Lost Mine of Phandelver

Garet follows Rigel up the stairs, which extend about 10 feet into and up from the cavern floor where the lake is located. Though the Firbolg strains to see into the darkness, Rigel is able to adjust his darkvision to see a 4-way intersection. Across from them is a door at the end of a short 10-foot hallway. Perpedicular is another longer stone hall - to the south, the hall has collapsed into rubble. To the north, is another set of stairs leading upwards.

During his search, Garet finds no other sources of magic.

Van will take the wand more out of confusion then anything else if offered.

Seeing the wand eventually find its way to good hands, Marcon goes back to pick up his torch after taking maybe a minute away from it trying to shake himself mostly dry. Then with it in hand and his pack back in place, he'd take to following after Rigel at least part way up the stairs. Once the half-elf gave presumably the go ahead to continue the rest of the way, there's little hesitation on his part in climbing the rest of the way. 

"Fair odds the arsehole who got our dwarf friend's behind them doors I'd wager." He whispers and gestures to the door.

"As good as anywhere to start." Says Rigel as he slinks forward to listen at the door.

Perception: 18

Rigel hears gruff voices on the other side of the door speaking Goblin and talking about how hungry they are. The voices he hears instantly remind him of how Ronk sounds when he talks.

As the ranger presses against the door to listen, he also notices that it appears to be firmly shut....not necessarily locked (no locking mechanism or keyhole is even present on his side), but seemingly more barred shut from the other side.

Rigel puts a finger to his lips as he moves back to the group. 

"Sounds like we got at least a couple hungry bugbears in there. Door seems like it's barred from the other side. What do you think Ronk? Wanna try "I'm the boss" again to get them out or should I just use Hew to hack our way in?"

He holds up his magical axe to accentuate his point.

"Almost tempting the leave'm be if its barred in there. Less trouble for us in find'n slipperz... But could be they know where they at, or what 'appened to our dwarf friend. Could even be they're partially responsible for it too." Marcon frowns and his grip on the torch handle tightens on the last note. "You know what, forget I said anything 'bout leave'n 'em. Ronk? Ya up for it? If nothin else you talk'n to'em aughta convince them to open up. And when they do, we can always rush'em after." He suggest as much.

Which if it is accepted, he'd creep his way over to the dead end hallway so he could stand just about where it met the intersection, and at the ready to make good on his words.

Ronk thinks for a moment then shrugs. "Yeah, I guess I can do that... Just... Everyone else be ready, OK?" If there's no objections, Ronk moves to the door, then after waiting for everyone to get set up, takes a deep breath then bangs his fist against the door hard and shouts in Goblin. "Oi! One a you gits better open this door or I'll give ya a good krumpin' and a stompin' and make you watch while I eat me dinner." He bangs on the door again and adds in a kick for good measure.

Intimidation or Persuasion roll if needed: 14

Silence falls over the room on the other side of the door....an eternal second elapses, then the scrape of several chairs is heard, followed by heavy footsteps and finally the sound of a large bar being lifted from its rest. The door flies open (inward/away from the party) and Ronk finds himself face to face with four of his kin.

"Who you?" says the one in front...Wisdom (Insight): 14
"Who they?" says the one behind him, in apparent reference to Ronk's non-bugbear party members standing behind him.
"Is that a bathrobe?" questions a third bugbear, from the back of the group.

There was... a moment's hesitation on Marcon's part. A moment that started to stretch on as some small yet nagging thought brought to light concern of unspoken aspects of the plan. He hadn't wanted to make a mistake again, and... he hadn't quite expected them to be so talkative! Perhaps the others could get some answers and --

On and on he continued to spiral in mind to the point of his readied stance slacking to the point of being more liable to trip over his own too feet over actually reaching the door anytime soon. If Rigel or the rest however acted upon the plan though, there was a chance of him snapping back to attention and yet following through on things. But without the push, he would remain just standing there like a lump on a log!

Ronk glowers at the bugbear at the door. "Did I say you gits could 'ave a question time? You'se gonna ask where babies come from next? Get outta our way!" To back up the order, Ronk throws a quick punch at the lead bugbear's nose.

Unarmed Strike: 22 Damage on hit: 8

Rigel holds his ground, scowls and even puffs out his chest in an attempt to help sell the ruse. In his own goblin voice he adds, "Come on we hungry and we got orders." He crowds in a little closer in case Ronk needs help pushing his way into the room.

(OCC. Rigel will give the help action for any rolls Ronk needs)

"Me bugbear! Me so hungry me turned blue!"  Adds Garet trying to mimic voice and posture of Ronk (Helping Ronk)

The lead bugbear reaches up to rub his nose after Ronk's cautionary jab and then uses his other hand to wave back the others and clear the way for Ronk and the others to enter the chamber. They eye him suspiciously - it was clear he was not of their clan, but many who arrived to serve the Black Spider were not, at least not at first.

Rigel gives Ronk a slight nudge forcing the bugbear forward a step allowing the ranger just enough room to slip by and into the room. Staying with the ruse he gives a boisterous chuckle to Garets joke and says, "Hah, I know that feeling! Say what are you fellas here for? We got sent here as back up cause apparently some heavy hitters may be on their way. You all haven't taken care of them for us have you?"

“Red sword lady has one still,” says one of the bugbears. Another plunges his elbow into the talker’s ribs as if to shut him up.

"That's right she grabbed the short one. Message for us was short. Just said to come here. Didn't tell us anything but to make sure you're prepared for visitors. So let's hear it. What's the plan? Oh and "red sword lady" has a name. Isolde wouldn't like it if you forgot it.' Rigel continues to bluff as the others move into position.

Marcon breathes a sigh of relief seeing the hesitance pay off in the end. Though in his moment of relief, the ex-farmhand is slow to follow anyone inside, he hurriedly tries to make up for loss ground in falling in after the others, thoughtlessly muttering an "excuse me" in common on the way inside with torch still in hand. He also makes a point of staying near the door, if off to the side, mean mugging the other bugbears... or try to for the apparent act. Though he could just as well comes off more as tired and wary than anything else.

Still! The attempt is there to help in any future negotiations. 

"I..I could p..prepper. s..somthing to..e...eat" adds shyly Garet 

As the others enter, Vanzaren is the only one who has not spoken to the bugbears and lingers outside by the stairs. As the other four party members enter the squalid sleeping chamber, the bugbears eye them with wry smiles after Marcon begs an "excuse me" and Garet offers to cook everyone a meal. "Sounds good," replies the bugbear that was standing at the door previously, (the one Ronk socked in the nose) who then slams the door shut, cutting Vanzaren off from the rest of the group, "so which one of ya is we eatings first?"

ROLLING INITIATIVE:
20 - RONK
10 - MARCON
18 - VANZAREN
20 - RIGEL
18 - GARET
17 - BUGBEAR 1
6 - BUGBEAR 2
11 - BUGBEAR 3
4 - BUGBEAR 4