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A small gust if wind blows through the garden when Manuun steps closer. Seeing the abundant mess of hiding places Manuun casts his eyes distrustfully over the place checking for hidden Pugwampis or other surprises.
"They were famous heroes here in Katapesh and there have been a lot of stories about them over the centuries. Although that might not always have been the same people. For instance they fought to free djinnis from evil wizards during the age of enthronement." Manuun replies to Ohrmizd.
Then he remembers something: "Soraya, how was the monastery called again? St. Vadishar?" . He checks the relief once more murmuring:"Kardswann, Pazhvann, Vardishal,..! I think I have it. This guy in the middle is called Vardishal. Maybe the monastery is named after him?"
There is not much too see, besides dense vegetation. But you hear soemthing. Some kind of bird maybe?
"Mmm... they wanted to free the djinnis? I thought djinnis and basically all from the Age of Enthronement was b#~%#&@$ myths" Ohrmizd looks even more reverently and intrigued at the bass relief figures "St. Vadishar? Mmmm... that makes sense and explains the relieves. I wonder why they would consecrate such a temple in a frontier land like this... Should it not be done in a more central part of Katapesh? Like a city or something. Why to place it in such a remote location..."
As he discusses with Manuun, he also looks around with his scimitar, attentive to details, checking the walls around "This area here... it is either solid stone or there is an empty space between here and the statues hall".
When Manuun describes the bird he has heard Ohrmizd says "A vuplture. They are scavenging birds. Probably he has been attracted by the smell of dead pugwampi... I would just leave him be, there are just a few better ends for a dead pugwampi"
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"How did you mange to grow iup in Katapesh and not believe in Djinni? Evry second story has one in them. Just because they show sthemselves more seldom these days does not mean they dont exist." Manuun looks at Lofnaiali and Thalumilali for agreement on the subject.
"As for the Monastery ,maybe its the site of some great battle he fought or some miracle he performed? Isn't that how such spots are chosen?"
A statue adorns the eastern wall of this chamber, a bearded figure appearing on a hilltop to a group of robed pilgrims. The being holds up his hands, palms out, in a sign of peace. Though many of the faces and limbs on the bas-relief have been worn down or cut away, the expressions of those range from beatific to horrified. A secret door leads to the missing area.
Looming walls enclose this small roofless garden. A wild cacophony of multicolored scrub plants and desert weeds have almost completely overgrown the space.
Called by Manuun, Ohrmizd leaves the octagonal room for now and joins the search of the secret door "Ah! Good eyes yours! Let's see what have you managed to find here" Ohrmizd puts his hands on the wall surface and starts to push with all his strength "Well... *mmmmphf* when you have been kidnapped, enslaved, and made a life as an urchin in the streets of Katapesh *mmmphf* the idea that a benevolent creature will come out of a lamp and concede you your wishes *mmmph* it does not only sound a myth but ill intended by those in power for you to stay put and obey"
With a final push Ohrmizd opens the secret door and steps into the roofless garden "Well... as of certain, the gardener has not visited the monastery recently"
The Keleshite looks around the overgrown grass looking for maybe something left in such a hidden place.
Provided he finds the other secret door, Ohrmizd tries to push it away as well "Come here, help me please!"
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"I don't believe that a djinni will come out of a bottle and save me!" Manuun shouts defensively."But I have seen to much evidence that these elemental spirits exist. But I admit that they have retreatet to the elemental planes and I understand how you might think they are not taking part in our affairs anymore."
"But I can also assure you, you are wrong. My mother was convinced that a benevolent Wind was blowing over my live and I can assure you that I have often been helped by a fallen object or a gust of wind blowing up some dust to hide my escape. Maybe its not a Djinn but giving what you see here how would one still doubt."
The no longer secret doors were hold shut by the vegetation that grew over them. Besides the dense vegetation that wasn't the original use of this part of the monastery there is nothing to see here.
Ohrmizd smiles back to Manuun "So you are the son of the Wind? Well, I am not going to be the one to correct you good Manuun. Let's see if we are to be corrected and we find a Djinni, or who knows, an Efreeti, just around the door" the man moves around the vegetation looking for something "Psst, I hope one of those loafers contracted by the Princess really knows about tending a garden. This place is Wild!"
Once it is clear nothing remains in the vegetation, Ohrmizd moves on the exploration back to the orthogonal room, using the light of his scimitar to see forward.
This austere octagonal chamber has a tall roof and an aerie of leering gargoyles perched atop each point where a wall meets another wall. An unholy stench of rotting meat, dried blood, and animal excrement hangs heavy in the air, no doubt from the fine crust of gore, animal carcasses, matted leaves, and guano covering the floor.
There are some interesting things lying on the floor, but there are also thre giant moskitoes or the like that don't ask for a blood donation.
The stirges drop down from the wall and attack.
Two stirges grab the visitors from behind and insert their proboscis into the neck.
Ohrmizd wrinkles his nose as he smells the dung "I have seen cleaner stables..."
The man has no much time to follow up a conversation as the giant mosquitoes attack and he tries to react skewering his with the scimitar "Look at the size of that thing!!!"
Tahlumilali moves rushes into action attacking the stirge that was currently attacking Manuun. Slashing at it with his curveblade.
”Manuun Ohrmizd! Lofnaiali calls out as she nocks an arrow and prepares to fire.
Ohrmizd knocks his stirge out. Manoon doesn't reach where it is attached, and the attempts to help from Tahlumilali and Lofnaiali are not helping.
The third stirge drops on Tahlumilali.
As the stirge starts feeding on Manuun he starts feeling light headed.
"You! This place is to be restored to its former glory and there is no space in it for you overgrown insects! Fly away!" successfully detaching his stirge, Ohrmizd steps next to Manuun and tries to help him "Important now lad, don't budge!"
"Ok, guys I hope you brought some insect killing rackets because those things can really transmit disease. Just splat them!" Ohrmizd continues his fight to try save Manuun.
Ohrmizd keeps wrestling with the stirge trying to save Manuun.
Manuun tries to get rid of that bloodsucker, but doesn't get a hold of it. Ohrmizd tries to help Manuun, but he is lucky, that his head is still on his shoulders, after the attempt to swat the thing with the scimitar.
While Tahlumilali wrestles with his own stirge, Manuun is in danger of losing more blood, but the stirge falls off.
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A small gust of wind from the openroofed secret rooms gets caught up and amplified between the octagonal walls and catches the stirge off guard, making it loose its grip on Manuun.
The boy gives a short shrug at Ohrmizd "Didn't I tell you?" before fumbling out his Crossbow and looking to dodge a new attack by the bloodsuckers.
"Oh wow!" Ohrmizd looks at the wind with a mixture of surprise and impression. The Keleshite then tries to hack at the stirge before it follows up Manuun "We still need help to drop this one!"
Manuun's stirge leaves. It is not interested in getting swatted. It flies back up to the ceiling and hangs there.
"That one is yours Manuun!" fearing for the nearly paralyzed elf, Ohrmizd jumps over the stirge on Tahl's neck and tries to hack it (the stirge, not Tahl), or at least scare the insect "Don't budge Thal!"
The striges are properly dead. The one on Tahlumilali is cut in half and the one above is nailed to the ceiling. Manuun's blood slowly flows down the bolt and drips to the floor.
Strewn about the floor are 43 gp worth of loose coins, a chime, and a
fine silver bowl.
"Rats! I hope you are not infected. Those insects where ugly and nasty" Ohrmizd checks on Manuun's wounds.
Afterwards the man starts to look around the room "Let's see what we have here... dung... mmm... s#&$... more dung... mmm... a coin! More dung... look what is this? Is it some kind of chime? S&!! here, dung there... curses, these stirges are ugly and nasty... look this bowl seems made of silver! That might please the princess, it will need some cleaning..."
"Do any of you see any magic auras in here?"
Ohrmizd nods "Magical? Mmmm... interesting. Let's take it, along with the silver bowl and the few coins. Garabel told us we could keep whatever we find. Pssst... do not tell Soraya and Dashki. We will share among us" the man winks an eye to Manuun.
Then, agreeing with the direction, Ohrmizd moves along to the next corridor renewing the light spell in his scimitar and checking the next room "There is a set of stairs in here. I say we check them next"
The eastern cloister walk abuts what must be the outer wall of the monastery itself. The lengthy wall bears a marred sculpture depicting the five figures from the north cloister mural in battle against numerous creatures of evil demeanor. Several of the creatures appear to be composed at least partly of fire, while others are much more difficult to define, being outright monsters of unknown origin or unusual warriors with weapons bonded into their flesh like organic tools. In the background Pale Mountain looms large, and over it two titanic figures lock in a deadly wrestler’s embrace. One has the demoniac visage of a noble efreeti, while the other is a gorgeous woman who could only be a djinni princess. Opposite the sculpted wall, a series of open arches leads out into an open-air courtyard.
”By the gods I hate bugs.” Tahlumilali says with a shudder after Ormzihd minna the stirge that was attacking him. [B]””Thanks for the help.”/b]
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"Speaking of Garavel I think we should look from time to time after the donkey and check that the Pugwampis left him alone."
While speaking Manuun throws one more look at the chime. "Maybe I have an idea? Lets check omething out. "
Manuun take the chime to the secret room and tries to find a placement of open or closed doors which creates a draft that will ring it.
"No need for the thanks, we are companions now. You will do it for me tomorrow" Ohrmizd answers while observing intrigued what Manuun is doing "Ei! Don't break that, it seems something expensive."
But otherwise he moves his attention to the wall sculpture "Mmm... more djinis of yours... and this ones doing fire... those are eefriti's isn't it?"
After contemplating the artwork Ohrmizd moves in to the stairs room.
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"Yes that's an Efreet I think. Looks pretty powerful to me. Maybe Vadishar has fought him? I really hope we maybe find some book or scroll about that story of hers somewhere where the Pugwamois couldn't find it. That would definitely be something to tell at the bazaars of Katapesh"
"Dont you think we should make sure everything is save on the ground floor first. The princess said we are supposed to make sure the camp is secure here. I also think sooner or later we need to drive off that vulture in the garden, although we can leave this for last. And before we go downstairs soemwhere, could somebody please look at that arrow wound on my arm. it hurts awfully."
The brightly painted walls of this small chapel, probably meant for personal prayer and reflection, stand out as unusually garish for the otherwise reserved architecture notable elsewhere in the monastery. On the walls, numerous rectangular wooden plates traced in gold filigree depict a strapping warrior battling creatures of fire, riding a chariot on the wind, and engaging in other acts of noble heroism. It is the same figure depicted elsewhere in the monastery, but the sheer number of images here suggest that this shrine was especially important to the clerics who honored him as a saint of Sarenrae. Perhaps a quarter of the gold plates have been pried away or hacked apart by long-absent vandals.
Opposite the door, dominating a section of the north wall, stands a man-sized statue of the warrior, its face marred by what look like numerous blows from an axe. The statue holds both hands in front of him, bent at the elbow, palms up, as if expecting an offering. Several deep rents from similar axe blows make it clear that someone tried to hack the arms from the statue decades ago, but was unable to do so.
"The most dangerous place is always the catacombs. We would do good by facing that first while we have all our resources available rather than later when we are fatigued" offers Ohrmizd who turns to see the wounds pointed by Manuun "Let me see that... I can only ask the goddess one more healing blessing for the day. I do not want to use it now and find later I have to save someone unconscious and have no means for it..."
"But come here... this chamber seems a calm one. Let's see what can be done..." Ohrmizd checks the arrow wound and takes a strip of clothing from his belt pouch and starts to roll it around Manuun's shoulder and arm "Take sit, this will take some time" patiently the man cleanses the wound, sanitizes it like his mentor showed him, and makes the cloth pressure to avoid further bleeding.
While performing the treatment Ohrmizd observes the brightly painted walls "There seems to be a theme here, about these fights between the fire figures and the wind figures. And look this statue... what kind of person savages a piece of art like this one?"
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"Yeah you are right, this is definitely something the patron saint of this monastery spent a lot of time with. Luckily thats way in the past."
While Ohrmizd treats his wounds, Manuun spents his spare time looking around the room and thinking about the statue.
"You are right, this looks pretty extreme for a pugwampi or a graverobber. Maybe he was expecting something to be hidden inside it?"
Manuun checks out the statue very carefully, looking for secret compartmments or levers.
Manuun doesn't find anything specific at the statue, but he remembers seeing scratches on the floor when he entered. On closer inspection it looks like the statue can be moved.
If one would hear well enough, one of them could hear what appears to be thumping followed by someone calling for help.
"Wait... let me do this, we don't want your wounds to open again" Ohrmizd comes to help Manuun when he discovers about the marks in the statue and tries to move the piece of stone with all his strength "Ei! I think I hear someone. I fear the crypt of the monastery might be infested by zombies. Sarenrae, give us strength!" the Sarenrite asks for the guidance of his goddess while doing strength.
If not enough, Ohrmizd pushes as much as he can.
The statue, though heavy, moves easier than expected. But the effect is kinda disappointing. Now the statue stand ssomewhere else. On closer inspection you find that there is a secret door. Weapons ready you open it expecting shambling undead.
Instead you find a human surrounded by three dancing lights. He has seen better times.
That could not be understated.
The Keleshite man had small slashing wounds all over his body. While they seemed minor, much of his clothing has been soak in blood.
Yet through it all, he still managed to crack a smile when faced with actual people.
"Yeah... not quite my best moment," he winced.
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Manuun pauses shortly, considering whether this might be some very elabborate trap. Then he remembers the Pugwampi and their own experiences with them.
"ヒツ レツワ! What are you doing here?" and helps the man out of his predicament.
When the have helped him out and he is safely sitting in the chappel, Manuun takes a step back and ask. "So please! tell us what happened here? Why do you decide to take a nap behind a locked trapdoor?"
Ohrmizd looks startled at the Keleshite in front and echoes most of Manuun's words "W-what are you doing here? Are you ok? You seem battered..."