26  

(26 with disadvantage wow lol)

Jalt is going to try to keep Nate from falling flat on his face down the stairs :)

Nub's Stealth check:  12

You make it into a small area that is at least a little hidden from much of the rest of the courtyard.  Nate does struggle and almost tumble down the stairs, but it's Jalt in fact who just manages to catch him.  With Nub and Nate hanging back and hugging the wall, you see a now-familiar style of ice door towering above you.

What would you like to do?

(Let me know if you want to adjust your placement on the map.)

"Woah! Thanks, Jalt." Nate grabs onto the dragonborn's arm for balance. 

Nate watches Soar and gives her a nod. He whispers "I am sorry if this goes bad"

Soar looks along both walls for any similar panels that might disappear when touched, like the ice walls on the balcony. She also looks at the door to see how tall it is, and if there seems to be a second story that could be scaled to provide alternative access to the room.

(OOC: we don't know what's in 8, right?)

(Yup we do. It is the kobold kitchen, with an unconfirmed DRAGON in the rafters)

Nub will also investigate the wall for panels: 10 (or best out of that and 7 if Soar is providing advantage by looking as well).

(OOC: Ah, that's the kobolds, got it! And I assume anything would look like a dragon to a spider, right?)

In wildshape, I would interpret that Nate is still Nate, and would recognise the difference between a dragon and a big dog, for example.  But he didn't have a good look at whatever it was.

There does not appear to be a second storey, nor any vanishing panels that lead into the room, just the door.

Nate would've whispered to Soar likely when they were coming down the stairs.

"I saw some large wings, way up in the rafters.... Jalt, any ideas?"

Nate smiles at Jalt, hoping to the gods that he doesn't get angry for him poking fun. 

LOL

Soar whispers, “okay, then shall we open the door quickly, burst inside, and hit anything culty? And should there be nothing, we run to the next room. If so, cast anything you need to prepare. We can do this!”

Think I forgot to say Soar wanted to actually cast that aid on Nate, Jalt, and herself, hoping that Nub can stay more out of the fray as usual. If she couldn’t do it earlier, she will do it now.

I think she would have done it earlier, that's fine.

Bats? Jalt replies never once looking at Nate but answering in a way that says I should have let you fall down the steps. Jalt nods at Soar and placing his hand on the hilt of his warpick waits for their movement.

Soar gives Jalt a "dragon blender?" expression (you know, that one), and places her hand on the door, glances at the party to confirm they're ready, and once she does, she ducks low and opens the door quickly and as quietly as she can, moving in at a crouch, looking for anyone, anything.

Nate is thankful Jalt didn't get upset, grins to himself, and would be hugging the outside wall of the room as much as he can, waiting to see what happens when Soar enters. 

Nate is not bursting into the room until combat is confirmed, as he doesn't want to put himself in a situation where he might have to speak and/or act.

He gives an optimistic glance to Nub.

You open the door quickly and quietly.  Inside is clearly a barracks:  it stinks of unwashed bedclothes, and the chamber contains fourteen fur-covered beds, as well as several chests, a table and chairs, and other simple furnishings.

You see about a dozen humanoids in the room, some in lying on beds, some (though not all) apparently sleeping, others sitting on the beds or chairs, apparently talking or playing games.  All are clearly wearing the uniforms of the dragon cult.  You have a fraction of a second before they notice you.

(OOC:  As a heads up, you have (from your stealth and Pass Without Trace) the jump on them.  You can close the door and back away.  You can, if you wish, attempt some kind of intimidation or persuasion, which may work, but either way you will lose the element of surprise.  If instead you want to move straight into combat, then roll initiative, as they are surprised for this first round.)

Soar closes the door just as quietly as she opened it, hoping Nate's magic still works and the soldiers don't notice. She backs away and shrugs, shaking her head, and looks around for any other likely place Rezmir and Jos might be holed up. Do the towers around the gate seem like they have rooms/chambers in them? Any windows? Otherwise she's looking at the building across the way, to the NW, and then back at the big one Nate already looked at, with the giants, wondering if there's more in there, and if they could get the giants on their side now they know Blagothkus is okay with them taking out the cult. 

Is anyone else in the courtyard?

Nate winces when he realizes Rezmir and Jos are not in the room he thought.

He would whisper to Soar and the others "I am sorry. Shit. Ok... there is only one larger room left, and they must be in there. The one with the giants having a cook-out. Maybe beyond the giants. I say we try the same tactic we just did" (but on door #4 or #5)

Are those slits in the wall big enough for us to get into/hide in and watch the giants to see what they are doing right now?

(Nate is assuming that they are not in that smaller round room #1 to the NW. But maybe he is wrong.)

Soar, you close the door quietly, and seem to pass unnoticed by the occupants.

It's hard to say from here what's inside the gate towers; they look large enough to hold a room.  They have slits rather than windows.

There's no-one else in the courtyard at this moment.

Nate, the slits are too small to allow humans to enter directly; the only way in are the marked doors, at least as far as you can see.

Alright, then Nate's suggestion is to do the same plan, but with either door that leads into the giant cook out room. Either door #4 or #5.

"Like you said Soar, maybe we can convince the giants to let us pass..." 

He shrugs his shoulders as he puts himself against the wall, waiting for Soar's take 2 on the other door.