"Hah, Mister Berry, these capes make us look quite dapper. Now we can raid in style." Nosam enjoys the idea as a sort of disguise, but the way they drag behind on himself and Berry makes him chuckle. "Too bad they aren't made for wee folk, this thing makes me look shorter than I really am." 

Nosam looks at the others, "secret entrance sounds good, can't say it matters to me all that much."

Daphyra nods. "Secret entrances are always more exciting. Hmm, good idea about the capes."
She paws through the Redbrands' cloaks to find one to drape over herself.

(OOC: Unfortunately, only the "ringleader" Redbrand had a dagger, plus a longsword. The rest had short swords. Therefore only Marten gained a dagger.

Regarding the cloaks, none of them fit Nosam or Berry in the least. They are all sized for full-sized humans.)

Chapter 5 - The Redbrand Hideout under Tresendor Manor

Mrs Alderleaf frowns in thought for a moment. “There is one more detail. If you’re seeking out the Redbrands. I know where Carp said he saw them. There is a deerpath through the woods south of the manor. If you follow it to a spot where there are four trees all fallen over each other, the biggest one bent in half, and holly and winterberry growing thick around them. It looks almost like a cave under the biggest tree trunk. That’s where Carp says they dug their tunnel.”

And so, following Mrs. Alderleaf's instructions, you arrive at the place in the woods south of Tresendor Manor. The old, moss-covered and decrepit Manor building looms in sight upon the hilltop when you glance up through the late summer foliage from the woods below.

Approaching the four fallen trees choked by holly and winterberry, you see someone or something has cleared the undergrowth just at the place where one of the fallen trees, whose roots splay upwards, pulled out of the earth when it fell, leaving a dark pit underneath, perhaps 12 feet deep. Footprints where humans have passed show a way into the pit, where crisscrossing tree roots in its near wall create a sort of ladder and handholds.

You climb down, where, unseen from above, you find a tunnel in the facing pit wall, wide enough for one large person at a time to clamber through, though the taller of you must bend down, for the tunnel’s ceiling is only six feet at most.

In the tunnel: darkness, and the smells of earth and the fragrant woods wafting in from above. Starlings and woodpeckers sing and tap their songs among the branches far above you.

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

In the tunnel: darkness, and the smells of earth and the fragrant woods wafting in from above. Starlings and woodpeckers sing and tap their songs among the branches far above you.

(OOC: When you say "darkness", I assume that you mean that in the technical sense where characters without darkvision need a torch or lantern to see.)

At the bottom of the pit, Marten looks into the dark tunnel.  He steps back and asks, "Can you see anything ahead?  The Redbrands we fought were humans.  Seems to me, it'd be a pain t' carry lanterns all 'round your own hideout, but I reckon they must've used torches or lanterns in th' tunnel.  Should we risk a light for the tunnel?  Or would you like t' scout ahead in the dark, Mistress Daphyra?"

Daphyra nods at Marten. "I can scout, maybe with another of us who can see in this darkness? I can also share the Goddess's gift with three others for an hour or so, but probably we would want to keep that gift to use when more urgently needed?"

Quote from valeskah >>

Daphyra nods at Marten. "I can scout, maybe with another of us who can see in this darkness? I can also share the Goddess's gift with three others for an hour or so, but probably we would want to keep that gift to use when more urgently needed?"

 

"I can help with that. Don't linger too far back and make sure nothing joins us from behind." Nosam moves to the front and proceeds advancing further into the tunnel with Daphyra. While walking on relatively smooth terrain, Nosam equips hammer and shield.

Perception: 14

Darkvision 60 ft.

Kiselina dons one of the cloaks of red. He’s not a fan of disguises but understands the need for one in this case. He climbs down after the others, helping any that might need assistance. 
At the bottom, he situates himself to fall in line where needed (behind Berry perhaps, after the scouts begin their reconnaissance). He agrees with Daphyra’s assessment about not using the goddess’ blessing until needed, but waits to see if a torch is required. He holds his halberd as they wait for word. 

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

In the tunnel: darkness, and the smells of earth and the fragrant woods wafting in from above. Starlings and woodpeckers sing and tap their songs among the branches far above you.

(OOC: When you say "darkness", I assume that you mean that in the technical sense where characters without darkvision need a torch or lantern to see.)

(OOC: Not exactly. After taking a moment for your eyes to adjust, you find that the tunnel is very slightly lit in a cool monochrome by thin beams of daylight penetrating between tree roots, rocks, and so forth, into the tunnel. It is dimly lit.)

Daphyra sets off with Nosam to scout out the passageway. (Perception check: 11. Stealth check: 11)

With Daphyra leading and Nosam right behind, you make your way, slowly and quietly, through the tunnel, stumbling over roots, but noiselessly so, for the earth is packed but soft under your feet. After only a few minutes, you see lantern light flickering in the distance and come to the tunnel’s end. Here, it opens into a long chamber lit by lanterns on both sides. This is what you see:

A cold breeze fills this large natural cavern, carrying with it the faint scent of decaying flesh. A crevasse divides the cavern and is flanked by two rough stone columns that support the twenty-foot-high ceiling. Two arched wooden bridges span the chasm.

(I rolled stealth for Nosam IC at disadvantage due to his armor: 20)

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

(OOC: Not exactly. After taking a moment for your eyes to adjust, you find that the tunnel is very slightly lit....It is dimly lit.)

As Daphyra and Nosam start down the tunnel, and his eyes adjust, Marten proposes that the group follows close behind them with this marching order:

1. Daphyra
2. Nosam
3. Berry
4. Kiselina
5. Vidruth
6. Marten

Marten follows at the back of the group, bow in hand, watching and listening for anything approaching from behind them.

"that order works fer me, limits me ta bolts but thats fine" vidruth agrees as long as nobody else has an objection "and we do have to stay close, we arent having one of us get outnumbered again,and i dont see too well at a distance in the dark, close up is fine, but about half of a dart away it gets difficult"

“Why does everyone hide in dark holes,” mutters Berry when they trudge along the path towards the chamber. Once they reach the chamber, he tries to get peek around Nosam and Daphyra but finds it hard to see anything. “I could look around, or with Marten,” he offers.

"Looks like two bridges. Daphyra, if you want to check on the first, I can head up toward the next. There may be somethin' off to the left round these blind corners. I'm not wandering any further than the next bridge." Nosam proceeds slowly and as quietly as he can manage. 

Movement- Advance towards the 2nd bridge, paying attention to the left around the corner. (Possible chamber?)

Perception- 14

Nosam creeps forward, not particularly silently, although the light clinking of his armor blends somewhat with an irregular dripping coming from somewhere and strangely echoed in the cavern. The dwarf edges forward, and turns quickly past the pillar — quickly, for he thought he’d heard something. But there is only empty air. He notices then at the edge of the crevasse, a wet, clawed footprint pointing toward him. Actually, more than one. A line of wet footprints leading from the crevasse to the spot he had just checked. As an afterthought he looks behind the pillar once again.

SURPRISE!, mere inches away, a horrible sight!

A huge, green eyeball floats in front of the dwarf, and under it, a row of sharp teeth. Eyeball and teeth — and grizzled ears for good measure — are connected to a spiny, brown, hunched lizard body hung with a tattered, threadbare garment.

A razor-clawed hand reaches out, the sharp maw opens, and an assault of hissing, gravelly squawking erupts.

“GHEEEE!!! Did yourrr bring the Ellllldritch Scroll of CHHHHHHH Inversion? Nosam? GHHHHHHRRR!?”

The others see Nosam step back in surprise and hear mostly hissing but do not see what he sees.

Daphyra nods at Nosam and works her way over the first bridge, peering around to check for any obstacles or danger. (perception 22)

She hears the hissing and sees Nosam step back and freezes in place, frantically looking for what he is responding to. 

Daphyra sees more of the chamber, as does the rest of the party.

An updated map:

"Umm, I'm afraid not." Nosam shuffles back a few steps taking in what it is exactly he is talking to. He looks back and sees the others near and feels that this interaction has to start off more smoothly than the courtyard debacle. He addresses this thing as confidently as he can muster, "Who are you exactly, and maybe you can help me?" Careful not to tip off that the rest of the crew is not too far back... maybe they have not been noticed yet. 

Persuasion- 11

Quote from randelic >>

"Umm, I'm afraid not." Nosam shuffles back a few steps taking in what it is exactly he is talking to. He looks back and sees the others near and feels that this interaction has to start off more smoothly than the courtyard debacle. He addresses this thing as confidently as he can muster, "Who are you exactly, and maybe you can help me?" Careful not to tip off that the rest of the crew is not too far back... maybe they have not been noticed yet. 

Persuasion- 11

“I am, CCHHHRRGGH, I am GHEE!, I have no name. Carrrreful Nosam! Do not let on that your friends are here too. CHHHHHHHRRRR!”

This time, Nosam felt a tingle. A presence in his mind.

The creature steps left then right, seemingly looking at Nosam from various angles. Then it backs around him toward the crevice.

The others see movement and can see and hear the conversation if within 30’. They see the creature move toward the crevice behind Nosam.