Monastery of Evil

(A hollow voice says “Bwah Ha Haaaaa!!”)

After dispatching the frost salamander, we did some more exploration of the monastery under cover of darkness. ‘We’ being Tel Vos, Mordana and Alya. (Was Elune there as well?)
In the courtyard we noticed one building seemed magical. Upon entering we found an armoury and a couple of cells, one of which looked occupied. We figured it would be better to explore further before releasing any prisoners. A guardroom contained three wights. Some stealthy sneaking (possibly aided by Pass Without Trace) got us past and up some stairs. Some further sneaking got us to another room with a big fighter guy. Tel Vos sidled up to him and stabbed him big style!
The big fighter guy then fiddled with a ring on his finger and a genie appeared!! Lucklily, we managed to kill the fighter before he could command the genie to do anything. This guy proved to be fairly influential in The Master’s hierarchy, as evidenced by his magic ring, magic armour, magic shield and magic sword. Plus the notes on the desk.

Happening to glance out of the window, one of us noticed that we weren’t in Kansas any more!! The whole building must be some kind of portal! Kerrazeeeee!
We spent rather too long pondering on this, and the next thing we knew, the wights were upon us – yikes Level Drain!!!
Our obvious combat superiority meant that we weren’t really in danger.

Downstairs we rescued the prisoner – she was a thief who was the sole survivor of an adventuring group who had attempted to raid the Master’s Temple. She could prove to be a useful NPC if we remember that she is with us and tell her to do something!

While the monastery courtyard is quiet, we decide to explore further – the library is next on the list.
Unfortunately, no one notices the two figures hiding in the shadows and we are attacked! They look like monks, but with hideous faces. And they’re quite tough!! Mordana manages to send a message to the rest of the party that we need help, and they dash over. At top speed.
Meanwhile, we defend ourselves gamely. Vivec arrives in time to save us from death and we re-group.

Further exploration of the library reveals various scrolls which tell us some of the background to the monastery. The ugly monk dudes are called Bhuts. They killed off the original monks and this place is now an outpost of the Master, guarding the Great Pass. Erm, there might have been other info too…

Back out in the courtyard, Mordana sent Faustus out to explore the outer portions of the temple area. Key fact – there were two figures hiding in the shadows on guard.
We elect to check out the monks dormitory instead.

Tel Vos attempts to sneak into the dormitory, but the clanking behind him alerts two monks who leg it! A quick search of their room reveals a trapdoor down into some tunnels.
We explore the tunnels and find a pool. The pool is now the former home of a dead Water Weird. We then find a passage that takes us up into our own quarters! Mordana is keen to take a rest as casting spells somewhat takes it out of her.

Rest complete, we descend into the tunnels and try to make our way toward the temple. Through the gloom emerge some stairs and flickery candle light. Tel Vos creeps up the stairs and hears growling and a muffled voice. He peeps around the end of the stairs to find a bear scampering towards him, not looking very friendly!! “Retreat to fight another day,” he thinks, and runs behind Vivec.
The bear doesn’t last long, but it provides enough of a diversion to allow the priest to escape. Vivec, Mordana and Stephen charge after him, and a couple of powerful incantations from Mordana bring him down.

The party is now split. Vivec and Stephen continue to explore and find they are in the courtyard as described by Mordana, via Faustus. The guardians in the shadows fall quite quickly to Stephen’s holy attacks and Vivec’s mighty chopper. There is a prayer wheel with bells on. Annoyingly, some stupid monkey jumps on it, making it turn and the bells tinkle…
Meanwhile, Magni, Elune et al have found a room with some chests. Most have clothes in them, but Magni finds one that seems to be a portal to hell, with fiery demons flying around in the bottom. He is sure something isn’t right as he felt no heat. Some further investigation leads him to think it is an illusion. Is there something in the bottom? I can’t remember…