Round 4, Init 5
Hazim puts his bow away and goes to retrieve his dagger.
My brother is right. Maybe we shouldn't chase. Let the little dogs come to us. We can scout out the west end, and then slowly make our way back to this area. That way if they follow us, at least we'll be on the ground.
Round 4, Init 7
Ami gives the 'Where'd-they-go?' shoulder gesture, wondering if anyone else saw where they went.
Ami spurs Yeenoghu to move closer so they can get a better look, moving and taking total defense. Yeenoghu will read to swat at anything that comes close.
Round 4, Initiative 20
Weapon Equipped = Light Crossbow
Bolts = 8 of 10
Conditions = None
Aldebert moves up another 5', loads his crossbow, and takes a shot at the Pug his brother had attacked hoping to drop it before the slink away.
(+1 bless, -4 cover)
"Stand still and let me hit you!" He shakes his fist at the escaping creatures.
As Amiamble and Yeenoghu climb the stairs, they find the chapel devoid of pugwampis. It seems all of the sound of their chatter is muffled above, coming from the choir loft that connects to the ladder on the north wall.
A foul smell seems to come from the back of the chapel, towards the ruined altar . An old book with torn pages lies strewn out.
Amiamble, trusting in Yeenoghu to keep him safe, does a search of chapel, evenutally ending up at the book.
They said this was a monastery to Sarenrae, right?
Ami will check things out.
Perception
Hazim retrieves his dagger. He fills the others in on what he found during his brief exploration.
Hazim moves cautiously towards the back of the chapel.
Stealth roll 17+8=25
Perception 14+4=18/19vstraps.
The book is mostly torn out, its pages littering the area and covered in excrement, obviously the source of the smell. Amiamble immediately recognizes it as The Birth of Light and Truth, Sarenrae's holy book.
Various trinkets and even a few gems are scattered about, which are easy enough to scoop up.
The snarling of many tiny dogs can be heard coming from the choir loft directly above.
Mahdi cautiously follows the others, looking over the scratch on his brother's shoulder where the pug arrow had ineffectually hit. He gives him a scowl of concern for that.
"Look, you've gotten a hole in your robe-- I am not mending that."
(Not like he could, anyway. But this is what a brother like Mahdi says instead of 'are you okay', especially to his big brother.)
He keeps the loaded crossbow at the ready, his walking staff at his back with the leather strap that secures it there.
"Let's see if there's anything of interest here besides that book," Mahdi mutters, then casts a cantrip to detect magic and scans amid the trinkets and the altar.
Amiamble considers taking the book for safekeeping, his fingers wriggling in thought over the book. Eventually, he leaves it to be as he recalls that Almah wants to make this their base and he'll have time later on to explore (and possibly even clean/read) the book later.
Ami wonders if it is better to clear out the lower levels (A7 ish) or try to go upstairs now.
Maybe there is a way up in another part of the building.
Mahdi shrugs in disinterest at seeing no magic.
"Climbing up into the range of their bows seems rather... foolhardy," he says with his eyes on the ladder.
Aldebert puts away his crossbow and gathers up his guisarme. He stands near the door of the chapel paying attention to any that might try to sneak up on us while investigating the chapel.
"Climbing up into the range of their bows seems rather... foolhardy,"
"Agreed. Who knows what sort of tiny hole they're huddled in waiting for us. They're not too deadly, just annoying. We'll have to purge them eventually, but with luck they'll come to us."
Ami explores A7 slowly, waiting for the others to catch up.
We move like the wind, do we not Yeenoghu?
Mahdi smiles thinly. " 'With luck' is the opposite of what they do, isn't it?"
But he doesn't argue the logic of the words. "Then we steer clear of this area until ready to try and engage them, and perhaps the wretches will come to us."
Alright, I will try to scout ahead again. And this time I won't take on the whole place, just a door at a time. Give me ten feet or so, so you give the dead less of a chance of waking from all your noise. I see the little scarfed one is heading that way. Good a choice as any.
Hazim heads towards A7. When he gets close, he heads to the northern door as quietly as he can, and checks it for traps/locks/noise on the other side.
stealth roll 8+8=16
Perception take 20 = 20+4=24/25 vs traps.
if not allowed to take 20, perception roll of 16+4=20/21.
Aldebert positions himself outside the room with his guisarme at the ready.
This is a dangerous place now. I wonder what it was like when the monks were here? Likely quite lovely.
He imagines long flowing curtains and tapestries flowing in the breeze, bowls of water for washing and cooling oneself, and maybe even a little lemon tree for the occasional 'extra' in ones drinking water.
He shakes his head of such frivolities and concentrates on the task at hand...
A1a
This chamber holds the remnants of what was seemingly a shrine and wooden altar at some point. The ceiling is intact, which has preserved a huge bas-relief statue of a muscular humanoid man with a pointy beard gesturing toward a huge mountain in the background, his face a picture of mortal concern.
A1b
A similar statue adorns the eastern wall of this chamber, in this case with the bearded figure appearing on a hilltop to a group of robed pilgrims. The being holds up his hands, palms out, in a sign of peace. Though many of the faces and limbs on the bas-relief have been worn down or cut away, the expressions of those range from beatific to horrified.
A crude stone stele that seems to have been erected more recently than the abandonment of the monastery stands here as well. Its graven inscription reads: “A ghost of unholy mien was purged from this place by Theodephus Estrovan, servant of Aroden, 4691 AR.”
Hazim will definitely take his time searching all corners.
Knowledge roll of 5+6=11.
Examining the wall reveals a secret door, hidden by the wall frescos. A slight nudge reveals that it is openable, but seems to be blocked by something on the inside.
Ami helps search, and remembers that they will have more time for searching after the place has been cleared of enemies.
Ami waits to see where people go next, anxious to move on before the pugwampii regroup.
He will try to open the door.
Str Attempt on door.
Ami is able to shove the door open, revealing overgrown vines that were the source of the blockage.
A11
Looming walls with no apparent doors enclose this small roofless garden. Monks must once have come here to relax and contemplate the ways of nature, but any order they might have brought to the place all those years ago is almost impossible to notice now, as a wild cacophony of multicolored scrub plants and desert weeds have almost completely overgrown the space.
Hazim proceeds cautiously, raising one hand to ask the other to stay back. He scans the entrance of the room first, and then the room itself, staying stealthy as much as he can.
Perception take 20 = 20+4=24/25vs traps.
if unable to take 20, perception roll of 17+4=21/22
Stealth roll in this area of 20(natural 20 rolled)+8=28.
If clear, he raises his hand again and flicks his wrist forward, indicting the others may come in.
After Hazim's signal, Ami and Yeenoghu sidle through the door into A11, carefully looking around and with a stone in his sling.
"There there, Yeenoghu, we'll find you some gnolls to slay soon." Ami whispers to Yeenoghu, more to assuage his own worry than his cat's.
He does cast his usual cantrip on the statues out of curiosity, but if it don't glow, he no curr, or something. Bah, history! Who wants to spend all their time living in the past?
He slips after the halfling brothers into the tiny room.
The tiny garden is devoid of creatures and is relatively peaceful, despite its overgrown state. Nothing of value or note turns up, but a search of this enclosed area reveals another secret door on the opposite wall, also overgrown with vines.
Before prying it open, Hazim will scan the door, listen on the other side, the usuals.
take 20 perception 20+4=24/25
if roll needed, perception of 17+4=21/22
Ami will muscle open the door when Hazim is done listening.
Str Check
Str Check
On his second attempt, Ami is able to pull the door open.
A10
This austere octagonal chamber has 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.
As soon as the door is open and the room is disturbed, three red, tiny, buzzing creatures lift off of the carcasses in surprise, circling around angrily. They are 5' off the ground.
Round 1
Mahdi. . . 19
Amiamble. . . 19
Stirge 1. . . 13
Stirge 2. . . 12
Hazim. . . 8
Stirge 3. . . 7
Aldebert. . . 5
"Stirges," Mahdi says in great disgust. "Filthy bloodsuckers!"
He pushes past the others, raises his hands, and-- FWOOM!
Unfortunately for Mahdi, they are all fairly quick to avoid the brunt of the flames. Their tiny wings do appear a bit singed, though.
Round 1, Init 19
Ami's eyes go wide as Mahdi runs ahead, his eyes bulging between the folds of the scarf that keep his head and neck hidden.
"Yeeeaaah!" Ami spurs Yeenoghu to defend his fiery companion.
Ami moves and snaps his slingstaff at the bottommost stirge.
to hit;
damage.
Ami reloads his sling and Yeenoghu readies to slash a stirge if it comes close.
to hit;
damage.
Round 1, Init 13
The stirge buzzes and flies towards Amiamble, but Yeenoghu swats it before it closes in. The wounded stirge attempts to stab at Yeenoghu, but faints before it can do so.
Round 1, Init 12
The second stirge flies in towards the unarmed Mahdi, looking for fresh blood (and bit angry about being burnt.). Unfortunately, it's flight path goes right in the range of both Ami and his pet.
Mahdi laughs, a little like the hissing sound of fire, as he just manages to jerk back from the stirge's nasty little hunt.
AoO
Ami lashes out with his staff while Yeen bats away with a claw.
to hit;
damage;
to hit;
damage;
Yeenoghu hits again, but this stirge doesn't drop. It seems badly wounded, but still intent on feasting on someone's blood.
Round 1.
Initiative 8.
Hazim will step towards his brother
Move action (20 feet) towards his brother.
Standard to throw the dagger in his hand at the stirge that has not moved yet.
To hit with thrown dagger 20+4-2=22.
Roll to confirm crit 20+4-2=22
I'm going to start using the built in dice roller, so I don't get called a cheater.
by the way, damage is
Mahdi flashes a bright grin as he sees Hazim's dagger arc with pinpoint precision for the stirge's body.
"Ha! Well thrown!"
Hazim rushes in, sees another stirge about to charge towards his brother, and lobs a dagger at it. The blade plows right into the magical insect, pinning it to the wall as the blood it currently contained spurts everywhere like a leaky balloon.
Round 1, Initiative 5
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Bolts = 8 of 10
Conditions = None
Aldebert moves up on the last stirge and does his best to end it's life at the end of his guisarme.
*Swat*
Aldebert comes forward at the end, swinging his guisarme awful close to Mahdi, but still connecting with the badly-wounded stirge.
Splat!
A thorough examination of this former chapter house reveals loose coins scattered about the floor, as well as a fancy silver bowl that looks valuable.
In addition, Mahdi is able to detect a magical aura coming from a lightweight, one-foot long tube.
But unfortunately, he isn't able to identify it.
"Hmmm... perhaps the good Father can shed some insight on this," Mahdi muses, slipping the tube away into his pack for later study.
"That was well-handled, but mind where you strike with that spear you're using, my friend-- I already shaved this morning."
Ami pats Yeenoghu as the cat makes a quick meal of the stirge it bit.
"Would you like to carry the other one around for later?" Yeenoghu takes a second stirge in his mouth, carrying it gleefully, not unlike a dog with a favorite bone.
When the coins and magic is collected, Ami looks for Hazim to lead the way, then follows on padded feet.
Hazim will check out the door leading to A9
for perception if I have to roll.
Take 20 if I can for 24/25 perception on A9.
"That was well-handled, but mind where you strike with that spear you're using, my friend-- I already shaved this morning."
"Apologies Mahdi, I'll be more careful."
Aldebert keeps a close eye on Hazim, but tries to keep his distance so as not to ruin his stealthing.
A9
This small room seems to be a vestibule where monks would gather before entering the chapter house of the monastery. Various carvings regarding the worship of Sarenrae adorn the walls, but none feature anyone or anything recognizable.
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A4
A sweeping bas-relief sculpture along the north wall depicts five bearded, larger-than-life humans riding the wind with triumph carved upon their faces. Though some of their arms and hands are missing, each is clearly meant to wield a distinctive weapon. One of the five warriors holds a large axe, while another holds a fragment of what must once have been a regal staff. In the distance, an ominous mountain looms over the quintet. East of the wall decoration, two open arches lead into small rooms off the north wall. The south wall is little more than a series of open arches that look out into an open-air courtyard.
The carving bears symbols, written in Kelish, at the base of each figure’s feet. From left to right:
Kardswann (axe-wielder), Pazhvann, Vardishal, Zayifid, and Davashuum (staff-wielder).
The figure in the middle, Vardishal, seems to match the one depicted in the statues you saw before .
A5
The eastern cloister walk abuts what must be the outer wall of the monastery itself. The lengthy wall bears a marred sculpture depicting the five figures from the north cloister mural in battle against numerous creatures of evil demeanor. Several of the creatures appear to be composed at least partly of fire, while others are much more difficult to define, being outright monsters of unknown origin or unusual warriors with weapons bonded into their flesh like organic tools. In the background Pale Mountain looms large, and over it two titanic figures lock in a deadly wrestler’s embrace. One has the demoniac visage of a noble efreeti, while the other is a gorgeous woman who could only be a djinni princess. Opposite the sculpted wall, a series of open arches leads out into an open-air courtyard.