Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast

@Perkas - Stealth if you want to avoid detection or being seen. Nature wouldn't really help in this situation...

In response to Perkas' query Penumbra says, "Well... I can't say I liked Raskin. I might have described him as a rat, but only figuratively. I have a feeling these guys are why no one has heard from Raskin or his miners in weeks."

As Perkas moves into position Penumbra sneaks off to flanking position opposite Perkas.

(Rolling stealth)

(Sorry - is there a plan of action? Let me know what each of you want to do including a description of any movement and where you are going. And while no encounter has to result in combat, go ahead and roll initiative with your post so that if it does become a fight we've saved a step =)

Although he hasn’t seen what has Penumbra and Perkas so rattled, Manfred figures there is shenanigans afoot, and with a gentle strum of his lute casts Invisibility on himself, moving to take a closer look. (Stealth) (Initiative)

 Those who are alert hear a halfling-sized ‘Ouch!’ as he stubs his invisible toe on an unseen rock...

(Stealth: 13/ Initiative: 10)

"Making noise kind of defeats the purpose of becoming invisible don't you think Manny?" Wakka jested with the Bard louder than intended as he followed the others towards the mouth of the cave.  

(Stealth rolls: 7; 7; 13; 21. Initiative: Penumbra-13; Wererats-12; Manfred-11; Perkas-11; Wakka-10)

Penumbra, always the most sneaky, easily gets to about 30 feet of the entrance to the cave before the halflings both make a noise. Both wererats look in your direction, and spotting Manfred and Perkas, one calls out to them. "Hey little ones! Why are you snooping around out there? Did your parents lose you in the woods?"

The other one snickers at his companion's jest and adds, "Why don't you both come on in - we'll keep you warm - I promise..." They don't seem to have noticed Penumbra or Wakka...

(insight check- 24 / if we aren't already in combat, I'd like to see of we can draw them out to avoid the noise of a fight)

Perkas looks to Manfred and whispers "i don't have a good feeling about this. Maybe we can get em to come out. I got an idea"

Perkas hobbles a little bit forward to give the appearance of being a wounded target while putting some distance between herself and Manfred. She calls out in her most meanest childlike voice "Please sir, my brother and I are lost. I broke my ankle when I tripped over a twisted root and can't walk any longer." she falls to the ground and lets out a whimper and a cry. "Please help!" her hands are on her swords behind her ready to go.

(deception: 19)

(Reminder Manfred is invisible, just not very quiet!)

Manfred, somewhat disgruntled by his stubbed toe, takes a moment to look around before deciding what to do next... (Perception)

One of the two decides to come out and get the "little girl." (Perception w/scent: 9) As he leaves the mine entrance and approaches Perkas, his rat nose twitches and he stops once or twice on the way as he sniffs the air. But the breeze, or perhaps the cold fall air, keeps him from noticing any of the others. "So where's your brother, little one? I thought I heard another out here..."

(The wererat is 10' away from Perkas, who is sitting on the ground. Everyone else is at least 20' away from them. We are not in combat unless someone does something to start it - and Penumbra would go first.)

"Sister?  Where'd you go??" Wakka called out softly in his best imitation of a young boy; hoping that his ruse would draw the second wererat away from the cave's entrance.  His voice, much too masculine, and his acting, way to rigid, failed to noticeably change from it's normal tone or cadence.

(Deception 2 XD) (I'm guessing this will start combat lol)

Penumbra prepares a spell but remains silent and waits for the wererats to make a move.

If either of the wererats makes an aggressive move she will cast fire bolt

(I went ahead and rolled to keep things moving, but if the wererats don't attack Penumbra will not cast.)

The wererat whips his head around at the sound of Wakka's voice. (Insight: 4) "It's a trap!" he yells out and runs back to the cave. (Penumbra - do you toss the firebolt or let him go? You have 30 feet of running to decide ;-)

Penumbra hurls the fire bolt but rather than aiming to kill she aims at the ground directly in front of the closest wererat, hoping to slow him down enough for someone to catch him.

"Not so fast rat."

(If I get a surprise round I would like to use her turn at the top of the order to charge the wererat, provided he was slowed, and attempt a grapple. Rolling strength for the grapple.)

(Sorry - no surprise!) As the wererat starts running back to the mine entrance, a small sphere of fire comes roaring past him and lands a foot or two in front of him! "Not so fast rat." Penumbra calls out. (You still have movement this round - do you want to use it? The spell was your action...)

(Wererat Dex: 10) The flame hitting in front of the creature barely slows it down as it runs to its partner...they go a little deeper into the cave and you can no longer see them...

(Everybody is up. Round 1 con't and start of round 2! Manfred; Perkas; Wakka; Round 2: Penumbra; Wererats) 

Manfred moves closer to the entrance, still invisible, allowing time for his eyes to adjust.. (Perception - 14)

Perkas looks to her group as she gets up off the ground....everyone except Manfred and says with a gruff "I guess that wasn't the brightest of plans now that I think about it." And uses the rest of her movement forward toward the cave if everyone agrees this is still what we are doing. 

Wakka shrugged at Perkas' comment and replied, "My performance didn't help matters either." before sprinting (Action: Dash) in the direction of the fleeing wererats.  If he was able to get within 30ft of one, he'll hold out his hand and try and stop the of momentum of the rat furthest ahead.  (Bonus Action: Telekinetic Movement - DC14 STR Save or be pulled back 5ft in Wakka's direction.)

Round 1 (con't): Manfred; Perkas; Wakka; Round 2: Penumbra; Wererats

Manfred, Perkas and Wakka all move closer to the mine entrance, trying to catch sight of the wererats inside the dark tunnel but unable to see anything yet. (See the map for where I moved you...Nice idea, Zoldier, but the wererats were already inside the cavern =) 

Perkas has realized her actions has cost them and will say to the group when they get up to where Perkas is "I've clearly managed to botch an attempt at a diplomatic means to this, so what's our next move?" 

If they decided to go in now Perkas will cast Darkvision on herself and stay towards the back because she's not nearly as stealthy and she knows it could get them into trouble.

You hear the wererat call out from inside the mine, "Turn around, little one, and run back to your momma. This ain't no place for the likes of you. Unless you wanna join us? Heh-heh-heh..."