It was not that long a trek. The sun was just starting to let its full presence be known as they got to the building.

The building held its history in its old bones, standing as a sizable building, it's modest outer body made more majestic by the light that fell upon it. Parts of its outside showed neglect from all the years left behind, one or two of the pillars hung on empty space or fell short of reaching the overhanging roof. Other parts show the rebuild effort, mainly patch jobs to seal up a hole or two of the walls.
The most ornate appearing detail to the monastery was the dome of glass on top, itself topped with another much smaller and steeper angled mini-dome.

Jagga uses the silence to remind the group what little he knew. "There wasn't too much about Azuah al-Jawwaf that I knew. He was retired, and wanted to be alone, left to his research unless an actual magical matter occurs. He had some means of communication with the court for when that happens. I'm just sorry I didn't know about your plight, Abrisham. Had I known, I could have given a hand." The last bit was focused on the learning mage, who has a look of distant embarrassment for how she approached the distant man.

Sai didn't like being the quiet one of the lot, so he threw what he could into the conversation. "No one can really recall the entity worshiped in that old place, the accounts of the entity and their purview are inconsistent. In fact, I'm not sure I've heard of any assistants around since the reusing of the monastery, so I don't know how this place got these repairs made. Contractors? Magic? I have no idea. But I warn you all, I have heard of some of his research spilling out of this place. So beware magic energies, bizarre beasties and whatever else these old magic user gets up to."

Looking around and seeing the uncertainty on one or two like Zand and Abrisham, he asks everyone there. "Anyone else want to ponder out loud or give a suggestion before we try finding him in there?"

"No, I don't think so... let's go on in!" says Syrio.

With a shrug, Sai pressed a hand to the big double doors, then stopped in place. Unsatisfied, he tried again with more vigor, then both hands until he almost slipped from digging into the sands.

With a hand on his shoulder, Jagga said "Gently move aside Sai. I got this." Only to find himself repeating the same motions with some difficulty.


After realising that Nimol and Sannang would be needed to open the door, the matter was quickly resolved with a splintering and a boom as the doors hit the sides. It was latched with a sizable block of wood.

Inside, it was a simple large hall space, with supporting pillars on both sides, a statue at the other end and numerous boxes of varying sizes from 10ft to hand size littering the space.

(So it was locked/barred/whatever from the inside, until we busted the doors in?)

Correct.

Seeing the pieces of wood that would have barred the door. The lock was used from within the building. The space had a fair amount of dust and thin measure of sand, causing a slight clouded appearance to the floor of this hall space.

"So maybe there's another way in and out of here that someone used... but there was certainly someone in here when that door was locked up... Someone didn't want anyone coming in here. All right, I think we were right to come here. Let's see what we can learn."

We all examine, in this order:

--The room itself. Are we sure we're alone in here? (Look at the ceiling, too.)

--The exits. How many exits from this room besides the one we just made? (Is anyone or anything watching us from a doorway or anywhere else?)

--The ground. (Any tracks in the dirt? Keep in mind that Nimol has the Hunt and Track move.)

--The boxes.

--The statue.

The room
Large and available to fulfill numerous functions. It's main purpose was likely to hold assembly for all involved on day to day duties and announcements. Some scaffolding still appears to be present, allowing one to go some 15 feet above the ground towards holes that are patched up from the neglect.

The exits
There were two exits that could be seen from this room besides the main entrance. On either side of the room and symmetric to each other.

The ground
The dust was quite prevalent throughout the hall, among all the still ground there were two main tracks of distinguished form. One of the two seemed human shape, though a little off, maybe it was the toes? The other was a much larger footprint that while vaguely foot shaped, but considerably larger and shorter then typical of a humanoid footprint.
Besides those two, there were quite a few prints that were all over the place, no real pattern, though four legged and small, impishly so.
Feel free to use Follow Track of Nimol's to follow suit of either of the main biped footprints.

The boxes
Worn from time, the insides of some of the boxes can be seen. The contents consist of both building materials and tools for using those materials. Some looked like they would hold more, like rugs and tables or other fine looking furnishings, while others were completely sealed, left unused.

The statue
At the other side of the room, is a more humble material statue, one of nice but not ornate stone. The figure is fairly androgynous in shape, likely humanoid or elven with only so many features seen from the robes they wear.
Their main support is a staff held in one hand to ease their journey and a book held to their side by the other.
Feel free to roll Spout Lore if you want to see if one of the trio knows this statue.

An odd little impish cackling can be heard within the room, though a specific location is hard to find. Was it just the one or several? In any case, they hadn't made a move just yet.

20:38, Today: Story Weaver, on behalf of Ravnar, rolled 12 using 2d6+2 ((5,5)).
Ravnar could feel the sensation of something malicious watching him from near the door on the right. He noticed this from a subtle, differing shift in the dust that was more heard then seen. An entity that was invisible and made of the winds. It seemed to be waiting for the moment to strike, skulking the party to wait for a straggler.

So does one of the main set of prints head to one exit, and one the other way...?

And... I take it that the first two are wearing footwear?

But... what do the 4-leggeds look like? Paws? Little cloven hooves like baby goats? Monkey paws? What?





Yes, Syrio will Spout Lore, please... AFTER we deal with what the hell Ravnar's noticed, below... (The other two are much wiser than he is, but he actually has a slight edge on smarts (but not enough that he gets a bonus for it... but at least it's not a penalty.)





Ravnar quietly but quickly alerts everyone to what he's noticing near the door on the right, and warns them to be ready to attack at any time-- and possibly from any direction, not just the right...

The "normal" human footprints are moving from the "east" side of the building towards the "west". The larger and more incomprehensible footprints moved from the "east" to the "west" side. A patrol maybe? Only following the tracks could conclude the reasoning.

The 4 legged sort, look more monkey like, the front set being more defined for using with tools, though fairly thin. Maybe an impish creature of sorts?

The group nods, but there is some concern with slowly retreating back to the group. They start slowly moving back, unsure of the angle of the problems to come while Nimol looks at the tracks and concludes their origin.

"Ugggghhhh. This is unacceptable. Abrisham? You have any ideas to help deal with whatever's watching us over to the right?" Syrio whispers to her.

She has a look of poor contemplation as she gets closer, taking a step or two closer to whisper.
"Its invisibility is hard to overcome, we would need a way to see it better. On harming it, if it is not just invisible but less substantial like I suspect, then the means of harming it are less. It will just flow around mundane tools that slice, stab or crush, so our best bet is magic or a means of attacking its entire form. A sail? No, that's just dumb."
She looks around, wondering about the crate contents. "I might be able to find something to strike it with spell wise, but keeping its location known will be hard. Please Syrio, we need caution right now."

"Say, what if I cast Cause Fear on it?" Ravnar whispers. "Anyone think that could work? Or do you think... ah, but I have to be able to see the target..."


Cause Fear
Level 1 Ongoing

Choose a target you can see and a nearby object. The target is afraid of the object so long as you maintain the spell. Their reaction is up to them: flee, panic, beg, fight. While this spell is ongoing you take -1 to cast a spell. You cannot target entities with less than animal intelligence (magical constructs, undead, automatons, and the like).


"Abrisham... can you just make it visible...? Then I could cast Cause Fear on it...?"

"Wait fear? Oh you're a Cleric of Kali right? I guess fear makes sense. I think I can improvise something to stick to it." When she says that people can see her trying to be subtle about looking into her cloak and searching for an item or two for her idea.
"It might not last forever, so let's hope we can make the most of it."

With that, she gives a count of three before she throws a thin bag by a string.
GM gets some dice
And it hits, as the bag breaks on impact, the green powder is whipped around like the dust, but it clings to the figure. Its form is very undefined, sometimes more humanoid, sometimes more feral, ever shifting like it was made of wind, but it wears the malice it holds in a very apparent manner.

Because of one dice roll, another is made.
Abrisham is so happy to find another way to help, but in her glee, she didn't notice a hole in a box next to her, or rather something from within. Whatever it is, a sparkling cloud of dust bursts towards her face, she stumbles back a little in surprise and gently lies onto the floor. As this occurs another giggle happens, this one from within the box.

Feel free to roll your Cast a Spell move, tell me the choice you make if it is a 7 and what object is the focal point for the Fear Effect

14:34, Today: Ravnar rolled 7 using 2d6 ((1,6)), plus 2 for WIS bonus = 9.

Ravnar casts Cause Fear so that the airy, windy being will be afraid of Ravnar's robe he's wearing... he's not about to lose THAT very soon, one hopes...

"Jagga! We're working on what this air being is going to do next!" says Ravnar, standing at the ready with his staff. "But there's some sort of troublemakers in that box next to Abrisham-- they used some sort of dust that's knocked her out! Deal with them-- as harshly as you want! Zand! Try to wake Abrisham-- but not until Jagga's made it safe to try!"

With the spell in effect, this gusty monster wasn't going to come any closer, at least to Ravnar while draped in the very thing it feared.

Jagga heeded the word of one higher in his order then himself, and was moving closer to the place that affected the minor mage. When he thought he might be close enough, he had out a short spear and a fruit.
He threw the fruit, which was hit with a new cloud and in that moment he stepped in range and stabbed into the hole.
Dice roll
A high pitch groan went out and he moved out of the line of sight with the hole. But something went wrong and a vase rocked and landed on Jaggas head with a shattering of craftsmanship. Above him was a small, thin, impish creature like collected dust standing on top of a crate overlooking the scene. It had a grin of the mischievous and flung its arm to send a ball of dust his way.

Dice roll for this
Which meant nothing to the warrior, either through pain or just sheer grit. It didn't work. The imp tried to push a vase over, but the Kali worshipper proceeded to grab and slam the creature into the box. A tiny groan happened as he proceeded to get a dagger for the small foe.

Dice again, nice ones now.
Without much difficulty he ended the creatures life by making it spill its dust and break apart into grains.
"Look out, there are more of these things. They might be mephits, dust maybe?" Was what he was able to warn them about.

Zand had his sword, and was waiting for a moment to aid Abrisham. But hearing the warning of an elder, he looked around to see other possible assailants.
While looking around, he got hit in the face with his own dust cloud from near his feet.

Dice for Zand
He waved at his face, struggling with his eyes and not seeing clearly, tried to swipe down at the source only to have his sword glance off the ground. "Damn these little cretins to a terrible misery. He spat out in frustration as a cackle is slightly heard.

"Okay! Ravnar, Nimol and Sannang, we're attacking that thing while it's still visible! Jagga, you guard Abrisham, don't let anything happen to 'er! Everyone else, get that little imp (or whatever) at Zand's feet!"


(DICE ARE ROLLED

Syrio attacks Big Windy and totally misses (XP!)

Nimol attacks Big Windy and gets an 8 (with his +2 bonus). <Orange>You have to take several shots, reducing your ammo by one.

Ravnar attacks Big Windy and gets an 8 (with his +1 bonus)

Nimol rolls damage to Big Windy: 8 (+ Sannang's help)

Ravnar rolls damage to Big Windy: 1

...So wait, I'm not used to figuring out damage for PCs. If you have a high STR or DEX do you also add your bonus to damage done...?)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:49, Thu 16 Aug 2018.

I believe you don't add modifiers to damage by default, so I don't think the stats affect it. It's up to the class/monster damage die, from there special items or abilities from what I read.

Ravnar takes damage

Syrio takes damage


Nimol spends a few careful number of arrows to cause damage to their enemy, though the presence of Sannang gives Nimol the opportunity to shoot with a height advantage to make up.

Ravnar feels his weapon pass in an area around the invisible foe, as the natural currents of air that make its form overpowers his glancing blow. In return the cleric takes violence back from the monster. Ravnar suffers 8 damage

Syrio tries for a daring swing and the momentum of the missed blow pulls him into the space of the wind monster. He can feel his breathe leave his lungs violently enough to harm him on the inside. Syrio takes 9 points of damage

Zand Dice
Forgoing his state, Zand focused on applying some harm onto the creatures around him and take some out of the picture for Abrisham's safety. So he swung away at one of the creatures and it took the brunt of the strike. In return he got some damage as it got it's claws to his skin.

Jagga Dice

Jagga focused on trying to end the creatures while keeping himself safe, he got lucky and managed to be around a corner after his strike to keep himself safe from post-humorous blast of dust.

Sai Dice

Sai had to keep his distance, he had more experience in scuffles with people then these little impish annoyances, and he had concern for that dust impairing him. He glances around for some advantage to use when something catches his eye near Zand. "Zand, if I come to you, can you give me a boost to get that fan above your head?"
While hard for some to see the silent expressions through all the clutter, Zand can see what Sai means and gives a nod and "Yes" of approval over the violence.

Abrisham
With no focus or action made, nothing can be said or known of Abrisham's situation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:44, Tue 21 Aug 2018.

Ravnar tries to discern realities...


Discern Realities: When you closely study a situation or person, roll+Wis. On a 10+ ask the GM
three questions from the list below. On a 7–9 ask only one. Take +1 forward when acting on the answers.


15:49, Today: Ravnar rolled 8 using 2d6+2 ((1,5)).


• What should I be on the lookout for? (Specifically, how many impies are left, how damaged is Big Windy)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Sat 25 Aug 2018.

On looking around to the imps first, Ravnar can hear that the impish creatures numbered in the half dozen currently. The thing to look out for with these creatures was that they seemed to hide well in containers for liquids, like vases or open bottles, their shape somewhat flexible but not to the extent of a water elemental or a determined octopus.

On the other hand, the large winded entity was fairly damaged, nearing the way to half unsubstantiated by the assault, though its nature had a resilience that reduced some harm inflicted. It might learn a way to remove the smoke and become invisible again, that was something for Ravnar to be careful of.

What will Ravnar and the rest do with this knowledge, if anything?

"Sai! Jagga! Help Nimol and Sannang attack Big Windy over here!

Zand! Keep attacking the little ones! Syrio will help!" says Ravnar.

Syrio attacks a little imp...

17:57, Today: Syrio rolled 4 using 2d6+1 ((1,2)).

...and fails miserably. "Syrio will try to help..." mutters Syrio...

Nimol and Sannang attack "Big Windy..."

17:59, Today: Nimol rolled 12 using 2d6+2 ((5,5)).

And do damage to "Big Windy!"

18:04, Today: Nimol rolled 4 using 1d8+2 ((2)).

Ravnar casts Magic Missile against "Big Windy..."

18:06, Today: Ravnar rolled 6 using 2d6+1 ((1,4)) (+2 for Wis but -1 for Cause Fear ongoing)

But fails.

(So wait, what happens when a cleric fails casting a spell entirely...?)

Syrio tried to use his moves, but the impish creature had exploited the narrow space and damn! - Syrio found his sword embedded in the wood of a crate. Was he going to spend time getting it out or commandeering another?

Zand was going past to try and get some harm done to the more invisible foe.
Zand dice
He got a strike in, but it was a weak blow that didn't do much to harm it.

"Big windy? What could you possibly be meani- oh wait. That's an invisible stalker! Damn this will be hard."
Knowing his foe, he got a larger weapon at the ready.
Jagga dice
With a moment, Jagga threw his his entire weight into a swing of a large blade and we're it not for one moment of reconnecting it's two halves, it would be long dead. It could hardly keep its halves together. Though it tried to strike back, it must have been "off foot" as it swung at empty, distant air.

Sai had his own issues to deal with creature wise, as he had to get the fan on his own, hoping he could get that fan.
Sai dice
In a stroke of luck however he was able to get the fan without difficulties and was able to stop a burst of dust from hitting him.

Abrisham dice
Abrisham was still within the realm of sleep at this time unfortunately.

14:49, Today: Syrio rolled 12 using 2d6 ((6,5)) (+1 STR bonus)

Syrio pulled his sword from the crate...





"Try again, Zand..." Ravnar encouraged...





"Almost there, Jagga...!" Ravnar urged...





"Good job, Sai!" Syrio called...


"Go, Sannang!" Nimol called. "You're doing well...!"

14:55, Today: Nimol rolled 10 using 2d6+2 ((4,4)) (+2 DEX bonus)

14:55, Today: Nimol rolled 8 using 1d8+2 ((6)) (+2 working with Sannang)


Ravnar decided to switch to attacking imps with his staff...

14:57, Today: Ravnar rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((6,3)).

14:58, Today: Ravnar rolled 1 using 1d6 ((1)).

Though it tried to avoid being so damaged by a tamed animal of such strength, the invisible stalker found itself completely destroyed. Its last strength torn apart by by the tusks.

The conservative approach helped save Ravnar from any consequences as only a minor strike is made. Though the creature gets no chance to enact on the cleric.

Jagga moves on to give his cleric a hand by his own might and through the open opportunity made a safe strike of his own.

Jagga dice

Jagga has one of his more short ranged weapons he added to his clerics efforts. A creature ends up dead.

Moral roll
The mephits are scared, they maybe mischievous and sometimes malicious, but not to the point of no desire to live of their own. They scurry away from sight as best they can, though the results are hurried. Two go for the door to the left and one goes to the right.

Abrisham has yet to awaken, her sleep might well have become deep now.
Sai is less pressed by the impish foes, so he tries to bring up the mage through something he observed with his own eyes.

After doing something to her eyes, Abrisham awakens, but it a little groggy from getting up now.