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Good idea to collect samples, Jarva. Alright then. First I will try to detect poison. Then we will open the door using the method described by Dumah with a rope...{assuming the door opens outwards, eh?). Otherwise one of us - Eli maybe - opens the door and moves away - If it is dark in there, maybe I should look in first - scimitar and buckler at ready. My orcish eyes will see in the dark. Someone could stay behind levelling the longspear....Quzman maybe? Any more ideas? Lets do it!
Are the skeletons in the nest human skeletons? Do the remains in the nest reveal anything about their death? It looks like Vardishal appeared to the pilgrims and worshippers of this place for many years after his death...and then something happened as we see no more depictions on the walls. Perhaps the next scene is for us to play. What of the monster that slays Vardishal in this earlier scene? What sort of abberration is that?
Brebork looks a the eggs with astonishment. Well once we clear out this place we can have a feast of thanksgiving with our friends outside. I suggest we make a mighty omelette with these. Brebork is particularly interested in the story of Vardishal and he spends time carefully examining the reliefs...contemplating the meanings to be read in the tale...seeking revelation perhaps
Listening and watching intently, Brebork follows Quzman, his buckler strapped to one arm and his longspear ready to reach out and defend.
Sorry Nazard. But I still don;t have access. I think it requires a gmail address. Can you try sending an email to .... email:
cardanshroom at gmail dot com thanks
You know your powers, and their limitations, much better than I. While I appreciate all the favors you bestow on me, they are most definitely yours to grant as your wisdom dictates Alas, Quzman, knowing the limitations of my power means I face difficult choices every time I use it. I used a conserable portion of my power combatting that bird. Yet hardly any of that Blessing was needed or used at the time. Using the blessing of the Dawnflower to heal you was an easier choice to make. Aside from the terrible loss of Ute, that fight with the vulture cost us dearly by using up magical resources. But I did learn a lesson today. I learned how a long spear can be used effectively in combat to stay defended from a distance while preparing a flank for an ally. That's something to remember.
Oh What am I thinking Brebork says to himself quietly. Quzman is our warrior. He risks life and limb as a matter of routine!No need to be stingy... Channel one more time 5 channels left. Brebork assists with the burial and asks Flynn and Ute's aother companions if they wish for him to pray alongside them for their fallen comrade.
Brebork shakes his head when he sees the broken body of the guard...and is uncharacteristically silent and withdrawn. He looks angry with himself. He marches over to Quzman and reaches his hand out to the wounds.
I think I must pray for you, friend. Or should we use one of our remaining potions first and save my prayers for later as needed? I have used a powerful spell already today..perhaps another less powerful may have sufficed. It is hard to say, but we need to use healing wisely from here on in....I see your wound is very serious. I shall pray for you... Brebork lifts his head up and winces in pain as the healing flame rushes through his hand over Quzman's wounds CLW:
If you don't mind, Quzman. Positive Energy is most effective when healing several people at once...let us see if we get more out of the magic later. Will you be OK for now?
On Brebork's turn Rd3: What do you know of shishkebab! Everyone knows that authentic roasted fowl can only be properly appreciated in Katapeshi kebap style. Let me demonstrate, barbarian! Brebork will step back if necessary for a long-reaching thrust!
PFSRD BLESS: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells---final/bless Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Lasts 1 minute.
Borzig Ghazhaz!* This is one huge and fell beast! We must destroy it right away before it attacks again! Orcish:
Great Balls of Fire! If, after Dumah's action, the beast looks like it is still strong, Brebork will pray for a more potent blessing in the hopes of stopping it before it kills someone! Brebork's move:
Wait a spilt second Jarva! Allow me to cast first... Brebork holds his spear aloft in one hand and his holy symbol gleaming in the other. He begins to chant, his voice building to a thundering pitch. Light of Heaven! Blessed Flame Everlasting! Give us the courage to stand tall! Guide our minds and hands that we may vanquish this fell foe! PFSRD: Bless: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells---final/bless Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Lasts 1 minute.
Well, it's not Brebork's turn yet, but he will move up to Quzman with his spear in one hand, his buckler on one arm and the intention of providing magical assistance depending on what happens.
Last night Brebork basked in the attention and was aglow with warmth and companionship from the people around him. He danced around the fire singing uplifting hymns in praise of Sarenrae - begging others to join him in it. However he made sure to retire to bed at a sensible hour. He gave thanks to his goddess, ecstatic at the favour she had recently shown him. He awoke before surise and welcomed her arrival with open arms. Spells:
Orisons: Stabilize, Detect Poison, Resistance, Guidance
1st Level: Shield of Faith, Divine Favour, Protection from Evil Domain: Bless Dumah, did you by chance have a look at the book we found in the monastery? A treatise on genies of the elemental planes. It is probably significant that it was the only intact book there, don't you think? I suppose there is no time to read it the morning.
Friends. We have some time between now and tomorrow to gather information and supplies before we venture out tomorrow. Perhaps we can make a list of what we need to do. Here are a couple of things I feel need to be settled. Please share any more that you may have. First. I think Eli will need to speak to Zastoran about how we are to repay him. We must find a way to do so promptly, because we certainly received good value from his potions. The Dagger was an interesting suggestion, Dumah. What say you , Eli?
And second, what about Samir and Amir. What makes you guys so sure that they want to come with us? Is it right for us to string them along - and are they up to the challenges they will face with us? If they do come ...how are they to serve us and how will they be rewarded for it? As it stands I do not think we can afford to pay them....and are we prepared to protect them? Nevertheless they may be wise to stay with us, because they do not appear to be especially welcome here. I can go speak with them and figure out what it is they want. Let me know if you wish to join me. And now to clear up a matter that has been weighing on my conscience. Am I alone here in the concerns I have about Princess Almah? She is certainly a haughty woman, which comes naturally to nobility. I understand that. But she is affiliated with the Pactmasters, who - from what I have heard - are a mysterious, powerful and feared organization. Where I come from there is much misery on the streets. Slavery and corruption are the status quo - it seems the Pactmasters are content to perpetuate that arrangement for their own profit. That is their modus operandi in Katapesh. Would it not be the same out here in the desert? That is hardly the kind of ally I would normally wish to affiliate my church with . Nevertheless the interests of my Church, myself, yourselves and Almah are mutual in this region at this time. Almah and I both seek to open up the region for our causes against a growing Gnoll threat. And now we have another unique enemy - the Bandit of Katapesh - who is supposedly a folk hero among my people. Although I certainly do not condone his methods - it is clear he had never planned to confront us in deadly combat. When he fired on Kyra he was defending his man - Zedric - whom we were attacking with deadly force. Remember? And it was Zedric's idea - not his - to capture April. After he killed Kyra he asked us to surrender. We were prepared to end the bloodshed...Dumah began casting his spell...I felt compelled to attack preemptively. Who was the aggressor in the fight? We must operate carefully and always make our cause abundantly clear to everyone. We must walk the walk and talk the talk. It is important to my mission to bring salvation, healing, peace and enlightenment to the people of the desert. If we are seen to be in league with the Pactmasters against common folk our endeavour could be jeopardized. That is how I see it. We have our purpose here. For my part I do not wish to be or be seen as a soldier servant for this Princess. I shall pray to Sarenrae for guidance, that she may help me make wise choices in the days ahead.
There is something that I have been wondering about, Garavel. There is a statue in the Monastery which is graven with the image of a Vardishal - a saint of old. He is pointing directly to the West. I know it is customary for the layout of the chapel to follow celestial coordinates, however Dumah suspects that the statue may be pointing from the Monastery directly to a specific location on the ground as well. Do you by chance know of any places or sites of note in the vicinity of the monastery that lie directly to the West of it? Brebork will also approach Zastoran with the question and ask him what he knows of the monastery in general - including the part about the unusual mould.
Greetings, Garavel. We have much to tell. If you please, can you take us to Princess Almah? Brebork addresses the Princess: By the grace of the almighty Light we have returned, Princess. Alas, tragedy has befallen us on the way. We were waylaid at the monastery by a bandit killer, whom Zedric served. Kyra - our staunch ally and warrior - fell to his dire arrows. And I was sadly not able to sway Zedric to a path of redemption and he was consumed instead by my retributive Fire. One of the Bandit's men also fell to our blades in the struggle.
But April is back safe and in the arms of her mother where she belongs. And we visited the ruins of a great Monastery of Sarenrae which - if we can restore it to glory - will become a key foundational piece for the successful community we are endeavouring to build in this region. We also return with two men who were thralls to the bandit, however they are already on the path to redemption and through our collective ministrations and active care may - with the grace of the Gods - become useful members of this community. They are now under your charge and must seek the forgiveness of April's parents. By their accout they were impressed into the Bandit's service against their will, and I happen to beleive them. Please judge them with care and compassion. In thwarting Zedric we also became aware of a greater conspiracy which we must speak to you about - as it concerns your safety and consequently the fate of our whole mission. To recount the details of our adventure I would call upon my friend Eli, who can unwind a tale with more skill than I can....
So, Princess, as you can see - it appears that the Bandit of Katapesh is working for someone involved with the Pactmasters and who plots against you. He refers to his master as "Father". Can you tell us what you know of this Bandit...and were you aware that you have enemies in Katapesh?
Brebork begins his day by requesting Quzman's presence at his side. Then chants a Hymn to the Flowering of The Morning and performs a ritual to honour the deceased and pray for their redemption and salvation in the ever after. As the group continues it's morning activities Brebork joins the conversation.. I think our immmediate responsibility is to see April home to safety as soon as we can. And as long as the Bandit is on the loose, Pricess Almah is also in danger. She would want to be notified. And I would like to know more about her role in all of this, myself. It seems that she is caught up in the intrigue of Katapeshi power politics. From what we learned of the Bandit, it was not in his initial plans to kidnap the girl and end up in a deadly fight with us. Who knows what interests he represents - good, evil or neither? Someone should speak to Almah about this. As for the camels. Is it possible for two to ride on one camel?
Agree to settle in, In place of the Kyra's post on the watch with Brebork, let us have on of the archers watch with him instead. Based on the posts thus far I think we can unbind the men. Does anyone disagree? Spells for tomorrow: Orisons: Stabilize, Create Water, Resistance, Guidance 1st Level: Shield of Faith, Divine Favour, Protection from Evil Domain: Bless
Barricades to keep us out? Or barricades to keep something in? A barricade is something a person can remove...so I think it is there to keep something inside...something without the skill to tear down a barricade.
Well. Does the pattern resemble anything recognizable? A symbol or image perhaps? In any case this mould may be the outward sign of something much mouldier - and perhaps more dangerous - on the inside. I think we ought to wait before opening this door.
Brebork, alarmed by the puzzled expression on Dumah's face, scrutinizes the mold carefully and skeptically himself. Strange. An unnatural-seeming mold on the wood, eh? Have we attempted to detect magic here yet? I hadn't prayed for that spell today. Perhap you should try here Dumah.
Inspect the mattresses and the bunks. We might as well continue in the same way into the room south of the bunks and then on to the room acroos the hall as well.
The order suggested sounds good to me. Brebork inspects the statue a bit as he passes by.
Let us first inspect those areas in which they ate and slept. etc....
This statue has not been opened for some time. The monastery has been a ruin for many years. The alter has been desicrated. If we disturb this statue, who knows what it may open to - a crypt maybe? As much as I wish to know what is below, perhaps it would be more prudent to wait until we have rested and prepared more spells before opening this.
Dumah is very curious about anything to do with this monastery. He suggests that the other rooms on the main floor should all be checked before retiring for the night, lest there be something or someone in there. As for the statue, does it look like it was opened any time recently?...just curious. And Brebork is willing to use his strength to move it if Dumah is game for the idea.
Did Brebork pray the 10 minutes at the altar? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read the spoiler 10 posts above
The order of events as Brebork would have it:
After praying Brebork plans to work with Jarva and Quzman to tend to the deceased, make sure everyone has plenty of food and water and then (if there is still time) inspect the rest of building interior. Finally - barring some other event - he will look for a hearth (surely there is a hearth of some kind in hall of a fire goddess' temple?) He will light a small fire with any fuel he can find, sing hymns, share light-hearted stories with the girl (and he will even swap tales with the prisoners), He would beg Quzman to tell of Kyra's deeds, he would pray for spells and generally retire for the night..taking his watch as usual -without Kyra this time sadly. If there is no obvious "stable" area to the temple, Quzman would probably not recommend bringing the camels inside. However, he will defer tothe priest and rest of the group's wishes without argument. Brebork would approve of bringing the animals into the nave for their protection...as long as everyone cleans up after them and keeps them away from the altar area.
Thank you Jarva. Let's make sure that Brebork and Quzman are okay with that. Brebork, as a representative of Sarenrae, may have other preferences. And Quzman was closest to Kyra, so we'll want to respect his wishes. These are reasonable suggestions as the sun will set soon. Let us then - with Jarva's kind help - inter the bodies. I shall circle the site with a sprinkling of holy water and we shall light incense there and keep it burning through the night under watch. I have a bundle, Quzman. We shall hold a ceremony at sunrise then.
The northern statue seems to be gesturing to the west. Does anyone know what is in that direction that it may be referencing? Brebork listens to Dumah's account of Vardishal and Theodephus intently, obviously impressed with the Wizard's erudition: " Sarenrae's celestial house resides in the Sun's eternal path across the heavens, and so it may not be unusual for one of our holy saints to gesture to the West. But there may be more significance to the direction of his pointing..I am inclined to follow the thinking of one as learned in the history of my church as yourself."Shall we at least have a look at the main floor of the edifice - it did not look so large from the outside. Do we have enough animals to get back?
OK. Brebork has learned his lesson after the treachery of Zedric. I think a rank in Sense Motive makes sense.
Surrounded by the relics and panoply of the temple, Brebork regains insight into the forgotten lessons of Sunday School in Katapesh. Now a lone Missionary, he craves the Religious study he neglected as a child among more studious peers. Knowledge Religion: +4 (Rank +1, Class +3) The rigours of battle have toughened up the big half-orc
Hit points added: for 16 HP
Brebork gathers the pages from the floor with solemn care. He fetches some cloth from one of the travelling garments of the deceased, and using water from his waterskin he methodicallly washes off the alter. When the task is finished all can see streams of tears on his face...as he genuflects before it. How much bloodshed hast thou seen, how much ardour and suffering in thy temple? For ten and seven revolutions thou hast risen each day to see thy house fall to ruin since the man of Aroden harrowed the ghosts from thy hall. And today I have stained thy floor with yet more blood...oh forgive my pride and anger...and forgive these men..please let my companions and myself judge wisely. With thy blessings aid us, that I may return from my travails and consecrate this temple to thee, and restore it to its righful glory -so that it may gleam as a beacon of fire and hope in the desert for all to worship! Come friends, let us finish exploring the main floor of this place and the immediate environs. Then we must gather the dead and bury them before the setting sun. A monastery usually has a plot nearby suited for the purpose. It appears there may be a passage to a lower level or crypt. I think it wise that we wait until another time to delve deeper. Do we agree? Eli, April trusts in you I see. When you have a moment can you find out what she knows of these men? Have they ever threatened her or hurt her? I would have them earn her trust before ours. Perhaps with the power of mercy and the forgiveness of a child they may become allies. What do you think? With that, Brebork sets off to explore the hallway closest to the alter.
Brebork will gather the bodies of the deceased, prepare them for burial and set them aside. He wouldprefer to perform a proper ceremony at sunset. (when is that, anyway? - I assume it is too late to return home today) We may want to take a little time to investigate the rest of this structure. We need to make sure that the Bandit has left nothing, or no one, else behind. Also, perhaps once we purge this region of the gnoll menace, we can return and have this reconsecrated. Of Course, Dumah. Consecration will be an undertaking too large for the moment. Shall we begin with this chapel? Let us see what we learn from the relics in this holy place? Then we can investigate the side corridors. Brebork starts looking around the nave, suddenly agape in religious wonderment. With the action of the battle he must surely have missed most of the details.
Before we begin questioning we must also pay respects to our fallen comrades.
" You boys will sit tight here until I am ready to question you. Sometimes you know more than you think." Brebork winks at them - looking particularily menacing as he does.
With the binding of the captives completed , Brebork will check to see if April is at all hurt.
"April. We are going to take you to your Daddy as soon as we can, but first we have to make sure everyone is safe and sound. We may have to stay here and rest for the night. Do not be afraid. We will protect you. Once we have looked around here we shall prepare something for you to eat and you can tell Eli what happened after you were captured, OK?" To the others:
If any one has questions for April or the captives, please list them.
Brebork helps disarming the first of the two archers. Let us not squander the shining blessings of our lady Dawnflower. We have plenty of work to ! Eli has gone to look for April. Who will join him and look to the animals as well? Jarva maybe? You can look for signs of the enemy outside..you are good at that reading those things. I think we should secure our position and then interrogate these men (women?). It appears that Quzman is deaf as a doornail for the moment. I suggest he stays with us here for the moment. What say you? Does anyone have rope to bind them? He also signals for some rope to Quzman.
With the mists in the air it's really getting to be like a sauna in here as another wave of divine heat radiates through everyone in range, once again.
Where Dumah, where are the archers? Brebork moves to wherever Dumah directs him.
Eli, try to see where he is going! Jarva, give the wizard some potion! He should be up, but I think he may need more. Dumah, Quzman speak up, mates! How are you faring?
Brebork takes a risk again...not knowing where the Bandit is. He moves to A41 (maybe he sees ELI) and there he begins to silently pray, the familiar hot glow of Sarenrae's healing energy fills the misty space.
Brebork decides to stay put and trust in Jarva's judgement. He withholds his standard action until later in the round.
Free actions: "I'm coming after you punk!" calls Brebork, aiming his voice North and East - in a half-baked attempt to throw the Bandit off. "Jarva!". He calls in a hushed and urgent voice "Dumah"
Brebork, barely standing in the fog, and on the brink of collapse, bends down and scrambles to find the potion on Quzman. He grabs the vial and downs it.
Brebork finds the drink both refreshing and zesty - nothing like the inferno he usually associates with this kind of magic. Much relieved from the healing, he looks around to see what else he can do. If, after being revived he is still allowed a move action:
I'm coming after you, whoresson! , he threatens in the fog, but he make his way as fast as he can to Dumah instead.
As he falls, he calls out one more time to his fellow combatants...
Brebork, his face all of a sudden very pale...drops to the floor... out of the fight..over Quzman's body.
Disabled, Brebork realizes he will not be able to help Dumah this round. He is out of range. And Brebork cannot afford to replenish the Boss' HP with positive energy. This man must be neutralized! "Your metal skin won't stop the Holy Flame, scumbag!"
"Gnazhgaz Pfthut!*"
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