Khessa knows that her stealth ability is comparable to that of the village's bell when it is enthusiastically rung for a celebration, so she simply waits... ready to run and fight if necessary, but not to get close.

The idea of ​​killing cultists in cold blood (except one to obtain information) does not particularly displease the blonde arcane warrior. After all, they did not hesitate to do the same, to kill Kevori's brother in cold blood... After all she has been through, she has long since exhausted her reserves of mercy towards those who harm others without scruples.

 Meanwhile, the tall adventuress replies to Tabitha: "Who knows? But I'd rather not find out the hard way... Go ahead with your pitons, while the steathy ones sort out... the other matter".

There is a hesitance with the dark-haired young man as there is mention of cold-blooded killing of defenseless people but he does not argue at this point, instead following quietly along with the scarred elf and the talking blob to back them up with his eldritch magic should anything not go as smoothly as planned. He never thought himself to be the one to almost suggest this but he at least considered having them all turned in for prosecution. At least they should try to get to the bottom of this and not merely slaying what could be mislead commoners in their sleep. The leader had to be found and brought to justice for the murder of the brother, one way or the other.

(Stealth: 17 rolled in prior post :-)

Seeing the warrior woman standing aside, Kit opts to follow the trio on their dark deed. She doesn't approve but she can't bring herself let it happen while she sits idly by. If she's going to be complicit, she'll at least bear witness to she's allowing to happen...

(Stealth check: 8)

Erven and Ketangu, ready for blood, creep along the tunnel, followed by Jack and Kit somewhat reluctantly. they move forward, into the chamber, and Erven raises his blade above the head of a cultist, ready to strike. Just then, Kit, who is too busy questioning the morality of this to be truly stealthy, trips, falling to the floor with a small gasp. This small burst of sound awakens 4 of the cultists, including the one that Erven is about to kill. Fear fills the eyes of the acolyte, as they stare up at the grim, scarred visage of Erven and his cold, deadly blade.

Meanwhile, back in the junction, Khessa, Tabitha, and Mud stay on guard, prepared to rush in if need be.

What do you do to keep the cultist from sounding the alarm?

Ignore all this!

What preparations do the three that are hanging back make in case all hell breaks loose?

Erven was merely planning to scout and then return with information, he was not planning to get within melee range.  His shortsword of warning would have been buzzing when he was getting close, (30 feet) he would have discussed a ranged, coordinated attack before getting that close ..

(I’m so dumb. I completely misread that situation. My bad. Ignore that post)

Erven and Ketangu, ready for blood, creep along the tunnel, followed by Jack and Kit somewhat reluctantly. The blade in Erven’s hand starts to grow warm, signaling to him that danger and foes are near.

With his exceptional night vision, he peers into the space beyond the short tunnel, which is two connected circular chambers, each maybe 25 ft in diameter. Multiple straw cots line the walls, some occupied by cultists and others empty.

In total, you count seven of them, and their hooded robes hang on hooks on the walls. As for the people themselves, they all differ, a mixture of races and genders, though they all bear tattoos around their left eye and their right hand.

What’s the plan?

And same question as above for the three that stayed behind

Erven senses their presence and sees them, stopping and turning immediately, he motions for Ketangu to stop and turn around, motioning to move back to the others now that he has a head count.   He moves back towards where everyone else has gathered and gives the description, saying “They’re sleeping, we can hit them all at once.  After what I’ve seen (looking at the altar with the familiar symbol) I have no qualms with taking them out.  Before they kill others in the line of whatever dark, evil schemes they have.”  He looks up at Kevori as he says this, nodding with a grim look on his face.  He starts to ready his bow, listening to ideas about how to approach this.  

Tabitha is using her pitons to try and drive them (quietly) under the door as a doorstop. Holding the doors open in case of a speedy exit required. Lance is by her side, Petal in her pocket

Ketangu heads back "I'd say we can try to sneak in and kill them in their sleep except for one who will be tied up for questioning" 

He is ready to head in unless someone has a different plan.

Khessa, who is acutely aware of how ill-suited she is to sneak, simply stands ready to rush to the aid of the others if sounds of battle begin to be heard. If nothing happens before Tabitha finishes blocking the doors with the pitons, she sends her Faithful Butler to retrieve the magical eye.

"I came with you because we were supposed to be chasing a killer. No one said anything about murdering people in their sleep. We should give them a chance to surrender and turn them in to the authorities. I don't like the feel of this place any more than the rest of you but that alone isn't enough to condemn anyone."

Tabitha blocks the doors, keeping them from shutting, or that was the intent. Once she is done, Khessa sends forth her magical servant, which plucks the eye from the door and gives it to the warrior-mage. The door does not close immediately, but after a minute, they start to close. The pitons catch the door as it tries to close

Meanwhile, the rest of the party discusses the morality of murdering the cultists in their sleep. While this happens, Kevori speaks up "For what it's worth, those b*****ds killed my brother, and I want to return the favor."

Can I have Tabitha make an Intelligence check to see how well she placed the pitons?

Quote from Raccoon_Master >>

Can I have Tabitha make an Intelligence check to see how well she placed the pitons?

Since Khessa was with her, can our blonde arcane warrior grant Tabitha Advantage on the roll?

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Quote from Raccoon_Master >>

Can I have Tabitha make an Intelligence check to see how well she placed the pitons?

 

Since Khessa was with her, can our blonde arcane warrior grant Tabitha Advantage on the roll?

 Sure, go for it. Tabitha, you now have advantage on that check.

Ketangu looks at Kit "I have never encountered anyone who decided to hide themselves away underground to just turn themselves into the authorities, but I am willing to give it a chance." 

He gestures for Kit to head down the hall "Go ahead I will wait" 

Kit gives the scarred Elf an uncertain nod but straightens her body with a deep breath and begins to walk down the corridor with her hand resting loosely on the hilt of her sword...

(Going to give everyone a chance to react to the situation before Kit wakes up the cultists.)

As some of the others go and spy on the other room, Bahrumudh lingers behind with Khessa and Tabitha. To be honest, he wasn't the biggest fan of killing the cultists in their sleep, but at the same time, he understood if something wasn't done about them, they would end up killing more people. It was sort of a morally gray area, but getting rid of the bandits meant saving the lives of more innocents. Now that he thought about it, he was sure neither Bahumat or his family would approve of their extermination of the cultists in their sleep, no matter how worthy of a cause it was. Mud has to suppress a grin at the notion; all the more reason to do it then. 

As Tabitha finagled with the door, Bahrumuhd cautiously makes his way towards the altar, the edge of tension in the air filling him with unease. So who was the fellow that the cult was worshipping? Definitely didn't seem like an upstanding fellow. Once he's at the altar, he inspects in with a critical eye, seeing it was magical or mundane. Best to not leave this room without first knowing if there was something dangerous in here.

Kit stops short and turns back to Kevori.

"For what it's worth, the b****** that killed your brother isn't even here. Do you really think that after he botched the job and was pursued by a half dozen people he ran straight back home and drifted off peacefully to sleep? Even if you believe that's what he'd do, how do you suppose he got in? After all, we have the eye."

"So the question is, do you want to honor your brother or do you want revenge? Because it seems to me he was interested in more than just killing cultists."

Having said her piece, Kit turns back and continues down the hallway.

(Any chance this Persuaded Kevori to back Kit up? If so, the roll would be 18)

When all the talking is done and the plans are made, Erven readies an arrow in his longbow, moving back to position where he can see the cultists.  With a nod and when the signal is given, he rapidly fires two arrows, moving to the next target if the one before drops.  

Erven watches incredulously as Kit walks forward to wake up the cultists.  He hisses “Are you mad?  They will not stop, do you see this altar over here?  I have seen what these people can do!  Kevori has as well, up close and personal!”  Erven’s jaw is locked and the muscles are tight in his neck as he reaches quickly into his pocket and pulls out the token that he’s held onto for so many years.  The amulet or symbol that was found on the ground at his village after the redbrands led by a necromancer laid waste to it.  It is the symbol of a hand with an eye in the middle of it, the same as seen on the altar.  He holds it up for Kit to see, speaking quickly and quietly.  “Dya see this?  Left by one of those that worships this evil god in my village after they killed then all and turned them into foul undead abominations.   I have been searching this city and listening to find their lair.  Here it is.  I will not wake them up and have a cup of tea with them, talk to them about their naughty life choices.  I am here to kill them, dammit, and destroy their vile altar!”  There is a look of murder in the elf’s eye, he pulls the tension tight on his bowstring and makes ready to let it fly at the cultists.