Aeleth considers Merric's suggestion. He knows that it's dangerous to leave a prisoner unguarded, especially one who could potentially alert other Redbrands to their presence. However, he also sees the wisdom in keeping the prisoner hidden, at least for the time being.
"I think it's a good idea to hide him," Aeleth agrees. "Let's put him under one of the barrels. That way, he should be out of sight of anyone who comes through the secret door."
The others agree, and they quickly shove Scarred Redbrand under one of the barrels. They then follow Sildar through the secret door and into the narrow corridor.
As they move forward, Aeleth can't help but feel a sense of excitement. They're finally getting closer to the Redbrands' main hideout. He can't wait to put an end to their reign of terror.
Sildar places himself at the head of the group, to try to protect you, and you follow him... The corridor, as you have already seen, continues 25' towards the west. Then it turns north and continues another 10' in that direction. Then it turns west again, continuing another 10' in that direction. After that, you will find a cave.
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. These bridges are made of wooden planks and have no rails. One thing Aeleth, with his detail-oriented mind, quickly realizes is that the southernmost bridge is in much worse shape than the northernmost one... it could collapse if crossed! It is therefore better to use the one further north if you want to cross the Crevasse.
Apparently, for now, the choice is between crossing the crevasse and thus reaching the western part of the cave, from which other exits branch off, or staying in the eastern part of the cave, where you already are, and exploring it in a northerly direction.
Aeleth thinks that the eastern part of the cave seems less promising, and it is possible that the western part will lead them to the Redbrands' main hideout. He also notes that the southernmost bridge is in much worse shape than the northernmost one, and could collapse if crossed. Therefore, he suggests that they use the northernmost bridge to cross the crevasse.
"Let's cross the crevasse and explore the western part of the cave," Aeleth suggests to his companions. "I think we're more likely to find the Redbrands' hideout there."
Lola gives a look full of gratitude to the elf wizard: "Thank you, Aeleth! If you hadn't warned us, we probably would have chosen the southernmost bridge! It was the closest... and we would have found ourselves in danger. You are truly precious".
Sildar, meanwhile, guides you across the northernmost bridge and you reach the western part of the cave without difficulty. This western part of the cavern has three possible exits... two corridors, made of carved stone, leading to the west (one of the two corridors is near the northermost bridge, the other is near the southernmost bridge) and a natural passage, part of the cave, which leads south.
While you are deciding which path to choose, suddenly you all hear a voice speaking... telepathically! It is a voice that is speaking without making a sound, you all hear it directly in your own mind. The voice has a tone of urgent demand: "Food! Bring me food, or I won't let you pass! You don't see me, but I see you! Bring me food, or I'll eat... you instead!"
"What in hell is this?" Merric looks around, scared.
Torrga also looks around, but she is also unable to identify the source of the voice (after all, since it is a telepathic voice, it is not possible to understand where it comes from, because it is not transmitted with sound). “It must be a supernatural creature!” the dwarf exclaims, worried, holding the warhammer firmly in her right hand and reaching for the sacred symbol of her god with her left "What do we do, Aelth? I have some dry rations, but... Do you think they will be enough? And it's not like they are exactly tasty food..."
Aeleth quickly decides to go back and get some of the fresh food they found in the cistern room. He asks his companions to keep the creature at bay and starts making his way back to the cistern room.
Once there, he finds a barrel of salted pork. He opens it up and takes a large chunk of the meat. He then hurries back to his companions, clutching the salted pork tightly.
"I have some fresh food for you," Aeleth calls out to the creature telepathically. "Come and get it."
A monstrous creature with terrible talons and a single, big, green eye comes out of the shadow of one of the two large columns and approaches, initially hesitant, but then, seeing what, probably, for her represents the most succulent meal she must have had for who knows how long, he gathers courage and grabs the food, retreating back into the shadows while mentally congratulating you: "Well done! You can pass! Glasstaff, the leader of the Redbrands, offers me food to keep guard here and don't let anyone pass... but he's never offered me food like this one! So good... So I'll let you pass. Let him come and stand guard if he doesn't like it the way I do it!"
After that, you hear the sound of the teeth and jaw of the bizarre creature starting to devour the lavish meal... You have managed to pass - and without risking a fight against this creature whose powers you don't actually know!
“That was a good call, Aeleth,” Lola smiles “The fresh food really seemed to make a difference.” She really seems to appreciate the elf wizard more and more... who knows, maybe a deeper feeling than the simple camaraderie between adventurers is being born in her?
Aeleth is fascinated by mysteries, and the telepathic creature's unexpected behavior has piqued his interest. He decides to try to communicate with the creature further, hoping to learn more about it.
"Thank you for allowing us to pass," Aeleth telepathically communicates to the creature. "We appreciate your generosity."
The creature pauses its feasting, its single eye glowing faintly in the darkness. "You're welcome," it replies telepathically. "I'm glad I could help. Glasstaff is quite the selfish leader. He doesn't care about anyone but himself".
Aeleth can sense a hint of bitterness in the creature's voice. "It's a shame that he treats you that way," he says. "You don't deserve it."
The creature's eye shines briefly. "It is what it is," it says. "But he might become like me, one day..."
Aeleth thinks for a moment. "If you ever need anything," he says, "please don't hesitate to ask. We might be able to help."
The creature looks at Aeleth with a glimmer of hope in its single eye. "Thank you," it says. "I'll remember that."
Once the telepathic conversation is over, Aeleth focuses again on choosing the path to follow to continue the exploration. Would it be better to follow one of the two brick corridors that go west? Maybe the one further north? Or maybe the one further south? Or will it be better to follow the rough-hewn passage to the south?
Aeleth takes a moment to consider the three possible paths before them. The northern and southern corridors are the most well-constructed, suggesting that they might lead to the Redbrands' main hideout. However, they also appears to be the most heavily trafficked, so they are likely to be the most dangerous. The natural passage to the south is the most unpredictable, but it could also be the most rewarding, as it might lead to something unexpected.
After weighing the pros and cons, Aeleth decides to take the northern corridor. He believes that it's the most likely to lead them to the Redbrands' hideout, and he's willing to take the risk of encountering some Redbrands if it means getting closer to defeating them.
"Let's take the northern corridor," Aeleth says to his companions. "I think it's the most likely to lead us to the Redbrands' hideout."
The others agree, and they cautiously make their way down the corridor. As they do, they keep their eyes and ears peeled for any sign of danger.
The northern corridor continues west for just 5', then turns north... but after just another 5' it turns west again and leads to a staircase that descends at 45 degrees for another 10'.
Lola looks around nervously... it's clear that she feels uncomfortable going further underground: "These Redbrands have chosen an underground den... like the worms they are" she comments, annoyed.
"Don't worry" Torgga instead seems perfectly at ease (perhaps even more than when she was on the surface - but, oh, well, dwarves are used to being underground...). "We will find them soon - we will free Phandlain from their harmful presence and force them to reveal what they know. Look, up ahead... there are already two doors. Maybe they give access to rooms used by the Redbrands or Glasstaff".
And in fact, after just another 10' to the west, the corridor ends, in front of two common wooden doors, one to the north and one to the south. The two doors, at first glance, do not present any distinctive characteristics.
“Do you want me to try to get closer and eavesdrop?” Merric suggests, lowering his voice "Maybe we could figure out what's behind the doors..."
"But if you were discovered," Sildar worries "you would find yourself distanced from us... you could be in danger".
The two instinctively turn their eyes to Aeleth, who until now has always been able to advise the party well...
Aeleth considers the options. He knows that Merric's plan is risky, but it could also be very valuable. If they could learn something about what's behind the doors, it could give them a huge advantage in dealing with the Redbrands.
But Aeleth also knows that Sildar's concerns are valid. If Merric was discovered, he could be in serious danger. And if Merric was captured, the Redbrands would know that they were coming.
Aeleth takes a deep breath and decides to take a chance. "Merric," he says, "I think it's worth the risk. If you can hear what's going on behind those doors, it could be a huge help to us".
Merric smiles smugly and confidently and begins to tiptoe towards the two doors. His small stature, typical of halflings, and the fact that he does not wear metal armor help him move with great stealth. You see him reach the doors and carefully place an ear, first on the south one, then on the north one, in both cases eavesdropping for a few moments.
Then, the halfling returns to you, with a disappointed expression and informs you: "The wood of the doors is too thick... Or perhaps those damned criminals are resting in silence, without making any noise. However, they have not been able to hear any noise from neither direction".
"So, at this point it makes no difference..." Sildar notes, placing himself protectively in front of the group as a precaution "Which door do we want to open? The north one or the south one?"
Sildar quickly lowers the handle and occupies the door threshold, looking around... But then you see him relax and enter.
The room has the shape of a square with sides 20'. There is another wooden door, very similar to the one you just opened, on the east wall.
This room appears to be a wizard's workshop. A rat scurry across the floor and takes refuge under a large worktable set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes.
Seeing the rat, Aeleth seems to remember something...
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth considers Merric's suggestion. He knows that it's dangerous to leave a prisoner unguarded, especially one who could potentially alert other Redbrands to their presence. However, he also sees the wisdom in keeping the prisoner hidden, at least for the time being.
"I think it's a good idea to hide him," Aeleth agrees. "Let's put him under one of the barrels. That way, he should be out of sight of anyone who comes through the secret door."
The others agree, and they quickly shove Scarred Redbrand under one of the barrels. They then follow Sildar through the secret door and into the narrow corridor.
As they move forward, Aeleth can't help but feel a sense of excitement. They're finally getting closer to the Redbrands' main hideout. He can't wait to put an end to their reign of terror.
Sildar places himself at the head of the group, to try to protect you, and you follow him... The corridor, as you have already seen, continues 25' towards the west. Then it turns north and continues another 10' in that direction. Then it turns west again, continuing another 10' in that direction. After that, you will find a cave.
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. These bridges are made of wooden planks and have no rails. One thing Aeleth, with his detail-oriented mind, quickly realizes is that the southernmost bridge is in much worse shape than the northernmost one... it could collapse if crossed! It is therefore better to use the one further north if you want to cross the Crevasse.
Apparently, for now, the choice is between crossing the crevasse and thus reaching the western part of the cave, from which other exits branch off, or staying in the eastern part of the cave, where you already are, and exploring it in a northerly direction.
...Mysterious rolls: 21 25...
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth thinks that the eastern part of the cave seems less promising, and it is possible that the western part will lead them to the Redbrands' main hideout. He also notes that the southernmost bridge is in much worse shape than the northernmost one, and could collapse if crossed. Therefore, he suggests that they use the northernmost bridge to cross the crevasse.
"Let's cross the crevasse and explore the western part of the cave," Aeleth suggests to his companions. "I think we're more likely to find the Redbrands' hideout there."
[[ OOC: Please, Aeleth, roll a Deception check ]]
I in the meantime do another mysterious roll: 15
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth's Deception: 21
Lola gives a look full of gratitude to the elf wizard: "Thank you, Aeleth! If you hadn't warned us, we probably would have chosen the southernmost bridge! It was the closest... and we would have found ourselves in danger. You are truly precious".
Sildar, meanwhile, guides you across the northernmost bridge and you reach the western part of the cave without difficulty. This western part of the cavern has three possible exits... two corridors, made of carved stone, leading to the west (one of the two corridors is near the northermost bridge, the other is near the southernmost bridge) and a natural passage, part of the cave, which leads south.
While you are deciding which path to choose, suddenly you all hear a voice speaking... telepathically! It is a voice that is speaking without making a sound, you all hear it directly in your own mind. The voice has a tone of urgent demand: "Food! Bring me food, or I won't let you pass! You don't see me, but I see you! Bring me food, or I'll eat... you instead!"
"What in hell is this?" Merric looks around, scared.
Torrga also looks around, but she is also unable to identify the source of the voice (after all, since it is a telepathic voice, it is not possible to understand where it comes from, because it is not transmitted with sound). “It must be a supernatural creature!” the dwarf exclaims, worried, holding the warhammer firmly in her right hand and reaching for the sacred symbol of her god with her left "What do we do, Aelth? I have some dry rations, but... Do you think they will be enough? And it's not like they are exactly tasty food..."
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth quickly decides to go back and get some of the fresh food they found in the cistern room. He asks his companions to keep the creature at bay and starts making his way back to the cistern room.
Once there, he finds a barrel of salted pork. He opens it up and takes a large chunk of the meat. He then hurries back to his companions, clutching the salted pork tightly.
"I have some fresh food for you," Aeleth calls out to the creature telepathically. "Come and get it."
A monstrous creature with terrible talons and a single, big, green eye comes out of the shadow of one of the two large columns and approaches, initially hesitant, but then, seeing what, probably, for her represents the most succulent meal she must have had for who knows how long, he gathers courage and grabs the food, retreating back into the shadows while mentally congratulating you: "Well done! You can pass! Glasstaff, the leader of the Redbrands, offers me food to keep guard here and don't let anyone pass... but he's never offered me food like this one! So good... So I'll let you pass. Let him come and stand guard if he doesn't like it the way I do it!"
After that, you hear the sound of the teeth and jaw of the bizarre creature starting to devour the lavish meal... You have managed to pass - and without risking a fight against this creature whose powers you don't actually know!
“That was a good call, Aeleth,” Lola smiles “The fresh food really seemed to make a difference.” She really seems to appreciate the elf wizard more and more... who knows, maybe a deeper feeling than the simple camaraderie between adventurers is being born in her?
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth is fascinated by mysteries, and the telepathic creature's unexpected behavior has piqued his interest. He decides to try to communicate with the creature further, hoping to learn more about it.
"Thank you for allowing us to pass," Aeleth telepathically communicates to the creature. "We appreciate your generosity."
The creature pauses its feasting, its single eye glowing faintly in the darkness. "You're welcome," it replies telepathically. "I'm glad I could help. Glasstaff is quite the selfish leader. He doesn't care about anyone but himself".
Aeleth can sense a hint of bitterness in the creature's voice. "It's a shame that he treats you that way," he says. "You don't deserve it."
The creature's eye shines briefly. "It is what it is," it says. "But he might become like me, one day..."
Aeleth thinks for a moment. "If you ever need anything," he says, "please don't hesitate to ask. We might be able to help."
The creature looks at Aeleth with a glimmer of hope in its single eye. "Thank you," it says. "I'll remember that."
Once the telepathic conversation is over, Aeleth focuses again on choosing the path to follow to continue the exploration. Would it be better to follow one of the two brick corridors that go west? Maybe the one further north? Or maybe the one further south? Or will it be better to follow the rough-hewn passage to the south?
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth takes a moment to consider the three possible paths before them. The northern and southern corridors are the most well-constructed, suggesting that they might lead to the Redbrands' main hideout. However, they also appears to be the most heavily trafficked, so they are likely to be the most dangerous. The natural passage to the south is the most unpredictable, but it could also be the most rewarding, as it might lead to something unexpected.
After weighing the pros and cons, Aeleth decides to take the northern corridor. He believes that it's the most likely to lead them to the Redbrands' hideout, and he's willing to take the risk of encountering some Redbrands if it means getting closer to defeating them.
"Let's take the northern corridor," Aeleth says to his companions. "I think it's the most likely to lead us to the Redbrands' hideout."
The others agree, and they cautiously make their way down the corridor. As they do, they keep their eyes and ears peeled for any sign of danger.
The northern corridor continues west for just 5', then turns north... but after just another 5' it turns west again and leads to a staircase that descends at 45 degrees for another 10'.
Lola looks around nervously... it's clear that she feels uncomfortable going further underground: "These Redbrands have chosen an underground den... like the worms they are" she comments, annoyed.
"Don't worry" Torgga instead seems perfectly at ease (perhaps even more than when she was on the surface - but, oh, well, dwarves are used to being underground...). "We will find them soon - we will free Phandlain from their harmful presence and force them to reveal what they know. Look, up ahead... there are already two doors. Maybe they give access to rooms used by the Redbrands or Glasstaff".
And in fact, after just another 10' to the west, the corridor ends, in front of two common wooden doors, one to the north and one to the south. The two doors, at first glance, do not present any distinctive characteristics.
“Do you want me to try to get closer and eavesdrop?” Merric suggests, lowering his voice "Maybe we could figure out what's behind the doors..."
"But if you were discovered," Sildar worries "you would find yourself distanced from us... you could be in danger".
The two instinctively turn their eyes to Aeleth, who until now has always been able to advise the party well...
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth considers the options. He knows that Merric's plan is risky, but it could also be very valuable. If they could learn something about what's behind the doors, it could give them a huge advantage in dealing with the Redbrands.
But Aeleth also knows that Sildar's concerns are valid. If Merric was discovered, he could be in serious danger. And if Merric was captured, the Redbrands would know that they were coming.
Aeleth takes a deep breath and decides to take a chance. "Merric," he says, "I think it's worth the risk. If you can hear what's going on behind those doors, it could be a huge help to us".
Merric smiles smugly and confidently and begins to tiptoe towards the two doors. His small stature, typical of halflings, and the fact that he does not wear metal armor help him move with great stealth. You see him reach the doors and carefully place an ear, first on the south one, then on the north one, in both cases eavesdropping for a few moments.
Merric's Stealth: 10
Merric's Perception (South): 14
Merric's Perception (North): 19
Then, the halfling returns to you, with a disappointed expression and informs you: "The wood of the doors is too thick... Or perhaps those damned criminals are resting in silence, without making any noise. However, they have not been able to hear any noise from neither direction".
"So, at this point it makes no difference..." Sildar notes, placing himself protectively in front of the group as a precaution "Which door do we want to open? The north one or the south one?"
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth nods in agreement. "I prefer to open the north door, if that's okay with you."
He turns to face the north door and casts a quick glance at Sildar, ready to use his shortbow or his spells, as needed.... "Are you ready?" he asks.
"I'm ready," Sildar replies.
Aeleth nods and raises his hand, signaling for Sildar to open the door.
Sildar quickly lowers the handle and occupies the door threshold, looking around... But then you see him relax and enter.
The room has the shape of a square with sides 20'. There is another wooden door, very similar to the one you just opened, on the east wall.
This room appears to be a wizard's workshop. A rat scurry across the floor and takes refuge under a large worktable set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes.
Seeing the rat, Aeleth seems to remember something...
[[ OOC: Please Aeleth, roll an Arcana check ]]
A Friend Of Mine:
Aeleth's Arcana: 13 + 6 = 19