A-to-Z Challenge Day 7 Eta (Η): Holy Holes

Entry 7 for The Lost Catacombs of Kadmos

Note: Although eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, it has a numerical equivalent of 8. Sigma (with a numerical equivalent of 6) breaks the numbering between epsilon (5) and zeta (7).

The hallway starts to widen suddenly, forming a large, trapezoidal-shaped room, approximately 80' across (from the mouth of the hallway to the far wall) and 80' long at the "wide" end. Standing along the far wall are 8 statues (each about 10' tall); in front of each statue seems to be a hole in the floor. The granite floor of the room features a sunk relief of a sundial that either measures out two hours or ten minutes; you can't immediately tell which.

Each of the statues is dedicated to one of the gods. Each hole is approximately 6' deep and is wide enough for a large human (or small half-orc) to stand inside. Standing in the hole for 10 minutes and praying to the deity in front of the hole will bestow a blessing upon the person praying. The blessing for each hole takes 2 hours, once granted, to "recharge" (e.g., after 10 minutes of praying, it then takes 2 hours for the hole to fully recharge, then the next ten minutes of praying may begin).

Optional side-effect: Clerics (and all other clerically-classed characters including druids and paladins) choosing to pray in any of the holes will lose all of their clerical/class abilities (returning them to "0-level"), unless the deity to which they are praying is their patron deity.

Statue 1: Apollo

This statue depicts a handsome, beardless young man holding a bow in his hand. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΑΠΟΛΛΟ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes will cure light wounds (as cleric spell).

Statue 2: Boreas

This statue depicts a striding winged man, his hair and beard spiked with ice. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΒΟΡΕΑΣ."

Any character that enters this hole will feel a slight chill. Praying in this hole for ten minutes will grant the ability to resist cold (as cleric spell) for a 6-turn duration.

Statue 3: Gaia

This statue depicts a buxom woman reclining upon the earth surrounded by a host of carpi (infant gods of the fruits of the earth). The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΓΑΙΑ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes will grant the supplicant a boon of 200 experience points. This boon may only be granted once to a single character, and takes the normal 2-hour recharge period.

Statue 4: Dionysus

This statue depicts a bearded and robed mature male holding a fennel staff tipped with a pine cone. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΔΙΟΝΨΣΥΣ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes will give the character a slight sensation of "drunken euphorea", but will grant immunity to fear for a duration of 6 turns.

Statue 5: Erebus

This statue depicts a bearded and robed mature male leaning against a stump, around which is curled a long snake. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΕΡΕΒΥΣ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes will make the character immune to poison for 6 turns.

Statue 6: Selene

This statue depicts a woman standing in a chariot bearing the symbol of a crescent moon. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΣΕΛΕΝΕ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes gives the character the ability to detect magic (as cleric spell) for a duration of 6 turns.

Statue 7: Zeus

This statue depicts a bearded man holding lightning bolts in his fists, and an eagle at his feet. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΖΕΥΣ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes gives the character the ability to detect evil (as cleric spell) for a duration of 6 turns.

Statue 8: Hera

This statue depicts a solemn, majestic woman holding a scepter culminating in a pomegranate. The base of the statue labels this figure as "ΗΕΡΑ."

Praying in this hole for ten minutes grants the supplicant protection from evil (as cleric spell) for a duration of 6 turns. The pomegranate may "spun" clockwise to open the secret door on the wall just to the right of this statue. Turning the pomegranate counter-clockwise will close it.