Chapter 2 - Set, The City of Gods

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Oct 30, 2024 12:42 pm
GM
Enimpi shrugs. "If the owners are all vanished, who would give a formal resignation? It is...unorthodox, but so is an entire sect's vanishing. I'm not sure there is a precedent for such a thing so I'm sure the Council would have to vote but yes, it is within their powers."

She turns to the dwarf, a perfect picture of patience that the unknown have developed over their careers dealing with other like-minded customers. "Their cult is more than just jotun. It's only that the Moon Goddess's temple is just outside of their village they were the representatives we ran into. Most of Oceanus' practitioners are humans, mostly from coastal lands and islands. Which places would you like me to show you? The empty spot in Seaside? We walked past it when we left your boat and entered the city."
Oct 31, 2024 9:48 am
Reminded of his jellied legs from his time at sea, Hargrac is none too keen to return to the salty stink of that damned place!

Then, he has a horrifying thought:

"Are there temples beneath the water?" he asks his thought aloud.

A lightless place…
Oct 31, 2024 10:17 am
GM
Once Hagrac asks the question, everyone who took the boat from Kem remembers seeing an eerie glowing light under the waters off the coast of Set.
Nov 1, 2024 10:30 am
OOC:
Half our current squad didn’t see that, did they? Maybe our friend we met off the boat did.

Has our new recruit seen lights on the water at night?
Nov 1, 2024 11:57 am
Mortemiar nodded, "Hmm, I seem to remember seeing lights under ocean depths close to the shores of Set. But that is totally underwater. How can you visit a place flooded with water without any magical means."
OOC:
I went back checking and it seems, everyone has seen it. It was given in the first post.
Nov 1, 2024 12:20 pm
OOC:
Yay for me foreshadowing! Lol
Nov 1, 2024 6:09 pm
Lights and temples under the water?

Arkemos raised a brow at the thought. There was much and more he had read in olden tomes but naught such as this.

"Wait, why exactly are you all interested in this? Were you hired by the Maiden's temples to investigate their disappearance?" he asked the others curiously.

There would have to be an agenda of course, no sane individual would seek to involve themselves into the twisted affairs of cults.

Especially when it appeared one cult was seeking to move into another cults territory using what appeared to be kidnapping and/or murder mixed with sorcery.

"Just so you know I am looking to make some fast money; I could help out if it is made worth my time," he added, staring directly at Enimpi.
Nov 3, 2024 12:40 pm
"Sure let's go with hired," Theodore says, not mentioning that he is investigating to keep out of jail and the possibility of a hangman's noose.

"But I'm sure they won't mind us racking up expanses by expanding the team," he continues, more than happy to bleed the town's coffers, he just don't mention how small that coffer is. He holds out a hand to Akemos. "You are hired."
Nov 3, 2024 12:51 pm
GM
Enimpi looks from one of you to the other. "You are certainly the most...unique customers I've had in quite some time. Well, you still have my services for the remainder of the day. Would you like me to show you the proposed temple spot in Seaside? Or I can help you charter a boat. Can any of you captain a boat?"
Nov 3, 2024 7:48 pm
"Much obliged," Arkemos remarked to the Ferran, glancing at the hand for a moment before grasping it to seal the deal, so to speak.

He wasn't sure if Theodore spoke for the group, but that could be sorted out along the way he supposed. He needed bodies around him anyway, to help him blend in and in case the Moth Sisterhood's assassins found him and decided to strike.

"So I take it the town hired you all to investigate these disappearances. Do you know if the other temple in Lij was affected by similar disappearances of the priestesses?" he asked the Ferran, and anyone else that might care to answer, recalling that Lij and Set were the sites with the two largest temples.

"I don't have much experience with boats," he replied to Enimpi with a shrug. "But I think you should stick around whatever it is we decide to do. Anything else about these disappearances you can tell me would be good to know as well."
Nov 4, 2024 9:44 am
Hargrac groans at mention of chartering a boat. He had only just gotten his land legs back!

"That Halfling may bring us back out, if we ask nicely! It’ll probably involve a few coin too, mind." he grumbles. It had been two coins to get from one city to the next. How much could the Halfling expect to only go a short while back out onto the water?

"One thing at a time, anyhow! Let’s see this place in Seaside, and then worry about the water!

You coming for a swim then, Unspoken?"
he laughs then!
Nov 4, 2024 10:08 am
Mortemiar looked Arkemos and nodded, "Welcome to the party Arkemos. May I know your trade, perhaps? I belong to the solemn brotherhood, a devout follower of Father Death." He then turned to others, "I hope you all know how to swim if you are thinking about visiting underwater Seaside temple."
Nov 6, 2024 1:56 am
GM
Enimpi shakes her head at the dwarf's questions. "I don't leave the city walls during business. Didn't you come in on that merchant vessel? No large ship like that will take a short passenger trip to likely danger. You'll need a personal craft like a rowboat or schooner. I'm sure you could hire one at Seaside. I wouldn't mention your true destination, however, unless you want to pay a lot more for insurance. Are any of you able to breathe underwater?"
Nov 6, 2024 10:51 am
"Do we look like we have gills," Theodore sighs. "I don't even know if I can swim. Never tried."
Nov 6, 2024 11:53 am
Mortemiar listened to everyone while nodding, "I was never a swimmer. So, how are we planning to go down then?"
Nov 6, 2024 8:09 pm
"Well met brother, I...used to apprentice under an old sorcerer, now a days I make a living doing odds and ends." Arkemos replied to Mortemiar cryptically.

Looking at Enimpi he responded with a snort, "Aye, no gills for me either." With a small shrug of his folded arms he added under his breath, "At least not permanently."

Seeing as there appeared to be a bit of a deadlock in the decision making Arkemos stated, "If we are all set to go to Seaside then I say lets go and see this temple spot Enimpi can show us. We can look into hiring a boat from there if we need to."
Nov 7, 2024 12:01 pm
"Might there be some potions or the like for us land-folk?" the dwarf asks, genuinely enough!

"Spose I wanted to pay a visit and see what this place is all about before joining up proper! Must be that they have potions for that kind of thing!"
Nov 10, 2024 12:28 pm
GM
Enimpi smiles. "Well shall we take the long way around to see the other side of the city as we make our way back to Seaside? As for potions, you might be able to find some at the alchemist's shops. I also believe a few members of Oceanus are magicians and they specialize in water magic. I'm sure it is within their ability to perform spells which will protect you from the water. And if you are intending to help them out, I think they'd be glad to help you return the favor."

Enimpi leads you southwest through another opening in the city's dividing walls which leads onto Autarch's Crown, giving a guided tour as you follow. A high wall surrounds it, with gates opening onto each adjacent district to allow free passage. The smallest section of the city, it is home to the autarch’s palace and several governmental buildings that see to the day-to-day workings of Set.

The palace of the autarch is an enormous structure that dwarfs the other buildings here, doubling as the ruler’s residence and offices for the city’s bureaucrats. The residence comprises nearly one hundred rooms in six towers, a grand hall under a great domed roof, and quarters for the staff of two hundred servants, attendants, and guards. The palace also includes a high court, the chamber of the Council of Faith, offices for tax collectors and record keepers, and guest quarters for emissaries and diplomats from the Confederacy and beyond.

Through a gateway in the west Enimpi points out the now-ironically-named New Paradise, while a gateway in the southwest leads to High Town, where the rich and powerful live, literally looking down upon the rest of the city. As these are out of your way, she doesn't take you into these places, just giving you a quick view and moving on south, leading back into Red Roofs, albeit on the western side rather than the eastern side you traversed on your way previously. Finally you enter back into Seaside.

Enimpi takes you past the buildings you encountered previously, but through a few side streets she stops at an open area of ground. "This is it. The open plot of land the followers of Oceanus wanted to buy to build their temple."
Nov 11, 2024 11:10 am
Hargrac does his best not to seem unimpressed by the plot of land they now stood before!

"Fine place… to a certain eye!" he lets out, meaning the whole city and not just this one sorry plot!

"Can’t see what all the fuss is about, truth be told. Can you?" he asks the others, supposing they had a keener eye for traps, or entrances or magical properties than he did!
Nov 11, 2024 12:05 pm
Theodore shrugs. "Just another empty plot," he sighs. "So why here? Is it close to the ocean?"
OOC:
How far from the harbor or the coast is this plot?
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