Grunt responds to Argrim, "Don't trust them," he looks at Karnog and Malcolm and shakes his head, "cover your holy stuff...or just turn back and Grunt will lead you out of swamp." He looks at Agrim and points towards a double hillock, "I wait there till tomorrow 4 hours before dusk...if not back, then I leave."
Argrim nods to Grunt giving him more respect than any other orc in his life or he could have imagined before today. He is ready to lead if the others are ready to follow.
Sheyan nods to the orc, then to Argrim Out of the frying pan...
Come then, let's go. Stay safe Grunt.
"Sheyan, you look wounded. Karnog, do you want to examine everyone before we go into the nest?"
"Aye. If you've wounds, gather round."
Channel Energy
Thank you, Karnog.
Gazing at the sight of the cloister, Vatilda feels emboldened as the contrary forces inside her come a few shades closer into alignment... That which desires to cleanse the filth from these corrupted lands, and that primal urge to crush foes in battle and manipulate their minds into twisted violent acts.
She hums a slow but upbeat melody as she thinks to herself... "It is so nice when my mind gets along"
She smiles and waves a thanks to Karnog.
As the group being lead by Argrim travels the weathered road up towards the gate, the sun continues to lower.
Baying can be heard from a distance behind you. This is followed by a second then a third howl. The cries are not getting closer but it is clear that a pack of animals, probably wolves, is tracking and hunting something.
+1 vs. traps
Argrim carries his shortbow.
Malcol draws his Bastard Sword and surveys the surrounding area for the next threat.
As Agrim leads on, Sheyan calls out a warning.
There are some weeds lining the left hand side of the rock that are hallucinogenic in nature - a fools flower. They are easily avoided if you stay tot he right.
When they stop, Sheyan points to the weeds "Those can cause you to hallucinate, a fools flower. Just stay to the right and you should be fine"
Argrim avoids the bad plants.
"Hmmm. Is there a way to gather them safely?"
Karnog follows directions and avoids the plants.
Kalim when you look at the weeds you realize that there is not a way to harvest them, you remember something about an invisible gas cloud when they are in bloom.
As the sun sets you get within 70 yards of the old cloister, you are able to fine shallow ditch to take cover in and watch. There are leering, grotesque statuettes squat in small niches around the iron reinforced oak portal. Even the metal bands are of a strange shape, and they seem to wriggle and twist at night. One door is closed the other is open. After watching the cloister for 15 or 20 minutes, you see an occasional silhouette walk past the open door.
Karnog casts cure light wounds on Sheyan
Argrim whispers, "There appears to be a guard at the door of the cloister. Who wants to join me to take care of him, all sneaky like?"
Sheyan motions Teima over "You don't get much quieter than Teima"
I will wait for the results. Stealth and speed are not my strongpoints.
Argrim and whoever else takes their time to sneak toward the cloister. He'll try to time the advancement if he detects the person passing in from of the open door again. He has his shortbow in hand.
Karnog stays well back from the sneaky types, crossbow at the ready.
perception
Karnog you can see the silhouette of figure pass by the door occasionally.
Agrim and Teima take there time trying to time the guard, what they discover is a person dressed in dark green felt robe with a face-covering cowl, carrying a flail. He happens to see you peering through the open door. "Hey...stop!"He announces with authority, "We are closed for the night, unless your here for the service."
There are three other humanoids within your line of vision. They look zoned out in ragged clothes, two shuffle as they walk, while the third walks quicker. They do not see you.
Argrim is short even for a dwarf standing an inch shorter than 4 feet and about the same width. His dull gray outfit and blond hair are unkempt with stains from dirt and stone. A chain shirt peeks out at his neck and wrists. He equips a battleaxe and short bow with two quivers. No holy symbols on him at all.
"Do you have any food?" Argrim asks standing up from his hiding place and moving near the door... which should be visible to the team!
He's 15 feet from you. "We don't run a soup kitchen here but if you got a tithe to Tsathogga, something can be brought to you." He is not friendly by any means but he is not aggressive either. "We don't get many lone travelers here unless they've come to seek blessings." The three humanoids begin to approach.
The others can see Argrim standing near the gate chatting with someone.
Aside from the frog motifs on the stone columns and the small soapstone
idol opposite the entrance, this place could be the temple of any other
deity. The interior is spacious and clean, and the scent of incense floats in the air.
Teima cocks her head curiously, tasting the interesting scent in the air and looking at the man that's talking to Sheyan's pack mate. She was told to follow him and help anybody he attacked or defend him, but they were just talking. She sits quietly, waiting for a clear signal on what to do
Vatilda stays crouched in hiding with the others; struggling with waiting. She peers at Agrim, and tries to glean what she can from his body language.
"If he moves out of sight... I move in"
Sheyan shakes his head "Teima will howl if something goes badly"
I do not like this. We are too far away.
Argrim is certainly not moving inside. He replies, "I can make a tithe as long as you don't expect too much."
"He can handle himself. If he pulls those inside out to meet us, we will have a bit of an advantage again."
Despite his calm words, Karnog grips his crossbow tightly.
Sheyan keeps a hand on Kio, whose fur is now standing on end as the figures move towards Argrim