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Grothnak scowls. "Put them to sleep if you need to. But clerics of Merikka are not known for their black pointy-headed robes. When we have our moment, we all go, then either pick the lock of break it down."

Gray Mouser, thief

"We must remain quiet. A spell of somnolence, or silence combined with Bo's entangling hex, gives us opportunity to dispatch guards and dogs. Or we wait till they pass and go straight to the door, though that is more risky."

"Or we do both," suggest Grothnak. "Go in under cover of silence. Only if we are seen do we take out the guards. If they guard in shifts, their replacements would raise the alarm. Better to let them think they have guarded the church."

Ingrid Esthof:

Ingrid nods her head in agreement with Mouser and Grothnak, "Sticking to the shadows is our best recourse. Any attention we call upon ourselves, we risk bringing this whole damnable place down about our heads."

Moogeye looks down at the party huddled against the wall. "I wonder what they whisper to each other," she thinks. She performs a lotus squat to keep her blood warm and flowing in the chill wind.

"The wall and gates keep people out" observes Pelias astutely. "We should move to secure the gates to bar entry. If we have an unfavorable encounter, we don't need to face reinforcements from without."

Bo

All good ideas!

Lets try to get to the front doors at just the right time in the guards pause. Pelias can secure the gates as the thieves try the doors. If there is any resistance from the guards or dogs, we can use our magic to keep them quiet and controlled.

Perhaps the spells should be cast in such an order to do the least amount of damage? Just in case they are not really in on this mess? Though, I am not really sure why they would need patrols dressed up in those strange hoods if they weren't actually trying to keep someone or something out of the temple.

Putting them to sleep might be the easiest and quietest way to start off if they give us any trouble.

Day Seven.
Briarsgate. The Church of Merikka (21)
Night. Saturday, October 22nd, 576 CY
Cloudy, damp, cold, misty





They scale the wall.



As they descend the cold, jagged stones on the other side, the demihumans can barely hear a distant sound on the chill wind.

Amorphous pipes.

Dissonant chanting.

Emanating from within the dark church.
The investigators steal across the moonlit courtyard. Pelias attends to the front gate. The paladin finds it barred tight.

Everyone else creeps to the temple entrance. There is a keyhole in the tall wooden doors.

Now the humans too can just discern an eerie, arrhythmic melody arising from within the shadowy cathedral.

Haunting.

• • Enticing.
    
    • • Mesmerizing.
        
        • • Beckoning.

Soon, the black hooded acolytes will be here.


Actions?

One square = 10 feet. Lighter area indicates visibility.[/ooc]






Status:

• Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/2: AC 7, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: AC 4, HP 25/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 15/16, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 3: AC 6, HP 20/22, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 1/1 3rd lvl
  Moogeye Comcra, Human Monk 2: AC 8, HP 11/11
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 17/19, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: AC 0, HP 23/28

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

Ingrid Esthof:

Hearing the eerie pipes elicits trepidation in the priestess, "I fear we are about to interrupt some blasphemous ritual. Prepare for things that cannot be unseen." Again, she presses her holy symbol to her lips, draws her mace from her belt loop, and prepares for the inevitable onslaught.

Bo readies his mistletoe and keeps a vigilant eye on both corners of the temple, expecting to see the guards come around one of them any minute now.

He squats down for some reason, hoping that the thief can get the door open quickly.

Telkis stands guard to the left of the door bow ready should a guard come around the corner. If they are seen and the alarm is raised he'll shoot a dog. Failing that, he'll follow the others should they gain ingress, ready to shoot lizard men or other abominations...

"I suggest a change of plans," says Grothnak. "Use the silence spell. Quietly take out the patrol. Then go inside."

Ingrid Esthof:

Ingrid peers through the keyhole in the tall wooden doors, hoping to gain knowledge of what lies beyond.

Grey Mouser takes out Hoom's enchanted thieves tools and tries to pick the lock.

Moogeye takes a position in the shadows to the right of the door, her crossbow ready. She too will fire at a dog if the alarm is raised.

From the shadows, she strains her ears to listen for approaching guards.

Pelias draws his bow, but watches Ingrid closely. He worries that simply observing the rituals could entrance her. He'll rely on the alarm from others if the guards approach.

Day Seven.
Briarsgate. The Church of Merikka (21)
Night. Saturday, October 22nd, 576 CY
Cloudy, damp, cold, misty







In the cold shadow of Briarsgate's darkened church, the sinister, unearthly hymn invites the investigators to draw nearer to the door. And they comply.

As they ready for battle with the imminent acolytes and their watch hounds, Ingrid Esthof peers into the keyhole, trying to glimpse the rituals in the sacristy beyond. (Mant, please see PM).



Ingrid makes way as Mouser joins her at the door. He can't find Hoom's enchanted lockpicks and his own picks fail him. The main doors to the Church of Merikka remain locked.

"I suggest a change of plans," says Grothnak. "Use the silence spell. Quietly take out the patrol. Then go inside."

Suddenly, from out of the darkness looms black hooded shapes and their watchdogs.




Actions?


Map: One square = 10 feet. Lighter area indicates visibility. Church interior is from villager's description. A = acolyte. H = hound.


Rolls and Rulings: (please read)


Status:

• Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/2: AC 7, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: AC 4, HP 25/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 15/16, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl and 3/3 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 3: AC 6, HP 20/22, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl and 1/1 3rd lvl
  Moogeye Comcra, Human Monk 2: AC 8, HP 11/11
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 17/19, Laying Hands: 1/1
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: AC 0, HP 23/28

Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

Bo anticipated this very scenario and has his leaf already in hand. He begins his quick chanting, summoning the vegetation around the guards and dogs to rise up to ensnare them where they stand. He keeps the area of magic slightly out in front of his group so as not to entrap any of his friends but, still hoping it will catch any guards that might try to flee to warn others. (Entangle)

Looks like Grothnak will have his way after all.

Ingrid Esthof:

Ingrid utters a vesper, asking Trithereon for divine blessing to send the approaching cavalcade into complete and utter silence.

Grothnak silently charges into battle.

Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 18): [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, Dmg [1d10+4] = 5+4 = 9 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 9+4 = 13 (L)