DUNGEON ♛ SALAMANCA TEMPLE

[boardmaster]

SALAMANCA TEMPLE
20 MARCH (NARCISSA) 2016

Once a grand place of worship for the ancestors of the Alfersa, the thousand-year-old ruins of Salamanca Temple returned to their full glory overnight. However, it also seems to be teeming with ancient reptiles long thought to be extinct. As the Heroes enter, it’s clear that the multilevel temple is a prime example of the artistic achievements of its time. The rooms are lush with plantlife that creeps in between the cracks of marble tiles and statues of Gladia with serpents at her heel, and the walls are covered in paintings and bas-reliefs depicting a famous epic about the Alfersa’s victory over all reptilian creatures.

The majesty of Salamanca Temple almost makes one fact easy to forget: it was most infamous as a site of magic… and human sacrifices.

Our Heroes know that there’s only one way to get out of here: find and defeat the boss!

	Lisbrand I’m sure you’re all aware, to some extent, that in addition to the war with Noir, Blanc must deal with threats within its own borders. These are what we call dungeons, and we only have a basic working understanding of them. Think of them as natural phenomena. Your task is reconnaissance and retrieval of the mana cores believed to be hidden in the deepest part of the structure, but you will likely encounter resistance. [a gesture to her side] Secretary Verdoni has more details about the nature of the structure. Secretary, if you would.
	Verdoni This is Salamanca Temple, a sacred and important site of cultural heritage to the Alfersa. Grand temples such as this were supposed to fill the devout with hope, but the Gladia of old was not always a benevolent goddess. Gladia’s Alfersan cult was infamous for its taboo sacrificial rituals. As a result, this temple is shrouded in frightening rumors and legends. Over the course of its bloody history, many atrocities were committed over the most trifling matters... The most famous is the tale of Moura Serpente. Perhaps you Heroes will have the chance to personally witness the truth behind these hallowed walls.
	Lisbrand Our scouts are incapable of exploring the structure the way this task force can. Therefore, you will be the front line in this mission. Your issued magical weapon will grant you immediate access to the temple once you approach the entrance. [and just to be safe, she gestures again. some of the Blanc soldiers who have tagged along for support functions march their way towards the appropriate door] Base camp will be established just outside the temple, in the event that you need to leave the area.
	Verdoni Which means that the Airy will be here for a while. Once you finish the dungeon, you are free to retire to your quarters. If you don't feel like riding the ship again, then walk. The journey to Caissa on foot will take a week at most. I suggest heading north to spend the evening at the city of Polgar. I suppose walking is a good thing for you Heroes; we will not always have the luxury of air travel.
	Lisbrand We will be breaking camp in the evening to rendezvous with Airy, so if you are not out of the dungeon by that time, you will be walking back to Caissa. [a pause] But I expect a number of you will do so anyway. This country is on full alert, and traveling by foot should be relatively safe inside our borders, but I hope I don’t need to tell you to be vigilant. I will expect all members of the task force back in Caissa by Lathrya 8th. Heroes, move out!

Basic info on the dungeon can be found here. Dungeon mechanics can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

ONE ♙

When you enter the temple, the flooring is surprisingly weak — wait, no. That’s a trap. And those are your screams.

You land in what seems to be the vast and sprawling corridors of the temple’s basement: dark, dank, and full of rats. But it’s more than just that — the smell of blood is thick in the air, and every so often, you might hear cries of agony. Magic circles, dried blood on ornate daggers, and tables with unspeakable tools for keeping mouths shut and human limbs in place… something tells you this is exactly what Verdoni warned you about.

MONSTER ♟ Lizardman
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to None
Men cursed to roam Enprise in a LIZARD-LIKE FORM by the goddess Gladia. Some conspiracy theorists say they aren’t cursed. In fact, their kind was the first to inhabit Enprise before the Alfersa arrived on a giant spaceship! But locals will squint and silently judge if you honestly believe this. These ANGRY, ARMORED lizardmen are equipped with BLADED WEAPONS and their surprisingly exceptional prowess in COMBAT. Their TOUGH SKIN and SHARP SENSES set them apart from your average human soldier. If you grab one by the tail, he’ll simply chop it off and grow one right back! But you might want to go ahead and take the risk — in alchemy, LIZARD TAILS are known for their regenerative properties. Their WEAPONS, SMELLY ARMOR, TAILS and LOINCLOTHS may be acquired as loot.

Once you make it back to the first level where the laity worship, you’ll be met with... more lizardmen. But not all hope is lost! Find the switch on one of the many life-size Gladia statues to open the hidden door behind the altar and proceed. The switch’s location may vary for each party.

TWO ♙

Only the clergy may enter the higher levels of the temple. Before they do, they must wash themselves in the pools of holy water that flank the entrance. These pools are so rich in mana, bathing in them will even replenish your own. As you splash around, you realize you’re not alone. Red and black lizard-like creatures emerge from the depths of the pools with eyes alight with fire and smoke blowing out of their nostrils. Looks like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

MONSTER ♟ Salamander
Weak against Water	Strong against Ice	Immune to Fire (except salamander fire)
In Enprise, salamanders are not amphibians, but FIRE-BREATHING reptiles the length of crocodiles. They have sticky pads on their feet that enable them to CRAWL UP WALLS and LEAP on unsuspecting victims. We hope your spars with the feathered inhabitants of Airy prepared you for this. When COOKED, a salamander’s MEAT can BURN ANYTHING that consumes it. However, it can only be cooked with SALAMANDER FIRE. It’d be wise to keep one alive to cook the rest. We suggest using the FLAME on the tip of its tail — less teeth and much safer. The SALAMANDER PARTS and MEAT may be acquired as loot.

At the other end of the room, there is a door with… teeth? That breathing sound isn’t your imagination; the door is very much alive and will chomp at anything that gets too close. Time to get creative. Behind the door is a staircase to the next level.

THREE ♙

Among the rooms on this level filled with treasures of wines, weapons, gemstones and gold is a large shrine with an imposing 20-foot tall statue of Gladia, a thick needle, pieces of cord and a scroll rolled out on a raised pedestal. Written in old Chernovian are instructions in poetry that varies for each party: Heroes must make a necklace out of the eyes of snakes and offer it to the statue. Those who did their research will be familiar with this practice: by doing this, you are giving her all your bad luck and having her bless your journey ahead.

You’ll need all the luck you can get because the moment you finish reading the scroll with your eyes, hundreds of snakes begin to slither out Gladia’s eyes, nose and mouth.

MONSTER ♟ Alfersan Snake
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to Poison
“Hissss...!” Men who were transformed into snakes by the goddess Gladia. Alfersan snakes are HOSTILE and VENOMOUS, but their powerful venom is also known to create the most potent of antidotes. Some adventurers might hate snakes more than others, but you Heroes can do this much, right? The SNAKE PARTS and VENOM can be acquired as loot.

Once the necklace is complete and offered to the statue, the statue will turn, revealing another staircase to the next level.

FOUR ♙

Men weren’t the only ones punished by Gladia. One thousand years ago, the priestess Moura grew envious of a higher member of the clergy, whom everyone preferred over the selfish, narcissistic Moura. What did that woman have that she didn’t? Consumed by these negative thoughts, Moura transformed the woman into a snake and chopped her into pieces for Gladia, praying that the goddess would hear her plea.

In an instant, Gladia answered: “All your life you have lived a lesser being, so a lesser being you shall become!” With these words, the goddess cursed Moura with a head of full of venomous snakes. Ashamed of her appearance, she locked herself up in the temple to fully devote herself to Gladia. They say that Moura lives up to this day, waiting for Gladia to grant her salvation...

As our Heroes enter a large, circular room at the top floor, they will see a desolate young woman muttering the prayers beautifully inscribed in gold leaf on the walls. Olive skin, pointed ears and amber eyes — there’s no doubt that she is Alfersa. As she raises her head and meets their eyes, she greets them with an eerie, twisted smile.

And so do the snakes in her hair.

BOSS ♟ Moura Serpente
Weak against Fire	Strong against None	Immune to Poison
“You are not from this world. … Ehehe… Ahahaha! Oh! Oh, praise Gladia!” Believing the Heroes to be her divine retribution, Moura wastes no time. At the snap of her fingers, a GIANT SERPENT crashes into the room and slithers to its master’s side. The serpent is strong and quick, and when Moura hops on its back, she is nearly untouchable. Strike its soft UNDERSIDE to get some damage in! “To deliver judgement and receive judgement — that is why I exist. I live for no one but my goddess...” The SNAKES ON HER HEAD are a deadly force on their own: they can extend, retract, and even change color according to Moura’s mood. Moura can also use them to get around. When the snakes sink their teeth into your flesh, their bite can either POISON or PETRIFY. The venom will grant its victim DIZZINESS and NAUSEA. We hope you stocked up on antidotes. The remedy for petrification, however, is A KISS ON THE LIPS. One from your true love won’t have any special effect, but that’s rather sweet of them, don’t you think? PRAYING to Gladia — even if by just talking or asking her for anything — will grant you a temporary RESISTANCE TO POISON. “Why? Why do you listen to their prayers and not mine? … Heh… Gladia did always favor the pretty ones!” If you are PRETTY, Moura with direct her rage at you and chase you down. And if everyone is pretty? She’ll take down the prettiest first. To make matters worse, swarms of ALFERSAN SNAKES begin to crawl over the Heroes to distract you and restrict your movements. Don't fret; the TORCHES in the room will help ward both snakes and Moura away. “My goddess, is this enough...?” When you deal your final strike, Moura appears unharmed. But she falls a second later, sprawled on the marble floor and looking up at the ceiling. Slowly, her eyes close and her chest stills. Is she at peace? A glowing object rises and floats above her chest — your first DUNGEON CORE. MOURA’S ARMOR and TOMES ON STATUS MAGIC may be acquired as loot.

You may exit the temple by going back the way you came or jumping out the hole Moura’s serpent made. Falling to your death won’t be a problem — the giant serpents of the temple see you as their new masters. They will catch you and let you hop off their backs once they reach the ground.

FIVE ♙

Salamanca Temple is in a secluded area, so the Airy is parked at an open meadow. Walking back involves cutting your way south across the jungle and crossing the river. We hope you brought a map and a compass! Both are available for purchase on the Airy. The Airy will leave for Caissa on the evening of the 20th. It will arrive in Caissa on the 22nd.

For those who want to explore, the jungle gets thicker as you head north until you find winding stone paths that lead to the city of Polgar.

LOCATION ♟ Polgar

Although Polgar is a city relatively untouched by Blanc’s technological advances, it remains one of the country's largest urban centers due to its TOURISM. The city is home to the ALFERSA, a matriarchal society similar to that of the Amazons, in which men are often relegated to housework and manual labor. Most Alfersa believe that machines are no replacement for good hard work and prefer to live alongside NATURE, though small clockworks and machinery do exist in certain parts of the city. TROPICAL FLORA blankets Polgar and its architecture. There are many TEMPLES and SHRINES here dedicated to Gladia, Lathyra and Oubliette, all well-kept as the Alfersa are proud of their heritage. For the gods, their faith does not waver. Some of their festivals last entire months, with the celebration moving from shrine to shrine in resplendent procession. Polgar is also a popular tropical GETAWAY; its spas, resorts, restaurants, hot springs and brothels are all well-known and high-class, staffed by beautiful men and women and catering to all preferences.

Comments

[hiryugaeshi]

[ The other Assassin follows closely behind his teammates, supplies slung over his shoulder. It's a strange place they've walked into, but dungeons are always strange, aren't they? Ordinary caves don't get a reputation for this sort of danger. ]

I suggest you watch your step. If there are snakes, they'll be at our feet.

[ It's a big lizard temple, there has to at least be snakes, right? And there's just something at the edge of his consciousness, something like instinct telling him to watch where he put his feet. ]

[dualitea]

[ Unlike Kojiro and One, Henry has no such thing as heightened instinct to protect him. He steps forward, one two three, holding his knife out in front of him in a bid to use the glow of the currently-green gem on its hilt to light the way. ]

I wouldn't be surprised. All dungeons tend to have a multi-tiered theme -

[ And then the floor completely collapses under him. Cracks and fissures appear all over the floor, spreading and interlinking with one another. He manages to sidestep a few out of pure reactive instinct, but he has the slowest reflexes out of all three of them. ]

Come on, forward!

[ How long can they stay on the top floor before falling through? ]

[querella]

[ Of all the...

One's gaze narrowed as she moved forward, doing her best to avoid any loosening stones. She was fast, a trait that had managed to carry over into her new life. But her speed, of course, was not as it was. Even still, it allowed her to avoid the floor collapsing around them. ]

Don't fall behind. [ The words were clipped, irritation showing through. It just had to be a trap. They should have expected as much. Or, at least, she should have expected as much. There was no way that they could simply waltz into the ancient temple and go about exploring without meeting multiple types of resistance. And this likely led to some kind of spike pit, she was sure, or something equally as dangerous. She glanced at her companions briefly. ] Spread out as much as you can. The less weight we apply to the weakening floor, the better.

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Kojirou moves with a light step. He's an Assassin, he can manage that much. Staying ahead of the falling floor without aggravating it is tough, especially without his full physical capabilities, but it's not as though they have a choice. They either get ahead, or fall into... wherever it is that hole leads.

But that said: ]

I'm not sure there's an end to this lobby.

[ They can keep running, sure, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere to run to. ]

[dualitea]

[ Henry tries to heed One's advice to the best of his ability, eyes fixed firmly on the floor as he tries to move away from the other two. However, a loose piece of tile suddenly fractures completely as soon as he puts his weight onto it, opening up a hole large enough to drop him through.

The stone around the gap crumbles as he tries to desperately grasp at it, knocking his knife from his grip as well. There's a faint cry, and then the sound of a body hitting the ground below. Luckily, there is no deathly scream, only the ting of metal clacking on stone.

The floor is very much covered in a layer of grime and dust, but Henry finds that there is little else apart from falling rubble. Ducking to retrieve his weapon, he's clipped on the shoulder by a fragment as he tries to head in the same direction as the other two. ]

[querella]

[ Normally One would simply keep going, she wouldn't need to look back and check on anyone. Brother had always been able to keep up with her. He moved as she did, kept pace with her. She hadn't needed to worry about him in the least. But these two were not like Brother or her. They weren't gifted-cursed by the Flower, or the experiences that came with that curse. So she did look behind her when she heard one of her companions fall.

The small woman almost stopped dead in her tracks. The ground beneath her gave way, falling loose all around her. And with the crumbling support, she knew she would be next to fall.

She allowed her body to fall with the floor. She moved her chakram, letting it fall from her grasp as much as she could so she wouldn't injure herself with it when she landed. The metal met with the rubble with a loud clatter, scrapping over stone. One hit the ground with a seemingly painful thud. Stone dug into her arms, her legs. ]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ There's no real way to fall down a pit trap gracefully, but Kojirou tries his best not to look to accept his fate and not land on something important.

Nothing breaks at least. ]

What a cruel trick.

[ He tests his limbs, making sure they still work before climbing to his feet, frowning at the gashes in his uniform and what must surely be a huge bruise growing on his backside. What kind of unfair dungeon is this? ]

But looking at this, cruelty seems to be par for the course.

[ Blood, rats, and lots of just freaky occult stuff. Definitely not to his tastes. ]

[dualitea]

[ Seeing his two teammates fall down beside him leaves Henry in a moment of hesitation - which one to help first, given the rocks that are still raining down from the ceiling in his perspective; but the shower soon settles (after the whole floor caves in) and he's left covered in a layer of dust and fragments.

One it is, then. Sorry, Kojiro - but ladies first.

He quickly moves over to see if he needs to offer her a hand to get up. If not, he could pick up her weapon for her. ]

I don't like it...

[ After he's done with what he wants to do, he continues talking while recalling his research. ]

Cults of sacrifice are not common, but there tends to be patterns to them. The people, or things who lived here might be revived too. We need to be prepared.

[querella]

[ Although she normally wouldn't accept any help, One doesn't protest this time. With care, she set her hand in the Servant's and carefully pulled herself up. Her legs ached, the kind of dull throb that would eventually fade away, but nothing was broken. No sprained ankle. No sprained wrist. Her clothing showed the usual signs of distress, of course. As soon as she was up right, she drew her hand away. ]

It is likely that whomever resides down here will no longer be human, if they ever were. They will likely have poor eyesight, and have developed better night-vision to accommodate it. [ One eased her chakram off the ground, examining the heavy weapon for any damage. Her nose wrinkled with the overwhelming stench of blood, both old and possibly new? She couldn't be so sure. ] As above, move carefully... it is possible that there will be traps down here. If possible, locate a secondary weapon. These enchanted weapons we carry may not be enough for what awaits us.

[ Her chakram had always proven the better weapon, although she had previously used a sword and a spear. She would rather not carry around multiple weapons. It would weigh her down and slow her movements. As far as she was concerned, the weapon she had now was just fine. But what of her companions? She couldn't say for sure that she could determine their strengths and weaknesses alone. But hopefully their abilities would mesh well enough. ]

[hiryugaeshi]

A secondary weapon? [ Kojirou looks around in the dark, stepping around scurrying rats. He's not terribly pleased with where they landed. It really isn't a nice place to be at all. Even a fake hero like himself can say that much. ]

How good are you with whips and thumbscrews? [ There are definitely things here that can cause plenty of damage, but they aren't what Kojirou would call weapons. The whip is alright, but they take a level of skill he's never bothered to learn. ]

Otherwise, I'd rather not stay here any longer than I have to.

[ He's a lover of beauty, and this is the complete opposite. ]

[dualitea]

[ Henry lets go of One's hand as soon as she stands, aware of how quickly she withdrew it. She's a formal lady, that much he's garnered - and as a gentleman he'll respect her boundaries. He just hopes Edward doesn't take it as a sign to give her trouble, if he comes out.

He listens to the Intoner's words, nodding once or twice. They've only been here a few minutes, and already her analysis is impressing him. While he could reach the same conclusions in time, the way she did it so swiftly is something he believes to be an asset. She's better than it than he did, so it's natural that he follows. ]

I might need something with a longer reach, but I can compensate.

[ He looks around, expression dampened with sadness at the past atrocities that were no doubt committed with the instruments before them. A sword would be good, like the one Kojirou wielded, but it seems that there were none. ]

There may be other rooms that store weapons. We can look ahead.

[querella]

[ Crimson eyes swept over the room, looking over the grime and blood stained scenery. Beyond the derbies from the cave in... this looked to be something the Lord of Sands would have kept for his gruesome hobby. Wherever they had landed, it was never meant to be hospitable to anyone. Of course this area could have possibly been for a number of things, a so-called torture chamber or a preparation room. Preparations for sacrifices to the goddess of this temple. There was, of course, the halls beyond. They, too, might lead to other torture chambers.

Either way, she didn't like the look of things or the possibilities. And they needed to start moving fast, in case whatever dwelled in these halls decided to actively search out the noise they obviously made when the floor caved in. ]

Then let us begin our search.

[ As she adjusted her hold upon her weapon, she made for the most sensible direction. North. Or, at least, what she could assume was north. Beyond the rubble and toward the faint noises. Nothing she could be sure of. It could be more tumbling rubble or just rats escaping the area. The sounds faded in and out of her hearing, not quite connecting. ]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Searching ahead in the dark isn't fun, but perhaps it's better than being able to see the tools and results of the torture that surely went on here in all its gory glory.

But there isn't much that catches Kojirou's interest. Not in terms of usable weapons, anyway. All he wants is a fine sword, preferably long and with a sharp edge. All these devices, while morbidly fascinating, aren't terribly helpful. There's something else though, the occasional scream aside, there seems to be the noise of something else. ]

Do you hear that? It seems we are not alone.

[ Well, what's a dungeon without some monsters? It's just a matter of time before they walk into some lizardmen. ]

[dualitea]

[ Henry trails behind One and Kojirou, bringing up the rear. He settles into the role quite naturally, looking back once or twice - but it's more to let him hear better than to see. The screams that sound in the distance make him wince; a part of him wants to seek out its source to help, but he knows better than to distract himself from their current mission.

After all, it's been years and years since this temple appeared. Logically speaking, those are most likely illusions. ]

We should be prepared.

[ He twirls his knife in a slight motion, green eyes set in a serious expression while surveying where the noise had just come from. As they approach, they resolve into footsteps - and then the torches on the wall light themselves up with a flare, casting light on a trio of lizardmen on the other side of the corridor.

It's a little narrow, but they should be able to take this one .]