2 more

4

25 + 3 + 8 (forgot +8 bonus on 2nd roll)

Devin settles in to rest in the large hut.  He tells Aslan to remain vigilant as he is up on the roof and to keep and eye out.  

Additionally, if no one else wants the necklace he will attune to it.

A short rest it is then. Please update character sheets . After the rest, what’s next?

Hit die: 5 That's a 4.

12

(@grant: Did the elves or other captives had a particular response to Ebonitus comment here?)

The elderly elf responds to Ebonitus question as follows “there had been one other survivor of the ambush - a guard - but he succumbed to his wounds not long after we were captured. As to what’s next we plan to go home!”

Ebonitus rolled 4 hit die in Game Log for a total heal of 27 HP - (15 +12)

"Well, at least we've had a chance to bandage our wounds. Shall we press on into the mountain? I have expended all but a few mundane gifts from the Moon Goddess, but I still have my wits and my martial training to go on..." 

"Provided we can get the doors open, yes, I agree. At the very least, we can do some preliminary scouting before returning  her to rest." D.O.R.K says. "Are only alternative beyond that would be to spend the day possibly fortifying the village, so that we may more properly use it as some sort of forward operating base, or lastly... we head to Citadel Adbar to let them know of the duplicity afoot,assist in rooting it out, and then hopefully return with reinforcements to take the mountain. While, of course, simultaneously escorting the former captives here personally to at least a potential safe haven to where they can reach out for other escorts to see them home."

She holds up a finger in a halting gesture. "Needless to say, my vote is of course the very first option, as the others have far less controllable variables to deal with. And while bringing these alternatives up would, as a gnome might put it 'muddy the waters', I still thought it best to bring forward, if but for the sake of clarity and in acknowledgement." She admits before bowing her head. "And I do not a repeat of what happened at the temple." 

(OOC: Don't forget, Channel Divinity resets with short rest. So if you want to spend it early in using Harness Divine Feature, you can get back at least some spell slots.)

-Using Harness Divine to restore one 2nd level spell slot(already accounted for)

That’s two votes for pressing on. Two more from either Toruun, Mullo, Ebonitus and/or Devin and we’ve got a majority.

Let's press on.

"Let's press on" says Torunn.

Yes, we must press on, though my gifts from the Earth Mother are in limited supply at the moment

After taking a short rest the party leaves the Chief’s Hall and make their way to the giant doors. As they stare at the 20’ high doors with handles 9-10 feet off the ground. Ebonitus says out loud what everybody is thinking “Well that kinda buggers us - doesn’t it!”

"I can get up there, but not sure I am strong enough to open the door on my own. Perhaps if I can pull the handle, you all can try to pull the door open from the ground?" Ilezenya says to the group.

"Maybe we will get lucky and the doors are unlocked?" Devin asks as he looks at the doors.  He then speaks a word (casts Thaumaturgy) which would open an unlocked door.  If that fails he conjures are a Mage Hand to tug on the door handle. 

If none of those work. "Perhaps Ilenzenya can tie ropes to the door handles and it can pull it open that way?"

If there are no other ideas, Ilezenya prays to the moon goddess and calls forth a sphere of darkness around himself before rising into the air. (Channel Divinity: Twilight Sanctuary and then Steps of Night) Once he gets to the handles, he will tie his rope to one and then drop the other end to his party on the ground. The Dusk Warden will pull on the handle while the others pull on the rope to try and open the massive door.

D.O.R.K nodded faintly in agreement at Ilezenya's suggestion, remembering the last time a certain giant decided to be a butt about opening doors, and thus forced the party to manage on their own. The goblins, however, well... Beedo at the very least immediately began shaking his head 'NO' at the suggestion while backing away! Yet with Devin's suggestion, a spark of hope began to kindled.

He waited with baited breath to see the culmination of Devin's spell. But if/when the first fails to succeed, any hope promptly dies and is replaced by disappointment and exasperation. D.O.R.K and Vark meanwhile merely take it in stride, and after quietly conferring with one another, do suggest the party forms "human ladder" for the purposes of reaching any handle or it's equivalent if one is present. Or alternatively in looking to Devin, asks if his mage hand would suffice in getting the loop about the loop enough that with enough patience and sleight of hand, the group could get as many ropes as necessary together to reinforce the effort. Although after suggesting as much as well, she'd turn to Torrun, fully expecting her more engineering savvy brother to organize that part.

Illezenya is unable to exert enough pressure on the door handle to open it so he quickly ties a rope to it flips it down to Beedo. The exertion of the two is sufficient to pull the handle down but still the door won’t open. Toruun pulls his gauntlets on and tells the others to all push against the door 18

The door moves freely and the party find themselves staring at an iron portcullis about 40 feet away. And before you ask it reaches to the ceiling 20’ above their heads and furthermore the bars are so close that not even Beedo can squeeze through!