Just before taking off, Escobert tells the citizens of Greenest about Leosin’s shortcut to help them return to town safely
As you head into the cave, your eyes would catch some movement just inside as they adjust to the darkness.
The entrance to the cave is broad and tall, but the ceiling quickly lowers to a height of 15 feet. Standing guard inside the entrance are two cultists. They wear Lieutenant insignia (ranked below Thaddeus) and both snap to attention seeing Thaddeus with a “Hail Tiamat!”
The professor stops to stand in front of the two and returns the greeting with a stern. “Hail Tiamat!” He then glares at the officer “Whose idea was it to leave the camp unguarded?”
Kirari mimics Cale's posture being unfamiliar with the formalities of military life figuring her own tribe would have different ideas of appropriate behavior.
The two guards look at each other, clearly puzzled by the Professor's question. "The kobolds should be keeping watch, and the only things out there of value to the cult would be the captives. We are here to make sure no one unworthy makes it to the hatchery." says the slightly taller cultist.
“We have a problem then. The kobolds are gone and so are the captives. Are there any more of the worthy within who can help us search for the captives?”
Kirari raises an eyebrow feigning surprise that the guards are not aware of the situation outside the cave then returns her expression to a more formal one representative of her rank as if correcting herself.
The professor hears Inglenooks message and then thinks to Cale. “If I say the word gnome, it’s your signal to attack. Inglenook is ready and I’m sure Cale and Kirari will follow suit fast enough.”
Kirari tries to hide her reaction to the sudden voice in her head by rubbing an old injury to the side of her face. Then addressing her 'commander', "If you'll forgive me for saying sir, might these two be as oblivious to security of the cave as they are to the camp?" She steps back slightly as if expecting a reprimand for speaking out of turn and holds a firm respective posture.
The taller cultist scratches his chin and says, "Gone you say? Those stupid kobolds will get punished for this!" His partner shouts deeper into the cave behind him, "Kobolds, you are needed outside! The captives have freed themselves!"
Suddenly, 3 kobolds appear with their knives and slings in hand. They look to the guards and then to Thaddeus.
The taller cultist responds with, "Brother Captain, do you wish to enter and let Mondath know of this? I can take your squad out in search of the captives if you wish."
The professor shakes his head “It would be best if you lead the search. You know these kobolds in your group better than I and can command them more easily. My men and I will guard this cave in case any get by you.”
Travis stands tall and silent, his face a somewhat grim expressionless mask. He gives a very slight nod at the telepathic message to fight on the word "gnome." He makes no sudden moves until that moment comes, and lets the professor do the talking.
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Kirari looks on the newcomers with little outward interest considering this routine and just doing her job. Inwardly she studies the drakes to determine anything she can about them. Potential weaknesses, attack method or even how many they might be capable of expecting some of this to be obvious but making herself useful while she waits.
The cultists nod to the professor and gather their gear to head out. The 3 kobolds and 4 drakes take the lead with the two cultists following behind. Shortly, you find yourselves alone in the cave entrance.
"Good thinking, captain" says Escobert. "Those are a few less kobolds we have to deal with in this cave! Should we all press onward?"
Kirai's examination of the drakes of the drakes does not present anything out of the ordinary, but she would recall that they can understand Draconic, though they cannot speak it back.
The professor frowns, “I hope we didn’t just doom the captives to be caught again. We may have to free them again on the way out.” He looks at the others “I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure what the best plan was when the rest of those troops arrived.”
He shakes his head, “At any rate, we should move ahead. Hopefully we can end this cultist threat once and for all by removing the leadership.”
Kirari shares her little tidbit of knowledge with the others more quietly when they are away from the guards. "The perfect guardians those drakes, hearing everything but not being able to share it. It would be interesting to get a couple minutes in one of their heads."
"Aye, the captives," says Escobert with a frown. "I was hoping they had enough of a head start. We shall keep them safe by finding out what is in this cursed cave!"
As you move forward, the cave is lit by dim torchlight and you are able to get deeper into the cave and see a change in the path. The entrance to the cave ends here at a 10-foot drop-off. To your right, broad steps are roughly hewn into a natural stone ramp. The cavern below is carpeted with a profusion of fungi ranging from a few inches high to nearly as tall as a human adult. Two paths lead through the fungi: one on the right and one on the left.
(What do you do, adventurers?)
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Just before taking off, Escobert tells the citizens of Greenest about Leosin’s shortcut to help them return to town safely
As you head into the cave, your eyes would catch some movement just inside as they adjust to the darkness.
The entrance to the cave is broad and tall, but the ceiling quickly lowers to a height of 15 feet. Standing guard inside the entrance are two cultists. They wear Lieutenant insignia (ranked below Thaddeus) and both snap to attention seeing Thaddeus with a “Hail Tiamat!”
Cale stiffens at the greeting and looks to Thaddeus expectantly.
Psychically he messages the professor "You're the ranking officer here, sir. You wanna talk us past this or are we getting dirty?"
The professor stops to stand in front of the two and returns the greeting with a stern. “Hail Tiamat!” He then glares at the officer “Whose idea was it to leave the camp unguarded?”
Noob
Kirari mimics Cale's posture being unfamiliar with the formalities of military life figuring her own tribe would have different ideas of appropriate behavior.
The two guards look at each other, clearly puzzled by the Professor's question. "The kobolds should be keeping watch, and the only things out there of value to the cult would be the captives. We are here to make sure no one unworthy makes it to the hatchery." says the slightly taller cultist.
“We have a problem then. The kobolds are gone and so are the captives. Are there any more of the worthy within who can help us search for the captives?”
Noob
Kirari raises an eyebrow feigning surprise that the guards are not aware of the situation outside the cave then returns her expression to a more formal one representative of her rank as if correcting herself.
Inglenook hides behind the others as they enter the cave.
He sees the guards confront Thaddeus, reaches into his pack and pulls out a coil of rope which is beaded with metallic studs along it's length.
He casts message to Thaddeus, "Sorry, I'm in your head now as well.... If you say the word "gnome" in conversation I'm gonna snare these two idiots"
He hides the coil behind his back and moves to the side for some line of sight if needed.
The professor hears Inglenooks message and then thinks to Cale. “If I say the word gnome, it’s your signal to attack. Inglenook is ready and I’m sure Cale and Kirari will follow suit fast enough.”
Noob
Cale messages everyone the same thought: "If the prof says 'Gnome' then we're going loud"
Kirari tries to hide her reaction to the sudden voice in her head by rubbing an old injury to the side of her face. Then addressing her 'commander', "If you'll forgive me for saying sir, might these two be as oblivious to security of the cave as they are to the camp?" She steps back slightly as if expecting a reprimand for speaking out of turn and holds a firm respective posture.
The taller cultist scratches his chin and says, "Gone you say? Those stupid kobolds will get punished for this!" His partner shouts deeper into the cave behind him, "Kobolds, you are needed outside! The captives have freed themselves!"
Suddenly, 3 kobolds appear with their knives and slings in hand. They look to the guards and then to Thaddeus.
The taller cultist responds with, "Brother Captain, do you wish to enter and let Mondath know of this? I can take your squad out in search of the captives if you wish."
Shortly after the kobolds emerge, so do 2 guard drakes. Both are blue and look like small blue dragons without wings.
They look ready for action and to obey the cultists' commands.
The professor shakes his head “It would be best if you lead the search. You know these kobolds in your group better than I and can command them more easily. My men and I will guard this cave in case any get by you.”
Noob
Travis stands tall and silent, his face a somewhat grim expressionless mask. He gives a very slight nod at the telepathic message to fight on the word "gnome." He makes no sudden moves until that moment comes, and lets the professor do the talking.
Kirari looks on the newcomers with little outward interest considering this routine and just doing her job. Inwardly she studies the drakes to determine anything she can about them. Potential weaknesses, attack method or even how many they might be capable of expecting some of this to be obvious but making herself useful while she waits.
nature 7
The cultists nod to the professor and gather their gear to head out. The 3 kobolds and 4 drakes take the lead with the two cultists following behind. Shortly, you find yourselves alone in the cave entrance.
"Good thinking, captain" says Escobert. "Those are a few less kobolds we have to deal with in this cave! Should we all press onward?"
Kirai's examination of the drakes of the drakes does not present anything out of the ordinary, but she would recall that they can understand Draconic, though they cannot speak it back.
The professor frowns, “I hope we didn’t just doom the captives to be caught again. We may have to free them again on the way out.” He looks at the others “I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure what the best plan was when the rest of those troops arrived.”
He shakes his head, “At any rate, we should move ahead. Hopefully we can end this cultist threat once and for all by removing the leadership.”
Noob
Kirari shares her little tidbit of knowledge with the others more quietly when they are away from the guards. "The perfect guardians those drakes, hearing everything but not being able to share it. It would be interesting to get a couple minutes in one of their heads."
"Aye, the captives," says Escobert with a frown. "I was hoping they had enough of a head start. We shall keep them safe by finding out what is in this cursed cave!"
As you move forward, the cave is lit by dim torchlight and you are able to get deeper into the cave and see a change in the path. The entrance to the cave ends here at a 10-foot drop-off. To your right, broad steps are roughly hewn into a natural stone ramp. The cavern below is carpeted with a profusion of fungi ranging from a few inches high to nearly as tall as a human adult. Two paths lead through the fungi: one on the right and one on the left.
(What do you do, adventurers?)