The promising memory, like so many others, burned away before he could grasp it.
Hunched over as directed, Redeemed follows behind Gnasher towards the derelict temple.
This place sounds full of dogs. Gnasher says they are baboon dogs. He should know. Maybe they are friendly.
You make it to the monastery unimpeded.
Scrub brush and a light, patchy carpet of weeds invade the monastery through two huge fallen sections of the western wall. The exposed nave beyond is a huge hallway littered with bits of debris ranging from tiny rocks to enormous sections of collapsed masonry. Most of the roof above the long promenade is gone, but several jagged pillars remain. Some of the old red and orange tile work remains intact, but where walls and ceilings have fallen the decoration has cracked and faded.
The occasional hooting of baboons can be heard to the south and disturbing, child-like giggles echo from the east.
Lets check the corner, make sure were not going to be surprised' Having neared the building Gnasher goes to the northwest corner of he building, looking down the western wall, making sure there isn't anything on that side of the building they need to worry about.
After checking the corner he enters the building through the exposed nave on the north western side, entering the building, staying near the wall, flail in hand, he lets his eyes adjust to the light, taking in the large room.
hearing the sound of baboons and child like giggles, Gnasher realizes that Redeemed has followed closely instead of staying with the other humans until Gnasher gives the all clear. 'I did promise myself I would keep this one alive.' Turning to the oddly armored man, "Stay near Redeemed, baboon tribe can be very dangerous, and other sound not familiar, which worries Gnasher more."
Scimitar in hand, Gath follows closely behind Gnasher.
Scimitar in hand, Gath follows closely behind Gnasher.
Before Zagathoth, Gnasher, and Redeemed can enter the monastery, they hear a pair newcomers approach from the way they came.
Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, Gnasher steps out of the building, turning to make sure the humans have stepped out also. 'these two are ok, they seem to do well in the desert, I hope we can keep them alive.'
Flail in hand, he looks back the way they came seeing a human and what appears to be a walking doll. Pointing to the newcomers "Look more coming, be ready, not look like Gnolls, maybe sent by Garavel, maybe not, be ready."
Pinocchio skips along in the sand next to the human that the dwarf boss had sent with him. Apparently an expedition needed help! Pinocchio was only too happy to assist.
At almost three feet tall Pinocchio has often been mistaken for an animated wooden puppet. Well, he was, but he was so much more! Dressed in desert robes with hood back he creates little puffs of sand as he approaches the ruined building.
Hello! He chirps to the party already there. We're here!
Bahram wasted no time when he first entered Almah's camp to notice her beauty. And it took even less time for him to attempt his roguish charms on her.
Of course he knew flirting with her was flirting with danger. but when did that ever stop him? Several rejections later, the two were briefed on where they were needed.
Bahram had heard that the ones they were to meet up with were experienced and even more so the rumor was that there were a couple of lovely ladies among them. This is something He just had to see.
His first sight was what he thought to be a gnoll. His first instinct was to draw his blade, but his animated companion had already began his introduction.
He remembered his brief that there was a gnoll among them, still caution seemed a bit called for. so he will not attack on sight. not that he usually does. Bahram has always been suited at avoiding conflict.
Still he approached several paces behind the "doll" hand on his sword, just in case.
Redeemed turns at Gnasher’s alert to see the approaching figures.
There is a man and a boy. The boy is very friendly.
He raises a gnarled, blackened hand into the air, palm facing the newcomers, and begins to wave.
The "boy" waves back. I hope you left some fun for us!
Gath watches closely as the two strangers approach... well, the stranger and his... doll? He chuckles just a little at Redeemed's friendly welcome, but when he sees the man's hand on his sword he follows suit. "Welcome," he replies with a somewhat warm smile, "who are you, and why are you here?"
only the doll is speaking... its like some ridiculous ventriloquism act...
We are here to render aid the doll says with blustering bravado. He chuckles a bit (creepy) and continues, The dwarf guy sent us. Ahalma wanted to make sure this little party succeeded, so he assigned us.
Gnasher sniffs at the two newcomers, trying to size them up, he sniffs some more, 'How odd, the short one appears to be made out of wood, well now we must set our protocol, Gath is a good fighter and considered pretty by humans he is our leader' Gnasher scratches his head in a very human like movement then nodding his head in agreement with Zagathoth "Gnasher, I Gnasher and leather-man is Redeemed, We cohorts of Zagathoth, him leader. Welcome, we will try keep you alive." looking at Pinocchio he asks bluntly, "You wooden, do you die like meat-people?"
Bahram checks all the members of the group. trying to discern where he would be needed. working in groups was relatively new to him.
initially there was a slight bit of excitement in his eyes as the introductions went around.
but soon the excitement started to fade. is that all? just you three?
Oh I am sorry, I am Bahram, and the little one here is Pinocchio. he says with slight bow.
He is Bahram. He is sorry.
After introductions are made, Redeemed looks down at the small wooden child. "We have left nothing. We have brought everything with us." He turns as he speaks, showing the newcomers his finely made backpack.
He is a boy. He is made of wood. Will he grow into a tree or a man?
It likely does not matter. I have seen both burn.
Pinocchio chuckles at Gnasher. Nope. Don't heal like them either. You Meatbags are so... Transient. When I get chipped it tends to stick.
And thank you for introducing me, Bahram. I forget these things sometimes.
"Sadly, we don't have time to get to know each other right now," Gath says a bit more warmly, "but if those sounds aren't deceiving, very soon testing by combat will teach us a great deal about each other. If we're to succeed we have to know at least a little bit what each other is capable of... I have some skill with this scimitar and Gnasher has a powerful swing with that axe, Redeemed can summon the Dawnflower's flames to heal or to harm... What about you?"
Pinocchio products a short, intricately carved staff. My weapon is magic. I prefer the bible arts of conjuration, but I have been known to fall back on blasting people to powder when required.
Redeemed stands facing the monastery once again, staring into its shadowed depths, the conversation behind him now passing unheeded. From within the dim recesses of the ruins echo the sounds of baboons and something more sinister, promising danger.
This is the ruined place. It is full of sin.
Redeemed holds up his hand again, this time to study it, admiring it's details.
She made my hands beautiful. I will do this for her. I will follow Gnasher. He is clever. I will follow Gath. He is a good man. I will keep them safe from sin.
Dropping his hand back to his side, Redeemed looks to the party.
The sorry man. The wooden boy. I will keep them all safe from sin. And then I will...
The fires burn hotter in his mind, and for a moment his thoughts all turn to ash. The flames then recede back to their normal intensity, allowing him to think again.
...I will keep them safe from sin.
I wonder if the puppet is some manner of focus for him, or if he's just mad?
"Very well, follow close behind us to work your magic."
It may be helpful having a fourth, though someone who could scout ahead might have been useful... I just hope his puppet show doesn't interfere with our work...
Turning back towards the monastery he nods to Gnasher, "After you."
Bahram was not sure how to answer what he can do, He has never been asked that outside of the bedroom, and by a male on top of that. the question kind of threw him off.
Finally he manages an answer, I am a scout, if that helps.
As the group is ready to move out, If you wish I can scout ahead, unless you have already done so.
Bahram is looking to find his place among the crew as they did just meet.
Gath weighs the magical puppeteer's offer and responds, "Do you need to use your spells for that or are you skilled at moving unseen?"
Bahram looks at Zagathoth a little confused. spells? I don't cast spell, I am skilled at moving unseen. years of practice slipping out of young ladies rooms when their husbands would arrive. he responds with a smile.
Gath cocks an eyebrow at the new arrival though it unclear if his incredulity is a response his denial of magical ability or his cavalier attitude toward defiling marriage beds.
if this is part of his 'act' I'm going to need far more patience than I have
"You just said that your weapon was magic... If you can move unseen by mundane means and wield magic as a weapon that's marvelous but you need to give us a straight answer about your abilities."
huh? Now Bahram looks even more confused.
I never claimed that magic was my weapon. Pinocchio did, as that is what he can do. but not me, perhaps you fail to recognize Pinocchio as a person?
Pinnochio crosses his arms and stares at the man asking the questions. It gets unnerving after a while because, as a puppet, Pinocchio doesn't blink... ever.
Everlight, grant me patience...
"Let's just stay together and quietly move behind Gnasher. There will be plenty of time for this after our mission is completed." When he says 'this' he gestures vaguely (almost dismissively) at the new arrivals.
Pinocchio huffs and nods. Follow he will. It was his life's task to prove himself, it seemed.
Gnasher, not really being familiar with the idea of puppets, continues, in a very human-like fashion, scratching his head.'Does Gath think the woodman and the braggart are somehow connected? I must watch to see.' As Gath says for everyone to move quietly behind Gnasher, he takes that as his queue. Nodding to the others, heavy flail in hand, he steps back into the building moving carefully from west to east along the exterior wall with the openings. Keeping a keen eye and ear out for danger.
As you move through the ruined nave, a pair of vestibules branch off to the north and south.
The north vestibule is laden with debris and would have once held a shrine and an altar, although time and vandals have removed any traces of these objects. The ceiling here has remained intact over the years, helping to preserve a bas-relief sculpture of a muscular humanoid with a pointed beard gesturing toward a huge mountain, his face a mask of mortal concern.
A similar statue adorns the eastern wall of the southern vestibule, in this case 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. It appears to have an inscription, although the party is too far away to read it.
To the east, a short set of wide ceremonial steps leads down to a cavernous chapel in which the congregants would gather for sermons in happier times. The vibrant orange and red starburst of Sarenrae still stands behind a film of rusted rainwater and dirt along the north wall overlooking the collapsed altar. Between the stairs and the altar stand dozens of old marble benches, many overturned and even more broken into two or more pieces. A wide walkway bisects the pews, leading directly to the raised altar. Here and there a few clumps of the original red carpet along this thoroughfare hang on against rot and neglect.
Above the center of the chapel, dangling about ten feet from the floor, hangs a cluster of gnoll skulls in various stages of decay. Strung together like a ghoulish candelabra of twine and bone, the boulder-sized ornament hangs from the wooden rafters about twenty feet above the ground.
As the party creeps forward, Gnasher steps on a piece of broken pottery, shattering it. The giggling coming from the chapel immediately stops.
Redeemed lopes along behind Gnasher, keeping the gnoll within arm's length, and as he comes to a stop steps on a large shard of pottery himself - whether done to mimic Gnasher or as an accident is unclear. He cocks his head, looking down at the broken pieces of ceramic that litter the floor at his feet.
Pinocchio is at the back, naturally. He skips along without a care until the silence is broken...
As they pass by the art, Gath whispers, "I don't recognize him, but this appears to be an obscure saint, almost certainly the one Almah mentioned; and the mountain he points to looks to be the Pale Mountain, there are many dark legends of that place."
Once he can see down into the chapel, the faithful young bard frowns at the state of the place, particularly the macabre chandelier that defiles the sacred space. When the laughing suddenly stops he tightens his grip on his scimitar and readies it to greet any attackers.
'Those are gnoll skulls I hope they were servants of the Carrion King' seeing the gnoll skulls distracts his attention and he steps on a piece of broken pottery alerting whoever was laughing, Gnashers attention is then drawn to the crude stone stele that seems to have been erected more recently than the abandonment of the monastery. Pointing to the stele he asks the team "Will stone have information? We will go read." Gnasher begins to head to the steal to see what it says, flail in hand, keeping a keen eye out for the mysterious laughers.
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"Danataos!" The young noblewoman curses somewhat loudly as she entered the temple. In her hand she's wielding several long sharp off color-spines. Her gait has a tender pace to it, as if suffering from some injury on her thigh.
"I'm begïnning to tink you people can just keep dis ridicùlous desert. Dere are FAR more cactùses than I remèmber from my chïldhood."
Tossing the remaining thorns on the floor and rubbing her sore rear she finally seems to see the new additions to their cadre. She eyes them both down pensively before asking Gath, with a snort , "Friènds of yours?" .
She futily brushes off the excess sand from her garments and gives a short curtsie and a smirk. "I am Countèss Priscïlla de Lacrimosä. It is no doùbt a pleäsure to meet my acquäintance."
Glancing at the puppet for a few seconds past social appropriateness, she moves to join Gnasher in his apparent efforts. "I take a few minùtes to relïeve myself and you start recrùiting the locals?" she asks him with a smirk.
As Priscilla emerges, Bahram takes a glance (probably a little longer than would be appropriate).
a raised eyebrow followed by a smile of a challenge presented.
Bahram bows as the Lady Priscilla introduces herself. My dear Countess, The pleasures you grace me with are more countless than the stars of heaven. Giving the lady his best roguish smile.
I am Bahram, acquisitioner of rare antiquities
Gnasher, stopping his progress to the stele, turns nodding to Priscilla, then sniffing toward Bahram, lulls his tongue in his gnoll smile. "ბიჭი ფიქრობს, რომ ეს დრო, რათა მივაღწიოთ შეჯვარება რიტუალები, გინდა, რომ ფული მას, ის არ უნდა შეეძლოს რეპროდუცირება, რათა იპოვოს სიძველენი."
He then nods toward Bagram giving a low snicker and continues heading toward the stele.
Pinocchio snickers from the back.
Bahram simply glares at the gnoll, apparently he understood. He says nothing in reply.
looking back to the Lady, It would seem that duty calls.
With that Bahram returns to the group. passing by the gnoll as he does so.
ხომ არ ფიქრობთ, თქვენ გამო თქვენი რწყილი აბანო? he whispers as he passes.
Don't you think you are due for your flea bath?
Gnasher, flail in hand, continuing to lull his tongue as he moves toward the stele. Enjoying the interaction, he looks at the smallish man asking, "რატომ მე აბანო შეცდომები, როდესაც მე შეიძლება გააფართოვოს ქვიშის ან დაიბანეთ წყლით? ნუ ჭამენ ჭუჭყიანი ადამიანები, ნაცვლად ჭამა ადამიანები თავს. როგორც ისინი მონსტრი?"
The stele is a crude carving from the local sandstone. Its graven inscription reads: "A ghost of unholy mien was purged from this place by Theodephus Estrovan, servant of Aroden, 4691 AR."
Redeemed begins to bend down, hands out to pick up pieces of broken crockery, when his attention is brought back to the party by Gnasher's voice. Seeing that the gnoll is continuing on, he follows, oblivious to the conversation's meaning as well as to the room's hidden details.
Gath thinks back to his lessons at the temple and tries to remember any creature that might haunt a bespoiled chapel and would giggle like that...
Despite his concerns about the disembodied laughter, he stays close together with Gnasher and Redeemed as they move, and gives the stele a quick inspection...
"There's a secret door hidden here, but we should look into the source of that laughing before we push too far in..."
Bahram sticks with the group after introductions are made, and his presumed success in flattering the lady into speechlessness.
If you need be to scout ahead,, just give the word.
'there are markings on the stone, I wonder what they speak off'Heading over to the stele Gnasher admires the craftsmanship of the stone, then noticing the secret door also he nods his head to Gath, "door or Laughter, matters not to Gnasher. Shall we find laugher, inquire what is funny?" He then turns toward the sound of the laughter, flail in hand, keeping a keen eye and ear out.
hearing Bahram offer to scout ahead Gnasher looks from Zagathoth to Priscilla to Bahram, then holding his paw out, making a sweeping gesture toward the chapel Gnasher says "მას შემდეგ, რაც"
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Priscïlla cocks her head to the side after considering the laughter she had heard while outside, but continues reading the odd phrase engraved on the stele and then repeats an accented version aloud so her companions can all be on the same page.
"Does dis mean anyting to anyone?"
She had, up until this point ignored the roguish man with the silver tongue, finding mild amusement in teasing him. Turning to face the handsome fellow with a slight Sashé to her step, her only answer to his comments came in the form of an involuntarily raised eyebrow. she nodded twice before addressing the group.
" Bahräm should take point, as he has offèred. Gath could you be a dear and follow him from a distänce the rest of us will form the rearguärd in case of troùble.
Clèaring this level was a good plan. And as happy as I am dat we are all so well vèrsed in bantèr... perhäps we should all speak in a common tongùe. So no one is left out."
Her eyes flick to Gath before she smirks at Gnasher and whispers to him.
მოდით არ ფული მას უბრალოდ არ არის