Chp. 3: La Muerta Espara

[OGRE MAGE]

Siavel continues to search this area while the time is wasted on the spell. He lets Surge sniff around the hole that the snake retreated into to see if anything was missed.

Ok, well, I think we're done here then? He says sarcastically to Azoth after he admits his failure.

We should discuss a plan of attack before heading into that cat room. I have a bad feeling about that place.

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

Calto nods in agreement with both the elven mage and the dark cleric. "The loss of the thieves will be felt in more ways than one. Perhaps we should rest so that Azoth can regain his insight into nefarious machinations." He then turns to Siavel, "I too sense that things were amiss in the room adorned with cats. Hell, this whole place is riddled with deadly trickery."

[Dram]

Kitchi- Also agrees with the others. I believe the safest place to may be the hallway there between the steam dragon and this room.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

"Yes," said the dark cleric. "The two-headed snake survived. Wounded, it may wish to return to its nest."

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai makes some hand signals indicating the safer place would have been to not enter this temple to start with. He has more to say but cannot accurately relay them through signals of the hands alone.

[Grognardsw]

Tabia the jungle barbarian comes to think the ziggurat is more dangerous than the rabid tribe of cannibals that chased them into here. The adventurers, shipwrecked in this strange land, may feel the same. But they realize this dungeon and its riches may be as profitable as the one their original quest map was originally sending them too. But perhaps more deadly.

Tabai nods his head at mention of the chamber of the cats. "Cat" was the only word he recognized amongst the foreigners' language, which he is picking up ever so slowly from Kitchi the ranger. Tabia remembers that time the ju-ju man with the pointy ears put the hex of understanding upon him, when words passed among them understood by all. The cat motifs trigger some primordial memories in the savage (Int. check please.)

The party moves to the hallway between the chamber of ruins and the stairwell up to the next level. There they consider whether to rest and pray.

[OGRE MAGE]

Siavel

Although he loathes to think about wasting a spell slot just to speak with the horrid savage again, the elven mage thinks that it might be necessary to pick this mans limited brain once again. Just in case he actually does have something to reveal to the party about this deadly shrine.

Although I don't really require a break, perhaps it would be best to rest and heal again. After a while, I can cast my magicks to see if this savage here has any more to reveal to us about this place.

[Mant72]

If the group agrees to rest, Calto will expend his healing on Surge the giant weasel (being a druid this is first and foremost ), Blade Rain, and Kitchi.

CLW on Surge: Cure Light Wounds: [1d8] = 3

CLW on Blade Rain: Cure Light Wounds: [1d8] = 1 Sorry!

CLW on Kitchi: Cure Light Wounds: [1d8] = 6

Hey Grog, I think we might have missed Calto's self-heal after the steam-bath from the dragon trap:

Calto the Druid:

Calto hisses through his teeth and winces in pain at his scalding burns. He then calls upon the arcane forces of Mother Nature to soothe his suffering.

Calto casts CSW on himself. Cure Serous Wounds [2d8] = 16 Wow! Perfect roll!

[max_vale]

Alex 'Blade Rain' Vam; Human male Fighter


Alex, tired, angry and still saddened by the loss of his friends cut a look over at the elf as he disparaged Tabai for no reason the grimy, street-kid-turned-adventurer could fathom with his admittedly, limited intellect.

"You know; he fought the monster and risked his life just like the rest of us and hasn't done anything to warrant your scorn Siavel. He also might be the one to step in front of the next terrible monster or trap we encounter and possibly save you from the same fate as Leomar, Bruno and Grindhelm. You might want to keep that in mind"; Blade Rain said in a tired tone. He was sick of this place; sick of death; sick of the unfairness of the world; he was just plain sick of it all.

Shaking his head, he said awkwardly; "Sorry....I'm not trying to pick a fight; I'm just really, really tired of this cursed place. I'll go along with the group; but a rest might not be a bad idea."

*If the healing happens; he'll nod gratefully to Calto; "Thanks".

[GreyWolfVT]

Tabai relays to Kitchi what he recalls of the Ju-Ju man and the cat chamber as best he can from what he is able to remember.
Int Check (10) [3d6] = 10

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

The dark disciple of Nodens the Uncaring spent his profane prayers upon the surviving fighters.
"'Ai! 'Ai! Stell'Bsna Nafl' N'gha Gotha'aoog!" Azoth cried as he summoned unholy power to pervert the Laws of Time Itself and unnaturally speed the healing process, and their fleeting mortal lives.

CLW on: Tabai: [1d8] = 1, Kitchi: [1d8] = 6, Blade Rain: [1d8] = 4

Then he sat crosslegged upon his Meditation Rug of Corporeal Transcendence, faced East and prayed for the sorcerous power to keep these remaining men alive until they reached the final sanctuary of this accursed shrine.

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

Calto finds a clearing on the floor in which to kneel and begin his prayers. Initially, he is somewhat unsettled by the day's events. Then he recalls the teachings of his order and maintains his stoicism. He reflects how man interprets Nature as sometimes being merciless and cruel, but Nature knows nothing of good or evil; it only knows the Way. He once again recalls the loss of the three companions and makes sure to include a prayer for each as he again asks for the Earth Mother's boons.

[Dram]

Kitchi relays to Tabia that will take watch as the spellcasters study. He will sit with him and work on understanding his language. When words are similar as to his language he will convey the word in his language.

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers rest, talk and heal in the assumed safety of the hallway between the chamber of ruins and the stairs up to the next level. It is only late morning, and the men are not tired, but the clerics pray for several hours to regain their divine spells. Tabai and Kitchi continue to work on communication. Tabai does his best to convey his memories of the jaguar motif.

Tezcatlipoca was the jaguar god, the god of the night. Numerous myths relate how Tezcatlipoca expelled the priest-king Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, from the latter’s centre at Tula. A protean wizard, Tezcatlipoca caused the death of many Toltecs by his black magic and induced the virtuous Quetzalcóatl to sin, drunkenness, and carnal love, thus putting an end to the Toltec golden age. Under his influence the practice of human sacrifice was introduced into central Mexico.

The jaguar motif was used due to the belief that the jaguar represented Tezcatlipoca, god of the night sky. Aztecs also wore these dresses at war because they believed the animal's strengths would be given to them during battles. Jaguar warriors were used at the battlefront in military campaigns. They were also used to capture prisoners for sacrifice to the Aztec gods. They fought with a wooden sword studded with obsidian volcanic glass blades, called a macuahuitl. They also used spears and atlatls. They believed their feathered shield had magic powers. To become a jaguar warrior, a member of the Aztec army had to capture twelve enemies during two consecutive battles. This was said to honor their gods in a way far greater than killing enemy soldiers in the battlefield. For a warrior to kill an enemy was considered clumsy.

After several hours, the rejuvenated party sets out to continue explorations.

Calto and Azoth's heal spells are accounted for...

Spell status: viewtopic.php?p=179346#p179346

HP status: viewtopic.php?p=180013#p180013

Calto and Azoth please update your used spell slots with new spells. Thanks.

Latest map:

[OGRE MAGE]

Siavel

Now knowing all of that, does anyone have suggestions or ideas going forward?

The elf racks his mind to try to decipher the riddle of the cat room. He hopes the others have more of an inkling about it than he does.

Spells revised

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

The cleric rose from his prayer rug, furled it, and regarded the map with dark eyes: "Perhaps the Pit hall leads us into the Jaguar chamber via some other path?
"Or we can try the westernmost doors that we have not yet opened."

Spells are replenished. Thanks.

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

After hearing the account of Tezcatlipoca, Calto speaks up, "In the cat motif room, there was a large stone calendar that depicted the seasons. With twelve months in a year, could this somehow be connected to the twelve enemies and two consecutive battles the jaguar warriors were required to capture in order to be inducted? Perhaps turning the stone calendar twice, representing two cycles of twelve, might reveal something. Also, there was an obsidian dagger on the altar in the room. Could this possibly have something to do with the scar on the cat-headed statue's chest? Perhaps retracing the scar with the dagger might also reveal answers?" Calto secures his equipment and weapons while waiting for the group's input.

Spells revised.

[Dram]

Kitchi- Addresses Siavel. Siavel maybe you should cast your trap spell before we proceed forward.

[Inferno]

Azoth Al-Aziz, occultic priest:

"Once we decide our course, I shall," said Azoth.
If the party didn't choose soon, the dark cleric would.

[Mant72]

Calto the Druid:

"I am for returning to the cat room; however, I will follow where the group thinks best."