Most Learned Friend, I do not know why this place was abandoned, but I suspect that it's cause was the same as the abandonment of the town. Perhaps Kakooyapesh can tell you something about this area.
Bartan follows along as well, asking the gnoll questions about his surroundings.
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"Aw shucks, it wasn't nothing." Yazi will muse aloud as Hajar passes by and the group begins the exploration of the monastery. though knowing nothing of the people depicted Yazi scans the entirety of the room and sculptures in earnest, intrigued by their presence but also on the lookout for any traps or items of value left behind or stashed.
"So who's this Saint Tortoiseshell?"
"I guess you were not paying attention back at the camp. Vardishal was the Jann general of Nefeshti's armies. One of her templars. This monastery is dedicated to him and the faith of Sarenrae according to the princess. That Gnoll prisoner is likely to be from one of the tribes that overran the temple and slew its monks."
"You really need to learn to pay more attention" he adds sounding mildly annoyed.
"I'm surprised they did not desecrate the altar or worse... Good thing they didn't, too. I may not know much about religion but places like this have tendency to react poorly with the dead."
Bahram follows along, he would have searched some rooms but his fellow associates have that well in hand.
"I... you... what..." he sputters, then huffs and is clearly about to enter into one of his tirades before changing his mind in mid sentence "I hate you. You know." he adds half-heartedly and turns to Hajar.
"Yes. I would be interested in knowing what our Gnoll friend here has to say about this all."
Kakooyapesh answers Hajar about why this place was abandoned. With Hajar translating he answers: Twenty years ago we descended upon this dispicable place. We slew the monks here. There were paladins, like you he grins at Hajar whom we ate. From this place we staged our invasion of Kelmarane. For five years now I have guarded this place under the orders of my Master, the Carrion King. It does not matter, however, that you have retaken it. The stain of our kind, the unluck of the pugwampis, and the glorious destruction of ravagoug can never be washed from these walls. saranrae can never return here. he laughs.
Bartan follows Yazi, checking out the door. "What is behind it, mon chere?"
Avenka follows Hajar for a moment. "Of course Hajar, I'll be ready to take action with the gnoll if you need me, I won't stay far. Just yell if you need me, I'll go check on Yazi to help her with this door".
Then, she goes towards Yazi and Bartan.
"Do you need a hand?"
And if the Dawnflower returns to this place? What then Gnoll? Hajar says questioningly
Avenka's mighty push budges the door. It appears to be unlocked, but it is stuck due to something beyond it. To push it through whatever is beyond requires DC23. The door is:
Strong wooden. 2 in thick. Hardness 5. 20 hp.
The Gnoll laughs yet again. How could she? Have you not heard the tale? Of how saranrae and the other gods imprisoned him? And asmodeous forged the lock, keeping the only key? Tell me, Paladin. Why is it, do you think, the gods did not just kill the rough beast?
Anjali indulges her curiosity about the ladder and finds the minaret. She calls down to whoever can hear her.
"I think this is where the say'yida Almah wanted her spyglass!"
She hurries back down to set up the telescope in the minaret, intending to use it to see what she can see through it from up high.
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"Slide over a bit Avy baby." Casually strolling up to the door Yazi and Doc will assist in pushing.
"Anybody else wanna give us a hand?" Speaking in a huff she'll shout over her shoulder at the Gnoll when she hears him laugh. "Because when a bratty child is having a tantrum you don't put him down, you put him in the corner until he calms down."
Bartan is happy to help Anjali set up the telescope. He'll also sneak a peek through it.
The air is fresh up here at the top of the Minaret. The wind blows through Anjali's hair and Bartan feels the cool evening setting in. You peer together through the Telescope as evening falls and see the pale Gnoll occupied town of Kelmarane for the first time. You can see the ancient statue of saranrae rising high above the city. Curious the gnolls have left it standing, no?
Anjali rakes errant stands of hair the wind teased through off one shoulder as she peers into the eyepiece. The rose-scented tresses likely encroach upon Bartan who happens to be next to her. "Does it not seem odd to you that they would defile this place and yet leave the likeness of the Dawnflower standing over the town?"
She swings the telescope carefully from left to right, panning through the town slowly in hopes that she gets an idea of the number of gnolls...or anything that would hint at what they were up to.
Khayal lends his muscles to the effort to open the door.
He grits his teeth, closes his eyes and strains against the door .
Hajar grins at Anjali's statement and replies Perhaps they could not destroy such a monument, because they knew the Lady would return someday.
Hajar turns to the Gnoll and says They did not destroy the Rough Beast, because all may know the Mercy of the Dawnflower.
hehe, no. You would like to believe this but no. They did not destroy him because destroying anything only makes him stronger. Even the sarenrea with asmodeuses help can't do it. Because evil begets evil, friend. Destruction begets nothing but destruction. Kakooyapesh grins, flesh pieces hanging from his polished calcium teeth.
With Khayal and Docs help, Avenka pushes the door open through the thick vines on the other side. If you step through you emerge on the other side into a secret garden...
Looming walls with no apparent doors accept the one you just came through:) 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. This place does not appear to have ever been found by the denizens of the monestary and Kakooyapesh looks around in awe if you allow him in. A secret place. How did I miss this?
MAP UPDATED.
Up in the Minaret, Anjali and Bartan pan the telescope until the discover a large group of Gnolls, slaves, pugwampi, and other creatures working on an aquaduct. This water conveyance stretches for several miles up into the mountains...to what must be a waterfall high in the hills.
hehe, no. You would like to believe this but no. They did not destroy him because destroying anything only makes him stronger. Even the sarenrea with asmodeuses help can't do it. Because evil begets evil, friend. Destruction begets nothing but destruction. Kakooyapesh grins, flesh pieces hanging from his polished calcium teeth.
Your answer betrays wisdom Gnoll. You are more than a savage creature. Come, let us investigate this new area. Hajar moves into the secret garden.
Yazi, when you took Kakooyapesh's gear you found he had a MWK battle axe. And a belt of dead Pugwampi.
Khayal takes a moment to take in the secret garden, having grown up in the desert he has always been fascinated with plant life when he sees it. Perhaps someday I will have a chance to tend to this garden...
This was once a special place, I would like a chance to restore it.
Dhavyn ignores Yazi's comment with a shrug and watches as the others open the door. He follows Yazi and Khayal inside the garden room.
This place looks seriously overgrown, Khayal. I could always burn those weeds away to make it easier to explore it... I wonder if the room has any other passages he adds.
I'm a bit concerned about how friendly you have gotten with the Gnoll. He nods towards Hajar. I'm not sure I trust that creature enough to believe all it is saying. It could easily lead us to a trap as well... didn't you mention it said something about some creature living here? Perhaps the Gnoll should tell us what exactly it is and where it lives."
Dhavyn stops to listen for any sounds.
Most learned friend Dhavyn, I have not forgotten this ones actions. Hajar says indicating the gnoll Kakooyapesh However, the sun may shine on us all. He has shown worth by serving as a source of information. He might yet redeem himself.
Avenka is speechless when she enters the secret garden. She quite doesn't know why, but it makes her feel relaxed and well, she loves it.
Before heading down the ladder, Bartan places a hand on Anjali's arm. "Mon chere, I know that you have reservations about the creature we are using as a guide. I promise, I will allow nothing to happen to you while I breathe." He shyly lifts her hand, placing a light kiss on the back of it. Then he looks embarrassed by his action, and turns away with a beet-red face.
Bartan goes back down the ladder to report what he and Anjali have observed to the group. He finds them beginning to explore the secret garden.
"My friends, this place is wonderful! That it has not been sacked is truly a gift from the gods. However, mademoiselle Anjali and I have some more grave news. Through the... how you say... seeing-tube?, we have seen a large band of gnolls attempting to move a river, and seemingly succeeding! Whatever they are doing, it cannot bode well."
Bartan now turns to the task of searching the secret garden.
Anjali, taken aback by Bartan's gesture, lingers a few more moments in the minaret staring at the back of her hand still warmed by the imprint of Bartan's lips. I will never understand that Varishi. A while ago he seemed to be flirting with Yazi as well. Confused, she shakes her head and makes her way down the ladder as soon as the heat in her cheeks dissipates.
She follows Bartan into the door he disappeared into and marvels at the garden the rest of their companions found. "I have not seen this much green since leaving the Evergrowth!" Stooping down to the nearest bit of green she can find, Anjali searches for any plant life that might be useful out of habit. "Plants often have medicinal purposes. Why, a garden such as this could yield some overlooked herb or a scented blossom good for an ailment or perhaps even something that could be useful for my craft!" She smiles softly, eyes alight with excitement at their accidental find.
"Do you know that distilling certain essences from plants or blossoms can produce the most wondrous scents?"
Anjali finds a patch of strange flowers.
A look of inquisitive concern falls over Khayal's face, How does one move a river? And how many do you see?
When Anjali talks about the plants; Khayal says quietly, Nature is full of wonder.
To Khayal: "They seem to be building some sort of water tube or duct that may bring water from the mountains. It looks very large. And troublesome."
You saw probably two platoons totaling about 150 Gnolls. Water is already moving through the duct. The waterfall you saw was distant, but appeared to be very beautiful. It is on the hinterlands map.
Kakooyapesh cackles when he hears this. Hehaha! They are finally draining that Nixie's filth pond. Good.
Anjali falls to her knees by the purple flowers, awed at having discovered such a rarity in this old monastery of all places. She blinks her eyes a few times at Khayal, trying to focus on his question.
"Ai, the town has many in it. Gnolls, slaves and more of those...pugwampis. They seem to be building...what Bartan said."
Pulling out her sickle, Anjali deftly collects the blossoms, using the smallest amount of her magic to ignite the cut ends, pinching them to preserve the blossom's freshness. Smiling slightly up at Khayal, she brings the flowers up for him to take in its scent - sweet but not overpowering, with a hint of something fresh and almost citrus-like. "This will make the most wonderful perfume when the time comes."
The small bouquet of flowers also gets waved under Bartan's nose.
"This Nixie must be a powerful threat if the Gnolls go to such lengths in trying to destroy its pond instead of merely killing it. Still perhaps we should focus on clearing the monastery first as the princess requested. If we are not planning to rest that is."
Dhavyn turns to face the Gnoll and Hajar "Did you not speak of something else being here? The question remains. What and where?"
"But, but... we must do something ! There must be something we can do! We can't let them mess with the river !"
Avenka turns around several times towards her companions with big open eyes, all her body shaking with rage and frustration, seeking answers from the wisests of the group, eager to act, but totally helpless as to what to do.
Bartan places a hand on Avenka's shoulder. "Calm, mon chere. We will do what we can to stop them, but we must first complete this mission. We gave our word."
Also are there any other doors or windows in here or is it pretty much just the one door we came in though to this secret garden?
Perception check please.
If Khayal were fairer skinned you would see him blush.
Perhaps we could plug the tube near the source, deny the gnolls their water. When they send patrols to see what happended we could wait in ambush. Either way this is something our princess should be made aware of.