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Uzma also hears the chattering that pauses briefly once Nishv's wayfinder goes on, coming from the chamber to the north, down the short flight of steps.
Rafyyk (out of the light of Nishv's wayfinder) looks into the alcove to the east.
Rafyyk tensed up and stopped moving. His lip curled up and he glanced back towards his companions. In a very quiet voice he said, "...I think the light might have alerted gnolls nearby to our presence so be ready."
He peered in to the alcove and took a few steps in to try and get a closer look at the stone stele that was there (and to make sure that there were no lurking adversaries).
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Uzma advances out of Nishv's wayfinder light, closer to the form of Rafyyk, who slips into the eastern alcove to examine the crude stone stele in front of the worn statue.
“A ghost of unholy mien was purged from this place by Theodephus Estrovan, servant of Iomedae, 4691 ar.”
Rafyyk finds no lurkers in the eastern alcove.
Nishv mouthed ”Sorry,” to Rafyyk when he saw the other Pathfinder wince from the sudden light and motioned to the direction the barking had come from, ”Whatever it is, Gnoll or not, I would prefer to confront it in the light.” The dark had long been something that Men knew to fear. It was instinctual to seek out light. Which meant that it was all too easy to sometimes forget that not everyone needed light to piece the dark for them.
Rumors circulated in Niswan that the Nilara family had cursed, Drow blood mixed in with their own, though no one had ever shown signs of being anything more than human. A little bit of Elven blood, I think, and I would not need to rely on this thing, Nishv mused as he moved closer to the steps, careful to let Rafyyk keep his shadows. He stopped just a few feet from Korum and readied his spade.
Korum will creep up behind Rafyyk, looking around and peering into each of the alcoves he can see as he approaches the hulking oracle from behind.
Rafyyk gave a quiet grunt as he read over the inscription. Then he gave a small shrug and turned away. It was nice to see, but not important to the task at hand - at least he didn't think it was. He would keep it filed away mentally just in case.
He moved to look in to the next open area, glancing behind him to see if others were following, not wanting to confront things alone.
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Loran huddles by the outer western wall, awaiting the moves of the others, nervous about moving in the darkness.
Rafyyk continues his perusal of the chambers, peering through a narrow stone archway that leads deeper into the darkened, roof-covered compound.
Uzma follows the large form of Rafyyk through the nave, taking cover behind pillars when he can. Nishv stands near enough to him to provide some light from the wayfinder. The two humans share a sympathetic glance about their too-human vision.
Korum raises his free hand quickly as he hears the shrill words coming from around the corner. He looks at each of his companions, slowly shaking his head. He crouches low, reaching down and drawing words in the sand. "NOT GNOLL," they read.
"We should go check out the sound. Down that way." He said this quietly.
Rafyyk began to move slowly towards where he had heard the cut-off sounds, checking any open doors or areas as he passed them, glancing back to make sure the group was coming along as well. He silently prayed to Desna to watch over them all as he did so.
Yes, but if not Gnolls, then what? Nishv kept his thoughts to himself. He had done enough by activating the wayfinder and alerting whatever was waiting for them.
Nishv tightened one hand around the shaft of his spade and reached one hand into a hidden pocket to check for his shurikens. A habit he had picked up while spending a few weeks in Katapesh.
Nishv glanced over his shoulder to make sure Loran was still there and moved into the open room, stopping at the bottom of the stairs.
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Loran moves forward cautiously, stopping at the top of the broad but short set of stairs leading into the larger rounded chamber.
Rafyyk wanders off into a different room than the rest of the party.
Korum ponders things a bit, allowing his teammates to range to the north, into the rounded chamber.
Nishv and Uzma descend the stairs.
As Nishv and Uzma spot the thing, just at the periphery of Nishv's wayfinder light, it begins to jerk and shake, the bones rattling together in a jarring, creepy noise. Craven yowls and whispers echo down from the dark.
Tiny arrows fire down from the rafters on Uzma and Nishv, the little piercing missive striking Uzma in the neck like a pinprick, but missing the mark on Nishv.
At the assail of arrows, Loran traces a sigil of power in the air, his sacred tattoo glowing in unison.
A further arrow comes from the ceiling at Nishv.
The arrow misses its mark wildly. Hideous giggles follow.
A tiny arrow struck the ground at Nishv's feet. He looked up to where it had come from just in time to see watch a second land a good distance away.
”Above us!” Nishv called out as he ducked out of the aisle and crouched below the back pew.
There would need to be a way to the rafters….. hopefully. Nishv thought as he stole a look around the room. If all else failed, they could always fall back.
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Uzma and Nishv look skyward into the rafters and the upper works of the monastery, approximately twenty feet off the ground. They get a glimpse of revolting lapdog-like creatures - if those lapdogs learned to walk - scurrying about the rafters gleefully, armed with tiny bows. Image
Uzma, the wooden rafters cover the entire ceiling in this room - far too substantial to raze in a timely or easy fashion. Nishv, you spot a set of iron rungs bolted to the western wall in this room - Updated Old Monastery Map - that look sturdy enough to use.
Uzma receives another stinging arrow in his arm for his trouble. Rafyyk, in a different room, sees none of the erupting fracas.
Rafyyk hears the shouts of his companions from a different room.
Rafyyk pulls his head out of his ass when he hears the commotion coming from behind him instead of in front of him because he apparently can't tell which direction sounds come from. He hurries back towards the group at a quick jog.
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Three more arrows rain down from above at Nishv (x2) and Uzma, respectively.
Nishv feels a sting in his thigh as one of the tiny arrows hits home. One tiny arrow bounces off a marble pew inches from Uzma's nose. The gnoll skull chandelier sways and click-clacks as the small dog-sized creatures cavort and giggle gleefully above.
Korum whispers a gentle prayer to the sand, the wind, the sky. Father desert, I beseech you, protect my friend. As he finishes his prayer, he steps into the room, eyeing the rafters warily.
Using Storm Burst ability on Nishv. For 1 round, all ranged attacks against him have a 20% miss chance.
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Loran
Enemy
Nishv
Enemy
Uzma
Enemy
Rafyyk
Enemy x3
Korum
At Korum's whispers, a gentle zephyr blows through the room, centered on Nishv. Korum (and anyone else who enters the room) sees the following:
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.
Two arrows fly at the new (and bigger) target in the room: Korum. A third arrow attempts to pierce the winds surrounding Nishv.
In the midst of the fracas, Loran descends the stairs and fires a glob of acid from his hands into the rafters.
The halfling shakes his hand in irritation as the badly-aimed acid orb slides out of his grasp.
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Uzma utters an incantation to Gozreh, and keeping his head low, makes a beeline for the iron rungs in the western wall as heat rolls in illusory waves off of the druid.
The macabre candelabra jutters and creaks as the dog-like creatures criss-cross the rafters.
An arrow streaks towards Uzma.
Rafyyk moved towards the room where all his allies were apparently engaged with...something? Multiple somethings? He couldn't tell yet. He peered in to the room and reluctantly drew his light crossbow despite favoring his greataxe.
Nishv spots the metal rungs just as Uzma does and moves to the end of the pee, near the ladder. He attempts to hop over the pew.
Korum dashes toward the walls to the west, hunkering down in the corner as he waits for Nishv to finish climbing up the ladder. I don't want to be beneath him if he slips. I wish I could see these creatures.
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The rat-faced creatures seem to have gathered the notion that the gang is attempting to climb to their level, with the next two tiny arrows whizzing Nishv's way.
Despite the cessation of the protective zephyrs around him (courtesy of Korum), only one arrow finds a mark, and only because Nishv is actively climbing.
Though they were mostly just annoying, the arrows we're beginning to take take a toll on him.Nishv grunted as the latest, tiny arrow struck him and continued up the ladder.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Loran quickly dashes towards the ladder, before crouching down and muttering a few words in celestial.
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Loran, dashes for the ladder leading up the western wall, then checks to make sure his arcane armour incantation sits intact. The weasel-faced creatures snarl and hoot in their harsh tongue as they race around the wooden rafters criss-crossing the ceiling, their forms illuminated as Nishv's wayfinder light gets closer.
Another annoying arrow flies towards Nishv as he mounts the upper works of the chapel.
It finds its mark in the scalp of the climbing monk.
Uzma, frustrated by the lack of wild creatures in the environs around the building, hunkers down by the wall, attempting to make as small a target as possible. The druid says a brief utterance to Gozreh, heat rolling off his form in waves, and touches the halfling as he reaches the ladder.
"May the blessing of Gozreh guide your next act," the druid offers to Loran.
A particularly ambitious arrow attempts to reach Loran.
The arrow pings off the arcane energy shell clinging to the sorcerer's form.
Rafyyk entered the area where all his companions were at. He looked around and then up to where they seemed to be looking and saw movement up there. He sighed even as he pulled up his crossbow to loose a bolt, knowing how poor his aim was despite his good eyesight. And just like he figured the bolt goes up but doesn't strike any creature.
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Another arrow arcs Nishv's way as he reaches the upper part of the chapel. Korum draws a further bow twang as well. The creatures seem to be growing more manic as the combat draws on.
Neither arrow finds a mark. The pugwampi targeted and missed by Rafyyk as he enters the room, lowers its bow, giggles, and wiggles its fingers at the half-orc oracle holding the crossbow.
Rafyyk grunted as the little creatures targeted him.
Korum grunts, tugging on the arrow lodged in his side. He tosses it aside and stares up into the rafters.
If he manages to spot one of the creatures, he'll attempt to Daze it. Otherwise, he will continue hunkering in the corner, awaiting the ability to climb the ladder.
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With a sudden crack echoed by a malevolent giggle, the bow irons of Rafyyk's crossbow snap, leaving the bowstring slack and useless.
Korum sees this very act and retaliates with a stern glare.
Two of the weasel-faced creatures continue to harry Nishv, now on the second level, with annoying arrows from atop wooden beams criss-crossing the ceiling.
Nishv, upon pulling himself up the last few rungs (and taking another painful arrow in the chest), glances around the apse of the chapel.
A thin balcony overlooks the chapel floor some twenty feet below. Two rows of tall-backed wooden choir chairs dominate the southern reach of the balcony, which hugs the chapel’s concave walls. The balcony falls away—collapsed for a span of perhaps fifteen feet—just on the other side of the choir area. To the east, rickety time-worn wooden rafters stretch across the whole chapel. Two huge sections of these rafters have been engulfed in a sort of nest comprised of a patchwork of random bits of cloth. The filthy creatures pelting the gang with arrows race around the area in manic fashion. One of the creatures make a rude gesture at Nishv and retreats across a rafter into the nest-like area.
Loran moves to the ladder and begins climbing.