Mas'ud |
Mas'ud's eyes glimmer with excitement. "Such a large structure, so well preserved! We could find many things to tell us the tales of those who used to live here!" Glancing around at his companions as they gird their loins and prepare for conflict, his expression flickers to confusion, concern, and frustration. "Do we need to assume that we'll have to fight something? Can nothing go easily?"
Khatijah |
"Better to be prepared for the worst that never comes."
Khatijah finishes wrapping her sash about her waist and over her chain shirt. She starts hiding a few of her blades, both of the wickedly curved knives and a dagger, about her person, taking her time to make sure they are hidden. She takes the other three daggers and her sword and pushes them between her sash and her armor. When she's ready she takes her place at the back of the group, acting as a rear-guard.
Kerambit 1: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 2 = 18
Kerambit 2: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 2 = 15
Dagger: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 2 = 17
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
As the group begins to form up Tolus stows his spear on his back and takes out several shuirken that gleam with the white-green of his is sleep poison. He holds a couple in his shield-hand and one in his weapon hand, ready for throwing.
Kara |
Kara walks around amazed, her head craned to look up around her as she marvels at the strange building, unlike anything she'd ever seen before. "They said this was a temple of Serenrae? I'm afraid I know very little of the gods. Fionn, this is your...patron, is it not?"
Fionnbharanel |
Fionn... knowledge checks? LMAO - clerics only get 2 sp a lvl... didn't have any left for knowledges.
Fionn turns to Katijah and shrugs. "Really I know no more than the rest of you. It's a monastery to St. Vardishal and dedicated to Sarenrae. Expect to see a lot of sun-related motifs and colors. Other than that, I have no idea what we might find. The layout is that of a monastery, not a temple, so I don't even know what to expect of the architecture even. I'm sorry I can't help more.
Fionn needs to take a level of bard or something just for the knowledges, this is so sad, she doesn't even have a clue about her own religion. lol
To Kara, she whispers, because whispering in this place seems appropriate for some reason. "Perhaps they didn't abandon it voluntarily."
Khatijah |
Khatijah keeps an eye out for trouble, her sword is drawn and her cestus strapped securely in place. But even though she isn't looking at the three smaller women, it's obvious she's talking to them.Sorry I almost forgot about that bit.
"If what I have heard of gnolls is true, then they either ran or were butchered."
A flash of, worry? concern? It's fairly hard to tell with the scarred woman sometimes.
"Fionn, Sarenrae is the sun goddess, yes?"
@ Fionn and the GM: I've always been under the impression that a cleric would have a fairly deep understanding of their faith and would know most of the tenants of their faith as well as knowing most of the famous and semi-famous events and lore about it. It's up to the GM here, but that's my two coppers.
Fionnbharanel |
I agree on that score, she should know her own faith, and I've been playing her that way for the most part
"Yes, Sarenrae is the goddess of the Sun... we call her the Dawnflower as well, as the day blooms with her rising each morning. As for the monks here, I hope they ran, or if they didn't, that they at least took their toll against whoever or whatever attacked them. If it was indeed gnolls, I hope the monks made a good account of themselves in Sarenrae's name."
Fionnbharanel |
ok thanks, i will do that next level then.
know religion, untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
"But, Tolus, we both know the stories ignore the mundane and boring. If everything was as violent and troubled as all of the stories none of us, anywhere, could sleep soundly through a night. Is it wrong to hope for the mundane and not violence?"
"Of course not, my friend. Just don't go trusting hopes. In my experience they have a nasty habit of letting you down at the most inconvienent times. So draw that sword of yours and let's go find us a story that, hopefully, would put any audience to sleep."
DaWay |
Davashuum wields a powerful quarterstaff
Kardswann's weapon is an elaborate greataxe
Pazhvann's weapon is a tremendous burning flail
Vardishal's wields whatever weapon is favored by his new host
Zayifid's weapon is a delicate but razor-sharp scimitar
Fionnbharanel |
a little ret-con here since I now know things that Fionn should have known before
"The monks weren't attacked by gnolls... they were attacked and all slain by an insane cult from Kelmarene. The place stood, an empty ruin, after that attack, but it could have been infested with anything by now, assuming the spirit of St. Vardishal would allow such." She makes the sign of the sun as she speaks his name.
Taldor |
I have dungeoneering and engineering knowledges, just fyi DM and partyTaldor listens closely to Fionn then lets the info roll around in his head Cults be a tad bit more unpredicrable than gnolls...hopefully it's just sometin wild Taldor lets the party digest the info then says "The best way to figure sometin out is ta go look at it, eh?"
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
Just clarifying: where are people picturing us, because I saw us, per DeWays post, as already in the building in the main hall. We should be able to see the chapel area. The only unknown areas are behind the closed doors to the bottom of the map.
But most of our RP puts us just outside the walls, preparing to enter. Which is fine by me, obviously, as I've been rping that.
I just want to make sure we're all on the same page.
Mas'ud |
"Well, if we're going to do this, let's do it! Do you want to start through the opening in the South East, or in the chapel?" No, Mas'ud doesn't seem to be asking the question of anyone in particular.
He does have his weapon, but he's not holding it in his hand, ready to stick somebody . . ..
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
"I should be close to the front. Maybe second or third. These stars can be hard to hit with at long range. And, I will admit, this building has made me excited to discover what it holds in secret." He holds up one of the poison-covered shuirken as an example as he mentions them.
Fionnbharanel |
Fionn falls in next to Tolus, sharing 2nd or third position, nothing here looks narrow enough to require single file... yet... "I'm with you, Tolus. If needed, my best attack is very short range."
Khatijah |
Works for me
"If you are talking about that blast of fire, then I would want you as close to the enemy as possible. Seeing your comrades burn to a crisp can't be good for you fighting spirit."
Khatijah smiles a little, and seems to be getting a little more comfortable with everyone, especially the smaller members of the group.
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
"Well, if we're going to do this, let's do it! Do you want to start through the opening in the South East, or in the chapel?" No, Mas'ud doesn't seem to be asking the question of anyone in particular.
He does have his weapon, but he's not holding it in his hand, ready to stick somebody . . ..
"I vote we clear and search the chapel and other unsealed areas first, then bust down these doors and clear the floor. I am no strategist, however. Honestly, that's how I would go about cleaning the place up. I don't know if that counts as an effective military sweep or not."
DaWay |
The Chapel (A2) A short set of wide ceremonial steps leads down to a cavernous chapel in which the congregants would gather for sermons in happier times. The vibrant orange and red starburst of Sarenrae still stands behind a film of rusted rainwater and dirt along the north wall overlooking the collapsed altar. Between the stairs and the altar stand dozens of old marble benches, many overturned and even more broken into two or more pieces. A wide walkway bisects the pews, leading directly to the raised altar. Here and there a few clumps of the original red carpet along this thoroughfare hand on against rot and neglect.
Above the center of the chapel, dangling about ten feet from the floor, hangs a cluster of gnoll skulls in various stages of decay. Strung together like a ghoulish candelabra of twine and bone, the boulder-sized ornament hangs from the wooden rafters about twenty feet above the ground.
Fionnbharanel |
"Perhaps something is here that preys on gnolls... or would they do that to the heads of their own dead?" Fionn looks around the place in wonder, imagining it in its glory days. She wishes she had prestidigitation so she could clean the place up quickly, but vows it will be restored as much as possible if she can do so.
Fionnbharanel |
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
Tolus walks about the sanctuary carefully, nimbly avoiding the shattered rubble all around on the floor. He makes his way to the ruined altar and cannot help compiling a list of what would need to be done to restore this place and the cost for doing so. He stops at a month's work (excluding spellcasters) and many thousands of gold pieces. Almost everything needed replacing. He carefully searches the altar area for anything that may have survived the battle and the years of exposure.
Take 20 to search the altar for a pitiful total of 21 :P
Tolus the Serpent Servant |
Taldor grimaces and swears in dwarven at the sight of the skulls. He takes out his dagger and throws it until he manages to cut the rope down, then throws the unsacred thing outside
As Taldor is dragging the nasty art out of the chapel, Tolus calls out, "Taldor! Make sure to search that trash for anything useful, please. Don't want to miss anything.
Arizhel |
'Good morning, I hope I didn't mess anything up by bandaging you last night. I was afraid you would be displeased with your burned limbs." Arizhel drops her pack, and removes two packets of trail rations, "They aren't very tasty but they will fill you up, and I think you could use a meal. My parents always claimed it was so." Arizhel offers the opened packet of rations to Delphina.
"Why are they still on fire, do you suppose? Your hair and arms I mean. Oh, and I should introduce you to Zerika here, she is my eidolon, but I am afraid she is heading to the temple with the others. Please excuse her. By the way this stuck to me, it flew out of your wagon.[/b]" Arizhel hands the burned tempest card to Delphina.
Zerika follows the group of temple goers, assisting where she can. She seems distracted and a little nervous.
It makes both Zerika and Arizhel nervous to be apart. I am not opposed to the standard -2 to all skills penalty (Unfavorable Conditions) to represent their separation anxiety.