"Nay, we've got all ours in use guarding against the scaly beast in the skies," Escobert says. "Sorry we can't be of a lot of use, but being under siege and all..." He looks up at Kyros without lifting his head. His dark eyes contrasted against his large, bushy, red eyebrows. "We're here," he starts, "This is the old gate to the tunnel. You can use it as a sally port for now to sneak in and out. Dunno what's down there, ain't been in years. Might needs these too." He says and hands Aracynth two old keys, removing them from his belt with considerable jangling and grunting. "First one's for the cellar door, that's the iron one. The rusted one should open the lock on the exit grate. Might want to do it sneaky, dunno who's on the other side."

After clearing a couple barrels and crates out from in front of the door with you Escobert leaves without a word.

You still have a little walking to strategize in, but I will need a description of who is first, second, so on because you can only travel down the path single file. Please don't jump straight to the exit grate, there will be descriptions while you walk.

Kyros takes the keys, and the Dwarf promptly takes his leave of them, no doubt to attend to other pressing matters. Without any ceremony Kyros opens the tunnel gate before them. He then holds the keys out. "I would gladly lead the way, though I fear I am ill suited to travelling in darkness such as this, as well as remaining stealthy. As such, I will defer to this parties better judgement and stand where you all deem best."

Talien took the potions and placed them in his pack. "Well met Dosan, and thank you." Talien bows low before following Escobert and the others, gazing about at the halls as they walk. "It's quite different than home, is it not?" Talien nodded, listening to the cat's musings as he admired tapestries and felt the cold stone walls. "Rather than the canopy of trees and songs of birds, they surround themselves with stone and mute the world around them. You'll get more used to it I imagine. I'll await your return, Talien."  The cat veered off down a hallway as they walked, disappearing into the dimly lit keep.

"I do agree, Archibald," he said as they followed Escobert, "tripping them would certainly help with the capture and I've got some rope that we can use to tie them up while they're down."

As they approach the door, Kyros takes the keys from Escobert and opens it up. "Kyros, I believe Archibald may want to take the lead on this one, with me behind him as I can see better in the dark than some and can help guide him. What say you all?"

(OOC: Whoever takes the lead, I will cast Guidance on them to help out with stealth. Talien will go second, placing his hand on the leader's back, casting his spell).

Travel order: Archibald, Talien, Lias, Kyros. In one line, not much room to slide past each other should things get hairy, not much room above you to launch things (just so you're all aware).

The tunnel door opens with a loud creak and some extra force to loosen the hinges. As Archibald passes through the doorway he is immediately met with a face full of cobwebs. Swiping those away does not reveal much more, as the dim light and sounds of dripping water do not make for an enchanted evening. The smell, too, is grating as the scents of stagnant water and rotting wood rise up from the floor to assault your nostrils. Sounds echo through the tunnel, and your footfalls squelch eerily against the stone walls. Among the sounds some chittering can be heard up ahead...

Please roll perception checks and stealth if you plan to do so.

Kyros pulls the door closed behind them, sealing the darkness. "Ugh, right, a tunnel." He grunted, as his head bumped the ceiling. "Do we need to light a torch, or can anyone make their way in this?" He was at the back of the procession and doubted he would need to see anything, but he should probably try not to clank around so much. He drew his longsword and shifted his other gear, trying to tighten it down into place.

Stealth : 10

Archibald urgently gestured for Kyros to lower his voice, before remembering that his companion would not be able to see him waving his arm in the darkness. "Shh" he cautioned "Carefully now, I hear something up ahead. Let's try and get a view of the situation before we rush in." he readied his bow, and continued forward.

Perception: 18

Stealth: 7 + 3 from Guidance

Archibald:

 Please roll initiative and stealth! (Everyone needs initiative, Archibald and Kyros already rolled stealth.)

Initiative : 17

Initiative: 17

Perception: 4

Stealth: 4

As Archibald pushes through the doorway, Talien falls in line behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder to remind him he's there, and to cast Guidance as they enter the dark tunnel. Looking back at Lias, Talien nods silently, and pushes forward into the darkness. As Archibald shushes the dragonborn, Talien hears a familiar chittering above them. "Bats?" He thinks to himself.

Stealth: 17

Perception: 21

Initiative: 9

Archibald trod gently forward, his grip on his bow tightening. "What in the hell?" he spoke quietly, but alarmedly. "There's something up here, I can't figure out what it is."

Initiative: 8 

Archibald and Talien, you get one surprise round against the enemy because you managed to be sneaky!

Talien and Lias (because dark vision and great perception rolls)

 The turn order will be as follows: Kyros, enemies, Archibald, Talien, Lias. First Archibald and then Talien get a surprise round ahead of the enemy and Kyros!

As the group moved forward, Archibald grew tense. He tried to focus on his breathing but as he peered into the darkness he could unmistakably make out a horrible, black, writhing mass. Between the tenseness of the situation and the oppressive olfactory atmosphere, he cracked. He raised his bow, and fired at the mass.

Attack: 19

Damage: 5 + 3

"Rats!" Talien whispered sharply as Archibald loosed an arrow into the pile of them. Following suit, Talien looses a crossbow bolt into the mass hoping to at least take out a couple. 

Attack: 20 Damage: 11

Excellent! The swarm of rats is certainly surprised and a few of their number are skewered onto an arrow and a bolt in the shallow water at your feet. It seems daunting that there are so many and your weapons seemed to only snag a few... The rest turn and start scrabbling toward Archibald now!

Kyros, you're up, but you can't quite reach any of them yet.

Kyros heard the thrumming of missiles fire in the darkness ahead, as Talien grunted in hushed tones. A chittering screech followed, as scrabbling feet echoed across the damp floor. "What is it? What's there?" He asked, preparing to dodge anything he can't see coming.

As the rats make their way toward you and start gnawing, scratching, and disturbing you they occupy the same area as both Archibald and Talien!

Some of the rats attack Archibald, but most of them just gnaw on his leather armor to no avail. Another group surrounds Talien's feet and are completely repulsed as they smell cat on his person! (Crit fail...)

The rats nipping and biting at Archibald made it hard to use his bow. Acting quickly, he pulled out his rapier and stabbed at one.

Attack: 18

Damage: 6

Talien, seeing the sheer amount of rats that were now at his feet reached out to them with Animal Friendship in hopes that he could convince the rats that he was a friend, and meant them no harm. He saw no point in killing a colony of rodents who were simply defending their own home, and tried to tell them to let his party pass with no more conflict.