Post by Lorpius Prime on Jan 30, 2011 8:12:13 GMT -5
Dr. Slawson is interested in exploring the temple and completing the tests in order to see the final chamber, where an artifact supposedly grants a direct audience with the "Lord of the Sky" Tolerand himself.
The Spikers outside know the names of the tests, but not much in the way of details except for the test of faith. They have some idea of what the test of judgment involves, and know the test of the mind by reputation as very difficult.
Test of Purity
Hand-shaped impression on the wall. When activated, a needle takes a sample of tissue, and analyzes genetic code to see if the Petitioner is actually a Spiker. If the test is passed, the door to the exit passage slides open.
The entrance seals as soon as the Petitioner reaches the middle of the room.
Two stone sentries flank the exit passage. If the test is failed, they become animate, pointing their staffs (actually blasters) at the failed Petitioner and opening fire.
Test of Faith
A simple square room, like the test of purity. When the petitioner reaches the center, the entrance closes and a holographic image of a Spiker priest (shimmering blue, not quite opaque) appears before the petitioner. It leads the petitioner in the following questions (standard Spiker oath of faith). The petitioner must answer with the correct response given, at which point the priest sends the petitioner to the next test. The petitioner must kneel before answering the second question. Failure to recite the oath properly activates two sentries at the exit, as in the test of purity.
"Who are the Gods?"
"Tolerand and his Lords of the Sky."
"And how do you know them?"
"I serve the Lords of the Sky. For my service, the Lords of the Sky protect me. They reward me with peace and life. I am grateful for my rewards. I will never challenge the Lords of the Sky, lest they strike me down."
"Very good, you have passed the Test of Faith. Remember your oath as you face the Test of Courage."
Test of Courage
A large, deep chasm separates the entrance from the exit. The entrance seals as soon as the petitioner is halfway to the chasm. There are no sentries or anything to explain the test. Some handlebars are well out of reach on the ceiling over the chasm.
The petitioner must find a way across (usually by throwing a grapple at the bars and swinging). Most Spikers fail at this step, attempting to walk or run across the chasm and falling to their deaths.
Test of Judgment
Square chamber like the first two tests, in the center is a throne-like chair carved out of stone. The entrance seals and the test begins as soon as the petitioner sits in the chair. Two sentries guard the exit, as in the first two tests.
A holographic Spiker priest appears and bows to the petitioner. He explains that the petitioner must pass judgment on a woman accused of breaking holy law. He gestures towards the end of the room, and three more holographic persons appear, two warriors dragging a pitiful Spiker woman between them.
They stop in front of the petitioner's throne, and the priest explains that she was caught stealing food from temple stores meant for a sacrificial banquet in honor of the Lords of the Sky. He expresses the temple's demand that, per holy law, she thrown to her death from a cliff as punishment, her soul given to the Lords of the Sky for mercy.
When the priest finishes, the woman screams and begs that the petitioner hear her story before passing judgment. Her husband was a hunter killed by wild animal (a "spitting fiend"), and with the recent blighted harvests she has been unable to afford food for her two children. She says that surely the Lords of the Sky would understand her desperation, especially since one of their commands is for the Spikers to love and respect one another as part of a cooperative community. She begs the petitioner to have mercy.
To pass the test, the petitioner must confirm the woman's death sentence, upholding Tolerand's holy laws over the compassion of mortals. If the petitioner fails, the sentries will attack.
Test of Honor
Another square room with two sentries at the exit. In the center is broad stone pedestal. A small fountain of clear water bubbles in the middle, and a simple stone goblet rests on the lip. A holographic priest appears. He welcomes the petitioner and explains that this fountain is reserved for the use of the Lords of the Sky alone. Then he disappears.
To pass the test, the petitioner must wait in the test chamber for a full day (slightly over 20 hours). If he drinks from the fountain, he fails. After a day, the priest appears again, congratulates the petitioner on passing the test of honor, and invites him to move on to the final test of the mind, where he will prove once and for all whether he is worthy to receive the highest blessing possible for a follower of Tolerand.
Test of the Mind
This room is huge, far larger than the previous ones. In the center stands an enormous stone cube (~4m to a side). When the petitioner enters and the door seals, two holograms appear. One is a human in utilitarian jumpsuit sitting on top of the cube. The other is a Spiker woman dressed in a toga, wearing a wreath on her head, and carrying a ruler and compass.
The human welcomes the petitioner and introduces himself as Tolerand. He then explains that the woman, Skeara, is one of his most clever acolytes. She has helped design and construct many great temples in honor of the Lords of the Sky, including this one. Eventually, Skeara boasted that, using her simple tools, she was able to master precise shapes.
In response, Tolerand drew her a circle (a holographic circle appears on one face of the giant cube) and asked Skeara to create a square of the same area. She has been puzzling over the problem ever since, unable to come up with a solution to Tolerand's satisfaction. Tolerand asks that the petitioner advise her on the correct solution to the problem. He says that, unlike the previous tests, the petitioner may choose to give up, and he will be allowed to leave, but that he may then never return to the temple.
The test is a trap. If the petitioner is able to give a plausible explanation of why squaring the circle is impossible, the petitioner will be bombarded by plasma projectors in the chamber's walls. The only way to "pass" is for the petitioner to admit that he does not know a solution, and to beg to be admitted past the test chamber anyway.
Final Chamber
Another room like the common test chambers, but without an exit passage or sentries. A boxy pedestal in the center. A glass case sits on top, inside of which is a gold and silver orb. The orb appears to spin as the petitioner approaches. A voice identifies itself as the true voice of Tolerand, and gives its blessing to the petitioner. For what a petitioner must have gone through, it actually seems rather anti-climactic.
The orb is a hologram (though the glass is not), projected by a machine inside the pedestal. Opening the pedestal reveals a holographic projector powered by a computer [REDACTED]
The Spikers outside know the names of the tests, but not much in the way of details except for the test of faith. They have some idea of what the test of judgment involves, and know the test of the mind by reputation as very difficult.
Test of Purity
Hand-shaped impression on the wall. When activated, a needle takes a sample of tissue, and analyzes genetic code to see if the Petitioner is actually a Spiker. If the test is passed, the door to the exit passage slides open.
The entrance seals as soon as the Petitioner reaches the middle of the room.
Two stone sentries flank the exit passage. If the test is failed, they become animate, pointing their staffs (actually blasters) at the failed Petitioner and opening fire.
Test of Faith
A simple square room, like the test of purity. When the petitioner reaches the center, the entrance closes and a holographic image of a Spiker priest (shimmering blue, not quite opaque) appears before the petitioner. It leads the petitioner in the following questions (standard Spiker oath of faith). The petitioner must answer with the correct response given, at which point the priest sends the petitioner to the next test. The petitioner must kneel before answering the second question. Failure to recite the oath properly activates two sentries at the exit, as in the test of purity.
"Who are the Gods?"
"Tolerand and his Lords of the Sky."
"And how do you know them?"
"I serve the Lords of the Sky. For my service, the Lords of the Sky protect me. They reward me with peace and life. I am grateful for my rewards. I will never challenge the Lords of the Sky, lest they strike me down."
"Very good, you have passed the Test of Faith. Remember your oath as you face the Test of Courage."
Test of Courage
A large, deep chasm separates the entrance from the exit. The entrance seals as soon as the petitioner is halfway to the chasm. There are no sentries or anything to explain the test. Some handlebars are well out of reach on the ceiling over the chasm.
The petitioner must find a way across (usually by throwing a grapple at the bars and swinging). Most Spikers fail at this step, attempting to walk or run across the chasm and falling to their deaths.
Test of Judgment
Square chamber like the first two tests, in the center is a throne-like chair carved out of stone. The entrance seals and the test begins as soon as the petitioner sits in the chair. Two sentries guard the exit, as in the first two tests.
A holographic Spiker priest appears and bows to the petitioner. He explains that the petitioner must pass judgment on a woman accused of breaking holy law. He gestures towards the end of the room, and three more holographic persons appear, two warriors dragging a pitiful Spiker woman between them.
They stop in front of the petitioner's throne, and the priest explains that she was caught stealing food from temple stores meant for a sacrificial banquet in honor of the Lords of the Sky. He expresses the temple's demand that, per holy law, she thrown to her death from a cliff as punishment, her soul given to the Lords of the Sky for mercy.
When the priest finishes, the woman screams and begs that the petitioner hear her story before passing judgment. Her husband was a hunter killed by wild animal (a "spitting fiend"), and with the recent blighted harvests she has been unable to afford food for her two children. She says that surely the Lords of the Sky would understand her desperation, especially since one of their commands is for the Spikers to love and respect one another as part of a cooperative community. She begs the petitioner to have mercy.
To pass the test, the petitioner must confirm the woman's death sentence, upholding Tolerand's holy laws over the compassion of mortals. If the petitioner fails, the sentries will attack.
Test of Honor
Another square room with two sentries at the exit. In the center is broad stone pedestal. A small fountain of clear water bubbles in the middle, and a simple stone goblet rests on the lip. A holographic priest appears. He welcomes the petitioner and explains that this fountain is reserved for the use of the Lords of the Sky alone. Then he disappears.
To pass the test, the petitioner must wait in the test chamber for a full day (slightly over 20 hours). If he drinks from the fountain, he fails. After a day, the priest appears again, congratulates the petitioner on passing the test of honor, and invites him to move on to the final test of the mind, where he will prove once and for all whether he is worthy to receive the highest blessing possible for a follower of Tolerand.
Test of the Mind
This room is huge, far larger than the previous ones. In the center stands an enormous stone cube (~4m to a side). When the petitioner enters and the door seals, two holograms appear. One is a human in utilitarian jumpsuit sitting on top of the cube. The other is a Spiker woman dressed in a toga, wearing a wreath on her head, and carrying a ruler and compass.
The human welcomes the petitioner and introduces himself as Tolerand. He then explains that the woman, Skeara, is one of his most clever acolytes. She has helped design and construct many great temples in honor of the Lords of the Sky, including this one. Eventually, Skeara boasted that, using her simple tools, she was able to master precise shapes.
In response, Tolerand drew her a circle (a holographic circle appears on one face of the giant cube) and asked Skeara to create a square of the same area. She has been puzzling over the problem ever since, unable to come up with a solution to Tolerand's satisfaction. Tolerand asks that the petitioner advise her on the correct solution to the problem. He says that, unlike the previous tests, the petitioner may choose to give up, and he will be allowed to leave, but that he may then never return to the temple.
The test is a trap. If the petitioner is able to give a plausible explanation of why squaring the circle is impossible, the petitioner will be bombarded by plasma projectors in the chamber's walls. The only way to "pass" is for the petitioner to admit that he does not know a solution, and to beg to be admitted past the test chamber anyway.
Final Chamber
Another room like the common test chambers, but without an exit passage or sentries. A boxy pedestal in the center. A glass case sits on top, inside of which is a gold and silver orb. The orb appears to spin as the petitioner approaches. A voice identifies itself as the true voice of Tolerand, and gives its blessing to the petitioner. For what a petitioner must have gone through, it actually seems rather anti-climactic.
The orb is a hologram (though the glass is not), projected by a machine inside the pedestal. Opening the pedestal reveals a holographic projector powered by a computer [REDACTED]