Bennett stays in the middle of the group keeping an eye out for anything unusual.

4 Perception on keeping an eye out

((Wow Bennett is blind lmao))

Ashley sticks close to Crispy. She thinks anyone willing to put themselves in harms way for herself is one worth sticking close too.

So which way are we going?  asks Hatt, as he looks towards the torchlit path, then to the dark path, then back to the group.  And am I the armoured decoy? He looks down at his slightly battered scale mail armour doubtfully.

 "Maybe." Karra replies. "It just one idea. Send one to draw fire, make sure they best to evade or have good armour and shield. We back you up, no worries. If you get hit lots, rush in with potions."

Bennett nods, "I could turn into a goblin again and maybe scout forward. I'm not very good at seeing stuff in the darkness, so I may miss some things."

Aurelia touches her chest and does lay on hands for 4 points to fully heal herself before turning towards Bennett. "I don't mind going first to draw the fire. We never know if there's a more opportune time for you to turn into a goblin."

“Wait.” Crispy thinks.. “I’ll go. Send me down the lighted path. I can be sneaky and i’m fast in case there’s trouble. These guys don't scare me.”

Crispy wasn't afraid. In fact, sometimes, she looked for trouble. But not this time. She was doing her best to try and keep those days behind her, and in control. She could tell that Ashley was starting to get more comfortable around her, and that was good. Ashley had a future, she was filled with promise, and power. Most of all, she cared about others. Including Crispy.

Crispy, on the other hand, had nearly nothing, had lost just about everything since her termination, and struggled with nearly everything, especially her emotions and feelings. When she murdered her father, Crispy had lost much more, including her soul, little by little. There was something about Ashley that drew Crispy to her, and she wanted to find out more, find out why. It's like she filled a deep dark void inside Crispy. 

Maybe it was because she was a million times better in heart and soul than Crispy was, and ever would be.

Hatt moves away a little, letting the others continue their discussion. They’re soldiers, military folk with years of experience. They know how to plan this, much better than me. Meanwhile, I can see to this.

As quietly as he can, he starts to gather the fallen goblins from where they lie, scattered and broken on the floor. He sets them in a row off to one side, their eyes closed, looking for all the world as if they are sleeping peacefully. Time for a burial later, I suppose. If that’s what goblins do with their dead. Perhaps they burn them. Or… and his mind inevitably wanders to the various ways in which goblin societies might dispose of their dead, few of them pleasant.

While they talked, what Hatt was doing wasn't lost on Crispy.

This one too. She thought to herself. He's short, but he has a big heart. You could learn a thing or two from these people. What has life taught me? That your father beat you and broke you physically? That you mother abandoned you when you were young and you never saw her again? That being homeless and killing people just to survive is ok? That getting revenge on your father after your training and murdering him out of anger and revenge was cool? How about when you were an investigator..you beat up, cheated, bribed, and killed criminal scum you were supposed to bring in, acting all above the law and that kind of bullshit. Or that trying to swindle a beholder crime lord of Waterdeep was a good idea and cost you your partner, his family, your job, and the department?

Where did ALL of that get you? 

Crispy stared off in the distance for a moment, weighed down by all of her stupid life choices, ones she could avoid, and the ones she couldn't. She looked at Ashley and snapped out of it.

Ashley puts her hand on Crispy's shoulder for a moment to get her attention.  I..just wanted to thank you.For holding back i mean.. It looked like it was a struggle for you, but i think i would be proud to have you as a friend.

Crispy couldn't believe what Ashley was saying. Don't blow it. Don't ruin this, you stupid idiot. Think, Cora. Crispy took a moment to process the information. After everythiing, it was difficult to make friends. Especially after everything and everyone she wronged.

But it wasn't difficult. Looking into Ashley's eyes, Crispy's mood softened, relaxed, and she smiled.

"I struggle with a lot of things, but..I trying to.." She whispered, trying to think of the right way to say it, "..reconcile my past. You make me.." again, she thought of the words, "..you make me try and do better. BE better. Do the right thing. To..try and contain my frustrations and temper."

She sighed, relieved, as if sharing feelings was difficult. "I'd really like that, being your friend. I'm sorry if..I can be difficult..sometimes. But, once we have a break, I wanna show you something. You'll think it's cool."

Bennett notices Hatt taking care of the goblin's bodies. Not many good souls like his left. I lost my good soul long long ago. I miss the good old days before I enlisted. The days where I would just wake up and help father in the fields or help mother cook. I wonder how they're doing? Is father still taking the herbs for his heart, is mother still rubbing the salve on her joints to relieve the pain? I must visit them someday, talk to my father about the horrors I've seen... maybe he'll understand.

Bennett smiles at Hatt and bows his head slightly, "You've got a good soul, I respect that." he whispers. 

(So Crispy is going to go first down the right path, correct?)

Yes. Quietly. The path with the torches.

Here's a stealth check, should you need it: 14

As you make your way through the torch lit path, you can see something further down by the torches. As you come closer, you can make out that it is a person standing by the last torch of the path. The person sees you too and motions for you to come closer.

Quote from Superbad >>

Bennett smiles at Hatt and bows his head slightly, "You've got a good soul, I respect that." he whispers.  

Thank you Bennett, Hatt whispers back, you have a good soul, too, I think.  Thank you for what you did there  There's no more time to speak, as the group heads out, but Hatt reflects on what Bennett had said, and the way he had said it, as they follow Crispy towards the torchlit path.  Perhaps he thinks he doesn't have a good soul.  And not three minutes ago, he walked alone into a room full of goblins in an attempt to save their lives.  A good man who can't see it - just like Cousin Fallum.  And look how that ended!  he grins to himself, then focuses his attention on the task at hand.  There's a person up there - how odd.  What are they doing here?

(Perception 21 to spot anything noteworthy about this person.)

(How big is the gap between Crispy and the group?)

(20 feet, I suppose?  Enough that the group can reach her in one round if needed)

"What the-" Crispy whispers. 

I approach the person. Carefully. Ready for anything.

Gasp will stalk ahead quietly as well, following behind Crispy along with the others. He's still got his shield on and ready. 

Stealth: 18

 Or maybe not so incredibly quietly? 

He pauses for a moment as Crispy stops, evidently having seen something. He tilts his head from side to side, waiting to find out what it could be.