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08:04, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Temple Hill.

Posted by NarratorFor group archive 0
Narrator
GM, 6920 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Fri 18 Oct 2019
at 16:32
  • msg #176

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 175):

That is probably likely. Are you investigating further?
Goran the Marked
player, 182 posts
Priest of Hors
Fri 18 Oct 2019
at 23:26
  • msg #177

Re: Temple Hill

"Perhaps you would assist me in removing the tainted items?  I intend to create a burial pyre for the dead out there, as befits a Shevnian funeral.  Could we not use whatever is tainted in here to assist with the fire, or throw it on after the bodies have burned to cleanse it?"

OOC fire cleans everything.  No way something like that could be corrupted by old blood or evil...  And by this I mean he's confident and perhaps blind to the alternative.
Urrun
player, 239 posts
Sat 19 Oct 2019
at 03:09
  • msg #178

Re: Temple Hill

Urrun takes a step back and gently shakes his head.
Goran the Marked
player, 183 posts
Priest of Hors
Mon 21 Oct 2019
at 15:37
  • msg #179

Re: Temple Hill

Goran is surprised at this reaction, as he didn't expect the reaction from Urrun.  However, instead of asking his fellow adventurer a question out loud, he instead gives him a quizzical look.  As his eyebrow arches up in a questioning eye gesture, he feels it pull on his facial scar a bit uncomfortably.
Urrun
player, 240 posts
Mon 21 Oct 2019
at 15:54
  • msg #180

Re: Temple Hill

The look on airtime face is inscrutable. , So you send ashes to the next life? Think this is good?
Goran the Marked
player, 184 posts
Priest of Hors
Tue 22 Oct 2019
at 14:26
  • msg #181

Re: Temple Hill

Goran is taken aback by Urrun's question, but he answers it straight, assuming that the dog-man does not understand how the Shevnian religion works.

"We believe that the spirit of a person leaves his body at death.  The body is left behind, and it is our responsibility to cleanse what is left and return it to the earth, using fire.  The ashes left behind fertilize the soil, and give us the means to sustain ourselves as we move forward with our lives.

Those left behind can celebrate the lives of the dead with a beautiful bonfire.  The dancing flames will keep them warm, and they can celebrate the memories of their loved ones while they watch them leave this world.  It's a wonderful ceremony, full of sorrow but done with much love.  I find that it draws families and friends together, to build the bonds that link them over their lifetime.

Is this not how you do things...?"


OOC Not sure what the tenants of the Shevnian religion are so I went with what made sense.  If incorrect, please let me know.
Urrun
player, 241 posts
Tue 22 Oct 2019
at 17:48
  • msg #182

Re: Temple Hill

Urrun shakes his head violently ... NO, put dead on,  umm,   high table with gifts and ceremony. Then leave, spirit travels away, animals take some sometimes if spirit permits this. All stay away for three moons. Then spirit gone and ... who cares about table.
Goran the Marked
player, 185 posts
Priest of Hors
Tue 22 Oct 2019
at 19:39
  • msg #183

Re: Temple Hill

Goran's face contorts into something between horror and incredulousness...  It's obvious he's shocked, and almost as a reaction the words pour out of his mouth, even as he feels his heart clench in judgement:

"We would never allow a human being to be treated like this!  That's how you treat animals!  What you describe is barbaric!"

Goran catches himself after a moment.  While his eyes remain wide with shock, he stops talking, although his mouth still moves for a few seconds.  Almost visibly, he wills himself to regain his composure, and his face slowly regains his more customary discipline.  In a more measured voice, he continues a moment later.

"The Shevnian religion does not allow this.  We are very strict on our rituals and practices.  It may be that you have death rituals, but we do not recognize them as valid.  In fact my leadership would identify your ways as something more akin to Shamanism instead of a valid religion.  It's a basic tenant of our religion, and not negotiable.  These people must be buried according to the Shevnian way."

After saying this, Goran sighs.  Then he pushes a gloved hand through his hair, pulling off his helmet as he does so.  The gesture conveys conflict, as Goran feels an internal pull in many different directions.  Religion has defined his whole life, and his connection to his god was strong.  In this moment he was feeling tested, like he had a direct challenge to his religious beliefs.  He could not help but react defensively to this, because it was something so close to his heart.

At the same time, these were the conversations he most hated to have.  There were many good people who were misguided about religion and what it meant.  They clung to pagan rituals, and the traditions of their past, without ever questioning whether they really meant anything.  In most cases they never knew any better, but also had no interest in looking at the bigger picture.

Religion was one place where people were often the most resistant to change, and he guessed Urrun would be no different.  Goran knew that religion would come between them, and he hated it.  However, he had undergone rituals, and made oaths, and he was bound by the life he had chosen.  Even beyond this, it was something he cared deeply about, and that wasn't something he was going to change.

Still, Urrun had proven honorable, even if he was a savage.  Goran recognized this.  It was hard for him to separate the person from the religion in many cases, but in this moment he could.  Thus, he finishes off his comments with:

"Urrun, you have been honorable in fighting against the demons, and against the corruption we found here.  I recognize that.  We have a difference in religious beliefs, and I do not take that lightly.  However, I can separate the two in this moment.  As long as you can respect my ways with regards to these humans, I will not leave or ask you to leave.  However, I cannot proceed in the way you would for your own kin.  This has to be done my way."


[Private to Hograth Podkarmen; Narrator; Urrun: Very difficult situation for Goran.  He has a lot of points invested in religious stuff, including an intolerance of "evil" religion.  He's also overconfident and stubborn.  I have been treating him like something of an inquisitor, and so he is going to pass judgement on Urrun and his 'savage' beliefs.

On the other side of the coin, Goran also has a sense of duty to his companions, so I judged Urrun's religion to be 'uneducated' rather than evil.  That's how Goran can rationalize staying together as a group instead of pulling out the fiery morning star.

I know Goran is being a complete dick.  That's how he was written, so I'll just apologize now.
]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Tue 22 Oct 2019.
Urrun
player, 242 posts
Tue 22 Oct 2019
at 20:17
  • msg #184

Re: Temple Hill

So Your relig-eon say do it our way or go away, you bad?  Most relig-eon say this ... although all say things not the same as other ones.
We have many, many life times experience with our way. Not do evil with those be dead.  You do .. I not help, not watch, not stay close to such evil.



Urrun heads for the door to outside, where he will wait.


[Private to Goran the Marked; Hograth Podkarmen; Narrator:Goran,  Like the American Indians who were called heathen savages for many decades until someone shut up and looked at their religion and discovered they worshipped one God who matched a great many christian beliefs. Then they discovered these savages had a culture and a great deal more, much of which the "civilized westerners" had wiped out already. That the Bouda don't see things your way doesn't mean that there isn't a lot in common and that they don't have their own culture. Like you, I am playing him as I see him and I fully understand what you are doing too. I expect we'll spend a lot of time rationalizing each other's characters actions.Peace.]
Narrator
GM, 6936 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Tue 22 Oct 2019
at 21:08
  • msg #185

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Urrun (msg # 184):

Two holy types of conflicting religion and a barbarian... what could go wrong?
Urrun
player, 243 posts
Wed 23 Oct 2019
at 00:00
  • msg #186

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Narrator (msg # 185):

God's idea of a true test of his teachings...
Goran the Marked
player, 186 posts
Priest of Hors
Wed 23 Oct 2019
at 17:38
  • msg #187

Re: Temple Hill

While Goran does not approve of Urrun's response, or his handling of the situation, he also recognizes that he has not been condemned for having different beliefs.  It was an impasse, but also a truce of sorts.  That was the most he could have hoped for, given the difficult situation between them.  For a moment Goran purses his lips, biting back any comments he might have in response to what Urrun said.  Instead, he quietly watches the bouda leave, before going about his business.

OOC Take all the flammables and use them to provision the pyre of bodies.  Take all the corrupted items identified by Urrun and being them along too, so they can be put on the fire at it's height.  Once all of that is done, perform the ritual, and the burn the corpses.  When the fire is at it's hottest, then add anything Urrun identified as corrupted.

You gave us a nice opportunity for RP with this one, but yes...  It is a very difficult position for the 2 characters to be in.  I'm not sure how they reconcile this, if they even can.

Narrator
GM, 6940 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Thu 24 Oct 2019
at 01:36
  • msg #188

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 187):

I will need a search roll in the flower room to identify what is there, or Per-5. Urrun would have a bonus to this...
Urrun
player, 244 posts
Thu 24 Oct 2019
at 04:33
  • msg #189

Re: Temple Hill

Urrun is willing to do that, but his nose has been deadened by all the scents present and he can't point out anything.





[Private to GM:   21:31, Today: Urrun rolled 17 using 3d6.  Perception.]
Hograth Podkarmen
player, 385 posts
Holy Dwarven Warrior
Of Hades, Get it Right!
Thu 24 Oct 2019
at 09:38
  • msg #190

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Narrator (msg # 188):

Separate from Hograth s roll in message #169?

He has been staying out of this discussion because, frankly, he sees these as demon worshippers who have already been sent to hell, but he is not particularly comfortable with either suggestion.
Narrator
GM, 6949 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Sun 27 Oct 2019
at 00:40
  • msg #191

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Urrun (msg # 189):

Urrun starts sneezing repeatedly, causing his ears to pop, and his eyes are itchy and watery from all of the pollen.

Clearing aside the rotting flowers, Hograth finds a set of sigils painted on the back of the altar, and feels something uncomfortable.... IQ+holiness (or power investiture)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:43, Sun 27 Oct 2019.
Hograth Podkarmen
player, 386 posts
Holy Dwarven Warrior
Of Hades, Get it Right!
Thu 7 Nov 2019
at 04:05
  • msg #192

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Narrator (msg # 191):

Hograth definitely feels uncomfortable here...[Private to GM: Rolled 6 under IQ+holiness]
Goran the Marked
player, 187 posts
Priest of Hors
Thu 7 Nov 2019
at 17:51
  • msg #193

Re: Temple Hill

OOC Is Goran also feeling uncomfortable, or just Hograth?  You didn't specify, but I believe Goran should be performing a different set of work.
Narrator
GM, 6994 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Fri 8 Nov 2019
at 14:53
  • msg #194

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 193):

If in the room, he should roll.

As more is cleared away, it becomes evident that this area has been repororposed, and consecrated to something antiethical to nature magic... something quite alien was being worshipped here.
Goran the Marked
player, 188 posts
Priest of Hors
Fri 8 Nov 2019
at 15:27
  • msg #195

Re: Temple Hill

A few seconds after Hograth feels his discomfort, Goran steps into the room to get another load of flammables, and pulls up short immediately.

"Something is very off here.  I didn't notice it at first, but now that my thoughts are clearer, this evil feeling seems familiar..."


[Private to GM: Made the roll by 8.  IQ + PI is a 17 for Goran, and he rolled a 9.
08:23, Today: Secret Roll: Goran the Marked rolled 9 using 3d6.  Goran is in the room.
]
Narrator
GM, 6997 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Fri 8 Nov 2019
at 19:45
  • msg #196

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 195):

This area has an elder aspect.
Goran the Marked
player, 189 posts
Priest of Hors
Fri 8 Nov 2019
at 19:52
  • msg #197

Re: Temple Hill

With a sigh, Goran sits down for a moment.  He takes off his helm with a gloved hand and sighs.  "We are going to have to exorcise this room as well.  It seems that some have dedicated this room to the elder beings.  While they are not good or evil, necessarily, they are also not fit for human worship.  We are mere ants to them, and they care not what we do or do not.  This place must also be cleansed."

OOC Since I made the roll by a lot, I took some liberties.  And played disadvantages.
Hograth Podkarmen
player, 387 posts
Holy Dwarven Warrior
Of Hades, Get it Right!
Fri 8 Nov 2019
at 23:40
  • msg #198

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Goran the Marked (msg # 197):

"New corruption or old, it all needs to be gotten rid of. Lets hurry up about it so we can find the perpetrators."
Narrator
GM, 7002 posts
DM says
roll for initiative!
Mon 11 Nov 2019
at 00:05
  • msg #199

Re: Temple Hill

In reply to Hograth Podkarmen (msg # 198):

The altar might simply be smashed as a start in ridding the taint.
Goran the Marked
player, 190 posts
Priest of Hors
Mon 11 Nov 2019
at 19:02
  • msg #200

Re: Temple Hill

Goran appraises the situation for a couple minutes as they are looking things over.  Once Hograth speaks up, Goran nods.  "This place must be cleansed.  I agree with you.  Please do what you must to cleanse this area while I handle my people outside.  Those citizens had souls, and by Hors I must make sure their bodies are properly cleaned and prepared.

I cannot sanction your cleansing of this area, but if it removes the taint then it may be sufficient.  When you are done, I will come back and make sure it will meet with Hors' expectations.

While I respect your honor and integrity, Hograth, I must answer to Hors in religious matters.  I hope you understand and respect my clarity on the issue."


OOC As a player, I know an exorcism should be the same everywhere.  For the intolerant Goran, only his way is valid.  I tried very hard to word his reaction in such a way as to show him being a jerk, without fracturing the party if possible.  Not sure if it will work, but the correct approach is a very fine line, almost impossible to find given the situation, really.

That's good GMing, since these are the sorts of no-win situations we sometimes have to navigate in real life...

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