The brightly painted walls of this small chapel, probably meant for personal prayer and reflection, stand out as unusually garish for the otherwise reserved architecture notable elsewhere in the monastery. On the walls, numerous rectangular wooden plates traced in gold filigree depict a strapping warrior battling creatures of fire, riding a chariot on the wind, and engaging in other acts of noble heroism. It is the same figure depicted elsewhere in the monastery, but the sheer number of images here suggest that this shrine was especially important to the clerics who honored him as a saint of Sarenrae. Perhaps a quarter of the gold plates have been pried away or hacked apart by long-absent vandals. Opposite the door, dominating a section of the north wall, stands a man-sized statue of the warrior, its face marred by what look like numerous blows from an axe. The statue holds both hands in front of him, bent at the elbow, palms up, as if expecting an offering. Several deep rents from similar axe blows make it clear that someone tried to hack the arms from the statue decades ago, but was unable to do so.
As you examine the Shrine Ghirhuk you notice small grooves on the floor next to the statue indicating that it can be moved to reveal something under.
Beinir begins catching Bahram up on everything he has seen, but then notices that Ghiruk had wandered off, "I'll explain it all once we all have a few moments together to concentrate. Let's catch up to Ghiruk." Seeing Vardishal again, Beinir quickly relates that he seems to be a saint of Sarenrae to whom this monastery was dedicated. "What do you see there Ghiruk?"
Saresha scowls, "Why do people do this to holy places?" She grumbles, stumping over to look at what the lizard is looking at.
Hmm... The tiny draconian spellslinger mutters to himself. He grasps the feet of the statue and tries to slide it to the side. The thing.... It moves he grunts with effort.
Oh, I see. Here let me help you." Beinir leans his shoulder into it. Completely misjudging the angle, he tries again. "Better, let me try once more."
Ghirhuk attempts to assist the dwarf. He doesn't have all that much to contribute. It takes him a while, but in the end his help actually means something.
Saresha throws her weight into help both of the shorties with a grunt of effort.
Bahram tucks the sword away and goes over to see what is going on.
the others seem intent on moving the statue.
Bahram immediately begins to search for some sort of operating mechanism if it does indeed move.
Statue is prettier. Ghirhuk quips back.
Beinir helped by Ghirhuk and Rauve moves the statue in the third attempt revealing a hole in the floor leading inside the undercrypt. After that as there is nothing more to see in this room you all move to the vestibule, finding nothing of interest there except for some wall carvings depicting events well-know to the believers of Sarenrare, you move to an austere octagonal chamber with a tall roof and an aerie of
leering gargoyles perched atop each point where a wall meets another wall. An unholy stench of rotting meat, dried blood, and animal excrement hangs heavy in the air, no doubt from the fine crust of gore, animal carcasses, matted leaves, and guano covering the floor, from the mess in the floor three Stirges fly towards you with clear intention of attacking.
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Saresha gets her sword out and shoos the shorter people behind her. She peers about as she heads down into the stinky crypt, wrinkling her nose.
"Gross." She notes grumpily as she descends. This place is not doing too much for her mood.
She charges down the last couple of steps to chop at the stirge she sees on the floor, "Watch out!" She yells.
"What? Where?" Having exerted himself moving the statue, Beinir is slow to respond to the impending fight.
Rauve:
Saresha:
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sure hope there are no traps down there Bahram mumbles.
he draws his Rapier ready to descend.