(G444 06/03/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) LR35
[Meanwhile, myself and Dak were in search of the 'Nameless Monastery' in the Anauroch Desert.]
DAY 532 (17th Eleasis) (August)
We set off down the Black Road at a leisurely pace this morning. Myself, Dak and my various animals.
I find this a pleasant place, despite the fact that it is roasting hot during the day and incredibly cold at night, it has a majesty about it.
There is no shortage of life here either, and I'm sure if I looked I would find bountiful supplies of food and water.
Some people do live here, I am told, and the Zhentarim are meant to patrol the road, but we have not seen anyone, other than that odd warlock.
There are no shortage of dangers though, as we found out in the afternoon. A young blue dragon rose out of the sand and attacked us. Harriet (my dire lion animal companion) and Dak ran in to attack while I took to the air. They bravely held it off until I charged up a barrage of Lightning Blasts and from 600ft up rained down destruction on it.
I did try and talk to the thing first, but I felt happy enough to rid the desert of this danger and when it was dead, we looted it cache, skinned it and kept as much of its carcass as could be useful to me later (stuffed and mounted perhaps?). Myself and Dak divided up its teeth. It's skull was damaged, but I kept it anyway.
After all that excitement, the rest of our walk was uneventful. we made camp under the desert sky for another night.
DAY 533 (18th Eleasis) (August)
We discovered the Monastery today! It is a very large structure, and must be hidden magically somehow. It's main tower was easily ten stories high and there were halls and other structures that could have housed hundreds of people.
There was a wide set of steps that rose out of the dunes and led to the main entrance. We could see that stretching above its walls were the branches of a massive tree. There were countless birds of every colour nesting in its branches. Atop the steps stood two monks dressed in flowing garb, their gazes held steady, guarding a set of massive iron gates.
I gave them a friendly wave and the one on the left nodded at me.
'What is this place?' asked Dak, the ever inquisitive.
'This is the prefecture of the wastelands, we have expecting you.'
Then the monk went on;
'Many people seek our monastery. What you seek may be found here. I am a lowly disciple.
Within you will find the masters, who will help you.'
'Any women?' asked Dak.
I cannot, at this stage, make up my mind whether Dak is funny or annoying or if he is trying to be funny or annoying or if that is just the way he is.
Anyway, we were led into a large oasis area, stuffed to the rails with birds, rodents, foxes and other small animals. Monks walked, or sat in contemplation. It was a nice place.
There was a well tended vegetable garden. Looking up at the big tree at the centre of this compound I could see what looked like Birds of Paradise. Much as I wanted to investigate the flora and fauna more, we where here with a job to do.
The monk that was guiding us said;
'We of the Nameless Monastery protect our relics from all but the truly worthy. To pass through the doors of reverence, you must prove yourselves to the six masters.'
The 'Doors of Reverence' appeared to be the big ones to the north. We could see that on this carved stone door there was depicted a jolly monk hoisting aloft two huge mugs of liquid. A roughly square section of carving appeared missing from the monk's stomach.
There were other doors, east and west, so we tried the one to the west first.
The next room we came to contained a large standing bar to the south, a lightless void to the west, and a churning mix of elements to the north. Each wall also had a closed door.
Two burly monks sat at the well-stocked bar. They smiled widely as we approached, gesturing for us to have a seat. One of them stood, pouring one glass of a clear liquid for his fellow monk, and another for each of us. The seated monk raised his glass and downed it in one gulp. He then stared at us expectantly.
We drank. It tasted like whisky, but stronger and fruitier. It was called 'Gibi Gibi' apparently.
We drank again and again. One of the monks slid to the floor after his fourth.
On the fifth round, the 'Drunken Master' came out, a huge barrel shaped woman, who carried another bottle of something equally lethal. This stuff was called 'Jibi Jibi'.
On my eighth drink I collapsed to the floor, utterly rat-arsed. I gradually awoke, an hour or so later, and got a cup of coffee from Dak's ever filling mug.
I dozed for another hour, ate a bacon roll from the Provision Box and felt great. No hangover? Amazing.
The Drunken Master had left us a key and we tried it in the North Door. It opened and revealed a Wispy Wall of Shadows. We left it for the time being.
We tried the 'Elements Door' and within were four robed monks, cloaked in red, green, white, and blue. As we entered, they each extend a palm, above which floated a mote of fire, a chunk of earth, a wisp of air, and a ball of water. They spoke as one: "To master magic, one must have mastery of all four elements. Which elements calls to you?"
I went for Earth to begin with. A boulder suddenly appeared and rolled towards me. I side stepped it, but the monk shook his head. The next one I pushed against, which seemed to be what he was after. I might not look it, but I'm fairly hefty so pushing against the boulder was no great feat for me.
Dak went for Air, and he was given a stone pin wheel to try and move with his breath. He blew and blew until he eventually got it to move.
Next I went for Fire, and I was told to light a torch that was wrapped in wet brown mould. 'Stand back lads!' I said and summoned a Flaming Sphere. It soon had it lit.
For Water Dak as given a bucket with an illusionary bottom in it and told to fill it with water. Eventually he managed it with his Everfilling Mug and his cloak wrapped around it.
And that was that, the next room we went to was in total darkness, but the Emberblade soon sorted that out. There were monks in here, who despite the fact that we could see them clearly, still went about a pantomime of sneaking about and spook us. Some tried to dispel the Emberblade magic, but could not.
I noticed they had pockets in their robes, so I grabbed one of the monks and picked his pocket, taking out a white bead.
At that point they stopped, they all bowed and one murmured, 'Well played'.
So, having finished with the West Wing, we moved over to the East. The first room we came to contained several leather punching bags hanging from the ceiling near the far eastern door, a stark white door to the south, and a collection of three mirrors hanging near a door to the north.
Dak was drawn to the punching bags. Six monks were here, and four came to fight us hand to hand. I cast some spells on Dak to help him, and summoned three apes to help in our battle.
The first four were easily dealt with, even though Dak was knocked flying a few times, but the last guy challenged Dak to one on one, so I dismissed the apes.
Dak put up as strong a fight as he could, but he was no match for this seasoned old monk who after a few powerful blows had the half-orc splayed out on the floor, out for the count.
They seemed impressed though, and healed us both up before we went on our way.
The north door lead to the 'Trail of the Sun' and here we mucked about with mirrors until we had illuminated a dull gem on a pedestal in the room with light channeled from the Emberblade.
(Top tip for anyone going to the Nameless Monastery - take a magic item that can cast the Daylight spell!)
The next door, the white one, contained twelve blindfolded and white robed monks. One (who wore a diamond around his neck) stepped forward, palms outstretched, and said;
"the work of this order demands sacrifice...one of you would do nicely."
When we questioned further he went on;
"We are the masters of the long death, we pursue knowledge of the dead and what comes after."
Dak stepped forward, but when the monk said, "Do you offer yourself as a sacrifice?", the young half-orc bottled it and stepped back again.
As an experiment I summoned another ape and sent it up. The monk whispered into the diamond, then the ape collapsed and died.
That seemed to satisfy them though, so having completed all the trails we headed back to the wispy wall. The white bead got rid of that, and all the other bits and bobs opened up all the other doorways that lay beyond.
An impression of a skeletal ape was on one of them. He didn't have a happy look on his face.
We entered a large, simple room. It was uninhabited, and lined on both sides with racks of weaponry. In the centre of the room sat a stone, the imprint of a seat worn into it from what must have been countless hours of meditation. A small portrait next to the stone was the only other decoration.
The small portrait showed an exceedingly old halfling, his arms around an eccentric group of friends. They look happy. On the back of the portrait was a small note that read:
"Howdy, Bonzu, hope you are well!"
There was a set of stairs leading down.
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