Joren listens intently to Marion and will listen to the others, trusting their judgement. He puts in his opinion quietly:
"We are not knowing if they are friend or foe. Other prisoners attempting to escape, could be even. So blocking them, I am hesitating and thinking we should not be doing... perhaps just setting up a defense here in case they are enemies? Samir, when the time comes, I am remembering that you had magic which... was making the floor oily and working as an effective choke point in the fight against the innkeeper and the rat-men?"
Malachi gives a friendly smile as he takes the man’s coin and watches him move up to the hill. He gives a conspiratorial wink to Ashely “Running an inn can be profitable. I’ll hold this for the group.”
He shoots Silas a warning glare as Ashley pounces on him and begins questioning him as they make their way down to the tunnel “Who is he? Why does he look for you? You say treat him as hostile, are we in danger by being with you?”
As they reach the room near the cave-in, he catches up with Joren, Marion and the others, quickly grasping the situation “Even if they are prisoners, they are likely under control of the other ratkeeper. We cannot count on a friendly reception.”
Samir nods in response, fidgeting slightly with his glasses. "Oh, uh, yes. I have the components needed ready to go to do that, yes. I've also done a bit of reconfiguring with my equipment and shifted my foci from my bolt thrower to my armor. It reduces the effectiveness of the weapon a bit, but I can bolster up my own strength with my armor now." He pulls open his coat a bit to show the chain shirt beneath, a faint tracery of almost invisible runic symbols playing across its surface.
"Ha, yeah you take that." Ashley gives Malachi a big smile, enjoying his charm and the relief of the man being dealt with at the moment.
She heads down with Malachi and taking in the situation, "I agree with both Joren and Malachi, we shouldn't block those that are coming and it will probably not be a friendly reception. Let's be ready."She silently casts mage armor and the crackling red shimmers cover her body as she waits to see what's coming next.
Reaching the lab, the group can hear the sounds of digging and moving rock from the other tunnel. Kairem stands nearby and holds a finger up to their mouth. They have clearly taken some time to shave their wild beard down to smooth skin, and their hair is in a tight crew cut. Coming over, Kairem whispers, "They've been at it for a while. I hear at least three people back there digging, and it sounds like they'll be starting to break through in a matter of minutes. I've managed to catch the odd word here or there though." Kairem looks to Malachi. "Did you say Jon had an acquaintance named Marcus? Then we had best be prepared, for I've heard his name called. How are things up top?"
Joren stares in rapt but uncomprehending fascination at Samir's armor for a moment, then gives all his companions a toothy grin and speaks quietly:
"I am not knowing the how best to be preparing other than trick with the grease at the choke point, but this time at least, we are not all reeling from exhaustion! I am sensing, however, that Marcus is a leader and may be posing a bigger threat than Jon. Attacking non-lethally, should we be? No more runic explosions, I am hoping."
He sends his echo to stand just behind the corner of the far passageway so that it can ambush enemies entering the room, himself standing 30' back and to the side, out of view as well. Otherwise, he listens to his companions' advice on further tactics.
Silas appears whilst the tunnel discussion is mid swing, arriving after everyone else, he quickly makes Joren and Marion aware that it is him under the Firbolg façade, "hey uh, if we are in for a fight I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help, I know you can't see it but under all this, I'm hurt pretty bad" he mentions in hushed tone to Marion.
Leaving the decision of whether she thinks he is worth healing to to Marion, Silas readies his crossbow in anticipation of the break through, as he does he speaks up to the rest of the group, "if these are the rat headed people maybe we should capture one alive and see if we can break the person out from underneath, break the spell kinda thing... It's worth trying, right?"
Joren, again momentarily disquieted to see yet another Avatar of Silas', suggests to the firbolg that he not only stay in the back of the room and use ranged attacks, but perhaps turn a table over on its side, crouching behind it to gain cover? Any others (Ashley, Malachi, Samir, Kairem?) planning to attack at range could do the same. That way, as Silas said, the oncoming enemies might see an obvious threat to charge towards?
Melee attackers such as Marion and Joren's Echo could ambush hidden from either side of the door, just outside the area of any Grease that Samir creates right at the northern entrance, while Joren himself could be a also behind the table, ready to switch in for his echo wherever needed in melee? Does that leave Marion too exposed?
Joren isn't sure if there's a way to use the cages to good effect.
Malachi takes in Kairem’s message and sighs “If Marcus is here it can’t be good. They called him a scriptor or somesuch, and seemed afraid of him. I believe he is behind the runes and markings on the rat hybrids and possibly the innkeeper.”
He looks at Joren “He may have information, but don’t put yourself in danger trying to capture him. Target him and whoever holds a rat necklace first. If we break their control over the hybrids that could make our job easier.”
He knows sound advice when he hears it, and moves toward the back, keeping the melee fighters between him and any danger.
Joren adds: "If it comes to talking, choosing someone to be speaking for us, we should, so we are communicating with one voice. Not one of the melee combatants as that would be giving away their positions. I think Malachi or Ashley may be serving best in that role. Perhaps Malachi as he has been spending the most time reviewing these cultists' messages."
Kairem says, "I'm not much of a fighter. Spent most of my time before this behind a desk, but I'll take up a position around the bend as a last line of defense between us and the others back at the inn."
The sound of moving rubble has been getting closer and closer this whole time, and as the group is finishing their discussion, they hear a rock tumble loose on their side of the cave-in. Torch light shines through the newly created hole, broken up by movement and shadows. A high nasally voice speaks out with an accent similar to Jon's but with without the dragging L's.
As she begins to strap her shield to her arm in preparation for what is to come, Marion looks up at the Firbolg as they identify themselves as Silas. She stares at them for a long moment, her brow creased as she scrutinises her own thoughts on the request. After what is only a few seconds in reality, but feels far longer as the awkward tension between the two hangs in the air, she lifts her free left hand up to place it on Silas' shoulder, briefly dealing with the disparity between her sense of touch and that which she sees. Closing her eyes she whispers quietly as a gentle and warm energy begins to flow from her into Silas.
"Divine Queen, I beseech Thee for Thy aid;
Let Thy light flow forth from this vessel; Such that it might fill Thy child before me; Restore flesh where it did part; And banish anguish with Thy holy presence;
As Thou dost place Thy hand upon Thy subject; Let Thine everlasting compassion be felt; For in Thy benevolent example; Thou dost teach us all;
Where mine own heart dost stray; I learn from Thee forgiveness; For no matter how far adrift one may be; Thy light welcomes all;
With Silas' wounds healed Marion wordlessly finishes her preparations, before taking up position opposite 's echo near the opening that leads to the cave in. Drawing her long sword she stands ready, her face awash with determination and her manner calm as she stills her mind and carefully controls her breathing. As the others take up their own positions, and rocks begin to tumble loose from the passageway, she looks to each of her companions in turn, giving them all a steady nod of support, before carefully tensing her muscles as she focuses on whatever may appear.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Samir watches as the others set themselves to prepare, and after a moment's woolgathering, does the same for himself. He grasps in one hand the components for his grease concoction, ready to be tossed into the cave opening should the rocks be cleared enough. However, as the voice on the other side calls out for Jon, another thought springs suddenly to mind. Quickly, he digs out another of his small contraptions with his free hand, kneeling down and working the small rings of metal silently while whispering softly to himself. After a moment's reconfiguration, he depresses the topmost layer, which pushes downward before moving back into place. What emerges from the contraption is no high pitched whine as happened back with the wolves, but instead the guttural, wordless moan of a man in pain. He is hoping to at least create a reasonable facsimile of what Jon might sound like were he too wounded to actually speak and answer intelligibly, but that particular accuracy is more of a crap shoot than anything. Hopefully, it's enough to convince those on the other side that their companion is indeed in the room, and in need of their assistance.
The sound on the other side of the blockage goes quiet. Then some words are exchanged quietly before the main voice speaks up again. "Who is that? Are you hurt? We are here to help."
The sound of moving dirt and stone resumes, but the hole gets no wider.
Ashley tries her best to remain calm and quiet as they wait for the ones on the other side of the cave-in. She admires Samir's use of his gift to create a sound similar to Jons voice, she was thinking about the same thing when he did that. Hopefully they break through soon, the waiting is killing her.
Greeted by silence, the voices on the other side of the blockage begin to confer again for a few minutes. Then a quiet command is given and the gap in the rubble is filled with a foot-long rat's head. It scrambles through the hole, skeleton collapsing and compressing to squeeze through the small opening, and it emerges on the other side, making to walk into the lab room.
Joren listens intently to Marion and will listen to the others, trusting their judgement. He puts in his opinion quietly:
"We are not knowing if they are friend or foe. Other prisoners attempting to escape, could be even. So blocking them, I am hesitating and thinking we should not be doing... perhaps just setting up a defense here in case they are enemies? Samir, when the time comes, I am remembering that you had magic which... was making the floor oily and working as an effective choke point in the fight against the innkeeper and the rat-men?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Malachi gives a friendly smile as he takes the man’s coin and watches him move up to the hill. He gives a conspiratorial wink to Ashely “Running an inn can be profitable. I’ll hold this for the group.”
He shoots Silas a warning glare as Ashley pounces on him and begins questioning him as they make their way down to the tunnel “Who is he? Why does he look for you? You say treat him as hostile, are we in danger by being with you?”
As they reach the room near the cave-in, he catches up with Joren, Marion and the others, quickly grasping the situation “Even if they are prisoners, they are likely under control of the other ratkeeper. We cannot count on a friendly reception.”
Samir nods in response, fidgeting slightly with his glasses. "Oh, uh, yes. I have the components needed ready to go to do that, yes. I've also done a bit of reconfiguring with my equipment and shifted my foci from my bolt thrower to my armor. It reduces the effectiveness of the weapon a bit, but I can bolster up my own strength with my armor now." He pulls open his coat a bit to show the chain shirt beneath, a faint tracery of almost invisible runic symbols playing across its surface.
"Ha, yeah you take that." Ashley gives Malachi a big smile, enjoying his charm and the relief of the man being dealt with at the moment.
She heads down with Malachi and taking in the situation, "I agree with both Joren and Malachi, we shouldn't block those that are coming and it will probably not be a friendly reception. Let's be ready." She silently casts mage armor and the crackling red shimmers cover her body as she waits to see what's coming next.
Reaching the lab, the group can hear the sounds of digging and moving rock from the other tunnel. Kairem stands nearby and holds a finger up to their mouth. They have clearly taken some time to shave their wild beard down to smooth skin, and their hair is in a tight crew cut. Coming over, Kairem whispers, "They've been at it for a while. I hear at least three people back there digging, and it sounds like they'll be starting to break through in a matter of minutes. I've managed to catch the odd word here or there though." Kairem looks to Malachi. "Did you say Jon had an acquaintance named Marcus? Then we had best be prepared, for I've heard his name called. How are things up top?"
Joren stares in rapt but uncomprehending fascination at Samir's armor for a moment, then gives all his companions a toothy grin and speaks quietly:
"I am not knowing the how best to be preparing other than trick with the grease at the choke point, but this time at least, we are not all reeling from exhaustion! I am sensing, however, that Marcus is a leader and may be posing a bigger threat than Jon. Attacking non-lethally, should we be? No more runic explosions, I am hoping."
He sends his echo to stand just behind the corner of the far passageway so that it can ambush enemies entering the room, himself standing 30' back and to the side, out of view as well. Otherwise, he listens to his companions' advice on further tactics.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Silas appears whilst the tunnel discussion is mid swing, arriving after everyone else, he quickly makes Joren and Marion aware that it is him under the Firbolg façade, "hey uh, if we are in for a fight I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help, I know you can't see it but under all this, I'm hurt pretty bad" he mentions in hushed tone to Marion.
Leaving the decision of whether she thinks he is worth healing to to Marion, Silas readies his crossbow in anticipation of the break through, as he does he speaks up to the rest of the group, "if these are the rat headed people maybe we should capture one alive and see if we can break the person out from underneath, break the spell kinda thing... It's worth trying, right?"
Joren, again momentarily disquieted to see yet another Avatar of Silas', suggests to the firbolg that he not only stay in the back of the room and use ranged attacks, but perhaps turn a table over on its side, crouching behind it to gain cover? Any others (Ashley, Malachi, Samir, Kairem?) planning to attack at range could do the same. That way, as Silas said, the oncoming enemies might see an obvious threat to charge towards?
Melee attackers such as Marion and Joren's Echo could ambush hidden from either side of the door, just outside the area of any Grease that Samir creates right at the northern entrance, while Joren himself could be a also behind the table, ready to switch in for his echo wherever needed in melee? Does that leave Marion too exposed?
Joren isn't sure if there's a way to use the cages to good effect.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Malachi takes in Kairem’s message and sighs “If Marcus is here it can’t be good. They called him a scriptor or somesuch, and seemed afraid of him. I believe he is behind the runes and markings on the rat hybrids and possibly the innkeeper.”
He looks at Joren “He may have information, but don’t put yourself in danger trying to capture him. Target him and whoever holds a rat necklace first. If we break their control over the hybrids that could make our job easier.”
He knows sound advice when he hears it, and moves toward the back, keeping the melee fighters between him and any danger.
With a decisive nod Silas sets to work enacting Joren's suggestion, and finishes by positioning himself behind the now tipped table.
Joren adds: "If it comes to talking, choosing someone to be speaking for us, we should, so we are communicating with one voice. Not one of the melee combatants as that would be giving away their positions. I think Malachi or Ashley may be serving best in that role. Perhaps Malachi as he has been spending the most time reviewing these cultists' messages."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Kairem says, "I'm not much of a fighter. Spent most of my time before this behind a desk, but I'll take up a position around the bend as a last line of defense between us and the others back at the inn."
The sound of moving rubble has been getting closer and closer this whole time, and as the group is finishing their discussion, they hear a rock tumble loose on their side of the cave-in. Torch light shines through the newly created hole, broken up by movement and shadows. A high nasally voice speaks out with an accent similar to Jon's but with without the dragging L's.
"Jon? Are you there?"
As she begins to strap her shield to her arm in preparation for what is to come, Marion looks up at the Firbolg as they identify themselves as Silas. She stares at them for a long moment, her brow creased as she scrutinises her own thoughts on the request. After what is only a few seconds in reality, but feels far longer as the awkward tension between the two hangs in the air, she lifts her free left hand up to place it on Silas' shoulder, briefly dealing with the disparity between her sense of touch and that which she sees. Closing her eyes she whispers quietly as a gentle and warm energy begins to flow from her into Silas.
"Divine Queen, I beseech Thee for Thy aid;
Let Thy light flow forth from this vessel;
Such that it might fill Thy child before me;
Restore flesh where it did part;
And banish anguish with Thy holy presence;
As Thou dost place Thy hand upon Thy subject;
Let Thine everlasting compassion be felt;
For in Thy benevolent example;
Thou dost teach us all;
Where mine own heart dost stray;
I learn from Thee forgiveness;
For no matter how far adrift one may be;
Thy light welcomes all;
With Silas' wounds healed Marion wordlessly finishes her preparations, before taking up position opposite 's echo near the opening that leads to the cave in. Drawing her long sword she stands ready, her face awash with determination and her manner calm as she stills her mind and carefully controls her breathing. As the others take up their own positions, and rocks begin to tumble loose from the passageway, she looks to each of her companions in turn, giving them all a steady nod of support, before carefully tensing her muscles as she focuses on whatever may appear.
Lay on hands for 10 hp for Silas
Samir watches as the others set themselves to prepare, and after a moment's woolgathering, does the same for himself. He grasps in one hand the components for his grease concoction, ready to be tossed into the cave opening should the rocks be cleared enough. However, as the voice on the other side calls out for Jon, another thought springs suddenly to mind. Quickly, he digs out another of his small contraptions with his free hand, kneeling down and working the small rings of metal silently while whispering softly to himself. After a moment's reconfiguration, he depresses the topmost layer, which pushes downward before moving back into place. What emerges from the contraption is no high pitched whine as happened back with the wolves, but instead the guttural, wordless moan of a man in pain. He is hoping to at least create a reasonable facsimile of what Jon might sound like were he too wounded to actually speak and answer intelligibly, but that particular accuracy is more of a crap shoot than anything. Hopefully, it's enough to convince those on the other side that their companion is indeed in the room, and in need of their assistance.
Maybe an Arcana roll? 7
And let's toss in a Deception just in case! 19
The sound on the other side of the blockage goes quiet. Then some words are exchanged quietly before the main voice speaks up again. "Who is that? Are you hurt? We are here to help."
The sound of moving dirt and stone resumes, but the hole gets no wider.
Ashley tries her best to remain calm and quiet as they wait for the ones on the other side of the cave-in. She admires Samir's use of his gift to create a sound similar to Jons voice, she was thinking about the same thing when he did that. Hopefully they break through soon, the waiting is killing her.
Greeted by silence, the voices on the other side of the blockage begin to confer again for a few minutes. Then a quiet command is given and the gap in the rubble is filled with a foot-long rat's head. It scrambles through the hole, skeleton collapsing and compressing to squeeze through the small opening, and it emerges on the other side, making to walk into the lab room.
(Everyone make a Perception check DC 18)
Ashley's perception 19
(I did not expect that!)
Marion's perception:21
Joren Perception: 19
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(Druid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(Sorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(Cleric3/Sorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk