[[ Gooood clarification. But Bom is there (not the dude with the cat)? Otherwise there are no surprises? ]]

[[The second sentence above is confusing to me, though. Both Bom and the dude with the cat are there in the boat. Bom is not in the tent with Ahmet though, he is waiting diligently out in the rain at the entrance to the tunnel.]]

Meaning: ...But Bom is there (and I get that he is not the dude with the cat)? ]

[[While those that are going up the tunnel do so, what is Brand going to be doing?]]

[[ Tempted by waiting above the boat; it is the least visible spot; if I understand the current situation, there are no dry spots other than on the boat.

For now, though, just wait where he is, observing their behaviour.]]

It takes nearly ten minutes before the last of Rawl's men (i.e., the cat man) is safely up the tunnel, which leaves the one-armed Ahmet and presumably the cat on the boat. The cat man (sans cat) took the longest and was apparently pulled bodily up the tunnel after he tied himself onto the rope. The other men were apparently able to negotiate the tunnel without difficulty using the tips Bom told Rawl.

[[What is Brand going to do now?]]

[[What is Brand going to do now?]]

[[ Did he catch any conversation between Cat Man and Ahmet ? When cat man left, what did he do with cat?

The plan: follow.]]

I have two theories; either Brand can just use the rope and tricks from Bom to get up the tunnel, or he can pull himself along the roof of the tunnel, avoiding the slippery surface entirely.

First step is to get inside and see what he is facing, using stones in each glove; he will move forward if either of those plans looks likely, though a mild preference for floating above the water and pulling along the roof.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[What is Brand going to do now?]]

[[ Did he catch any conversation between Cat Man and Ahmet ? When cat man left, what did he do with cat?

[[The basic conversation between these two is how much of an arrogant idiot Rawl is; this topic of conversation was started by the cat man. With regard to the cat, Brand doesn't know, and the cat is nowhere to be seen.]]

The plan: follow.]]

I have two theories; either Brand can just use the rope and tricks from Bom to get up the tunnel, or he can pull himself along the roof of the tunnel, avoiding the slippery surface entirely.

First step is to get inside and see what he is facing, using stones in each glove; he will move forward if either of those plans looks likely, though a mild preference for floating above the water and pulling along the roof.]]

Actually, with the rope no longer visible at the bottom of the tunnel, it is hard for Brand to tell when the 'cat man' reaches the top of the tunnel, so when he goes to look up the tunnel he can see that the man has only just reached the top. He also sees that there are more lights, of the colour of flame, up at the end of the tunnel.

Brand decides that using his Stone of Uplifting to pull himself along the ceiling of the tunnel is the wisest thing to do and so he starts up the tunnel in this matter. 

However, when he is about halfway up the tunnel, the light from the end is blocked out by a figure starting to descend.

[[ However, when he is about halfway up the tunnel, the light from the end is blocked out by a figure starting to descend. ]]

[[Is the area they are descending big enough for two people (ie. they descend using rope, can Brand hug other side? Can he reach the area in time?

[[ Edit 2: I think I misunderstood in my initial response; they are NOT descending a vertical shaft, they are descending the shaft Brand is in. If so, he reverses....and continues to do so if the person keeps coming.

Also, does he know who the person is?

Edit: and did he catch any other sounds from above?

...and has the tunnel got taller or wider, or does the tunnel seem any bigger up ahead? If it opens out a lot up ahead, he might try to get there]]

Brand retraces his path back down to the end of the tunnel and exits as Bom quickly descends using the rope in a manner similar to abseiling. 

At the end, the big man leaves the rope in place and climbs back onto the boat to join Ahmet under the canopy.

"We wait now, isn't that right?" says Bom. 

"Yes, Bom," says Ahmet. "Now we wait. Would you like some grog? It'll help keep the chill at bay."

"Aye," replies Bom accepting the earthenware jug that Ahmet hands him. "And we get paid lots of money by Lord Brand too, don't we?"

"Yes, Bom," says Ahmet again. "We get paid lots of money."

"'Tis good," says Bom and takes a long swig.

[[Does Brand head back up the tunnel?]]

[[Does Brand head back up the tunnel?]]

[[ Very bloody good question. I knew Brand should have been in on the planning! ]]

[[ Did the tunnel get taller or wider at any point? ]]

[[ Does Brand recognize the grog? Supplied by his father? ]]

[[ The way I see his mission: protect 3 people; 2 are in boat, one in tunnels. Sameena is watching Rawl, and can apparently communicate with Brand if necessary...she probably has trapper covered. There is no guarantee that Rawl didn't hire others to kill these two.

There is also the possibility the grog is poisoned/diseased. He is ready to appear to these two and say "Don't drink that, unless you brought it yourself, or my father gave it to you...."; or swap out the invisibility for the Mage Hand and knock the mugs out of their hands...

Bottom line, he stays, but next actions depend on the status of the grog, and whether they have drunk any, and if he recognizes it...]]

[[ Also, Fazal may be a bad guy...]]

[[ Edit:

Just noticed: "'Tis good," says Bom and takes a long swig.

Is Fazal drinking? Did the conversation he overheard involve them opening the bottle ?]]

 [[ Could Brand get the boat back to the estate if necessary?]]

[[

When Ahmet said: ""Yes, Bom," says Ahmet again. "We get paid lots of money."

Was there any tinge of sadness or regret in his tone? -- Feel free to make a roll for me...

]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Does Brand head back up the tunnel?]]

[[ Very bloody good question. I knew Brand should have been in on the planning! ]]

[[ Did the tunnel get taller or wider at any point? ]]

[[The tunnel was the same width and height as far up as he got. From what he could see, there did seem to me a more open area at the top of the slope, but he doesn't know any more than that.]]

[[ Does Brand recognize the grog? Supplied by his father? ]]

[[It's an earthenware crock. So no, he doesn't recognise the grog, and he will need to get a lot closer to try and tell what it is by smell.]]

[[ The way I see his mission: protect 3 people; 2 are in boat, one in tunnels. Sameena is watching Rawl, and can apparently communicate with Brand if necessary...she probably has trapper covered. There is no guarantee that Rawl didn't hire others to kill these two.

There is also the possibility the grog is poisoned/diseased. He is ready to appear to these two and say "Don't drink that, unless you brought it yourself, or my father gave it to you...."; or swap out the invisibility for the Mage Hand and knock the mugs out of their hands...

Bottom line, he stays, but next actions depend on the status of the grog, and whether they have drunk any, and if he recognizes it...]]

[[ Also, Fazal may be a bad guy...]]

[[ Edit:

Just noticed: "'Tis good," says Bom and takes a long swig.

Is Fazal drinking? Did the conversation he overheard involve them opening the bottle ?]]

[[Brand didn't see either of them open the crock and when Bom hands the crock back he sees Ahmet take a swig.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ Could Brand get the boat back to the estate if necessary?]]

[[It's a big boat that uses oars... so maybe.]]

[[

When Ahmet said: ""Yes, Bom," says Ahmet again. "We get paid lots of money."

Was there any tinge of sadness or regret in his tone? -- Feel free to make a roll for me...

[[There was no sadness or regret in Ahmet's tone of voice. It just sounded like he had said this before.]]

]]

[[ OK....Fazal's boat, probably his grog, he drank it, all sounds normal. If it's poisoned, it's too late. If it's diseased...maybe the grog killed it.]]

Brand settles down, wraps his cloak about him, resigned to a slow wet night, but wary for other approaching, either from the tunnel, the water, or the river bank. Before he settles, he rises a little in the air to see if there are any other people visible in range, then drops back down and waits. He does this every 5 or 10 minutes, while listening to Fazal and Bom.

It is hard to tell the time when one can't see the stars or hear the candle callers, but Brand has just finished his second time aloft looking for other people when he feels a sudden presence.

[[Make a Wisdom Saving Throw.]]

[[Sorry, but that's it for me tonight. ciao.]]

[[Make a Wisdom Saving Throw.]] Does he have any sense that this is Sameena?

Wisdom: 20

...also did he see anything nearby? If not, he looks at the boat, then up the tunnel...

[[Sorry, but that's it for me tonight. ciao.]]

[[ Boooo! Talk about cliff-hangers!!!! 8-) ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Make a Wisdom Saving Throw.]] Does he have any sense that this is Sameena?

Wisdom: 20

...also did he see anything nearby? If not, he looks at the boat, then up the tunnel...

[[No. Sorry, I misread something. Brand actually doesn't feel a presence) but please make a Perception check.]]

[[Sorry, but that's it for me tonight. ciao.]]

[[ Boooo! Talk about cliff-hangers!!!! 8-) ]]

[[ Can we use the same roll?? Hate to see it go to waste. If so, then 24 If not the :]]

Perception: 23

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Can we use the same roll?? Hate to see it go to waste. If so, then 24 If not the :]]

Perception: 15

[[Good enough anyway.]]

In the middle of Brand doing one of his scans of the nearby area, he notices a glowing ball of mana about the size of his fist hovering close by. He hasn't seen anything like it before.

He sinks to the ground, and looks closer at it, remembering Sameenas ball. "Is that you?" He says quietly. "Bounce up and down, if yes."

[[ If there is a bounce:]]

"Should we be fleeing?"

[[ If no bounce]

" I can follow"

The ball doesn't react, but Bom does, looking in Brand's direction.

He then turns back to Fazal and after getting to his feet says, "They might be coming back. I thought I heard someone."

[[ Did it react to "I can follow" ? Or did that not get asked because of Boms reaction? ]]

Brand watches the ball, then glances up the tunnel again, and turns back to ball. Is it following?

Suddenly, Brand hears a voice saying, "My name is Gerard Assam. Your father tells me the others are in danger and you are to try to rescue the trap finder."

Looking around, he doesn't see the speaker and apparently Bom and Fazal didn't hear the voice, which was quite loud

In fact, Bom is currently looking through Brand up the tunnel and scratching his head. 

"Can't see anyone," he says before looking back towards Fazal.