{{ Will update here if Varielky and Snow's conversation continues on the way down }}

As he reaches the courtyard, Snow takes a look around to confirm there are no more imperials before spotting Auger tending to an arrow wound.

"That was a bit manic, which was my fault. I sometimes get these ideas and they seem excellent in my head, but in practice there are lots of unknowns. It oftens works out though", he says with a grin before speaking some words of Elvish. Healing energy washes over Auger as he finishes and his wounds start to close.

"I am not as a skilled a healer as our friend, but I have done what I can", he says to Auger as he pats him on the shoulder.

"As for our introduction, I am hoping that what we have just done will be proof enough of our good intentions. Maybe the sttraightforward approach would be best. I think Varielky should take the lead here and we back her up if needed".

Action: Healing Word Level 3 - Auger heals 13.

Varielky thinks for a bit before answering Snow. "It is... peculiar. It was me, but not me at the same time. I was aware of myself, but it felt as if I'm watching through someone else's eyes, hearing through someone else's ears. I could direct my actions by will, but I didn't control the exact execution. Like giving a command and watching your soldiers carrying it out in a different way than you would. It is powerful magic, but the sensation of not being in full control is... strange. I'd rather we save it only for when truly needed."

---

"We allied with their master and just fought their enemies. They should either respect us, or at least fear us." Varielky voices her opinion, then walks to the front of the temple, staying wary of the sorcerers, but trusting her shield'd defences. "Don't fire!" She calls out to anyone inside the temple. "We are allies of the Red Cypress. We defeated the guards, now we're going in!"

As Varielky moves into the courtyard before the temple steps, she sees no other movement. The sorcerers seem to have retreated. The shield-maiden hears, in her mind, a reply. The tone is similar to when the Red Cypress -- the tall tree -- communicated in its clearing in the forest outside of El Harrouch Castle. Only the sound, if sound it is, is smaller or more distant.

'Enter, friend of the Cypress.'

"Thank you," Auger says to Snow, "that was very helpful." Auger breaths easier, not quite all the way to himself, but certainly feels much better. The headache, however, would take some time to recover. (OOC: Auger seeks a short rest to recharge some Level 3 spell slots.)

As Varielky enters the courtyard and makes her declarations, Auger stays a short distance behind her, wondering which direction the next attack would come from.

Py, was the Temple warded? You can perhaps aid our search if you can enter the building.

Snow nods in agreement that he will save it for when truly needed, saying only, "Interesting".

Snow also follows Varielky into the courtyard, standing a little behind her and keeping an eye out for trouble from either the guards or the Red Cypress if they are not welcoming.

"They're inviting us in," Varielky calls to the others. "Let's find what we came for." Varielky walks into the temple, passing by the torn-off doors. Just at the doorstep - where the doors used to be - Varielky halts. She recalls the deceased Priestess' last words to her, last time she was here. She told her to come again, with a new offering. Now that Varielky is here again... she takes a platinum coin, to be offered to Idiwala. Last time, there was a priest she could give it to. This time... if there's anywhere she thinks would be fitting, Varielky places the coin there. Otherwise, she'll leave the coin at the doorstep, and only then step inside. That was not their goal tonight, but Varielky doesn't want to miss this chance, perhaps the last time she'll ever be in this temple.

She expected the druids would come out while they fought the guards, but none did. Maybe they were in worse shape than she imagined. When she enters, Varielky inspects the condition of the druids and the rebels inside. Are they weary and wounded, or are they still full of fighting spirits? Is there anyone there she could talk to, as a leader or a representitive of the rebellion?

Snow follows Varielky inside, keeping a wary eye over his shoulder to see if anyone turns up outside in the moments before he can no longer see.

Turning his attention to the inside of the temple, he looks about trying to garner the number of Red Cypress folk inside and their general state.

”Greetings”, he says simply as he waits for the welcoming committee.

'The temple is not warded, at least not the great chamber,' reports Py.

Stepping over the great marble-like doors, broken in a jumble on the steps and overgrown with green vines, you find yourself in an entry vestibule, and then, the temple’s great chamber. This is a large amphitheater, with a clear white wall arcing behind a raised dais, the wall lined all around with intricate interlocked characters which spell out prayers to Idiwala and ancient quotations of the wisest of the Shians.

The room is vacant. At least it seems so at first. 

“Greetings, friend,” Snow hears in his mind a voice similar to that of the great Red Cypress, though smaller, more distant, just as Varielky heard a few moments before. Its source, Snow decides, is a thin sapling, only three or four feet tall, bearing a few thin branches and leaves, growing, seemingly, from narrow cracks in the intricately tiled floor in the central aisle. A subtle glow emanates from it, like heat from desert sands, blurring. 

All of you now hear the voice. “My devoted followers have led the persecuted to safety. Your engagement with the empire’s forces served to divert their attention, allowing time for escape. There was no hope here. They will retreat to the Vale. In winter the lifeblood must flow to the center and wait for its season to engender new growth.”

Then they got away, to safety. That was good enough. "Then let's get to our business then, and then get out of here. If the guards gather outside again, we won't be able to escape with ease." Varielky otherwise ignores the Red Cypress or her speaker. There was nothing more to be said, as far as she was concerned.

Varielky immediately begins to trace back her steps from when she was last here. She wasn't sure where the diaries they were looking for are, so it was as good a guess as any. Moreover, she hoped to recover not only those diaries but also that same scroll she studied when she was here previously. She couldn't know if she'll have time to study it again before they leave, but she had hoped Idiwala would rather have information taken away from their temple than buried when this building gets demolished. Either way, she still wanted to know more about the matter. She could ask Veleif, she knew, but it was still an important piece of information. Perhaps he could help her decypher it. Maybe there's information even he didn't know of. All that, of course, assuming she can even find this scroll.

If Varielky manages to find the scroll, she will search for anything that can encase it before carefully placing it in her bag. Not the safest place, but the safest she can offer. Then, Varielky will join the effort of finding Safiyah's diaries.

In case some roll is needed: 16, +whatever is appropriate. +0 for any INT-based check except Religion which has +3. +4 if Perception.

"The Imperials could return at any time. Perhaps Py and I should mind the door while you both look for Safiyah's diaries."

Auger focuses his attention on the sapling for a moment, wondering at its presence in such an unlikely place, "Your appearance here is not strong, can you help with warding or guarding the door?"

Auger begins studying the local area both in and out of the door. From the Imperial dead, are there uniforms they could wear?

"It is impressive that your reach extends all the way to Kalahata", Snow says to the sapling.

"And I am happy that your people escaped. What was the purpose of attacking the Temple, if you don't mind my asking. And can we still communicate if we look around? We need to go down to the High Priestess's quarters", he asks and awaits a response before moving.

If the Sapling suggests he can move about and still communicate he will do so, otherwise he will wait and talk first.

The sapling answers Auger and Snow.

‘Upon the execution of the High Priestess and Viscount Abziri, the faithful to Idiwala gathered here on the temple steps. They were joined by many townspeople in an expression of unified tragic loss and outrage. An Imperial Exchequerant came to the Temple to collect death taxes, although in fact to examine the personal belongings of the High Priestess. Her acolyte argued, the crowd supported the acolyte. Fighting broke out, rebels to the Imperial cause pledged revolution. Garrison were called in, the crowd retreated to within the temple. My loyal druids arrived, driving away the garrison, not long ago. Now they have left through the entrance my loyal druids created. 

‘My purpose here is done. Farewell, friends of the Cypress, friends of the Vale.’ It fades, becoming transparent, then disappearing completely.

Outside the temple in the plaza, Auger can find  fallen imperials, each of whom the warlock would have to examine in turn to determine whether their gear was usable as a disguise.

Varielky remembers that the temple vaults and library are underground, accessed by an open stairway, between the wide dais and the back wall. 

Leading the way downstairs, Varielky quickly finds the library entrance. The library itself is a long room which seems narrow, for the book-covered walls push in on both sides. Hooked ladders hang from long rails to allow access to the highest shelves. The smell is musty, of ink, paper, old leather. A stairway down to a second cellar level is blocked by a thick white ribbon strung between heavy wooden stanchions.

At the library entrance is a heavy wooden desk, at which sits a short, slight, middle-aged and balding Shian man. He wears ceremonial robes, black, funereal. Varielky recognizes him as the acolyte she met before. He is lost in thought, and hardly looks up when Varielky enters. He takes a deep breath, turns slowly to face her, and, assessing her blood-splattered gear and armored mein, bows humbly. He seems to Varielky so distracted, perhaps overwhelmed by recent events, as to have to force the words out of his own tired mouth when he says, “The others have left already, warrior. Do you seek to join them or to pursue them? Either way, the route is the same.”

Varielky is able to describe the scroll she wishes to see, and standing and leading her to the great codex with a labored gait – he has a club foot – the acolyte finds the item’s listing and begins searching for it. Unlike the high priestess, who found it almost right away, the acolyte seems unable to locate it. He apologizes several times, seems to stop what he’s doing at intervals, lost in thought.

"No, actually, what I seek is - or should be - between these walls." Varielky answers. "I once read a scroll here, back when the... when the priestess still lived. She invited me to come read again after the festival to Demsha was over. Things didn't quite go as expected, for both of us." Varielky tries to sound empathic, but in truth, she had mixed feelings about the priestess ever since the Azhvuv Queen told her of the priestess' doings during the rebellion, and Varielky's interest in the old woman was limited only to the knowledge she held. So while Varielky may feel many things about the deceased priestess, grief for loss isn't one of them. "It is a scroll, one which..."

Varielky goes on to describe the scroll and its contents to the best of her ability. "I know you're grieving right now, but as this may be my last to come here, I must ask for your assistance, if it isn't too much of a bother. Perhaps you could just direct me to where it might be located?" 

Varielky is glad at first that the priest stands up to help her - that would surely help her find the scroll faster - but quickly realises the mistake. Varielky doesn't want to appear rude, but she was somewhat impatient. They needed to find what they came for and be gone before the entire garrison arrives again. Still, it would take her even longer, most likely, so she'll have to bear with the man, unless she happens to recall something that might aid the man's search, from her last visit?

Snow watches the sapling disappear and smiles, "At least the High Priestess's chambers are undisturbed", he says to Auger and Varielky.

He then follows Varielky as she makes her way down the steps. When she heads towards the library, he instead looks for the High Priestess's rooms. He focusses on the stairway down to the second cellar level, wondering if the white ribbon indicated this was a personal area.

He takes a good look around before deciding to step passed the ribbon and descend the stairs. If he determines the way to the High priestess's rooms is a different way, he will take that route instead.

Investigation: 17+7=24

Auger watches the sapling fade and nods to the others as they step away, "If they come with force I will be following after you. Probably without much time to spare."

Py, stay near me. Keep watch.

Auger then steps outside and examine the closest Imperial, wondering if the clothing or armor would fit any of them. Meanwhile Py assumes a position with a clear view into each of the streets approaching the temple, and where it can keep a watchful eye.

Auger finds three sets of imperial livery of sizes large enough, he thinks, for himself, Varielky and Snow. This takes 30 minutes, during which time Py spots no assailants. 

During this time, Varielky helps the acolyte with specific details. Eventually, the shield-maiden recognizes the scroll. The acolyte retreats to the desk again, somber and exhausted as Varielky pulls the cylindrical case from a shelf recess.

While the acolyte is involved in seeking that particular item, Snow easily steps over the barrier — more symbolic than effective — and down the stairs to the next level down.

At the bottom of the stairs, he finds a hallway leading in one direction to a series of wooden doors, with a somewhat larger door at its end, and the other way sees vines growing along the walls and ceiling until the hall turns sharply left. 

(OOC: Snow is a bit behind the others at this point, so let’s focus on the bard until I indicate otherwise.)

Snow looks up and down the corridor, wondering whether the Red Cypress escaped down the tunnel with the vines.

As he focusses more on the hallway with the larger door at the end, he starts to wander in that direction. Was the larger door indicative of it being the High priestess's quarters? It was certainly not a certainty, but it seemed a good place to start.

He approaches the door and checks it over to see if it is locked or if there are mechanisms in place to stop someone without the key opening it. As he does so he wonders if there might be some magic at play as well.

He takes out the book that his father gave him and starts to follow the directions for seeing ambient magic.

Once done he finishes his inspection of the larger door and if clear enters.

Action : Cast Detect Magic as a ritual - takes 10 minutes
Investigation: 18+7=25
Concentration: Detect Magic - just under 10 minutes remaining

Snow does indeed detect a ward on the door, which is locked. His high investigation roll grants him this theory which he thinks 95% likely. The door can be unlocked by a password spoken by the high priestess. There is a keyhole as well, meaning someone other than the high priestess could gain entry, as long as they had the right key. 

There are many such warded doors in the Kingdoms. Snow’s dormitory door was thus protected when he was a university student in fact. 

Snow ponders for only a short moment, time being of the essence as not only could the guards turn up at any moment but his ability to see magic was fading.

He takes out his violin and splays a short melody, activating the magic within to remove the ward.

If he sees the ward disappear, he enters the room and looks around.

Concentration: Detect Magic - 9 minutes-ish
Action: Cast Dispel Magic using the ability of the Saraswati Violin of Ancient Manipol.

The Saraswati Violin defeats the locking ward, matching the elder Safiyah’s tone and cadence in all but spoken word. It is enough. The lock clicks softly and the door opens an inch. Snow enters a drawing room with comfortable chairs surrounded by high shelves filled with books old and new, illuminated by warm lanterns which magically light of their own accord when Snow steps inside. Along the entry wall, a small side table with keys upon it and several stacks of letters addressed to the high priestess bearing recent dates, tied together with string.

A curtained arch leads into a dining room, while a hallway leads toward bath and bed chambers.

Comfortable pillows cushion the chairs in the drawing room and there’s a fragrance of lavender. 

(OOC: All can post at this point.)