Playthings of the Gods

[Fabian]

Moving round the great temple, the scholars of the group with Will bearing the torch piece together the disturbing story of the mosaic:

Thousands of years ago, strange creatures that bear a resemblance to giant toads with tentacles instead of faces came to the Flanaess (your continent) from... somewhere else. Maybe they came from the stars, maybe they came from another plane, it's unclear. Their empire was vast and the majority of the land was hot steamy swamp. The cities were wondrous to behold, filled with gargantuan ziggurats and curiously shaped towers. Great roads of black basalt joined these cities and strange sky-ships roamed the heavens.

After many years of enlightened rule, calamity struck. A great star fell from the sky and landed in the sea. Huge clouda of vapour and dust filled the sky throwing a pall over the landscape. The empire dissolved into chaos, decaying into roving bands and tribes. War and deprivation was the rule.

Not all the race fell to this level; a powerful sorcerer-priest took his followers into hiding in the city you find
yourselves in now and crafted the great stone in the centre of this temple.

Eventually after nearly two hours you make your way to the centre of the temple to the altar, where you see a new mosaic.

The mosaic at the centre:

This is worked into four distinct panels. The first shows lines of human slaves in shackles being led up to the stone. The second shows one of the glutinous horrors touching the stone with an outstretched tentacle. The third shows the shackles being removed and cast away. The fourth shows the noisome creature dancing vilely while playing a song on its pipes (like the ones found smashed in the asylum).

OOC: The three of you (I assumed Lunk was standing watch away from the rest of you) upon getting near the Stone, feel a suggestion in your mind of "touch the stone", but you are all able to shrug it off. Will saves DC 17. Will: 19, Gaius: 22, Olthy: 21. Minds of steel, chaps.

[Agentmolar]

" Brothers. i suspect that the stone is central to our investigation. What do you think Olothros? Are the human slaves being freed, or being fed to this stone? The doctor appeared sincere in protecting those who live here.. perhaps the sorcerer- priest of those vile looking creatures are being helped by him.  This is a lot of information to digest. "

Gaius stops in thought.. trying to rationally work out the meaning of the mosaic. " Will? What do you think? Do the removing of the shackles mean that the humans are freed? Or do you think they are being led to the stone. "

[Custom_Hobby]

"I think they are freed because the stone calls them to it. There is no altruistic purpose here. I think this is the temple, it might not be wise to make camp here." Olothros takes some time to search and see if there is anything else to shed some light on things.

[Fabian]

OOC: Just to clarify if it was unclear - the third panel shows the human slaves but not wearing their chains (these lie around their feet).

[Custom_Hobby]

"Do you want to continue scouting or make camp (not here) and rest up for the night?"

[Agentmolar]

what time is it now? Have i been able to get some divine prayer in yet?

[Custom_Hobby]

That is why I suggested making camp for the night. I need to rest and get my spells sorted in the AM.

[Fabian]

OOC: It's now 9pm - you pray at dawn. http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/divineSpells.htm#preparingDivineSpells

Gaius (being wise and all) realises that wherever they make camp, it probably shouldn't be in the building they've left a nice fire and a tied-up doctor in; in particular because it's occupied already by several unknown people (remember the bedrolls?)

[Custom_Hobby]

"Lets look to the south and see if there is another suitable area where we can rest?"

[Bodhi]

"I j...j...j..jus' think it easier to cut a man open from groin to throat without chains in the way. S...s...sacrifice if yous asks me. B...b...besides you priestly types are allways full of rubbish*e on how sacrifice is a liberation into the arms of god and such"'
Will gives Gaius a dour glance.
"S...s...so let's make a camp then. B...b...but thisplace gives me the creeps. D...d...don't wanna be without a guard..."

(Guard schedule anyone? Will has slept a bit so I expect he can take the first watch)

[Custom_Hobby]

"I can cover half the night since I only need to sleep 4 hours. I will be resting and in study the rest of the time. Lets check north of the tower. Answorth was headed south of it when we found him so whatever he was going to warn should be in the direction we just came in."

[Agentmolar]

"Brothers i have some reservations about leaving the doctor with our previous campsite. Perhaps i will take lunk, we will retake the doctor with us and clean the area of our presence?"  Gaius says after some moments to reflect.

"Lunk come with me and we'll do some cleaning up"

[Custom_Hobby]

"I think we should stay together. I'll go with you too"

[Fabian]

OOC: Is Gaius using his light spell to guide them back to base?

[Agentmolar]

Nope using the torches