Nadaar starts playing with his whiskers again. "I cannot speak for our friend here. But, I thought I might squeeze in some extra travel time to Phandalin." He admits with a chuckle. "Ah, speaking of which. I hope you don't mind, but.. let there be light." With a few dainty claps, one of Nadaar's gloves begin glowing bluish-white. "Much better. But yes! Just a few, you see. My decision to take the scenic route delayed me much more than anticipated."

The party ventured deeper and deeper into the dark forest following suspicious tracks, Arethal spotted a few spike traps on the way, so others followed his guidance by not stepping on them.

A rare but bright sunlight began to make its way through the treetops as the group approached a small river that ran out of the cave at 50ft from them.

On either side of the entrance stood several totems decorated with skulls, what's inside the cave was not clearly seen at this range.

"What brings me here huh? The same filth you killed on the street, the same filth tried to ambush you. My oath is to purify those lands from everything's evil and that's what brought me in your presence" Arethal says before stopping to look at the cave "We should be really careful. I want to exterminate their kind but we can't do so if we're all dead. Someone should check the perimeter without letting them know. Who volunteers?" 

"Much as I am eager to prove my worth as soon as possible, my friends, that volunteer will not be me." Nadaar admits with an uneasy smile. "But! If perhaps this one here were to join me, then that's another matter entirely. And if we were to be fortunate enough to listen in on a conversation, or I do not know. Perhapsss, we bring one back quietly, I can converse with them?  I do know quite a bit of their tongue." 

Kathleen says, "I volunteer to go in. You guys can stay here. If I don't come back within 12 hours or if goblins attack, know that I have either died or have been captured. Don't worry though, that won't happen."

Kathleen will insist that she goes alone and sneaks into the cave.

Stealth: 12
Perception: 16

(That seems about right)

"Careful, that's not what I meant" whispers Arethal to Kathleen "If you go inside all alone we won't be able to help you. I was thinking more of scouting the area, looking for patrols or other entrances"

Thormund looks round the group, after Kathleen heads over to the entrance of the cave. "Let her get to the entrance, then we follow her in." 

Quote from TheVinter >>

"Careful, that's not what I meant" whispers Arethal to Kathleen "If you go inside all alone we won't be able to help you. I was thinking more of scouting the area, looking for patrols or other entrances"

 "Don't worry about it. I won't need you guys to help me out." After saying this, she heads inside the cave.

(Character Flaw: Kathleen's recklessness often gets her and her friends into dangerous situations.)

"But you should have a bit more en--and she's gone. Okay so much for words of encouragement." Nadaar comments on idly as he settled in to wait. "So, as I understand it we are looking into your employers? Hmm... What else can you tell us about them?" He asks the original group at large. 

Thormund shrugs. "I don't particularly know either of them. They hired us to guard their caravan of goods." He looks a little embarrassed ans his voice trails off "We didn't do well..."

"Hm! Unfortunate! But, nothing I haven't already gather." Nadaar admits. "But no need to sound so glum, my friend! Such mishaps happens to the best of us. And you can never underestimate the 'uncivilized' folk. Why have you ever heard the story of Tucker the Kobold? It really is a fascinating and humbling tale."

Borak

"Didn't know them either but the leader is a dwarf named Gundren and with him is his human companion Sildar." He turns to Thormund. "We didn't do so badly. We killed the goblins, the goods are still intact, so technically we did our job. But I do think that our employees appreciate our initiative to rescue them even if we now might lose the goods."

Thormund shakes his head, he's never heard tales of any Kobolds, least not ones with names. "Tucker? Tucker the Kobold? No, although I'd gladly hear it over an ale in Phandalin."

Checking his weapons over, he looks to Borak. "You're right enough, and if I were in their boots I'd want to know a rescue was coming." Apparently satisfied, Thormund nods towards Kathleen in the distance approaching the cave entrance. "And speaking of rescues, shall we give her a hand? 

Borak

"I'm torn. On one hand I'd like to go and support her. On the other hand I know that I have trouble and no intention to be sneaky, so we might accidently endager her more if I try to help."

Nadaar grins toothily, showing off pearly white and razor sharp teeth. "I look forward to it." He eagerly claims in regards to the drink. "Hn! It would indeed be unfortunate to lose such a finnne specimen at that." He says staring intently after her. "Tell you what. Let us creep just a little closer at least. That way if something does happen, will be able to at least hear it."

"Agreed, and from there we can signal back down here." Thormund begins to creep his way up to the cave entrance, wary for more traps that might have been left. 

Stealth - 16

Perception - 8

OOC Is Thormund's walking speed still reduced?

Kathleen's white armor appears distinct in the dark environment of the cave. Kathleen doesn't notice though. (Her Stealth roll was still 9 :P)

Borak

Borak carefully approaches too, asking Clangeddin to help him on this endeavor.

Stealth: 3 + 1 (Guidance)

Nadaar follows ten feet behind, having kept in mind the earlier discussion about the armor. 

Stealth: 14. 

Upon careful approach to the cave entrance, everyone trembled at the sudden sound of a warhorn somewhere behind them.

As everyone started to turn around three arrows was already shot in their destination.

Monster 1 shortbow attack: 15 damage: 5 target (random): 5 -> Thormund

Monster 2 shortbow attack: 17 damage: 5 target (random): 1 -> Arethal

Monster 3 shortbow attack: 10 damage: 5 target (random): 1 -> Arethal

OOC: every single arrow is a miss ;-D