"So," he says to the man, "do these critters often travel in packs?"
Dashki considers Jaken's question for a moment. "They crawl up out of the darklands," he replies. "Usually they form a nest somewhere - maybe a dozen at a time? They worship gnolls and idolise them, so they're usually around nearby wherever packs of gnolls infest an area. Of course, the gnolls can't stand the little bastards either - who wants to live under a cloud of ill fortune? If the gnolls have moved into Kelmarane. My bet is there's some isolated part of the town that's overrun with pugwampis." he breaks off his musing with a shrug, returning his attention to the new trophy adorning his staff.
"So," he says to the man, "do these critters often travel in packs?"Dashki considers Jaken's question for a moment. "They crawl up out of the darklands," he replies. "Usually they form a nest somewhere - maybe a dozen at a time? They worship gnolls and idolise them, so they're usually around nearby wherever packs of gnolls infest an area. Of course, the gnolls can't stand the little bastards either - who wants to live under a cloud of ill fortune? If the gnolls have moved into Kelmarane. My bet is there's some isolated part of the town that's overrun with pugwampis." he breaks off his musing with a shrug, returning his attention to the new trophy adorning his staff.
"Intersting," Jaken mumbles, pulling out a weather-beaten journal and scribbling furiously. "Thanks for the information." He smiles crookedly and heads back to the fire to share the information with Parvenah, Losk, and his talkative halfling friend.
Nuveril's small body quivers as she moves a little closer to Dashki. "Then there are gnolls nearby," she breathes, her knuckles white on the hilt of her sheathed weapon. She peers eagerly into the darkness surrounding the camp, as if she could will an army of gnolls suddenly to attack from all sides.
"I've seen their signs," confirms Dashki. "Looks to me like the town is infested with them. Have no fear, you'll get your chance to fight gnolls. Just pray they don't end up gutting you and serving you up for dinner. There's what...twenty of us? And most I wouldnt trust as far as I could spit. Lady Almah's plan to secure a more defensible base is a good one."
Having finished securing the latest adornment to his staff, Dashki seems to have had more than enough socialising. He stands without comment and returns to his tent, ignoring the rest of the camp as he retires for the night.
The pactmaster guards and mercenaries conduct frequent patrols of the surrounding area, so none of you are required to keep watch through the night. The camp soon lapses into quiet as you prepare yourselves for the coming day.
In the morning, Garavel musters you all to ensure you all understand your orders. He is accompanied by Father Zastoran who seems decidedly unhappy.
"The five of you are to explore and secure the monastery Jaken and Parvenah discovered yesterday," he reiterates. "Lady Almah does not wish to spend another night without a secure and easily defensible base of operations. If possible, we need to be able to move in tonight. Zastoran here has prepared some healing potions for you, make sure you use them wisely - our resources are not unlimited."
Father Zastoran frowns as he moves amongst you, distributing small vials of an oily liquid. "These will cure you of most wounds," he explains, glowering sternly. "They are very expensive. Only use them in an absolute emergency! With luck, you will not need them at all. I will be able to tend to any wounds when we join you this evening - If any fighting breaks out and you sustain injury, try to wait until then for any healing you may need. There's no sense wasting such valuable charms unless it's absolutely necessary."
"So, any question?" asks Garavel before you depart.
After his morning prayers, Losk joins the others, armoured and loaded up and ready to go.
Father Zastoran frowns as he moves amongst you, distributing small vials of an oily liquid. "These will cure you of most wounds," he explains, glowering sternly. "They are very expensive. Only use them in an absolute emergency! With luck, you will not need them at all. I will be able to tend to any wounds when we join you this evening - If any fighting breaks out and you sustain injury, try to wait until then for any healing you may need. There's no sense wasting such valuable charms unless it's absolutely necessary."
"If'n we are injured enough t' need these, best to use em, than get another bolt in the back and die wi' it in yer hand. I can tend t' most wounds we may encounter while we clear oot this place though too, so we should be ok. Thank ee though, wouoldn'ee want to look ungrateful!"
In the morning, Garavel musters you all to ensure you all understand your orders. He is accompanied by Father Zastoran who seems decidedly unhappy.
"The five of you are to explore and secure the monastery Jaken and Parvenah discovered yesterday," he reiterates. "Lady Almah does not wish to spend another night without a secure and easily defensible base of operations. If possible, we need to be able to move in tonight. Zastoran here has prepared some healing potions for you, make sure you use them wisely - our resources are not unlimited."
Father Zastoran frowns as he moves amongst you, distributing small vials of an oily liquid. "These will cure you of most wounds," he explains, glowering sternly. "They are very expensive. Only use them in an absolute emergency! With luck, you will not need them at all. I will be able to tend to any wounds when we join you this evening - If any fighting breaks out and you sustain injury, try to wait until then for any healing you may need. There's no sense wasting such valuable charms unless it's absolutely necessary."
"So, any question?" asks Garavel before you depart.
Nuveril gives a rather suspicious look at the vial, which she holds gingerly but tucks into her pack nevertheless. "Go in, kill everything," she repeats. "What's to question?"
Parvenah takes the vial with a smile and tucks it into her beltpouch. "Many thanks, Father. It will not be squandered." She strings her bow and checks the laces of her boots. To Garavel she nods "We will travel there straight away and deal with the simians. I hope to report back this afternoon, but lacking proper intelligence about the inside, I cannot make that a promise."
When the group is ready to move out, she leads them across the scrubland at a trot.
Grumbling and complaining about the lack of proper sleep, the sand, the heat, the wind and the "stupid monastery probably filled with stupid dirty smelling monkeys"
He is last at the gathering with Zastorian and Garavel. He greets the others with a yawn.
As they all take of, he walks in the back shielding his eyes from the sun.
Grumbling and complaining about the lack of proper sleep, the sand, the heat, the wind and the "stupid monastery probably filled with stupid dirty smelling monkeys"
He is last at the gathering with Zastorian and Garavel. He greets the others with a yawn.
As they all take of, he walks in the back shielding his eyes from the sun.
After thanking Zastorian for the potion, and promising to use it as a last resort, Jaken pats the late-arrival on the back.
"Chin up, my friend," he says amiably, "at least the air is fresh, the sun is warm, and the wind sings us a tune."
Jaken double checks his huge backpack, making sure all his gear is accounted for, and finally tightens the straps. Adjusting his wide brimmed hat, he nods to the rest of the group.
"Let's be off, my friends! This time tomorrow, fate willing, we'll be finishing up a nice breakfast after a sleep indoors."
The five of you assemble and begin heading towards the monastery, perhaps thirty minutes to an hour away from the Sultan's Claw campsite. As you depart, the rest of the camp are breaking into their familiar routines. The pactmaster guards and Garavel remain with Almah whilst Hadrod, Hadrah and Zastoran busy themselves with their duties. The mercenaries perform a thorough scout of the nearby area, checking for any signs of trouble. They also begin dismantling the burnt out wagon, salvaging what they can. Dashki keeps to himself, gobbling down a breakfast before heading out into the wilderness also, though in a different direction from that your party is taking.
As you draw nearer, Jaken and Parvenah lead you to the covered hillock from which they watched the place yesterday. The building looks structurally sound, although there are many holes in the roof and some of the walls. There are also signs of old towers which have now collapsed. Surprisingly, most of the windows still have stained glass panes intact. The only entrance to the building appears to be through two gaping holes in the western wall.
Nuveril scowls at the ruin and spits into the dust in disgust. "And inside that, Lady High-and-Mighty will feel safe? If gnolls come in the holes in the wall, the she-camel will be 'safe' enough to cower in her trap for a few minutes before their blades find her -- or their manacles. Even a rat in its burrow can dig another way out if the snake finds its entrance."
Nuveril scowls at the ruin and spits into the dust in disgust. "And inside that, Lady High-and-Mighty will feel safe? If gnolls come in the holes in the wall, the she-camel will be 'safe' enough to cower in her trap for a few minutes before their blades find her -- or their manacles. Even a rat in its burrow can dig another way out if the snake finds its entrance."
"Always so chipper, this one," Jaken sighs. "Still it does offer better protection than sitting out in the open. It reminds me of the story of Sheikh Al'Hadaffi's seige against the..."
He trails off, once he sees no one is listening.
"Ahem, never mind then. So, Parvy, what do you think is the best avenue of approach?"
Losk strides silently, but purposfully beside the others, falling again into a foul mood as the sun gets higher.
"Ahem, never mind then. So, Parvy, what do you think is the best avenue of approach?"
"Well, laddie, there's two doors. So pick one an knock why don' you? I'll be here waitin wi' me axe for whatever bites t' first chunk otta ya"
"Sheesh," mutters Jaken. "I've stepped on rattlesnakes with better temperaments than this crew. My mother use to say 'If you can't stand the heat, don't sleep near the hearth!' Good advice." He clears his throat and raises his voice slightly.
"No offense meant, Master dwarf, I just don't particularly want to be the first one who gets bit. I'm hale and hearty enough, but try not to bleed before lunch if I can help it.
"Oddly enough, our fierce little friend here" he gestures to Nuveril "is probably the most...ahem...qualified to do the honors. Unless you think it may be booby-trapped."
"Sheesh," mutters Jaken. "I've stepped on rattlesnakes with better temperaments than this crew.
My mother use to say 'If you can't stand the heat, don't sleep near the hearth!' Good advice." He clears his throat and raises his voice slightly.
"No offense meant, Master dwarf, I just don't particularly want to be the first one who gets bit. I'm hale and hearty enough, but try not to bleed before lunch if I can help it.
"Oddly enough, our fierce little friend here" he gestures to Nuveril "is probably the most...ahem...qualified to do the honors. Unless you think it may be booby-trapped."
Nuveril draws herself up to her full height. "I am not afraid of anything that might be hiding in there. Just keep your wits about you and be ready to strike down any cowardly thing that flees my wrath."
Parvenah languidly draws an arrow and sets the nock against the string. "Let us wait ten minutes or so to see if any of the baboons come out to forage... It would be easier to deal with them out here than cramped within the walls of that temple." If nothing exits withing a quarter of an hour, she will nod and lead the group forward toward the western (left) hole.
Once nearby, she will inspect the ground for recent tracks/spoor.
Nuveril draws herself up to her full height. "I am not afraid of anything that might be hiding in there. Just keep your wits about you and be ready to strike down any cowardly thing that flees my wrath."
"Bravely said. I am at your side," Jaken says. "Great idea, Parv. If nothing comes out, I'll check the door."
"Oddly enough, our fierce little friend here" he gestures to
"Ack, now theres a true word." As Losk speaks he unfastens the large axe he caries, and hefts it.
Nano is not saying much in this discussion, his eyes going back and forth as his companions speaks. He hides a smile at Nuverils boast, by scratching his chin.
As parvenah suggest waiting for the Baboons his face brightens
"Now there's an idea i like. Let's wait for them, or even better draw them out" he then looks at Nuveril "and then unleash the fury that is Nuveril on them". Nano then flashes a grin at everybody.
"I don't think they are coming.."
1d20+5=17, 1d6=6
You lie in wait, watching the monastery for ten or fifteen minutes. You don't see any movement, although hear the odd noise from deep inside - an animal call that could easily be a troupe of baboons. After that time has passed, you proceed towards the monastery cautiously, approaching the gaps in the northern wall to see that it leads into a ruined, overgrown nave.
Long pillars run along the length of the entrancechamber, a carpet of rubble, weeds and the odd bush struggling to get a foothold. The walls have red and yellow tiles on them, although they are faded and covered with years of caked grime through exposure to the weather. There are many large holes in the roof, although the rest of the structure looks in better shape than this section. To the eastern end of the hallway, stone stairs lead down into what appears from here to be a chapel of some description.
Nuveril stands in the doorway, on guard as Jaken inspects the entrance and declares it free of traps. Parvenah finds ample evidence of baboons, together with some other tracks she is not familiar with.
"Quiet, please," Jaken hisses. "Do you hear that?"
"Quiet, please," Jaken hisses. "Do you hear that?"
Perception (listen) (1d20+7=9)
"Psshaw!" the halfling scoffs. "You hear the sound of your own heart hammering in your chest with fear."
Jaken shrugs at Nuveril's barb.
"Only a fool or a god shows no fear...and I've never seen a god of your stature." He sighs.
"Regardless, I hear something."
Losk tilts his head to one side as he hears the noise. "Aye, laddie, I hear it too." he whipers.
You can all hear the usual sounds of the scrubland, the occasional cry of a bird or animal in the distance. From the chapel to the east of the building you can hear a faint sound of banging, probably some loose plank blowing in a breeze. Through the opening opposite the nave, leading in to the relatively intact southern wing of the building, Jaken hears some hooting calls and cries. Although obscured slightly, it is nonetheless clearly the sound of the group of baboons he and Parvenah saw yesterday.
"Well laddies, and ladies, time we introduced ourselves to these bloody monkeys." Says Losk as he stands and moves forward to wards the doors. "Who fancies going first?" he says with a wink as he raises his axe.
Jaken grins at the dwarf's enthusiasm. "You're a surly one unless battle rears its ugly head aren't you? Better than being surly all the time I suppose." He winks back.
"Nuveril, I believe you desire the honors?"
"Nuveril, I believe you desire the honors?"
The halfling hefts her weapons proudly. "If the dwarf cares to race me, I believe he will find me the swifter."
Parvenah nocks an arrow on the bowstring and holds it in half-draw. "Fine, let us move in, but this is not a race. The baboons can be quite territorial so if we can pick off a few of them before they know we are here, they may be easier to route. I find no glory in killing a band of ragged apes and am content to drive them off if possible. I will walk parallel to you, Nuveril, and cover your advance. Do we want to work our way toward the chappel, or do we want to explore the ancillary rooms first? There may have been food stores there that would have attracted the baboons."
When they enter, Parvenah will stay about 10' or so to the side of Nuveril, hugging one row of the pillars if they head toward the chappel.
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Jaken grins at the dwarf's enthusiasm. "You're a surly one unless battle rears its ugly head aren't you? Better than being surly all the time I suppose." He winks back.
"Ack, yee'v not met many dwarves have ye lad?" Losk grins, Turning to Neveril, he says "Well, hup, hup, let's catch em at play" and darts (for a dwarf) forward...
Nuveril and Losk take the lead, crossing the entrance hall lined with pillars and entering the southern wing of the monastery. Behind them come Parvenah and Jaken, with Nano bringing up the rear. You enter a large chamber, from which many doors and entrances open - leading to various rooms and chambers. There are some holes in the roof, allowing some weathering, but overall this section of the monastery is in much better shape than the entrance hall. The chamber is empty apart from a large statue of a winged woman - immediately identifiable as the goddess Sarenrae.
To your right, you can look in on a mess hall with rotting tables and chairs strewn about. There are two closed doors in the eastern and western walls and a door hanging open which leads into a large room in the southeastern corner of this wing. The sounds of apes is clear to all of you from here, the baboons are clearly nesting in that room. Before you proceed much further, however there is a crash from the open doorway to your left. Looking through into the eastern chamber of this wing you see what is clearly a kitchen, with benches around the walls covered with utensils, pots and pans.
The sound you heard was made by a jackal headed pugwampi, standing on the table and staring at you with tiny, beady eyes. It chatters and alarm and you see there are two others in there as well. With a shrill series of cries, the three of them reach for their shortbows and nock arrows.
Here is the updated strategic map.
Here is the tactical map at the start of round one.
With much high pitched, whining yaps and yelps, the three pugwampis fire their shortbows at Nuveril and Losk as they move in front of the doorway. Those who encountered the pugwampi last night feel the same sense of unease and wrongness.
Two of the arrows slam into the doorframe, but one strikes home, grazing Nuveril slightly.
Nano runs for the door opening but staying behind Parvenah and Nuveril and spots the pugwampys "Not again.." he moans before focusing inward on his magic powers and conjures a ray of acid from his palm, towards the nearest pugwampy.
Losk loses his humour as he kneels for a moment before the statue, head bowed .
At the noise to the left he swings round with his axe, the momentum taking him off balance again, and as he looks up, notices the Pugwampises , and storms into the room, heading for the nearest one. "Bloody little wretches, yu'll feel me axe now!"
Attack at nearest Pugwampi, Atk: 16, Damage: 9 *
Jaken shrugs off his backpack , moves towards the pugwumpi on the right while drawing his short sword, and slashes at the tiny, hideous creature.
"Do not let their small size fool you," Nuveril shouts. "They are a mighty warrior race! But here," she continues in a more intimate tone as she closes to melee range with one of the creatures , "you have no goat nor cliff to use to your advantage."
Attack with scimitar (1st 2) & madu (2nd 2) (1d20+1=16, 1d20+1=6, 1d20+1=8, 1d20+1=4)
Parvenah waits until Losk moves then steps into the space where he was, sighting straigt in on the Pugwampi. In a smooth fluid motion she pulls the arrow and rests he tumb upon her cheek...all perfection in form, fluid and easy. Unfortunately, one of her bangles gets caught on the bowstring and with her release, an odd metalic twang sounds as her arm jerks and the arrow embeds itself in the doorframe. Unbidden, a rather vicious oath escapes from Parvenah's lips.
Jaken and Nuveril rush forward into the kitchen, drawing weapons to engage the pugwampis. However, each finds themselves stumbling over the debris and garbage strewn around the room, their attacks sailing wide. Losk has more luck, his axe sailing through the air and knocking the centre pugwampi to one side, its small body landing in a motionless heap. Stymied by the pugwampi’s aura of ill-fortune, Nano and Parvenah both fail to have any effect, standing just beyond the kitchen as the others rush in to engage. From where they stand, the two of them can hear the baboons in the southeastern room begin to emerge from the lair, drawn by the sounds of the battle.
The pugwampi before Nuveril drops its bow, retreating beneath the benchtop defensively as it draws a sword with a snarl. Lunging forward, the savage beast deals a nasty cut to the halfling. On the other side of the room, Jaken’s opponent also discards its shortbow, attacking him with a tiny sword which draws blood but doesn’t trouble him too much.
Attacks on Nuveril and Jaken, respectively. (1d20+3=23, 1d3=3, 1d20+3=18, 1d3=1)
Critical confirmation on Nuveril. (1d20+3=16, 1d3=1)
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Updated My Map...Have I got the baboons at the right door?
Losk look sat the two remaining Pugwampis, and deciding Jaken needs the most help, moves to attack the most Southerly.
2d20.takeLowest(1)+2=4, 1d8+1=6
This time though, he stumbles over his own feet, and his axe swings wide, taking a large chunk out of the wooden surface the Pugwampis is standing on...
