Sefu, still in the form of a great hunting cat, slinks back into the kitchen, moving with care over the shattered objects on the floor, to look under the bench. He sees no sign of the escaped pugwampis, but he does see a small hole in the wall under the bench (facing north), that might be just large enough for such a creature to squeeze through.
Al follows Sefu carefully into the room, and dispatches the sleeping pugwampis.
Farasha, the statue is dirty, covered with years worth of grime and some stray bits of dried baboon faeces. Also, one of its hands has been broken off. It could probably be cleaned up with a few man-hours’ work.
Farasha, the statue is dirty, covered with years worth of grime and some stray bits of dried baboon faeces. Also, one of its hands has been broken off. It could probably be cleaned up with a few man-hours’ work.
Farasha gives the statue a quick brush off, and then offers prayers to the broken statue
"If we reclaim this sanctum, noble Sun, I shall restore your icon to its former glory."
Maybe it was your quick attempt at a clean, but the statue looks somehow happier.
Mus'ad covers Sefu until the warrior-turned-cat indicates that the prey is flown. The half-elf frowns petulantly.
"Dire news indeed, the rapscallion is no doubt running to warn the rest of his kin. Unless, you think it likely that they are craven cowards, and he is fleeing into the hills even as we speak?' He asks hopefully, looking at the others. "No. I fear that I indulge in wishes that even Zephyr cannot grant."
"Speaking of wishes, I have used almost all of Zephyr's favors for the day. The only charm of note remaining is a rainbow that should temporarily stun our opponents. Unfortunately it is a short-range burst. I shall save it for an emergency, or several opponents at once."
"So,..." Mus'ad looks around, his crossbow weaving undecidedly down the hall. "Where do we go next?" He asks, obviously out of his element here. He continues to glance at Sefu, trying not to stare, but obviously fascinated by his display of form-changing.
"People ! Did I miss something ? Did you know Sefu was a catwere ?"
Bashad seems enerved by the situation , his sword is in guard position.
"Ah,... No. I can't say I did." Mus'ad admits, giving up on any pretense of not watching Sefu.
"But I'm not sure he's a catwere, there are spells that can allow their caster to assume different forms. And even some powers that allow a few of their followers the powers of form-slip. Sefu? Now may not be the best time," He says to the shapechanged Sefu, sketching a polite but hasty Salaam. "But I must confess to being burdened with a dangerously overactive sense of curiosity. ARE you a catwere?" He asks not fearfully, but almost eagerly, eyes shining with curiosity...
Al places a hand on Bashads weapon arm, as if indicating there is no need for it. 'Well how does one bring it up ey?; "Hi my names Sefu and I have a nasty habbit of chasing mice." Al grins at his own jest. 'I guess this is his way of showing us his abilities, and as long his hunting for gnolls and other foul creatures, Im happy he is with us.'
Shifting back into his human form, Sefu chuckles at the antics of the group "Nah, I am not cursed into this shape. It is no more unnatural to me then Nasir's dance or the blessed power of Sarenrae that Farasha welds." He shacks his head and smiles at the group " No, I “stared
the lion in the eyes and the Lion stared back.That form is as much a part of me as this one. Where one ends the other begins. As much as the hair on your head is apart of you. Now if your finished wondering if I am going to kill and eat you, which way next?" He says with a chuckle
Mus'ad leans over to Zephyr and stage whispers,
"Remind me not to get into a staring contest with him!"
He smiles at both Al's and his jests, as Zephyr furrows his brow and seriously intones,
"Why not master? I think you could win. The trick is to not blink,... and show no fear." The little man crosses his arms across his chest and opens his tiny eyes wide, as if daring for the contest to begin right then and there.
Mus'ad rolls his eyes behind Zephyr's floating form, and winks at the group.
"Well Sefu, if you DO decide to chase me, I beg for a few paces head start. You are quick!" He almost laughs aloud, then looks toward the door the baboons came out of. He continues in a much more subdued voice.
"In the meantime, I am also glad that you are with us. And you are correct, which way next?" He looks around and shrugs his shoulders to indicate that he has no idea.
Ok , you are not contagious then , let's go
'Well let us continue, keeping in mind the possibility that the Pugwampis may now know of our pressence and be planning a trap for us ey?' Al moves down the corridor to the room the baboons entered from and steps through the doorway.
Mus'ad nods his agreement, and moves to keep the others covered with his crossbow, helping to bring up the rear. (Although he does his best not to be the LAST one in the room they are leaving!)
Farasha nods
"Onwards then my friends, let us cleanse this holy place of its verminous infestation, Dawnflower Willing.."
Bashad will be at the rear
The redolent stench of dirty fur and animal leavings hangs heavy in the air of this small room, over-powering even the smell of blood and recent death from the corridor.
The room appears to have once been furnished with several simple beds, each accompanied by a small nightstand. This furniture is now largely ruined and strewn about the room, its remains incorporated into nests for the baboons who laired here. The walls are decorated with a simple mosaic pattern of red and orange glass chips, though the colour is largely obscured by a thick layer of grime and filth that covers most of the room’s surfaces.
Despite the dirty and ruined appearance, the room appears largely intact and structurally sound. There are no other apparent exits or windows except a small skylight, its glass long gone.
Farasha looks about the room, then examines the mosaics to determine whatever information she might know about their manufacture
Mus'ad looks about the room, wrinkling his nose in distaste at what is probably covering the walls, but nods appreciatively at the mosaic.
"Nice room." He whispers softly. "With a little work, I'll bet this is a beautiful reading solar."
He points Zephyr to look around the room, looking for anything that might be useful in the rubbish.
The room appears to be empty of anything remotely interesting or valuable, unless one is cataloging the living habits of hill baboons.
The tile mosaic is of geometric shapes, sunbursts and abstract patterns, but does not appear to have any particular significance, historical or otherwise.
The door down the hall is made of heavy looking timber, embellished with oxidised bronze fittings and bands. It is closed.
Al moves to the door and turns the handle, pushing it open.
A sagging wooden balcony, accessible via a steep timber stair overlooks this large room, which must once have been the monastery’s library. An overpowering odor of musty, rotting paper and old leather fills the air here, and hundreds of books—most appearing too damaged even to open without destroying them—litter the floors. Empty bookshelves line the walls of both levels.
The chamber has a high ceiling, with small windows at a high level around the perimeter. There are no other visible exits.
Farasha takes in the ruined library
"What a shame, all these ruined tomes. Such destruction is abhorrent to the Dawnflower."
"so...much...knowledge. All gone to waste. Filthy little vermin!"
Nasir speaks with vitriol, for the first time any of you can recall.
Mus'ad glances at Nasir, looking surprised at the usually charming woman's vehemence. But he nods in solemn agreement.
Mus'ad whispers to the others, asking if any know of the usual layout of this type of building. Or if anyone had a search pattern in mind. He asks because he would hate to wander around in a circle of the entire building, with the creatures we search for in the middle watching them and laughing at them the entire time!
Nasir:
This is a monastery, so you would expect there to be more dormitories, and probably a dining hall. These would be located somewhere near the kitchen, so they must be nearby – probably through the archways on the other side of this corridor (in fact, a casual glance through these archways reveal largish rooms, one holding several long tables, the other rows of beds).
The focus of the building will be the chapel, almost certainly the large structure at the north-west corner of the building. This is likely to be the largest chamber in the building, and may cover more than one level (perhaps with a balcony or mezzanine level). There will probably be another large chamber or space, possibly a scriptorium, gymnasium, garden or courtyard, probably quite centrally located, which would put it just north of your current position.
The various wings and structures jutting out from the main building are likely shrines or meditation chambers. In addition, this building probably has a basement level, a cellar or crypt.
Mus'ad takes one last, sad, look around the room.
"Ok. Where next?" He whispers, setting his face in a firm and determined look.
|
"There should be more dormitories, and probably a dining hall probably through the archways on the other side of this corridor. The focus of the building will be the chapel. The main part of the building'll be the chapel, the large structure at the north-west corner of the building.
I'm pretty sure it's the biggest chamber. It might be more than one level.
There's probably another large chamber or space, a scriptorium, garden or courtyard, probably quite centrally located, so North of here."
Mus'ad raises his eyebrows, and grins.
"Impressive. Brains and beauty. North it is then." He bows and salaams, indicating the lady to precede him.
Al nods his agreement. 'Makes sense. Let us go then ey?' He heads to the end of the corridor and peers around the bend to the north
The corridor extends north for about the length of the library beside it, before terminating at an arched opening. Beyond that opening, there is another corridor or similar space, but this one appears quite open and airy, with daylight streaming into it from several windows along the eastern wall, and a series or arched openings along the western wall. You can feel the daytime heat emanating from the area ahead, but all seems quiet.
Mus'ad nerves seem to visibly relax, and he gives just a small grin at the sight of shafts of sunlight ahead. But he remains wary, scanning the hall for possible dangers as the others check out the passage before continuing.
"I wonder," HE muses in a barely audible whisper to Zephyr. "If the Pugwampis' bad luck abilities are mystical in origin? IF so, I should be able to detect their presence with a simple cantrip, Detect Magic, which you have so thoughtfully provided for me!" He smiles at his copanion as the tiny blue man puffs up his teeny chest with pride at Mus'ad's words.
"But the charm will only last as long as i can concentrate on it. I may be able to hold it while traveling this corridor, but I doubt that I could maintain it in the heat of battle. Perhaps I should save it for a more opportune time?" He asks his floating friend. Then winces at the glares he receives from various of his companions, despite his near-silent whispers.
Farasha follows the others, keeping her scimitar at the ready
There are no signs or sounds of danger from ahead. Are the group heading north along the corridor, or heading back to explore somewhere else?
Al moves quietly down the corridor to where the walls close in to form a doorway, and once again peers around the corner.
Al advances to the archway (quietly for most people, but he sounds loud and clumsy to his own ears) and peers through.
There are no signs of obvious danger. Wide, well lit halls extend ahead and to the left, their west and north walls (respectively) broken by a series of wide, open arches that lead into an overgrown and surprisingly lush garden courtyard, bathed in hot sunlight. The east and south walls of the halls are decorated with faded murals composed of hundreds of tiny coloured mosaic tiles. Exactly what the murals depict cannot be easily made out from Al’s current vantage.
At the far end of each hall is an open archway, giving access to some darkened chamber or hall beyond. It is easy enough to surmise that the western archway leads back into the columned entry hall.
Moving as quietly as possible, Mus'ad joins the others. HE looks North with a question and a shrug of his shoulders. Then points to the garden with another shrug.
:)
Al will advance to the archs opening on to the garden for a closer look.
|
Al slinks over towards the nearest archway along the north wall and peers around the corner.
Huge branches and overgrown weeds clog the central open air courtyard of the monastery’s cloister walk. In better times, the monastic priests would likely have contemplated the open space while circling the cloister, but today it is barely possible to see a few feet into the tangled mess, let alone all the way to the opposite cloister walk. Here and there the brush thins out enough that a dedicated explorer might be able to create a sort of passage, but mostly it is an impassable mess.
There is no sign of movement or monsters in the sunlit courtyard, but who knows what may lurk amongst the tangled bushes?
As Al moves across and looks about, he can’t help but notice the mosaic mural along the south wall. The tiles are faded and dirty, and in some places missing altogether, but still the artistry and subject of the images are striking.
The mural forms a triptych splayed along the length of the wall. In the first scene, a heroic looking bearded man in a flowing blue robe and a white turban takes leave of four similarly attired companions, who rise off into the heavens, leaving him to stand vigil over the large mountain in the background. The next scene depicts the bearded figure in battle with a flaming half man, half snake creature wielding a spear. The fire spirit transfixes the bearded hero with the spear, seemingly striking a killing blow. In the final scene, the hero appears twice—once on the ground with a wound in his back and once standing over this form, looking down upon it sadly.