CF - Volo's Adventurers' Guild - PbP Campaign

“Well- it looks like another one we will have to look for a key for- unless anyone else can open these?   Hate to break this one either.   Somehow I pictured rotten old wooden doors, not beautiful carved stone ones!” tresvar says.   “door across the hall then?” 

The door across the hall from the engraved door is a simpler looking stone door.

Livia moves next to Serena. She has no doubts the experienced adventurer can succeed with the locks, and she doesn't like the idea of her big adventure stopping here because of a locked door in an abandoned ruins. Putting her hand over Serena's shoulder, she asks: "You can do it, right? Maybe a different door? I'm sure the locks just crumbled from the inside on the previous doors." Though she's trying to reassure herself more than Serena, unintentionally, she lets a spark of magic flow through her hand, giving Serena confidence in her skills.

+4 to lock pick attempt due to Livia´s support for a total of 14. Is it enough though?

The simple stone door opens easily revealing a small square room. Whatever it's original purpose is lost to time as it's contents have been cleared out long ago, leaving only the crumbling stone walls and rocky rubble.

The third stone door, on the end of the hall (W) looks similar to the second, but with a relief carving of what looks like a fire with eyes above four bony "legs", giving the impression of a crab or spider.

"Thanks for those words Livia, for a moment I thought I could open it there, but my lock pickings skills seems a bit rusty." Serena, a bit embarrased, says to Livia as she touches her on the shoulder. "I hope we have better luck with this one." She says looking to the door across the corridor.

"This one seems out of use, but that could probably be said about most of this place I guess." Serena says as she starts looking around the room, wary of giant rats in the rubble.
Investigation:20

Realizing the room to the right is in fact empty Serena cautiously moves on to the door at the end of the hall and puts her ear to it. Perception:5
Unless she hears anything on the other side she examines the door. Investigation:6
Unless it seems trapped or locked she swings it open, crossbow ready.

Listening at the door, Serena hears someone quietly sobbing.

The door does not appear locked or trapped.

Before they proceed to the door with the 'fire crab', Banjo will quietly close the north door, eyeing the rubble piles.  No rats sneaking up behind us today....

"I can hear sobbing, there´s definitely someone there. Be ready." Serena says and quietly swings the door open, quickly scanning the room for the sobbing creature.
Perception:15

Quote from Oberon99 >>

 

"This one seems out of use, but that could probably be said about most of this place I guess." Serena says as she starts looking around the room, wary of giant rats in the rubble.
Investigation:20

 The rubble appears devoid of rats.

Quote from Oberon99 >>

"I can hear sobbing, there´s definitely someone there. Be ready." Serena says and quietly swings the door open, quickly scanning the room for the sobbing creature.
Perception:15

 Upon entering the party follows quickly behind Serena. 

Crudely executed symbols and glyphs, scribed in bright green dye, decorate this large and irregularly shaped crumbling chamber.

Serena and Tresvar can read the symbols:

A large pit in the center shows evidence of a recent fire. A metallic cage in the middle of the southern wall contains a gaping hole and stands empty.  The metallic cage is all but destroyed and can’t be used to restrain captives. A small wooden bench draped with green cloth is next to the cage, and several small objects rest on it.

A bedroll lies near the wooden bench, and the sound of whimpering comes from inside it.

Link to image of Cage room

Serena cautiously approaches the bedroll. "Hrm, sorry to intrude, can we help you with something?"
Persuasion to make peaceful contact with sobbing creature:26 rolled with advantage if someone backs her up, otherwise go with first roll.

Tresvar points at the runes and says “Here there be dragons.   Why are you crying?”   And she goes to the bedroll, sword and shield readied, and gently taps the sobbing creature with her foot. 

Keeping a wary eye on the interactions of the group with the mystery crier, Banjo's curiosity demands he examine the workbench and the items thereon.  Investigation: 19

"We're here to help..." Banjo adds to the diplomacy, but it sounds distracted as he looks over the materials on the bench.

Tresvar helps (you can always assume she will help, if she can)

Serena and Tresvar approach the bedroll. Therein they see a kobold who is in the fits of a nightmare, his whimpers and sobs interrupting his twitching and cringing. 

When Tresvar nudges him with her foot he starts and wakes... his eyes first land on Tresvar, from whom he cringes back and sobs a bit more dejectedly... As he sits up the party can see the creature is covered in scars. He scans to Serena, whose demeanor seems to calm him. 

The wretched creature responds to the inquiries in broken common:

"No be sorry. Meepo sorry... sorry sobs have disturbed you. Meepo suppose now all will come to see Meepo's failure... The clan’s dragon … we lost it. The wretched goblins stole Calcryx, our dragon! Now Meepo failure... maybe Dragonborn come to replace Meepo... Would be fitting..." he drifts off into more sobs...

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Meanwhile, Banjo inspect the the objects upon the bench: 

Banjo snaps back to attention at Meepo's story.  "I can see dragons are very important to your people.  Don't fret yet, friend.  Every crisis is just a chance to find a new happy ending!  We are adventurers from the surface.  We are looking for some other adventurers who came through here several weeks ago.  Did you see anyone like that?  Tall like these ladies," he says, pointing toward Serena and Livia, "... perhaps with shiny armor or weapons?  We are here to find them and take them home.  If you can help us do that, Meepo, then you will be a great hero in the eyes of our people."

"Yes, help us and perhaps we can help you Meepo. Tell us all you know of this place and perhaps we can take care of those goblins for you." Serena says smiling disarmingly at the kobold.