No gates is good.

In reply to Urrun (msg # 301):

Which gate first?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 302):

No gates. Shutting them all off and finishing to cleanse the hill while the guards ensure the gates remain inactive, and discuss their gods...

WHen Hograth says that, Goran snaps his fingers suddenly and adds "Speaking of, there are a bunch of bodies out there I arranged into a funeral pyre.  As a worshipper of Hors, I was to light the pyre at dusk to symbolize their passing and cleanse them as the sun went down.  Melchizadek, how would you cleanse the dead?  Would you do it differently?

Also, if one of you could return by dusk, I need to cleanse those bodies with fire to release their spirits.  It is my duty.  Many of those people were Shevnian."

"Of course Goran.  We'll make sure someone returns at dusk so you can give them last rites and ease their souls into the hereafter."


OOC:  Err... wait time of day is it now?

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 304):

"I prefer to burn them, but if that is not plausible for whatever reason, I can accept burying them. Just as the sun goes into the earth every day, so to can people. We do not believe that the spirit is entrapped any more than the suns is, but it does stop defilement of the bodies when they are entrusted to the flames. When done at dawn, it is like the fires go to build up the sun. Sort of like their spirits do, in a way. Unless they are evil...then it is simply cleansing with fire."

In reply to Melchizidek (msg # 306):

Initially  it had been stated that Helios left dispisal of the dead with the clergy of Hades,   them being part of the same pantheon and all, but being in charge of burial, wealth, and order, as Helios is the God of healing, light, and song.

<sigh>

Burning it is.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

OOC  Melchizadek worships Helios, same pantheon as Hades...  Would that be Hograth's god?

This would mean that Melchizadek may have no funeral rites at all, because the dead would be buried by Hograth's group?  So the two Sun priests are fundamentally different in that Helios is part of a pantheon, where Hors has a single solitary god?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 307):

Sorry, I come from Down under. I can't imagine SUN without BURN...but yes, generally happy to leave it to others...like Goran!

Yes, Hades is Hograths god.

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 308):

Hades is part of a pantheon; Hors is one of several slavic gods, more than one of which has to do with death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...s_of_Slavic_religion
 some of which I was going to introduce on the next foray into little Shevnia.

Presumably, Oly worships this pantheon, or at least is aware of it; He, Goran and Ales are Shevnian, but I suspect Ales is a lapsed Triunist.

Theology is peculiar; during the plague many lost faith, or see the value of gods based on their miracles, and there are plenty of atheists, many of whom believe clerics to only be some species of mage.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 310):

Now, while the plan is to use the alchemical fire and Melchizidek's sunbolt to incinerate the cultists, which can take place in the space of a post, what are your plans for the gate room?

OOC:  I assume we will check each portal to make sure hostiles are not present on the other side.  This may include trying to open the portals from the other side as well.

Bonus points for figuring out where these portals lead to - whether it is a different geographic location, or a different plane of existence.

That said, Goran is not in charge, so he will follow Hograth's lead when it comes to their group.

Side note - was the intention to combine groups, reconstitute groups, or leave things as is, even though we are interacting in the same thread?  Not sure this was decided, but I want to make sure I understand the context correctly. 

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 312):

Intention was to close the gates and leave a guard, while the rest combined to clear the rest of the hill. If other groups arrived, they could check the gates, but otherwise leave them closed.

OOC: He is correct, actually.  I was thinking long term

I. Clear the area of taint, evil, and whatnot.  Goran and Melchizadek to guard the portals, which will be closed.

II. Funeral service performed by Goran according to Hors, after or during item I.

III. Goran's ideas related to checking the portals, etc.

---> I assume we will check each portal to make sure hostiles are not present on the other side.  This may include trying to open the portals from the other side as well.

Bonus points for figuring out where these portals lead to - whether it is a different geographic location, or a different plane of existence.

OOC:   My understanding, is that at least for the duration of this mission, we* are joining up ranks with you guys.  This gives us (unless I'm missing my marks) an Undead Slayer Holy Warrior (Hogarth), a Cleric of Death and Fire (Goran), an Urrun†, an Evil‡ Slaying Holy Warrior (Stenet), a Cleric of the Sun (Melchizedek), and a Demon Hunter (Razael).

If we work well together I'm not averse to continuing the grouping beyond this mission, there is plenty of Evil out there that could use a Good smiting.



* Melchizedek, Stenet, and Razael.
† I've mostly not followed y'all's threads, but what I have followed of them, Urrun has really stood out too much to me as having a niche outside of "he's a Gnoll in a dog eat dog world..."
‡ Stenet doesn't discriminate, Undead, Demons, and Evil Mages?  He'll Slay 'em all.  If he meets Elder Things, I might see if I can get them added to the list too...

In reply to Stenet Fjall (msg # 315):

Although Goran and I were staying to guard the gate...but otherwise about right.

In reply to Melchizidek (msg # 316):

"Those cleansing the hill with me, lets move out."

He heads to the unexplored doorway. If there is more than one, then the least secure and closest one.

OOC Goran is a priest of Hors, which is to say a primitive Sun god.  He understands the basics, but lacks refinement.  Think country bumpkin.  Mostly he is about smiting bad things with his silvered morningstar, and judging everyone that isn't his religion.

He has tolerated Hograth because he has earned respect as a fellow adventurer, but does not care for his theology.  He was initially taken with Melchizadek, as they are both sun god worshipers.  However, that will cool as they talk religion off screen.  Their gods are not the same.  Still, the dislike he feels towards Hades will probably even out with Helios.  The whole pantheon will probably end up somewhere between neutral and a very mild contempt.

That's growth for Goran.

Stenet follows Hogarth.

He is happy to leave the room of strange doors.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 317):

The total doors in the temple of Janus and Flora:
-stairs down to temple hill undercroft
-Exit to temple hill, where bodies are stacked for burning
-corripted Flora shrine where book was found
-Janus shrine with gates of the four seasons

You have hit them all.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 321):

So the hill has been thoroughly cleansed? We will make sure then, and double check it all for extra entrances, before returning to the gates when I am sure all is clear.

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 322):

Are you searching the walls for doors, or walking out on the hill to check othrr temples?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 323):

Yes, both. Want to be sure it is cleared.

OOC If they leave this temple to check others, Goran will at least question whether they ought to keep the group together or not.  The player is fine with the character engaging in a heavy theological discussion / funeral pyre off screen.  Just want to raise the question for the benefit of the story line.

I expect the portals can be "locked" in some way to prevent activation, we just haven't looked that far yet.  We're more meta-gaming here, rather than doing it in character, otherwise I would have had Goran ask the question in game.