Dani had been taking a drink when her ears picked up the comment about traps from Xune. She didn't choke on the water managing to swallow quickly, eyes lighting up in interest. The young thief turned to survey the ruins with a renewed interest.

Xune watched Dani scamper off, amusement slithering over her features. "Well, if we hear any loud bangs, then we'll know she set off at least one trap..." She offered to the rest of the party in a dry tone.

Hearing the drow's jest Dani pulled up short and turned around slowly, swinging her arms to clasp behind her back and lifting her chin she replied defiantly, and pointedly not sticking a tongue out her, first to Xune's comment, "I was only looking. I wasn't wandering off.

Then looking about the rest, adding smoothly, "Only, when we do talk about the order of entry I'd suggest myself in the front part of the group.

Maybe."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Thu 15 June 2023.

"Yes, yes. By all means. We could use a good trap monkey..." Xune said in a sly tone, though the smile on her face took the sting out of her words as she flashed a grin in Dani's direction.

The thief grinned back. Turning away to regard the ruins and drink another sip of water, grin still in place, she called over her shoulder, "Don't worry Xune, if I find any pebbles I'll leave them for you."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:06, Thu 15 June 2023.

As the party of adventurers look on at the monastery, ten or twelve large birds, like ravens but much larger, flit from over the treetops behind the monastery. They circle above the building, then dive toward a towering structure in the right-hand juncture of outer walls. Most flit through an open window on the second story. The shale roofing on that portion of building is stained white from droppings. A cuople land on the upper roofing and a couple continue to circle high in the air on an updraft of air.

---

Range to outer wall of monastery is 100 yards.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Sun 09 July 2023.

"Razorclaws!" Durwe says alarmingly. He backs deeper into the shade of the trees.

Taking a cue from their guide, Xune stepped back into the shade of the trees, her hand wandering down to the hilt of her sword.

"Aye, tha be the nasties ye 'ave mention of." Thorgwain says, placing a hand on his sword. "Donnae see gett'n by 'em without a fight."

Valeros carefully gets his stuff and heads for the trees, he moved as fast as he could without hurrying so fast as to startle them. He'll help anyone that needs a hand to do the same. This was not going to be pretty. He was fairly observant and listened well. He now had a confirmed target.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Thu 15 June 2023.

Camilla likewise hunkers down in the shade of the trees, watching the ravenclaws warily.  Only eighteen bolts left.  She could not waste them, and she possesses no other weapon.  She will wait and see what happens, but still, she looks around for a stout piece of wood. 

---

Camilla rolled 19 using 1d20.  Perception (WIS)

"I have a short sword to loan out if anyone can use it." he says, seeing Camilla looking for a club. He is holding his spear, and his axe is on his belt too.

"They roost within that tower." Durwe says, gesturing at the structure. "The best tactic we employed against some of them was a spell for fanning fire and we had way less spell casters then."

"That is a blade I am skilled with Valeros.  I would greatly appreciate its use." the rogue says with gratitude while dropping what she considered to be a stout piece of wood. It breaks on hitting the ground and is eat up with grubs inside.  She takes the offered blade and swings it a couple of times.  She nods in approval at its maintenance. "Thank you Val."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Fri 16 June 2023.

He nods to Camilla as he hands it to her, it had served him well for awhile, but he barely used it now.

"You mean burn them out Durwe? Getting close enough to do it might be hard."

Daniella was congratulating herself for not removing her pack, so nothing to slow her own retreat back into the shading of the trees with the group.

She inventoried her own weapons in her mind while listening to the group discuss possible tactics.

"Can we get fire in to the roost? There is a window. Maybe a flaming arrow or something? Would that help keep them off of us?"

The young thief wasn't confidant she could make the shot and lacked any special arrows, she hopped one of the others might.


[Private to Daniella: edit to change congratulated to congratulating]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Fri 16 June 2023.

"Durwe is probsbly talking about a spell that spouts flame from the hands around the caster. Sleep and gravity should take care of some, I would think. I know neither spell."

"I can cast a basic Sleep spell, if that is our plan " Xune offered.

"Or two," added Aramil. "I am afraid flaming fingers is out with my knowledge. Sleep might work, if we can get closer to them."

[Private to Aramil: edit added a space between out and with]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:35, Fri 16 June 2023.

With a sigh, Duivelssmak readies his mace.  Things were not going the way he had hoped... not that he had expected a holy day picnic.  The superstitious fool inside him had disliked the joke about the pebbles... it had struck him as unlucky, for some reason.  But he knew that was nonsense; the sort of thing you fretted about when you had no true faith.

The cleric said a quick prayer and braced himself for a fight.

Gods of light, let the birds pass from us, if such be your will.

[Private to Duivelssmak: edit changed the word prepare to prayer. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:31, Fri 16 June 2023.

"Amen." he pulled out his crossbow and loaded it.

"No. I was meaning if they attacked us. It is a spell called Burning Hands." Durwe replies to Valeros' question. "Those ravenclaws were here before, but in smaller numbers.  It would seem their roost has grown judging by the sounds coming from that upper story."

Durwe thought a moment, then speaks on what he can recall about the entrances.  "There is a section of the wall on the other side of the tower that is crumbled.  A door is there that leads into the tower.  A hole in the wall near that crumbled section also leads into the tower lower floor.  On the backside of the monastery, there is another hole in the wall.  It was used by a dire wolf...no, a worg.  The rooms within used a a den for her pups.  That way is a possibility to avoid the razorclaws, assuming we can get in without alerting any of them and we don't know what may have taken up residence in there if anything."

"Also, I have the spell I mentioned within my grimoire. I learned it from a mage named Cassius who aided us here last year.  Any one of you may, at your leisure try to learn it.  You may copy it at your convenience." Durwe offers.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:05, Fri 16 June 2023.

 "For my two coppers: I would rather not leave an enemy at our rear. If we have to retreat this direction the last thing we need is to be ambushed by these birds. If we have to we can renew our spells after taking care of them.
It is Valeros's decision."

"We can't leave them behind us, especially if we have to leave quickly when we might be hurt. We can always rest a bit before we go in if we have to." he says sagely.

"I apologize if this is a foolish question... but can't the birds simply fly away if they find the battle is going badly for them?  If so, how then can we finish them?  And even if we did, isn't it possible that other birds would soon replace them?"