BE7s Frozen Sick (IC)

“Aye, let’s move fast then stick to the cover, not lose them in the gloom.  C’mon, let’s go.”  Torvil moves forward with Akira as quickly as he can, then when closer he tries to stay quiet, tracking the two figures as they move into the cave.  He reaches over his back feeling for a javelin, getting next steps ready in his mind.  

Stealth : 16

***Group stealth check: success.  I'll get a map up for you tonight***

As you slip quietly  into the cave, you hear a sharp whistle echoing into the depths quickly followed by two loud claps.  You then hear two voices talking in dwarven softly.  Peaking around the bend in the cave you see two short, stout cloaked figures.  They are chatting and knocking snow off their clothing as they stand next to a dark, murky pool of water about 30 feet past the bend.  They seem to be waiting for something.

***perception checks from everyone please***

The top half isn't accurate, as the map starts way too close to the pool.  You guys are back 30ish feet, the cave bends to the right, offering a view of what the map shows.  The two humanoids speaking in dwarven are looking deeper into the cave and show no indication that they are aware of your presence. 

Torvil perception : 10

Torvil squats down and listens hard, trying to make out any pieces of their conversation…

The steady dripping of water in the cavern, coupled with the howling wind just outside of the cave entrance makes it impossible for Torvil to hear anything specific. 

Akira drops down simultaneously with Torvil and slightly adjusts her hood behind her ears to hear as much as she possibly can make out.

perception check: 16

**OoC: since Akira speaks Dwarvish, will she be able to understand what the dwarves are saying?**

***yup - I'll try to post tonight - mega busy weekend for me, I may be a bit slower than usual.***

Akira: or anyone who beats DC 15 perception AND speaks dwarven. 

Kitsune sinks into the jagged shadows of the cavern wall, her presence blurring into the damp stone as the dwarven voices echo against the dripping stalactites.  "The stone here holds the cold like a shroud, yet these two linger by the water as if they expect the dark to answer" she breathes, her pale eyes fixed on the murky pool.  She remains perfectly still, her senses straining to catch any ripple in the water or shift in the light that might betray a hidden danger.

Perception: 11

You detect nothing in the pool.  

You hear a voice from deeper in the cave call out in common, "Hold your horses, I'm coming."   A few moments later a taller form appeared on the other side of the pool.  He heaved a coil of rope over the water, which one of the dwarves deftly caught.  Both bundled, bearded folk grasped the rope and began to pull.  A splash quickly followed as you discovered that they were pulling a massive plank of rough hewn wood, securely tied to the other end of the rope.

The tall humanoid, elven by the sound of his voice, had already turned and started heading back into the cavern.

Passive perception 15:

 ***Everyone is good where they are, AKA hidden.  If you use any movement or speak above the faintest whisper please roll another stealth check.***

Kitsune remains as motionless as the rocks around her, her breath shallow and silent in the freezing air.  She doesn't speak...instead, she merely shifts her weight with a ghost-like subtlety, her pale eyes tracking the elven figure until it disappears into the inner cavern.  Her gaze then cuts back to the dwarves, marking the strain in their shoulders as they haul the heavy plank.

She stays low, her fingers resting lightly on the hilt of her blade, watching the two hairy dwarves do their thing.  Every muscle is coiled, waiting for the mysterious elf to get beyond hearing range, before she'll attempt to do anything.  Instead, her presence has been reduced to nothing more than another shadow in the damp dark.

OOC: Fighting two is more manageable than fighting three.  I propose that we wait a minute for the scene to unfold with the two dwarves before we attack.  Thoughts?

Vayne stands tense but ready.  Barely contained arcane energy rolled between his fingers, which he quickly jammed into the pockets of his heavy coat to keep from drawing attention.  The quiet tiefling stood prepared.

Kitsune's Insight check to see if & when it's safe to leap into an attack on the two dwarves:  10

This is damned odd.... what is going on here?  Torvil looks at the surface of the water and watches the dwarves as they are ? shuttled across.  Something lurking below?  He waits, watching along with Kitsune, waiting until it might be safe to approach where the dwarves were standing.  He taps Kitsune's shoulder and points, pantomiming with his fingers walking down to the spot where the dwarves were, and then shrugs his shoulders.  

With a final grunt, the dwarves pull the plank to the stone floor.  One tries to drag it a bit closer to the rough cave wall, but gives up quickly.  He leans against the wall pulling wind for a few moments before muttering, "Gimme a hand ye bearded goblin, durn'd things already froze to da stone."  Working together they manage to get it to a bit closer to the left wall; close enough to touch the wall with their hands.  

They are currently securing their gear and balancing their packs, backs to the cave entrance and unaware of your presence.

You can no longer hear the elf's footsteps or see him.  The cave continues beyond the range of most normal darkvision.

***If you chose to initiate combat the dwarves will be surprised and have DIS ADV on initiative.  You could also try to sneak closer, but that would require a successful stealth check from anyone choses to do so.***

Kitsune remains a statue of grey and shadow, her gaze cold and unwavering as she tracks the rhythmic strain of the dwarves' shoulders.  She feels the phantom touch of Torvil’s hand on her shoulder, her form as unyielding as the permafrost.  Following his lead, she offers a single, sharp nod - the movement almost imperceptible in the gloom.

With liquid, ghostly precision, she draws her blade, the steel sliding out without a whisper.  She points a gloved finger toward the dwarf on the left, then brings her hand across her own throat in a swift, silent gesture.  Her eyes shift back to Torvil, her weight coiling as she prepares to spring from the darkness the moment he gives the signal.

Torvil nods, bringing his javelin forward, targeting the dwarf on the left, he heaves it as hard as he can.  

Javelin : 23 to hit, for 5 points of piercing damage.  

Initiative : 11

Torvil stands up and moves forward, feeling for the comfortable handle of his war pick as he moves.  

The dwarves are just about to carefully walk across the enormous board, and are taken completely by surprise.  (INI 4 and nat 1)  Torvil's javelin finds it's mark, knocking the dwarf forward a half step, dangerously close to slipping into the cold, murky pool.

***They are aware of your presence now.  Kitsune and Akira are up.***

Vayne walks quietly forward, getting just close enough to level his arm and point to the wounded bandit.  You hear the familiar chant, closed by a long drawn out hisssssssssssss as a noxious bolt of black and green energy streaks out, blossoming into a cloud of poison.  The injured dwarf stands no chance.  Already panting and pulling wind from damage to his left lung, he draws in a huge gasp of the vile magic, dropping to his knees and vomiting before pitching face first into the cold stone. ***Vayne attack poison spray 19 damage 12***  With a satisfied smirk, he uses the rest of his movement to drop back behind the curve in the cave. 

***Bandit 1 is dead***