FR PbP

Valindra throws a torch into the entrance. "You see?! They dropped the portcullis and chained it from the inside."

(( @LostLeonin - You direct Cleaver's actions much as @Grwobert directs Lia’s. Cleaver is however a full manticore with his own character and agenda... be warned. @AndrewFairall - You have direction over Eline's. She's a war god Paladin with her own agenda too. ))

What is everyone doing? 

What are you all doing?

Rinn steps back and looks up and around the side of the mountain for any other signs of life (Perception: 16). "Well, if someone could squeeze through to the chain, we could probably get that gate open. But perhaps there's another way in? I mean, I'd make sure to have another way out in case someone blocked the entrance."

Robwin walks over to Rinn and then towards the chained entrance. “Maybe we could try and unchain it? With these?!…”. He flourished his mage hand next to Rinn to encourage him to try his too, then floats his own through the bars to ‘help’ Rinn try to unchain or unlock the gate. “Two (mage) hands are better than one!…”

Rinn shakes his head, "We'd never have enough strength with our mage hands to lift that portcullis. Pulling the chain to open it would take a little more strength than that I think."

Robwin’s inner professor groans, of course, their mischievous brother is right... must be really distracted... yes... see there... the portcullis is set firm and chained in addition... 

Rinn looking closely and reaffirming what you see when replying to Robwin, you do notice someone tiny might be able to get through some of the arrow slits in the Upper levels or one off those chimneys you now recognize with the odd angle of the torch light, then again maybe just breaking it down would be your fastest path... there is a lot of rust... and there is movement at the edges of your line of sight within an arrow slit... you already knew they were in there though. 

Rinn points out the entry points to the others and reaffirming the movement he saw. "We could try and squeeze through an arrow slit, climb up to the chimneys or try and break down the portcullis and door. The latter may not be the best option though. It'll be pretty noisy."

Robwin considers, “Hmm… I could make someone climb like a spider for a good while. Walls, ceilings, no problem. Someone could get to the other side of the portcullis and let us in?…”.

(DM Question - do the chimneys look like they are right above the portcullis gate rooms?)

(( The chimneys look like they would put someone in at the third or fourth level up. ))

(( Rinn and Robwin - You're pretty confident a small individual might be able to get through the arrow slits but not the portcullis.  The spacing is too narrow. Everything else, except those chimneys is too tight. Maybe even TT without armor and gear. [[ I am not saying, "Do that"; just both have high enough int to have the information ]] ))

“Hmm… none of these options look particularly tempting… or easy…”, mutters Robwin to himself, and everyone else nearby…

Robwin paces back and forth in front of the fortress. “It’s almost as if they fortified this place against unwanted ingress! Haha… hmmm….”.

He would like to investigate if there are any other options, or something the party had not seen or considered…

Investigation check: 16 

Robwin also considers his spells… “I could test out my new fireball on the portcullis, but I don’t think it’s particularly suited to destroying structures…”.

((OOC: would Robwin know from looking at it what it might take to break open the portcullis? Or would he suspect it’s beyond the party’s current means, or not possible to break open without siege equipment?))

Wolfsong stands back watching the two elves go back and forth discussing possible entries when mention of the chimneys occurs Wolfsong turns his gaze towards them. Thinking for a moment Wolfsong turns to Cleaver looking at the beast's muscles and wingsthen back to the chimney.

"Cleaver here could probably carry me to one of the chimneys," Wolfsong comments. "I need very little to defend myself so I can leave my gear here to prevent me from getting stuck anywhere. From there I could unlock the door from the inside, or if it is wide enough, we can all go through that way." Wolfsong turns to the excavators and asks, "Do you know how deep those chimneys go? Is it something we could descend down with little to no trouble?"

Rinn grabs out his rope as he hears Wolfsong discussing moving up to the chimneys, "You'd better take this. We're better off staying together. You have no idea what's in there and while you can look after yourself, it could be a bit of a trek from those chimneys to the gatehouse. We should all climb up together."

“If cleaver can carry each of us up in turn, I agree… All together”.

Rinn, Robwin, You don't think Wolfsong or Cleaver would fit through any of the chimneys you see.

However, busting one in would be easier than busting in the portcullis.

The fireball impact and damage would not be very effective on the iron, chains, or stone. 

Wolfsong and Rinn roll persuasion with advantage to get full aid from Cleaver. DC 12 

Rinn's Persuasion: 17