I don't about you folks, but I could do with a rest....to build up some stamina...

(Conversation on the way.)

"Sharp-eyed. I didn't think my appearance is that obvious. Even my hairs aren't bright as it is most common for people of my origin. Whom I worship is not the question you should ask. I serve the gods as they need me to. If it really matters to you, however, you could say that those you know as Moeitu, Ellosh and Takal Demesh are the ones I was doing my service for most of my life. Takal Demesh in particular. Lately, the one you know as Natanya had also guided me often. As for the master, I didn't plan to serve him at first." In the following sentences, Auger will be easily able to notice anger and hatred in Varielky's voice. "There were other matters that I wanted to attend to first, but eventually, I had decided that leaving Ishi Ammah would be a wiser decision, for the time being. And then, I was brought to this sword." Varielky unsheathes her sword - a red-steel longsword with a few runes etched into it - and a glowing mark appears on her forehead. "Had I not decided to work for him, I wouldn't have found this sword. Even when I saw it, I was oblivious to its significance at first, but the gods guided me towards it. Thanks to the master, its previous owner let me take the sword. Already has its holy properties saved my life more than once." She realises she had said a lot, but it was hard to avoid when asked about her beliefs, at least when there was no danger of someone hearing it and reporting to the Shian Elite or the Jenghen army.
Varielky examines the new dragonfly. She doesn't understand it much, and it doesn't truly interest her either, but she wanted to learn more about the man near her. Considering she has already shared a lot... "So, what fuels your powers?" She also looks at his crafting process with interest, remembering when she learnt to use tools meant for carving wood. She never really got to use them, but she did remember a little. The man's tools were not the same, however. They didn't seem like they were made for delicate work such as carving runes on a shield or a spear, crafting arrows or otherwise work that required precision.

Conversing with Varielky

As Varielky speaks Auger starts working his piece of wood more intently. After she finishes the silence stretches for a moment before he responds. "The truth is I am more a carpenter than a woodcarver. I make things of substance that people use in the world. As an apprentice I learned the practices of wheelwrights and then wainwrights and then something of the ship's trade, making rudders for the shallow draft ships that ply our rivers, even helping to set a mast on occasion. Many of those contracts ask for the wood to be carved or etched as need be, sometimes a family crest, sometimes a monarch's sigil but most often a symbol of a God."

Still intent on his carving and the light adjusting itself as needed, Auger continues, "My father once told me that true power comes from intensity of purpose matched with the skill and precision to complete the task in front of you. A great craftsman my father, his works were art unto themselves. He would be commissioned to create a wagon or even a home but while no one could match his carpentry what people truly sought out were his artful carvings and triptychs and scenes. He would create in wood intended to bear some burden or keep a family dry in the summer rains. He would create art." Auger pauses again, clearing some unwanted piece away from his carving. "Art. That is the true power." 

"I... well I reach into my mind and through it to the Sea of Stars and then I... well you saw what happens, what I can do. This is a power too of course. I wonder if my father saw me now, would he agree?" Coming back to himself, clearly also saying more than intended, Auger raises the carving to show Varielky, "Here. Without paints and in this light you might have to imagine along with me, but here a mountain range in the distance and above it, in the twilight, the three stars of Nanatya. This is yours."

Auger pushes the small wood carving of a scene, all of 2" by 4", into Varielky's hands. Looking down at it she struggles for a moment to see everything Auger described but then with the light shifting ever so slightly the shadows turn the background into twilight and she sees the stars and the mountain range and towards the bottom a small figure with long hair, facing away, pointing up to the stars.

Looking ahead Auger says, "Takal Domesh. Ellosh. Moeitu... I suspect I will be learning much more of their ways before long."

At the Ruins

Auger agrees, "A rest before a fight would allow me to do much more I would think."

When you stop at the edge of the temple, Granophyre looks over his glasses at the undead assembled before you. He reaches into one of his coat pockets for a moment, and finds a tiny bottle with a very small handle. He unscrews the top one turn, flips up the tiny handle with a fingernail, and then intones a brief arcane phrase. The bottle glows warmly. He calls Ednyss, Varielky, and Dolkum to his side. "May I?," he asks. Before awaiting a response, he takes each person's hand, flicks the tiny handle with his thumb, and a needle-thick spray of warming liquid which smells different to each recipient but equally soothing to all, shoots out in a brief stream, which immediately seems to evaporate but can be felt moving deep into each one's body.

To Dolkum, he says, "and perhaps you should...er...you know?," with a wink, and making a subtle gesture of laying his hand upon Dolkum's arm.

He hands Auger a very small stone. With it held in his palm, it grants Auger enough magical power to cast 2 spell levels (either 2 1st level, or 1 2nd level).

Now listening with care to Varielky's question, Granophyre smiles grimly. "My goal, young lady," replies the sage, "is to see what there is to see." 

Tuff rolls his eyes, pulls a tiny kerchief from his sleeve which seems to be in the shape of a doll's cloak, and intones a spell of his own. The cloak grows, and transforms into a translucent web of glowing strands which stretch around Granophyre, enclosing him completely.

"Was that really necessary?," asks Granophyre.

"Only if history ever informs the present, Master Strewn."

Shaking his head very slightly but chin held high, Granophyre asks the company. "Well. Do be careful, the ground is still quite shaky. Are we ready?" He studies the nearest ancient runes closely, but seems fascinated in particular by the central boulder, and apparently, its defenders.

Feeling some of his power return to him, Auger states for the team that "While they are all bunched up like that I can hit most but the two Lion Skeletons with quite a blow if I can strike before they begin moving."

Py

 Auger

Dolkum breathes deeply of the rosy scent of azures, feeling quite invigorated.  Taking heed of Master Granophyre's sage advice and Laid Hands on himself, too, especially the bruising to his knees and head which took the brunt of the evening's fight....and now...

If I may, gather round, please, friends... O Great Idiwala, watch over us your humble servants, for we seek to return the assembled Hollow Ones over yonder to their well earned repose...for we do so in your merciful name, and in the name of all that is good and holy... Inshidiwalha

(Conv. with Auger)

Varielky is quite surprised that the man answered the question she didn't form with words. Indeed, sharp-eyed. Other than that, however, she is mostly confused. Art is power? No art can parry a sword. The Sea of Stars? The sky then? It didn't sound like the kind of magic Mittens had, so either a Sorcerer or a Warlock or... perhaps a divine caster like Ednyss... it was beyond her understanding.
"Eh... thank you?" She says when Auger gives her his craft. It's a bit difficult, but she can see what he had described in the piece of wood he gave her. "With enough practice, you might be able to carve into wood, one day." She doesn't tell him outright that it looks like what someone who had left their shield unwatched would find after their child decided to... decorate it. On the other hand, these warriors always took pride in such things. "See this? My boy did it. He may be unrefined now but he will bring pride to his father's heart one day!" is the kind of things they'd say. She keeps it though and inserts it into her pack once they stop in front of the temple.

(At the temple)

Varielky shrugs and is thankful for the refreshing scent. Strange inventions these Dwarves had. "Certainly, taking the numbers out quickly will tip the scales in our favour, but I'm still concerned about the lions. If you must see what's inside, you know my shield and sword are here to protect you." To Ednyss, she quietly responds: "Don't worry, I do not plan on dying to something that is no longer living. My death will be on a battlefield, fighting great and honourable warriors, from which I hope to be taken up to Halvalla. You must be careful as well, yes? It is not your place to die either."
Varielky dons her shield and draws her sword and begins to walk forward slowly, standing in front of the others. "On your mark, I am ready."

Granophyre holds up one finger, asking you all to wait. You all see his little golden bird wheel and flutter above the central boulder. The old scholar utters another brief arcane phrase, and gestures with both hands in a curt swirl before his temples. In a moment, he turns to the party.

“It seems,” his gravelly basso whispers to you all, but he’s looking at Auger, “that the ancient Warding still functions. It is magnificent, for this temple surely predates the empire -- the Dwarven Empire, that is -- by over two thousand years. But magic will not penetrate the sanctum. Do you see the line of crumbled walls at a short distance from the central stone? That is the boundary of the Warding. Within those walls, no magic spells can penetrate, except perhaps, if cast by a priest of Ritha Demsha.”

At that moment, another Hollow One in iron armor clambers out of the pit and joins the ranks within the sanctum. And then the lions, in perfect synch between the pair of them, speak.

“We were once as you are. In pursuit of that which should remain untouched.” The lions’ mouths are moving, articulating the words, a haunting sound which travels gently on a breeze which reeks of bog gas. The Hollow Ones seem to add their voices, somehow, their empty bodies resonating with each word, or perhaps it is the lions which are giving form to the message of the haunted dead dwarves. The effect is almost overwhelming. Flint and Wad’s eyes are bugging out.

The ground rumbles, distantly, the tall pillars continue to lilt, every so slightly, making a slight grinding noise. Then utter silence, save for more scraping, metal against stone, from down within the pit.

The sound comes again, the voice of the dead. “You will have to choose, Greybeard.”

Dolkum looks over at Granophyre with a start... before the Dwarf Empire???

Auger holds off on taking any action, this situation has become quite complicated. His inability to detect this warding that Granophyre mentioned is quite frustrating for him.

Auger sends to Py, Do you see the warding's edges? Stay back, they might affect you.

Tuff’s and then Granophyre’s heads both turn slowly, locking eyes with Ednyss Greybeard, inquisitively. Tuff’s expression shows mild annoyance, while Strewn’s cocked brow is hard to read.

”It seems...,” says Granophyre, “this riddle may fall to you to answer.”

Py messages back to Auger, ‘No, I can’t see it. The scholar channelled a detection spell through his construct, I think. But I believe I am immune or I would have been destroyed during my first flyby. I got pretty close.’

Ednyss looks a bit confused at the sudden attention. "Choose? Me?" he says with a start. With all the attention on him, he spends a moment thinking before he speaks, "They are clearly giving us a warning. It appears that they were once adventurers of some kind that had come down here to investigate what we are trying to uncover." He pauses to give emphasis before he continues, "And somehow, they ended up as they are." Turning to Granophyre he says, "If there is a barrier to magic in that area, it will be substantially more difficult to defeat those creatures, and we still have to contend with whatever caused them to end up like this. Do you think there could be any other possible entrances? Or is this our only chance to find the Core?" If Granohpyre says that this is likely the only way in, he follows up and asks, "And do you think it will stay open for long?" He is utterly confused by the idea of something predating the dwarves, just as Dolkum is, although he can't help but trust the scholar's assessment and so he doesn't question it for now.

Ednyss and Dolkum, perhaps <jk>

https://cheezburger.com/8197074944/ummwhat-do-i-do-with-it

“What the ‘lloshing hell is going on?!,” hisses Benita to Varielky. “How is this better than being chased around Ishi Ammah by chimp assassins?!” 

The voice of the dead continues to groan onward, in archaic Dwarven. 

“Greybeard. The angel of these lands sends you this message in her winter’s sleeping: ‘Lay down your shield. Leave the god of war, now and ever, out of your prayers, out of your thinking, out of your heart.’

We, like you, sought empire, power, glory. We, the Dwarven chiefs from time forgotten. Our children’s children built the first core following the urging of the god of war, the god of death. Their children’s children created the ultimate weapon. And payed the price. Destruction. Darkness. 

Lay down your shield or we will lay it down upon your corpse. Pray no more to the god of war. Send your prayers to the earth, which suffered endlessly after the step of The Wandering God. Do not bring the Darkness again. You have ten sextants* to decide.”

(*This is an outdated measure of time: a sextant is six seconds long, so ten equal one minute.)

Granophyre, who has been studying the central boulder during this exchange, now watches as another undead dwarf climbs out of the pit. This one is in steel armor. “A Dacite messaging stone!,” Granophyre exclaims under his breath. Around the dwarf’s neck, whose armor is ornately carved, whereas the rest are plain iron, is a pendant of greenish stone with clear white flecks. It glows softly in the moonlight. “With that stone we can see within Core of Dacite! We must have it!”

“Ednyss, you are being challenged, and if my research and studies — if age — have taught me anything, it is this. Make the decision which is right for you, follow your heart and your conscience. The challenges of Angels and the Gods are not to be ignored, nor to be taken lightly.”

As the seconds tick on, there is another quaking, and you see behind you the passageway between thick tree roots through which you entered has closed. Benita rushes to it and slams her fist against the base of one of the uprooted trees. “NO!”

Py messages to Auger, ‘another break in the trees has opened directly on the southern edge of the clearing!’

The Hollow Ones advance to the edge of the sanctum and after sixty seconds, as one, they clash their weapons against their armor. 

“Answer!” echoes the unearthly voice from the lions’ hinged jaws, resonating in the empty forms of the ancient Dwarven chiefs. 

Stumbling a bit as the earth moves, Auger quietly relays Py's statement to the team. "If we must retreat, the shifting of these felled trees has created an opening to the south."

Sending back to Py, can you give it a closer look? Surprises are piling up already.

Thinking over the challenge now facing Ednyss, Auger has no words for him. The God of War is not Auger's but being required to shift a lifetime's worship in an instant because voices from the grave demand it...? Auger knows what his own answer would be.

(OOC: Could we get the ruins map link reposted and updated with the 2(?) additional Hollow Ones. I would also like to see exactly where the hole is if that was not already called out.)

Py

Updated map.

"I would agree," Varielky responds to Benita, "but the gods wanted us here for a reason. Don't worry, the assassins will not go unpunished." 

Varielky looks at Ednyss silently, but from her clenched fists and the expression of her face, it is clear she is angry. She has a lot to say, but keeps her mouth shut. She cannot intervene in this test the gods brought upon him, but sure he's going to maintain his belief, she is ready to charge at the heretics in a moment's notice.

Ednyss looks at Varielky and reads her expression easily. But he already knew that the hardened shield-maiden would likely feel the way that she did. His mind races as he considers what the undead are saying. His whole life has been dedicated to bringing back the dwarven empire. Whether through gathering information, strengthening his own devotion, even his choice of diety, it was all in the service of bringing back the empire. And now, with a Dacite messaging stone so close, he was as close as he would ever be to having the tools needed to begin rebuilding the dwarven kingdoms of old. If Granophyre was right, the Core of Dacite held the key to the secrets of the ancient dwarves and it would allow them to rise up once again and conquer.

But then, for the first time, ever since the Beauty Pageant, he has had something else on his mind. His single-minded, focused nature was thrown by the strong presence of Varielky, a warrior who had truly needed his help. And over the last few weeks, he had felt that connection with her deepen. Glancing over at her now, he realizes just how much he really cares for her, and a strong feeling wells up inside him, a sort of fatherly protection for the shield-warrior. His instinct at this point is telling him to let the fight go. That his faith means nothing compared to a person that he cared about. That it wouldn't be worth sacrificing the life of a person he cared for, in order to bring back the dwarven kingdoms. There had to be another way, that wasn't as risky, and they would find it.

But just as he kneels to the ground to lay down his shield, he pauses. He thinks about his faith and what his belief has taught him. War is not inherently evil. Neither is is it good. The dwarves of the past made a mistake in overextending their power. They betrayed those that were closest to them and they paid the price. The destruction that the dwarves suffered was not caused by Takal Demesh, it was caused by their own failures and lack of humanity. As Ednyss looks again at Varielky and the rune inscribed on her forehead, he is reminded that life is only worth the meaning that it is given. He may live today. He may even save the life of the shield-maiden. But their lives would be forfeit in the eyes of the god that he had betrayed. It was better to die here, on the battlefield than to live in shame. As he makes this realization, it occurs to him that he is no longer fighting for the dwarven empires, but he is instead fighting for his beliefs. He may yet rebuild the empire, but his faith and the gods must come first. Just before his shield touches the ground, Ednyss gets up from his knees and stands.

As he is rising, Ednyss speaks. He first looks to Varielky and says, "These creatures may be dead, but they were once great warriors. They were raised by an outside force and that does a disservice to their deaths. If one of us should die here, we shall die with glory attempting to bring peace back to the souls of these warriors. But by the grace of Takal Demesh, that shall not happen." Turning to the undead he responds. "Your children's children are to blame for the destruction that they brought upon the dwarven empire. Takal Demesh finds the beauty of war, but a warrior's prowess is also in his honor. By attacking the Old Mystics that had done so much for the empire, they brought the vengeance of the gods upon themselves. War is not darkness. It is a beautiful thing. Something to be respected and honored. We will not lay down our weapons and my faith will not be shaken by words. By choosing to stand in our way, you prevent us from attempting to remedy the wrongs of the dwarves of old and learn from their mistakes. Hand us the messaging stone and stand down or you will feel the might of Takal Demesh."

Intimidation: 23

(OOC: Spoiler for DM)

Dolkum looked at the clearing, and the spires...

Climbing the spires will take to long and limits our mobility.  If we move around towards the south exit we will increase our options...