the elders wearing the green sashes seem to be interested more in the possession of one of its members and the monks overall well being. They show some signs of worry at the mention of the circle of runes but no so much worry at the mention of something being summoned.
The elders in the black sashes seem very focused on the circle of runes itself. They seem to get more interested when the mention of something being summoned is brought up. "Are you able to retrace your steps this this place?," one of the elders asks your monk companion. "I think it is important that the site be secured from anyone with nefarious intentions." He pauses for a moment before looking to the elders with the green sashes. "I'd thought these circles to be long abandoned. Has there been a resurgence of sentinels?"
The elders in the green sashes seem just as confused about the situation. "It is true the sentinels have mostly abandoned the sites, but I don't believe they had reason to clear the runes."
[Followers of Lugh may read the following as well as anyone that passes a religion check DC:12:]
Story tells of guardians in the forest known as Sentinels that were dedicated to defending the forest from threat. These Sentinels prayed to the old god, Lugh who was known to be the shepherd of life.
(( Religion Check: 10 ))
Jubal listened to the ongoing conversation, finding the behavior (and apparent concerns) of the elders to be a bit... off. He even sensed a bit of hostility toward their party from the monks with black sashes, but decided to wait for the right moment before jumping into the conversation.
Whistler
Titus - V. Human Battle Master Fighter 3 - [Pic] - [Pic2] - [Traits] - in Shadowglass
Locke - V. Human Shadow Monk 3 / Undead Warlock 2 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in FOW - DMless West Marches
Flèche - V. Human Swords Bard 10 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in The Scarlet Mist
Sterling - V. Human Bard 1 - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf