(( Assuming Nanoc (or someone else) makes a comment about the pulley; remove the "Aye", if not ))

Galtheon stares at it for a while before nodding, "Aye. Trap the choke points. That's what I'd do."

He then turns to Taraven and Evan saying, "Careful inspection, that's what it needs. Lower some of our own ropes as well, just in case. And replace theses ones." he says pointing at the old ropes.

(( Probably Investigation by Taraven+Galtheon+Guidance at some point ))

"It's tempting to knock it down, but it doesn't sit well with me."

Looking at Okkar he says. "We were hired to clean the mine, not bottle up evil inside."

"This is a boil that needs lancing."

Quote from TaravenKhalclaw >>

OOC: Do we know how many creatures are listening to the sermon? I'm thinking I cast Shatter to get as many as possible. Not sure if they will get disadvantage on their saves. At least just to get things started??

 (( ooc: ooooh lovely idea ... if it doesn't collapse the mine! ))

(( Did we do a search of this room? ))

Taraven will take a closer look at this room with Galtheon's help and guidance

Investigation 22

Guidance 2

((@DM: if I use shatter will that cause the mine to cave in?))

Evan:

Whispering, Evan says, “This seems like a great opportunity to damage the creatures from a distance, but recall the StoneGhosts can move through rock, so if they hear it coming they can just sink into the floor to avoid our attack.  The Shatter spell sounds good, especially if you can target it directly on the creatures.”  Evan stays well back out of the room, as he doesn’t want to give away their position with his light.

"The priest does not seem to be aware of our presence. Could we disable this machine to prevent its use, and see where the other passage leads?"

(( ooc: Probably want to investigate machine first, as above, first; and I'm not sure where the other entrance was...how far away. Might be worth exploring. Okkar said something about tunnels, but I can't recall exactly what he said.

@DM: the other entrance was small, correct? ))

Galtheon thinks for a few moments, "There are creatures at both entranced; at least with this one, we all arrive together, with a spell to soften them up. And a chance to cut off the snakes head."

"If we go down either way, getting back won't be easy if there are any alive."

Evan:

Looking at the fragile contraption, Evan comments, “If they are many below, we may be vulnerable as we slowly lower ourselves down, the lift may fail, or we may be overwhelmed by their numbers at the bottom.  I counsel we do as much damage to their assembly as possible from up here, then either stay up here and attack those who come to investigate or sneak in via the hidden tunnel and attack while their forces are divided.”

Galtheon looks dubious, "We have the advantage of height and surprise, true enough...but once the lass's spell has been cast, they may just scatter. I doubt they'll just wait at the bottom to be slaughtered."

"Without oil to burn and smoke them out, I can't see how we avoid going down there."

He glances back toward the mess hall, "If we give them enough time, we may be the ones attacked from two directions. Perhaps..."

Galtheon starts tapping the wall to the west, then turns to Okkar. "Master Dwarf...would it be much stone between here and the room we fought the large grub?"

"Putting a hole in the wall would stop us being trapped, but it's only useful if it's easy...and quiet"

On the consideration of whether a spell like Shatter would cause a cave in, assuming someone in the group would succeed on the DC 10 Intelligence check to analyze the structural security of the mine below, just throwing out a shatter spell in a typical fashion is unlikely to do so, but aiming a shatter spell with intent to damage the supports simultaneously could do so.  

OOC: In essence, intent matters - if you are aiming to destroy the structural supports, you have the knowledge to do so, if you want to just do an area attack on enemies below, you can do so, just clarify intent when using any such attacks.

As for the number of creatures below, those with Low Light Vision and passive perception of 13+ can make out flickering shadows below, as evidently the "preacher" has some kind of light source.  There is a humanoid figure with 3 smaller shapes next to him - they look like smaller versions of the massive creature you fought in the mess hall, "less greed grubs," and in the distance, deeper in the mines, there are scittering shapes and sounds of many more of their kind, though only those 4 are in the immediate vicinity.  

Evan:

Though he does not move into the room to look (due to his own light source), Evan suggests, “Tactically, it would be best to attack them in small groups rather than go after them all at once.  I think the small, hidden side entrance is probably better for our assault, though a cave-in here would be a wonderful distraction, especially if it seems just like a result of a natural weakening of the winch structure here.”

Evan:

”Is it possible to rig the winch to collapse and cause the cave-in with a delay, maybe five minutes, while we make our way down to the secret entrance?  We could be infiltrating below while some of them are investigating up here, evening the odds a bit,” Evan asks after further thought, adding, “and if Lady Luck is with us, maybe some of the enemy is crushed under the falling rock and winch.”

"If you be wanting to take out a wall, tis never quiet to do such a thing, but with that magical silence, it could be," Okkar offers, in response to the earlier suggestion of taking down a wall for easier access from the bucket and winch chamber to the mess hall. 

((ooc: @DM can you refresh my memory of what we saw sown the other route? Was it a corridor, a hole, another winch or ladder? Could we walk two-abreast etc? ))

Quote from Ereshion >>

((ooc: @DM can you refresh my memory of what we saw sown the other route? Was it a corridor, a hole, another winch or ladder? Could we walk two-abreast etc? ))

 The other route had a trap door in the floor over a ladder descending into the mines.  One person at a time would have to descend the ladder, but the winding path below looked wide enough to walk two abreast.

Galtheon remains unconvinced, but says "I will abide by whatever choice. May want to leave ropes tied at the top, so the last two to be hauled up quickly if needs."

(( ooc: based on the map, the distance between the two drop-downs may be no more than 100', possibly a lot less ))

Evan:

”We could also simply attack from above with spells, ranged weapons, and the Winch, forcing them to come up at us from below.  That gives us the option to flee out the front of the mine if we are overwhelmed,” says Evan, suggesting another option.

Quote from Ereshion >>

Galtheon remains unconvinced, but says "I will abide by whatever choice. May want to leave ropes tied at the top, so the last two to be hauled up quickly if needs."

(( ooc: based on the map, the distance between the two drop-downs may be no more than 100', possibly a lot less ))

 That is accurate, more or less.  The actual passages of the mine itself are winding and labyrinthine, but "as the crow flies" the distance is not considerable.   

"I agree with you Evan. Attacking from above gives us an escape route out of the mine and the possibility for them to scatter which allows us to handle the creatures better as we go through the mine."

OOC: Once the group has a plan of action agreed upon, let me know and it will commence.