"I don't think that this would let us into the mirror. The engraving said something about the bronze visage. Also, the buttons Jaya pressed for the other levels changed as each button was pushed. We will probably have to get to the third level before we find the skullport access. The voice said that access was disabled, should we press the button again to see if it is enabled?"
Remember, we have a new member now! I'm guessing everyone will want him in the back with Rico and Steel, the only 2 not bothered by the smell he gives off.
Halleth will dutifully take up the rear, shambling after you. He's clearly happy about the fact that the group is moving fowards, whispering to himself. "Soon, soon." The undead seems to have trouble concentrating on most things for long, except revenge.
DM: Based on what Pisgah wrote, I'm assuming the the troupe moves up to the secret door here, but didn't go through it yet.
Pisgah hears the sound of squabbling goblins. Seems to be a fairly sizeable group, at least a dozen. The sounds are coming from some distance off, perhaps some 100 to 150 feet.
Then, he also hears the conversational voice of a bugbear, quieter but closer than the goblins: "Get up boys, I'm detecting six people coming through."
There are some grunts, other bugbears responding to the command.
“Nikk any names from the guild you know of that we can drop here to help our chance to move through without a fight?” Jaya asks.
“Am I ready? Probably not, but you never really know until you try!” he smiles, “Let’s see what happens. I’m going to assume we are trying to pass without an incident, but if that isn’t in the cards, be ready. Halleth, come up next to me.”
OOC: Once Nikk responds, Pisgah can open the door.
Telepathically to the group... If a fight breaks out, we let Halleth know that they are in league with his "friends"!
Nikk: You do remember various names from your time in the low streets, but the problem is that none of them would actively help you with certainty. All of them are gang members that Nikkitch had dealings with at one point or another, but except for Shunn, you don't think any had ever much influence on the guild. Names: Kinsey (dwarf woman, down-on-their-luck rogue), Smiling Ash (drow man, outcast from the underdark), Roywyn Turen (gnome man, backstreet alley tinkerer).
DM: It's up to you if Nikk would've still mentioned one of them.
You step into another sizable room that seems to have various corridors going off into to the darkness. A deformed granite statue stands on the east side of a large stone column, facing eastward. West of the statue, stairs descend downward into the deep. The sound of squabbling goblins emanates from the tunnel leading north, now audible to everyone.
A bugbear emerges from the central eastern hallway, mean expression on her face.
"Now who are you supposed to be?", the bristling specimen with grey spotted fur grunts. "How many eyes does Xanathar have?" Her piercing eyes look at you as if she already knows that you did something wrong.
Nikk, Canti [Insight]: The bugbears general demeanor seems intentionally intimidating. She may not have any clue at all.
Two other bugbears emerge out of the darkness behind her, to reinforce the threat. "And explain to me why you have that sorry cleric with you.", she indicates Halleth, who is standing next to Jaya now.
“As many as there are stars in the sky” Jaya replies immediately. He then looks at the Bugbear that asked the challenge and sends him a telepathic message...
The undead is now our pet. His mind is interesting to us and must be studied, a direct request from you know who.
“How are the operations below? We are here to ensure they are running smoothly.”
The bugbear is clearly surprised at hearing Jaya in her head, her eyes first going wide, then narrowing, a grim smile appearing on her face. This time, Jaya once again recieves a telepathic response: "A city guard? A bit small for my taste, but Xanathars decisions always have a purpose."
Aloud, she says: "Operations are going well, with some road bumps. There's a tribe of goblins that has opened a market. We're gonna get rid of them eventually - at the moment they're not a great concern. We've also had reports of wererats lurking about. Plenty of other monsters and dangers too. You have your work cut out for you."
“Xanathar likes to keep us all guessing.” Jaya responses. “What are these goblins selling, and to whom? Also, had you had any interaction with the wererats, could they be an asset to the guild?”
Telepathically to the bugbear…
This pet’s thoughts are jumbled. Do you know anything about his past that I might be able to exploit?
The bugbear thinks for a moment, then responds: "I've not been personally involved with the wererats. All the run-ins so far were violent. We're not sure what their motivations are, but they seem intent on making our life hard. I heard they recently stole from Shunn, so he's unlikely to want to go the diplomatic route."
"As for the goblins, they've opened their bazaar to anyone." the bugbear makes a hand motion at herself and her two bodyguards. "At least goblinoids can walk in unbothered. They might want to question your particular shell though."
Telepathically speaking to Jaya, she says:
"That cleric showed up a few days ago when some adventurers passed by. After leaving him in the pit, his compatriots killed some of my goblins and stormed down into the second level. Left this one behind. He started moving again a day ago. We kept an eye on him for that time. I guess now he's your responsibility. Kill those adventurers for me if you get the chance."
"I don't think that this would let us into the mirror. The engraving said something about the bronze visage. Also, the buttons Jaya pressed for the other levels changed as each button was pushed. We will probably have to get to the third level before we find the skullport access. The voice said that access was disabled, should we press the button again to see if it is enabled?"
Jaya presses the top button again to see if the message is any different.
The message is the same, saying "Gate access to Skullport disabled.", the voice speaking with the same inflection as before.
"Well, maybe the access to Skullport has to be activated on the third floor. Should we go on to see Shunn?"
Lets!
Assuming regular marching order, Pisgah heads to the secret door at the end of the south passage.
Remember, we have a new member now! I'm guessing everyone will want him in the back with Rico and Steel, the only 2 not bothered by the smell he gives off.
Halleth will dutifully take up the rear, shambling after you. He's clearly happy about the fact that the group is moving fowards, whispering to himself. "Soon, soon." The undead seems to have trouble concentrating on most things for long, except revenge.
DM: Based on what Pisgah wrote, I'm assuming the the troupe moves up to the secret door here, but didn't go through it yet.
OOC: Correct. I should have streamlined the previous post and said I would listen at the door.
Perception roll of 21 with the ear horn to listen at the secret door.
Pisgah hears the sound of squabbling goblins. Seems to be a fairly sizeable group, at least a dozen. The sounds are coming from some distance off, perhaps some 100 to 150 feet.
Then, he also hears the conversational voice of a bugbear, quieter but closer than the goblins: "Get up boys, I'm detecting six people coming through."
There are some grunts, other bugbears responding to the command.
I relay to the group, "Well, Shunn knows we are here. There are about a dozen goblins. Jaya, are you ready to deal with this? "
If Jaya is ready, I'll open the door.
“Nikk any names from the guild you know of that we can drop here to help our chance to move through without a fight?” Jaya asks.
“Am I ready? Probably not, but you never really know until you try!” he smiles, “Let’s see what happens. I’m going to assume we are trying to pass without an incident, but if that isn’t in the cards, be ready. Halleth, come up next to me.”
OOC: Once Nikk responds, Pisgah can open the door.
Telepathically to the group... If a fight breaks out, we let Halleth know that they are in league with his "friends"!
[OoC: History roll to remember a usable name: 15 (fingers crossed)]
The Kenku considers this: "I. Believe. Their. Name. Was... <____>"
[OoC: When DM chooses to give a name (if he chooses to give a name), assume that's what the wizard said.]
I pop open the door and move in like I am Jaya's bodyguard.
Deception roll of 10
Nikk: You do remember various names from your time in the low streets, but the problem is that none of them would actively help you with certainty. All of them are gang members that Nikkitch had dealings with at one point or another, but except for Shunn, you don't think any had ever much influence on the guild. Names: Kinsey (dwarf woman, down-on-their-luck rogue), Smiling Ash (drow man, outcast from the underdark), Roywyn Turen (gnome man, backstreet alley tinkerer).
DM: It's up to you if Nikk would've still mentioned one of them.
You step into another sizable room that seems to have various corridors going off into to the darkness. A deformed granite statue stands on the east side of a large stone column, facing eastward. West of the statue, stairs descend downward into the deep. The sound of squabbling goblins emanates from the tunnel leading north, now audible to everyone.
A bugbear emerges from the central eastern hallway, mean expression on her face.
"Now who are you supposed to be?", the bristling specimen with grey spotted fur grunts. "How many eyes does Xanathar have?" Her piercing eyes look at you as if she already knows that you did something wrong.
Nikk, Canti [Insight]: The bugbears general demeanor seems intentionally intimidating. She may not have any clue at all.
Two other bugbears emerge out of the darkness behind her, to reinforce the threat. "And explain to me why you have that sorry cleric with you.", she indicates Halleth, who is standing next to Jaya now.
“As many as there are stars in the sky” Jaya replies immediately. He then looks at the Bugbear that asked the challenge and sends him a telepathic message...
The undead is now our pet. His mind is interesting to us and must be studied, a direct request from you know who.
“How are the operations below? We are here to ensure they are running smoothly.”
The bugbear is clearly surprised at hearing Jaya in her head, her eyes first going wide, then narrowing, a grim smile appearing on her face. This time, Jaya once again recieves a telepathic response: "A city guard? A bit small for my taste, but Xanathars decisions always have a purpose."
Aloud, she says: "Operations are going well, with some road bumps. There's a tribe of goblins that has opened a market. We're gonna get rid of them eventually - at the moment they're not a great concern. We've also had reports of wererats lurking about. Plenty of other monsters and dangers too. You have your work cut out for you."
“Xanathar likes to keep us all guessing.” Jaya responses. “What are these goblins selling, and to whom? Also, had you had any interaction with the wererats, could they be an asset to the guild?”
Telepathically to the bugbear…
This pet’s thoughts are jumbled. Do you know anything about his past that I might be able to exploit?
The bugbear thinks for a moment, then responds: "I've not been personally involved with the wererats. All the run-ins so far were violent. We're not sure what their motivations are, but they seem intent on making our life hard. I heard they recently stole from Shunn, so he's unlikely to want to go the diplomatic route."
"As for the goblins, they've opened their bazaar to anyone." the bugbear makes a hand motion at herself and her two bodyguards. "At least goblinoids can walk in unbothered. They might want to question your particular shell though."
Telepathically speaking to Jaya, she says:
"That cleric showed up a few days ago when some adventurers passed by. After leaving him in the pit, his compatriots killed some of my goblins and stormed down into the second level. Left this one behind. He started moving again a day ago. We kept an eye on him for that time. I guess now he's your responsibility. Kill those adventurers for me if you get the chance."
“Then those adventurers will die, as will any that interfere with the guild. Good work!”.
Telepathically to the party...
Anything else we want to ask before we descend? Tempted to ask about the map on the wall but don’t want to expose ourselves too much.