"Well, that's annoying," said Sterling, glaring at the door's lock. Sighing, he responded to the others. "I might be able to do it, but I don't tend to carry thieves' tools on me. Looks like we'll have to risk announcing ourselves one way or another. If no one wants to try knocking, I'll attempt to use some magic to blow the door open."

(( He'll wait a moment to see if anyone wants to try knocking... if someone does, he'll duck off to the side. ))

Casz knocks. "Hide!" he hisses through gritted teeth. He's already regretting this, but oh well. 

As the others move as they please, he dishevels his hair and loosens his clothing more. He smells his breath. Alcohol, good. Drunken beauty, it is. He didn't necessarily mind hanging off some back alley brute, so long as it pays off, one way or another...

Ah, well. He puts on his typical doe eyed expression and thinks of the dirtiest thing he can, just to add a blush to the ensemble. [Performance: 18]

Sterling dove to the side and pressed against the side of the building in a crouch. He then conjured a small pile of wood scraps over his position to conceal his presence.

(( Stealth Check, if needed: 14 ))

There is no answer. However Casz and Wagner do hear the sound of a bit of a ruckus coming from inside. It is definitely not empty.

Casz lets a short huff. "Well... That's a tad anticlimactic." 

Against his better judgment, he knocks again, louder. He decides to add dialogue, just in case.

"Heeeelloooooo! Darling? Is this the place you wanted to meet?"

After about 15 seconds, it goes quiet again. No further movement is heard by either of you. Including after the second knock. 

"Hmm. Alright, it's all yours, O' gallant leader. 'Magic' it away." The elf's not annoyed, per say, but when he's ready to play a role, he's ready. Call it professional dissatisfaction.

Stepping up from the illusory wood pile, Sterling headed straight for the door. "Let's hope this works," he muttered to himself, as he laid a hand near the door, focused, then uttered his incantation while thrusting his palm out to strike the surface.

"Et'Koom!"

(( Sterling casts Thunderwave, targeting the door and anything just beyond it. Damage: 13 thunder damage. ))

The door flies of its hinges revealing a large room, extending 40ft infront of you, 5ft right, and about 75ft left (including opening up wider after 45ft to make an L shaped room).

Tables and chairs have been carelessly tossed across the floor. The corpses of a dozen men lie along the walls, their rapiers and daggers lying nearby. All look dead before the thunderwave. On the north side of the area, stairs rise to an open level above. There is no immediate sign of anyone living.

Caszimir looks in. "Wow, you really knocked 'em dead over there. You left 'em speechless. Absolutely floored." Unbothered by the carnage, he gives his leader a wry grin. "There, see? That's how you quip proper, darling!" 

For his part, Sterling merely grimaced--whether at the sight or at the comment, it was hard to tell--before quietly looking around the room. Seeing no movement, he stepped inside and gingerly walked among the debris, thinking deeply as he looked for clues as to what exactly had been going on.

(( He's trying to see if there's anything on the floor or tables indicating what they'd been doing--maybe cards or dice--or any goods or supplies in the room that might have been some sort of contraband. Perception: 10, or if Investigation is needed instead: 24 ))

Oriace kept to his hiding place a few seconds longer after the enormous explosion with which Sterling opened the door. How quickly a subtle approach can turn sour, he thinks to himself. With any luck whoever was in there just fled after this show of force and clear announcement. Oriace shyly looks around if anyone, guards or thugs, rush into the street alarmed by the noise. 

After a few heartbeats, he follows Casz and Sterling inside. He nearly gags at the scene unfolding in front of him. “Someone must have been here before us,” he manages to say through the hand on his mouth and nose. “You think they are still here?”

Sterling: Crates packed with weapons, rations, boots, black uniforms, and other gear fill the warehouse.

Oriace They are certainly still here. As you are wondering that, four short, avian creatures with long beaks and black feathers wearing cloaks pop up from hiding places behind some of the furniture down the other end of the room, and they open fire.

Two 9s against Sterling, and a 14 and (the only hit) a 24 against Oriace for 7 damage.

Oriace winces as the projectile thuds into his body. Then, when the pain hit him, he nearly blacked out. Half falling, half consciously trying to protect himself, he throws himself to the floor, prone. Holding his wound he tries to see from where he was attacked and warns the others, “Bolts!” Then he summons all his remaining strength and mouthes a lullaby that hopefully sends some of the attackers into a slumber. 

I did forget to say, you are all up. As Oriace drops to the floor, only semi-controlled, you all notice two of the avian creatures also drop to the floor, a lot less controlled, and asleep. (For ease of targeting, they are distinguished as A-D as the default in the DDB combat tracker. And A and B are unconscious . 

Quote from Swiftgale >>

(For ease of targeting, they are distinguished as A-D as the default in the DDB combat tracker. And A and B are unconscious . 

 (Should we be able to access that encounter in the combat tracker? I haven't been able to locate a link.)

Casz dives for cover. "Someone get the other two, please!" The elf is a lover,  not a (great) fighter. If he must, he will. But he'd really really rather not.

Quote from cyreon >>

Quote from Swiftgale >>

(For ease of targeting, they are distinguished as A-D as the default in the DDB combat tracker. And A and B are unconscious . 

 (Should we be able to access that encounter in the combat tracker? I haven't been able to locate a link.)

 (I believe it is a DM only tool. It just links to the game log so I can roll for monsters and track health/initiative if using it)

[[Just checking, I didn't miss a short rest after the troll, did I?]]

Wagner charges forward, humming a martial theme from an old war ballad as he strikes out with his rapier.

Move: to the avian humanoid. (C)
Action: Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Wagner draws a dagger and stabs the creature for a chance to nick it.

Bonus Attack: 16 Damage: 2