The Dark Heart Chapter 3

[Human Paragon 3]

The Dark Heart Chapter 3


Current Challenge: Discover the true fate of the star-crossed expedition.

You step into the pool and feel yourselves step out of yourselves. The sensation is akin to the feeling of falling and weightlessness you sometimes experience when you’re trying to sleep, then it becomes painful. For one brief moment you are part of everything, you see everything: The forest, the desert, the ocean, a strange city, forgotten places, the jungle burning- then nothing. Time loses its meaning.

As suddenly as you entered this state, you are ejected from it. You spill downward onto the ground as if spit out by a solid wall, and find yourself lying on the floor.

You are indoors, in a large man made structure. The place is in serious decay- ruins. Every surface of the cavernous room is covered with vines and moss. Plants have split the floor stones through centuries of neglect for their upkeep. It is day, and light streams down through the great holes permeating the high, arched roof. You get the sense that you are in a holy place, perhaps a temple.

There is a raised platform in front of you, near where the wall spat you out. Next to it is a square hole with a steep decline built into it that descends into darkness. Behind you a large doorway looms- if there was ever a door in it, you couldn’t say. The outside is jungle as far as the eye can see with mountains rising in the distance. Heat and humidity fill the place, as do buzzing insects and birdcalls.

You enter the room in the order you arrive to this thread. IC thread begins now.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

Stimpas stands and looks around, attempting to get his bearings. "Next time I get thrown through a divine being's portal, I'd really rather it be Koros."

He checks on the others and then begins looking around the room's ruins.

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K: Religion +6, no search modifier

[Human Paragon 3]

Stimpas:

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Nobody else is yet present. You had a very good check. You are definitely in a temple of some sort. The raised platform is an alter, and you can intuit from its unique shape that sacrifices were performed upon it. The pit to the right of the alter is most likely a depository for the remains of said sacrifices.

[The_Werebear]

Andas True Face

Hrmm... The new shaman kneels on the floor and whispers a quick prayer of thanks for deliverance. He then stands, glancing about, taking in his surroundings. Delving into his knew knowledge, he tries to figure out exactly where he is.

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Knowledge: Local +9, Knowledge: Religion +6, Spot +8, Search +1 if there is a secret door nearby.

[Human Paragon 3]

Andas:

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There is something strangely familiar about this place, you feel weirdly at home, as if you share some spiritual connection to it. You also notice what look like carvings on the walls beneath the overgrowth and decay.

Chami emerges from a glowing circle on the wall and falls down onto the floor.

Yeowch! he says. Spirits... Never trust them.

[The_Werebear]

Andas

The elf responds coldly. I believe she is perfectly trustworthy, and she has kept her bargain. We are in a safe place, and on the mainland I believe. The shaman walks over, swiping away some of the plant matter. He examines the relief closely

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More knowledge religion and Local.

[Human Paragon 3]

Andas:

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The reliefs bare a resemblance to those found back on Nagumi (the island) in the cave. This was a temple to her once, back when he had a following on the mainland, many year ago. You think that maybe this was the only place the spirit had the strength to transport you to.

[The_Werebear]

Andas

With a self satisfied nod to himself, Andas calls out to the others. See? It is like I said. We are at a Holy Place of Nagumi. Perfectly safe.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"No offense to your new god, Andas, but I won't feel safe until I know more of where we are at than lost somewhere in an old temple."

Stimpas turns to Chami. "Does any of this look familiar? Are we near your old home?"

[Human Paragon 3]

Chami looks around.

Dere's someting familiar about dis place...

He goes to the door and looks out at the jungle, then climbs up the wall, disappearing from sight. After a few minutes, you see the monkey poke his head through one of the holes in the roof. He calls down to you:

Ya, I know where we are. We are near my home... maybe two days away from my village. I came here once before when I travel to da Yuka lands to meet wit dere chief. He was a tough Yuka, but his bite not as bad as my bark.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"It's good that we're close to something akin to civilization then. Issian, what say you about finding more about this place?"

[The_Werebear]

Andas

Yes... I know of this temple, but I am woefully lacking in terms of context. Scouting would be a good idea.

[Freshmeat]

Carlyss Aritonn

Carlyss shakes his head for a moment and stands up, taking in his unusual surroundings with keen interest.

"Certainly not my preferred method of travel," he says with a wry smile. "but at least we got off that damn island." As he approaches the door and the jungle comes into view, he adds with a tone of uncertainty in his voice. "At least, I think we did..."

While the others perform a routine inspection of the walls and altar, Carlyss warrior stops for a couple of seconds and focuses on whether he hears anything of note.

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Listen (+7)

[Human Paragon 3]

Carlyss:

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Nope.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

Stimpas takes a closer look at the altar, making sure to not actually step on the altar ground.

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Looking for if the sacrifices were humanoid in nature, or animals.

[Human Paragon 3]

Stimpas:

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A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B. You see there are claw marks on the alter. Also, you see the decrepit mechanism that may have been used to bind a humanoid to the alter.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

Stimpas looks at the altar, and then looks away with a sickened look. He turns to Andas. "You might consider a kinder, gentler way to handle Nagumi's affairs, Andas. Because if I ever catch you sacrificing a sentient being, we'll be having many words. And none of them pleasant."

[Chineselegolas]

Matthew

Coming out of the portal, Matthew looked around at the surroundings before walking over to the holes and crouched down next to it, peering into the darkness. "Could someone bring a light, so I can see what lays down here. I'm curious"

[Human Paragon 3]

The pit is dark, deep, and steep.

[The_Werebear]

Andas

The new shaman smirks and shakes his head to the rustling of his feathered robes. Nagumi needs new living blood, not spilled blood. If it comes to be that Nagumi is powerful enough to want sacrifice, then it won't be me with which you want words. I'll have been rewarded by joining Nagumi herself.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

Stimpas nods, accepting Andas words. "If and when that time comes, I'll bring it up with whomever must hear it."

[Kesnit]

Soondra

Soondra appeared, but immeditally fell to the floor. The transport had made her dizzy, and she was slow to stand and join the others. Please, Rothgar, no more mead... she muttered, rather confused.

Slowly, reality returned to her and she managed to get to her feet. Hmm... The decore leaves something to be desired...

[The_Werebear]

Andas

I'll continue to ignore your derision at the temple of my mistress.

[Holocron Coder]

Valtar

Valtar tumbles onto the ground after being spit out of the portal. Standing up quickly, he looks around the temple's main room, taking in the ruin and decay. "So... nice place your master has here, Andas," the scout comments, walking to the large entrance and looking out over the jungle.

After listening to Chami's comments about his village, Valtar speaks up, "Would you be permitted to return to your home, my friend? I seem to remember you being rather... forcibly ejected from here before."

[Human Paragon 3]

Like I said before, Chami tells you, If I return, I'll be killed. If any Overrealmers show up (that's you) they will be killed. They can tell you by your looks and your speech, not to mention that you won't be able to question them, since I'm the only one that learned your language. My magic isn't strong enough to disguise you or change your speech. It's a conundrum. The monkey scratches his head.

[Lochar]

Stimpas

"How about the Yuka you were talking about? Would it be possible to meet with them?"

[Human Paragon 3]

Possible, but not recommended. They are very war-like and unfriendly to strangers. Also, they would not be able to shine any light on what happened in my village, since they are kept off of our land by Citydweller soldiers.

[Chineselegolas]

Matthew

"So the locals will kill us. Does Nagumi hold any sway over them?" Matthew asked, getting up from where had been peering down the hole. "If so then Andas should get some respect, which we could use."

[Human Paragon 3]

Nagumi is an old spirit. I never heard of him myself, until I got to de island and Papa Sisi told me about her, and I am one of de most knowledgeable people here when it come to old stories. De only person I can tink of dat might know about Nagumi is Baba Mona, but... well... she a little scary. Chami shivers a bit. An old witch, nobody really know just how old she is, but she used to scare me grandfather when he was a boy. She taught me a little bit of what I know, but I don't know if she'd help us.

[Kesnit]

Soondra

The monkey's phrasing caught Soondra's attention. You said she is scary, but did not say dangerous. Do you think this 'Baba Mona' would help us?