The familiar sounds of crows ("razorclaws") ring out overhead as you approach the courtyard. They cease as the doctor nears the doors.
Oswin remains near the rest of the party, clutching his holy symbol in one hand and his shield in the other.
Magic is here however. I detect traces of it in several places. From within the monastery, faint traces of divination and conjuration from the within the courtyard, to the left, and far ahead and to the left. A faint trace of enchantment from straight ahead across the courtyard, while a faint abjuration aura emanates from straight ahead and to the right. Various other traces of magic seem to be present, although they are too distant and faint to detect clearly.
Tall grasses and chunks of stone debris have all but overtaken this small yard. Off to one side, a wooden stable has collapsed into a mound of rotting timbers and moldy straw. The outer wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving a gragged hole. Three doors exit into this yard -- a pair of double doors to the east, a single door to the north, and a lone door leading into the squat tower in the southeast corner.
Alright, where shall we start looking? The door to the north?
"Indeed, I shall go have a look," Dr. Iverness said, moving carefully up to the door and giving it a gentle push.
A long hallway runs to the left (west). Two doors adorn the northern wall, partway down the hall, as does a door very near the one you've just entered. In front of the nearby door, just to the right of the door you are standing in, stands a ruined dwarven statue. Smashed long ago, the statue is barely recognizable as a dwarven monk. His stone hammer sits on the ground next to the shattered remains of his head.
Shall we try the door across the hall here? Might as well start close. Not sure if what we seek is actually here, however.
I will Detect Magic again, seeing if I can locate the source of what I detected earlier. I will do so before we enter.
"Might as well sweep this place systematically." Dr. Iverness slinks across the hall and tries the door (North).
"Right. I'll hang back and provide support when needed with my spells."
Oswin will keep within 10-15' of Jameson, close enough to heal him quickly if trouble appears.
Jameson, the door is unlocked, and will apparently open easily.
Tobian, you continue to sense a faint conjuration and divination aura just ahead (apparently beyond the the wall), as well as a faint enchantment aura off to your left, closer to the other end of the hall (perhaps behind one of the doors at that end?). No new aura presents itself, nor do any seem stronger -- just closer.
The elf will nod to the doctor to affirm his plan. A magical aura does come from beyond the wall. Do be careful. Tobian also looks to the cleric with a knowing gaze, hoping his spells will not be needed.
Jameson nods and opens the door a crack to look inside the room.
Jameson, you see that this chamber is entirely shattered, with much of the outer wall and ceiling completely crumbled. Large chunks of stone and debris litter the floor.
Jameson pushes the door open the rest of the way and steps into the room.
Anything of note inside, Jameson? Tobian will step inside with the doctor.
As Jameson peers further into the rubble of the room, he spies many bats lurking above the crumbling rafters.
At about the moment he spies the bats, Tobian will enter the room. While his elven heritage has given him the general fit of graceful and generally quiet movement, the combined movement and noises of the two inhabitants along with Tobian's vocalized query has set off the bat swarm.
The initiative order is:
Jameson
Bats!
Oswin
Belrick
Tobian
Jameson may act!
With a muffled expletive, Jameson fires his crossbow into the midst of the swarm as they begin flapping around.
Jameson's crossbow bolt flies harmlessly through the swirling swarm, which seems seemingly immune to simple weapon damage.
In reaction, the swarm moves forward to envelope Jameson and Tobian. Jameson is able to duck and dodge the flying vermin, but Tobian is not so lucky, taking 4 damage. In addition, Tobian may be nauseated (fort save of 11 to negate), and now shows bleeding wounds (1 hp per round, DC 10 to heal).
Everyone but Jameson may act!
I will 5' step to the right out of the swarm and use Fire Jet on the swarm.
Belrick notches an arrow and lets loose at the swarm of bats.
Oswin hangs back, waiting to see if his healing will be needed.
Tobian, your attack is effective in singeing many of the diminutive creatures. At least it "lands". You'll also notice that it seems slightly more effective than you are normally used to, although the bats do not continue to burn after your jet lands.
Belrick's attack, much like Jameson's initial crossbow attack, passes harmlessly through the swarm. The tiny size of the creatures, combined with their erratic flight, makes them very difficult creatures to target with weapon attacks.
Jameson, after your make up AoO, please take your next turn.
Tobian, you may also make a belated AoO and please make a fortitude save (DC 11) to avoid being nauseated from the swarm's swirling effects.
"Blast and damn!" The doctor shouts, triggering one of his wrist sheaths to at least give him something to scrape bats off with.
"Back through the door!" He says, retreating into the hall.
The swarm moves again to envelop Tobian, The swirling and darting bats manage to scrap more flesh from Tobian, causing 1 hp of damage.
Tobian, you are still bleeding at 1hp per round and are again at risk of being nauseated from the swirling mass of bats (fort save).
All PC's may act
Oswin reaches out and places his hand firmly on Tobian's shoulder. He says a quick paryer to Iomedae and Tobian feels a rush of warmth course through his body.
Tobian will step out of the swarm again and use another Fire Jet.
Tobian, once again, while much of the swarm parts as the fire jet enters it, it appears to be deadly to many of the flying little critters, as falling, burning bats ignite their brethren as they flutter and fall.
Assuming Belrick will grab the door in preparation for shutting it after Jameson and Tobian exit the room.
The sounds of hundreds of little bodies hitting the door resound down the hall as the door slams shut and the party finds itself safe back in the hallway.
For the moment, the group is out of combat. That is, unless the bats can figure out how to open doors.
Blasted bats! Should've known we'd see something like that in here! Tobian doesn't seem all too pleased with himself. I'll have to be more careful. Foolish of me.
Tobian peers down the hallway. Well,might as well see what could kill us down there.
"If the current occupants didn't know we're here, they do now. How is everyone?" The doctor asked, taking stock of the situations and keeping a wary eye on the door that was just closed.
"I haven't been injured, and I just healed Tobian - I'm not sure if his wounds are completely better. I suppose we'd better keep searching as soon as we get ourselves re-organized."
Belrick finishes securing the door ensuring it's not going to open unassisted and muses out loud these mushrooms... if we're looking for mushrooms, they would grow somewhere out of the sun wouldn't they? Either somewhere outside in some shaded area or down in a dank place in here...
2 doors ahead down the hall and to the right. At the end of the hallway, to the left, the hallway turns and continues south.
Plenty of chances to find mushrooms or swarms.
Down in a dank place, well, this shouldn't be hard. Onwards then?
Actually, Oswin's heal spell staunched the bleeding and should have healed you completely.
Reloading his crossbow, Jameson edges down the hall, still trying to maintain a semblance of care and stealth.
Before we move too far the elf will cast Mage Armor on himself.
The next door down the hall is closed. A quick jiggle of the handle reveals that it is not locked.
I'll assume that everyone else moves up behind him.
Assuming that Jameson will open the door, he will see that old cobweb-covered racks and armor stands dominate much of this small chamber. What must have once been a well tended armory is now devoid of arms and armor.
Anything? No? Tobian takes a look inside after the door is opened. If not, lets move on to the next one.
The doctor move inside anyway and gives it a cautious once-over.
Jameson will notice several (6) crossbow bolts laying underneath one of the racks. They have strange runes on them.
"Any ideas, Tobian?" The doctor said, holding up the crossbow bolts for the proper wizard to examine.
Tobian will use Detect Magic to see if the bolts, or anything else in the room, has any magical qualities.
The bolts detect as flaming bolts (+1).
To the east, a faint abjuration aura can be sensed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jameson and Tobian will notice a tiny mouse darting from one wall to another hole in the wall.
Meanwhile, in the hall, Belrick and Oswin notice a cricket has started chirping in the corner.
Tobian will try to determine where the faint aura of abjuration is coming from.
The aura seems to extend several feet to the east. Apparently, somewhere behind the wall. There is nothing obvious about the wall.
Assuming that this piques Tobian's interest enough that he will search the wall for several minutes, he will eventually find a small release, hidden very carefully on the north end of the wall. This will reveal a secret door, which swings towards the group. As the door swings open, it reveals a short corridor with a wall of bars running down one side. Four rusted doors open in this wall into four cramped cells.
Tobian will continue to try and locate the source of the aura. He will step into the hallway and look into each of the rooms.