Badger listens carefully to the debate, and recalls his divination reading from just the evening before, which seems to suggest good relations with strangers. But then the Aarakocra elder encouraged him to consider his divinations as guidance only and not as gospel, and Orvex had already met the criteria of the casting, and besides you can't just trust everyone in a place like this. But neither could he condone intentional harm...

The creature is currently under a magical charm, points out Badger. I don't believe that I can modify the current directive, but I do think that I can issue a new one at dawn.

He sits and rubs his nose for a few moments. Perhaps I could suggest that it simply walk out of the city for the duration of the spell. Or even suggest that it steal the cube from the Red Wizards for us.

(OOC: Call me Badger 'Killgrave' Dimwort) 

Grenkasys crouches nearby, just behind a tree with a good view through a gap in the cracked floor into a part of the basement. He listens to the debate as the group discusses how to handle the situation. Red wizards, cubes....this group seemed to be on to something. A rustle in the underbrush set his senses afire and Grenkasys glanced about as he noted a party of snake people slithering through the forest. Three...four....five. Five. They approached cautiously, with bows and swords out, from one side of the building, their attention focused on the entrance to the basement, they'd not yet spotted Grenkasys. 

Ooc: so behind a tree with view into the basement and can hear the conversation.  Is he close enough to speak into the crack or would that include moving into the open/line of sight?  

Because of the angle of the building, you're pretty sure you could creep forward and hide behind the building, and speak into the basement.

Grenk will pull out us bow and two arrows quietly move up to the crack and speak into it, "Five snake people by the entrance, prepare yourselves."  He will then prick his hand on the arrow head and drag it across his bow.  As the blood trickles down it, it forms into several symbols and hum with energy.

Taking some steps back he raises the bow and knocks the arrow.  He lines up his shot upon the last most snake in the group.  He takes a deep breath to steady himself and let's the arrow go.  He quickly follows up with a second shot.  Two arrows fly crackling with blue energy.

Free action activating crimson right for lighting damage, I take 3 damage.

Attack 1 Attack: 27 Damage: 8 plus 3 lightning damage.  Per sniping rules I believe the first attack has advantage 10

2nd attack Attack: 29 Damage: 20 plus 3 lightning damage

Hearing the strange voice and warning about snake people Mal immediately whispers to badger, "Send the Tabaxi out as a distraction!" and then will hide and stick his head out of the entrance to see if he can see the snake people and attempt to discern where this disembodied voice came from. If he spots the snake people he will stealthily move around to get to the side of them.

Stealth: 11

Perception: 14

Badger turns to the Tabaxi, focuses as best he can on the lingering magic from the helm, and says: Bag of Nails, there are snake-man outside that want to kill you. Run away, as far and as fast as you can! Badger will then cast Mage Armor on himself.

A lightning encased arrow tears through the jungle ruins, glancing off of a hanging vine on its way to the target and spirals into the bushes zapping leaves as it goes. The snake person at the back is a man, bare chested, with a snake for a head, and a blade in his human hand. The second arrow slices through the air and thuds into his muscled mid section, lightning coursing through his body as he shrieks.  

Mal, you sneak over to the entrance, and attempt to get a look at the battle.  To one side you see an advance of warriors, sword, three bows, then sword. 

But just then, the Tabaxi's bonds break as he's slowly cut through them with his claws and now pulls his wrists apart by slamming his arms and tied hands against his own body.  Free he grabs his blade and with a quick bounding leap is up into the ruin above and leaping through the window quickly.  Arrows whisk after him as the snake folk see him flee. The lead swordsman and one other rush after him. The final snake person, an arrow in him, growls and pursues his allies.  

Badger, your magical spell now protects you as you hear the sound of pursuit in the jungle ruins above fading away. 

Moments later the jungle is quiet. 

Mal you look back and see a giant of a man there. Blood trickles down his arm and he holds a bow at the ready.  

Turning toward the large man and withdrawing my second rapier, I face him, "Friend or foe?"

"One thing after another," Silas mutters as he heads out himself, readying to dodge until he can determine whats a threat and what isn't. 

The group you've been trailing is quick to respond. The stealthy woman who sways side to side, strange black damage to her one side and clearly wounded she seems about to pass out, yet draws a rapier and confronts you all the same. Another man, a large dark skinned warrior quickly emerges from the basement, spotting you and watching you warily.  A gnome peaks his head out out looking around. 

Silas, Badger, the snake people are gone, but there is a large stony skin fierce looking warrior standing before you.  A bit of blood trickles down his arm. 

(OOC: Grenksys, feel free to describe yourself). 

Grenksys stand tall and defiant facing the others.  His large pack sits beside his even larger frame.  Simple but effective black leather adorns his body.  What had once been clean with a bit of shine now sports numerous nicks, scratches, and bits of mud.  Over his armor are various straps holding enough weapons to outfit a small unit.  His skin is pale and his hair is cut very short with some sort of design shaved into it.  His face otherwise kept smooth and his eyes a shade if dark purple.

Looking at Mal, his bow is drawn.  He simply said, "undecided."

No friend of the snake people, it would seem, suggests Badger, thinking that there is a surprisingly high degree of traffic for a 'lost' city. And no foe of ours, considering your timely warning. Badger suspects the giant has overheard them already, so he presses on. We seek to end the cause of the death curse, and have been led here. If your purposes align with ours, then perhaps you make consider us allies.

Grenksys holds the bow taught for a few moments longer and then slowly releases the tension and unnocks the arrow.  "That is good to hear.  I have traveled a great distance for that very reason."  He pauses a moment looking each over.  "I think there is a better chance at ending this in numbers.  So yes, for now I agree t I an alliance."

Excellent! Badger's face changes instantly from suspicious to cheerful, and as he walks closer to get a better look at the newcomer's face he has to crane his neck a lot more than usual. And there are more of us still ... although none quite as large as you. We separated to cover more ground. Badger's the name, and this is Mal and Silas. Sickle is back there somewhere too. And what might we call you? And please tell us what you have learned so far...

"The name is Grenksys, or Grenk for short and I come from a..." he pauses a moment and rolls his hand in the air, "collective that specializes in tracking and taking out undead.  That is what brought me here.  There is something here that tugs at my soul in the wrong way and it must be dealt with.  I can feel we are close." he finishes.

Ah ... I see ... says Badger with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. That's good, that's good, only ... one of our companions might be ... a little bit ... undead, so perhaps you'll make an exception in her case.

Grenk having started to look at the surroundings whipped his head back at Badger at the last comment.  "Undead companion?  Who is it under control of and do you trust them to keep it under control?" he says with tense voice.

Badger gives a brief explanation of how Mandra's soul became lodged in the body of a zombie. She is in every respect the innocent victim. Mandra has traveled with us for weeks, and I assure you sir, that she is quite in control of her own self. Perhaps when we have solved the riddle of the Soulmonger, then she can somehow be restored to life.

(OOC: Is there still time in the day to investigate the nearby shrine?)

Sickle pokes his head out of the hole and studies the Goliath for a moment. Seeing the others have the situation in hand, he ducks back down and begins searching the tabaxi’s hideout for anything useful.

Perception: 11

Investigation: 9

Rejoining the others, the half-orc offers a hand to Grenk. “I am Sickle of Mirabar. Welcome to what I can only determine must be one of the hells.”  As he shakes the goliath’s hand, Grenk feels an icy cold pain and sees a frost covered ring on the druid’s hand.  “In any case, we should probably rest before we proceed further.”