Chp. 4: The Gods Will

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

Calto looks up the darkened shaft and turns to Azoth, "Might you take flight upon your rug and secure us a rope at the top, my friend?"

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

Noting but not acknowledging Siavel's lone dissent to their departure, Azoth watches him closely on the way out.

If they all make it, the arcane acolyte unfurls his magic prayer rug, sits cross legged upon it and levitates up through the final shaft, bringing one end of a rope with him. Once there, he secures the line that the rest may climb up and calls down, "Good Siavel, you first my friend. We'll return to the shrine's treasures soon enough."

[OGRE MAGE]

Siavel acknowledges the black priest and quickly climbs up the rope. He doesn't want to leave, but knows he is the only one who would be willing to stay at this point.

We are under no time restrictions here. Let us get our wits and heal our wounds in a safe place so that we may return to learn more of the secrets of Tamoachan's hidden shrine.

[Dram]

Kitchi waits for the others to make there way up the rope then he will follow. To frsh air my friends.

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai awaits the final decision hoping it is to fresh air.

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

Calto is also leery of Siavel's recent behavior, and he is unsure if the elven mage is acting strangely due to the loss of his familiar or because of his newly found dagger. The druid bears this in mind as he scales the rope in hopes of reaching fresh air.

[Grognardsw]

Azoth ascends on his rug up the shaft and through the top into the chamber of the water weird. The bowl is empty of water and all is quiet. The rope is secured and dropped down.

Siavel climbs up, followed by the others. The group continues through corridors, passing the wind tunnel trap. There is the secret door into the room with the animated statue that possessed Azoth.

Map

Further on past a pit trap, then up tight stairs to the temple atop the ziggurat.

Temple

Mid-day sun beats down, and spread out in every direction is a canopy of green.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

Relieved to not see the jungle aflame, the dark disciple takes a deep breath of fresh air as he ascends further up into the heavens atop his flying carpet. The cleric scans for signs of battle, and of the disposition of the "noble" savages.

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

Grateful to once again stand beneath the sun, to see the canopy of trees, and to hear the call of the jungle birds, Calto greedily inhales breath after breath of fresh air.

He scans the area for natives, both amiable and hostile. "Let us be cautious. We make for great targets whilst standing atop this hellish monument," he warns.

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai sticks to the more concealed locations atop the tomb "Yes we would do well not to stay out in the open."

[OGRE MAGE]

Siavel also sucks in full lungs of fresh air to clear the poison from his organs.

He is thrilled to see the trees again and to feel the sun on his face.

He can think of nothing other than finishing the exploration of this shrine.

[Grognardsw]

Azoth floats above. Tree canopy covers any view down to the ground, except along the angle of the stairs. The adventurers spy three cannibal Jaguar warriors, and a collared tiger, at the bottom of the stairs. Within the ruin temple on top, the party can't be seen from below.

What the party sees on the top:



Calto and Siavel remember their past examination of this area (with different players running characters). Calto Moonslayer pads cautiously ahead, his magic vision scouring the area for enchantments and traps. Siavel the elven enchanter intones syllables of ocular occult and gains the ability to see magic. There is light vegetation here, seeds blown in that have taken root. Pools of water lie about in many places. Mold, fungi and algae grow about on collapsed columns. The druid's trained eye recognizes that some of the algae (at D-3) is of a dangerous type. Phycomid, an algae-like fibrous blob of decomposing milky-colored matter with capped fungi growing out of them.

Calto spies three dangers, confirmed by the thieves:

- Ten feet in front of the altar the druid sees the glow and knows there is a pit trap (at G-5 & H-5).

- The metal bat wings protruding from the altar stone similarly glow with warning of a trap.

- The left wing of the bat bas-relief also shimmers with energy denoting a trap.

Azoth's rug has 8 rounds duration left (14 rounds total).

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

The esoteric cleric descends back to the top of the shrine, careful to avoid being seen by the cannibals. He rasps his report, "I see no smoke plumes, nor signs of advancing armies. Shall we investigate what has become of the noble savages, or rest first that we may aid them at full strength?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai "Rest for a bit. Then help."

[OGRE MAGE]

Siavel

We should rest before going back inside.

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

"Aye, resting beneath the sky will replenish our minds, bodies, and spirits; however, we must remain wary of these flesh eaters. I will take first watch."

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers retire early for the day, settling in among the temple ruins atop the ziggurat.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

Rested, the arcane acolyte unfurls his magic prayer rug in preparation of studious concentration and fervent prayer.

If there was still no sign of an advancing army of primitive cannibals, he asked, "Which sorceries shall I ready? Those that will aid in a return to this accursed shrine, or those to help us bring our artifacts to the savages now?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai "I'd focus on returning items to my people but I am not everyone here."

[Mant72]

Calto the druid:

After praying to The Mother for her gifts, the nature priest considers Azoth's question, "I am for seeing out the friendly natives. Perhaps they can provide insight to the artifacts we have brought to the surface. This might prove benificail before we delve further."

He removes the trapezohedron crystal from his pocket and examines it more closely.