Nombir leaves with the others and takes post behind Erizi and in from of Zaid.
"I don't know, but that garden may need some investigation, wouldn't like to leave anything hiding in there that could get the drop on us from behind."
She say's pointing her scimitar towards the garden area
"I don't know, but that garden may need some investigation, wouldn't like to leave anything hiding in there that could get the drop on us from behind."
She say's pointing her scimitar towards the garden area
"Look quickly, then. But if there are no obvious enemies, let us move on. The pugwampis are here someplace, waiting for us." Shimei doesn't have any rational reason, but he's convinced the silence of the little beasts means that they know of the party and are waiting in ambush somewhere. He wants to find them and have it out.
Sorry the size isn't coming out right.
"I imagine they could be hiding in all that foliage somewhere."
Zaid points his finger at one of the closest bushes, mutters a short phrase and lifts his hand. A branch on the bush lifts.
Erizi stands ready to smash anything that runs out of the foliage.
"well, seeing I suggested the idea of checking the garden out, I will head through the area. That is if it's not hiding any unwelcome critters."
I will make my way through the garden from the south to north enrance depending upon any naturl barriers hindering my progress.
"I suggest that we just set fire to the bushes/foliage and be done with it! That will drive out anything hidden in there". Nombir gets out his flint and kindling, then looks for a suitable piece of wood to ignite and throw.
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Zsithreminni finds it difficult but does indeed make it across the garden. the ground is a mess of tangled vegetation under the foot high grasses and so she must take care not to fall.
The outer wall of the cloister that she now faces bears a massive carving. the central figure - the heroic man with a pointed beard stands out of each scene.
The grasses and bushes will burn but the cacti are a different proposition. Either way the garden will take several minutes of hard work and probably oil to burn down.
A casual glance behind by Zaid or Shimei sees thatthe outer wall has drawings to do with five men.
Erizi raises an eyebrow at the mention of burning the place down.
"And do we forget the last time we had to deal with a fire". "We would probably burn the whole place down".
"I will flush out any thing here".
Erizi then begins to crash about the place, using his spear and shield to keep distance, and keep the thorns away. Not shouting or making loud noises, but pushing bushes and shaking things to draw out any inhabitants.
If it looks like the place is about to be flamed, Erizi will retreat outside the building, to watch the place go up.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she looks back towards the southern entrance, shaking her head she laughs."See nothing to be scared of nothing in there. Now shall we get moving."
Zaid gets distracted and examines the drawings.
Nombir prepares to follow Zsith, but looks at Zaid and says "what are those drawings about then?"
Shimei keeps an arrow touched to his bowstring as he watches the others move through the overgrown garden and dally in front of the pictures. They let time slip away like water through sand. He shakes his head and lets his mind drift, picturing the garden as it must have been when tended. At last he shakes himself and speaks, "Nothing here is urgent. Let us move on."
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Zsithreminni can see another opening that leads back into the entrance hall way with its broken pillars. There are no other obvious openings in the walls.
Erizi crashes around the garden alone. The bushes and undergrowth reveal little more apart from thick earth. The tree however flicks about as his spear shakes the branches, loose twigs fly everywhere and three large white and red speckled eggs the size of watermelons drop down. One cracks open a little but the other two must be made of tougher stuff. Yellow liquid oozes out of the egg.
Looking more closely, Zaid can see that the marred sculpture is of five figures in battle against numerous bent and dark figures. Several of the monsters seem to be partly made of fire, others seem to be misshapen by grafted weapons. In the background looms the Pale Mountain, and over it two titanic figures are locked in a wrestlers embrace. One has the demonic visage of a noble efreeti, while the other is a gorgeous woman who could only be a djinni princess.
"See nothing here except breakfast" Erizi states heading back to the party with a grin, and two large eggs in his sack. "Lets move on".
When he gets close to the others he reveals his prize.
Whilst waiting for the group to reassemble I will have a look at this other entrance that I noticed.
"Yes, lets go". Nombir moves over to Zsith and waits for her to scout the way forward with Erizi close behind.
Shimei notes the other's movement toward the far door. He taps the distracted Zaid on the elbow and points toward the others.
Zsithreminni can see another opening that leads back into the entrance hall way with its broken pillars. There are no other obvious openings in the walls.
Erizi crashes around the garden alone. ....
The dog uses one cactus in the customary way. Then uses a short-bristled one as a scratching post. It noses through the vegetation, sniffing.
Opening that leads back into the entrance hall way with its broken pillars.
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The group is back in the entrance hallway, with its debris and broken pillars scattered about the floor. Ahead is the opening in the wall which leads back towards camp. To the right there are a set of small steps, about twenty feet wide that gradually go down into the nave proper. Either side of the steps are small alcove chambers, but their nature is just out of sight.
"Lets go down into the nave then. Zsith and Erizi please lead the way. I'll follow with Zaid and Shimei can watch our backs". Nombir draws his greatsword and gets ready.
Erizi nods and heads forward, scratching at the chiggers he picked up crashing through the underbrush.
Shimei's lips tighten briefly in grim satisfaction. At last we're getting to it. The ragged dog slinks in closer to him as he follows the others, arrow on bowstring.
Zaid follows nest to Shimei
Will follow just off the left side of Erizi some 5ft away
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The ceremonial steps lead down into the cavernous nave. As Erizi and Zsithreminni advance close togther everyone gets a chance to glance into the side chambers near the steps.
The one on the left is filled with debris that was once some man-made stone block or similar shape. The ceiling remains intact and there is a bas-relief statue of a bearded man facing outwards. Behind him stands a huge mountain on the outer wall.
Similarly there is a statue of the man on a hilltop with a robed flock of people below stood in a circle. Each statue is huge are reaches twenty feet tall. A crude stone stele (block) sits in front of this statue.
Ahead a short set of steps leads down into a cavernous chapel in which the congregants would gather for sermons in happier times. The vibrant organe and red starburst of Sarenrae still stands behind a film of rusted rainwater and dirt along the north wall overlooking the collapsed altar. Between the stairs and the altar stand dozens of old marble benches, many overturned and even more broken into two or more pieces. A wide walkway bisects the pews, leading directly to the raised altar. Here and there a few clumps of the original red carpet along this thoroughfare hang on against rot and neglect.
Above the centre of the chapel, dangling about ten feet from the floor, hangs a cluster of gnoll skulls in various stages of decay. Strung together like a ghoulish candlebra of twine and bone, the boulder-sized ornament hangs from he wooden rafters about twenty feet above the ground.
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Above the nave are a series of rafters which split away from a central spine rafter running east-west every twenty foot. The rafters can be reached from an iron ladder just inside the nave to the left.
In the south east corner of the nave is a hanging tent of soiled silks, tapestries, tablecloths, altar runners and other bits of salvaged cloth. The tent can be reached from the rafters.
Shimei whistles lowly. Perhaps it's all the talk about burning the garden, but it occurs to him This we could burn. He looks for the dog who is investigating the pillars of the entry hall. Then he looks back into the nave.
"Do we just charge in?"
Perception, looking the foes : 1d20=18 +3 = 21
"Well I'm not fond of balancing on rafters, but I'm also not fond of burning the place to the ground". "There may be innocents held here somewhere, or important scrolls or books". "Maybe we can figure out some other way to bring the tent down to us, or for us to get to the tent".
If no other way presents itself, he stiffens his back and begins to move forward, staying close to the wall on his right.
Zaif looks aghast.
"Bun the place down? Heavens no! We must investigate it first." The he follows after Eziri.
"I'm up for burning the place down. I've always enjoyed watching things burn, although that was mainly heretics!".
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Perception DC12
Perception DC15
Perception DC18
Erizi's head jerks around as he hears something near the pews. Stopping and throwing up his hand to halt his companions, he shifts his mighty hammer to one hand and puts a finger to his lips signaling the group to silence. Then he points at the area he thinks he heard something from, and slowly begins to move forward.
Perception 1d20+6=22
"Well I do not mind climbing the ladder to the rafter's and having a look see best take my crossbow with me too."She say's in a hushed tone taking care not to react to much to the scene.
Perception:1d20=4+3+7
Shimei looks at the area Shimei is pointing to and begins to circle wide, trying to find an open line of fire.
Zaid follows quietly behind Eziri.