The debris from the fallen stone golem contains not a crystal shard but a perfectly formed stone heart. Looking around the room, two small alcoves on the western wall sit beneath pictographs of a minotaur (on the right) and a generic humanoid figure.
(I had missed this detail of two alcoves, so quoting for others in case I'm not the only one!)
"Perhaps the shard from the crystal minotaur in the one under the minotaur, and the stone heart from the golem under the golem-shaped picture?" Dog suggests.
The stone heart and the crystal shard dissolve in the alcoves and a dim green pinprick of light appears in the center of the room. It expands, causing everyone to step back, until a circular portal whirls in the center of the room.
Stepping into the portal brings each adventurer into the blinding light of the day. Birds chirp in the distance and the smell of incense wafts across a slight breeze. As their vision clears, the party comes to see they are standing in the courtyard of a temple. A fearsome statue of Baphomet stands tall close to the entrance to the building. A couple of minotaur priests look up from what they are doing, nod at the newcomers, and go back to their work, which appears to be gardening and repairing the stonework of the courtyard respectively. A young minotaur scurries out of the temple, clearly an acolyte, and bows to the party. "Welcome trial-goers," he says in common. "You have earned your entrance to our fair village. Please return to me....three crystal shards. Impressive! I must reset the labyrinth, you see..."
The priest that is gardening loudly clears his throat, giving the acolyte a steady glare.
"Ahem, yes. Once you have returned the shards, you are welcome to peruse our fine wares, pray at our temple, or conduct whatever other business you brings you to Taur."
"Thank you for your politeness. But. If we keep the shards, you cannot reset the labyrinth, and it cannot mindlessly destroy the lives of worthy genasi warriors for exactly no reason? Hmm. I'll have to confer with my colleagues." Dog says, looking evenly at the acolyte and making no move to hand anything over. He looks over at the priest.
"Where are our friends? The girl and her mother? They were kidnapped and we have every reason to believe they were brought here by a Minotaur yesterday. They are the reason we went through your trial and endured the losses we did. We'd like them back, neighbor. Now."
Insight check on the priest and acolyte to see if there is deception here and if they know more about us than they are letting on: 15
Religion check on the Baphomet statue - evil/good? Ally of Bael? Anything?: 19
Perception check of the temple - anything hidden, any clue as to where we are compared to the entrance, etc: 9
Tockpulled up the hood of his new cloak and activated the Gem of Seeing before stepping into the portal.
While Dog gives his speech, he's looking around very suspiciously at everything and everyone, trying to build a mental map of the place and any possible exits.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Rese— you want to... reset the labyrinth.” Gash looks beyond the acolyte at the priests, “Before we reset your precious labyrinth, how about you reset my friends life!? One of you forced out damn hands to come here. I don’t give giant rats ass about your wares. Someone in this city kidnapped two of our friends and killed another, give us a reason why we shouldn’t burn this place to the ground!”
((idk intimidation? He’s actually really just emotional and angry))
The gardening priest stands and approaches the group as tensions begin to escalate and the nervous acolyte stammers for answers.
"I am sorry for your friend," the priest says. "Few are forced to endure the trial, though." The priest looks at Stones meaningfully. "He was brave to risk his life to enter Taur, but he did so willingly, yes? Honor his bravery. We will reset our trial, the only means to protect our village, and you will find the child safe and sound."
The acolyte and the priest appear to be telling the complete and honest truth. Baphomet is an evil demi-god. The temple devoted to him is solidly built but free from any apparent traps, illusions, or secrets.
"As my acolyte requested," the priest says. "We only require that you return the crystal shards to us before you are given visitor's rights to our town."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stones steps forward and clears his throat, concerned this can get ugly without resolution about the missing people. “It would help if we knew what the rules were, and why we are being withheld information on our missing people. Perhaps you can find it in your being to...guide us in the right direction? You say Feytock entered of his own free will, but what of mother and daughter? Surely you can understand our consternation?”
Persuasion check if helpful:14
(OOC: post was made before I saw DM’s post pop up)
"I am not here to adjudicate justice for you. Our role is to ensure the safety of our village, nothing more. If you will not abide, you must re-enter the trial."
Stones sighs and turns towards to others. “I agree with you about resetting the labyrinth, but what’s most important is getting back your friends. If they can make the trial once they can make it again. Right now we are surrounded in enemy territory with no idea where to search. I’m no coward, but I am pragmatic. Especially if it means rescuing a child.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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"Well, do we want to put the heart and a shard in the alcoves? Glad we didn't use them all for healing."
(Did we get a short rest here through talking for a while or has it only been a few mins?)
Short rest is fine.
If no one else objects, Dog will volunteer to put the heart in one alcove and a shard in the other...
"I think we should." Gash reached in the bag for the shard and pulls it out. "I'm ready. Maybe at the same time?"
Gash then gets ready to put the shard into the alcove and will do so on when his Dog is ready. "On three?"
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
(Can you specify which alcoves?")
(I had missed this detail of two alcoves, so quoting for others in case I'm not the only one!)
"Perhaps the shard from the crystal minotaur in the one under the minotaur, and the stone heart from the golem under the golem-shaped picture?" Dog suggests.
“Oh yes. I think so. Let’s do it.”
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
The stone heart and the crystal shard dissolve in the alcoves and a dim green pinprick of light appears in the center of the room. It expands, causing everyone to step back, until a circular portal whirls in the center of the room.
Stepping into the portal brings each adventurer into the blinding light of the day. Birds chirp in the distance and the smell of incense wafts across a slight breeze. As their vision clears, the party comes to see they are standing in the courtyard of a temple. A fearsome statue of Baphomet stands tall close to the entrance to the building. A couple of minotaur priests look up from what they are doing, nod at the newcomers, and go back to their work, which appears to be gardening and repairing the stonework of the courtyard respectively. A young minotaur scurries out of the temple, clearly an acolyte, and bows to the party. "Welcome trial-goers," he says in common. "You have earned your entrance to our fair village. Please return to me....three crystal shards. Impressive! I must reset the labyrinth, you see..."
The priest that is gardening loudly clears his throat, giving the acolyte a steady glare.
"Ahem, yes. Once you have returned the shards, you are welcome to peruse our fine wares, pray at our temple, or conduct whatever other business you brings you to Taur."
The acolyte holds out his meaty hand expectantly.
"Thank you for your politeness. But. If we keep the shards, you cannot reset the labyrinth, and it cannot mindlessly destroy the lives of worthy genasi warriors for exactly no reason? Hmm. I'll have to confer with my colleagues." Dog says, looking evenly at the acolyte and making no move to hand anything over. He looks over at the priest.
"Where are our friends? The girl and her mother? They were kidnapped and we have every reason to believe they were brought here by a Minotaur yesterday. They are the reason we went through your trial and endured the losses we did. We'd like them back, neighbor. Now."
Insight check on the priest and acolyte to see if there is deception here and if they know more about us than they are letting on: 15
Religion check on the Baphomet statue - evil/good? Ally of Bael? Anything?: 19
Perception check of the temple - anything hidden, any clue as to where we are compared to the entrance, etc: 9
Tock pulled up the hood of his new cloak and activated the Gem of Seeing before stepping into the portal.
While Dog gives his speech, he's looking around very suspiciously at everything and everyone, trying to build a mental map of the place and any possible exits.
"Rese— you want to... reset the labyrinth.” Gash looks beyond the acolyte at the priests, “Before we reset your precious labyrinth, how about you reset my friends life!? One of you forced out damn hands to come here. I don’t give giant rats ass about your wares. Someone in this city kidnapped two of our friends and killed another, give us a reason why we shouldn’t burn this place to the ground!”
((idk intimidation? He’s actually really just emotional and angry))
Flat 20 roll 16
-1 for any charisma roll
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
The gardening priest stands and approaches the group as tensions begin to escalate and the nervous acolyte stammers for answers.
"I am sorry for your friend," the priest says. "Few are forced to endure the trial, though." The priest looks at Stones meaningfully. "He was brave to risk his life to enter Taur, but he did so willingly, yes? Honor his bravery. We will reset our trial, the only means to protect our village, and you will find the child safe and sound."
The acolyte and the priest appear to be telling the complete and honest truth. Baphomet is an evil demi-god. The temple devoted to him is solidly built but free from any apparent traps, illusions, or secrets.
"And what of the mother... you said the child is safe, where is her mother?"
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"If you wish to conduct any further business in Taur, you must abide by the town's rules."
"We want the mother and daughter returned to us. What do we have to do? Where are they?" Gash is starting to pace now, impatient and angry.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"As my acolyte requested," the priest says. "We only require that you return the crystal shards to us before you are given visitor's rights to our town."
Stones steps forward and clears his throat, concerned this can get ugly without resolution about the missing people. “It would help if we knew what the rules were, and why we are being withheld information on our missing people. Perhaps you can find it in your being to...guide us in the right direction? You say Feytock entered of his own free will, but what of mother and daughter? Surely you can understand our consternation?”
Persuasion check if helpful:14
(OOC: post was made before I saw DM’s post pop up)
"I am not here to adjudicate justice for you. Our role is to ensure the safety of our village, nothing more. If you will not abide, you must re-enter the trial."
Gash stops pacing as Stones speaks he finds his way behind the others grateful someone else has spoken at this point.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Stones sighs and turns towards to others. “I agree with you about resetting the labyrinth, but what’s most important is getting back your friends. If they can make the trial once they can make it again. Right now we are surrounded in enemy territory with no idea where to search. I’m no coward, but I am pragmatic. Especially if it means rescuing a child.”