[[ OOC: OK, since I don't know whether someone/something will grant Adavntage or not, I'm doing 2 separate rolls... In case of no Advantage, we keep the first roll. In case of Advantage we keep the best roll, whether it is the first or the second ]]

Khessa's Intimidation - roll 1: 14

Khessa's Intimidation - roll 2: 5

((my understanding is there are three uninjured cultists that Khessa has backed into a corner and the injured ones...also the ones under the effects of the sleep spell, are the ones Kit and Jack were binding up.))

"Seriously, you still think you have a chance here? I had a hard enough time convincing these two," Kit indicates Khessa and Erven, "to let you survive this long."

The man looks cowed for a moment, but then his brutish face lights up, apparently remembering something "I do not fear death. For my flesh shall bolster the champion, the fires of our souls giving it life. Everything that dies in these catacombs fuels the champion, providing it more power. To kill me would be to empower it. Think carefully about what you do next." the man sneers, his scarred face twisting in an ugly, satisfied grin, thinking he's trapped you.

Gonna roll that Stealth check for Mud real quick, just to speed things along. 

Mud's Stealth check: 7

As for the CCC (current cultist count): C1 is dead. C2, 3, & 4 are asleep and injured. C5 and 6 are awake and fine. C7 is the main guy.

As the splinter group unfreezes, thinking it safe, they head on. Sadly, Tabitha and Lance, both clothed in metal armor, are a little too loud. The man's head snaps to look down the hallway, where he sees the retreating forms of an awakened tabby cat and a mechanical dog. Rage fills his face, and he starts to raise his sickle to strike. Then, he remembers the blade pressed against his neck. "What are they doing?!" he demands, fury contorting his features.

"ENOUGH!" The young dark-haired man gets to his feet and turns to face the still chattering cultist, his eyes suddenly dark voids with a promise of an unthinkable fate.

Intimidation: 6
Fey presence, targeting talking cultist and hopefully the ones behind him too, Wis save 15 or frightened.

"Tell us where we can find the leader of your cult and you can still serve your undying master. As you say your master will succeed so there is no reason not to tell us." He continues firmly but in a more gentle if somewhat impatient tone.

Persuasion: 18

Erven’s face glowers, and when he sees the reaction, the lack of realization, the lack of enlightenment that was hoped for by others, and he sees the anger from their ranking leader surging forward, the causal talk about the “glory” of rising as undead to serve his master, Erven can hold back no longer.  “It seems like ashes it will have to be.  Unless you stop.  RIGHT.  NOW!!”  And he lets his arrow fly, into one of the more wounded of those remaining.  His hand moves in a blur as he pulls another arrow and holds it at the ready.  

Long bow : 12 to hit, for 6 points of piercing damage, to put down one of the more injured cultists, aiding in intimidation of the rest.  

Quote from Raccoon_Master >>

As for the CCC (current cultist count): C1 is dead. C2, 3, & 4 are asleep and injured. C5 and 6 are awake and fine. C7 is the main guy.

 ((may want to revise. The injured cultists are all asleep and tied up))

Tabby just stops, looks back and waves at the cultist when it is apparent she has been seen. And then continues heading off anyway confident her new friends can handle the cultist 

C5's WIS save: 7; C6's WIS save: 1; C7's WIS save: 17

Since all the injured cultists are unconscious, that arrow is a crit. I'll roll the extra damage: 4

As the situation escalates, Jack intervenes, his eyes glowing with power, his voice resonating with the authority of a fey lord. He speaks, and instantly all three of the cultists currently interacting with the group take a step back, fear filling their faces as the emotion-warping magic overtakes them. Terror fills their faces, and almost simultaneously, they stumble back, letting out a shriek of fear.

"Our...our master w-w-will succeed!" the voice of the large man, now a high pitched squeak, stutters as the cultist looks at the warlock with utter primal fear "We...we will l-l-live on! R-r-right there is where our champion's...champion's apotheosis will h-h-happen!" He points a shaking finger down the corridor behind him, towards the glowing green light "F-f-follow that tun...tunnel!"

The arrow strikes the asleep, injured, and tied up cultist, and the cultist's chest stops moving. The acolyte has gone to sleep for good.

CCC: C1 & 2 are dead. C3 & 4 are alseep, injured, and tied up. C5, 6, & 7 are all scared out of their wits (Frightened) but otherwise fine.

Erven nocks another arrow and points his bow straight at C7’s chest.  “Jack, Kit, please tie the rest of them up.  Otherwise I will put ventilation holes in their chest with my arrows, until they stop moving.  And then we will burn their bodies to prevent them from being used by their dark master.  Try me.  I’ve had to do it before….”  He trails off, anyone who hears the anger in his voice knows this is not an empty threat, but a promise if they do not comply with Jack and Kit.   ”After they are tied up, secure and can’t escape, we will go investigate what is down that tunnel.”  He turns back to the “leader” C7, saying “This is your lucky day.  If Kit wasn’t here, you would all be dead right now.  Just give me a reason to do it…”. He holds the arrow trained on his heart.  

Khessa continues to keep a close watch on any Cultists still capable of causing harm, waiting for them to be either bound or killed. But in the meantime, her mind restlessly ponders what she has just learned: 'A champion's apotheosis... This Cult is dangerous enough as it is, without the addition of any champions. Let's hope that in that green-lit area it's obvious how to prevent all this from happening...'

Being somewhat shaken herself by Jack's display of power, Kit moves forward without asking for or expecting help from the dark-haired human. Holding a length of rope, she approaches the lead cultist.

"There we go. Let's not make any fatal mistakes. Just drop the sickle, turn around, put your hands behind your back, and walk towards the sound of my voice..."

The young dark-haired man glances back at the scarred elf. "These ones seem to welcome death, perhaps having them tried for their sins will be a better punishment for them and a better revenge for you?" He suggests with a concerned but calm look before helping the highborn half-elf to secure the rest of the cultists. 

"So, weren't there more of us just a moment ago?" Jack then says with a tired sigh, looking around for the blob, the cat and the dragonborn. "Perhaps collect our lost ones and the face the cult leader?" He suggests, glancing over at the glowing green tunnel the large cultist indicated. He then steps over to the grieving sister to comfort and reassure her that they were now close to finding the one responsible for her brother's death.

Persuasion to reassure: 12


Meanwhile an unseen figure flies down that same tunnel to take a peek of what's ahead.
Stealth: 18
Perception: 16

Once the Cultists are secured, Khessa takes her place at the front, leading the party members present to rejoin those who have already started (or were starting) towards the green light.

Once the party is reunited, if the green light zone has not yet been reached, the blonde arcane warrior turns to the elf scout, beckoning him. So far, letting him stealth forward has proven to be a winning strategy...

Erven nods to Jack, calming down and reassured that justice will hopefully be served.  He slings his bow over his shoulder, then he cinches the bindings uncomfortably tight and pushes the cultists down onto the ground and secures them to the bunk bed frames or something along those lines.  For the “leader”, C7, he shoves a rag in his mouth and binds it.  Once secure and he is satisfied they will not escape, he moves forward down the hall toward the others, taking the front scouting position if allowed.  Under his breath he says to himself as he moves down the hall, “Champion’s Apotheosis?”

Erven, tone shaking with barely contained rage, commands his companions to restrain the cultists. Obliging, Kit pulls out lengths of rope, binding the cultists with tight knots, which are made more uncomfortable when Erven cinches them even tighter, as well as shoving a rag in the leader's mouth. Before the rag can be place in, the man makes one final cry "The time is near! Shadows and secrets, give us strength!" then Erven shoves the rag in his mouth and he speaks no more

After tying the cultists up, Jack steps over to Kevori, who kneels in the back, a swirling maelstrom of emotions crossing her face as tears of untrammeled rage stream down her brown cheeks. With a comforting hand and a kind word, he manages to get her to stand, though her whole shakes with anger and grief. She gives him a small, sad smile. 

While this is happening, Khessa goes to retrieve her friends, who have wondered back along their path, stepping into the three way junction room. The warrior-mage finds them peering into the darkness, looking ahead into a chamber outside the range of the range of the torchlight which flickers against the smooth, carved walls.

Does the splinter group rejoin with the party or keep exploring the other room?

Oberon:

Tabby will join up with the party. She can explore later, but a champion sounds like a threat better dealt with sooner 

Ketangu rejoins the group as it seems they have discovered something of interest. 

Khessa, with the party reunited, is on the verge of leading everyone towards the green light...

[[ OOC: Unless someone is by now aware of some possible danger and wants to issue a warning... ]]