(Mobile)

After momentarily scavenging the room for anything magical of nature, Zhi deferred to his regular position smack-dab in the center of the party of adventurers. Seeing the area below to be empty, Zhi curtly nods towards Doc. There was no use in wasting time. If this passage is as consistently used as it seems, it is only a matter of time until someone wanders in. And what a shame that would be. People tended to scream when Zhi killed them, and that would be problematic in keeping a low profile in whatever infiltration mission they are on.

Does it look like it leads to a super-double secret Drow lair? Of course not.

Where to, kids?

The stairs to the east. 

Zhisshikassa follows behind (at a significant enough distance), still maintaining control over his Detect Magic spell. Of course, he was the arcane caster here. He had to do his duties. He idly yawns and continues walking - the others would be more perceptive. Zhi doesn't like straining his eyes. 

The stairs lead up into an empty room on the main Castle level. The room is the one directly WEST of ROOM 13. From this room, you can go to either 3a, 3b, or 3c.

Daewen waits outside the door to room 3c for the rest of the team to stack up outside, ready to silently burst into the room and attack every moving thing (and some unmoving things as well).  But first, she'll listed intently for any sign of things going on in room 3c (Perception: 8).

If hearing nothing, and when the attack team is ready, she'll slowly open the door to 3c and slink in, weapons at the Ready.

Raza trails after the group, staying alert, the quiet unnerving.  She nods and shrugs as she walks along but keeps her conversation internal.  Once at the next door she quietly slides her blades out, preparing for whatever their next trial turns out to be.

Neph pulls out his short swords, tensing up before entering room 3c with strike force delta.

AREA 3C

It's a kitchen.

The ovens are dominated by a large roasting pit with secret double doors leading into the atrium, intended for carrying particularly large roasts into the feast hall. The stairs lead down into the basement.

Kasha sniffed the air. "There are people nearby. I can smell something." she said in a hushed manner. You can hear the sound of activity in AREA 3B.

Stepping into the kitchen and hearing Kasha's declaration, Doc stepped quietly towards the door in question and searched for an opening to scout the room ahead.  "I think we might have to just charge in there unless anyone has a thought on how to get some eyes in there first?"  He told the group after failing to find any cracks or openings of note.

• Investigation? to see if there's a hole in the wall that we can look through (or a hole big enough for Zhi's familiar to slither through and spy for us): 4  :(

Daewen follows Doc's lead and looks for key holes, cracks, etc. to spy into the next room (Investigation: 14).

Seems like a regular door. The keyhole is large enough that you can see two drow cooks minding their own business.

Daewen pantomimes what she sees in the next room by using her fingers (puppeting two Drow cooks), and waits for the rest of the group to stack up at the door, ready to burst in and silently eliminate the threat.

Zhi furrows his brow. His breath becomes a low hiss - well, it usually is - and he suggests; “Ensure you are not at risk of being seen. Do not cause them to bleed too much. Preventing their bodies from being seen is ideal - we do not need to raise an alarm.”

"Agreed Zhi."  Then turning to the squad, "If you're able to quietly open the door and incapacitate one of them - or at least stop them from raising the alarm - I think I can stop the other one.  Might even be able to extract some information from them too."    

(OOC: thinking Doc could use Suggestion to stop one of them and maybe get some information about the rest of the hideout as well)

Go ahead and roll stealth for whatever you'd like to try, then I will roll Perception for the Drow chefs.

Nephvir whispers and says "I think I'm the stealthiest of us.  I can text you to coordinate our attacks.  I will plan to incapacitate, but not kill.  Up to you."

Quote from Twombley >>

Nephvir whispers and says "I think I'm the stealthiest of us.  I can text you to coordinate our attacks.  I will plan to incapacitate, but not kill.  Up to you."

"I think if we can question one of them, it doesn't matter what happens to the other one, as long as they don't get away or wake up the whole castle."  Doc replied quietly.

To more easily and stealthily take down one of the cooks, Daewen sheathes her two short swords, and unlatches her longbow from her back.  Taking point, she places one hand on the door, while the other holds her bow at the ready.  Looking back at the team stacked up behind her, she nods to each one in turn, getting their ready signal.  The three stealthy ones are going to burst in and quickly take down the cook on the left, and then attempt to stun the second cook (on the right) so Doc can interrogate it.

Kill the one on the left, the stun the one on the right.  You can do this, Daewen.

Then, in one swift motion, she'll gently and quietly open the door, letting Nephvir in first, followed by Arora, and then tip-toeing into the room herself.

Stealth: 20

Bow drawn, Daewen quickly flings an arrow to the Drow cook on the right (the one they're trying to stun and not kill)-

Surprise Round Attack: 12 Damage: 8

Then, using her uber ninja Gloom Stalker skills, she flings another arrow to the Drow cook on the left (the one they're trying to kill)-

Gloom Stalker Dread Ambusher Attack: 7 Damage: 18

Subsequent initiative: 18

Zhissikassa whispers into the weave of the world and throws up a belated guidance on whoever needs it in order to remain unseen.