Chapter 3.5: The Temple of Merikka

Morton flits from one severed tree trunk to another, stealing his way partway around the room past the door on the right-hand wall. With the others drawing attention, he's pretty sure that the acolyte has forgotten about him by the time he reaches his hiding place.

"Good morning, what a beautiful sanctuary this is," Myrtha genially bellows as she struts into view with shield and spear, followed by Aanbo and Eugenios. Eugenios definitely has the sense that this man is here to talk, not to fight...though it is a bit suspicious that he's not more alarmed by armed strangers. In his long experience of interrogating witnesses, the gnome has usually observed that people are unnerved by openly-carried implements of violence. And that was just him, a gnome with some questions by himself, without a bruiser like Chase standing with arrow nocked or the wall that is Myrtha looming overhead. As he observes this, the warrior woman has continued talking. "We are from out of town, but have heard much of this Temple, and of Merikka’s blessing of the orchards and farmlands around these parts. We’ve come to see it with our own eyes!"

Seeming slightly larger than life, the Valorous Maiden of Three Elms has always been impossible to ignore; the novice is following her words and nodding politely as she approaches. The graceful teen "Mother" Arkon, meanwhile, makes no attempt to interact with the acolyte and strides forward, her muscles rippling under her jingling heavy armor as she approaches the jade statue. The statue is surprisingly well-crafted: it's a single piece of jade about the size of Eugenios that has been carved into a realistic representation of the harvest goddess, Merikka. Here she is a beautiful young woman - ::almost as beautiful as me:: Arya thinks to herself - holding a basket of grain under one arm and a scroll in the other. Everything about it seems genuine, though Merikka is usually depicted as a matron rather than a maiden. Ember casually saunters forward in her wake but then pauses to hide behind a pillar, with Ferranzo still hidden behind her. Unlike Myrtha or Arya and despite her winning personality and fetching half-smile, Ember has a way of deflecting attention, of becoming so uninteresting that she just disappears into the background. If Ferranzo wasn't paying such close attention to stay hidden himself, he might have lost her. It's certain that the acolyte cannot see her.



"Everyone is welcome!" the acolyte responds. "Merikka is beloved by most people in these parts, for the great bounty she has provided. Orlane is famous for the quality of its produce. Do you have any questions, or a prayer you would like to offer?"

Ferranzo observes that the tapestries are old but well-maintained. As is typical for textile artwork, they do not attempt to portray specific places or particular people, but rather general ideas or anonymous individuals in historical events. These all depict farmers working the land, plowing, sowing, harvesting as an unlikely combination of unrelated crops grow improbably lush and large. This matches Ferranzo's experience of Orlane in the past: the biggest melons he's ever seen, the juiciest berries, the richest nuts, cucumbers the size of your arm! Orlane has long been considered the breadbasket of this region of the world; it's clear that the Merikkians are prepared to credit their goddess with this bounty.

"I-I'm not sure where she's gone," the novice replies. "She's usually here to greet visitors; something must have called her away. I'm sorry." He holds his hands out apologetically.

"As to the second question, I should say that I don't know anything about that. But I do...sort of. I know that it happens. The truth is, I don't remember exactly where it happens. That's all hazy to me now, and it hasn't been my job since I met Her." The door closest to Morton (the door in the east wall) opens and three men in robes step through. "But what marvelous timing! Our brothers may be able to show you."

These three men - Chon, Look, and Mok - smile. Chon says, "Yes, we'd be only too happy to bring you all to where you can meet Her."

---

Aanbo (25/27)
Arya (15/19)
Chase (17/17)
Ember (9/12)
Eugenios (8/8)
Ferranzo (8/8)
Lyrel (11/13)
Morton (9/9)
Myrtha (29/30)

Round one
(this is followed by round two)

Look rushes toward the obvious wizard in the party that he can see: Lyrel. He moves surprisingly fast, and aims both a punch and a kick at the elf, but she manages to dodge each strike, her flaming hair leaving a glowing trail as she weaves. Aanbo's eyes widen in recognition.

Morton draws upon the power of the Fiend and looses another blast from the pits of hell!
Mok takes 2 force damage!
Morton ducks out of sight behind the tree trunk.

"It figures they'd be associated with Her," spits Aanbo, distaste in his words as he moves to attack Look with staff and kick. "Their heads are always in the clouds and never grounded in reality!" The staff takes Look in the hip and Aanbo's kick hits Look in the ankle, almost sending him toppling!
Look takes 12 bludgeoning damage!

Chase pivots, draws, and looses, sending his arrow toward Look's thigh. Despite sparring with Aanbo, Look has the presence of mind (not to mention training) to snatch the arrow out of the air! He breaks the arrow and tosses it aside.
With practiced ease, the ranger shoulders his bow and draws his short sword!

Chon rushes Arya, punching and kicking in a whirlwind of motion! Arya's leg snaps as the punch connects with her knee, and the kick connects with her head.
Arya takes 14 bludgeoning damage and barely remains standing on one leg!

Unseen, Ember rushes forward to stab Look in the back.
Look takes 14 piercing damage!

The acolyte takes a step forward and he watches what is happening, Readying himself with a slight smile still on his face.

Mok rushes forward to engage Chase and Ember!
This prompts the acolyte, who chants "Let us feel Her power!" as he throws a spray a glittering particles into the air. These swirl around and settle on Chon, Look, and Mok!
Buoyed by this benediction, Mok kicks at Chase and punches at Ember!
Despite his best efforts, however, the enemy monk misses both marks!

Lyrel stabs Look; the enemy monk grunts as the blade sinks in.
Look takes 5 piercing damage!

Myrtha charges up to stand protectively by the battered young cleric, Arya. "Stand back, Mother Arkon!" Myrtha stabs at Chon, but the monk dodges the blow.

Inspired by her warrior companion, Arya attacks Chon with her warhammer. The war god strengthens her limbs and speeds her movements, so she attacks again as a bonus action! But she is losing blood, barely able to stand, and the monk is too fast for the heavily-armored woman.

Ferranzo mocks Chon: "Monk? You’re more like a monkey, based on the smell. Better close that ugly robe or you’ll step on your own tail. Was that your banana by the door, Screechy?" and then he calls encouragement (Bardic Inspiration) to the young priestess Arya: "Send him back to his tree mates!"
Chon takes 1 psychic damage and his next attack will be with DISADV!

Eugenios feels an instant dislike of the acolyte; the gnome draws his magic together and extends his hand toward the man, snapping his fingers. A mid-sized glowing green flower appears upon Eugenios’ fingers, but as it extends toward the acolyte, the man's magic redirects the investigator's ire toward a nearby monk. The flower spits forth a sickly sweet smelling gas directly at Chon...
Chon chokes on the gas, taking 4 poison damage!

---

21 - Look (-31) Blessed
20 - Morton (15/15)
18 - Aanbo (25/27)
13 - Chase (17/17)
13 - Chon (-5) Blessed, Mocked
12 - Ember (9/12)
12- Acolyte concentrating, Sanctuary
11 - Mok (-2) Blessed
10 - Lyrel (11/13) Mage armor
9 - Myrtha (29/30)
6 - Arya (1/19)
6 - Ferranzo (8/8)
5 - Eugenios (8/8)