Chapter 4 - Sacred Stone Monastery

The water genasi Shoalar Quanderil faithfully sails you down the river to the monastery (some of) you passed on the way to the Riverguard Keep. After you disembark, he sails on with Berci who had decided that adventuring is not his gig and is going to retire to his own village.

A trail leads into an ever-narrowing defile between bluffs of wind-sculpted sandstone. Eventually the walls draw in so closely that you can reach out and touch either side, but then the narrow space opens into a hidden canyon in the heart of the hills. A sprawling monastery with dark, narrow windows and red tile rooftops stands in the middle of this natural amphitheater, ringed by sandstone cliffs all around.

Ahead, a weathered flight of stone steps leads up to the closed monastery doors. The plain doors are made of heavy timber with iron studs. A dusty footpath circles the building.

Sassy hops off the ship and looks up at the doors.

"Sooo, what are we looking for or trying to do?

Araaz looks at the monastery with curiosity. He wonders how it differs from his own monastery. "I believe this current situation mostly involves Xella, And Felicia. Although I might find more information regarding the sword I seek as well." he tries to see if there is anyone on the walls watching them or noticing their approach.

Araaz sees no guard posts or watchpoints. There are no guards stationed at the door, either. Not that one would expect guards at a monastery.

GM Prompt: Did you want to enter?

Sassy looking around and seeing everyone standing there decides to go up to the door and open it saying,"Hello anyone home?"

Felicia takes in a small breath as they approach and Sassandra goes to open the door. You need to find a way to gain access to this band that's here, somehow. Think Felicia, think. How to pull this one off?

With a whisper to Xestras, he shimmers out of sight on her shoulder.

The door doesn't open but a small panel in the monastery’s front door slides open, and someone wearing a golden mask peers out. The mask Is fashioned in the shape of a scowling gargoyle, but the hand that opened the panel seems human enough. From beneath the mask comes a female voice: "Yes? What do you want?"

"I think we are all here for slightly different reasons but I am on a quest for knowledge being a bard. We are traveling together for safety. Being who i am it just makes sense don't you think." , Sassy replies

"The abbess doesn’t allow visitors to disturb our meditations," comes her reply.

"Oh come on we came all this way, how are we to learn enlightenment without studying. I mean I came all the way from the underdark to get here. Besides out boat trip was a one way affair."

The monk opens the door, and she steps out, her companion grabbing at her sleeve. She takes in your obvious adventurer accoutrements and says, "Look, I'm sorry you came all this way, but this isn't a hostel or Inn. I can't let you inside. So get lost." She pushes Sassy back a step with a firm shove to the chest.

Araaz gives a short, respectful, fisted martial bow and says, "Greetings fellow monk. I am Araaz Syl’a Var’ran, a monk from the Pale Forge monastery. A colleague of mine lives here, Juhlan Nahe, and we have been communicating for some time. May my party and I rest and recuperate for at least a short time while we recover from the past few days? We have just come from Riverguard Keep and had a slight ordeal while we were there. I also wish to say hello to my friend Juhlan and possibly present myself to your abbess out of respect."

The monks look at each other, and one sheepishly apologizes to Sassy for shoving her. They open the door and let you in.

This austere hall is finished in irregular blocks of dark basalt that form natural columns along the walls. The doors of the monastery’s front entrance face south, while Interior doors lead east and west. An interior courtyard lies just to the north of this room, visible through a pair of narrow windows.

They lead you into the courtyard. This long, narrow court is paved in red sandstone. To the north stands the main temple or shrine of the monastery, its copper-sheathed doors emblazoned with a triangular symbol. Doors also exit the court at its east and west ends, and several narrow windows pierce the south wall. Gargoyle statues guard the door, each facing the court with a ferocious leer.

They then leaf you into the temple. Four large columns of natural rock dominate this shrine. A wide set of steps descends into darkness in the center of the room, in front of a slab-like stone altar. Large, copper-sheathed doors stand in the middle of the south wall, and smaller doors exit to the east and west. Two narrow windows in the north wall admit thin fingers of light from outside. Above the altar, a triangular symbol has been chiseled into the heavy stone blocks of the wall.

Inside the temple are a priest and two more monks guarding him. The front door guards say, "These claim to be friends of monk Juhlan," and then step to the side.

The priest looks down at you with disdain, clearly waiting for you to speak.

Araaz takes in the scenery and architecture as they are lead deeper into the monastery, appreciating the contrast and detail.

After the door guards introduce the party he takes a step forward and performs another fisted martial bow, this one conveying a little more respect towards one of a higher station in the monastery. "Greetings priest, I am Araaz Syl’a Var’ran, a monk from the Pale Forge monastery. Juhlan Nahe is a friend of mine. We have corresponded for some time now."
He gestures to the others in his party, "These are some fellows that I met across the river. They were being attacked and I lent them my aid. It was a close call for some of them, and I ask that we are granted permission to rest and recuperate for at least a short time as we try to recover from the ordeal."
He glances around and says, "Is monk Juhlan here at the moment? Would you let him know I’m here and wished to say hello? Also, If it is proper, I would like to present myself to your abbess out of respect."