Taiga eyes Brix, “Now that sounds like it would be a sensible approach. If we kill the croakers the bandits might not take it lightly as the croakers are their first line of defense.”

"Brix, that sounds like a good start. See if they want ta play nice, if not, we go in with weapons drawn." Ragnus looks around at the others. "Anyone have any objections?"

Carina nods her head in acceptance of the plan to send a message.

She readies her Minor Illusion to cast ahead of the party in case the message elicits an attack (hoping to make the illusion the target).

• Brix puts one of the acorns back into his pouch. Pulling out a lock pick from his thieves tools he scratches a small rune onto the nut.  Then he cups it between his hands. Leaning in he Whispers something unintelligible into the cavity created between his palms. As soon as he pulls his hands away from his face a loud message begins to emit from the infused acorn. "We seek the infected. Here to help. Parlay in peace."

He then cocks back his arm and throws it as far as he can into the opening of the cave  

As Brix works, Carina shares her misgivings aloud quietly to the party.

"Have we given any thought to what we say if and when they ask where their five compatriots are?  The ones we tied up and sent with Mila to see Elro Aldataur, which they seemed decidedly reluctant do do?  That is what I would ask if I were in their place and strangers arrived to parley as we are."

"Why would they think that we have seen them?" Taiga ponders a moment, then adds, "Right, we should probably mention that we also visited Verla Pelc which was where they were headed, too." She is uneasy to even imagine entering a conversation that will be complex and could quickly turn south. "We could say the grass blades had already surrounded the place when we arrived?" She offers but is clearly not equipped to convincingly deliver the line.

Brix, go ahead and make a Persuasion check, please

Persuasion: 2

Brix adds his thoughts, "We don't mention it. If they want to know we tell them them the mayor sent us and we don't know them. Focus on Huili and the artifacts."

As the others debate the plan of action, Elbert will search the area looking for any footprints or croaker tracks, traps or alarms.

investigation: 19

While investigating, Elbert will look for an opportunity to catch or kill any small game, birds, rats, etc. in the area.

Survival: 19

Taking another sip from his wine skin he comments, “If and when we encounter these croakers I would like the chance to tame one. Evidently they are trained beasts, and I may be able to use a simple technique to calm or even befriend one.” 

While the party discusses their course of action for entering the cave and dealing with the bandits and croakers inside - Elbert surveys the area around the cave's entrance. The Ranger takes note of the many footprints that lead their way to and from Croaker Cave, but with the scattered piles of snow and the sheer amount of tracks, it's hard to tell how recent they are. Elbert can only tell that there are no active patrols in the area. Past the entrance, the cavern is dimly lit by the weak sunlight that reaches in through the opening, and darkness lies beyond. The Ranger also catches a rabbit during his search, and meanwhile Brix Philbin throws his message into the cave.

The acorn, etched with the rune carved by the Gnome, sails through the air and seems to be swallowed by the darkness of the cave. The party of adventurers listen as the small nut skitters across the cavern floor, and then there's the sound of a tiny 'plop' as the Artificer's message-carrying acorn seems to fall into water. After that, the cave returns to silence, and there is no movement from within. Somewhere in the darkness beyond them, your characters hear the sound of a low croak - but otherwise, all is quiet and unmoving, and it is up to you to decide how to proceed.

In response to the croak from the cave, Taiga jokes, “You don’t happen to know how to put their mating call in your illusion?”

Stroking his beard, Ragnus looks at the others, "Well, we tried knockin' nicely, looks like we get ta try tha fun way." He pulls his battleaxe off of his back and straps his shield to his arm. 

Taiga shrugs and dons her shield and draws the rapier, the stops to say, "Here's a thought," she starts, "How about we enter with as much noise as we can muster? Might be the croakers don't like poor odds for their food and whoever else is there might be drawn to check us out, too?"

Carina hefts her shield and casts Minor Illusion several times in succession with her free hand.

The first few imitate the croak everyone just heard.  The ones after that create a duplicate image of Ragnus ahead of the party with his battleaxe and Urgon Wenth's dwarven splint mail.  Carina continues to re-cast the Minor Illusion thirty feet ahead as the party advances, hoping that the illusion draws out any ambush that may be waiting.  She turns to Brix once more with a wry smile.

"Back to our first plan then?"  She winks at the gnome.

"If you can add sounds to go with the visual of the illusion.  The clanking of armor and the shuffling of feet.  It may make it more convincing as bait.  Or it may do as Taiga says and make us seem more numerous than we are."

With the silence that stretches on after the failure of Brix's message, the party of adventurers finalize their plans and begin to approach the entrance of Croaker Cave. They follow behind the illusion of Ragnus Moltenmane, watching as the magical image of the Dwarf enters a wide cavern. Across the walls, the sound of dripping water and the occasional low croak echoes. Stalactites reach down from the ceiling of the cave, pointing sharply downwards to the murky depths of water below them. This pool of dark water stretches on for about twenty feet, filling the cave to the walls, and at the bottom of this pool was where Brix's acorn had ended up.

Just as the illusion of Ragnus reaches the edge of the water — a large wave is sloshed up and over the surface as a giant frog suddenly breaches the pool. Its wet mouth opens wide, closing around the waist of the Dwarven illusion, which promptly fades and falters as the frog's jaw passes through it. The croaker pulls back, looking puzzled, and it doesn't yet notice the group of real adventurers down near the opening of the cave.

“Elbert,” Taiga whispers to her comrade, “What’s your plan to tame that?”

“Don’t let it’s size fool you,” replies Elbert, “T’is still just an animal trying to survive.”

Elbert steps forward and gives a long, low whistle to attract the frog’s attention. When it sees him, he will toss the rabbit carcass toward it as an offering as he moves slowly forward, arms outstretched ensuring that he makes no sudden movements as he speaks softly, “Easy girl, we are no threat to you.” 

Animal Handling: 17

If anyone else provides HELP by following his lead, Advantage: 21

Ragnus moves forward with Elbert and follows his lead, attempting to help.

At the sound of Elbert's whistle, the giant frog turns its great head towards the Ranger, blinking its wide black eyes at the sound of his soothing voice. It takes a moment to step towards the rabbit carcass, scooping it up with its pale blue tongue and swallowing the prey with a happy croak. The giant ice frog chirps at Elbert gratefully for a moment, taking note of Ragnus and the rest of the party of adventurers that trail cautiously behind.

It doesn't attack. Instead, the croaker turns and slinks back into the water, disappearing beneath the murky depths and quickly emerging at the other end of the pool, shrouded in darkness. It seems to be moving something, as the adventurers can hear the sound of a large wooden object scraping across the stone floor of the cavern. The beast disappears into the water again with a splash, and re-emerges before Elbert and Ragnus with something held in its large mouth, hanging out of the side of it like a dog with a great stick. It's a long wooden beam — the perfect size to be placed across the pool to cross as a bridge. The giant frog releases the dripping makeshift bridge onto the cave floor, watching the Ranger expectantly and perhaps even a little fondly.

When the croaker bites the illusion Brix lets out an unintentional and uncontrollable squeak at the realization that the croaker likely could swallow him whole. He disappears behind Taiga only peaking out when the beam thunks into place.