CH. 4: Temple of Baerin

[JadedDM]

Working together, the paladin and the dwarf ram into the door at the same time, and this time it finally gives, swinging open. Inside is a massive room, far too big to see all of it through torchlight or infravision. It's completely dark and quiet.

=============

Hollidan and Gimog attempt an Open Door check [17] (1d20): 12, pass.

[HorizonsDream]

"Oh, I don't like this," Echo says. "Keet, can you scout ahead a little?" she asks the kobold as she takes in what little she can see of the room.

[JadedDM]

"Uhhh...all by self? Okay, Keet can do that. Can creep into unknown darkness, alone and defenseless." He starts tip-toeing eastward, very slowly.

[HorizonsDream]

"Not too far," Echo says. "If you even sense a tiny bit of danger, then come back. The rest of us, maybe there might be some torches or something on the walls?"

[JadedDM]

"Alright, fan out and search. Not too far, though," Hollidan says.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo walks towards the nearest wall, looking for a torch or some kind.

[JadedDM]

Echo searches around for any torches, braziers, or anything of the sort. Instead, she finds a small pedestal against the wall. It has an imprint on it, resembling a Gonto holy icon.

[HorizonsDream]

"Gimog, Nivain, come here for a moment," Echo says. "This is one of your holy symbols, right?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

The group reconvenes at Echo's location, and the clerics look over the pedestal.

"Interesting," Gimog says. "It does resemble our icon."

"Let's try it," Nuvain adds. He places his icon in the slot, and there's a soft hum of power. Suddenly, the entire room is illuminated by bright, magical lights.

They are in a massive underchamber with three tiers. They are currently on the second tier. On all three tiers there is massive damage to the eastern side of the wall. Large pieces of debris litter the area, walls have crumbled, and there's a large tunnel on the first tier, leading eastward.

On the first tier there's a large statue of a man holding up a shield. There are double doors at the far south end. A large staircase leads up to the second tier, where the party is now. Two separate staircases lead up to the third tier where there is some kind of altar and another pair of double doors on the north wall.

[HorizonsDream]

"It looks as if some kind of worship room," Echo admits as she looks around from where she stands. She walks over towards the statue of the man holding the shield, looking up to him. "So, is this what the shield looks like?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

Hollidan joins her, looking up at the statue. "Yeah, that's it; at least, what it looks like in the religious texts," he says. "Good to know we're on the right track. The figure must be of Baerin himself."

[HorizonsDream]

"Hmm," Echo says then nods. "We have three choices, but I'm not sure that tunnel is exactly safe. There are doors up here, so we might as well check them out."

[JadedDM]

The party gathers together again and climbs the stairs up to the third tier. Before the double doors, sits a golden altar covered in religious script and adorned with precious jewels.

"This must be where prayers were made to Gonto," Hollidan speculates.

[HorizonsDream]

"Before the cave in," Echo says. "This place must have been something to see. I don't understand why it is so huge though."

[JadedDM]

"It must have been able to hold hundreds of people," Hollidan muses.

"Yes, with the kitchen we've seen, I think most of them actually lived here. This wasn't just a temple, but a community," Gimog speculates.