Sefu, you cannot see enough to figure out exactly what might nest here … but by the remains on the floor it is carnivorous, and given where Al thought he saw the movement, either a flyer or a climber. If it is lairing now, it is likely nocturnal, or a dusk hunter (as are many of the desert predators).
Nasir’s spell comes into effect; she cannot emulate the puwampis speech, but can easily replicate something that resembles their annoying, high pitched yapping and the patter of their small feet.
In response to the noise of the dancer’s spell comes a droning whine from the darkened upper reaches of the other chamber, and then a sort of whirring sound, seemingly from multiple sources …
The droning whine increases in volume, until a small flying creature bobs down into view through the open archway. The thing has a rust coloured body about the size of a cats, two pairs of madly beating, bat-like wings, eight spindly insectoid legs ending in curved hooks, and a small head dominated by a long, thin, grey proboscis that terminates in a sharp point. The thing hovers about for a moment, and then seems to sniff out the group, wheeling about and zooming towards the archway. It is joined by several more similar creatures that fly down from the shadows behind it.
Sefu seeing the flying beasts brings up he shield and makes his way into the chamber swinging at the creatures
Al takes aim and fires at one of the flying creatures, but the stone flies wide of the intended target [ooc] d20+5=10 [ooc]
Farasha brandishes her scimitar and awaits her flying foes
"Come here spawn of Lamashtu! Feel the cleansing bite of Dawnflower's Thorn!"
Mus'ad gives a small squeak of alarm at the creatures appearance and approach. HE hastily raises his crossbow and fires it at the closest creature, then steps to the side of the doorway for shelter, and reloads his crossbow.
"Zephyr, what are those things?!?" He mutters as he fumbles with the bolt.
Al lets loose a stone from his sling at one of the hovering horrors, but his aim is way off. As Nasir stands ready with her whip, Mus’ad fires his crossbow. His nimble flying target manouvres easily out of the way as the genie-binder steps aside (Farasha edging forward to take his place), trying to rack his brains for what these creatures might be.
Mus’ad:
Holding his shield aloft, Sefu dodges around Farasha and slashes at the nearest monster with his scimitar, but the thing buzzes easily out of the way.
No hits so far … perhaps the pugwampis lurk somewhere nearby …
Basha will draw his sword and move to MM 28 readuing an action to strikes the first creature in his reach
"Stirges Master," Zephyr replies as he hangs onto the half-elf's hair to keep up with him as he escapes the doorway. "Nasty creatures."
Mus'ad nods in agreement, then his eyes widen as he stops loading his crossbow for a heartbeat.
"Ware!" he hisses to his companions, trying not to be TOO loud. "They're bloodsuckers! Don't let them get close!"
I doubt the AoO works Att 10 Damage 6
Bashad’s sword slices through the air, cutting a wing off the lead stirge as it flies through the archway. The thing struggles, spiralling to the ground … but it is not done quite yet, as it drags itself along the stone floor towards Sefu, its long proboscis twitching…
The downed stirge waddles forward and stabs its proboscis pitifully at Sefu, but the druid steps easily aside.
The rest of the swarm flies through the archway and zooms this way and that, seeking to alight on the humans (and halfling) in the room and begin feeding.
Another darts at Sefu, denting its pointed nose on the druid’s sturdy shield. One flaps into Bashad’s face, and while he brushes it aside, another of the flapping horrors latches onto the warrior’s leg below his chainshirt and plunges its needle-like nose into the flesh. The lancing organ is so thin and sharp that Bashad barely feels it.
The remaining stirge flies at Farasha, zooming under the sting of Nasir’s whip – straight into the cleric’s scimitar. However, it is a glancing blow, not killing the creature but knocking it to the floor right at her feet.
Mus'ad looks for a target, and sees too many! With a whispered prayer to whatever deity may feel like listening, he drops his crossbow, yanks out his precious Jambiyah, and steps up and swings at the nearest stirge before he loses his courage!
Al follows Musads lead, dropping his sling and pulling his small rapier as he steps forward to attack one of the creatures flying at Bashad.
With a snarl , Bashad strikes the stirge attached to him
Att 22 Damage 9
Farasha strikes at the wounded stirge
"Back to Lamashtu's poisonous teat, foul abomination!"
Crit confirm: 1d20+4=6, 1d6+2=4
Farasha lands a solid blow on the giant flying mosquito/tick abberation
Al moves forward and skewers the creature buzzing about Bashad, whilst the warrior slashes savagely at the bloodsucker on his leg – killing it before it can in fact suck any blood.
Mus’ad steps forward to finish off the stirge crawling at Sefu’s feet, whilst Farasha completely obliterates the wounded beastie at hers.
Sefu strikes at the thing with his sword
A deft slice of Sefu’s scimitar handily finishes off the last stirge. The chamber falls silent.
Farasha cleans her scimitar
"It seems there will be much to battle in this ruin."
"Well, you all certainly know how to make a girl feel safe."
Mus'ad grins in response, as much from nervous relief as anything else, and salaams.
"We live but to serve, noble lady!" He says with a smile as Zephyr also bows from the waist, floating once again over the Shai'r's shoulder.
Farasha cleans her scimitar"It seems there will be much to battle in this ruin."
HE looks to the Warrior priestess and nods.
"As long as there aren't too many surprises like these." HE says, touching the meager remains of Farasha's obliterated stirge. "Nasty creatures these, we got very lucky. Once they latch on, they are difficult to remove."
This austere octagonal chamber has a tall roof and an aerie of leering gargoyles perched atop each point where a wall meets another wall. An unholy stench of rotting meat, dried blood, and animal excrement hangs heavy in the air, no doubt from the fine crust of gore, animal carcasses, matted leaves, and guano covering the floor. Several tall, open windows look out over the terrain to the north.
Musa'ad cleans and sheathes his jambiyah and retrieves his crossbow. He then takes a look around the room with Zephyr, moving slowly and cautiously, and keeping his crossbow pointing up,...
Sefu stands gaurd, watchful as Musa'ad searches the room
Farasha will remain vigilant, positioning herself to allow access to the group should they need assistance
Zephyr begins flitting around the room, pointing out interesting looking things amongst the muck, refuse and small animal corpses that litter the floor – interesting things that Mus’ad then investigates in greater detail, finding that some of them appear quite valuable.
Whilst the mage begins cataloguing the small treasure hall, Zephyr continues his search, the tiny genie now tapping away at the stone walls, looking for secret ways or hidden doors – and it seems that he finds one.
“Oh master!” he squeals in excitement. “Whilst you are on your knees in the muck, I have found something! The stone here, it rings more hollowly than elsewhere, I believe it a cleverly disguised doorway.
“Oh master!” Zephyr squeals in excitement. “Whilst you are on your knees in the muck, I have found something! The stone here, it rings more hollowly than elsewhere, I believe it a cleverly disguised doorway.
Mus'ad grins, wryly, at his tiny friend. He puts the items they found in a bag and, flicking most of the garbage from his fingers, he makes his way to the wall where Zephyr happily floats.
"Well-done O most mighty of Gen! Truly I am the most fortunate of Sha'ir to have gained your service! Whatever would do without you?" He praises the gen both honestly and effusively, as befits both his tiny companions ego, and faithful service. His sharp elvish elvish eyes easily sees the seam of the door now that Zephyr has pointed it out to him. He waves the others closer and points out the doorway to them as well.
"Well, it seems undisturbed." He whispers to the others. "So is it safe to presume that those who now inhabit this ruin do not know of this passage? Perhaps we can use it to surprise them?"
Doing his best to block the stench of the room from his nose with his hand, Al moves with the others to investigate the door. 'Prehaps we can use this to our advantage against these creatures, and it may also be useful for when we move the camp here.'
Al runs his free hand over the surface of the secret door, looking for a catch to open it. 'Shall we see where it leads?'
Al, you find a cleverly concealed catch which would appear to open the door.
Al will activate the catch to open the door
Al will activate the catch to open the door
Mus'ad steps back, reaching up to drag back the inquisitive Zephyr by his tiny vest, then covers the door with his crossbow. Being very careful NOT to let it point at Al! Just in case the Pugwampis are on the other side of the door,...
Sefu will move forward close to the door. "I will take point' he says as he shimmers into cat form, waiting for someone to open the door.
The concealed stone door swings quietly open into the room at Al’s touch.
Looming walls with no other apparent doors enclose the small roofless garden beyond the opening. Monks must once have come here to relax and contemplate the ways of nature, but any order they might have brought to the place all those years ago is almost impossible to notice now, as a wild cacophony of multicolored scrub plants and desert weeds have almost completely overgrown the space.