The satyr bows with a flourish "my name is Fillipos but olease call me Tisto - everybody else does. Now come we have a date with a temple!"He then sets off - on what if any of the party is native to Meletis is obviously a round-a-bout route pointing out various landmarks and reveling in his role as a tourist guide / bawd which includes pointing out various houses of ill-repute and giving a run down on the attributes of the lands that frequent them (think Tyrion leading a group through the Flea Bottom of King's Landing).
Eventually the party reach the temple after about an hour and realise that it was probably no more than a 10 minute walk away from the tavern where they had all first met.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Areus gathers his weapons and shield then follows the rest of the group. Before the group reaches the temple, he will address Soren "Soren, you bear yourself like someone that has seen some fights, but from your weapon of choice I take that you are not an hoplite of Meletis, if I may ask, where do you come from?"
As the group reaches the temple, "Fillipos, I have to say even if we could have reached the temple more quickly I enjoyed taking the long route. Meletis seems to be a nice polis."
He will say to the rest of the group "So this mask is probably in a storage and Melandra did not know to who ask for it. How do we proceed? If I may say a direct and fast approach should work: we enter, we show our token to one of the priests and ask for the mask."
Soren looks at Areus with a melancholy expression, but replies with forced vigor " oh here and there, I have recently been traveling all over, helping ward of bandits and the like. my sword was a gift from my mother when I was born. it is old but has served me well"
When he looks at the sword, a creeping sadness, and then regret passes over his face, then back to a smile- but this time it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"It's a nice sword Soren." replies Areus giving a close look at the sword. Areus do not seem to notice Soren's sadness and regret being focused on the sword. "I bet you have some interesting tales to tell then having travelled a lot."
"No, Soren we trained together when we were recruits. I am stationed at the One-Eye Pass outpost now, Nyklos is stationed at the Pharagax Bridge." replies Areus.
"Have you ever visited Akros Soren? The Temple of Triumph is magnificent!" continues Areus.
"no, I have never been further north than this on land..... but I once made it all the way to the top of the siren sea by water. I have heard tales of Akros and its magnificence though"
as if caught up in a memory Soren falls silent. " I remember that trip well"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Tisto leads you out of the tavern and into the Agora, the large open marketplace of the city. Shops and stands offer food, and supplies and everything for your daily needs. Surrounding the Agora are civic buildings and drink houses. Moving through the city the architectural and academic marvels of Meletis testify to the achievements of civilized humanity. The streets are paved with bricks made in interlocking geometric shapes, meant to demonstrate principles of both mathematics and magic. Grand temples line the streets, testifying to the Meletians’ devotion to the gods. These rise as both mighty bastions dedicated to individual deities and various neighborhood shrines devoted to the pantheon as a whole.
Tisto knows the city fairly well and among the speedier places he also passes the Gymnasium and Bathhouse which is the center of city gossip; city officials relax here. He passes the Theatre of Diaphon remarking that the dramatist Methodia currently has a play there. Some of his favorite places of ill repute are down by the wharf but that's the other direction.
Eventually Tisto guides you to the Street of Gods. The Temple of Ephara stands at the top of the Street of Gods, on the hill that rises up near the center of the city. The only sanctuary above it is Heliod’s Temple. From both of these large, elaborate estates, the whole of Meletis is spread out below in a panoply of white stone and rippling water.
"Fillipos, I have to say even if we could have reached the temple more quickly I enjoyed taking the long route. Meletis seems to be a nice polis."
"It is a wonderful city. After leaving the Vale I traveled a bit but eventually ended up here. Something about this city called to me but exactly what I'm still trying to work out"Tisto responds.
He then nods in agreement to Areus' suggestion "As to getting the mask, direct is often the best although it doesn't always work but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try it first!"With a flourish and a mocking bow he says "after you gentlemen - I trust I do not use the term too loosely?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
"I have it here, Soren", replies Areus, "Let's see if it is real or not."
Areus, briefly nodding to the rest of the group, starts walking towards the two guards. If the guards stop the group, Areus will politely say "We have business in the Temple of Ephara." showing the token if necessary.
You show the token to the guard who allows you entry into the temple building. The temple complex is busy with petitioners leaving offerings to the goddess to bless their businesses, legal cases, or any other aspect of their lives. Every day at noon, the high priest Leander leads a public sacrifice (usually a sheep), and supplicants feast on the meat while the smoke rises upwards to feed the goddes. The high priest looks to have recently finished the sacrifice as there are still a few people finishing the meat. Leander still stands near the altar.
Nyklos glances around the temple complex, getting an idea of the general layout. "So, think we need to ask someone or should we just wander until we find what we're looking for?"
As a point of clarification, is the head priest still around, or were you just implying that he had done the sacrifice and left?
Tisto sniffs the air "smells like somebody has had a bit of a party but" he opens his backpack and peers inside before reaching down into it " - aahh there it is - you can't have a party without a drink" as he pulls out a wine skin and takes a deep swig "anybody else?" he asks the party.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Soren looks at the saytr, amused "I am not sure that any of the priests will take you getting drunk in the temple very well. how about we wait till after?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Soren looks at Nyklos " my name Is Soren Thealas. it is a pleasure to meet you." then he turns to the saytr "I didn't quite catch your name earlier"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
The satyr bows with a flourish "my name is Fillipos but olease call me Tisto - everybody else does. Now come we have a date with a temple!" He then sets off - on what if any of the party is native to Meletis is obviously a round-a-bout route pointing out various landmarks and reveling in his role as a tourist guide / bawd which includes pointing out various houses of ill-repute and giving a run down on the attributes of the lands that frequent them (think Tyrion leading a group through the Flea Bottom of King's Landing).
Eventually the party reach the temple after about an hour and realise that it was probably no more than a 10 minute walk away from the tavern where they had all first met.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Soren is completely oblivious, not realizing that the route is roundabout, trusting that the saytr is taking us on the fastest route.
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Areus gathers his weapons and shield then follows the rest of the group. Before the group reaches the temple, he will address Soren "Soren, you bear yourself like someone that has seen some fights, but from your weapon of choice I take that you are not an hoplite of Meletis, if I may ask, where do you come from?"
As the group reaches the temple, "Fillipos, I have to say even if we could have reached the temple more quickly I enjoyed taking the long route. Meletis seems to be a nice polis."
He will say to the rest of the group "So this mask is probably in a storage and Melandra did not know to who ask for it. How do we proceed? If I may say a direct and fast approach should work: we enter, we show our token to one of the priests and ask for the mask."
Soren looks at Areus with a melancholy expression, but replies with forced vigor " oh here and there, I have recently been traveling all over, helping ward of bandits and the like. my sword was a gift from my mother when I was born. it is old but has served me well"
When he looks at the sword, a creeping sadness, and then regret passes over his face, then back to a smile- but this time it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"It's a nice sword Soren." replies Areus giving a close look at the sword. Areus do not seem to notice Soren's sadness and regret being focused on the sword. "I bet you have some interesting tales to tell then having travelled a lot."
"interesting indeed. anyway, you and Nyklos. you in the same regiment?"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"No, Soren we trained together when we were recruits. I am stationed at the One-Eye Pass outpost now, Nyklos is stationed at the Pharagax Bridge." replies Areus.
"Have you ever visited Akros Soren? The Temple of Triumph is magnificent!" continues Areus.
"no, I have never been further north than this on land..... but I once made it all the way to the top of the siren sea by water. I have heard tales of Akros and its magnificence though"
as if caught up in a memory Soren falls silent. " I remember that trip well"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"You should come one day, Akros is a place of warriors, you will fit in well." replies Areus, "But first, we should focus on the task at hand."
"agreed"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Tisto leads you out of the tavern and into the Agora, the large open marketplace of the city. Shops and stands offer food, and supplies and everything for your daily needs. Surrounding the Agora are civic buildings and drink houses. Moving through the city the architectural and academic marvels of Meletis testify to the achievements of civilized humanity. The streets are paved with bricks made in interlocking geometric shapes, meant to demonstrate principles of both mathematics and magic. Grand temples line the streets, testifying to the Meletians’ devotion to the gods. These rise as both mighty bastions dedicated to individual deities and various neighborhood shrines devoted to the pantheon as a whole.
Tisto knows the city fairly well and among the speedier places he also passes the Gymnasium and Bathhouse which is the center of city gossip; city officials relax here. He passes the Theatre of Diaphon remarking that the dramatist Methodia currently has a play there. Some of his favorite places of ill repute are down by the wharf but that's the other direction.
Eventually Tisto guides you to the Street of Gods. The Temple of Ephara stands at the top of the Street of Gods, on the hill that rises up near the center of the city. The only sanctuary above it is Heliod’s Temple. From both of these large, elaborate estates, the whole of Meletis is spread out below in a panoply of white stone and rippling water.
Two temple guards stand at the gate.
"It is a wonderful city. After leaving the Vale I traveled a bit but eventually ended up here. Something about this city called to me but exactly what I'm still trying to work out" Tisto responds.
He then nods in agreement to Areus' suggestion "As to getting the mask, direct is often the best although it doesn't always work but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try it first!" With a flourish and a mocking bow he says "after you gentlemen - I trust I do not use the term too loosely?"
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Soren looks at Areus "you have the token?"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"I have it here, Soren", replies Areus, "Let's see if it is real or not."
Areus, briefly nodding to the rest of the group, starts walking towards the two guards. If the guards stop the group, Areus will politely say "We have business in the Temple of Ephara." showing the token if necessary.
You show the token to the guard who allows you entry into the temple building. The temple complex is busy with petitioners leaving offerings to the goddess to bless their businesses, legal cases, or any other aspect of their lives. Every day at noon, the high priest Leander leads a public sacrifice (usually a sheep), and supplicants feast on the meat while the smoke rises upwards to feed the goddes. The high priest looks to have recently finished the sacrifice as there are still a few people finishing the meat. Leander still stands near the altar.
Nyklos glances around the temple complex, getting an idea of the general layout. "So, think we need to ask someone or should we just wander until we find what we're looking for?"
As a point of clarification, is the head priest still around, or were you just implying that he had done the sacrifice and left?
Tisto sniffs the air "smells like somebody has had a bit of a party but" he opens his backpack and peers inside before reaching down into it " - aahh there it is - you can't have a party without a drink" as he pulls out a wine skin and takes a deep swig "anybody else?" he asks the party.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Soren looks at the saytr, amused "I am not sure that any of the priests will take you getting drunk in the temple very well. how about we wait till after?"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"Spoilsport" Tisto says with a smile as he puts the wineskin away but not before he takes another swig.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]