Valyncia spends some time admiring the carvings into the earthen walls of this shrine. They are magnificently well done and the details almost seem to be lifelike. The portrayals of all the different forms of life seem to all come back to Lugh as the creator of life. The idea that Lugh was the creator of all living things started to become prevalent. In every image, there was a symbol of Lugh present showing that he had not only been there, but was the creator of it. She'd always known Lugh to be the one that fostered life and maintained the forest. It was becoming more and more clear that Lugh was the reason for life and it would have not existed without him.
After some time, she decides to see if the storm has passed. Navigating the tunnels, she finally came to a large clearing that seemed to be at the center of the monastery's earthen walls. At the center of the clearing was a very large tree that looked to have lost its leaves rather early in the season. At the base of the tree, Valyncia can see a large number of monks have gathered here and are training in a style of fighting that seems more dance than combat. She spots Svent off to the side with another monk doing similar motions. He's getting surprisingly good at following her lead.
Jubal spends his time understanding the new magics with little notice from the other monks that seemed to be doing the same here. His feelings towards the elders' reactions to the issue at hand continued to peck at his attention.
Did the elder's know what was going on and why didn't they try to stop it? What was it that had happened here that the elders needed to understand?
Jubal recalls the elder had said, " Perhaps it will answer some questions that we have ourselves about something that's happened in the past few days within these earthen mounds."
Valyncia looks up and checks the weather to see if the storm has passed or how close it seems until it settles. Then she would find a seat, under some protection from the rain if there is any, and quietly observe the monks' training.
Valyncia looks beyond the bare branches and sees that the clouds remain but the storm's fury seems to have gone. The rain has moved through as well and the soil is rather damp. She finds a somewhat dry patch and watches the monk train. The movements were fluid like a dance, but Valyncia could see the potential combat efficiency that the monks had trained. These monks seemed to be ready for combat if it ever came to be needed. Looking around, she doesn't see any actual weapons leading her to believe they specialized purely in the hand-to-hand combat style monks were often thought to train in.
The monks out in this clearing wear robes either in green or black colors matching that of the elders' sashes. This provides a very beautiful visual pattern to the training when observed from her position.
(Svent and Valyncia may roll a perception check if they'd like)
Vallen would finish his prayer and looks about the shrine once more. He stands muttering to himself, “It could be a trap... but it might not... I need to find the source and help.” He would look to see if there was any other entrances in the shrine or just the one.
Cailee was startled by the words she heard, as though thunder crackled overhead. She wasn't sure if the voice was of Lugh, but the monks continued to act as if it had remained silent, and she concluded that she was the only one who had heard it. Cailee quickly rifled through her bag, gathering her writing kit and scrawled the words she heard on her parchment: Warden. Balance must remain. War is coming. Protect life. Defend the shrines. Remain vigilant." Cailee then abruptly gathered her things and left the shrine. Valyncia seemed to have left earlier, so Cailee headed to the library where she hoped to find another of her companions to tell them of her experience in the shrine.
As Svent trains and is welcomed into the formations, he finds that the monks all seem to be rather stoic and reserved. It's hard to tell what's on their mind. What he does notice is the giant tree that looms overheard like a canopy blocking out the light that tries to shine past the clouds. Its branches stretch long and far unlike any other tree he's seen It provides an almost sad aura around it. There are no leaves on the ground so the tree must have been bare for quite some time.
Valyncia would notice much the same that Svent had seen as well as...
Carved into the base of the tree were large symbols that were difficult to make out unless she were to get closer. The carvings seem to be similar to the ones that she noticed on the walls of the monastery.
Vallen would find little reason to doubt the voice. Looking around the shrine, he sees that there is only the entrance that he passed through to get into the chamber.
[Roll Perception to see if there are any other more hidden entrances]
Cailee is able to navigate the monastery with relative ease due to her time here. She arrives in the library to find Jubal moving between a few books and some paper that's writing. Xinq looks to be reading a smaller book over on a chair that was clearly built for someone of a different stature.
With her curiosity triggered, Valyncia decided to move closer to the tree to inspect the carvings. Unless she's stopped she would eventually place a hand on the tree in an attempt to study it further.
The monks seem to part as Valyncia approaches the grand tree. As she gets closer, she can see that the tree almost looks dead but still stands tall and strong. It's clear that the tree no longer bears leaves or fruit explaining why there are none on the ground in this autumn season. Placing her hand on the tree, she feels a holy connection to a divine power, but she isn't able to tap into it for a deeper connection. It seems to draw her focus in as she examines the carvings on the tree. They all seem to focus on the aspects of death. The monks continue their routines around her like she's at the eye of a hurricane.
Valynciadoesn't really pay much attention to the monks around her, save for ensuring that she does not disturb their exercises. She is more intrigued by the tree and continues to study it as no one seems to be stopping her.
Looking at the carvings on the tree, Valyncia can see...
they detail a story. Several offerings were brought here and the power of over death was granted to a new entity. A holy ceremony was performed where the power was transferred from a form that doesn't look humanoid into one that is clearly human. It details the enshrining of these offerings into a tomb below an ancient tree looking to be the same that Valyncia stands under.
Looking at the tree again, Valyncia can see the limbs stretching out over the grove like tendrils reaching for light. The rolling storm clouds overhead offer a sense of dread and despair though the storm has already passed. In fact, this whole clearing seems to offer a draining feeling like its sucking the life energy from those here. Looking out at the monks exerting large amounts of energy in their training, Valyncia begins to wonder if they feel this same drain.
Cailee decided to tell Jubal first, wondering what his thoughts would be as a lore bard. She whispered, "Jubal, something happened when I was in the shrine." Cailee showed him the document*, and explained, "while I was praying, I heard these words, clear as day, but no one around had said it." Cailee was finding that as she said it, it sounded like she'd gone mad; then again, the recent events were rather bizarre.
*The words on her parchment read: Warden. Balance must remain. War is coming. Protect life. Defend the shrines. Remain vigilant.
Xinq notices that Cailee has entered and goes to talk to Jubal. He isn't quite sure what they're talking about, but he could move to them to be part of the conversation.
Vallen looks at the shrine trying to find any sort of secondary entrance. There doesn't seem to be anything of note until Vallen finds an odd set of arcane runes on the alter. From what he can tell, it is a protection spell. If begins to wonder what would happen if this magic was dispelled. What was it hiding?
Valyncia spends some time admiring the carvings into the earthen walls of this shrine. They are magnificently well done and the details almost seem to be lifelike. The portrayals of all the different forms of life seem to all come back to Lugh as the creator of life. The idea that Lugh was the creator of all living things started to become prevalent. In every image, there was a symbol of Lugh present showing that he had not only been there, but was the creator of it. She'd always known Lugh to be the one that fostered life and maintained the forest. It was becoming more and more clear that Lugh was the reason for life and it would have not existed without him.
After some time, she decides to see if the storm has passed. Navigating the tunnels, she finally came to a large clearing that seemed to be at the center of the monastery's earthen walls. At the center of the clearing was a very large tree that looked to have lost its leaves rather early in the season. At the base of the tree, Valyncia can see a large number of monks have gathered here and are training in a style of fighting that seems more dance than combat. She spots Svent off to the side with another monk doing similar motions. He's getting surprisingly good at following her lead.
Jubal spends his time understanding the new magics with little notice from the other monks that seemed to be doing the same here. His feelings towards the elders' reactions to the issue at hand continued to peck at his attention.
Did the elder's know what was going on and why didn't they try to stop it? What was it that had happened here that the elders needed to understand?
Jubal recalls the elder had said, " Perhaps it will answer some questions that we have ourselves about something that's happened in the past few days within these earthen mounds."
Valyncia looks up and checks the weather to see if the storm has passed or how close it seems until it settles. Then she would find a seat, under some protection from the rain if there is any, and quietly observe the monks' training.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Valyncia looks beyond the bare branches and sees that the clouds remain but the storm's fury seems to have gone. The rain has moved through as well and the soil is rather damp. She finds a somewhat dry patch and watches the monk train. The movements were fluid like a dance, but Valyncia could see the potential combat efficiency that the monks had trained. These monks seemed to be ready for combat if it ever came to be needed. Looking around, she doesn't see any actual weapons leading her to believe they specialized purely in the hand-to-hand combat style monks were often thought to train in.
The monks out in this clearing wear robes either in green or black colors matching that of the elders' sashes. This provides a very beautiful visual pattern to the training when observed from her position.
(Svent and Valyncia may roll a perception check if they'd like)
Valyncia takes a moment to appreciate the martial display before her, while quickly realizing such a fighting style is clearly not for her.
( Perception - 20 )
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Svent savors the meditative simplicity of learning the forms, doing his best to mimic them accurately.
Perception, 13
Vallen would finish his prayer and looks about the shrine once more. He stands muttering to himself, “It could be a trap... but it might not... I need to find the source and help.” He would look to see if there was any other entrances in the shrine or just the one.
(I suppose can’t insight check the feeling? Lol)
Cailee was startled by the words she heard, as though thunder crackled overhead. She wasn't sure if the voice was of Lugh, but the monks continued to act as if it had remained silent, and she concluded that she was the only one who had heard it. Cailee quickly rifled through her bag, gathering her writing kit and scrawled the words she heard on her parchment: Warden. Balance must remain. War is coming. Protect life. Defend the shrines. Remain vigilant." Cailee then abruptly gathered her things and left the shrine. Valyncia seemed to have left earlier, so Cailee headed to the library where she hoped to find another of her companions to tell them of her experience in the shrine.
As Svent trains and is welcomed into the formations, he finds that the monks all seem to be rather stoic and reserved. It's hard to tell what's on their mind. What he does notice is the giant tree that looms overheard like a canopy blocking out the light that tries to shine past the clouds. Its branches stretch long and far unlike any other tree he's seen It provides an almost sad aura around it. There are no leaves on the ground so the tree must have been bare for quite some time.
Valyncia would notice much the same that Svent had seen as well as...
Carved into the base of the tree were large symbols that were difficult to make out unless she were to get closer. The carvings seem to be similar to the ones that she noticed on the walls of the monastery.
Vallen would find little reason to doubt the voice. Looking around the shrine, he sees that there is only the entrance that he passed through to get into the chamber.
[Roll Perception to see if there are any other more hidden entrances]
Cailee is able to navigate the monastery with relative ease due to her time here. She arrives in the library to find Jubal moving between a few books and some paper that's writing. Xinq looks to be reading a smaller book over on a chair that was clearly built for someone of a different stature.
With her curiosity triggered, Valyncia decided to move closer to the tree to inspect the carvings. Unless she's stopped she would eventually place a hand on the tree in an attempt to study it further.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
The monks seem to part as Valyncia approaches the grand tree. As she gets closer, she can see that the tree almost looks dead but still stands tall and strong. It's clear that the tree no longer bears leaves or fruit explaining why there are none on the ground in this autumn season. Placing her hand on the tree, she feels a holy connection to a divine power, but she isn't able to tap into it for a deeper connection. It seems to draw her focus in as she examines the carvings on the tree. They all seem to focus on the aspects of death. The monks continue their routines around her like she's at the eye of a hurricane.
She follows the carvings around the tree.
[Valyncia, roll an investigation check]
Valyncia doesn't really pay much attention to the monks around her, save for ensuring that she does not disturb their exercises. She is more intrigued by the tree and continues to study it as no one seems to be stopping her.
Investigation - 19
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Looking at the carvings on the tree, Valyncia can see...
they detail a story. Several offerings were brought here and the power of over death was granted to a new entity. A holy ceremony was performed where the power was transferred from a form that doesn't look humanoid into one that is clearly human. It details the enshrining of these offerings into a tomb below an ancient tree looking to be the same that Valyncia stands under.
Looking at the tree again, Valyncia can see the limbs stretching out over the grove like tendrils reaching for light. The rolling storm clouds overhead offer a sense of dread and despair though the storm has already passed. In fact, this whole clearing seems to offer a draining feeling like its sucking the life energy from those here. Looking out at the monks exerting large amounts of energy in their training, Valyncia begins to wonder if they feel this same drain.
Perception: 6
(Apologies for the slow posting, lately >.<)
Cailee decided to tell Jubal first, wondering what his thoughts would be as a lore bard. She whispered, "Jubal, something happened when I was in the shrine." Cailee showed him the document*, and explained, "while I was praying, I heard these words, clear as day, but no one around had said it." Cailee was finding that as she said it, it sounded like she'd gone mad; then again, the recent events were rather bizarre.
*The words on her parchment read: Warden. Balance must remain. War is coming. Protect life. Defend the shrines. Remain vigilant.
((Is Xinq close enough to overhear/see? Perception 9))
Xinq notices that Cailee has entered and goes to talk to Jubal. He isn't quite sure what they're talking about, but he could move to them to be part of the conversation.
Curiously, Xinq approaches the whispering pair.
Vallen looks at the shrine trying to find any sort of secondary entrance. There doesn't seem to be anything of note until Vallen finds an odd set of arcane runes on the alter. From what he can tell, it is a protection spell. If begins to wonder what would happen if this magic was dispelled. What was it hiding?