Rufus and his redcap guards are also forming their own huddle. Both groups are speaking softly enough to not be heard by the other.

There are a few pixies and sprites loitering nearby (attendants to Rufus, but they look to be happy to have a little time away from the giant). If you have specific questions, you could discreetly ask. (If you ask something vague, like "tell us what you know", then you will get a suitably vague answer.)

Isk looks up from the huddle and motions to one of the pixies, "Do you know what kind of danger is in the mines?"

The pixie glances about, to make sure no redcaps are nearby, and then looks away (so you can't see his lips moving). "We collect the anti-magic shells of Flail Snails, and rare crystals left behind by earth-type elementals. We've learned how to handle those dangers... But something dark came from the depths. Hooks for arms. Two heads like an ettin, but of your size, and far more powerful than a giant. A creature of shadow, the heads raging at each other and then furious at anyone it can see. When the redcaps attacked it, it became even more ferocious."

Does that description ring a bell for Isk?

History or Nature, both are +0: 6

(Rufus said it was a creature from the Shadowfell. It wasn't anything your group encountered during your visit to that plane. With a "10", nothing comes to Isk's mind.)

“A Hook.” Jack nods. He turns back towards the party. “Could it be something like that creature we saw in the Shadowfell? That one had spikes on its arms as well, and was trying to attack us. Or it could be a trap.” Jack pauses to think for a moment. “I agree. We should accept. If it’s a trap, we’ve faced worse. If there’s a reward, it’s probably good. And if it’s a trap, or not a reward, we’ve won.”

 Froskan shurgs.  "I'm not sure if that's it or not, but I doubt it's anything we can't handle." 

Jack mentions the creature you encountered in the Shadowfell. It was The Lost, one of the bleak emotions given form as a Sorrowsworn. But that creature had 5 arms & 1 head, and tried to embrace anyone in its path. The thing down in the mine has 2 arms & 2 heads, and is raging at anything it finds.

And the pixie mentions that the creature ripped a Recap (CR 3 evil fey) apart with its two scythe-like arms in a single round. This thing sounds a lot deadlier than The Lost.

"We should be careful, but I agree we should take the job.  Let's saddle up, into the breach one more my friends."

You walk up to the mines. The redcaps around the mines are glowering at the party, but staying in their chairs and chewing on their breakfast.

The pixie and sprite guards are much closer to the entrance, and are nervously alert. There are lit braziers, and a pile of torches and oil nearby. The entrance to the mine is clogged with thorny brambles, rocks, and punji sticks pointing towards the darkness. After the fey double (and triple) check that nothing is nearby, they pull aside enough of the makeshift wall for you to enter. They look troubled at leaving this opening in their defenses, but they realize they don't want to block your exit if you decide to run away. (Up to you how much you want to be offended at their confidence in your abilities.)

The mines are damp (moisture from the nearby stream), with the occasional man-made (fey-made?) beam in strategic places to support the roof. The roof is 6' at the entrance, but as you go deeper inside, the ceiling varies between 15' and 30'.

As you go a little further into the mines, you see oversized insects, fist-sized moths and fireflies with bizarre coloration you would only see in the Feywild. (Not hostile, but curious about the strangers entering the mines.) As you go deeper, you no longer see live insects, but stabbed/sliced remains. Something has gone out of its way to slay the harmless insects (and not to eat them).

You almost step in the remains of a Flail Snail. (Image link  It is "Large" sized, so a snail the size of an Ogre.) It's valuable shell has been smashed into tiny useless pieces.

There are luminescent crystals of some kind, but that only gives dim light for about a quarter of the area you are walking through. The other 3/4ers is dark.

(OOC: I will set up the next encounter on Monday, so you have a few days if you want to discuss or scheme.

• Do you have Froskan's lantern on, for light and to reveal invisible creatures? The drawback is everything in the dark will notice where the light is moving.
• Do you want to stay in the dark? Reverie and Froskan do not have darkvision.

How do you want to enter the mines? Marching order? Any specific plans or precautions you want done (to foil the DM's surprise attacks)? )

Reverie nods at the pixie and sprite guards once before she looks back at her friends. "I am not good at adjust in darkness like this. I am worry that the light could give us a danger in the cave. Do you think anyone of us could lead us the way?"

Trimyrai: (to the party) "I can see pretty well in the dark. I could try going first. Unless someone has a better idea."

”Froskan, can ye turn on the lantern?” Jack asks of the Dragonborn. “Without it, we’ll have 2 people who are left blind as a bat. We need them functional, if we’re to take down this thing. And Trim, you’re better in the back- it’s difficult to Fire at the enemy if you’re in close range of them. I can see well in the dark, I can go first if ye like.”

"I can scout ahead a bit, if we want to keep the light from the lantern back."

Froskan opens the hood on the lantern

The party proceeds deeper into the mines. You can hear the skitter of tiny creatures and insects in the darkness, that are staying out of the lantern light.

After some time, you notice that the rocky ground has become very smooth. Looking closer, there is a 5' wide layer on the ground, which appears to be glass... The villagers had mentioned that the mines have a number of Flail Snails. Besides their shells being useful in magical experiments, their "snail trail" hardens into something similar to glass. (It can be cut up for windows and stained glass artwork.)

The glass trail continues both to your left and right. To the right, you can also hear a pair of voices, some unnatural creatures howling in anger, but you can't tell the distance (due to the sound echoing around). But it does seem to be getting louder.

To the left... At the limit of the lantern light (60'), some blob-ish object has just ducked behind a pillar. It was the size of a man, but it did not appear to have a humanoid shape. (The glimpse you got was too brief to know more.)

"This isn't good." Isk says, "Either way we go, we'll have something behind us.  It's times like these that I refer back to my old army field manual...When in doubt, go left."

Trimyrai: (to the party) "Any hope that the creature might be friendly?"

Reverie hums as she frowns at the sight, then looks back at Trimyrai. "I am not sure. However, that creature did not attack us even by the light of the lantern. Also, I do not want us to be in danger afterward so it would be better to check on that creature."

(Sounds like the party is focused on the thing on the left, more than the noises coming from the right.. for now, at least. I will keep this "theater of the mind", unless it gets to the point where a map would be better.

Everyone roll initiative!

Initiative of ???: 14

If your initiative is higher, state what you want to do for movement, and what Action you want to take. That can include Ready-ing something for later in the round.

The thing is 60' away to the left, with complete cover behind a pillar. In theory, you don't know if it is friend or foe or innocent bystander. If you move 30' to the left, you can attack with it having 3/4 cover, but you will have to wait for it to come out to see what it is. Or you could move 60' to the left, within melee range (risky!), and yell back to the others what you see.)