More Game Logs: Underwater Temple

[Carthrat]

<+Carthrat> The Amnian landscape was a fairly dry one, though not so sparse as that of it's neighbouring country, Tethyr. It did feature a few large forests, but most of it's former woodland had been logged and harvested, leaving the land Thaeos travelled through now- a beautiful, if somewhat desolate land of scattered trees, broad lakes, and rolling hills.
[15:44] * Iddy is now known as Thaeos
[15:47] <+Carthrat> Currently, Thaeos walked near a large lake. The setting sun cast it's orange light across the placid water, creating a breathless view for anyone- this is the sort of setting people of all kinds meet at- lovers to kiss, swordsmen to duel- and perhaps a time of strange rituals, as well.  
[15:49] <+Carthrat> At any rate, the beauty of the scene aside, it was getting dark, and it was generally a bad idea to travel in the dark, especially alone- there were things out there that could see better than any man.. and they were known to hunger.
[15:51] * +Thaeos takes one last look at the lake, and heads off away from it, going a few hundred yards away from the shore to set up camp, in order to escape night-long pestering by the various insects and animals attracted by the water.
[15:54] * +Thaeos sets some basic snare traps with his rope, in hopes of catch breakfast over-night, as well.
[15:54] <+Carthrat> Doesn't take long to get set up- you're very used to this, after all. You can still see the lake in the distance, and the sun soon goes down itself, replaced by the stars and the waning moon.
[15:57] * +Thaeos climbs into his tent, takes off his traveling clothes, but keeps his pants on and his boots close, as well as his sword, and listens silently for a while, waiting to see if anything aproaches his camp hopiing to catch him unaware.
[15:58] <+Carthrat> OOC: Listen check!
[16:00] * Misukibot (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[16:00] * ChanServ sets mode: +oq Misukibot Misukibot
[16:00] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+8 for listen check
[16:00] <@Misukibot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+8 for listen check --> [ 1d20=18 ]{26}
[16:01] <+Carthrat> You can't hear anything outside but the light breeze and a few insects. Not even a real animal nearby.
[16:03] * +Thaeos settles in for the night, keeping boots and blade near, expecting to have a solid night's sleep before leaving in the morning.
[16:04] <+Carthrat> And soon, he is indeed sent off to dreamland...
[16:05] <+Carthrat> ...but not for long? Barely a moment later, it seems, you are awoken by... something. A presence, a power- what? You don't know, exactly. A heavy, ominous feeling falls in your heart, and part of you cringes at the thought of going outside.
[16:06] * +Thaeos grinds his teeth and pulls on his boots as quietly as he can, and grips his sword.
[16:07] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+9 for stealthiness
[16:07] <@Misukibot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+9 for stealthiness --> [ 1d20=2 ]{11}
[16:11] * +Thaeos edges towards the enterance of the tent, and moves to the left of it, making sure not to brush against the side of the tent, moves the edge of the flap out of the way, peering out briefly before taking a bounding step out, and moving in a wide, shifting stance, turning in large circle looking for the disturbance.
[16:13] <+Carthrat> Even as you glance out the tent, before you can start manouevering, your eyes get caught on the sight before you. The moon seems brighter, somehow, and gazes down on your tent and the lake with muted brightness. Ahead of you are will o' the wisps- dozens of them, floating in two straight lines that form a pathway to the lake.
[16:13] <+Carthrat> The vision is so entrancing that it seems to grab hold of your mind...
[16:13] <+Carthrat> OOC: Will save~
[16:13] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+3 for Will Save
[16:13] <@Misukibot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+3 for Will Save --> [ 1d20=7 ]{10}
[16:14] <+Carthrat> ..and there's nothing you can do, so entranced at the sight you can see, that you take one step forward.. then another... and continue walking between the wisps, towards the lake.
[16:17] <+Carthrat> You reach the edge of the water in a daze, and you can see that the wisps continue into the lake, forming a path into the barely-visible depths...
[16:19] <+Carthrat> ..and you soon step into them, walking slowly into the river. A fleeting thought in your mind is screaming at you to stop, but you can't. It doesn't seem to matter, though- even as the water covers your head, you have no trouble breathing.
[16:21] <+Carthrat> You can only see the lake as illuminated by the wisps, and they lead you deeper and deeper into the depths. When you reach what- your mind slowly coming back to you- you approximate to be the centre, you can faintly see some kind of construction at the bottom. Something old. Something beautiful, and ancient, and somewhat sad. A cathedral? You wonder as you progress onward, staring up at tall steeple and blind windows.
[16:22] <+Carthrat> The wisps lead you to the open door, through which you step... and then it shuts behind you, all sight leaves you, and your mind begins to truly understand what just happened. If in a limited way.
[16:23] * +Thaeos looks around, taking in the cathedral and it's furnishings.
[16:23] <+Carthrat> There's nothing to see. Vision doesn't seem to work when there's no light- only water, and the feeling of a closed door behind you.
[16:24] * +Thaeos moves around the walls by feel, paying attention to the movements and flow of the water, hoping to notice a current that might lead him to a hole or exit.
[16:26] <+Carthrat> The walls aren't far from the door- perhaps this is only a short corridor. You can swim instead of walk, if you want- either way, it's slow going alongside, until you reach the other end, where another door awaits you.
[16:27] * +Thaeos swims up to the door, and cautiously opens the door enough to peer through, hoping the next room is illuminated enough to see into.
[16:28] * superaielman (WinNT@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[16:28] <+Carthrat> The door is hard to pull open- must be the pressure, but you manage to crack it open a wedge- and the door swings wide open as all the water pours out, taking you with it!
[16:28] <+Carthrat> OOC: Reflex save, hi, super.
[16:29] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+6 for Reflex save
[16:29] * superaielman is now known as Ana
[16:30] * @Anastasia (WinNT@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[16:30] * Lesbianbot (~dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[16:30] * Ana is now known as Anastasia
[16:30] * ChanServ sets mode: +oq Anastasia Anastasia
[16:31] * Anastasia sets mode: +v Lesbianbot
[16:31] <+Carthrat> OOC: Try again, now.
[16:31] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+6 for Reflex save
[16:31] <+Lesbianbot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+6 for Reflex save --> [ 1d20=9 ]{15}
[16:32] * @Misukibot (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[16:33] <+Carthrat> You manage to roll as the water throws you across the hard stone of the temple, shrugging off what could've been something quite painful. As you pick your sopping self up, you take in the sight around you- a large, open chamber. Upwards, the roof is made of glass! Despite being deep underwater, you can clearly see through it, right up to the moon above.
[16:34] * +Thaeos shifts into a more balanced stance, holding his blade in front of him and wiping the water out of his eyes, trying to get a good look at the room.
[16:36] <+Carthrat> The room itself is obviously some place of worship, but you can't tell which god- there are just no identifying marks in this temple, for some reason. It's symettrical across both axi; a sort of star-shape with a door at each point. The way you came in is still open, and you can see down it back to the closed entrance.
[16:37] * +Thaeos grunts and moves around the room, counter clockwise, and stops at each door to test if it's locked and listen for any sound beyond the door.
[16:38] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+8 to listen beyond the first door
[16:38] <+Lesbianbot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+8 to listen beyond the first door --> [ 1d20=10 ]{18}
[16:38] <+Carthrat> You can't hear anything beyond the door- indeed, the whole room is eerily silent.
[16:38] * +Thaeos cracks open the door and looks through.
[16:41] <+Carthrat> Now, there's something you recognize. This room appears to be some kind of prayer room, perhaps- and it's completely set up. Unlike the rest of the temple, which is barren, this place has a neat altar, covered with cloth and some holy symbols you can't quite see, along with a large book- probably a religious text.
[16:42] * +Thaeos glances back at the other doors, and decides to enter the room cautiously, making note of the religous symbols, and hoping to inspect the book, hoping for a clue as to what God or Godess the place is dedicated to.
[16:45] <+Carthrat> You quickly come to the conclusion that the temple- or, at least, this room- is one dedicated to Selune, the goddess of the moon. Though your knowledge is spotty, she is definately one of the oldest gods, and is worshipped by a rather eclectic bunch of devotees. Her spheres seem to indicate mysteries, changing times, and occasionally wanderers, like yourself.
[16:46] * +Thaeos grunts and offers up a small prayer of safety to Selune, recognizing her relms, and the worth of her influence, even if she's not his chosen God before heading back out and towards the next door.
[16:50] <+Carthrat> The other door doesn't open- is it locked, perhaps? But it holds steadfast against your tugs.
[16:50] * +Thaeos listens for anything beyond the door.
[16:51] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+8 for listen check
[16:51] <+Lesbianbot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+8 for listen check --> [ 1d20=9 ]{17}
[16:51] <+Carthrat> There's nothing there, that you can tell.
[16:51] * +Thaeos moves on to the next door, keeping track of the locked one incase something decides to come through it.
[16:53] <+Carthrat> The next door is also locked- but there's something lying in front of it- strange in a place like this, but an ornate, unstrung shortbow, carved out of,, metal, perhaps?
[16:54] <+Thaeos> "Selune, Goddess.. I mean no offense, and no desecration.."
[16:54] * +Thaeos grits his teeth and picks up the bow, inspecting it.
[16:57] <+Carthrat> When you pick it up, the shaft seems almost gleaming in your eyes. There's a section in the centre that looks like it should have some kind of jewel in it; have parts gone missing, somehow? There's certainly no string.
[16:58] * +Thaeos smiles and moves up to the door, listening for anything.
[16:58] <+Thaeos> roll 1d20+8 for listen check
[16:58] <+Lesbianbot> Thaeos rolled 1d20+8 for listen check --> [ 1d20=20 ]{28}
[17:00] <+Carthrat> You don't hear anything from beyond the door- but there's a voice in your mind, saying words that aren't in the realm of the physical!- "The stars to the traveller- light, map, and comfort in the night. But against those who would blot out the night- the stars craft this bow, for a worthy one."
[17:01] * +Thaeos gets nervous and looks at the bow, hands suddenly sweaty...
[17:02] * +Thaeos glances back at the alter and approaches it, placing the bow on it with a prayer to Selune in apology for intrusion, and one to Fharlanghn to guide his path safely before heading back to check the next door.
[17:05] <+Carthrat> "Stars fling themselves- towards their fate, the end of enemies. Find first the string- in sun-scorched land, beyond the drake- you'll know it's there when thirst you slake."
[17:06] * +Thaeos glances at the bow again, and swallows.
[17:06] <+Thaeos> "Uhh.. Alright.. You sure you want me to be the one for this though?"
[17:06] * +Thaeos glances around again.
[17:07] <+Carthrat> In response, you hear an opening sound coming from the way you came in, and you can see the entrance to the temple has opened fully.
[17:07] * +Thaeos glances around.
[17:08] <+Thaeos> "Right, got ya..."
[17:08] * +Thaeos moves up to the alter and kneels down before it, bowing his head.
[17:09] <+Thaeos> "Selune, I thank you for your gifts, and I pray I to use them as you deem. Though you are not my God, you are one who watches over travelers, and I thank you for it."
[17:10] * +Thaeos stands and bows to the alter again, taking three steps back, rises and salutes the alter, then spins and heads to the exit, trying to keep steady and prepare himself to walk back to shore.. Underwater..
[17:11] <+Carthrat> You can't really remember the intervening distance- when you walk out the door, you expect to be flooded again, but you are somehow back in your tent, feeling disoriented, dazed, and more than a little tired.
[17:13] * +Thaeos shudders a bit and stares at the bow before wrapping it up in his cloak and taking his wet clothes off, putting a dry set on, and then hangs them over the crest of his tent, then returns to his bedroll.. Holding his sword the entire time and moving stiffly.
[17:14] <+Carthrat> The rest of the night passes dreamlessly, and uneventfully.
[17:14] <+Carthrat> <->