"Join us if you must, there is strength in numbers. Our employers were seized on the road, we followed the tracks here."Her demeanor is blunt with an uncaring edge, she hasn't sheathed her weapons from the fight as she peers in the cave still, a few strands of her black hair linger over her red eyes.
Mayhew looks at his companions. "Do we need a short rest before venturing inside? I'm doing OK, but I can only ask the Celestials for healing once more. If you need to rest and recover naturally, it might be best to do it out here. Plus, we can examine these goblins, and possibly learn something about what awaits within."
Okay. After a short rest, Nari, Mayhew, and Pip enter the cave cautiously.
Just inside the cave mouth, a few uneven stone steps ascend to a small, dank chamber on the east side of the passage. The cave narrows to a steep fissure at the far end and is filled with the stench of animals. Three chained wolves snarl and rattle their chains as you approach the cave mouth. Each wolf’s chain leads to an iron rod driven into the base of a stalagmite.
Yes, Mayhew would like to search the goblins, or have other members of the party do it, since it's not his forte. And then we should definitely all go into the cave, which is likely the lair of these goblins, stealthily.
Investigation: 17 if we're allowed to search them, and gain any useful info. Plus he'd like to recover his crossbow bolt, if possible.
Stealth, to enter the cave with the rest of the party: 7
Pip follows his two new allies closely as he peers into the cave (perception 23) he crouches down to try to keep quiet (stealth 9) he holds his staff in hand and shield partially raised.
Mayhew enters the cave stealthily, but Nari and Pip attract the wolves' attention. They tug at their chains as if trying to get loose to no avail. They cannot reach the adventurers; so, they bark, snarl, and growl as you pass them.
The main passage from the cave mouth climbs steeply upward, the stream plunging and splashing down its west side. In the shadows, a side passage leads west across the other side of the stream.
As they pass the wolves, Pip takes out a ration from his pack and tosses it towards them to try to calm them down and win favor with the beasts. He puts his hands up making a calming shuushing noise to try and quiet the beasts. (animal handling - 11, not sure if food would give advantage, but rolled again for a 14 just in case.) He turns to his allies whispering, "Hope those wolves aren't some type of early alarm..So which spooky path we goin on? the waterway or the side?"
Nari and Mayhew, since you have darkvision, you notice something ahead.
In the shadows of the ceiling to the north, you can just make out the dim shape of a rope bridge crossing over the passage ahead of you. Another passage 20 feet above the floor appears to intersect this one.
If you take the side passage, you enter a large cave.
This large cave is divided in half by a ten-foot-high escarpment. A steep, natural staircase leads from the lower portion to the upper ledge. The air is hazy with the smoke of a cooking fire, and pungent from the smell of poorly cured hides and unwashed goblins.
Nari, as you sneak into the cave, you notice five goblins resting around two small campfires. To the left is the escarpment where you can see two other goblins beating a human. A fourth figure is also there.
The old creature shown by the campfire light appears to be an old grisly elf. Wrinkles on his face and a full white beard, 2 very un-elf like characteristics and yet the ears and build are unmistakable. He appears to to be looking at you, each in turn. As he looks at each of the party members, they quietly here a soft whisper from a gnarly high pitched voice. "Pardon, you wouldn't be here to help an old captive or two, would you?" (Message)
(Assuming someone responded)
"They maybe on edge a bit, I've been doing ghost sounds in there ears all evening! But it appears to be working against my co-captive at the moment..."
Pip, tailing the group tries to be sneaky as well, but can't see much ahead of them. (Stealth 12) Pip hearing the message responds, "Uhh who dis? We gotchu boo, a moment please"
"Join us if you must, there is strength in numbers. Our employers were seized on the road, we followed the tracks here." Her demeanor is blunt with an uncaring edge, she hasn't sheathed her weapons from the fight as she peers in the cave still, a few strands of her black hair linger over her red eyes.
Mayhew looks at his companions. "Do we need a short rest before venturing inside? I'm doing OK, but I can only ask the Celestials for healing once more. If you need to rest and recover naturally, it might be best to do it out here. Plus, we can examine these goblins, and possibly learn something about what awaits within."
Okay. After a short rest, Nari, Mayhew, and Pip enter the cave cautiously.
Just inside the cave mouth, a few uneven stone steps ascend to a small, dank chamber on the east side of the passage. The cave narrows to a steep fissure at the far end and is filled with the stench of animals. Three chained wolves snarl and rattle their chains as you approach the cave mouth. Each wolf’s chain leads to an iron rod driven into the base of a stalagmite.
Did anyone get to roll hit dice during that short rest? Also, can we enter stealthily?
Nari takes the short rest to tend to her wounds, letting the others pick at the goblins if they so wish.
Upon entering the cave she eyes the wolves warily .
(If we are being sneaks) Stealth: 10
Yes, Mayhew would like to search the goblins, or have other members of the party do it, since it's not his forte. And then we should definitely all go into the cave, which is likely the lair of these goblins, stealthily.
Investigation: 17 if we're allowed to search them, and gain any useful info. Plus he'd like to recover his crossbow bolt, if possible.
Stealth, to enter the cave with the rest of the party: 7
Pip follows his two new allies closely as he peers into the cave (perception 23) he crouches down to try to keep quiet (stealth 9) he holds his staff in hand and shield partially raised.
Mayhew enters the cave stealthily, but Nari and Pip attract the wolves' attention. They tug at their chains as if trying to get loose to no avail. They cannot reach the adventurers; so, they bark, snarl, and growl as you pass them.
The main passage from the cave mouth climbs steeply upward, the stream plunging and splashing down its west side. In the shadows, a side passage leads west across the other side of the stream.
As they pass the wolves, Pip takes out a ration from his pack and tosses it towards them to try to calm them down and win favor with the beasts. He puts his hands up making a calming shuushing noise to try and quiet the beasts. (animal handling - 11, not sure if food would give advantage, but rolled again for a 14 just in case.) He turns to his allies whispering, "Hope those wolves aren't some type of early alarm..So which spooky path we goin on? the waterway or the side?"
"Perhaps the side path is the road less traveled," Mayhew replies. "That would be my choice. What do the rest of you say?"
Pip nods in agreement.
"Side it is."
Nari and Mayhew, since you have darkvision, you notice something ahead.
In the shadows of the ceiling to the north, you can just make out the dim shape of a rope bridge crossing over the passage ahead of you. Another passage 20 feet above the floor appears to intersect this one.
If you take the side passage, you enter a large cave.
This large cave is divided in half by a ten-foot-high escarpment. A steep, natural staircase leads from the lower portion to the upper ledge. The air is hazy with the smoke of a cooking fire, and pungent from the smell of poorly cured hides and unwashed goblins.
Mayhew will pause and whisper to the others, "Goblins ahead. Possibly a camp, with several of them. Be on your guard."
He'll continue his stealthy approach, and hold up if he spots any goblins, so the whole party engages them together.
EDIT to add a Stealth roll, if he needs a new one. Stealth: 3
Nari unsheathes her swords as they approach.
Stealth: 14
Nari, as you sneak into the cave, you notice five goblins resting around two small campfires. To the left is the escarpment where you can see two other goblins beating a human. A fourth figure is also there.
Templton, please describe your character.
Roll initiative.
Mayhew initiative: 11
The old creature shown by the campfire light appears to be an old grisly elf. Wrinkles on his face and a full white beard, 2 very un-elf like characteristics and yet the ears and build are unmistakable. He appears to to be looking at you, each in turn. As he looks at each of the party members, they quietly here a soft whisper from a gnarly high pitched voice. "Pardon, you wouldn't be here to help an old captive or two, would you?" (Message)
(Assuming someone responded)
"They maybe on edge a bit, I've been doing ghost sounds in there ears all evening! But it appears to be working against my co-captive at the moment..."
Pip, tailing the group tries to be sneaky as well, but can't see much ahead of them. (Stealth 12) Pip hearing the message responds, "Uhh who dis? We gotchu boo, a moment please"
Initiative: 3 (lol)
"...Perhaps we are."
Initiative: 12