Chapter 3: The Monastery at Dimwater

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

I wonder if we should investigate the sprawled body right over there first. And if we want to to search the entire grounds, would it be better to save the church for last? Although crates of diamonds and churches do go hand in hand.

[Inferno]

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user
Although crates of diamonds and churches do go hand in hand.

"My point exactly!" exclaimed Phineas.
His mind wandered a moment...

"Mmmm... Church diamonds..."

[ChubbyPixie]

Filled with a serene joy at the inevitable morning light, utterly banishing the darkness, Yon pipes in: "I am also of a mind to see what we can discover in the outbuildings first, before entering the main structure. Perhaps it would be best to enter that structure at twilight, the door of night? Just a guess."

[jdluna]

Luna - Lunaian Cleric

Luna looks over at Osprey and Phineas.I think you will be disappointed by Lunias modesty.

[Grognardsw]

Aric, barbarian

As the group prepares to leave the watchtower, Aric moves ahead to the body (at #3) and begins examining the grounds for tracks. He wants to observe the ground before others muck up possible foot prints.

Tracking [1d100] = 76

[Storm11]

Hex the illusionist the halfling ponders the words of the poorly high priest. "That crook thingy is said to be in the dungeons or catacombs I believe, yes, no?" That seems to rule out several of the buildings as likely candidates. A quick look within each one might be wise however just incase, perhaps if we split into pairs we can peek into all the structures swiftly t see if anything stands out before committing ourselves to a specific spot?"

He grins his most winning smile and looks for a response from the others

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "I agree with Yon I think we aught to search and clear these outter buildings first before we go into the monastery it's self we already know there are enemies out here in these may as well get rid of them before they can come at us when we are in the monastery. Don't need enemies to be on us from all sides you know."

[Inferno]

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

Luna looks over at Osprey and Phineas.I think you will be disappointed by Lunias modesty.

"Perhaps it's merely false modesty?" Phineas said hopefully.

If everyone was set on lots of foreplay before the main event, the miniature man of mighty mustache would acquiesce. After all, it was standard showmanship to build toward the grand finale.

He scanned the area with a non-poisonous arrow nocked while the barbarian sniffed around the corpse. "What's the first building on this morning's undercard?" he asked.

[Mant72]

Looking at everyone's last post, these are the actions that where suggested or declared:

- Phin suggested that the group investigate the church (area 11) then agreed to check out the outbuildings.

- Osprey suggested that the group investigate the body (area 3) then the entire grounds, saving the church (area 11) for last.

- Yon suggested that the group investigate the outbuildings first, saving the church (area 11) until evening.

- Luna ?

- Only Aric specifically stated that he was going to investigate the body in area 3. See PM.

- Hex suggested that the group split into pairs and explore entire grounds.

- Kragg suggested that the group investigate the outbuildings first, saving the church (area 11) until last.

- Luna ?

- Wil ?

- Obviously you guys are free to hash this out, but I'll need to know exactly where everyone wants to go to proceed. Thanks!

[jdluna]

Luna is for investigating the outer buildings before entering the main building.

[Storm11]

Hex the halfling prestigidator begins to head to the nearest buildings to the stable and the body and will peer within each briefly opening the doors ajar to see if he can make anything out from a cursory glance from the doorway, ready to slam the doors of needed.

[Grognardsw]

Aric, barbarian

Those looking in an easterly direction see Aric approach the body in front of the round structure. He glances at the body, examines the ground area around it, then picks up an item off the body and two spears. He walks back west 20', waves for others to come, and seems to be watching east toward the round structure.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg will assist in finalizing the stables search and not move on to any building there after alone he will go where the group goes.

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey will walk to Aric after he beckons, curious to hear what was discovered.

[Mant72]

Brother Wil:

Wil also joins the barbarian to see what he has uncovered.

[Inferno]

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

Happy to leave the bug infested stables, Phineas joins the others at the corpse. Perhaps they found some coppers in the dead man's pockets?

His ears listen to the barbarian's words as his eyes keep watch all around, often glancing hungrily at the large temple.

[Grognardsw]

Aric points at the body and scene before him.

While the group decides upon their next course of action, Aric stealthily moves out ahead to investigate the body before the others might heedlessly erase any tracks.

He approaches a small, round, stone structure (#3). Its walls are still intact; however, not much of its wooden roof remains, as it has begun to collapse in several places. Surprisingly, the door to the building remains intact and is slightly ajar. The body of some type of humanoid creature lies sprawled out on the ground just before the entrance.

The corpse is definitely humanoid, but it possesses a face that resembles something more canine. It has greenish gray skin, a dull yellow mane, and although it is humanoid, the joints of its knees angle backwards like those of a dog; it is wearing a few pieces of dented armor, a shabby leather vest, a moth-eaten fur cape, and carries a small burlap sack on its belt. A notched short sword and a couple of spears also lie nearby.

Aric recalls sitting around the campfire in his youth, listening to the village warriors exchange tales of valor. He remembers one such story involving a skirmish with vicious dog-men (gnolls). The creature before him looks extremely similar to those very dog-men the warriors spoke of.

The gnoll appears to have been killed fairly recently. Tiny puncture wounds cover its body, and it seems to have been drained of most of its blood. Aric also notices that on its right bicep it bears a tattoo that is identical to the one the bugbears wore that he faced in the Eldenhook Forest.

image.jpeg

Aric does see a few sets of prints and tracks, but they only seem to be around the front of the building. The night’s precipitation has erased all other traces.

"That which killed the gnoll may be in the round structure," says Aric. "Other gnolls may be about."

He empties the sack.

[Mant72]

The group joins Aric and reconvenes about 20 feet away from the small, round, stone structure. Some members of the group recognize the building as a dovecote, where pigeons were housed and raised by the clergymen for food and eggs.

Aric recounts what he discovered while investigating the gnoll's body then unceremoniously dumps the contents of the creature's bag upon the ground. Out spills a rusty file, some gnawed rabbit bones, and 7 sp.

Hexalon, the halfling, brashly marches straight past the gnoll corpse and approaches the dovecote door. He proceeds to push it the rest of the way open, and as he does, five hideous winged creatures take flight from the many holes in the roof and attack.

image.jpeg (95.07 KiB) Viewed 462 times

Actions!

- Hexalon Surprised by Stirges? [1d6] = 3 No

- Only those using missile weapons are close enough to attack this round.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "Damn, now I really wish I had a crossbow." is Kragg's reaction again noting that he has a less than useful ranged weapon that is very limited. The dwarf takes out his scimitar and swings at any of the creatures that tries to get close enough to attack him.

Scimitar [1d20] = 1 to hit [1d8] = 4 dmg

well that is what I get for the OOC meme for a crit miss...

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey raises his longbow to fire at the nearest creature. As hideous as they are, they still aren't as repulsive as the rot grubs.

To hit with LONGBOW [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11; Damage S/M [1d6] = 5; Damage L [1d6] = 1