(OOC: Follow-up post.)

You hear a strange scuttling sound from behind the pillar closest to you. An ugly being with one big green eye in the centre of its forehead pops its head the pillar and grins at you, revealing short pointy teeth. You all hear a scratchy voice in your heads, although your ears don't hear it.

"What's this? New food? Too many little red worms in the last one, I hope these are smarter!"

“ I getting that you want to eat the redbrands? The ones in red within the manor? Let’s strike a deal. We don’t like them either, you show us how to get in there and we’ll help you to eat your fill of them.” Big Bear is resolute, almost scary in his willingness to get these red brands out of Phandelin.

OOC: Do you want a persuasion check?

   Yed will step beside Big Bear with a stony look on his face as he lies in wait, preparing to retaliate if he sees an attack be taken by this strange new creature. He trusts in Big Bear’s judge of character however, and will let his half Orc companion find out if they can avoid any potential conflict. Yed wants to be in top shape when he sees those Redbrands...

(Holding Action) 

The voice inside your heads cackles.

"The orc-man understands nothing, heheh! They are all around you! But you promise food... I like that! If you promise me all the food, I will let you through... not my fault if there are any butterflies though, heheh."

"Here's my deal: We help you kill all the redbrands in there so you can eat them, IF you leave my group alone AND any figures we deem part of our team. Deal? That leaves you lots of food."

"A creature that can peer into our surface thoughts...," Doc says aloud as he feels the scratching voice echoes in his mind.
"Interesting... I suppose you know that some of us will come back for you; but, you're likely a creature of opportunity as well. Whether we live or die only serves to benefit you in the present. I agree as long as you allow us to pass for the time being."

The monstrous voice speaks again.

"I don't like working for my food, oh no. That's your job, heheh. But if you leave me alone, I leave you alone. Deal, heheh?"

Peering into the crevasse, you can see a pile of gnawed bones. A half-eaten human corpse lies on top of the pile, just starting to rot.

"Ah, so you're a scavenger then. Well, do you know where the most important looking redbrand is? or any secret passage ways that we could use to our advantage?"

(Is there any indication on these corpses on who they might’ve been? Like are they armored or just dressed as common travelers?)

If needed, Perception:10

The monster cackles again.

"You want secrets? I like secrets! Especially the wriggly ones... If you're looking for the Glass Staff, look in that room, then turn left." The nothic extends one long claw towards the supply room. "Look carefully! You might miss it, heheh."

The corpse seems to be wearing regular working clothes. It's hard to tell much more than that since its face and most of its chest have been eaten.

Shamash simmers....repulsed by the monsterous creature...he looks down in pit at the pile of bodies...imagining what their lives were like....his vision starts to cloud....

But then he looks at Big Bear, at Doc, at Yed, and he calms his breathing. He has been through so much with these people. He trusts them. And Ilmater is all about accepting, and suffering through important things, and not falling to pride..... He swallows his feelings of disgust. 

He can't bring himself to speak, but he looks resolutely on to the others, ready to follow their lead. His whole body is tensed and taut, ready to explode at the sliightest provocation. 

Doing his best to remain silent, (and against his gut instincts to trust the creature) Doc moves to the room the monster referenced and begins searching for anything related to hidden passages.

Investigation:
6

Big Bear nods to the creature, and follows Doc, keeping an eye out for danger, 21

The group uneasily leaves the monster behind as they go into the storeroom. This area is part of the north end of the large natural cavern, but it has been finished with dressed stone block walls and a flagstone floor. Several barrels are stored against the walls here, along with a number of empty crates, straw for packing, hammers, pry bars, and nails.

There don't appear to be any ways out, but Doc carefully searches the walls for seams that might indicate a secret door. He finds two suspiciously door-shaped segments of the wall opposite each other. Since the monster told you to go left, Doc tries the one on the left wall first. It opens with a soft creak onto a steep staircase. At the bottom of the staircase is what looks like the inside of the same type of secret door you just went through. 

The group descends the staircase in the same order they went through the tunnel. Shamash pushes the door open to reveal a lavishly decorated room. The walls of this bedchamber are covered with drapes of scarlet cloth. The furnishings include a small writing desk with matching chair, a comfortable-looking bed, and a wooden chest at the foot of the bed. There's another door opposite from where you entered.

Sitting at the desk is a short, dark-bearded human male in robes, studying a tome. He wears a princely mantle of ermine. A beautiful glass staff leans against his chair, within easy reach. When he sees you, his eyes open wide and he grabs the staff.

Initiative:
Doc Jennings: 10
Evzeen: 8
Big Bear: 5
Shamash: 7
Yed Orilo: 12
Enemies: 19

The wizard stands up and barks a word of power at Shamash, casting hold person.

The man then runs through the door into the next room. That room appears to be a wizard’s workshop. A rat scurries across the floor and takes refuge under a large worktable set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes. There's a door in the East wall of the laboratory, which the wizard is running towards.

(Shamash must make a DC 13 WIS Save. If he succeeds, he can make an AoO on the wizard.)

(Everyone is up.)

Doc springs into action; recognizing immediately the threat that an unhindered spell caster could be.

Cunning Action: Dash

He cuts in front of the man and tries to block his movement with a quick thrust of his rapier.

Attack: 7 Damage: 7

Shamash feels the first tendrals of power stroke at his mind, and attempts to fight off the effects. Wisdom save (6)

If he succeeds, he quickly slashes at the back of the fleeing wizard: Attack: 16 Damage: 8

Big Bear rushes forward, before throwing the burning flame in his hand at the wizard: PRODUCE FLAME: Attack: 18 Damage: 4

Shamash is paralyzed by the wizard's spell. Doc runs around the mage with a burst of speed and stabs at him. The rapier is deflected in a shower of blue sparks when it hits the mage's robes. 

Big Bear's flame burns a perfect circle on the fleeing wizard's back.

(Evzeen, Yed.)

Map:

 Map Key: