"Well..." Khessa comments upon the disappearance of the interlocutor "I can't go so far as to say that I feel 'sympathy for the devil'... but it was pleasant, for once, to find a possible ally, rather than a certain enemy. I hope Zariel sees the benefits of an alliance. Any reliable ally can be precious".
The blonde arcane warrior gets her mind together and leads the party towards the nearest unexplored opening or door... which should be the set of doors that follow the corridor out of the kitchen area.
"The enemy of my enemy is my... not enemy?"Tyekanik asks chuckling. "If we will need an army at some point it might hopefully they can give us some crossbow fodder."
While heading to the unexplored part of the caverns, Khessa jokes with Tyekanik: "Indeed! The enemy of our enemy is either not our enemy... or very stupid and completely incapable of taking advantage of favorable situations! "
"I was also thinking about the possibility of using the Devils as an army at some point..." the blonde arcane warrior admits "In case Slaanesh and Azash managed to somehow field an army of Demons in overwhelming numerical superiority compared to the forces of defense of Eosia..."
"But if it came to that," the tall adventurer points out "I think the Devils would be more than just crossbow fodders... As far as I know, they have power levels comparable to those of demons. An army of creatures of that kind, would probably be more dangerous and destructive than an army of battle-hardened mortal veterans".
"Only issue I possibly see is once we are done with the army, what happens next, do they turn on us or go away." Mal interjects as she inspects the passageway in front of them as they travel.
“You're absolutely right, Mal” Khessa concedes. "If we get the terms of the pre-fight agreement right, the Devils should stick to it... they're so annoyingly fussy about it... But they're still an ally I'd only fight alongside as a last resort. Anyway, even if they just limit themselves to keep a good number of Demons busy on a different front, on another plane, they will still be useful to our cause".
As you move through the ancient cavern, you see holes in the floor, and areas of the walls where the rock has crumbled. Climbing over the debris of a crumbled wall, you enter an area of the cavern that has ancient writings on what appears to be old walls within the cavern, older than the temple you were just in. There appears to be an ancient doorway to the southeast of you. The cavern continues south, and then another passageway angles southwest towards the old temple. Which way do you go?
As already done previously when faced with writings in unknown languages, Khessa announces: "You will forgive me, I hope, but I am really curious to find out what is written..." and takes the time to focus and distill the power of the Weave , trying to penetrate the hidden meaning of those lost engravings...
The blonde arcane warrior, once she feels infused with the supernatural linguistic knowledge provided by the magic, begins, while her blue eyes sparkle with curiosity, to delicately run her finger over the inscriptions, reading aloud the words as she deciphers them...
As already done previously when faced with writings in unknown languages, Khessa announces: "You will forgive me, I hope, but I am really curious to find out what is written..." and takes the time to focus and distill the power of the Weave , trying to penetrate the hidden meaning of those lost engravings...
The blonde arcane warrior, once she feels infused with the supernatural linguistic knowledge provided by the magic, begins, while her blue eyes sparkle with curiosity, to delicately run her finger over the inscriptions, reading aloud the words as she deciphers them...
[[ OOC: What does it say? ]]
You determine this is an ancient language, older than what was found in the temple, and what is spoken by the Zemochs. It talks of an ancient Empire, the Cipis Empire which pre-dates what has been recorded, as indicated from what Brother Maynard states as he hears what you read. Its a warning, a fear of a looming darkness that could destroy the Cipis Empire if not the warnings are not heeded. The prophets had warned that from the deepest blackness of despair will rise two that unless they are stopped, will lay the Cipis low.
"Well, that sounds pleasant," Akkron says sarcastically. "I'm guessing they're probably talking about a certain pair of mad gods whom we have already had a few interactions with... how old is this place?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Brother Maynard adds, "The Cipis Empire, there is not much written or known of them. They definitely pre-date the Zemochs by hundreds of years, but a great calamity befell them, and they disappeared. No trace, no history, as if they have been erased."
"Perhaps as we continue exploring, we will discover something more about their disappearance!" Khessa hopes "And if we manage to spread widely among the Zemochs what happened to the Cipis Empire and why, perhaps they will understand that the fate that awaits them cannot be much better! It could really be the topic we were missing to have any hope of diverting them from the cult of those two degenerate deities!"
Enthusiastic and intrigued, the blonde arcane warrior leads the party to continue the exploration of these caves... she chooses the southeast passage, if there are no particular clues that differentiate the routes.
Khessa is excited as she approaches the mysterious door... will it be behind that door, that perhaps the party will find revelations about the end of the Cipis Empire? Struck by inexplicable reverence, instead of simply entering, she tries to use the ancient brass knocker to... well, to actually knock! And she waits for a while for a response. 'After all, these halls could be inhabited by the spirits of the ancient inhabitants of Cipis... Spirits who might not even be automatically hostile to us... So... why not try to politely ask permission to enter first?'
However, if no one answers, the blonde arcane warrior returns to her previous invasion mode and opens the door anyway.
As you use the knocker, great flakes of dust fall from it as it booms against the thick door. After a short moment, the door opens. A man stands before you, wearing a toga of white trimmed in purple. He stares at you for a moment, and in common, responds, "Yes? How may I help you?"
Khessa is initially disconcerted... despite the instinct that came to her to knock, she didn't really expect an answer... least of all from a person who seems alive and well. She quickly recovers, however, thinking: 'Hey, after all, I've told so many times to my kids, Yondra and Sarvin, that using courtesy usually pays off...'
The blonde arcane warrior smiles at the one who opened: "Pleasure to meet you! I'm Khessa, Khessa Cabbagefield! My friends and I are trying to thwart the crazy plans of destruction of Slaanesh and Azash, two truly disreputable deities. Are you by chance a citizen of the Cipis Empire? It turns out that the Cipis Empire also had bad experiences with the two entities I told you about..."
"Hopefully the Zemochs, Slaanesh and Azash will go the way of the Cipis, when we are done with them. That way no one will have to deal with them ever again." Mal states.
Seeing a how there has not been much excitement when crossing doors Mal watches as Khessa knocks on this one. She is a little startled when someone answers the door though, and slowly pulls her crossbow off her shoulder and gets it ready to fire as Khessa talks to this person.
After encountering cultists, and demons, and statues of gods, in this temple, Tyekanik, too, is a bit skeptical, and following Mal's caution grips his axe tightly watching the man closely.
"Well..." Khessa comments upon the disappearance of the interlocutor "I can't go so far as to say that I feel 'sympathy for the devil'... but it was pleasant, for once, to find a possible ally, rather than a certain enemy. I hope Zariel sees the benefits of an alliance. Any reliable ally can be precious".
The blonde arcane warrior gets her mind together and leads the party towards the nearest unexplored opening or door... which should be the set of doors that follow the corridor out of the kitchen area.
"The enemy of my enemy is my... not enemy?" Tyekanik asks chuckling. "If we will need an army at some point it might hopefully they can give us some crossbow fodder."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
This is what has been cleared/explored. You do recall seeing passageways in the cavern you did not explore.
OK; shall we start from there then (see where purple arrows go)?
While heading to the unexplored part of the caverns, Khessa jokes with Tyekanik: "Indeed! The enemy of our enemy is either not our enemy... or very stupid and completely incapable of taking advantage of favorable situations! "
"I was also thinking about the possibility of using the Devils as an army at some point..." the blonde arcane warrior admits "In case Slaanesh and Azash managed to somehow field an army of Demons in overwhelming numerical superiority compared to the forces of defense of Eosia..."
"But if it came to that," the tall adventurer points out "I think the Devils would be more than just crossbow fodders... As far as I know, they have power levels comparable to those of demons. An army of creatures of that kind, would probably be more dangerous and destructive than an army of battle-hardened mortal veterans".
"Only issue I possibly see is once we are done with the army, what happens next, do they turn on us or go away." Mal interjects as she inspects the passageway in front of them as they travel.
Perception: 28
“You're absolutely right, Mal” Khessa concedes. "If we get the terms of the pre-fight agreement right, the Devils should stick to it... they're so annoyingly fussy about it... But they're still an ally I'd only fight alongside as a last resort. Anyway, even if they just limit themselves to keep a good number of Demons busy on a different front, on another plane, they will still be useful to our cause".
As you move through the ancient cavern, you see holes in the floor, and areas of the walls where the rock has crumbled. Climbing over the debris of a crumbled wall, you enter an area of the cavern that has ancient writings on what appears to be old walls within the cavern, older than the temple you were just in. There appears to be an ancient doorway to the southeast of you. The cavern continues south, and then another passageway angles southwest towards the old temple. Which way do you go?
As already done previously when faced with writings in unknown languages, Khessa announces: "You will forgive me, I hope, but I am really curious to find out what is written..." and takes the time to focus and distill the power of the Weave , trying to penetrate the hidden meaning of those lost engravings...
[[ OOC: She ritual-casts Comprehend Languages ]]
The blonde arcane warrior, once she feels infused with the supernatural linguistic knowledge provided by the magic, begins, while her blue eyes sparkle with curiosity, to delicately run her finger over the inscriptions, reading aloud the words as she deciphers them...
[[ OOC: What does it say? ]]
You determine this is an ancient language, older than what was found in the temple, and what is spoken by the Zemochs. It talks of an ancient Empire, the Cipis Empire which pre-dates what has been recorded, as indicated from what Brother Maynard states as he hears what you read. Its a warning, a fear of a looming darkness that could destroy the Cipis Empire if not the warnings are not heeded. The prophets had warned that from the deepest blackness of despair will rise two that unless they are stopped, will lay the Cipis low.
"Well, that sounds pleasant," Akkron says sarcastically. "I'm guessing they're probably talking about a certain pair of mad gods whom we have already had a few interactions with... how old is this place?"
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Brother Maynard adds, "The Cipis Empire, there is not much written or known of them. They definitely pre-date the Zemochs by hundreds of years, but a great calamity befell them, and they disappeared. No trace, no history, as if they have been erased."
"Perhaps as we continue exploring, we will discover something more about their disappearance!" Khessa hopes "And if we manage to spread widely among the Zemochs what happened to the Cipis Empire and why, perhaps they will understand that the fate that awaits them cannot be much better! It could really be the topic we were missing to have any hope of diverting them from the cult of those two degenerate deities!"
Enthusiastic and intrigued, the blonde arcane warrior leads the party to continue the exploration of these caves... she chooses the southeast passage, if there are no particular clues that differentiate the routes.
You come to an old door, that has an ancient brass knocker on it.
Khessa is excited as she approaches the mysterious door... will it be behind that door, that perhaps the party will find revelations about the end of the Cipis Empire? Struck by inexplicable reverence, instead of simply entering, she tries to use the ancient brass knocker to... well, to actually knock! And she waits for a while for a response. 'After all, these halls could be inhabited by the spirits of the ancient inhabitants of Cipis... Spirits who might not even be automatically hostile to us... So... why not try to politely ask permission to enter first?'
However, if no one answers, the blonde arcane warrior returns to her previous invasion mode and opens the door anyway.
As you use the knocker, great flakes of dust fall from it as it booms against the thick door. After a short moment, the door opens. A man stands before you, wearing a toga of white trimmed in purple. He stares at you for a moment, and in common, responds, "Yes? How may I help you?"
Khessa is initially disconcerted... despite the instinct that came to her to knock, she didn't really expect an answer... least of all from a person who seems alive and well. She quickly recovers, however, thinking: 'Hey, after all, I've told so many times to my kids, Yondra and Sarvin, that using courtesy usually pays off...'
The blonde arcane warrior smiles at the one who opened: "Pleasure to meet you! I'm Khessa, Khessa Cabbagefield! My friends and I are trying to thwart the crazy plans of destruction of Slaanesh and Azash, two truly disreputable deities. Are you by chance a citizen of the Cipis Empire? It turns out that the Cipis Empire also had bad experiences with the two entities I told you about..."
"Hopefully the Zemochs, Slaanesh and Azash will go the way of the Cipis, when we are done with them. That way no one will have to deal with them ever again." Mal states.
Seeing a how there has not been much excitement when crossing doors Mal watches as Khessa knocks on this one. She is a little startled when someone answers the door though, and slowly pulls her crossbow off her shoulder and gets it ready to fire as Khessa talks to this person.
After encountering cultists, and demons, and statues of gods, in this temple, Tyekanik, too, is a bit skeptical, and following Mal's caution grips his axe tightly watching the man closely.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM: