Session 167 - "False Idols"

General Summary

The Fellowship enters the Church of Gozreh and finds the nefarious rumors about the priests there may be true.  

 

Starday, Gozran 30, 4711 AR

Church of Gozreh

10.32p

Mayor Gredal continues to implore the Fellowship to "seek justice" against the Church of Gozreh, an action they are not readily accepting of. They do say they will enter the church to investigate the situation further. Gredal promises to give more information about the Dark Riders should they continue their investigation. He offers a small metal object to Kelath; a key that will allow them to enter the church, something the priests don't know he possesses. He once again stresses that Grumph was a good man, "not this", indicating the horrible body.   Kyrrn examines the blade and feels a sense of overwhelming rage, along with a phrase that continuously whisper in her mind, "Fix what is broken inside." Looking over the corpse, she believes that the same corruption that infected the grubs had taken hold of the undersheriff as well.  

10.42p

Neferu administers aid to the wounded as Kyrrn examines the frog globe from Dreeley's cabin. As she examines the globe, she has a pleasant sensation, like it feels right to hold. With some surprise and excitement, she realizes the artifact gives the ability to scry.   Carved into one pillar of the temple is that of a mermaid looking out towards the sea, which Kelath identifies as Gozreh, a dualistic diety of nature, a god of the storm and sky and a goddess of wave and surf. There is one large door on the front of the temple flanked by a pair of smaller wooden doors. Everything appears quiet from within. Neferu notes that there are thirteen pairs of shoes neatly lined up outside.   Moving to the main door, the party hears the quiet chanting of voices coming from somewhere inside. The Soul listens at one wooden door and hears someone say, "What does the vicar say?" It seems to be part of a discussion between three men. He gets the sense that something is going on, no one knows what it is, but the vicar probably does but has not shared it with them.  

10.52p

Kelath begins to attempt to quietly open the first wooden door, but finds it locked. Beyond the door he hears the shuffling of feet. After a quick discussion, the party decides to try the front door approach, finding it locked as well. Kelath knocks on the door. The chanting does not change, but there is the sounds of approach. The lock is disengaged and the door cracks open. On the other side is a robed priest with a few other people sitting in pews. He tells them the temple is currently not open and starts to close the door. Velexander tells him that they wish to make a sizeable donation. He seems unmoved until X tells him he brings news from the vicar. The priest closes the door. X turns to Kyrrn to say that she brings word from the vicar, a statement that momentarily confuses her.   The door opens to two of the robed priests with another clad in ceremonial dress. The first announces that they bring word from Vicar Everard. Kyrrn notices that the speaker bears the familiar skum-taint. Refused entry, Kyrrn attempts to speak with them in Aklo, which they appear not to recognize. X asks why the mayor has hired them to kill the priest.  

11.02p

Father Voltiaro ushers them inside before locking the door. X continues to question why the mayor would want them dead. Kyrrn examines the mermaid statue at the front of the room. Her flowing locks of hair on this statue look almost like writhing tentacles, and her face has a decidedly more ichthyic cast. With suddenly realization, she sees that it is actually a covert altar to Dagon, not Gozreh, the demon lord of the sea and sea monsters, who is also known as "the Shadow in the Sea".   X talks in a Chelaxian accent. Voltiaro admits that the mayor has been a pet of the Count Lowl's and doesn't appreciate the temple's influence over Baytown. X tells them about Grumph's transformation, which visibly disturbs them and they completely start when he mentions Dagon. Kyrrn whispers to X in Abyssal, "We waste our time here. They will do nothing," utterly shocking Father Voltiaro.   A robed figure storms into the room from the south, saying, "You idiots, take them! They know too much!" Kelath unleashes a battle cry, startling the newcomer, and X draws his swords and feints one of the priests. Another priest emerges from the south and rushes at Kelath, punching and grabbing him with a spiked gauntlet. Kelath deftly breaks his grasp. A priest moves to flank X, who spurns the attack. Another priest emerges to the south. The man accuses the party of being blasphemers and steps away from Kelath. The man cries out in Abyssal, "By the Shadow in the Sea" as a gout of pressurized fog, pummeling him backward. Ralleon begins chanting and a column of living water bursts into existence before X. It immediately strikes, driving him backwards. Still another priest enters the area from the north, attempting to strike Kelath. Neferu throws a fireball in the room to the south, engulfing the three men inside. He then reinforces the Unworthy Soul. Another priest approaches X and punches at him wildly. Taking the opening, X skewers him with one sword. Kelath is attached by a new foe. One advances on Neferu, but misses wildly. Another priest engages X. Kyrrn casts telekinetic rend and then draws a wand. Yet another priest is unable to land an attack against X. Still another enters the fray from the north, striking at the Unworthy Soul. Another priest attempts to run past Kelath, who strikes at him viciously. Another still enters and misses an attempt on X.   X frees himself from his capture and slides deeply into him with one sword. He then brutally assaults an attacking priest. Kelath lays hands on himself before skewering one attacker and moving away. The Soul fends off blows against him. The man in the southern room demands the door be barred, which is promptly done. The vicar commands the elemental to strike at Kyrrn, but it misses widely. She hears a voice, "Use me. Feel my warm embrace." A warmth seems to be emanating from her backpack. A priest pushes Kelath further into the northern room. Neferu manifests a phantasmal killer at the Ralleon and is frightened to his core. The Soul rails against one target. Yet another priest fails against X. A second priest moves against Kelath, drawing a strike from him. Neferu is spiked and grabbed. X continues to elude attack. Nyrrk comes forth and manifests an empowered telekinetic rend. Unconsciously he begins to calculate threats. More strikes are evaded by X. One of Kelath's foes hits him, but another only swipes the air.   X carefully moves through the horde, squares against the vicar, deeply slices into him. A priest rounds on him, taking a blow for his trouble. Kelath moves to a corner, landing a blow against a foe before raising his shield. The Soul fends off his attackers. The vicar dimensional steps across the room away from X. He commands the elemental to take X, but to no avail. Kelath fights off his foes. The Soul rips his claws a priest as Neferu arcs electricity at another and the vicar, bring him down. With his death, the elemental departs. A priest finally lands a blow against X while another connects with Kelath, grabbing him in the process. Neferu narrow avoids being hit. Another of the horde moves against X. Nyrrk rends yet again and fires a psi blast a lone target, who runs to the front door and opens it. Kelath is assaulted by a sudden rain of blows. A priest runs at Kyrrn, punching and grabbing her.   X scissors his swords, cleaving one priest in two. Another misses his attack and X slashes into him as well. A priest punches and grabs the Unworthy Soul. From outside the door, X can hear someone begin to chant as a wall of ice springs into existence, blocking the open doorway. Kelath suffers another blow and crumples to the ground. Neferu channels a powerful heal to Kelath, bringing him back from the edge. A priest continues to assault his prone form. Neferu suffers a savage blow. X suffers a rare strike. Kyrrn warps away from her captor and then lashes out again with several rends. X and Kelath deftly evade their attackers, while the Soul suffers a critical blow.