(04) The Cathedral

[rredmond]

Garamon tries not to shrug in surprise, and stays close behind Thanis and a little to his right... just in case.

[waysoftheearth]

Thanis leads the party through the entry portico (the narthex), and into the main hall of the cathedral.

It is an impressive chamber, despite half the roof and part of the top-walls having collapsed long ago. Scaffolding on the outside of the building, supporting the restoration works, are visible from the interior. But most of the roofers and masons seem to have been distracted by something going on outside...

Meanwhile, inside. There main hall is about 50ft wide, and perhaps three times as long. There is a central isle dividing two banks of dilapidated pews. Tall columns line the isle, supporting what remains of the lofty ceiling. The outer walls feature a series of tall, narrow windows. Small fragments of the old stained glass remain, but the windows are mostly open to the outside air.

At the head of the grand hall, the altar, pulpit and a tall shrine appear to have been almost fully restored to lightly gilded utility. To either side of the dais supporting the shrine, altar, and pulpit is an archway leading deeper into the cathedral.

A small group of hooded monks in plain hessian robes are gathered at the altar (so... 120-ish ft from the party as they enter).
One of them--likely the Reverend--has a green and yellow stole around his neck that hangs down past his waist. They don't seem to have noticed the party's arrival...

Wraislin marvels once again at the profound stupidity of people, and follows the others.

Mere mortal men working on a building project. Not sure it's profoundly stupid of them to handily avoid certain death at the hands of the players... we'll see.

Meanwhile. Are the monks surprised by the players? 1d6=5, yes. So they haven't noticed the players enter.

What now?

[ehiker133]

Goldwen follows Thanis, with purpose. She doesn't try to appear "sneaky" in any way, but acts like she belongs there.

As they walk towards the monks, she whispers back to the others, "Let's get past these monks as quickly as possible. Act like you belong here and they'll think we belong here."

As much as I know we're testing the combat rules for DD5, I'm not sure how readily a Lawfully aligned character would attack a group of religious monks without any provocation...

[waysoftheearth]

Thanis (and the party following) slows for half a moment as he mentally adjusts, then straightens his spine from his usual half-crouch, and--all while completing that single stride-- eases into a regular walk and enters the main cathedral as if nothing could be more common place for him.

Not a dozen strides in, the monks gathered at the shrine hear them approaching, and turn about.

By this time, the party can't help but to have noted the 30ft tall, shrine wall that a congregation here would face; half a dozen broad slabs rising from the ground at slightly divergent angles collectively form an impressive facia. They are covered in a dark but vaguely lustrous metal, into which many man- and serpent-like forms are featured in a bass relief.

"Who treads there?" Challenges the stole-wearer in an unimpressed tone. "Declare yourselves!"
The hooded monks around him incline their hidden faces slowly to observe, steepled fingers at the end of their long, white arms poised a moment...

Slightly irregular usage, but the ref decides to dice for encounter distance. 2d6=9, so 90ft.

[sully]

Thanis raises his voice in anger. You know why we are here! The Master is furious with you and you sit here doing nothing. Have you even sent scouts to the moathouse yet?

He continues to stride toward the shrine and the monks.

[waysoftheearth]

The stole-wearer (looking increasingly StarWars Emperor-like) tilts his head a modicum, revealing a severe frown beneath the hood.

The other monks flex their white fingers archly, awaiting the Reverend's direction...

Clearly, they're not going for it this time.

Hmm, the ref decides that this time, Thanis's story is a bit farther out on a limb...

The logging operation and moat house aren't the reverend's responsibility, and it isn't clear who "The Master" refers to.

Reaction roll: 2d6=4; that's a negative, regardless.

Let's assume the players are more or less single file in the central aisle (which is about 6ft wide, with ranks of pews on either side).
The marching order is Thanis, followed by Stern, Garamon, Flin, Wraislin, with Goldwen, and Witherun at the rear.
Thanis has covered, maybe 30-40 ft by now, so he is still 50ft from the monks.


Presumably, the next moment will be a chancy one.
The ref has in mind what the monk/s will do.

What do the players intend?

[sully]

Thanis continues to walk toward the monks.

And now, there are fires burning right outside, while you sit here and do nothing.

Gotta stay committed to the bit, I guess.

[rredmond]

Garamon strides along, a wee bit behind and to the right of Thanis trying to put a bodyguardish glower on his face. He keeps his spear at the ready and head on a swivel keeping the "muscle" act going.

The Master was a good gamble though I think, generic enough.

[Tonneau]

Having had enough of these faithful, Wraislin assesses his chances to surreptitiously use his arcane trickery to tie the pea-like mind of the apparently leader to his will, and does so if he deems it possible.

Is Charm Person an option without making it blindingly obvious that one is casting a spell at the affected?

These are not the adventurers you're looking for...

[waysoftheearth]

Is Charm Person an option without making it blindingly obvious that one is casting a spell at the affected?

These are not the adventurers you're looking for...

OD&D does tend toward dramatic/obvious spell casting, requiring at least an un-interrupted period of concentration to execute. However, the exact art of it is up to your imagination. As long as you fit it within the game parameters, you can describe it however you like.

Intention have been stated... so give us some joyous verbiage