After helping Natasha secure the crate, Stone quietly makes his way over to the building to stand besides Penelope.

Stealth = 3  or  15

Penelope: As you watch the rats return to their disgusting existence, you hear the sound of metal. You turn to see Stone’s humorous attempt at stealth as he makes his way toward you.

Stone: Hunched over and trying your hardest not to jangle your chainmail, you head to the warehouse. You think you’re doing a good job... but the look on Penelope’s face says otherwise. 

Natasha: You silently move next to Jacob and confirm that the opening is free of tripwires, false plates, or any other signs of a trap.

Jacob: You crouch next to the door opening and strain your ears to hear the conversation in the warehouse. There is only one voice, but it is definitely in discussion with another party.

“I told you we would be rewarded for this!”

...

“No, you can’t have any more. You’ve already had enough.”

...

“I said no, you’re getting fat.”

Stone whisper's to his companion?

"Next steps? Anybody have a plan? If not, I am going in there and demanding some answers."

Whispering to everyone: "I'm game for just going in and demanding answers personally. Stone and I make ourselves known, loudly and conspicuously while the women try to sneak in behind us unseen. We see if we can clear things up, specifically some clues toward the motives of our employer - while the women do what they can to flank or get a surprise if necessary. Sound good?"

And I believe I have one sword out (we'll say Bread, in lieu of searching through posts) but I'll also make sure to get an oil flask ready.

Stone draws his long sword and prepares his shield, having named neither the sword nor the shield due to impracticality, and confidently walks through the doorway prepared for anything he might face.

Jacob likewise follows... 

Penelope will hide out by the door, thinking that Natasha might have a better time going in alone while trying to stealth. Penelope, despite being female, knows she is no small target.

(OOC: sorry, I keep thinking you're still Lena from the Delian one-shot we did last, jump in with us two brutes!)

(lol. Lena was very memorable apparently. and nah Penelope will let you all rush in and draw attention. Besides I still don't trust those rats.)

Stone and Jacob enter the dilapidated warehouse. The remnants of shelves line the walls, and a broken desk covered with crude illustrations sits in the middle of the building, seemingly dragged from its original position. A pile of other debris serves as a four foot high makeshift barricade near the entrance. A campfire smolders near the southern wall, the smell of cooked animal appears to come from a dog on a spit across the fire. Sitting next to the fire is a disheveled human, not a ratfolk like you expected. He is surrounded by rats but doesn’t seem disturbed by it. One slightly plump rat sits on his lap. He looks up as you enter the room.

“Oh hello, I didn’t think I’d have visitors tonight. Would you like some dinner?” He motions to the burnt dog he is currently overcooking. “Are you here to see my sketches of the great Chittr’k’k?” 

What do you do?

Stone looks at the man with disgust. The squalor and filth of the man's surroundings fill him with a deep disgust, but seeing the dog turn on the split while the rats are pampered and cared for is a perversion of nature almost too great for Stone to stomach. Stone forces his rising bile along with his rising loathing down back into his stomach, and with the restrain of a high elf says,

"Good evening sir. Have you seen a little rat folk man hiding out around here. He goes by the name of Matimer Creel. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated."

The man looks at Stone with a look of slight confusion. “It is just me and my rat friends. No one else understands them. We sing the praises of Chittr’k’k.“ A little burp comes from the plump rat sitting on his lap.

Stone turns to his companions,

"I think this man is insane. If you guys search the room for clues, then I will keep him talking in that corner and see if there anything more information we can glean from him."

Stone turns back to the rat loving madman and approaches him to stand next to his fire,

"I'm sorry to bother you and your friends. Do you have a name? Can you tell me a little bit about Chittr’k’k?"

Stone examines the man to see what he can learn about him.  perception = 6

The flames in the pit leap towards the body of the dog and Stone can't help but look away from the charred corpse. He imagines all the games of fetch and runs through the wilderness that they could have shared together. He can practically feel the faithful animal's fur in his hands as he imagines ruffling its ears. He sees nothing through his suddenly tear filled eyes.

"I've eaten worse." Jacob says while sauntering in slowly and casing the joint, trying to see if anything seems "out of place" ...

Perception: 12

(Natasha enters and tries very hard not to show her disdain for the filth of the place. She tries to be nice, but is having a hard time not being distracted by the rats.)

"Um, you poor man. I- I have some rations if you'd like. Maybe you'd like them a little better than what you're having?"

(She grabs a ration from her pack and tosses it to him.)

"I'm Natasha. What's your name?"

"Hmm." Penelope, seeing no danger and hearing Stone's words, follows the rest of them in.

She peers around curiously and sniffs at the air.

"Smell's alright, wouldn't mind trying a piece if you are willing to share. Traveling with my uncle I've tasted some strange things that a dog would be the least strange. Would you like some water in exchange?" Penelope will offer one of her waterskin's to the man.

Stone: The raggedy man twitches his nose like a rodent and says, “Chittr’k’k is the lord of rats. He has needles for teeth, and he has eyes everywhere.” The man’s eyes dart back and forth. 

You get none of this however, because you are trying not to cry about the dog.😢

Jacob: Looking around the warehouse, you mostly see rats and charcoal sketches. The crude sketches are of monstrous and deformed rats, swarms of giants rats eating people, and pages and pages of sketches full of beady eyes. The few other belongings of the man sit in the corner, they look like standard adventurer’s gear and something long and cylindrical wrapped in a filthy blanket.

Natasha: The man perks up with your kind words and offer of rations. “Hello Natasha, I’m...” he pauses. “My name is...” You can see he is having problems remembering. “Donnar...? Yes, it’s Donnar Alden. It’s been so long since I used my name, I almost forgot it.” He becomes melancholy for a moment. “It is hard to think about the time before Chittr’k’k.” 

He twitches his nose and stares at the rations you are offering. “Where are my manners? Please, take a seat.” He motions to the filthy, rat covered floor around him.

Penelope: He turns his attention to your offer of water and stares at the waterskin, wide eyed. “And fresh water?!” He looks around at the rats scurrying about the room. “This is truly becoming a feast, isn’t it little ones?” All the rats stop moving and look at him in response. “We are having such luck, aren’t we? First our friend brought us this yummy dog, and now we have new friends with rations and water?! Praise be to Chittr’k’k!” He throws his arms out in reverence. 

Everyone make an Arcana check to see if you recognize the name Chittr’k’k. You can also continue your conversation in the same post to save time.

Arcana: 11

I'll keep my eye on the conversation, but try to get closer to the cylindrical item and get a better look. (use whichever you feel is more applicable from the following)

Perception: 10 - Investigation: 17

If I can't make out what the item is without actually opening it up, I'll attempt to do so while he's distracted in conversation with one of the others. 

 (use whichever you feel is more applicable from the following) 

Stealth: 8 - Sleight of hand: 17

(OOC: Where is my digital dice jail? I left it around here somewhere...) 

Arcana:14