Stealth 9

(clank clank clank)

Kastix turns to the ones staying behind with his face as deadpan as he can, "Chain mail is great for scouting huh?"

Zeno winces as the two warriors in front of him stampede their way into the tunnel, Pax's sword point scraping against the stone wall and Sekkar fumbling as he adjusts his shield. The talking stops abruptly, as does the sound of machinery. Reaching the fork in the tunnel, the three can see further down each branch into two dimly-lit caves.

18, 8, 19, 7

Back in the corridor, Kastix, Kaylyn and Rhayna stand guard over Gorlak, accompanied by the myconids, the flumph and the pseudodragon. The sound of scuffling footsteps can be heard coming from the tunnel to the north.

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire it seems.   Why did we come back into these blasted caves!" 

Kaylyn whispers to the others.

"Let's get to the other side of these doors and lock them behind us."

Move to the east side of the doors, helping carry the egg.

Sekkar stopped then the talk died out.  "I think the dwarves suspect something." He was trying to say all of this quietly (preferably telepathically, if spores work at this distance). "Well, we can flit a coin, but warm air comes from the left passage. Shall we check?"

Kastix waits until he can't hear them before trying to cast a message to Zeno, "What's the situation?" He'll follow the other as if they move into the tunnel through he'll be on alert as he lacks the strength to try to move an large egg proably. 

Rhayna helps Kaylyn move the egg. Rhyana is the last one to go to the other side. (Can she try to determine how many sets of footsteps?)

Pax motions to continue to the left. 

Kaylyn and Rhayna lug the egg through the door, and Kastix nudges Stool and Rumpadump through while pulling the door shut. A pair of footsteps can be heard to approach, followed by the muffled sound of a derro yelling and a quaggoth grunting something. The footsteps then pass rapidly past the door as if giving chase to something.

These tunnels are familiar to Pax, and she remembers having passed this way when she first fled into the tunnels. She guides the three in the vanguard toward the left fork. The contents of the cave ahead are briefly glimpsed before a cover seems to slip quietly over the front of the oven, plunging the cave into darkness. Luckily all three can still see in the dark, although Pax and Zeno can't seem to see Sekkar as the lizardman blends in perfectly with the gloom.

The area is surprisingly clean and orderly, split into two levels connected by a ramp made from zurkhwood planks. The upper level contains a fully furnished laboratory, which contains a work table, a desk, a case of shelves lined with vials, and a dome-shaped oven. The lower level has two bunk beds and the far wall is set with a closed door. They sense two creatures in the room...  Pax/Zeno/Sekkar: Perception check please

Spore telepathy is active, so silent communication is possible.

Perception: 17

Perception : 22

Perception: 21

Even in the darkness, Sekkar can see the telltale signs of the movement of an invisible creature by the oven, presumably whoever closed the oven door just now. Considering that there was conversation in this cave a moment earlier, there is likely another hidden creature also.

Pax walks boldly into the room, glancing around.  "Well, no one is here," she says out loud. "But, if they were, they might want to talk to us rather than have us chop them down outright."  

She waits.

There is a pause, the silence broken only by the crackling of flames from the oven. The a deep voice like gravel echoes through the cavern, speaking Undercommon.

Nor zara? Zer egiten ari zara hemen?

 Rhayna, Kastix, Kaylyn, Pensive and the myconids also detect two more creatures approaching the tunnel fork from the eastern cave. Both are invisible, but seem overly confident in that ability to keep them from being detected, failing to consider their heavy footprints, foul odour, and the fact that something green is dripping from one of them onto the stony floor.

"Travelers, " answered Sekkar on Undercommon, "just passing through. Would you mind us doing that?" He hoped those creatures can not see him either, and stepped a bit away from the group, ready to activate the sword.

<We have company coming from the east> Kastix passes through the spore communication network before he moves to try and hide from their sight. 

(Are we able to at least move the egg and Gorlak to the right cave (south)?)

Pax agrees with Sekkar, also saying, "Yes, I believe there's a door up there. We just wish to pass through. We would prefer to do so peacefully."

Travelers? the voice continues loudly, and in a tone that suggests curiosity and a desire to learn more. You travel far, and to dark and lonely places! What brings a couple of surface-dwellers to an obscure cave under a dwarven city?

Zeno:

Kastix knows that his message of warning probably won't extend to the forward three, as the range of the spore telepathy is only about 30 feet and that are well over 50 feet ahead by now. But he also senses the two creatures in the passage turn around and move hurriedly back into the eastern cave.

Rhayna: It may have been more difficult previously, but with the duergar retreating into the eastern cave, the way is clear to follow them if desired, taking Gorlak and the egg.