<Agreed.  It will be our choice.  And if it is the city, so be it.  Circumstances may dictate many of our choices but I stand by my word.  I will avoid the city if I may, but nothing is off the table.  I'll make enemies of both Jarlaxle and Vizeran if I have to if it frees Faerun of the demon onslaught.> Kaylyn responds.

<From what you've told me and little i've seen. It's best to plan with idea they'll not trustworthy. Also think we should not take longer as we absolutely need to within the city but I am WAY out of my depths here.> Kirin adds.

(If we are taking a short reset.)

While everyone rests, Rhayna looks around for any "literature" she may find in this estate.

((There is certainly time for a short rest. Make any updates you would like.))

Rhayna quickly discovers that she doesn't quite have free rein in this place, and is restricted somewhat from exploring the estate. Much of it remains in ruins and appears to have been so for many years, with toppled columns and thick dust aplenty. However she does find one corner that has yet to be cleared in which several old books lay scattered. Most of them are either faded or eaten by pests and are illegible, but one remains almost entirely intact, and Rhayna has a scan through the pages.

It seems these ruins were once the estate of House Do'Urden, one of the major ruling houses of Menzoberranzan. House Do'Urden was favored by the ruling House Baenre, and therefore by Lolth, for many years. However the actions of one renegade male resulted in their fall from Lolth's approbation, and from then they were beset with troubles, despite the renegade's father being sacrificed to Lolth in attempt to appease her displeasure. After surviving an attempted destruction by Bregan D'aerthe, House Do'Urden was ordered to hunt down the renegade once and for all or lose Lolth's favor forever. Two siblings failed to do so. In a desperate attempt, the Matron Mother summoned a wraith, using the body of the renegade's father as a host, but this gambit seemed also to fail. The account ends here.

With the rest completed, and their illusion presumably still in place, Pax will take a few minutes to refresh their mental link, and then says, "Well, let us head to the tower and attempt to secure the book as our first step." 

Feeling somewhat rejuvenated, the intrepid group, strangers in a strange land, but with the most convincing disguises with which to blend in, seek out the drow named Valimar and inform him of their readiness to depart. With a wordless nod, he waves his hand and five more male drow approach, two of them garbed in wizard robes like Valimar, and three as warriors. They indicate for the group to follow, and depart the ruins of the Do'Urden estate, following much the same route by which Zeno brought them hither. There is no spontaneous conversation from the drow, and they answer any questions with only the briefest reply. However as the stair of Tier Breche draws nearer, Valimar pauses and says:

Here we must divide, as a large group will draw attention. We will form pairs - one of you with one of us. I will ascend first, alone, and suppress the vision of the guardians. At my signal, a pair will follow, and then another, in quick succession. Do not speak to anyone. You must walk casually and directly toward the tower, where I shall await. Ask your questions now, if you have any...

Sekkar stepped forward for the first pair. "Keep within the eyesight distance and watch the "guides"." If that was a trap, he wished to be the first mouse to get caught. And gods have mercy on the cat that will try to eat him. "Just let's get it over with." He was ready to go.

Pax volunteered to be with the last pair. If time ran out on some ability to block things, she'd prefer to be the one detected. Hopefully she could get herself out of trouble. 

"I will follow after Sekkar." Kaylyn says. She looks around to see if anyone is paying them any attention as she waits her turn.

Perception 10

Valimar raises his cowl and walks to the base of the stair. The rest of the drow pair off with each member of the group and take up separate positions, all within about 100 feet of the stairs. A few oher drow are ascending or descending the stair, but Valimar seems to intentionally take his time to ensure he reaches the top of the stair while no-one else is present, besides the two guards. Valimar walks over to the guard on the right and engages in conversation, pointing back down the staircase in the general direction of Sekkar and his 'buddy'. This is apparently the expected 'signal', and Sekkar's new companion indicates that it is time for them to move forward.

It seems a strange strategy, to evade detection by drawing attention, but as soon as the guard is alerted, Sekkar notices Valimar deftly cast a spell at the large jade spider on the right, then walks away towards the left one. By the time Sekkar reaches the base of the stair, Valimar has repeated the spell on the left-hand-side spider, and without breaking stride continues toward the tower of Sorcere. The guard on the right watches the approach of Sekkar's companion and hails him in the manner of a familiar friend, who responds in kind. It seems an effective ploy to draw attention away from Sekkar, although the guard on the left does not seem to share the same familiarity and watches the two new arrivals with the typical vigilance of a trained sentinel...

-----------------------------------------------
And we come to the fun part. No plan is foolproof, and despite the temporary disabling of the jade spiders, and the distraction, there is still the chance that the guards will detect something amiss. However, it will be the cumulative effect, for good or bad, that determines the outcome. Each player will make a Deception check. If the roll is a pass, the difference will be subtracted from the DC for the next person's roll. If it fails, the difference will be added to the next person's DC. There will be a chance after each roll for any of the characters to take actions to assist (within normal rules of range, etc. Everyone can be considered to be within 30' of each other.) Making an Insight check to read the guards' level of suspicion will also constitute an action. Of course with the telepathy active, your insights and strategies can be shared with the other members of the group.

Sekkar is first. Deception check please!

Why did he even agree to that? He could sneak around undetected while spiders were "deactivated". But the keyword is "could". If the drow would share his full plan here. Oh, well. Sekkar answered the suspicious look with his own "I do not want any trouble but I am watching you" kind of look.

Deception: 4

He considered himself quite familiar with drow ((favourite enemy)) and paused a few seconds longer to check the effect of his disguise (Insight: 15 )

The guard on the left watches Sekkar curiously. Perhaps it is the strange swagger, not typical of a drow male, but Sekkar is aware that the guard seems to be eyeing him with some scrutiny...

(I can assure you, the DC is higher than 4)

Any other actions from anyone else, and then Kaylyn is up next with her approach and Deception check...

(Can Rhayna use her Channel Divinity: Knowledge of the Ages to be proficient with Deception?)

Rhayna will go after Pax. She feels safer with Pax behind her. In case, somehow, she gets distracted on her way up the stairs...

(Wolfy: Do you mean Rhayna will go before Pax? Or after Kaylyn? And yes, Rhayna can certainly use Knowledge of the Ages to gain proficiency in Deception. Would love to see how that is described.)

(Sorry, before Pax. I have an idea how it’s going to work out. ;-)

As Valimar explains his plan and the group is about to break up she speaks to each of her companions in turn. Speaking in Undercommon she wishes them luck in their future endeavors and grants them each Bardic Inspiration

For 10 minutes, they can add 1d6 to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.

When it is her turn to move forward she walks a step in front of the one who accompanies her and and using her inspiration she walks past the guards.

Deception 24

Using Inspiration to gain adv on the roll

Hopefully the DM will allow the use 4 uses of Bardic Inspiration,  No other action.

(If re-roll is allowed, Sekkar takes it! 9 )

Very sorry, I meant to roll d6: 1 (not that it can help with initial failure).

(Kaylyn: That's fine with the Bardic Inspiration.)
(Sekkar: No, it doesn't change it to a success, but it makes the failure less severe, and easier for the next person...)

Any other actions from anyone?

And Kirin is next

Cursing under his mouth and muttering how he shouldn't have left the safety of the research faculty, makes his way following his drow shadow/guide pass the guards.

Deception: 11

(I'll take the liberty of rolling for Kirin's Bardic Inspiration: 18 oops, wrong box...  3)

As Kaylyn ascended the stairs, the suspicious guard seems to avert his eyes somewhat, not wanting to meet the gaze of the confident female who strides ahead of her male escort. But his attention returns as Kirin begins his ascent...

Rhayna is up next. (Plus any further actions to intervene)