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Round 5
Dorsera pulls back and swings her weapon upward, connecting near the top of the cauldron, forming a large impression on the pot and causing a crack down the the side. The cauldron fights back, leaping up and biting at Dorsera's head, but the clerics dodges.
Deelin attempts to wake up Binjion, but the unconscious individual remains asleep.
Dirk takes a step back as he considers his next move.
Dirk and Dorsera turn and run to catch up with the others, escaping the wrath of the animated cauldron. Meeting Deelin halfway, Dirk yells, "Let's get out of here, while the getting's good!" The cauldron, meanwhile, follows them out the cottage, momentarily getting stuck between the sides of the doorway, but still managing to squeeze itself through. It hops hurriedly towards the party as they run away from the cottage, following up until it reaches the edge of the clearing, where it stops. When the cauldron tumbles back to the cottage, leaving the party's view.
Here's as good a spot as any, Deelin says as he drops his pack and slumps to the ground heaving a sigh of relief before pulling out some rations from his backpack.
Between mouthfulls he says to Dorsera, Well thats one for the ages alright, chased off by a feisty cauldron. Don't think i'll be getting too many ales bought for me when I tell that story.
Half an hour later, well after the abandoners are out of sight and sound, you decide it's time to continue. Just as you head off, you both hear the sound of several approaching bipeds, coming from a similar direction as the others left in..
To his companions, "Mr. Rhoddam never mentioned any advanced party, but I think I've seen the heavily armored lady in town before. Willy, I think you should apologize." Nudges Althesia in the ribs and snickers. Shouts. "Sir, Mr. Rhoddam sent us here; maybe to help." A large half-orc armed with a giant curved blade at his hip steps out of the trees with hands spread out, palms facing the humans.
Deelin looks accross at Dorsera and shrugs. Well if they were going to attack they would've by now. Then towards the group of strangers he calls while lowering his bow. Come forward.....friends?.... what brings you out here, especially if you've been talking to Milon.
As for ourselves, we're on an important quest, to save a town. He steps out into the clearing, shouldering his bow.
Well thats a welcome relief. The names Deelin by the way. It so happens that we have already retrieved some of the items on the list. My friend Dorsera here is carrying them.
The forest hereabouts is quite dangerous, we've already been ambushed by hobgoblins, pounced on by a... Tatzylwyrm, I think Binjion said it was called. And now we've just come from a witches cottage where things got a little strange, but the less said about that the better.
"Strange you say," the half-orc chuckles. "When we finish this task, ask me about dryads over an ale. As far as the items, we recovered some moss over by the clearing where I believe you dispatched wyrm-creature." Haünrar looks around, a look or slight confusion on his brutish features. "You mentioned three names, yourself, your lovely friend here, and a third: Binjion. Where might this fellow be?"
Would you believe me if I said he was swallowed by a cauldron,.... never mind, he says shaking his head. Suffice to say he got conked on the head one too many times and decided he'd had enough, he was pretty old after all. Oh, you might have seen him around town, he's the undertaker.
After a brief pause while consulting his map, Well, should we get going. I think we'd best skirt around that clearing, he says while pointing in the direction the strangers were headed.
Stepping into the direction Deeling indicated.
So what of these stranger up ahead?"
No,..no, you don't want to go that way, witches cottage, bouncing cauldrons.....all bad, he says with a shudder, trying to repress the memory. I'm sure we can skirt around it and still get to the next site without losing too much time. Consulting his map he then points and says Yes, this is the way, I'm sure of it
Taking care to avoid the clearing of the witch's cottage, you head in the direction of the last landmark, as drawn by the woodsman. Three hours later, in moderate light, you find this landmark. The fading light of the sun indicates that it's late afternoon or early evening.
Sitting squat at the foot of an imposing mountain, a ruined monastery comes into view between ancient gnarled trees. Made of simple stone blocks, worn smooth with the passage of time, the stout building is falling apart. Sections of the slanted shale roof have collapsed and portions of the outer wall have crumbled. Weeds and wild thorn plants run rampant across the field leading up to the place, leaving only the slightest indication of a path that ends at the ruined front doors. Beyond, an overgrown yard sits in shadow.
Just before the front doors sits a pair of old statues. While one of them is little more than rubble, the other relatively intact, standing 5 feet tall. Incredible worn, it can still be made out as dwarf holding aloft a great stone hammer.
Side view
Top view map - The red X is where you come out of the forest.
Reptiles, two legs. Shows an intelligence. I have fought creatures similar to this and all they bring is destruction of the forest. They're a pest to be exterminated. A look of hatred crosses his features as he says this.
Casting a quick glance at Haünrar then the crows, Deelin says to all, it looks like our approach has not gone unnoticed. Be wary, there are also signs of animal predators. He looks cautiosly through the arched entrance from his position by the tumbled doors.
Tall grasses and stone debris cover the ground inside. A single door to the north exits into this area.
Off to one side of the room, a wooden stable has fallen into a mound of rotting timber walls and moldy straw. The outer wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving a ragged hole. Two more exits from this yard come into view - a pair of double doors exits east, and single lone door leading into the tower in the southeast corner.