Chee tucks the coins away in various hidey-holes in his clothes, and examines the bowl.
Chee isn't too sure, but he thinks the bowl might be worth anywhere between 50-140gp. It's in pretty good condition, except for some blood.
The blood stain is not very recent.
Horgun's search fails to turn up anything of value whatsoever, religious or otherwise.
When the group has satisfied itself, Horgun will go back out and start down the corridor to the south(?) around the open courtyard.
I follow the group quietly contemplating the markings and the designs of this building. Keeping my crossbow ready I keep a wary eye open for anything amiss.
Perception:
I'll carry the bowl. Perhaps at the camp they will know more about its intended use. Aakim then follows Horgun as well.
Janos' quick examination of the mithral tube reveals that it is magical, but he is unable to discern it's exact properties.
The heroes walk along the eastern wall, along what must be the outer wall of the monastery, towards the door to the south. All along this wall the same five companions are depicted fighting various creatures, some of which are at least partly made up of fire. Some of the creatures have weapons growing out of their appendages, at if they were organic tools. These scenes are backed once again by the Pale Mountain, and over it are two titanic figures locked in a grapple. A fiery efreeti and a gorgeous woman who could only be a djinni princess.
This sculpture depicts the great wars of genie against genie. Occuring almost a thousand years past, these wars threw the Pale Mountain region into chaos for a couple hundred years.
As the group arrives at the door, they can see more carvings down the hallway to their right. The door is a solid oak door, in good condition, though the handle is a little rusted.
Horgun takes a glance at the mural, lingering thoughtfully on the Pale Mountain, before he goes to make a quick sweep of the overgrown courtyard while the others take their time with it.
Now that Horgun has seen the courtyard from a different angle, it occurs to him that this might be a nest of some sort. It is constructed in a similar fashion to nests he has seen Argia build, though on a decidely larger scale.
Horgun checks himself before he disturbs it any further and with much greater care inspects his find.
Horgun has heard of a species of Katapeshian Vultures known as Geiers. Their wingspan can reach 20 feet, and measure about 7 feet from beak to tail .
Horgun lets out a whistle and back away. "You might want to be watching the skies, friends. If me eyes ain't playing tricks this here be a nest. I'd heard stories of mountain vultures twice my own height, but this be the first time I've seen proof of it."
He furrows his brow in thought. "The Lady said she wanted this place as her fort, and a giant bird feeling all protective of its nest in the center ain't the most safe thing. I fear we must be chasing the thing off somehow."
Also a question for the GM, what XP track are we on? Fast or Medium, last time I tried this campaign, GM had us on Fast but I can't remember if you did the same.
I look at the image on the wall. "There is so much history here." I am enamored by the images. I gently touch the image of the Djinn princess. "Who is she? She's beautiful." I pause and retract my hand, I gently shake my head. "Sorry. Got distracted for a moment there. Lead on."[b]
At the mention of the idea of chasing off the vulture I take a moment to to think. [b]"This animal is no monster of evil. It is simply trying to survive and raise a family. It is best we find a good way to relocate this creature's home." I consider the species and think of a good way to lure or relocate them without just out right destroying them.
Knowledge Nature:
Horgun chortles loudly. "Oh aye, it's as you say! But the rabbit I cooked for dinner were just trying to survive when I killed it, and the lion I chased off the week before were just trying to feed its family a health leg of dwarf." The laughter fades but a smirk remains. "Mercy be the luxury of the powerful, my friend. A goat can't be offering mercy to the butcher's knife and tell it to be on its way. It's a nice idea to chase it off, and I'll do me best if we've a plan for it, but if it's down to it or me I've got me axe sharp for a reason."
The sacred grounds of Seranrae are no place for an oversized vulture. I can try to lead them away, but be ready to help me in case things turn for the worst. But first, I need to see this creature...
The bird is not there. Horgun knows that these sorts of bird are known to have multiple nests scattered in a small region. Jesail thinks that if the party were to move the eggs away from the nest, but still within sight, it might draw the bird away, especially if the nest was gone when it arrived.
Mmmm... Desert vulture eggs might be worth a handful of coppers from a merchant.
"While the eggs are valuable, I am not entirely keen on simply destroying such a thing. However, if there is only the one bird then I would be willing to consider it a resource provided by the divines. The bird could be dinner and the eggs could feed others as long as they are put to good use. I will abide with the idea of forcibly dealing with the creature. It is not like we are wiping out it's species." With that I ready my crossbow looking for the thing to return.
Horgun shrugs off the question for now. "Aye well, it's a choice we can put to the Lady in charge. For now we've a few rooms more to see to." So saying he goes to the nearby door and cautiously opens it.
As the party turns the corner of the hallway in front of them, they see a foyer. Laid out in front of them are a bunch of doors. This was clearly the main living space. A statue of a woman in long flowing robes stands near the center. The roof here is extremely bad, with large holes, some large enough for a geier to fit through. The middle door on the northern wall stands slightly ajar.
Giving the others plenty of time to keep pace with him, Horgun opens the first door on his right and peers inside.
As Horgun peeks in, he sees what was clearly once a library, and a strong smell of molded paper assaults his nose. There is a pile of books in the center of the room, all of them look extremely decrepit, as though they would crumble if you touched them. On the far end of the room, a short staircase leads up to a balcony which traces the circumference of the room, 15 feet above the floor.
Horgun enters, trying not to disturb anything too greatly, and makes a closer examination for anything interesting. After a quick circuit of the room he also ventures up the stairs to get a view of the balcony.
Chee follows along quietly
As Horgun and Chee search the room, they come across a book that isn't mouldering as the others are. The title on the spine reads The Genie Wars. Atop the balcony sports a wonderful view out the second story windows towards Kelmarane, and the dwarf can see movement in the village. Gnolls, he assumes.
Janos is able to climb into the nest and retrieve the eggs, stowing each in his sack, and takes them outside while the rest of the group explores the library room. He is able to meet up with the rest of the group just as they are finishing up their explorations. There are still several doors to be explored in the foyer, and strange, muffled noises are coming from behind the middle door on the northern wall.
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"Silence!!! Everyone, this door," pointing to the northern middle door. "It's talking to me." Janos will put his head to the door, trying to hear what it is saying. "I've never heard a door talk before. Maybe," very confussed, "Maybe a mage put a silence spell on it and it is trying to break free? I can't hear what it is trying to say. What language do doors speak, anyone know?"
I raise my eyebrow at Janos's reaction to the door. I walk over and put a hand on his shoulder. "My friend. Think. The noises are likely coming from beyond the door." I look in the direction of the others. "There is something on the other side of this door. I will cover whomever opens it." I train my crossbow at the door and wait for another to open the door.
Horgun stares at Janos in amazement, then side whispers to Jesial "He's one of them mystic types what eats the really colorful desert mushrooms, ain't he? You sure he's safe to let be walking around?" With a sad shake of his head he goes to the middle door and kicks it open, axe at the ready.
They not actually that colorful, pretty dull looking. Once you eat them though, then everything gets really colorful.... Chee says as he readies a flask of acid.
Horgun gives the door a solid kick and the rotten wood around the handle splinters and the door swings open, revealing one of the weirdest sights any of the party has seen in their long travels. The noises were a pair of baboons fighting, around them are 4 other baboons. On an elevated part of the room sits a large, finely made chair upon which rests the largest pugwampi the group has seen yet, wearing a circlet of gold. As the door bursts open, he reaches for a clearly oversized warhammer, resting by his throne.
This room seems to have once been a dining hall, but all the tables have been shoved to the side to make room for a crude circle in the centre of the room, in which the two baboons were fighting. The pugwampi stands and screeches, pointing at the party. The baboons are moving to attack!
Somewhat startled by the unexpected sight, Horgun is slow to react.
The following round Aakim will pull out his whip and start throat singing.
Initiative:
I take a shot at the puggy king. Attack: For:
Chee scrambles up the staircase and launches his last bomb into the midst of the monkeys.
King Moknokk glares at Horgun and lets out a screech, and Horgun feels his shield start to reverberate . He then jumps down from his perch and moves into the baboons yelling at them.
Janos readies his spear to attack anyone who comes within the doorframe.
One of the baboons screeches and steps forward, biting and browbeating Horgun.
As the pugwampi king moves forward, Horgun and Janos once again feel that unnatural tension in the air.
Janos lashes out with his spear as the baboon steps forward,awkwardly reaching around the door frame .
Janos is unable to find purchase with his spear and sticks it straight into the doorframe. The baboon bites at Horgun.
Horgun's armor isn't just for show, and the bite finds only hard metal to chew.
Another baboon moves straight past Horgun, to attack Jesail!
The offending Baboon almost trips on a piece of debris as he attacks, eliciting a laugh from the King.
Horgun stands fast and calls behind to the others, "If ye got anything to shoot damn that damned cursed creature, now be the time for it." He levels a swing at the baboon's head, then forsakes the protection of his shield as he follows up with a spiked slam.
Horgun feels the magic start to splinter his shield before throwing it off through force of will.
Jesail realizes that shooting against such a small target through the melee would be difficult and so instead takes a step back and the much easier shot to the baboon right in front of him. The bolt strikes true and the baboon crumples.
Aakim's deep voice rings forward, resonating through the stone hallway.
Horgun's footing isn't steady as he strikes out against the enemy in front of him.
Chee scrambles on to the statue's platform and throws a bomb into the midst of the enemy.
Chee's bomb sails true and explodes in the center of the enemy. The screeching of the baboons is terrible as the fire washes over them, and the quiet after is made even more unnatural by the laughing of the pugwampi.
The remaining baboon is scared senseless and tries to flee out the room, jumping over the combatants, but leaving himself open enough for Horgun to strike.
The lone remaining pugwampi yells at the thing in anger, before charging Horgun with his oversized warhammer:
"Get back here and fight you damn dirty ape!"
Round 2
The pugwampi is clearly having trouble holding the hammer properly, but the momentum of the charge helps him enough to slam the hammer down on Horgun's toe.