Ghosts of Saltmarsh by Dylanthalas

Kulogall - All of the items would fit in the bag, filling it to about 30% of its capacity.

Ariana scowls at Scout 3. "And captives? How many of them are in these caves? Are they kept shackled or in cages? Is there a key?"

Ariana - He says, "Four of 'em. They're in cages in the other rooms... Eddard 'ad the key last. 'Eard the slaves... Er, captives... makin' a ruckus 'e said. Went to rattle their cages a bit jus' 'fore you showed up."

Wake stumbles but catches himself. The weight of the encounters, combined with the weight of the heavy plate he’s not yet used to wearing, is taking its toll. Now that the foes in this room are secured, he allows his shoulders to drop and his shield to lower. He will move to take up a position guarding the party’s rear, from whatever the unknown threat is from the far chamber. And from Xolo, who is far too close for him to lower his guard prematurely. He will raise his shield again and say a quick prayer to Selune.

“Moonmaiden, give me the strength to protect my friends. Make our enemies break upon me as the waves against a cliff, leaving nothing but a cool mist to refresh those who remain.”

He will quiet himself and focus out into the distance and plead for guidance. Watching for the coming storm.

Perception: 20 plus Guidance: 2

He will also reset his Vigilant Blessing for what comes next.

Wake - You can hear the sound of howling wind and breaking waves echoing from the as of yet unexplored passage that winds south just outside the storage cavern. The smell of sea is carried by a chill wind that blows in from that passage, scattering grains of sand along the cave floor.

Ariana asks which was Eddard. After getting a response, she approaches the body cautiously and searches for a key.

Investigation (with adv because she's been told about it, else take the first) 10 

Ariana - You're able to find the heavy iron key without issue.You also find 2sp in Eddard's boot.

Gorik leans into the robed elf, "Remember. No funny business. There's enough racket coming from this cave that I won't hesitate to throw you to these captors to make my escape! Understood?... Now grab your things while I look for a weapon to keep me'self alive. And don't forget that coin."

Gorik slowly makes his way around the room searching for anything he can wield for a weapon before exiting the prisoner chamber with his 'companion'. 

Investigation to seek weapon and/or armor: 13

Gorik - Aside from the cage doors that were torn away and a few large rocks (The largest is roughly 8in at its thickest point) you don't find anything else that would make an effective weapon. The elf says, "They took my belongings elsewhere, they aren't here." Which direction would you like to go? Northeast toward the torch lit passage or southeast toward the dark passage?

Ariana hands the key to Wake.

As the twilight glow fades, Ariana reaches to her back to feel where the arrow hit her. "I'm not feeling great. Any chance we can rest a bit? Otherwise I can finish off that medicine I found. What do you think?"

"Perhaps we need to know what is south of us before we rest.  We need to tie up Sanbalet as well.  It would be good to question him.  Anyone healthy and stealthy enough to go check that southern passage?  We also need to find the prisoners that they mention."  Kulogall says as he finishes stuffing the bolts of cloth and the brandy into his bag of holding.

Gorik weighs his options and without a weapon even a dimly lit path is advantageous. Turning to the elf, Gorik whispers, "I hope your robes don't interfere with your fighting ability. We need to get outta here quietly but I imagine they didn't leave us alone in these caves. Let's follow the torches and see if we can collect a weapon or two."

Gorik grabs two rocks, handing one to the elf. "Say, I don't suppose you mind telling me your name and how you wound up here?" Slowly, Gorik creeps toward the torch-lit area.

Gorik - The elf looks at the offered rock for a second then reluctantly takes it. He tries holding it in one hand as he walks beside you, but soon holds it with both, "My name is Talovaronosoviir, but most people tend to call me Talovar. I'm a traveling merchant." He drops the rock with a muttered oath and leaves it where it lays, "I was on my way to Waterdeep when I was... robbed by bandits on the outskirts of the Dreadwood... They let me go with nothing more than the robes on my back and the very next day I was waylaid by the cheery lot that imprisoned us here. What about you?"

You come to a fork in the passage, one way leads to a set of steps carved into the rock that lead westward to a hole in the north wall. The other way leads eastward and is lit by torches. The sounds of battle have ceased, but you hear voices coming from that direction.

Ariana nods to Kulogall. "Ok. I can scout." She reaches into her pocket and drinks the remaining dose of potion of healing, returning the empty vial to her pocket.

Ariana heals for 6 HP.

Feeling better, she stretches her back and starts west. The scouts went south (instead of west then south) to tend to the captives, so she thinks her best bet to freeing them is that way. She'll hold a hand out to Wake to get the key back before leaving the room.

Stealth 25 

Ariana - This roughly circular, naturally formed cavern is about twenty-five feet in diameter. There are three cages along the southern wall of the cave. One is empty and there are two small forms inside the other two. Both are watching you with wide eyes as you approach, small hands clasped on the bars of their cages. They appear to be young halflings, not children, but not quite full-grown adults. In the left cage is a male with dark blonde curls and brown eyes. The right cage contains female, also with dark blonde hair, hers hanging in a braid over her shoulder and down her chest. The young halfling woman also has brown eyes and judging from their features you'd guess that they were siblings, if not twins. They continue to silently watch as you approach.

Ariana looks for danger down the passage to the west.

Perception 6, dark vision 60 ft.

She whispers, "I'm one of six here to help. What are your names and how did you get here?"

While they respond, she'll investigate the empty cage for anything strange.

Investigation 6 

Ariana - To the west you see two more cages that appear empty. They also appear to have had their doors ripped from their hinges. The female halfling says, "I'm Flotsam." and the male says, "And I'm Jetsam." Flotsam then says, "You can call me Flo." Jetsam adds, "And you can call me-" Flo interrupts, "A royal pain in the arse." Jet whines, "Hey!" Flo continues with a roll of her eyes, "We were working aboard a fishing ship when we ran afoul of bad weather." Jet says, "Storm came outta nowhere! All blowin' and wavin' and shootin' lightnin' everywhere." Flo says, "Our ship capsized and we managed to stay afloat on some wreckage 'til another ship found us." Jet adds, "Only it weren't no coast guard or navy, it was slavers!" Flo angrily interjects, "Are you gonna let me tell it Jet?" Jet whines again, "What? She asked the both of us!" Jet withers under Flo's stern glare and with a sigh he says, "Fine. Tell it." Flo replies, "We've been locked in this cave ever since." A few seconds of silence pass and Jet, still looking at his sister, realizes that was all she had left to say. He mutters a curse and says, "Anyway, who are you miss? Are you really here to help?" The empty cage contains nothing strange, nothing at all in fact.

Ariana simply replies, "Yes. We're here to help. I'll be back in a bit to free you. Stay quiet."

Then she'll sneak west to check the other room.

Stealth 18 

(Edit: That roll is strange. It says it rolled a 15 with a final result of 10, but should be adding 5... Edit again: Now it's 9+5. /shurg)

Seeing that the room is empty and that north would return to the stairs, she'll sneak back to the first room, hold a finger to her mouth to communicate quiet to the halflings, let them out of their cages, and then continue north to meet back up with the others.

Ariana - About the same time you and the halflings come to the north passage you see two figures heading eastward down the same passage. Leading the way is a Dragonborn man with shiny brass scales that reflect the torchlight. Behind him is a familiar face, the mushroom peddler from the Dreadwood. Both stop suddenly as you all basically stumble into one another in the y-shaped intersection. The elven man sees you and says, "You!?"

Gorik - The elf's prattling is distracting and you don't see the tall elven woman ahead of you until you almost collide. The elf bumps into you from behind and yelps, "What? Why'd you stop?" He peeks around you and sees the elven woman, "You!?" he says incredulously. Please take a moment to describe Gorik's appearance within your response to this post.

Ariana immediately takes a defensive posture, but with only one hand holding her quarterstaff with her other hand held back to the halflings in protection. She calls out, "Wake!"

(Does Ariana recognize the elf who apparently recognizes her?)