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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 4385612" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>After their loss in the Trial of Cleverness, the party consoles themselves with a meal. “Just think,” laments Naomi, “those Acorn Brothers beat us, and they can’t even get into the Promised Land!”</p><p></p><p>“I think they are serving their purpose right where they are,” Erasmuz muses. “Maybe they are supposed to stay where they are so that they can oppose other halflings trying to get to the Promised Land, like us, in the Trial of Cleverness.”</p><p></p><p>“That’s a horrible fate,” Nara says. “To be so close, yet... never to reach the Promised Land.”</p><p></p><p>“You can even <em>see</em> elements of the Promised Land- I saw fields of bread, earlier- but you just can’t get to them.” Ari sighs heavily. “I hope our loss in that last test doesn’t weigh too heavily against us.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, those punks deserve it,” Nara replies. “They’re total dicks. Once we get in, we should send them a care package. ‘From Mommy and Daddy, too bad you couldn’t be here.’”</p><p></p><p>“We send them fruitcake,” chortles Chief Jawbreaker.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Later, once they are ready to move on, their guide consoles them. “You could still get in. A lot of folks in the Promised Land failed one or more trials when they tried to get in.” He shrugs. “I failed one myself. Good luck.”</p><p></p><p>The party follows him to the top of a small hill. Below them is a shrine. “That is a shrine to the old gods,” their guide tells the group. “Use your symbol to both open the doors and to make an appropriate sacrifice within.”</p><p></p><p>“Uh, symbol?” Nara asks.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, your symbol of the old gods.”</p><p></p><p>The party exchanges a few uneasy glances. “Anyone got a symbol of the old gods?” asks Naomi. “What does it look like?” She looks at the guide. </p><p></p><p>“Sounds like not, then. Interesting. Hmm, I guess that I have said all that I really can. If you don’t have a symbol, the old gods will probably test you.” The guide hesitates. “Well. Good luck, then. Go in and make an appopriate sacrifice, would be my best guess.”</p><p></p><p>“What kind?”</p><p></p><p>The guide shrugs. “I’ve said all I can.”</p><p></p><p>“Is there somewhere that we could go get one first?” asks Nara.</p><p></p><p>“No,” the guide says flatly. “Not without leaving the testing zone.”</p><p></p><p>“And that means...?” Erasmuz wonders.</p><p></p><p>“That you failed.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah,” Erasmuz declares.</p><p></p><p>“It’s a forfeit, more or less,” nods Ari. “That makes sense.”</p><p></p><p>Jawbreaker scratches his beard and puffs out his chest. “We here. We try.”</p><p></p><p>The party walks down the hillside and towards the shrine. It is walled, but not roofed. Within, through a large window, they can see an altar.</p><p></p><p>They pause long enough for Nara to use her prophetic <em>divination</em> ability. <em>What should our symbol be?</em> she asks. </p><p></p><p><em>If you do not bring one from without, your only symbol can be valor.</em></p><p></p><p>“Jawbreaker valorous,” declares the Chief.</p><p></p><p>Erasmuz <em>stone shapes</em> a horn of plenty from some surrounding stone. Cradling it in his arms, he rejoins the others, who have meantime examined the shrine itself. A large, heavy stone door, graven with images of all kinds of food, seals the place up. “We should use the cornucopia as our symbol,” suggests the ur-priest. “It is very halfling.”</p><p></p><p>“It’s probably our best hope,” Naomi agrees. “Do we even know what it should look like?”</p><p></p><p>Silence. </p><p></p><p>“We probably missed that one about six times,” she grumbles. With a sigh, she hoists the symbol. The party approaches the doors, but as they do so, a great, loud voice booms out.</p><p></p><p>“PRESENT YOUR SYMBOL.”</p><p></p><p>The party stops. Gritting her teeth, Naomi steps up and offers up the stone cornucopia.</p><p></p><p>It crumbles to dust.</p><p></p><p>“THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.”</p><p></p><p>Suddenly a blast of flame erupts from nowhere, and the airs whips instantly into broiling winds. A creature forms, a mixture of churning air and fire, and with a speed none of our heroes can match, it fires a <em>meteor swarm</em> at the party.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> Our heroes fight a holocaust disciple!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 4385612, member: 1210"] After their loss in the Trial of Cleverness, the party consoles themselves with a meal. “Just think,” laments Naomi, “those Acorn Brothers beat us, and they can’t even get into the Promised Land!” “I think they are serving their purpose right where they are,” Erasmuz muses. “Maybe they are supposed to stay where they are so that they can oppose other halflings trying to get to the Promised Land, like us, in the Trial of Cleverness.” “That’s a horrible fate,” Nara says. “To be so close, yet... never to reach the Promised Land.” “You can even [i]see[/i] elements of the Promised Land- I saw fields of bread, earlier- but you just can’t get to them.” Ari sighs heavily. “I hope our loss in that last test doesn’t weigh too heavily against us.” “Well, those punks deserve it,” Nara replies. “They’re total dicks. Once we get in, we should send them a care package. ‘From Mommy and Daddy, too bad you couldn’t be here.’” “We send them fruitcake,” chortles Chief Jawbreaker. *** Later, once they are ready to move on, their guide consoles them. “You could still get in. A lot of folks in the Promised Land failed one or more trials when they tried to get in.” He shrugs. “I failed one myself. Good luck.” The party follows him to the top of a small hill. Below them is a shrine. “That is a shrine to the old gods,” their guide tells the group. “Use your symbol to both open the doors and to make an appropriate sacrifice within.” “Uh, symbol?” Nara asks. “Yes, your symbol of the old gods.” The party exchanges a few uneasy glances. “Anyone got a symbol of the old gods?” asks Naomi. “What does it look like?” She looks at the guide. “Sounds like not, then. Interesting. Hmm, I guess that I have said all that I really can. If you don’t have a symbol, the old gods will probably test you.” The guide hesitates. “Well. Good luck, then. Go in and make an appopriate sacrifice, would be my best guess.” “What kind?” The guide shrugs. “I’ve said all I can.” “Is there somewhere that we could go get one first?” asks Nara. “No,” the guide says flatly. “Not without leaving the testing zone.” “And that means...?” Erasmuz wonders. “That you failed.” “Ah,” Erasmuz declares. “It’s a forfeit, more or less,” nods Ari. “That makes sense.” Jawbreaker scratches his beard and puffs out his chest. “We here. We try.” The party walks down the hillside and towards the shrine. It is walled, but not roofed. Within, through a large window, they can see an altar. They pause long enough for Nara to use her prophetic [i]divination[/i] ability. [i]What should our symbol be?[/i] she asks. [i]If you do not bring one from without, your only symbol can be valor.[/i] “Jawbreaker valorous,” declares the Chief. Erasmuz [i]stone shapes[/i] a horn of plenty from some surrounding stone. Cradling it in his arms, he rejoins the others, who have meantime examined the shrine itself. A large, heavy stone door, graven with images of all kinds of food, seals the place up. “We should use the cornucopia as our symbol,” suggests the ur-priest. “It is very halfling.” “It’s probably our best hope,” Naomi agrees. “Do we even know what it should look like?” Silence. “We probably missed that one about six times,” she grumbles. With a sigh, she hoists the symbol. The party approaches the doors, but as they do so, a great, loud voice booms out. “PRESENT YOUR SYMBOL.” The party stops. Gritting her teeth, Naomi steps up and offers up the stone cornucopia. It crumbles to dust. “THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.” Suddenly a blast of flame erupts from nowhere, and the airs whips instantly into broiling winds. A creature forms, a mixture of churning air and fire, and with a speed none of our heroes can match, it fires a [i]meteor swarm[/i] at the party. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] Our heroes fight a holocaust disciple!! [/QUOTE]
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