Their first contact - Zoveri, the Octapus Centaurs
Above water:
"You plunge into the water and go under for a time, but quickly rise
to the surface. You are floating or treading water and you see a humanoid
shape rise from the water. At first, all you can see is a head. Then it
raises itself out of the water and you can see a human torso. It might
be a merperson, but this idea is quickly proven false. The creature continues
to rise above the surface until you see that the bottom part of the thing
is tenticled like an octapus. It rises above the water and begins to walk
quickly on the surface toward you. It says
"We know you are from another place. Do not be afraid we are here to
help you. Have you come from the place of Judgement?" This is their way
to find out if you died to get here or arrived while still alive.Regardless
of what the party answers they will say "You are not creatures of the water.
If you like I will summon more of my kind to help you get to the shore".
If the party asks questions it will be glad to answer them and converse
as long as no one seems to be in trouble. If one of the party is having
a bad time keeping afloat, it will say "I will gladly answer all your questions
buut that one seems to be haveing a hard time keeping above water and breaths
air. Please allow me to help them!"
Once all the party are safe on the surface, many more Zoverti will bob to the surface and begin to sing a song of thankfullness in 3 part harmony of great beauty that seems to be counter pointed by the sound made by the gentle swells.
The sea is our mother and mother to all
Though some have forgotten this after their fall
We are the midwives who answer the call
Of all those reborn of the sea
We offer you safty and all that you need
We willingly offer ourselvs as your steed
To get you to land or offer to lead
You to any place on the wide water
We give thanks to that which has carried you here
We sing to you hoping to banish your fear
We hope that your salvation soon will be near
And that all of your dreams will come true
When the party assents, they will continue to sing as they tenderly embrace the people and gently tow them to the shore. The water is comfortable now and seem to be rejuvinating the weary. Although the singing continues, no own can remember the words until they reach the shore and all of the party can find their feet and walk out of the water. As they are departing the Zovert wave and sing:
From water you came and to water return
We pray that your journey will help you to learn
That which your soul needs and cause you to turn
Your hearts to the paths of the rightous
As this song is continuing, some of the Zoverti will rise from underwater carrying baskets made of woven kelp continaing dark green fruit and mustard yellow vegitables that will be enough to feed the party for a week.
They will stay and talk to the party as long as it is desired, but will not come on land saying "we are creatures of the Silver Sea and are not allowed to pass beyond the breakwater". Under no circumstances will they do this, even to save lives. They know nothing of the land beyond.
On the Shore -
Once on the shore, the party has the time to look around more. They
will notice:
The air is crystal clear and although there is seemly a blaze of light
everywhere, there are no shadows. Looking up they can see that the light
comes from a black sky ablaze with starlight that is as bright as any sun
cast day. The sand on the shore is soft and extreamly fine. Examining the
sand will reveal that each is a tiny crystal and unique similar to a snowflake.
Away from the shore the land rises gently for several miles and then rises
steeply. Several paths are visible winding their way across the steep mountain
side. Occasionally, points of light appear to move along these paths. There
is abundant vegitation, and each plant can be seen to have a reason for
being. Some bear fruit, vegitables or have eatable leaves. Some bear flowers
of great beauty or delicate fragrance that brings back memories long forgotten.
All of them seem to be "right" within their place. Where the land begins
to rise, trees may be seen; some are larger than a city block and some
are small. They have leaves of seeminly infinate varieties of green, red,
yellow and brown shades that blend together to form a harmonious balance.
Many miles above is a bank of cloud that seems to stay close to the
mountain side. Although it is visibly blown by fast winds, it never goes
away and never reveals what might be beyond it.
The lantern Archon - The Eightfold Path - Patience, Pacifism,
Courage, Joy, Discipline, Generosity, Kindness, Instruction
At some point, the party will notice that there are several points
of light that seem to drift a few feet above the land. One of them drifts
closer to them and they will be startled when it speaks to them.
"I am Tocheree and I welcome you to the lands of Mt. Celestia. My heart
soars with joy at your arrival. Let you mind become calm and allow all
fear to leave you as you are more safe now than you have ever been. No
evil is allowed in this place by the order of the greatest gods. I humbly
offer my service to you in what ever path you shall take. I have chosen
the Eightfold Path, but what ever is your way, I will help if it is within
my slight power to do so." It will willingly tell them of it's path and
what it means to follow a course of correct action to rise to the next
level of the mountain.
It will answer any questions the party may have (within its limited knowledge) until enough questions have been asked that it can't answer or until the party requests something not in it's power. It must hand them over to a Hound Archon at some point as they are still living, but there is no rush and it is content to be useful and to use the encounter to further its travel along the Eightfold Path. When it feels the party may be better served by the Hound, it will contact it's guardian.
Handed off - to a summoned Hound Archon
When summoned, the Hound will cease it's mdeitations and head for the
shore. It will be in the shape of a great Whippit-like dog and move at
tremendous speed across the sand toward the party. When it has reached
them it will change into it's humanoid shape. They will notice that is
is wearing bracers made of siliver marking it as a Hound of middling status.
It will first ask if anyone needs anything. Although it can't cast any
spells, it will be willing to provide them with any thing of a mundane
nature they request (although this will be limited to the things found
in nature). Once all they request has been provided for, he will ask them
to "grant him a great boon" and tell the story of their lives. He will
then tell them that it is his idea that their story will be instructive
for the Lanterns in his charge and ask that they be allowed to join them
and listen. Roll % to see how many arive. The lanterns will approch the
party and each say "my name is ... and I give thanks that you have allowed
us to listen to your tale". then move to the side and be mostly silent.
Only when a deed of great good or great evil is described will they come
forth with comments like "blessed are the acts of goodness in an evil world"
or "cursed are those who do evil, may they leave the world quickly".
As usual on the Outer Planes, there is little sense of the passage
of time as there are no outward signs of it's passage.
Beourn will tell them of his quest (and give it a "good" bent) and
ask the Hound about the upper levels of the mountain. He will be told of
the Paths that may be take to "rightousdness" and told that he must choose
one if he seeks to pass above. Beourn will say that his journey up the
mountain has been forseen and that his place at the top of the mountain
is assured as he can feel his soul lies there.
At some point, the party will ask "whats next" and they will be told
of the places to go on this plane.
Hearts Faith
Encounter Table:
Spell Failure Table
| LG - 0 | NG-10% | CG-30% |
| LN-10% | N-30% | CN-60% |
| LE-30% | NE-60% | CE-90% |
One of the ways that the denizens of this place distinguish themselfves from each other is by their different codes. These codes are chosen by the character and are rules of conduct that will be used to allow the soul to ascend to the top of the mountain. These codes are: