Markhet will offer to heal one of the PCs. Probably Descartes.
"You have idea what creatures might be in monastery?" Ugh asks Almah.
Later, when the meeting is about over, Ugh will ask her "You know of old half-orc woman in Kelmerane who lost son to gnoll slavers many years ago? Ugh looking for mother."
Ugh:
"We don't have any information about the Monastery, I am certain a structure like that cannot have stayed completely abandoned for this long though so it is certain something occupies it."
"I am sorry, I have no information about anyone who lived in the village. Perhaps when we get to the village we can turn something up."
---------------------
After spending a day helping repair the camp and clean up after the fire the party sets out bright and early. The monastery sits isolated on the top of a large hill. It is a large rectangular structure with several towers jutting out and a large ornate rounded section coming from the west side of the structure which you assume is the main cathedral. The structure is largely intact but there are several sections of roof which are collapsed and most of the windows are smashed out.
On the north side of the monastery are two large entryways, the doors are missing, either missing or rotted out. Coming too and from the doorways are some fairly obviously trodden paths.
edit: Map
Ugh feels better after a couple nights rest and a fairly uneventful day after the night of the fire. Ugh carries his armor on the trip to the monastery and puts it on once they get close. Then he looks around to see if he can get any idea what might be waiting for the group in there. Also he looks to see if he can see any footprints and perhaps determine what creature or creatures made them.
Perception:
Survival:
Desvartes spends the following mornings rising early and spending time with Anala as she communes with her deity. Initially just sharing the quiet peace of the dawn, later asking simple questions and learning more of Anala's faith. Of an evening Des spends time happily listening to Lucius as the man talks about his beliefs.
Des does let Markhet heal his wounds, while making sure the small Gnome is no longer as bullied by some of the other camp followers. For most of the time Desvartes is happy to continue fetching and carrying for the caravan, pitching in to help make every one else's tasks that little bit easier.
Upon arriving at their final camp before the Monastery, Des puts his back into helping with the defenses of the caravan. Moving sand and other natural occurring things (bushes, rocks) to give the sedentary wagons and the defenders cover. As the sun rises and his new adventuring companions gear up, he to dons his armor and weapons.
Markhet seems very exited about the prospects of adventuring, it seems far more exiting then mucking up after the animals, filling water buckets, and any other mundane tasks a small slave might be tasked with. She is up and ready to adventure almost at dawn, Larrs is saddled and ready, Markhet herself dressed in leather armour with her sickle strapped to her side like a sword.
In her battered old armour Markhet looks more like a little human boy then a female gnome. Part of the reason is the secondhand armour, probably designed for a halfling male, and the leathers rob Markhet of what little femininity the scrawny little gnome has.
Larrs and Markhet run and play for most of the journey, zigzagging across the route the rest of the group is using . . . the desert heat not seeming to touch either. Larrs acts like a big kitten, chasing insects, pouncing on imaginary foes, and roaring to frighten wildlife he knows he can't catch. Markhet seems along for the ride, the gnome seems to be giving commands occasionally or is at least shouting something to the big cat, but as too how much control the tiny gnome has over the cat is still questionable.
Markhet is actually scouting:
Perception:
Survival:
Ugh and Markhet search the area, Ugh turns up a pile of dung but can't quite recognize the flavor. He notes there is a little fur in the dung but it's mostly vegetable.
Market notices a few pair of footprints of some sort of very small humanoid.
"They is smaller then Markhet," the gnome muses upon discovering the tracks, "Market wonders if there's any more of those dog men about? Markhet wasn't there when the other found them last time. Markhet thinks she'd better tell the others."
Larrs and Markhet come bounding back to the group.
"Hey," shouts the little gnome, "guess what Markhet has found? Tracks! Tiny tracks. could be there's more of those dog things around."
Larrs and Markhet come bounding back to the group.
"Hey," shouts the little gnome, "guess what Markhet has found? Tracks! Tiny tracks. could be there's more of those dog things around."
Upon hearing Market's words Desvartes groans aloud, sagging slightly and leaning against large frame of Ugh as if for support. His theatrics last but a moment as he straightens, a look of resolve and determination coming across his features.
He sighs, "Burning the Gremlin infested building to the ground was not given as an option by the good Lady Almah, was it?" He asks in a semi-rhetorical question.
"Looks like we have to do this the hard way." He shrugs about in his armor and double checks all of his equipment.
Anala spends the night in a deep slumber, waking early to begin her morning meditation. She Then packs her things and follows the others on their trail to the Monastery.
"Looks like we have to do this the hard way." He shrugs about in his armor and double checks all of his equipment.
"And after the last encounter I fear that the hard way is going to be the only way to do it."
She does not look happy about the prospects of encountering more of the dog creatures, but after her inital assessment she continues with the others towards the Moastery in silence.
"Markhet isn't allowed to have a flint and steel," the gnome happily notes, "Markhet's old master thought that she started fires, which was strange because Markhet was sold to him as an animal handler, and Markhet wonders at the sort person that would buy a psychotic fire starting gnome to train his attack animals. He never thought Markhet would train his animals to attack him or something? Markhet thinks someone was lying and blamed Markhet for something she didn't do."
"Da hard way it is den." Ugh says as he draws his mighty axe. "Ugh axe hungry for dog-man-creature."
Ugh will carefully lead the others to the entrance of the monastery (unless someone objects). His axe is out and ready for action.
Markhet will be near the front unless she's told otherwise.
Ugh has his armor on and his axe in hand as the group carefully approaches the monastery. He keeps a sharp eye out for trouble as they go.
Perception
Once the party gets close to the Monastery, Anala detatches herself from the group and slips off ahead to scout the area before their incursion.
Stealth Check:
Perception Check:
Lucius will tag along behind Ugh.
Returning from her scouting, Anala announces her findings to the party , then takes up her position protecting Lucius as they prepare to move out.
Returning from her scouting, Anala announces her findings to the party , then takes up her position protecting Lucius as they prepare to move out.
Listening to Anala's voice Desvartes smiles, looking around at the others,
"Um, so the gang's all set? Which opening shall we look into/enter? Left or right? Larger or smaller? I'm for large, the better to accommodate freind Larrs and their companion Markhet." He replies with a grin ;)
Hey guys, sorry about the delays... I'm going to have to bow out from running this PbP. Apologies to those who kept active.
Much cheers!
Sorry this couldn't continue, it was fun.
But I understand, I too have started games that I had to bow out of.
It takes quite the commitment of time and energy to DM a pbp game (let alone play in an active one) and my hat is off to those who can keep it up.
At least now i can go read my Legacy of Fire books lol.