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Shimei takes a moment to survey the monastery.
DC12
DC15
DC18
DC20
Erizi crouches behind the big rocks, and surveys the building, seeing nothing unusual.
"perhaps those of you with stealth, should try to find out more about the area, and if there are any occupants". "I will remain ready to charge in whenever needed".
1d20=11+3 = 14 Perception check.
"There is something in there. Do you see them beneath the canvas?"
"I agree Zaid, there is definately some manner of small beasts in the ruins.Could it be those mites called pugwampis that we had so much fun with back at the ladys camp earlier?"
Nombir takes note of what he sees, draws is great sword and waits for the decision to advance on the monastery once the others are ready. He then says "There's a fair bit of open ground between us and the monastery. Shall we see if we can move around it and see if there is another way to approach with more cover?. I think even the most stealthy amongst us may have a high chance of being seen and I don't fancy wandering around in the dark."
"Couldnt we taunt whatever is inside the ruins to come to us, we have the higher ground bows and a steady wall of steel if needs be, or how bout setting alight the canvas rags and some of us using stealth to make a two pronged attack, whilst the rest goad the inhabitants out to fight."
She glances at the group members as she says it, her arms become wildly animated, her voice remains low but very excited.
"Though most of my training was in straight forward attacks, I did pick up some pointers on strategy, and the first thing taught is to find out all you can about your enemy".
"If none of you are stealthy enough to scout out the camp I shall attempt to do so myself".
Erizi lays down his shield, and prepares to remove his armor for quietness, then looks around to find out if there is a way to move around the area keeping close to shadows, rocks shrubs...
"Stay, Erizi. I shall go."
Shimei turns to the yellow dog. "Stay, dog." The dog sits and watches until Shimei is halfway down the slope, then gets up and starts to trot after the cleric.
If needed: Stealth rolls during reconnaisance (1d20+2=16, 1d20+2=16, 1d20+2=14)
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Shimei
There are many small windows ten to fifteen feet up on the walls, these dot all the walls. The massive curved chapel had long vertical stained windows but these have largely gone and plant life seems to clog many. The wind must howl through the sides when a scirocco blows.
However time and the elements have worked at the wooden roof. It is sagging and holed across most of the monastery when Shimei finds a good vantage point to the east.
His stealth and care seem to work since he eventually arrives back at the party.
Shimei Perception (sight) DC13
....
The Rest of the Party
Shimei will be gone for quite some time. His stealth is impressive but it takes him a while to get out of sight. If he intends to travel at this pace, he wont be back for several hours.
Meanwhile as the rest of the group wait they may notice one or two things happening out of the ordinary.
Perception Check DC15
Perception Check DC20
"Look at the size of that!" says Nombir to the party and points at the large vulture like bird flying around the monastery. "Lets hope Shimei looks out for the dog, or it may become bird food! Lets make sure we keep a good look out while we're here".
Nombir sheaths his sword and settles down to keep an eye on the monastery and the surrounding area.
Zaid is too interested in watching Shimei sneak across to the monastery to notice much else. he does look up at the vulture when Nombir points it out.
Hearing someone Nombir mention something about a large bird of some type she glances up briefly shrugs her shoulders and pays closer attention to what Shimei is doing, more interested in keeping an eye out for trouble on the ground than in the air.
Erizi watches the brave, or stupid, he hasn't decided which yet priest make his way cross country. He actually moves pretty silently considering that is not his calling. At the mention of the bird he looks up and his brow wrinkles in concern.
"I hope that is not a lookout" he mumbles to himself. He then returns to shifting his gaze between the priest, the monastary, and the flying creature, ready to leap towards any trouble that might arise.
The afternoon sun dulls his senses, and he begins to nod off into a half sleep.
Shimei returns. The dog is right at his heels and obviously unconcerned with stealth now. "The area around the monastery seems clear. The only way in is through those gaps in the wall. There are no other doors. High on the walls are many small windows. At the left end - maybe it was a chapel there are some taller windows, most are broken out. If someone is living there, he doesn't tend the building. Most of the windows are broken out and there's plants growing on the sills and in cracks in the walls."
FW:
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Erizi
The sun reaches its zenith and beats down. All the rocks around have gradually become warmer and warmer, the air dryer and dryer, and shade more and more necessary.
Any movement inside the building has now stopped.
Ummmm....I rolled bad.
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Despite the shade provided by the boulders and the shortness of the distance walked, Erizi, in particular, suffers from the heat. His armour is becoming very warm indeed, baking the warrior like an oven whenever Erizi moves outside the shadows.
However resting in one place, helps.
Shimei's exertions also spell trouble and his breathing is a little ragged by the time he returns.
The sun's high position and the exposed nature of the mountainside means it will be three or four hours before the dangerous conditions begin to lessen.
Nombir notices the sweat on Erizi's brow and offers him some water and says "drink this, are you ok?"
"Seems to me that we need to move fast before the sun takes its toll upon us, we are slightly exposed here. I say lets strike, whatever is in there won't be expecting anything during the hottest part of the day and therefore maybe slow to react, lets not hesitate to act."
"I say me and Shimei will climb through the windows either side, whilst the more toe to toe guy's go straight through the front door."
She grips her scimitar firmly wavering it at the ruins beyond.
Zaid notices Eziri and Shimei suffering.
"I can help you endure the heat." he says to Shimei and Eziri.
Shimei is silently ashamed that he did not properly prepare for the day's heat and accepts Zaid's spell with gruff thanks.
Replying to Zsithreminni he says, "I agree we should move quickly. But the windows may be difficult to get through. We can storm through the gaps in the walls. Let us decide that there."
"Thank you Zaid that feels much better". "i feel like fighting...lets go". "Perhaps we should approach from an angle without a view into the building". "Maybe we can surprise them". "If not when we are noticed let's try to end this as soon as possible".
"Thank you Zaid that feels much better". "i feel like fighting...lets go". "Perhaps we should approach from an angle without a view into the building". "Maybe we can surprise them". "If not when we are noticed let's try to end this as soon as possible".
"Good idea. The slope to the left is easier and offers less opportunity for us to be seen from inside the monastery."
Nombir leans on his great sword, listens to the others and waits for our illustrious tacticians to make a decision so we can get on with it! For once he agrees with Erizi that this is taking too long to sort out, so he says to Erizi "you're the soldier here, how should we do this then?
"I am a warrior, not a soldier". "I was trained to fight one on one not with a group...still, as Shimei, has stated I believe we should take the slope with less direct view".
Astounded at his longest statement in front of the whole group, Erizi begins to head in that direction, keeping to cover as much as possible, and keeping his head up for danger.
"Well what are we waiting for, lets aid our comrade and get into that monestary before nightfall.Come let battle be joined."
She hurries after Erizi crossbow loaded.
Zaif looks a Nombir and shrugs, then follows after the other two.
"This is what we are here for after all."
"I would have preferred to wait until first light, so we could fight in a cooler temperature and the shadows may have helped to mask our approach, but then I'm only a priest not a warrior. Lets go then!" Nombir moves along with Zaid making the best use of cover and keeping his eyes on the surrounding area the best he can.
A recently rejuvenated Shimei says, "Our foes will have to fight in the heat too. And there will be some shade inside. I would spend the night inside rather than out on the sand. Erizi is right. Let us go look inside now."
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The party get to within 30 feet of the monastery when the cover ends. Ahead they can see nothing untoward, the cracked pillars of the pen and ruined hallway beckon. Nothing has passed by in the last few minutes. The sun beats down from above, its like a weight bearing down on everyone, except Erizi, in such sparse cover.
There are window gaps choked with grass to the left, these lead into the massive chapel and there are two holes in the nearside wall.
Beyond are the two entrances one that may link into the garden.
The hallway is littered with rubble that will make it harder to traverse, but shouldn't be too bad unless a fight breaks out...
"I suggest that those of you with ranged weapons move into range of the monastery and provide cover, while the rest of us move up to it. Once we are there, you come and join us".
"I suggest that those of you with ranged weapons move into range of the monastery and provide cover, while the rest of us move up to it. Once we are there, you come and join us".
"All right with me." Shimei removes his bowstring from a pocket inside his cloak, then, in an almost continous motion, loops it around the lower end of his bow, props the bow against his foot, bends the bow, and loops the sting around the upper end of the bow. He shifts his quiver higher on his back and checks that his daggers are in easy reach. "Ready."
Erizi sees the priest ready his bow and nods at him before beginning his careful approach. If he is spotted he will run to the side of the building nearest the door, then burst in swinging his massive hammer.
Joining Shimei to provide missile cover keeping a close eye on the windows.Drawing the cowl of her hood over to help mask her eyes from the glare of the midday sun.
"Maybe charging in their unorganised wasn't such a good idea after all. Bit to keen for my own good ."
Zaid follows behind Eziiri
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The hallway runs the length of this side of the monastery, littered with rubble and debris large enough to conceal small creatures.
The ragged pillars dotted about hold no wooden ceiling, except to the far right. In the wall opposite are two archways, the nearest has a good deal of light from the garden beyond, the furthest is mostly dark. However the poor roof is so damaged that mostly dark could easily become well lit in some chambers.
To the left is a wide and gently sloping set of five steps leading into the massive chapel, either side of it are arched openings to small chambers, vestries or shrines perhaps.
A small straggly cactus sits in the left hand corner.
No sounds bother Erizi, Zaid or Zsithreminni. Nothing untoward can be heard yet.
Erizi glances quickly around the area, to determine if he senses any danger, then he steps into the doorway, and motions the rest of the party forward.
"Pugwampys?"