The monk opens the door and invites you into their room. This bare stone chamber is perhaps 40 feet wide and 20 feet long. The north wall is composed of large stone blocks, perhaps part of an immense wall. A pair of sturdy wooden doors is in the southwest corner. The ceiling is 10 feet high, but riddled with murder holes allowing the faint sunlight to penetrate the otherwise barren room. Two more monks rise to greet you as you pass.
Passing through the room, you enter a sort of courtyard. To your left long low wooden building is situated along the inner castle wall. The tickling smell of hay intermixed with the stench of sweaty animals
betrays the building’s function as a stable.
This section of the outer courtyard is host to five simple tents, flapping in the wind. Each tent is 20 feet square and has a single entrance. Two monks bow in greeting as you approach.
Perception 15:
Tyros respectfully bows his head in return to the two monks.
"So is the Dawning Sun a militant order? I'm not used to seeing monks wearing armor under their robes," Tyros observes aloud.
Perhaps because his head was still buried in his book, or that he was trying to look at everything at once, Tyros' query caught Zababa by surprise.
"Huh?"
Melima and Hector cautiously approach the open door of the monetary. Weary of the monks as the are wearing armor and not jut robes.
Torric notices the armor under the robes a moment after Tyros mentions it to the monks and looks to see their reaction to the question and how they might answer it.
Unfortunately, he's not very perceptive regarding their reactions...
Eider gives his signature greeting to the two monks. Placing his forefingers to his forehead, then to the center of his chest and bowing.
The monks turn on you. Roll for initiative.
These would-be monks could be the slavers I'm looking for. It'll be important to keep at least one of them alive. I need to remember that while fighting them. I'll have to tell the others as well. I should have told them already why I needed to come here. My fault for not speaking up, but I'll have to do so soon.
Torr tenses as the monks take an offensive stance and several thoughts run through his head. It's hard to read his expression through the hideous scarring on his face. He does appear angry, but he always appears a little angry. His angry mien though is probably the result of the vicious scar that crosses from his forehead to the opposite jaw, just missing his eye, but pulling his eyebrow down in a continual scowl.
inittive for Melima and hector
Torric, Eider and Zababa beat their initiative and can act first, then the bad guys will go and then all of you again.
"We're being attacked!" exclaimed the surprised halfling, hoping to warn the others.
Drawing his sling, he attacked one of the "monks" behind them hoping to catch the man off-guard that he was on to them.
HP 10
AC 16, Touch 14, Flat 13
In Hands: Left - none, Right - sling
Conditions: none
Torric surges forward and draws his scimitar as he moves, attacking the closest of the monks.
Sadly his attack goes awry and misses badly.
As he attacks, he calls out to the others, "Keep one of 'em alive for questioning!"
Eider takes just a step forward and throws his hand out launching a hissing bolt of acid at one of the monks approaching from behind.
Unfortunately, his arm spreads wide, and he throws the bolt off into the distance, where it sizzles and evaporates on some stone.
The monks charge you (only the only facing Hector does so literally, though). Torric is swarmed by two monks wielding quarterstaffs but he easily fends off their blows, and so does Hector and Eider. The last one pulls out a bow and steps forward, hitting Melima with a vicious shot to the throat for 8 points of damage.
Then you are up, all of you. Map updated.
Melima take a 5 foot step back. She will cast enlarge person on Hector. This will last for 1 minute. The enlarge will go off next round.
Hector will Slam the monk in front of him
<-- Confirming
Torric slashes at the monk in front of him with a vicious attack.
Round One:
Tyros draws his fauchard and moves toward the monk-archer, threatening the man with the polearm's wickedly curved blade.
Eider takes a step back to his original position and then quietly says "Cineál cneasaigh tú". After which he makes a quick and simple motion with his hands and a soft white light illuminates from them. He gently place them to Melima's throat after which the light disappears, and only a very small cut remains.
Zababa stoutly reloads his sling and takes another shot, specifically aiming for the one farther away, but missing terribly as the fight was heating up.
Torric and Hector both drop their foes as Tyros moves to engage and Zababa pelts them with sling stones and Eider tends to Melima.
The remaining monks move to flank Tyros, and he and Torric are both hit for 6 points of damage.
You hear the neighing of horses from the building to the left.
Then you are up again.
Seeing the two monks gang up on Tyros, Zababa drops his sling to draw his dagger, and moves into position to help Tyros against the monks.
HP 10
AC 16, Touch 14, Flat 13
In Hands: Left - none, Right - dagger
Conditions: none
Eider conjures another bolt of acid to his hand and launches it toward the nearest monk.
Though it veers slightly to the side.
After which, he takes a step forward to provide Tyros a tactical advantage.
Round Two:
Unable to effectively use his fauchard against the flanking monks, Tyros takes a step back and sheathes his weapon before stretching out his hands to unleash a blast of fire at one of his assailants.
Torric, facing only one monk, lets his anger at being hit take it's toll and rages, striking at the monk with all his fury.
Melima and Hector delay, Torric cuts down his opponent and Tyros blasts his monk, who obviously doesn't have Evasion. The remaining two wounded monks turn tail and flee past the tents.
You can drop out of initiative or you can pursue them.
Torric drops out of rage and takes a deep breath, . He does not give pursuit immediately, but puts his blade away and stands for a moment, recovering himself as he turns to see what the others plan to do.
Zababa picks up his sling and takes one last pot-shot at the fleeing "monks".
Zababa hits the last fleeing slaver with a slingshot as he disappears around the corner, but he keeps running. What next?
Eider first asks everyone "I have some healing energies left this day. Who is in need of them?". While waiting for an answer, he starts to sort through the remains of the fallen monks.
The fallen monks are wearing chain shirts under their robes. They each carry a flask of some vile-smelling substance (not magical) and a quarterstaff, as well as a symbol of a rising sun and 10 gp in all.
Knowledge (religion) 18:
The monks are also sporting a strange tattoo.
Knowledge (local) 20:
"I'm fine, but I think Tyros and Torric both got hit," said Zababa, who curiously wandered over to look through the tents.
"I'm fine, just winded a bit. No need for healing here," Torric says as he catches his breath. He checks to see if any of the monks might be just wounded instead of dead. He was hoping to question one of them.
"I have some healing energies left this day. Who is in need of them?"
"I'm fine, but I think Tyros and Torric both got hit," said Zababa
"Aye, those dastardly false monks wounded me, and I would welcome your healing magics. But please see to the Lady Melima first," Tyros replies to Eider, wincing as he grips his wounded side.
I'm fine Sir Tyros, it's just a flesh wound. Melima replies.
Two of the fallen monks are still breathing.
Three of the tents are set up for sleeping, and each contains five hammocks and footlockers. A quick search reveals the footlockers are all empty. One tent is used to store digging tools, but they don't seem to have been used for several months. The final tent contains a large meeting table. On its surface are numerous rocks, bits of pottery, and other artifacts recovered from the ruins of Clynnoise.
Appraise 15:
Beyond the tents you have some ruins to your right and a high white wall to your left. A gap in the wall gives access to a building with a pair of repaired doors.
Straight ahead lies more of the courtyard, which is strewn with rubble. You can't see any trace of the fleeing monks.
"Hey, look: stuff from the original monastery!"
Firstly, Eider nods to Melima, and then responds to Tyros "I will heal what I can.". Going through the same motions as before, he places glowing hands to Tyros injury.
After this he says "There are markings and symbols upon these monks I am not familiar with. Would someone mind taking a look them?" After which he kneels down beside one of the monks, and performs an untrained heal check to stabilize him, if he is not already so.
Torric kneels down by the other breathing monk and bandages his wounds crudely, trying to stabilize him. He looks at Eider and motions him over. "I am not so good with healing... do you think you can stop this one from dying as well?"
"I will heal what I can.". Going through the same motions as before, he places glowing hands to Tyros injury.
"Thank you, Master Eider. That certainly takes the edge off," Tyros says gratefully.
"Hey, look: stuff from the original monastery!"
Tyros walks over to see the items discovered by Zababa.
"I'm sorry, my friend, but I'm afraid all of these items are fakes and quite worthless," the half-elf sorcerer says ruefully.
"I will see what i can do for him." Eider states in reply to Torric's request, as he kneels down to the monk, and attempts to still his injuries.
"Will they live, these two?" Torric asks, motioning toward the two monks who survived their wounds so far. "I need to question at least one of them... A life hangs in the balance."
"I'm sorry, my friend, but I'm afraid all of these items are fakes and quite worthless," the half-elf sorcerer says ruefully.
"Fiddle-sticks!"
The unconscious monks are both stable.
"It appears they shall. Not the best I could do, but they will be fine." he says looking up to Torric, and adds "Be careful with then though, my healing powers are drained for the time being." With these words, he puts a hand on the shoulder belonging to this monk layer down before him, and gives a slight shake to jostle him awake.
Torric binds both unconscious monks before they are awakened. When Eider attempts to waken one, he stands over him and growls in frustration when the man doesn't wake up. "Bah... this one is useless... so is this other one... unless they are healed they won't wake up any time soon I guess. There's a missing girl in here somewhere... or she was in here at one time, if these slavers haven't already sold her off. I need to find her."
He calls out to those searching the tents, "Find any captives in those tents?" He strides over toward the tents while he waits for a response.