[Game Thread] II. The Monastery

[Ockerdoodle]

Alphard looks down to see that the nest has again burst into flames. Knowing that there are many gremlins hiding in the refuge, the gnome decides to hold off on putting out the blaze.

Instead, he decides to move closer to Khandir to see if he can assist the bleeding orc in any way.

 

OoC Move Action: Alphard moves to A16, B5 Move Action: Alphard moves to A18, B5

[DarkTower]

Ro7

Initiative Order: 1)Pugwampi 2)Khandir 3)Alphard 4)Karsh 5)Khalid

Khandir
The arrow is ready in his bow and he lets loose and the string makes the strangest of sounds as if it wasn't wound tight enough. What?! Have the Slavers tampered with his weapons? He looks to see that the string is undone on his bow and his arrow clatters to the floor, whizzing past the gnome as he moves to the dangerous edge of the balcony. He can only stare and wonder what unluck would could cause the string to unwind in this pivotal moment.

Alphard
The Master Gnome stops at the end of the rafters after an arrow whizzes over his head from Khandir and makes a hole into the Nest. He sees the narrow board passing directly to the center of trouble ahead of him... If he's careful he can make it across, going against the evil enchantment on the Chapel.

Looking around he sees that the slave is bleeding from the face and from the thigh. The monster of a man-orc does not seem to notice but some of those hits are serious. He can heal them if he would like.

Karsh
Karsh waits and watches as the fire grows, feeding off the fibers of the nest.

Khalid
Suddenly the gremlins are silent after the announcement Khalid made of collecting their heads after fire and steel. There is hurried chatter among them and then the gruff voice of the King silencing them. After that there is no sound until there is a *click* and then that is it. Meanwhile the enforcer watches below as the desert druid's fire consumes the Nest, snowing ashes to the chapel floor.

Ro8

Initiative Order: 1)Pugwampi 2)Khandir 3)Alphard 4)Karsh 5)Khalid

Pugwampi
There is no sign, sight nor sound, of the of the pugwampi hidden in their nest. Flames flicker and feed and it is the only sound in this dusty and abandoned room. There is a slight *clicking* sound but that is all.

[LupusRegalis]

<Khandir>*Falcata & Lt Spiked Stl Shield||Stats: HP 7/13 ; AC 17/15 Flat/12 touch (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +2 Dex)||For +4; Ref +2;Will +1||Init +4

Khandir sullenly tosses the useless bow aside, spitting in anger in its general direction. Though he noted where it landed for retrieval later. Perhaps one of the carvanserai's members could repair it. Almost petulantly, if any half-orc could be described so, he stoops and gathers his earlier discarded weapons from at his feet. He glances up and eyes the burning nest as he equips himself, considering what his next moves might be. The presence of Alphard nearby is noted, and he nods to the gnome in acknowledgement, but otherwise doesn't intrude on his planning. He still had no idea what the gnome might be useful for.

Maybe it was time to find out. "What ya think, Alphard?..." he calls out to his comrade "Maybe let it burn.. but maybe it burn down this place! No critters to worry about then, eh?" He chuckles at the idea, though the thought of getting trapped inside worried him, a little. And then there was that sound, the clicking. He didn't like not knowing what that was from. "That 'Click', you hear that? Don't think they're escaping eh?"

 

OOC Move action: Pickup shield Move action: Pickup falcata

[Of Line and Flow]

<Khalid> Guisarme & Spiked Armor || Stats hp 13/13 ; AC 18, 12 touch, 16 flat-footed (+6 armor, +2 Dex ) || Fort 4, Ref 4, Will 0 ||

With his voice alone, the feylings did not abandon their 'haven' as he had hoped. But with a small measure of satisfaction, Khalid's senses that the feylings have gone to ground. "Troublesome buggers, do they think we will turn our backs to that which we cannot see?"

"Run, little ones." Khalid hisses softly and menacingly to one side as he stalks the cowering feylings from beneath their disgusting floor.

"Run for your lives." he croons, projecting his voice closer to the wall.

"HYAA!"

Khalid's blade thrusts and slices the makeshift floor along the length of the middle rafter like a shark's fin cuts the surface of the sea. Without support from the rafter, the upward-sloping cloth becomes a drooping lip, hopefully dumping a miscreant or two into his lap. But even if there's nothing there, at least he will be able to see and confirm it.

 

OOC Free Action: Five-foot step into A14/B13. Free Action: Activate Power Attack; -1 to attack, +3 to damage with a two-handed weapon such as a guisarme. Standard Action (or Full-Round Action, if you prefer): Slash the Floor of the Nest (16 dmg) parallel to the rafter from A15/B15 to A15/B11. The cut is on the fire's side of the rafter. Attacking an inanimate object does not require an attack roll.

[Bismuth]

Karsh, slightly annoyed that the nest still didn't resemble a raging fireball, watches as Khalid slices open the bottom of the nest like a fat merchants belly. The nest gapes open and Karsh readies himself to deal with whatever falls out!

[Ockerdoodle]

<Alphard> * || Stats hp 8/8 ; AC 16, 14 touch, 11 flat-footed (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 Cover ) || *For +2; Ref +3; Will +3 ||*

"What ya think, Alphard?..." he calls out to his comrade "Maybe let it burn.. but maybe it burn down this place! No critters to worry about then, eh?" He chuckles at the idea, though the thought of getting trapped inside worried him, a little. And then there was that sound, the clicking. He didn't like not knowing what that was from. "That 'Click', you hear that? Don't think they're escaping eh?"

Alphard responds in a whisper to Khandir so that the gremlins won't overhear them. His words are magically transported directly to the ears of the half-orc, even over the din of flame and chattering pugwampi.



Alphard mumbles a quick prayer to Sarenrae to favor him in crossing her chapel, and then moves out across the rafter.

 

OoC Move Action: Alphard mounts the rafter Move action: Alphard moves to A18,B7 on the rafter Rolls (I'm not sure how these rolls are relevant to what happened, so if you could clear it up for me DarkTower I'd appreciate it )

[DarkTower]

Ro8

Initiative Order: 1)Pugwampi 2)Khandir 3)Alphard 4)Karsh 5)Khalid

Khandir
Khandir switches up his weapons. As he rises back up he sees the gnome brave the rafters.

Alphard
Alphard races across the rafter to get to the Nest. As soon as he lays foot on the rotting board he feels it begin to bend under his weight. A few steps and there is a loud snap. He turns to try and get back to the balcony but it's too late, he feel's his self sliding down. He tries to grip the edge of the balcony but he can feel the ill effects of the Chapel's curse effect him and he just can't seem to find something to stop his fall.

The next thing he knows he's hitting the bottom of the chapel floor, falling into a pier and rolling under a seat. His whole right side hurts badly.

Karsh
Karsh gets his wish. The fire begins to gulp down the Nest, eating a fifth of the whole thing. This is the most influential thing getting the pests out of there.

Khalid
Khalid slashes the Nest and makes a long, jagged rip in the underbelly. He peers up and sees the King Pugwampi and the last of the other pugwampi dissappear through some secret door leading into the Eastern wall.

Ro9

Initiative Order: 1)Pugwampi 2)Khandir 3)Alphard 4)Karsh 5)Khalid

Pugwampi
The gremlins have had enough of this. Threats, fire, arrows, and they almost had a small humanoid reaching them from the other balcony. They all shove through the tight tunnel, their king pushing from the back, urging them on. Khalid watches them disappear.

Karsh and Khalid step back as they see the whole Nest come down to the ground, burning. Finally the whole room is full of smoke as the fire dies down and there is no longer any sign of the pugwampi............

The King and his gremlins are still somewhere out there but are no longer a threat to the PCs at the moment.

COMBAT OVER

[LupusRegalis]

Khandir watched Alphard fall, and hit the floor below, with a wince almost bordering on sympathy, almost. A cruel smile flashed across his face as he thought guess gnomes don't bounce, but quickly returned to the fierce look of a predator as he again focused on the nest. Events were playing out, and the nest fell to the floor in smoking ruin as Khalid gave it its death blow. He saw no other of the gremlins about, though he was sure some had still been alive. "Guess we go hunting" he said off hand, as he slammed his hook-bladed sword back into its sheath with feeling. He glanced about himself looking for his ruined bow, retrieving it and placing it in its case before he made his way carefully back to the ladder leading down.

As the adrenaline filtered out he could feel the pain of the gremlins barbs more clearly. He gingerly plucked the barbs from his flesh, and took his time descending to the chapel floor. His body weight making the old wood creak along the way. Turning around to face the chapel, he looks about the place...Ra'is Almah was going to have a hard time cleaning this up if she meant to live her. er, well her slaves I guess will. He went looking for the fallen gnome, talking as he went though perhaps much of it to himself. Seems he hadn't had a lot of company as a slave. "You live, gnome? Maybe throwing you across would have been better...or maybe just got you farther before the fall,eh? heheh"

"Gazlûmp, I call you." He continued as he picked his way down the row of benches to the gnome, pushing them aside to clear his way and make some room "'short falling one'". He slowly crouched over Alphard and reached down with his free hand to offer the gnome a hand up. It was the most he would do, in respect for the gnomes bravery. His instincts would not allow more, for even a comrade was a liability, when weak. And they were not yet comrades, though the blood spilled here together had started to bind them together in Khandir's mind.

[Of Line and Flow]

Khalid turns on his heel to line up with the others as they watch the fire burn. Danger seems to have dissipated, and the mesmerizing flames help him to relax after the surge of adrenaline. He shakes his head, snapping out of a particularly pleasant reverie.

"Well Done, all of you."

"But, our job is not yet finished."

"Karsh, help me search the room for contraband and valuables. We must recoup the cost of healing sustained during the battle. The antique book there might fetch a pretty purse provided we can clean the sh*t off."

He curses the sheer amount of pugwampi filth surrounding him.

"Alphard," he counts his three instructions on his fingers.

1. "Please inform Garavel of our progress: seven feylings dead or dying, several more routed. The guards must be informed and alert."
2. "Send men to gather large stones and plug that trap door."
3. "Take your friend to Zastoran and heal your injuries. If you need additional supplies, make it quick. I want to hit the Vermin before they have time to prepare."

He checks the gnome's eyes for a lucid response.

Lantern in-hand, Khalid gathers the spears he cast, secures the room as best he can, and searches the Chapel as well as alcoves 1a and 1b with Karsh.

----

By the time Alphard and Khandir return, their shares of the spoils await them in small bundles next to the lantern. He gives them a brief tour of the alcoves, but quickly insists that they can examine the figures at their leisure.

"Let us be done with this."

Khalid leads the way into the West Cloister via the north entrance.

 

OOC Some of us leveled with the last battle. Do you require 8 hours' rest before we get hitpoints and the like? Khalid takes 10 on the perception check to search the chapel and the two alcoves (2, 1a, and 1b) for a check total of 14 (+1 at level 2; +2 with Karsh's help). There will be time to thoroughly search the place later. Khalid enters the West Cloister (area 7) armed with his greatsword. And goodness knows, if I wasn't playing the straight man, I'd be roasting marshmallows in the fire.

[Ockerdoodle]

Alphard moans softly as he rolls gingerly out from under the chapel pew. He coughs and feels a warm liquid on his face. Wiping it on his sleeve reveals blood has filled his mouth.

That, as it turns out, was not a good idea.

He tries to get up, but finds himself momentarily unable to do so. He looks around, his vision still blurred from the blow to his head as he hit the floor and tries to make clear what is going on. As he realizes that the nest is destroyed and the Gremlins gone, he hears Khandir approach.

"Gazlûmp, I call you." He continued as he picked his way down the row of benches to the gnome, pushing them aside to clear his way and make some room "'short falling one'".

"Fair enough," the gnome mumbles as he coughs again and yet more blood trickles down his chin. He takes the half-orcs enormous blood-covered hand and rights himself. His legs still a little wobbly. "Khandir, you really don't look very good," he says as he looks the gladiator up and down. Holes stand visible near the half-orcs neck and blood slowly flows forth from them.

"Karsh, help me search the room for contraband and valuables. We must recoup the cost of healing sustained during the battle. The antique book there might fetch a pretty purse provided we can clean the sh*t off."

He curses the sheer amount of pugwampi filth surrounding him.

"Alphard," he counts his three instructions on his fingers.

1."Please inform Garavel of our progress: seven feylings dead or dying, several more routed. The guards must be informed and alert."

2."Send men to gather large stones and plug that trap door."

3."Take your friend to Zastoran and heal your injuries. If you need additional supplies, make it quick. I want to hit the Vermin before they have time to prepare."

Alphard looks to Khalid and sees his figure slowly swim into focus before him. The man is covered in feyling blood, ashes, and the remains of the nest. His commands ring in Alphard's ears as he slowly processes the information. He gestures to Khandir in the direction of the door as he slowly walks out of the chapel back to Almah's camp. Before leaving however he turns to Khalid and Karsh and says, "Be wary of the book. There is power there of a type I don't yet know. Touching it could prove to be dangerous."

With that, he gathers his pack and walks (with a slight limp) back to the camp to report what has happened and do as Khalid said.

[LupusRegalis]

Khandir nods to Khalid, opting to remain silent but showing he understands. To be honest, at least with himself, he does feel worn down by the gremlins attacks. He could use a breather. So he follows the gnome, providing an escort out of the Monastery and back to the caravanserai. He laughs to himself, and answers Alphard comment in like manner, amusement in his tone. "Fair enough, Gazlûmp. Come, I will accompany you, and meet this Zastoran."

[Bismuth]

At last the damn thing is burning properly a non too often seen smile crosses Karshs face. It soon disappears when he sees Alphard fall from the rafters and hits the floor of the monastery.

He was about to go over and tend to the Gnomes injuries when Khalid decides to orchestrate the groups actions.

He isn't used to being told what to do, being a bit of a nomadic character, but he decides to 'go with the flow' as the group seems to be working well together and he doesn't want to cause any ill feeling by disagreeing with the 'leader'.

At Khalids request he joins him in searching around the area for any valuable items that can be used to offset the cost of the healing potions required.

OoC Need to make a perception roll to aid Khalid Perception Roll Roll

[DarkTower]

The injured half-orc and gnome leave the chapel, the gnome limping a bit as they enter the dusty nave. Even though Khandir is the one with the most injures he ends up the one helping his little fellow the most. It's a peculiar sight, seeing the hardened slave with an iron collar around his neck being as helpful as he is with "Gazlûmp". But in a wild land ruled by gnolls, so far from civilization, allies are always the one you watch out for if you are to see another day in the fringes of Katapesh.

Karsh and Khalid search for anything worth their expense and fallen weapons. The javelins are the easiest to find, they are bent and a few spearheads are chipped from smacking against stone but they are still functional as lethal weapons. In the process of looking for treasure they end up cleaning up the place, having to move the heavy shambles of ash and cloth to the side and clearing the clutter of gnoll skulls. Khalid is more methodical while searching around (taking 10 is fine in this situation and I will assume you are doing so) while Karsh targets individual areas to observe (rolled an 11).

While Khalid collects his spears Karsh finds a chest underneath the broken throne of the pugwampi chieftain, tucked under the fold of the fallen Nest. Opening it he finds a silver ring with the image of bird carved into it. Also there is a strange, dull, small, golden box with leather straps at either end so that it can be strapped on. Moments later Karsh lifts a gnoll skull from the trap that almost got him and finds a mostly dried exercised gnoll lung and inside is an uncut garnet. It's a strange find in the grisly gnoll clutter but the gnolls are known to carry sparkling jewels and coins that they nabbed from their victims lost in the desert as trophies (rather than trade). As the druid holds it up to the light to view there is a loud clang as the Agent unfolds a cloth and lets spill his finds from the altar. He totally robbed the church of religious objects, loose coins, and random trinkets without a thought or shrug. The man never wavers from his steely demeanor. Khalid had closed the book on the altar and it reads "The Birth of Light and Truth" but it's up to him if he wants to touch if more since it's covered in gremlin waste.

They collect everything in the center of the chapel as promised (see items posted in Treasure and Experience thread. Those that are unidentified will remain so until the proper rolls are given).

The tent of Lady Almah has not been risen since it is expected that she will be spending the night under the roof of the monastery once the PCs have cleared it out. The caravan is not entirely surprised to find two of them exiting the nave injured since it was fully expected that the walls would house the monsters of the Pale Mountains.

Garavel snaps his fingers and two stools are brought out and placed in the sand before Lady Almah while Zastoran is fetched. It's less regal than her nice tent but the growing dusk adds a stunning sight as the sun turns dark orange and blossoms as it brushes the peaks of the Pale Mountains. The sky takes on a fallen gradient of colors stemming from royal blue climbing down to gold at the horizon.

Zastoran mends their wounds completely (all hp have been restored) as they report their find. Garavel huffs and then pinches his lips, folding his elbow into his other hand as he regards the two. Ra'is shows no response to her majordomo and just arks a single, plucked eyebrow. It's so lovely to view a woman's face in Katapesh that these little expression hold more weight than if a man had made the expression. That is the power of the Ma Malakat Aimanukum- they use their femininity and the fact that they can expose their face to wield power over men. It was not an easily earned power (sacrificed by many women fighting for power in history- but that is another story) and Lady Almah is fully aware of it.

She complies with requests passed down from Khalid and sends Garavel, four mercenaries, and the old camel driver husband to help out. The two PCs notice that the elf that had joined them and a number of mercenaries are gone but they are given no explanation. They follow after back into the monastery.

Just when Karsh and Khalid are finished collecting the treasure and leave the chapel to view the statues at either end of the nave when Alphard and Khandir meet up with them with the help requested. The mercenaries and old man wonder into the chapel and someone, likely one of the hired swordsman, admits a long whistle at the battle left behind for them.

The four review the statues at the ends of the nave:

1 The Ruined Nave
1a. This debris-laden chamber once held a shrine and wooden altar, but all of that was smashed decades ago by vandals. The ceiling here has remained intact over the years, helping to preserve a huge bas-relief statue of a muscular humanoid man with a pointy beard gesturing toward a huge mountain in the background, his face a picture of mortal concern.

1b. A similar statue adorns the eastern wall of this chamber, in this case with the bearded figure appearing on a hilltop to a group of robed pilgrims. The being holds up his hands, palms out, in a sign of peace. Though many of the faces and limbs on the bas-relief have been worn down or cut away, the expressions of those range from beatific to horrified. A crude stone stele that seems to have been erected more recently than the abandonment of the monastery stands here as well. Its graven inscription reads: “A ghost of unholy mien was purged from this place by Theodephus Estrovan, servant of Aroden, 4691 ar.[1]”


Karsh and Khalid Roll Perception Check (DC10)


All Players Roll Knowledge (Local) Check (Karsh DC10 / Khandir DC14 / Khalid DC15 / Alphard DC15)


All Players Roll Knowledge (Religion) Check (Alphard DC10-thru-20 / Karsh DC13-thru-23 / Khandir DC15-thru-25 / Khalid DC15-thru-25)

'year' ar: Abadaran Rong: The old empire of Abadaran III ruled this side of the continent. They set the standard of the year. When Pharaoh Abadran died by assassination it marked 0ar. It is currently 4709ar

[Bismuth]

Once they have viewed the statues, Karsh goes back to the pile of 'treasure' and takes a more detailed look at both the strange little golden box and the ring with the bird carved into it.

OoC Appraise Rolls

[LupusRegalis]

In the Camp:
Khandir nods his appreciation to Zastoron for taking care of his wounds. He remains silent under the watchful eyes of both the Ra'is and her Major-domo, not wishing to give away the wondor he feels at experiencing the magical healing. Just like he'd told Karsh, he'd heard of such things but could never afford them. Truly those who served the Pactmasters were wealthy and blessed. But the scrutiny of his Masters caused him some unease, though he hid it behind a blank mask, for they said nothing and their expressions betrayed nothing. It caused him to forget his damaged bow, until he was already entering the monastery.

Afterwards in the Monastery:
As they approach the two other members of their group in the nave, Khandir addresses the men assigned to clean out the chapel. "I want two of those gnoll skulls you'll find in there, put them in my chest." They'll make fierce decorations as shoulder-pads.

Examining the bas-reliefs along with the others, Khandir admits that they do invoke something in him. But he doesn't know how to express it, and probably wouldn't even if he could. Instead he waits there, looking around and considering which way to head next. For some reason his companions are more contemplative and silent, though Khalid does wander back into the chapel proper. Khandir shrugs his shoulders and relaxes, leaning one hand on his falcata's hilt.

OOC ROLLS