Upon hearing Hildr's beckons, Gawainfollows down the hall they went. After seeing the man he raises an eyebrow but stays back, content to let Gallantask the questions for now.
The man turns his face towards Gallant, still sitting on the floor, propping himself up with one arm. His eyes squint a bit, like he's trying to get a better look. "My name is Calavaz. You weren't sent by my brother were you? Is he still here, in the tower?"
Even allowing for his lack of understanding when it comes to "city" ways (and it does not occur to Crannoc that they are far from any city), something feels off about this whole situation to the Nature Cleric. This is Calavaz? He draws on Silvanus'Guidance to guess at whether it is a trick or a trap.
Quietly to the others: "One of the bandits we fought in the woods suggested they were led by someone calling themselves the 'Night Lord' and the defiant bandit woman mentioned thirteen more bandits at the tower. But we have only encountered two, and now this one. None of them have said the name Calavaz. Perhaps his brother is the pack leader now. Might the others be hiding in wait, perhaps in the well that the bandit woman mentioned should be down here? Or perhaps the rest are out ranging, soon to return? We should bind this one, set a lookout, then finish searching this tower."
"We have yet to determine what lies behind the stone door that Iris inspected," Hildr reminds the others. "The edges of the door were lined by a great fire that consumed everything."
The man who named himself as Calavaz winces as he answers the next question, "well...My brother did, his name is Galdren. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
As uneasy as Crannocis with the situation, he can't find anything to confirm his suspicions. The man's words seem utterly sincere, and there's nothing in his mannerisms to suggest he's lying or leading you into a trap.
"This is very strange, and not at all what I expected..."Gawainsays, lowering his voice to match Crannoc's. "I think you may be right, it would appear his brother has taken over the family business. Let's press for a little more information - quickly - before deciding what to do."
The paladin steps forward, kneeling down to get eye level with the man. "We're here because the Sunless have been causing trouble. As I understand you once lead this gang, so what happened, brother kick you out to take over?"
While the others question Calavaz, Hildr returns to keep an eye on the stairs and the stone door. She hides near the first bend in the corridor, pressing her body against the wall and tilting her head forward for the best view, careful to stay in the shadows between torch sconces. Wouldn't want any surprises...
The scarred man looks down, a look of shame upon his face. "That feels like a lifetime ago." He says quietly. He lifts the hood from his head, revealing the extent of the burn scars. The hair is completely gone from his scalp, and you can see the ruined flesh running down his neck. Eyes trained on the floor, he continues. "That boy getting hurt...The fire...I don't want this kind of life anymore, and I didn't want it for my brother either."
"When I heard that the Sunless were up and running again, I thought I could turn him away from this but..." Calavaz breathes a heavy sigh, gesturing towards his jail cell. "Something's ahold of him. He's different now too. Worse."
"We want to stop your brother as much as you do, but we need any information you can tell us about him. I can be quite persuasive when I need to be. We don't want this to end in bloodshed but we will stop your brother, whatever the cost."
As Hildrblends into the shadows dancing against the wall, Crannoc opens his senses to the underground complex. He listens for the sound of footfalls on the stone but hears none for now.
Calavaz's head hangs low, and he shakes it slowly. "I've been kept here since I arrived...I don't really have much information to give you. Galdren was with us that night the townfolk lit the barn on fire with us inside, but he managed to slip out before we got locked in. I didn't see him again until I came here." Another heavy sigh. "And then he ignored my pleas and threw me in this cell. There's a stone door out there, through it is where they been storing their spoils. From what I've heard the others say, Galdren spends all of his time in there."
Gallant will turn to the group and say, “Let us prepare ourselves for a fight, it seems that there is no one coming so if we move silently we can get the jump on them.”
Hildr looks at Crannoc. She quietly sheathes her sword, cups her free hand to her right ear, and nods in the direction of the stone door, clumsily suggesting that the nature priest listen at it. Hildr is aware that sound doesn't readily penetrate stone, but if anyone could hear someone (or something) beyond the door, it would be Crannoc. She then shrugs as if to say that it's worth a try before quietly unsheathing her sword.
Iris offers a hand to help the prisoner up. "A peaceful resolution might be more likely if you come with us. Most of us would prefer not to kill your brother, but if he doesn't give us a choice..." She turns and follows the others back into the main chamber, saying to them quietly. "I don't have anything big left in terms of spellwork, but I'll do what I can to help. Let's see if we can talk him down first?"
As suggested by his large, fierce companion, Crannoc tries listening at the stone door, again asking for Silvanus'guidance.
Unfortunately, his skills at listening through stone are apparently not nearly up to their usual sensitive standards as they are in the great outdoors.
CrannocPerception plus Guidance to listen at stone door for any sound beyond: 11 + 2 = 13
Calavaz takes the hand offered to him, pulling himself up. He wobbles upon standing, putting a hand on the nearby wall to steady himself. "Something has changed within him, but I will try my best. Bless you for your mercy."
While you walk back to the main chamber, he pulls at a cord around his neck, grasping at an amulet that depicts a road leading into a sunset as he whispers prayers to himself.
Listening at the door...Crannochears nothing. The stone is simply too thick.
Gawainputs his hand on the stone door and braces, taking a look back at the others to check and see if they're ready. If there are no objections he pushes on the door to force it open, moving into the room as quickly as he can.
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Gallant steps up with a calm and kind voice, "What is your name you poor soul?"
Upon hearing Hildr's beckons, Gawain follows down the hall they went. After seeing the man he raises an eyebrow but stays back, content to let Gallant ask the questions for now.
(To clarify, these scars are old.)
The man turns his face towards Gallant, still sitting on the floor, propping himself up with one arm. His eyes squint a bit, like he's trying to get a better look. "My name is Calavaz. You weren't sent by my brother were you? Is he still here, in the tower?"
"Who put you in there and what is your brother's name?"
Even allowing for his lack of understanding when it comes to "city" ways (and it does not occur to Crannoc that they are far from any city), something feels off about this whole situation to the Nature Cleric. This is Calavaz? He draws on Silvanus' Guidance to guess at whether it is a trick or a trap.
Crannoc Insight plus Guidance: 21 + 3 = 24
Quietly to the others: "One of the bandits we fought in the woods suggested they were led by someone calling themselves the 'Night Lord' and the defiant bandit woman mentioned thirteen more bandits at the tower. But we have only encountered two, and now this one. None of them have said the name Calavaz. Perhaps his brother is the pack leader now. Might the others be hiding in wait, perhaps in the well that the bandit woman mentioned should be down here? Or perhaps the rest are out ranging, soon to return? We should bind this one, set a lookout, then finish searching this tower."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"We have yet to determine what lies behind the stone door that Iris inspected," Hildr reminds the others. "The edges of the door were lined by a great fire that consumed everything."
The man who named himself as Calavaz winces as he answers the next question, "well...My brother did, his name is Galdren. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
As uneasy as Crannoc is with the situation, he can't find anything to confirm his suspicions. The man's words seem utterly sincere, and there's nothing in his mannerisms to suggest he's lying or leading you into a trap.
"This is very strange, and not at all what I expected..." Gawain says, lowering his voice to match Crannoc's. "I think you may be right, it would appear his brother has taken over the family business. Let's press for a little more information - quickly - before deciding what to do."
The paladin steps forward, kneeling down to get eye level with the man. "We're here because the Sunless have been causing trouble. As I understand you once lead this gang, so what happened, brother kick you out to take over?"
While the others question Calavaz, Hildr returns to keep an eye on the stairs and the stone door. She hides near the first bend in the corridor, pressing her body against the wall and tilting her head forward for the best view, careful to stay in the shadows between torch sconces. Wouldn't want any surprises...
Dexterity (Stealth) check: 18
The scarred man looks down, a look of shame upon his face. "That feels like a lifetime ago." He says quietly. He lifts the hood from his head, revealing the extent of the burn scars. The hair is completely gone from his scalp, and you can see the ruined flesh running down his neck. Eyes trained on the floor, he continues. "That boy getting hurt...The fire...I don't want this kind of life anymore, and I didn't want it for my brother either."
"When I heard that the Sunless were up and running again, I thought I could turn him away from this but..." Calavaz breathes a heavy sigh, gesturing towards his jail cell. "Something's ahold of him. He's different now too. Worse."
"We want to stop your brother as much as you do, but we need any information you can tell us about him. I can be quite persuasive when I need to be. We don't want this to end in bloodshed but we will stop your brother, whatever the cost."
Crannoc steps away closer to the entrance, still within earshot. Calling on Silvanus' guidance to listen for returning bandits.
Perception plus Guidance: 17 + 2 = 19
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
As Hildr blends into the shadows dancing against the wall, Crannoc opens his senses to the underground complex. He listens for the sound of footfalls on the stone but hears none for now.
Calavaz's head hangs low, and he shakes it slowly. "I've been kept here since I arrived...I don't really have much information to give you. Galdren was with us that night the townfolk lit the barn on fire with us inside, but he managed to slip out before we got locked in. I didn't see him again until I came here." Another heavy sigh. "And then he ignored my pleas and threw me in this cell. There's a stone door out there, through it is where they been storing their spoils. From what I've heard the others say, Galdren spends all of his time in there."
Gallant will turn to the group and say, “Let us prepare ourselves for a fight, it seems that there is no one coming so if we move silently we can get the jump on them.”
Hildr looks at Crannoc. She quietly sheathes her sword, cups her free hand to her right ear, and nods in the direction of the stone door, clumsily suggesting that the nature priest listen at it. Hildr is aware that sound doesn't readily penetrate stone, but if anyone could hear someone (or something) beyond the door, it would be Crannoc. She then shrugs as if to say that it's worth a try before quietly unsheathing her sword.
Iris offers a hand to help the prisoner up. "A peaceful resolution might be more likely if you come with us. Most of us would prefer not to kill your brother, but if he doesn't give us a choice..." She turns and follows the others back into the main chamber, saying to them quietly. "I don't have anything big left in terms of spellwork, but I'll do what I can to help. Let's see if we can talk him down first?"
"Iris I am more than happy to use my greatest weapon," Gallant says with a wink. Clearing his thought
As suggested by his large, fierce companion, Crannoc tries listening at the stone door, again asking for Silvanus' guidance.
Unfortunately, his skills at listening through stone are apparently not nearly up to their usual sensitive standards as they are in the great outdoors.
Crannoc Perception plus Guidance to listen at stone door for any sound beyond: 11 + 2 = 13
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Calavaz takes the hand offered to him, pulling himself up. He wobbles upon standing, putting a hand on the nearby wall to steady himself. "Something has changed within him, but I will try my best. Bless you for your mercy."
While you walk back to the main chamber, he pulls at a cord around his neck, grasping at an amulet that depicts a road leading into a sunset as he whispers prayers to himself.
Listening at the door...Crannoc hears nothing. The stone is simply too thick.
Gawain puts his hand on the stone door and braces, taking a look back at the others to check and see if they're ready. If there are no objections he pushes on the door to force it open, moving into the room as quickly as he can.