KD comes and collects Hal, and mends him a bit to save some face in front of the others (but also to repair damage from the previous fight). She reassures him and he tries to make it up to her by darting into the mountain and scouting a bit down the tunnel, reporting back when he finds something, or goes for a minute without finding something.

Hal scurries through Hammish’s legs to take the lead into the mine. Nova holds back the bush branches for each team member to proceed through the back entrance. One by one, each adventurer enters the cave.

The tunnels and caverns in the mine are hewn from rock that has thin veins of gold ore running through it. The ceilings throughout are 8 feet high and braced at regular intervals by wooden pilasters and beams while oil lanterns hang from ceiling hooks through out the tunnel.

It’s a winding corridor that continued on for about 80ft before before the group would begin to ascend some stairs. Still scampering on ahead every few feet, Hal would notice after about 30 more feet, the space would open up into a large room.

Perception Check

Roll Call: Anyone

Demetrios’ lips thin, brows furrowed as they enter the mine. While he would have wanted to go in first, he lets Hamish take lead as decided, but he follows behind the man quickly.

Perception: 11

(Will also have Divine Sense active as well!)

Unable to see from his vantage point, Demetrios could hear rustling and deep gruff voices whispering to one another in the area ahead. Although he couldn't understand what they were speaking, Onu could. It was Dwarvish.

Hamish perception 20  (OOC we didn't take a short rest, did we?  I assumed Hammy got distracted and just wanted to charge forward)

(There was no discussion or confirmation on taking the rest inside or out, so I too assumed Hammy valiantly went charging in :) )

Getting a clear look around the corner to the open space, Hamish identifies five Dwarf miners. The cleric's experience can easily tell they're famished and exhausted. Scanning the room there were obvious signs they have taken up a defensive position here, holing themselves up and rationing their supplies. True to stubborn dwarven pride, they're making a stand, refusing to give up their mine to the intruders, the wererats.

Hamish quietly relays the information to the stack behind him and then slowly shows himself to the miners around the corner.  In a bit of a stage whisper, "Hi.  We're here to help with your wererat problem.  Are you all ok?  Are they here?"

The dwarves all turn towards Hamish with their weapons drawn. As the man reveals himself, his purpose, and proceeds to check on their wellbeing, they start to relax. Most of them put their weapons away. The larger of the group steps forward, still with some guard. "Aye. We gud fer now." The dwarf's brow pops. "Them rats been perdy comfy in the main parts o' this mine." He looks Hamish up and down. "Question is, are ya one of em an' 'ave ya come teh finish us off?" He eyes the bite wound on Hamish' arm. Whispers amongst the dwarves start amongst themselves as they too take notice, putting them back on their guard.

"You are right to be suspicious.  It's probably what has helped keep you alive this long."  Hamish lifts his arm so that it is clearly visible.  "Yes, I've been bitten but I'm not here to harm you.  My group has clear instructions to finish me off at the first sign of me turning.  In the meantime, I intend to use this curse as a way to get close and distract the wererats so that they can be finished off hopefully without spreading their curse farther.  This will probably be the last thing I do and I want to thank each of you for holding out this long so that I may give my life to hopefully save yours."

Onu stays close on the cleric's heels, and claps him on the shoulder as he addresses the dwarves.  'He's gonna be just fine, we're not going to let anything happen to him or to you.  You all have done well, we'll push through and clear our your mine, have no fear.  Do you happen to have a map you can share with us?  Or perhaps you could scribble one for us to give us a sense of what we can expect.'

Persusasion (with Help from Hammy) :14

The dwarf would stroke his beard in consideration. Onu's reassurance to Hamish's words were enough to set the man at ease, even more so when Don Jon would make his appearance. The rest of the group would be free to pile into the room. As each person enters, the miners eyes would grow wide. "There be alotta ya!" The leader almost looks impressed. "A'ight. I s'pose we ken doodle summin' up fer yas." He'd wave over one of the other miners to start drafting up a rough map.

During this time Fae would pull out her all her rations and begin handing out double the portions to the farmers miners while also offering to share what water she had. Seeing this, Nova would follow the wizards lead and share some of her prized cheese with the dwarfs. The druid couldn't bare to give all of 'her' cheese up.

Short Rest
(Go ahead and place yourselves in the scene for a short rest. Enjoy it. Smash that Short Rest button. Prepare for your next steps.)

Map
(You are in M15)

KD introduces herself, and truly takes advantage of the short rest (which felt like days!). She mends Hal back up to full, she repairs some crossbow bolts, and she sits down with the miners to truly marvel at their roguh sketch of a map. "We encountered some of the wererats outside. They were tough, but we mostly managed. How have you all been faring? If you wish to leave and seek safety I for one would understand. If you can help us clear the mine, let us know what you are up for."

She finds some time to sit with Onu and check how he's doing. "This job isn't like the others. If we're not careful, we're going to be mistaken for heroes." She whispers the last word.

She checks in with Hamish as well. "We're going to cure you. This curse can be removed. I must teach you how to give self-preservation a try more often."

She finds time to ask Demetrios, Fae, and Nova how they are doing, and tries to ask each person how they'd like to approach the mine. She also asks Don John if he has any advice. 

Onu smiles as KD sits with him, handing over his blade as she checks it over, tinkering ever so slightly with the balance of the handle.  'We're a long way from conning merchants out of a bit of coin, aren't we....' he looks at her, hard 'We can always slip away, go back to running something of our own.... I mean not the 3rd son of the Duchy bit, I think that one has run it's course, but I can come up with something to keep us fed and keep you supplied.....'

The well-dressed half-elven monk looks across the rest of the party, at Demetrios in his shiny armor, the brave Hammish holding terror at bay through sheer force of will,  mysterious Fae and mischievous Nova.  He smiles and looks back at KD 'But who knows, maybe being heroes won't be all that bad!'

Hamish softens as KD talks to him.  "I have faith that this group will try their best to save me from this curse.  I will try to not to get too fatalistic about it.  As a follower of Kelemvor, I must try to stay alive as long as possible until it is my time."  

Hamish looks at the map that the dwarves have drawn. "Do you know where any of the wererats or other miners are in the cave system?  Anything else we should know before we go after them?"

Fae settled quietly in a corner after giving all her rations to the miners. Meanwhile Nova had run out of things to keep herself entertained during the break so she ended up curling up next to Fae, helping herself to using her lap as a pillow. The wizard would absentmindedly play with the Druid’s hair while she’d review notes in her book with her other hand. At the approach of KD, Fae would give a simple nod of assurance that she was adequate for the time being. 

“We be weak frum ‘avin’ teh hole ourselves up here fer days.” The dwarven miner would start his response to KD. “But nay! We will never give up our mine to them varmints! Not a chance!” The man’s expression reflected his resolve. He’d cross his arms after a breath. “Aye. We ken watch yer backs an’ make sure none get ya frum there. Maybe toss a few whacks if it ain’t over crowded.”

The miner would pop his hands up on his hips. “Welp. We be the last of teh survivin’ miners.” He’d exhale with a sigh. “As I mentioned before, me thinks they be in teh core o’ dis place.” The dwarf would point, not very gracefully, around the areas labeled M4. “Thinken they be bunkin’ in our quarts ‘bout ‘ere.” 

"That's enough for me.  Thank you, new friends.  We will take care of these beasts or die trying."  Hamish stands, brushes the dirt off his robes and begins to walk towards M14.

"It looks like we can take a look at this next chamber, and the one south of it, and then the chamber beyond, and once we clear them, we can be assured we will not be snuck up on from behind," KD says. Hal offers to go ahead to take a look and listen first, unless someone else wants to.

KD joins Hamish at the doors to exit the area while the dwarves stand at the back, against the walls. They're understandably apprehensive. However, with no other volunteers, Hal was ready to take the lead to scout ahead for the brave cleric and artificer.

Hamish starts to push the heavy door open. The sound of the stone scraping on the ground echoes through the silent halls. Once there's enough room for Hal to slip through, he does. Those listening could hear the sound of Hals feet pattering away, then pause and go a bit one way, then the other. His steps fall away into silence once again, but only for a moment. Those familiar with Hals steps could tell he was coming back faster, followed by the growing sound of multiple feet. And squeaking.

Giant rats!

Onu draws his shining blade and dances forward into the first rank, blade held back and over his head, a strike prepared for the first rat to appear.

Attack: 20 Damage: 7
Bonus: Attack: 13 Damage: 5
AC boosts to 17 from Agile Parry

Initiative 5

Hamish initiative 8

On his turn, Hamish will cast Toll the Dead on any rat that has been wounded. WIS 13 save or take 8