Sword Coast Rambling

Beetle swings the sword gauging it’s handling. The weight is perfect, light enough to swing quickly but heavy enough to deal a decent blow. 

Syna History (Intelligence) check: 3

Recalling a lesson once learned while studying the sword coasts history, Syna recalls the tale of a great knight named Aldith Tresendar, also known throughout the land as the Black Hawk. He travelled the north defending those in need of help and upholding the rule of law.

Sir Aldith died protecting his manor against a hoard of orcs who attacked Phandalin years ago.

The orcs infiltrated and overran the manor through a tunnel running from a nearby forest. The Black Hawks sword, Talon, was lost in the basement during The Black Hawks last stand.

Syna, "Let's tie the chest to the end of the rope and we can drg it up after."

OCC: What kind of sword?  Longsword?

OOC: It’s a longsword 

Serak: Disappearing from view down the crevasse, Serak lands hard on cold stone and curses as he crashes down. 

Disoriented, he takes a moment to dust himself and check his injuries. Upon Beetle's arrival, he says, "Even when I play it safe I still get hurt! Somehow, I honestly think if I were even MORE reckless I'd not have ended up down here!" Laughing with Beetle, Serak reluctantly takes the healing potion and stows it in a pouch on his belt.

Seeing Syna next, he says, "I thank you for your assistance. I fear I must be losing my edge. Won't happen again."

Serak has a look around and checks the body before climbing back up the ravine.

Perception: 12

Beetle follows Serak out of the crevasse, "So should we continue on and find these Redbrands...",if there are no objections Beetle moves towards the southwest passage normal until he gets to the start of the passage, then moves a bit slower and cautiously.

Perception: 11

OOC: we can split the coins, each take 26 gold (I will take 24 to make up the difference) 32 silver, and the gems can go into the campaign loot until we sell or do whatever with them, someone take the other healing potion, Syna maybe don't think he has one yet and if anyone wants the scroll of augury spell go for it or it can go into the campaign notes also

“At the moment my Morningstar and handaxes should suffice. If Beetle would like to take the sword he may do so.”

Serak investigates the body in the crevasse. Dried blood and tooth marks clearly visible through the tattered clothing. The body of a man, maybe in his thirties. His hands bound behind his back with a band of red cloth.

Turning the man over onto his back, Serak spots an obvious sword wound in the mans torso. His face is familiar but not someone Serak has met before. His eyes, jawline and nose, bear resemblance to a younger, less weathered version of Morthen the woodcutter. The mans head stares lifelessly up at the ceiling as it lolls backward.

"If no one else wants it I will use it." Beetle says thankfully, "It will be blessed by Tyr tonight and I will always use it to protect us and bring Tyr's justice!!"

As Beetle stands at the edge of the south western corridor he can hear gruff muffled voices coming from one of the doorways at the foot of the stairs.

He is too far away to hear them clearly but clearly they sound angry. From this position the number of distinct voices is hard to ascertain. 

"How do we want to approach this guys, voices from one of the doors at the bottom of this stairway......we could go down quietly and take positions before opening 1, or I could go down myself, open the door and back away up the stairs see if anything comes out."  Beetle is trying to strategize..."Or plan c if anyone has a better idea, I'm better at keepingmonsters off you guys then strategizing when it come to closed doors.."

Serak: Solemnly and soberly, Serak says quietly, "You shall be avenged. We will find your family. I swear it."

Standing slowly, he says, "Morthen's son. We must return to give him a proper burial once this is finished."

He then continues up the ravine and falls back into formation, taking up the rear. He says to the group, "I agree, let us continue. We should also make sure the rest of these corridors are vacant before continuing. Don't want another beast like this sneaking up behind us." He kicks the Nothic corpse before continuing behind Beetle.

Serak: Pondering the situation a moment, Serak finally says, "They have no set guard and are behind closed doors. That tells me this -thing- was the guard. We could set an ambush. We all take cover outside the door and I can try to draw them out by mimicking the creature's voice?"

Beetle: "That could definitely work.....see my mind doesn't always work like that it just thinks protection and justice...lol..."

Brots, still up on top of the ravine, will look around the top half while the group is down below, looking for anything of use. Once the group comes back up, they will see Brots huffing and puffing when the group arrives. "My...God, that was a workout!" He says in an out of breath tone. "I'm glad you guys were here, no way I could of done that by myself, in fact, I wouldn't of even entered this cave if it weren't for you guys. SO THANK YOU!" Brots says sarcastically. "As far as luring them out, I find setting traps, is always a better option then rushing in. I say we take Serak's suggestion, set an ambush, lure them out, take them out, room by room."

Perception Check for my looking: 15

[OOC: If battlefield has been looted already, ignore it. Also, I apologize for the rate of my posts, weekends are a slower posting day for me.]

"Let's lure them in and I will entangle them again"

OCC. I will be out today.. If combat starts, I will use entangle then rely on Frostbite, always on one that is engaged with party member first

[OOC: Brownbeard, could we please have map of the corridor and the two doors so we can choose positions for the ambush? Thanks.]

OOC: Thought I'd given you this already my bad! 

No probs Brots, the weekends are quite slow for us anyway usually!

[OOC: From what I see, I'd say Beetle and Zyltris could hide behind cover on either side of the top of the stairs, ready to engage anyone in melee that isn't entangled.  

Serak can cast Minor Illusion from cover behind the corner of the southern cave entrance.

Syna could take cover behind the pillar so he has good line of sight down the corridor to drop an Entangle on them when they come out like he stated. Maybe wait until they get to the top of the stairs and drop it behind them, so Beetle and Zyltris aren't effected, but they are.

Brots, take cover wherever. I'd say the north side of the pillar Syna is hiding behind so that direction is also covered.

Just suggestions. Do what you think is best guys. 

Sounds like a plan to me, but I agree let them come to top of stairs first so there are a few to fight 1st before running through rough terrain. You may also want to heal a little before Serak.

Beetle then proceeds to take a position on the north side of the stairway against the wall out of sight, weapon drawn and shield out.  give a short prayer to Tyr..."Once again might and just Tyr guide my companions and I though this ordeal safely.

[OOC: Serak is very focused on the survival of his friends over his own safety, since he doesn't have many and they tend to die horrifically. He'll not waste party resources, be they spell slots or potions, unless absolutely necessary. He can cast healing on himself as a bonus action if things get dicey. Serak is good until we can get a short rest and he can play a restful tune.