Arbaro questions the bat.
"Why were you guys breaking the gongs?"
Sensing a break in the fight, Brag lowers his weapon and walks closer to his injured companions. He channels positive energy in a 30' radius. The bat and chicken are out of range. All party members and the summoned bat are in range.
14 points of healing to all in range.
"Arbaro, have the bat drop the wind wall. If it doesn't, shoot him."
Lem continues to look scary
Thurl jerks back to consciousness with a start and pulls the javelin from his side . He slowly picks him self up off the ground and walks over to the Wukong and says, ”So much waste.” and shakes his head. He looks up at the bat and says, ”What is your name?”
"The bat isn't evil, but I don't trust it."
"Hey, bat, answer the questions or the chicken gets rotisseried."
While waiting for the bat to decide what it will do. Brag heals again.
Thurl and Lem, etc. are healed an additional 11 HP.
Brag readies an arrow and aims generally in the direction of the chicken.
The bat hops down from the wall to the ground and dismisses the wind all. He says, "The gongs are hidden away somewhere in a snow drift outside these walls. I can show you where they were. Wokung doesn't-didn't like them. Something about the Iroran religion. I'm just a hired wing, because I could hide as an animal, which was their whole shtick for infiltrating places.
"My name is-"
He's cut off by the old elf wizard from the balcony shouting, "Loose Grain!"
The bat looks up and says, "Uncle? Spruce Rain, is that you?"
The wizard bat pulls back his hood, and you see his face transform into a bat like Loose Grain. "I didn't expect to find my nephew siding with foul beasts such as these. What would your grandfather Bruce think about what you've done here today?" He takes Loose Grain to a corner and gives him a stern talking to.
In the snow drifts just outside the walls are the remaining 11 gongs. Sleepy will know where to reinstall them. Tsao Tsao will also want to know about the recovery of the gongs, and he may be able to craft leather from dragon and yeti hides now that he is not so sad. The two bats may also have more information if you want to talk with them.
"So, Loose, what did the others hire you to do? Were you just passing through or was this your target?"
Arbaro will speak to them and see what info he can get out of them.
Brag follows Thurl and heals him using the wand of cure moderate wounds as Thurl speaks to the two bats.
"There, that should feel better, Thurl. But, I'm curious about the chicken? What part did it play? And, what happened to the summoned bat?"
As the conversation with the bats continues, Brag finds Lem and heals him as well.
In halfling, "You were lucky, my friend. Several of those hits were close to taking you out."
"I think you are well, now."
Brag moves to Arbaro. Seeing a little blood on his chest, he lays his hands on him.
Thurl thanks Bragoleb and then approaches the bats with Arbaro and aids in his questioning, ”We have so many questions about what is happening around hear, we just want answers. Do you know anything about the other troubles the Monastery has been having? Who was in charge of your group? Was it Wukong? Was your goal to get rid of the gongs or was that just a detour?”
Lem satisfies with the result of combat rests.
Halfling: ”I saw no alternative Bragoleb. If I had not moved in when I did, surely thurl would’ve fallen for good, maybe Arborio too. Admittedly, my thinking isn’t always the most rational in battle, but regardless, I could have taken no other action.”
”Rain, I thought you were still looking for your friend, I’m glad you found him, but you could have lent a hand.”
To zzz in polyglot: ”Okay now you know we mean no harm, we’re really just trying to help with the ghost thing. You said we would have to talk about it later, pardon my frankness, but I think it’s later now.”
The young bat Loose says, "I was just hired east of here in Katapesh for wizardwork. They needed a spellcasting, buffing, scouting; just a contract hire with no set goal. Wokung was the leader, and I quickly learned he's a fanatical Iroran. They weren't much for planning ahead; I think he saw the gongs and threw a plan together all at once."
Spruce, the older elfbat, turns his cloudy eyes to Lem and says, "Oh, I have not found who I was looking for. Seeing my nephew here is a strange coincidence. But since you've helped me inadvertently, perhaps you wouldn't mind helping me more directly? I'm looking for an old friend named Slymr."
Hearing Spruce mention Slymr, Brag turns toward the elfbat and raises his left eyebrow in an "that's interesting" way.
"You know Slymr? We've heard that name before. In fact, we encountered his ghost."
"I'm sorry to say this but your friend is likely dead. I am sorry for your loss. We encountered his spirit or ghost. He appears to be haunting these five items."
Arbaro shoes Spruce the items and offers to try and summon Slymr again.
Lem sits ready to watch the summoning, and to see if it works.
Spruce's face lights up when you mention that you know Slymer Tu Yu, but is immediately followed by tears as you mention his death. "I had not known my friend had died. We are both skinwalkers, I a bloodmarked, he a coldborn. We were imprisoned together for our heritage in Lycanthrope Lockup many years ago, barely old enough to be considered adults. We planned a prison break with the fellow inmates and toppled that horrific place decades ago. We went our separate ways as we fled that jail, he going to seek mastery at arms, I going to pursue my arcane interests even further. Slymr spoke often his childhood here, so I had hoped to find word of his whereabouts and reunite, but alas, that seems impossible now."
Seeing Spruce's tears, Brag slowly realizes that he has once again been insensitive. "My apologies for the delivery of the news of your friend. I'm not known for understanding when to show compassion or empathy. I had a half-orc friend who claimed to be more sensitive than I. " Shaking his head, "apparently, he was right."
”We are deeply sorry for your loss, what can you tell us of the honored Slymr?”
Hearing the conversation with Spruce unfold, Thurl ushers Sleepy over to the conversation, stepping up and trying to defuse tension generate from the missteps of his colleagues. "Our condolences for the loss Spruce. In fact, we are here for a very similar reason, to learn what happened to Slymr. We four were in Pridon's Hearth for various reasons when Roccavisk here arrived, pursued by Draugr attracted by some objects she had uncovered from a shipwreck. We used those objects to call the spirit attached to them and spoke briefly with Slymr's spirit to ascertain the reason for his lingering... Thurl continues to outline their relevant escapades to fill in all of the information they had gathered, finishing with "So we had discovered that he was a member of this adventuring group and that they had been attacked while at sea magically somehow but have not been able to determine what they were currently working on nor why they were attacked, nor even where Slymr's 'second body' was located."
Spruce rubs his wispy beard, deep in thought, before responding. "Hmm, as I said, I know little of what Slymr has done since his days in prison with me. He spoke fondly of this place, and mentioned a retreat up in the mountain cliffs he particularly favored."
Sleepy nods and says, "Yes, that is where we believe my grandfather is stuck. With the snows so heavy, the monks seeking true solace climb the crags to near the peaks of the Shattered Range. It is a place of silent meditation. We had not heard from those stationed there all winter, spring, and then summer, so with fall approaching, grandfather sought to trek through the snows and bring them food and supplies. We have not heard from him since he left two weeks ago."
"The snows may have trapped your grandfather as well. Perhaps Slymr's second body, as you say, is trapped there as well. His best memories are of praying, meditation and," Spruce shoots an apologetic glance at Sleepy, "Stuffing his face with candied pecans and lemon tarts in the solitude of the cliffside retreat."
"Well, we will be making the climb. Snow or no. Do any of you wish to come with us? We will bring up the supplies as well, no need for you to make the trip when we're already going."
Brag speaks in private to Arbaro. "Can that giant bird of yours carry you (or Lem) up with a rope to aid our climbing? Our past experience with climbing has been a little suspect."
"What about the snowball? Can it work backward and melt the snow?"
"Dewayne might be able to carry Lem but the rest of us are too big. Unless he's grown since I saw him last. Dewayne is still Medium sized."
"A climb?" Roccavisk says. She would look sweaty were she not already wet from her constant castings of create water. "Danger lies afoot here in the monastery. A guard shall be needed for these monks, acolytes, and travelers, against whatever evils still lurk here."
Sleepy gives you a few supplies, mostly food, blankets, clothes, and incense to replenish the retreat. Spruce and Sleepy, however, decline your offer to climb the cliffs.
With a little bit of tinkering, the Snowballglobething eventually melts snow in a small, 15' radius around it. You can't figure out how to make it strong enough to be of much use outside of slowly melting snow, nor is it consistent enough to be trusted in the heat of combat. But you find it melts enough of the snowbanks to allow you to walk through the snowed-in path unhindered.
Before you set off, Tsao Tsao catches you. He is a short and wiry man, his hands calloused from hard work and eyes baggy from lack of sleep. He wears an Iroran robe, but is of a slightly lesser rank than his wife Sleepy. "Thank you for returning our gongs! I thought I'd never hear their sweet, melodious clanging ever again!" He pulls a gong mallet from out of his voluminous robes and smashes the nearest gong in adulation. "Ha ha! Such sweet sounds I thought I'd never hear again!" Tears stream from his eyes, which he wipes with the edge of his robe, careful to not let any fall on his mallet or the gong.
He takes a moment to compose himself before saying, "In thanks, I have this for you," Tsao Tsao says and hands you a bronze gong. But as he bows, his eyes widen as he sees the dragonskin and yetiskins you carry with you.
"Can I see those?" he asks, tenderly reaching for the hides. "I haven't worked with dragonleather in years. I would love to craft something for you. And I know yetis are intelligent bipeds and all that, but who cares about what some animal hugging druids in Andoran think, right? I can make each of you a cloak of the yeti overnight if you'll let me. I won't be sleeping anyway; someone's got to ring our newly returned gongs every hour, on the hour, loud and clear!" He bangs the gong again, somehow louder than last time, and with more enthusiasm.
"I think I heard one of Bragoleb's friends using the dragon skin to help the grip of his weapon hold more tightly. If you could do such a thing, I would appreciate it!"
"Ah, a climb, my rope might come in handy."
Thurl enjoys tinkering with ICE while the others organize supplies. The chance to experiment with such an interesting magical item is one that he does not receive often.
When Tsao Tsao comes and offers the Bronze Gong, he accepts it with a traditional Iroran thanks "May Irori help you on your path. May it not be so difficult that you break, may it not be so easy that you grow comfortable." At the mention of the cloaks, Thurl turns thoughtful and mentions, "Oh, that would be most welcome, but I already have a cloak of some benefit to me, might it be possible to combine the enchantments some how? I would provide what I could to aid the work. I have some gold if that would help."
"Thank you, everyone! We should be on our way. Snow waits for no man!"
At the end of the conversation, Arbaro and the group head off in formation.
"Arbaro, I think we can wait until morning. We'll get a full night's rest and recover our spells and other rest related abilities. And, we could use the yeti coats Tsao Tsao is preparing for us."
Tsao Tsao works on the cloaks overnight, and the bells ring quite loudly every hour, on the hour. This would disrupt your sleep if Ahm did not come by around midnight and give you balls of earwax to stop your ears up.
In the morning, well rested, after preparing spells Roccavisk, Sleepy, Tsao Tsao, and the rest stand by to see you off. Your newly cured yeticloaks are warm and white (and stink a little of formaldehyde), and the day looks to be clear and breezeless. The path leads north through the snow.
As she stands, watching you get ready, Roccavisk calls out, "Wait! After a night full of thought, There may be a way for me to assist with regards to the task at hand..."
She digs into the snow until she finds soil, and mixes the cold earth with the slush of the snow. She casts Mud Buddy. A small muddy blob shifts and forms into the shape of a Small, merfolk-shaped creature. Its arms and fin is ooze black mud, and two large eyes made of a bubble of thin mud bat their nonexistent eyes at you.
"This is Gloop. He is my muddy buddy. He can run and fetch things, open unstuck doors, and hold chairs, as well as clean and mend. Gloop, listen to these four and do as they say."
She gives Gloop a slorpy pat on the head before sending him off to follow you. The mud buddy squelches along to stand beside the party, big eyes staring unblinking at you.
Thurl thanks Tsao Tsao for his new warm cloak and places it on his shoulders and lets it settle in. "These things are great, I'm impressed with your crafting abilities, combining 2 enchantments is no easy feat!" Thurl pokes Gloop and looks thoughtful, "That's appreciated Roccavisk. Sorry for all the climbing; hopefully, we can get back to some easier terrain for you."
As they head toward the retreat, Thurl tries to ease their passage with ICE.
Upon receiving the cloak, ”thank you for your fine craftsmanship. This looks like a good cloak for the cold weather too.
”Enjoy the rest Roccavisk, lets get this show on the road.”
Brag is disappointed that Roccavisk will not be joining them. He bids her farewell and lingers with her until the last minute in discussion of things that probably annoy her. She is highly intelligent, after all.
Brag thanks ZZZ for her hospitality and Tsao Tsao for the yeti cloak and makes sure the elven cloak fits over it for his stealthier actions. It does!
Brag calls Shadow to him as the party starts off. His quiver is once again full of arrows and they are well supplied for the trip. Strike that, not trip, but, rather, adventure or expedition. Brag thinks better of his word choice when considering the approaching climb.
On the hike toward the retreat, Thurl asks Arbaro, ”So, Arbaro, what brought you to Pridon’s Hearth anyway?”
The people at the monastery wave goodbye as Thurl blasts a cone of heat into the snow. None of them seem particularly sad or emotional at your departure, though they do seem less defeated.
The path is clearly marked with stacks of stones and statues of Irori. As you head northwards, further up the ridge of the mountain, you see a large hut-like building across the steep valley to the east. Smoke billows out of the oversized chimney, and through the distance you can see large humanoid creatures milling around the hut.
The cliff face of the mountain rises above you, reaching higher and higher with each step you take. The mountain is known as Kir Sabal, and you can see the side of the sheer cliff dotted with structures built into the vertical wall. A wooden path clings to the wall from the floor to the buildings, a zig-zagging line of precarious wood in the freezing cold that rises 500-600 feet above the cliff floor.
But before you can scale the wooden walls, a frozen lake lies between you and the cliff.
Brag gazes at the hut-like building and its surroundings.
"I think those figures we see moving near the hut are stone giants. They should not be a problem for us to move past. They're not really aggressive."
Brag sees the lake and the path climbing the cliff ahead and considers what he perceives about them.
"Looks like the lake is frozen and the path is not for those who fear heights."
Thurl responds, "Oh yes, I think we should just be able to talk to them and explain our purpose. I've heard of them before, but never encountered them myself...Does anyone know Giant?"
"Giants, interesting. Should we greet them as we pass thought?"
Lem contemplates the giants.
Approaching the wooden path, Lem appraises the path ahead.
I'm sure there's nothing to worry about." Lem starts up the path.
Arbaro sticks his hand out and crouches slightly, lifting his nose into the air. "Wait," he says in a half-whisper. He sniffs the air, catching the scent of something sulfurous.
"There, in the trees ahead," Arbaro says. Between the branches of the evergreens are over a dozen fleshy blobs milling about the grove.
DR 5/good or silver; Immune fire, mind-affecting effects, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10.) They are the least of all devilkind, mere shapeless masses of quivering flesh. They are usually servants of a more intelligent and capable devil, carrying out mindless tasks. Sometimes those tasks include fulfilling the letter of a contract, technically, though not the intent.