"Kara, would you mind showing me that trick with your dagger? I would love to learn that."
Mirama smiles at Kara, while searching for her waterback...
"Kara, would you mind showing me that trick with your dagger? I would love to learn that."
Mirama smiles at Kara, while searching for her waterback...
Kara blinks a few times, then smiles back at the woman, "Oh, you mean hiding and drawing it without being seen? Of course!" She repeats her trick of drawing the dagger so quickly that it's difficult to even notice any movement, much less where it might have come from.
Slight of Hand (1d20+8=22)She waves the dagger about just to make sure anyone who's watching notices that it is, indeed there. "Now watch, I'll do it slowly." She pulls her dress aside slightly to reveal a leather strap and small scabbard attached to her thigh, where she she places the diminutive dagger. Then with a flick of her wrist, she pops the instrument out of the sheath again and into her hand. "It helps if you do something distracting with your other hand...or any other part of your body," (with that she winks at Mirama before continuing) "but the main idea is just to move quickly and practice it over and over until it feels natural."
"You have your own dagger, right? Mine's probably too small for you. There, now you give it a try."
Although the distance from the Sultan's Claw to the monastery is only a mile, the journey seems to have taken an age.
Almah has asked you to secure this building as a base, by eliminating or driving off any creatures that may have taken up residence.
The monastery sits atop a small rise. Holes in the roof, windswept soil and encroaching vegetation speak of years of neglect. Patches of red-orange are still visible where some artwork displaying the glory of Sarenrae must have once existed, but the majority of the intact walls are now a dark brown. The structure is primarily rectangular, with a large ovoid wing at one end - possibly the chapel.
Access to the interior can be gained through one of the many narrow windows piercing the walls, or through one of two large openings where part of the wall has collapsed on the western side.
Ikethru had distracted herself with watching Kara teach Mirama to the point that she didn't realize they had arrived at the fallen monastery until after the others.
"By the Goddess..." She was glad they had finally found it, but the sight of the place was heartbreaking. She clasped the ankh of Sarenrae hanging from her neck as she prayed for that they would be able to reclaim it. Oh Dawnflower, this temple will be retaken in your name!
She looked to Javeed and Martika, who had struck her as the more strategically inclined of their group. "Surely we will not be able to sneak in under daylight. But it could be more dangerous to wait until night. How do you think we should approach?" She deferred to their wisdom, but it was clear in her stance and shifting from foot to foot that she was anxious to start as soon as they could.
Mirama is was trying that dagger-thing until arriving at their destination
But it looks like it will take her some time until it feels naturally. "You know, Kara, this is as hard as it looks!"
Than, Mirama raises her head, looking at the monastery, sheathing her dagger.
Kara peers at the ruined building. "I dunno...maybe we should just go knock on the door and see if anyone's home?"
"Wait, not so fast little one." Javeed croutches low looking for tell-tale signs of activity, he makes his way towards the temple keeping a keen eye out for signs that the building is inhabited, recent tracks, discarded refuse, or any sign of life.
Javeed sees streaking on the walls indicative of birds using them as a roosting point. He hears the wind sighing as it passes through the windows and holes in the walls and roof, and the intermittent hissing of sand being flung against the walls.
Kara sees no doors to knock on.
Ikethru moved closer to Kara, laying a hand on her shoulder to stay her eagerness to go forth. "Yes, we should avoid announcing our presence." she agreed with Javeed, keeping her voice gentle to avoid seeming as if she was scolding the girl. "We do not know what may be waiting in there. It could be gnolls or worse. Certainly nothing benign could be inside, or else a house dedicated to our goddess would not be in such a poor state. And anything that provides shelter will draw something to it in the desert."
She looked around, and pointed at the gaps in the walls. "Going in through the windows might slow us down. Should we simply hurry inside as quietly as we can?" She wasn't sure if it was the best idea strategically, but put it forth to Javeed and Martika.
"Well, I would like to have some stone walls about me soon. Nature is very nice to look at from a distance, but I have had enough close contact to last me for a while."
Javeed will edge to the monastary walls to get a closer look and scout the perimiter, "Watch my back"
Stealth=11.
Kara mutters under her breath "Big oaf's gonna get himself killed, stumbling about like that." Then louder so the rest of the group can hear "Perhaps I should go take a look instead - I'm much smaller and less likely to be seen."
Ikethru nodded. "Go ahead, but stay close to Javeed!"
Kara silently creeps up to Javeed, motions for him to stay put, and continues on towards the ruined building to scout for trouble.
Kara and Javeed see nothing stirring outside of the building.
Nothing is seen moving in the area beyond the large openings, and the deep, narrow windows would only allow sight of what lies beyond if the someone wished to stand in front of them until their eyes adjusted to the shadows beyond.
Kara and Javeed see nothing stirring outside of the building.
Nothing is seen moving in the area beyond the large openings, and the deep, narrow windows would only allow sight of what lies beyond if the someone wished to stand in front of them until their eyes adjusted to the shadows beyond.
Kara moves as close as she dares to the openings and tries to peer into the darkness to see what's inside. She also strains her ears for any sign of life.
Perception (1d20+2=19) (21 for sound)
If she's unable to detect anything she'll continue around the building, scouting the entire perimeter.
Kara slips out of sight, while Khalit grows more and more nervous.
Kara
Kara sees and hears no movement within the two openings. They appear to have once been archways leading into some great hall, but much of the surrounding stone has collapsed. There is the strong odour of some sort of animal dwelling here, as well as the acrid ammonia stench of a great deal of bird dung.
Proceeding around the building, she next comes to the large roundish wing. Many windows pierce the walls at various heights here, and Kara hears movement within, and even a high-pitched voice!
Another small wing on the north side of the building has three large windows. They appear to be easier to get through than many of the other windows she has encountered so far.
The east wall is mostly intact, with only a few high, small openings.
The south-east corner was once a tower, but now extends no higher than the rest of the building. The roof seems to have taken more damage here than elsewhere.
Kara suddenly appears in front of the party again. "Couldn't see much, but I heard movement and voices in the north-west of the building. There's some large windows around on the north side that we might be able to slip into and surprise them. I think we should avoid the main entrance...there's an evil smell there - I'm afraid something large and mean has made its home in the courtyard." She looks quite grim and serious while delivering her report.
Ikethru was grateful to see the two return, but her face turned grim as Kara spoke. "I wonder what that could be, the thing you smelled... One thing at a time." She drew her scimitar and looked tot he others. "Shall we go now?"
"Let's move in! Surprise will be our friend here."
With that, Mirama draws her rapier and waits for the others to move. Surprisingly, she finds herself waiting for Kara's order to move in and where...
"Let's move in! Surprise will be our friend here."
With that, Mirama draws her rapier and waits for the others to move. Surprisingly, she finds herself waiting for Kara's order to move in and where...
Kara nods grimly at the others, then turns back towards the building. I don't suppose we're gonna live through this, but no use being reckless about it. She quietly starts her way back around to the north side of the monestary, keeping her distance until they've cleared the corner. She'll pause after the first few steps to make sure everyone's following her before continuing.
Stealthily circling the large round wing, the party approaches the three windows that Kara informed them of.
The silence of the day is broken by the buzzing of several flies beyond the windows, and the occasional breeze brings forth the odour of rotting meat.
Pulls out his Falchion and peers into a window
Assuming Javeed sees nothing dangerous through the windows, Kara will hop through, hoping the rest of the group follows suit.
acrobatics - I think that's where climb got moved to(1d20+10=21)
Beyond the window is an austere octagonal chamber with a tall roof. An aerie of leering gargoyles perches atop each point where a wall meets another wall. An unholy stench of rotting meat, dried blood, and excrement hangs heavy in the air, no doubt from the fine crust of gore, animal carcasses, matted leaves, and guano covering the floor.
Mirama stealthily, moves 4 squares ahead.
Ikethru held her position as she waited for a signal from the scouts, not trusting that her clumsier steps wouldn't give the others away. She was prepared to run as quickly as she could to their side, however.
Javeed draws back from the window, holding his nose, his face a mask of disgust. He aims a questioning look at the rest of the party.
Seeing the three scouts in position, and misunderstanding Javeed's face, Kara makes a face back at him, grabs the window ledge, and launches herself into the room .
"Goddess!" Ikethru gasped as Kara went through the window. She had only just wondered what Javeed's expression meant to convey from the distance when the halfling slave disappeared. Ikethru took off towards the scouts, as quickly as she could, turning her head to the al-Raedoth siblings. "Let us hurry, she's thrown herself into danger!"
Prompted by Kara's sudden action, the rest of the group starts forward.
Kara's eyes quickly adjust to the dim light, allowing her to see the mound of refuse and animal bodies, as well as a small room beyond. The stench is overwhelming.
Ikethru looked at the others for a moment to see how they were going through. Jumping through windows wasn't something she was accustomed to doing.
Looking around, Kara notices the gleam of metal in the refuse pile.
Unfortunately, she doesn't notice the 3 flying creatures which were hidden in the rafters until they are almost upon her. They each have a long proboscis and four wings.
Drawing her dagger, Kara approaches the refuse pile. What could that be?
Kara
Kara** spoiler omitted **
"We must hurry inside!" Ikethru hissed, moving to the middle window and trying to make her way inside.
The mosquito-bats follow Kara as she moves towards the offal, and attempt to land on her.
Spotting the creature try to land on her at the last minute, Kara spins around and slices through the air with her dagger.
Ikethru's eyes widened at the sight inside the monastery. She immediately moved out of the way of the others and flung out her hand, hurling a bolt of her goddess' flame towards one of the creatures swarming over Kara.
She prayed the things, and the others, did not scream too loudly.
The three stirges drift in towards Kara while she slashes in futility at them. All three land on her, their tiny pincers latching on firmly. Martika scrambles through a nearby window. Ikethru also enters the room and launches a fire bolt at a stirge, to no avail.
Javeed scrambles through the window, and although he stumbles, he still has time to move next to Kara with his falchion ready.
Khalit moves to the window, and aims an elemental bolt past Javeed. In his care to avoid hitting his allies, his blast goes awry.
Almost in a panic, Kara slices her dagger frantically at the things stuck to her, trying to get them off.
Attack (dagger) (1d20+5=24)
Confirm crit (1d20+5=23)
Dmg (dagger) (1d3+1=3)
In a burst of rage, she connects solidly with one of the creatures, her tiny dagger cleaving it in two.