spyscribe
First Post
Part the One-Hundred-First
In which: we examine many relics, and polish none of them.
Although the party is not particularly eager to leave Master Genichi alone to face the coming Inquisitors, they also find that swaying him from that course of action is not going to be an easy task. Reluctantly, the party agrees that protecting the relics must be their first priority.
Besides, the shrine is open to the elements, and Eva—even in Benedic’s borrowed cloak—is starting to turn slightly blue.
Sending Hatsumi and Satsuki to prepare for their journey to the Vale, Master Genichi leads the party to a small, square building adjacent to the shrine. The structure has only one room, adorned with a large holy symbol of Kettenek on the wall opposite the door, and furnished with two pedestals. On one is a flat, rounded stone, almost like a skipping stone. The other holds a rock which is vaguely cubical, but covered in sharp crags and angles.
“Great, more rocks,” Lira mutters to Eva as she casts a quick detect magic and scans the stones. Eva manages not to giggle.
Master Genichi explains that the two items are known as the Coin of Rikitaru and the Infinite Mountains. When they look closely at the Infinite Mountains, the party finds that it’s actually a sort of map. They can make out the monastery, the path that leads to the Lake of Exalted Heights, and the Vale of the Holy Spring almost as though they are using a crystal ball. They try to see if they can make out individual people—wondering if leaving the relic behind would allow the Inquisitors to track them through the mountains—but if such a level of detail is possible to discern, no one in the party is skilled enough to see it.
Anvil is busy examining the other rock. “What does this do?” he demands.
Lira shrugs, “I’m not going to touch something that radiates abjuration like that, but go ahead.”
Anvil ignores her. “Master Genichi--” he begins…
But Master Genichi has turned away from the party and is standing by the holy symbol on the back wall. The party falls silent as he chants softly under his breath and traces a figure on the wall with his finger.
Before him, the holy symbol parts down the middle and slides away to reveal a set of stone stairs descending into the rock below. Master Genichi turns to the party and gestures down the stairs. “If you would follow me.”
The party does.
(Note: Don’t we sound nice and obedient? In truth, I have to admit we spent about twenty minutes after Master Genichi had revealed the door dithering around the magic items, trying to see people in the mountains—hey, it’s not often we get to use our scry skills—debating whether we should take these obviously decoy Kettenite relics with us, ultimately deciding not to, and then finally following Master Genichi down the stairs. However, since none of this has turned out to have any relevance to anything, imagine that we did the sensible thing, and just followed the plot.)
###
The stairs lead down a narrow stone passage and into another chamber. This one has three pedestals against the far wall—separated from the foot of the stairs by a shallow pool of water. The water covers the entire floor, except for a dry dais near the entrance, where the party clusters.
Lira and Anvil still have detect magic spells active and quickly notice strong magical auras of multiple types radiating from a goblet, vial, and… Lira blinks… yes, a stick resting on the podiums. Also, the water in the pool radiates strongly of abjuration. Lira eyes it warily. “Master Genichi…”
The old monk anticipates her question. “Only Alirrians and those who worship no god above any other should cross the pool.”
Lira and Eva both carefully step back from the edge of the dais.
Reyu smirks a bit as she, Thatch, and Kiara step cautiously out into the shin-deep water and approach the pedestals with Master Genichi.
Master Genichi removes a stone goblet from the first pedestal. “This is the Goblet of Oo’gha-li.”
“What’s it do?” Thatch cannot stop himself from asking.
Master Genichi smiles. “Holy water drunk from the goblet is infused with the healing essence of our Lady. This here,” he says, reaching for a small glass vial on the second pedestal containing a small amount of liquid, “is the Vial of Infinite Blessings. It contains water from the Vale of the Holy Spring. It is quite precious; though in times of need it can bring foresight and knowledge to Our Lady’s chosen Daughters. I placed but a small drop in the tub upstairs…”
Eva, still on the far side of the room swallows. “Powerful stuff,” she mutters to Lira.
Master Genichi, meanwhile, has moved on to the last of the three relics, a simple, dead stick. “This is the Finger of Bai’li-gul. It is attuned to our Lady’s love of green and growing things. It grants any priest who bears it access to that aspect of her power.”
The party members carefully pack up the relics and retreat back up the stairs where they find Satsumi at Hatsuki have not yet left.
Master Genichi sighs. “Satsumi…”
“I made you lunch, grandfather,” she interrupts him. “You need me here with you—”
Master Genichi is gentle, but firm. “I need you to go with Hatsumi and warn the others that the Inquisitors are coming, and that they have discovered our secret.”
Satsumi’s chin juts out stubbornly. “You should not be here alone.”
He gives her a gentle squeeze around the shoulders. “I will not be alone. Alirria will be with me.” Master Genichi beckons to Hatsuki, who receives a final embrace as well, and then walks them both to the main gates of the monastery. The party stands behind as he watches the two children go, waiting in silence until they disappear up the path to the Vale of the Holy Spring.
At last, Master Genichi closes the gates and turns to the party. His expression is hard to read, a mixture of sadness and determination, resignation and regret. But all he says is, “We should not let Satsumi’s preparations go to waste. There are preparations you should make before your departure. Let us discuss them over lunch.”
In which: we examine many relics, and polish none of them.
Although the party is not particularly eager to leave Master Genichi alone to face the coming Inquisitors, they also find that swaying him from that course of action is not going to be an easy task. Reluctantly, the party agrees that protecting the relics must be their first priority.
Besides, the shrine is open to the elements, and Eva—even in Benedic’s borrowed cloak—is starting to turn slightly blue.
Sending Hatsumi and Satsuki to prepare for their journey to the Vale, Master Genichi leads the party to a small, square building adjacent to the shrine. The structure has only one room, adorned with a large holy symbol of Kettenek on the wall opposite the door, and furnished with two pedestals. On one is a flat, rounded stone, almost like a skipping stone. The other holds a rock which is vaguely cubical, but covered in sharp crags and angles.
“Great, more rocks,” Lira mutters to Eva as she casts a quick detect magic and scans the stones. Eva manages not to giggle.
Master Genichi explains that the two items are known as the Coin of Rikitaru and the Infinite Mountains. When they look closely at the Infinite Mountains, the party finds that it’s actually a sort of map. They can make out the monastery, the path that leads to the Lake of Exalted Heights, and the Vale of the Holy Spring almost as though they are using a crystal ball. They try to see if they can make out individual people—wondering if leaving the relic behind would allow the Inquisitors to track them through the mountains—but if such a level of detail is possible to discern, no one in the party is skilled enough to see it.
Anvil is busy examining the other rock. “What does this do?” he demands.
Lira shrugs, “I’m not going to touch something that radiates abjuration like that, but go ahead.”
Anvil ignores her. “Master Genichi--” he begins…
But Master Genichi has turned away from the party and is standing by the holy symbol on the back wall. The party falls silent as he chants softly under his breath and traces a figure on the wall with his finger.
Before him, the holy symbol parts down the middle and slides away to reveal a set of stone stairs descending into the rock below. Master Genichi turns to the party and gestures down the stairs. “If you would follow me.”
The party does.
(Note: Don’t we sound nice and obedient? In truth, I have to admit we spent about twenty minutes after Master Genichi had revealed the door dithering around the magic items, trying to see people in the mountains—hey, it’s not often we get to use our scry skills—debating whether we should take these obviously decoy Kettenite relics with us, ultimately deciding not to, and then finally following Master Genichi down the stairs. However, since none of this has turned out to have any relevance to anything, imagine that we did the sensible thing, and just followed the plot.)
###
The stairs lead down a narrow stone passage and into another chamber. This one has three pedestals against the far wall—separated from the foot of the stairs by a shallow pool of water. The water covers the entire floor, except for a dry dais near the entrance, where the party clusters.
Lira and Anvil still have detect magic spells active and quickly notice strong magical auras of multiple types radiating from a goblet, vial, and… Lira blinks… yes, a stick resting on the podiums. Also, the water in the pool radiates strongly of abjuration. Lira eyes it warily. “Master Genichi…”
The old monk anticipates her question. “Only Alirrians and those who worship no god above any other should cross the pool.”
Lira and Eva both carefully step back from the edge of the dais.
Reyu smirks a bit as she, Thatch, and Kiara step cautiously out into the shin-deep water and approach the pedestals with Master Genichi.
Master Genichi removes a stone goblet from the first pedestal. “This is the Goblet of Oo’gha-li.”
“What’s it do?” Thatch cannot stop himself from asking.
Master Genichi smiles. “Holy water drunk from the goblet is infused with the healing essence of our Lady. This here,” he says, reaching for a small glass vial on the second pedestal containing a small amount of liquid, “is the Vial of Infinite Blessings. It contains water from the Vale of the Holy Spring. It is quite precious; though in times of need it can bring foresight and knowledge to Our Lady’s chosen Daughters. I placed but a small drop in the tub upstairs…”
Eva, still on the far side of the room swallows. “Powerful stuff,” she mutters to Lira.
Master Genichi, meanwhile, has moved on to the last of the three relics, a simple, dead stick. “This is the Finger of Bai’li-gul. It is attuned to our Lady’s love of green and growing things. It grants any priest who bears it access to that aspect of her power.”
The party members carefully pack up the relics and retreat back up the stairs where they find Satsumi at Hatsuki have not yet left.
Master Genichi sighs. “Satsumi…”
“I made you lunch, grandfather,” she interrupts him. “You need me here with you—”
Master Genichi is gentle, but firm. “I need you to go with Hatsumi and warn the others that the Inquisitors are coming, and that they have discovered our secret.”
Satsumi’s chin juts out stubbornly. “You should not be here alone.”
He gives her a gentle squeeze around the shoulders. “I will not be alone. Alirria will be with me.” Master Genichi beckons to Hatsuki, who receives a final embrace as well, and then walks them both to the main gates of the monastery. The party stands behind as he watches the two children go, waiting in silence until they disappear up the path to the Vale of the Holy Spring.
At last, Master Genichi closes the gates and turns to the party. His expression is hard to read, a mixture of sadness and determination, resignation and regret. But all he says is, “We should not let Satsumi’s preparations go to waste. There are preparations you should make before your departure. Let us discuss them over lunch.”