[sblock=ooc]Sorry for the delay. Exam in Statistics, and I had to teach myself the math for the last two weeks. Then blanked during the exam (which is unrealistic, really: I've been playing D&D for 14 years and I always have the PHB with me even when I Dm. Why would I not have formulas with me when I work in the real world?!)
Okay, here goes. [/sblock]
Sir Angus: you throw a twig onto the path. It clatters against the cobblestones. You note that certain of the branches reach between the statues as the wind pushes them, it's just that not of the tree trunks are growing between the statues.
The scholar, standing beside you, shakes his head: No, no, no, are you trying to see if they hold back plants? Good question, but I have a theory it was more primal than that. These ancient statues are old enough that they predate Azlant culture. I think their job was to hold back the forest, no plants. Like... well, you might not understand, but... well, the person of the forest, if you will. And they worked, and I think they still do: look at how well-kept this place is after all this time! Magic back then was more direct, if you will, more alive with personality even then now. A spell would target "the forest", rather than generalize to plants. Now I might hire a mage to, say, bewitch a single treant perhaps, and hope it would work; then you'd be ensorcelling the nature of all treants, or all humanity. Why do spiders spin webs? As the old tale says, because the first spider was a girl who could knit! ...perhaps I'll go into the temple for a peak, once you lot have cleared some space. I'll leave the vault below to you, of course. he says, turning to go up to the steps and watch the others as they go in.
Ragnor, Keepiru, Sindri, Renya (and anyone else heading into the temple; it's not in sblock, so anyone else can read it):
You see that the old temple hasn't got a doorway per se. In fact, it is a roof held up with numerous pillars: an open-concept design that speaks of a place or time when the winds were not so chill. The stone is covered in lichen where the sunlight hits it, but beyond it is cold granite or sandstone (grey stone). All the sides of it can be entered by going up two large steps, but a set of smaller steps sized for easy human use ascend directly in the path from the "road/path" into the forest. As well, the gap between pillars is that much larger here than the usual space, so perhaps this was the main entrance.
In immediate view once you get in the doorway is a pedestal topped by a large stone bowl. The outside is grey, but the inside is lined with a shiney lighter stone, smooth and bright.
I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions, like a good DM. I am working off what I said, though, as being what the Scholar said to you, not necessarily how the world works.
