"What the ever living **** of my blessed aunt!? They've been grinding human bones on this mill! Small ones!" Misalyk looks around angrily and starts up the next set of stairs. "This is wrong. Really wrong."
Barnaby: Chubs, guard our rear. We left that woman below. We don't want her sneaking up behind us. Kif, quickly, up the stairs. I believe we have one of them trapped up there. Barnaby will wait for Misalyk to follow Kif and go behind them. Chubs will draw his short sword and squint suspiciously behind them as he goes last up the stairs.
Point of clarification: You did not leave anybody below. You ordered her to get her things, and she called out to her daughter as she went up the stairs. You heard sounds consistent with a person or people gathering things, and then silence. You went up the stairs about five minutes after she did.
I will give you a moment to rethink your marching order, if you wish.
The third level of the windmill is the one in which Tulip saw a young woman turning the gear shaft for the mill. She is no longer here. The small, circular room is small and cramped. There is also a small closet in this room, a pile of clothing on the floor, and a rumpled bed. A ladder raises to an area above, but (as I said earlier) there are no exterior windows to the closet area.
Seated on the floor, manacled to the exterior of the closet, are two girls, perhaps 8 years old. They are grubby and dressed in rags, and appear exhausted. One of them looks up at you and just stares; the other gestures meaningfully with a finger over her lips, and points up the ladder, toward the attic.
Barnaby will immediately begin untying the girls. Quickly! Check the closet and then we'll go upstairs. Chubs will open the closet door. Girls, go outside and hide in the bushes. We'll be out to bring you home soon.
As Barnaby fusses with the girls' bonds, he realizes they are sliding off loosely with his barest touch. They were, apparently, not on securely. The girl who he as attempting to free, as well, has surprisingly rough skin for an 8-year-old. . .
The children scowl malevolently and change in form. They grow and grow until they are tall, wicked looking old crones, with long, tangled gray hair, and sunken, yellowish eyes. Their skin is gray, they are wearing long rags, and they peer down at you with looks that display both hatred of you, and also glee at the (momentary) success of their trick. They cackle through crooked teeth as they transform. Oh, you foolish, foolish outsiders. We aren't going anywhere!!
As the witches transform, you may all act (because of their terrible initiative roll).
As for the cramped quarters, there is a bit of space behind Misalyk down the steep staircase. Anybody may attempt to use it, but - under the circumstances - it will require a DC 10 Acrobatics or Athletics check, or fall down the steps for 1d6 damage and be prone. Either way, you can get to the space down the steps, if it's unoccupied.
21 Perception
"What the ever living **** of my blessed aunt!? They've been grinding human bones on this mill! Small ones!" Misalyk looks around angrily and starts up the next set of stairs. "This is wrong. Really wrong."
Despite the anger he looks shaken and sick.
Kif rushes to support our new friend
Chubs, quietly: That's messed up man.
Barnaby: Chubs, guard our rear. We left that woman below. We don't want her sneaking up behind us. Kif, quickly, up the stairs. I believe we have one of them trapped up there. Barnaby will wait for Misalyk to follow Kif and go behind them. Chubs will draw his short sword and squint suspiciously behind them as he goes last up the stairs.
Kif's heading up first
Point of clarification: You did not leave anybody below. You ordered her to get her things, and she called out to her daughter as she went up the stairs. You heard sounds consistent with a person or people gathering things, and then silence. You went up the stairs about five minutes after she did.
I will give you a moment to rethink your marching order, if you wish.
That's how I was seeing it, I'm good with going up first
Chubs will go behind Kif. Barnaby will be at the rear.
(Works for me)
The third level of the windmill is the one in which Tulip saw a young woman turning the gear shaft for the mill. She is no longer here. The small, circular room is small and cramped. There is also a small closet in this room, a pile of clothing on the floor, and a rumpled bed. A ladder raises to an area above, but (as I said earlier) there are no exterior windows to the closet area.
Seated on the floor, manacled to the exterior of the closet, are two girls, perhaps 8 years old. They are grubby and dressed in rags, and appear exhausted. One of them looks up at you and just stares; the other gestures meaningfully with a finger over her lips, and points up the ladder, toward the attic.
Barnaby will immediately begin untying the girls. Quickly! Check the closet and then we'll go upstairs. Chubs will open the closet door. Girls, go outside and hide in the bushes. We'll be out to bring you home soon.
Make an Investigation check, Barnaby.
Nevermind. Don't roll anything.
As Barnaby fusses with the girls' bonds, he realizes they are sliding off loosely with his barest touch. They were, apparently, not on securely. The girl who he as attempting to free, as well, has surprisingly rough skin for an 8-year-old. . .
The children scowl malevolently and change in form. They grow and grow until they are tall, wicked looking old crones, with long, tangled gray hair, and sunken, yellowish eyes. Their skin is gray, they are wearing long rags, and they peer down at you with looks that display both hatred of you, and also glee at the (momentary) success of their trick. They cackle through crooked teeth as they transform. Oh, you foolish, foolish outsiders. We aren't going anywhere!!
Roll for initiative!
4 initiative
Ugghhh, no wonder it smells like week old Arbys in here
Since when do Vermonters know of Arby's?
Barnaby initiative: 4 Ach! What trickery is this?
Chubs initiative: 17 Posing as children? Wicked. Wicked. Wicked.
I notice that witches are on partial squares. Can we also use partial squares? Perhaps it means we would be squeezing in a game mechanics sense?
No. The witches are on partial squares, which fills up the entire room. Maneuvering in this small space will be a challenge for all.
18 Initiative
As the witches transform, you may all act (because of their terrible initiative roll).
As for the cramped quarters, there is a bit of space behind Misalyk down the steep staircase. Anybody may attempt to use it, but - under the circumstances - it will require a DC 10 Acrobatics or Athletics check, or fall down the steps for 1d6 damage and be prone. Either way, you can get to the space down the steps, if it's unoccupied.
Tapping Kif on the shoulder with his rapier Misalyk begins to whisper curses his grandmother had hesitated to teach him.
(mechanically: Kif gets inspiration (bonus action) and Misalyk casts dissonant whispers (Action 9 DC 12 Wisdom save at the south most enemy.)