Cosette shifts her weight to the other foot. “My prior connections rest with Raqisat, as we originally came as a pair.” She says simply. “I have no prior arrangements or commitments. Respectfully, am simply an independent contractor who has a preference to maintain control over her own freedoms.“ Cos shrugs, having no desire or intention to have men/individuals gain control over her. “I prefer to serve no master, but myself.” She hoped gone were those days of forced servitude. Trades weren’t always done in objects.

     “I do t think anyone is talking about serving any masters “ Raqisat chimes in with a bit of a chuckles. “Just bonds of friendship and mutual aid.. “

     Raqisat then turns to Elton.  Chuckle gone.  “Right?”

"It's not about masters..." Elton starts to say.  Then he sighs rubbing the bridge of his nose with a dirty, calloused hand.  "It sounds like we have a lot to work out."

He turns and begins walking back toward the main entrance chamber.

((sorry for the late response. Been a long few days))

"Blood oaths aren't taken lightly, where I'm from... I think we would both be happy if our groups were allies, but I worry this oath to join your family would conflict with the oath I've already made. Let's talk this over with the king and see what we can work out."

Just in case, Grugga looks for some "tiny objects" he could disguise as a bloody cut in the palm of a hand using [Tooltip Not Found]. He can't cast it directly on a creature, so it needs to be a flat object that could fit in the palm of a hand without slipping off, and it needs to be roughly rectangular. My best thought so far is some mushrooms that could be smashed and smeared in the palm of a hand, and Grugga could use [Tooltip Not Found] on it to make it look like blood. Grugga doesn't like this sort of deception to avoid an oath, so he would only do this if it would prevent a battle between the groups. He can only make 4 total... Raqisat doesn't need one, so someone else would need to be aced out if this plan goes through.

Seemingly pleased with the team's general hesitance to enter a blood pact with this family of sewer dwellers, the young noble simply nods and follows along, letting Furvus scout ahead in ethereal form for any threats or signs of betrayal on the part of their new allies.

Furvus perception: 21

Rohuzar will move to the front to watch for this encounter going sour, eyes peeled, and axe loose in its strap. 

     Raqisat is staying calm and easy going… but keeping his hands free and near his weapons.  He had thought at least one of the group shaking on things would have eased the tensions more than it did.  Though it was his own party that seemed the most uptight.  Still, best be ready in case things don’t go well with the king…

There is palpable tension now, at least between Elton and those in your group who expressed... lets call it hesitancy.  The rest of the sewer crew seem oblivious and are more interested in the bizarre corpse they are carrying/dragging.

Elton doesn't try anything, but he does walk the rest of the way back to the main entrance chamber in quiet contemplation.

Grugga:

[I thought about the appropriate roll.  I think 'Investigation' is best.  You have an idea and you're looking for something that would fit that idea.  Make an Investigation check.  Assuming you find something, we will also need to discuss how to pull of this subterfuge without the locals catching on.]

"Would it be possible for us to rest and recover before we present ourselves to your king again? Let's just say the battle with the aberration took it's toll on our team and we would of course prefer to be our best selves when discussing our future together wirh your family Elton." Aubrey says in a polite tone as they are almost back.

Persuasion: 22 Another roll if help action somehow is given: 25

     "City folk," Raqisat says with a conspiratorial wink to the Ratters.  "They're all about appearances.  Wouldn't want to be meeting the king without pressed clothes and a fresh handkerchief...."  (Not that Aubrey is needing the help, likely.)

Elton takes a long look at Aubrey.  Then he sighs, and calls another halt.  

Based on your recollection, you are already somewhat close to the main entrance chamber.  "This is no carriage-way hotel.  And the king isn't concerned with your appearance."

"However... you have just fought a pitched battle in the dark and slain an enemy of ours.  It would be foul of me to refuse you a respite."

He diverts the group down a side tunnel and into another corridor.  Through a doorway is another long, narrow hall and then another door.  Beyond that is a storage room, 20' x 20'.  The ceiling is 10' and there are grated openings near the top corners [for reference, something about the size and shape of small basement windows] and another near the floor on the back wall. There are several large wooden crates stacked in one of the corners, and another corner has stacks of old boards and lumber as well as a couple of doors [just the doors, stacked and unhinged].  

"You can rest in here.   Take all the time you need, and let our guards know when you are ready to meet with the king."

     "I'd expect that we're being watch and listened to," Raqisat whispers to Aubrey.  It's likely a pointless statement of the obvious but it can never hurt to be too careful.

     "Nothing like a king's hospitality, eh?" Raqisat sounds jovially to all as he takes in their surroundings.  He makes a point of peering through each grate  to see what can be seen while, presumably, others check out the crates.

Perception:  11

"Thank you Elton." The young noble says with a friendly smile, then finding a seat on one of the crates as Elton leaves. "So my friends, I hope you'll forgive me but I thought we should discuss how we proceed with this invitation to be family, well for those who haven't already decided that is." Aubrey says, giving Raqisat a wink and a smile. "I don't expect us all to agree necessarily, but hearing arguments before deciding could prove helpful." He adds, then drinking some water from his waterskin.

Cosette acknowledges Elton's words with a nod of her head. "Fair." Though that didn't mean she was one to commit so quickly, or easily.

Cos still had plenty of gas left in the tank and didn't quite feel the immediate need to rest. However, she wasn't the one of the ones who had the 'pleasure' of playing with the tentacles. She came out unscathed while the others took the brunt of the damage, so there would be no complaints coming from her for those who did require a rest. What Cosette would do during that time would be determined by how long.

(Do members of the team desire a short or long rest?)

Cosette was a bit restless and wouldn't settle in immediately. She'd pace a bit, not really enjoying being limited to a confined room. As she did, she'd join Raqisat in taking in their surroundings. "Only the one way in or oot?" While he focused on the grates, she'd try her hand at investigating the crates. Of course she wondered why they would stuff them in a storage room. Besides the potential of limited space, there had to be something worth learning while here. What did they store? Was it food? Medical supplies? Valuable goods? Basics? Nothing?

Investigation: 22

Aubrey would discreetly send Furvus in ethereal form after Elton, hoping to spy and eavesdrop as he presumably reports to his king.

Investigation: 24 (rolled in game log)

Grugga looks for some small mushrooms, or something else that would fit his description of "will stick in a palm" and "won't be felt by the descendants when they shake hands / feels more or less like blood"

If he finds something that fits his description, he will attempt to inconspicuously (through a handshake) apply it to his friends hands during their (short?) rest in the storage room. Assuming the descendants are listening, he whispers to each in turn. "In case the options are blood oath or fight. Keep your fist closed and don't wipe it off until we're out of there." Using his artificer infusions, he can make it look like blood for up to 4 people. Unless someone declines, he will apply it to everyone but himself and Raqisat. If someone declines, he will apply it to himself.

"Does anyone need any healing?" he asks, offering up a purple crystal he uses to power his inventions.

Raqisat:

The ceiling grates are dark and full of cobwebs.  There aren't good handholds on the wall, and pulling yourself up doesn't get you a great vantage point.  From what you can see they look like ventilation holes or drains.  The floor grate is easier to peer in.  This damp stone tunnel is full of foul smelling debris.   It's probably too narrow to fit through - an medium sized adult would have to wriggle through and the thought of getting stuck in there with all that stink is repulsive.

Cosette:

There are no hidden doors or other routes in or out besides the single door. 

One of the crates is filled entirely with nails.  They are all old and rusted, and most are either slightly or severely bent.  They look to be reclaimed from prior use. 

Another crate is filled with miscellaneous metal fittings: hinges, flanges, bolts, pins, flashing and trim.  All showing signs of wear and age.

A third crate is full of hammered rectangular metal pieces.  It takes a moment to place them - they are steps for metal ladders.

The other crates are similar.  One is full of copper bands from old barrels.  Another has the staves from those barrels.  Another is full of mismatched lengths of rope. It is all just reclaimed or recycled building and construction materials.

Grugga:

The sewers under Amnifortis are a veritable smorgasbord of strange and wondrous things to smear on your hands.  You locate a variety of different possible materials and are able to experiment with them to see which will best serve your purposes.

[DM:  I am trying to understand the plan.  You intend to smear this on your allies' hands, to replicate blood and fake the appearance that they have cut themselves.  But how do you invision the timing to work?   In most cases, wounds don't appear until after a blade is applied.  In this case, won't the 'blood' already be on their hands before the knife is used?  Are they going to have to hide their 'bloody' hand and then fake cut themselves?  I am trying to figure out if rolls will be required and if so, what kind (deception; sleight of hand, etc).]

Aubrey:

It will take a little while for Furvus to follow them, spy a little, and then report back.  We can say the group gets a SHORT REST in while you wait.

Rohuzar hit dice for short rest

5 8 

((Raq used his last hit die to heal back to full 12+2 for 14 which brings him above (so to) max))

Aubrey would lean back and rest as he can, waiting to hopefully find out what plans the Rat King has for them, using the magic of his talisman clean himself up properly for a royal audience.

(Prestidigitation)