Ghosts Of Saltmarsh

Klaus defers to the wishes of the party, but is willing to take point if they prefer.  He does take comfort in Gracy and Zmeya’s powers of perception, however. 

Hiramat, seeing the green ooze fall on his brother screams forth "No!", and rushes up to the front.  By Tempus he will be the first to meet the foes of this house.  What he lacks in perception he makes up for in steel.

Hiramat starts to descend the steps, watching the ceiling for more oozy surprises.

After wiping off the goo, Archibald follows behind his brave friend.  Rather miffed, the privileged sorcerer was out for vengeance.   After all someone has to pay for the sleeve of his silk shirt.  

Gracy hears the squeal from Archie up front and turns back to look 'Oy, everything ok in there? Let's keep this moving, alright?'

Seeing Klaus get anxious to move forward, he'd tap the armored warriors' foot with his own 'Hang in there big fella, we're just as likely to run into trouble from behind as upfront.  Stick with me back here and be ready to move in either direction as trouble materializes.'

Gracy would hold his new position at the rear of the party, arrow knocked and walking backward, using the Paladin as a backstop so he doesn't lose track of the party.

Zmeya quietly makes her way to the right cavern (area 25), making sure to keep watch for any green slimes or enemies ahead and above.

Perception - 24

Wilmot cautiously follows, doing his best not to get slimed like Archibald. "We'll take a closer look at that in a bit, my friend," he says to the half-elf. "You'll be as good as new." The firbolg then moves to the middle of the pack, eyes open as looks for more dangers...though, he still can't shake that anxious feeling since hearing those foreboding words earlier.

Perception (still at disadvantage): 10

Archibald looks up at Wilmot as he passes by "Thanks big guy.  I know you can take care of the wound, but I bet we won't be able to find a decent seamstress in this town."

He follows behind Wilmot in the line, looking for slime and ready to throw a firebolt at anything that threatens his pals....and his find clothes.

Perception: 7

Klaus nods his assent to Gracy, whose wisdom is the only salve for Klaus's concern for Archibald.  Klaus had been trained to deal with problems that could be solved with force of arms, he was once again out of his element where a foe he could actually battle proved elusive.  

Mindful of Gracy's injunction to guard the rear, Klaus looks to the rear, straining to listen:

Perception 6

AREA 25 - This uneven, naturally formed cavern is about twenty feet in diameter. A couple of you can spot more slimes up on the roof, waiting to surprise you all.

"Shew...I'm glad there seems to have been only one of those gooey things." As Archibald looks around at the uneven floor.

The lean dark clothed human looked calm and placid on the outside, but his voice gave away his mounting concern. 'Keep it moving up there.  We've got a whole mess of uncleared rooms behind us that could be packed to the gills with problems.  We need to find clear our way down to an anchor point so we can turn back with some confidence that our line of retreat is safe.'

He'd continue to keep a knocked arrow ready to fly if anyone came at the party from the direction of the secret door.  

Perception to listen for any sounds of anyone approaching them from behind: 19

Strangely, it's quiet. TOO quiet. Hopefully, someone who got a decent perception will spot out the slimes =P

Automatically performing hunting signals and tribal military gestures with practice, Zmeya holds up her fist after noticing the slimes, signaling for the group to stop moving. "More slimes ahead. I do not recommend approaching through this room. If we want to go further, I suggest heading back and continuing through the other cave."

She remembers the raids and traps her Yuan-Ti clan leaders had crafted. From the conversations she had with the voyagers whom she fled with, she gathered the island was known to contain treasures and riches, swallowed by the jungles and salty seas. Dozens of intrepid adventurers and gold-seekers, all unaware of the snake-like denizens of the island, supplied the Yuan-Ti with slaves and riches, but most importantly, they were seen as entertainment. Cruel traps and deadly puzzles were created at the whim of the Auvriel priests with the goal of enforcing the superiority of Yuan-Ti to the younger generation, alluding the greedy treasure hunters to pigs and animals. While this place was no creation of the Yuan-Ti, it has shown much the same principles. Tactics meant to befuddle and disorient opponents like the trapdoors were common, as were incentives to continue forwards into a path of no escape were uncomfortably similar to the footprints she observed. And, if anything, she is feeling the urge to backtrack and make sure everything was as it seems - she had learned the more careful and observant victims of the Yuan-Ti lasted the longest. With that in mind, she turns back to the group, inquisitive eyes perusing the party. "If there is one thing I know, it is to find a defensible position before pressing onwards into something unknown. I am uncomfortable continuing without ensuring we have somewhere safe to retreat. I suggest we head to the house and clear it of anything unsavory, or we may find ourselves surrounded."

Archie whispers "I could go back up to the room above and keep a look out.  If anything comes that way I could message all of you quickly, magically that is.  I doubt we'll hear the bell trip wire this far underground.  This place is a we bit too wet and slimy for my liking anyway.  I've got chronic asthma ya know?"  

Gracy nods his head vigorously 'I agree, we need to find an anchor - maybe we move back into the rooms behind us, shut this trapdoor and try to at least obstruct it?  That would let us clear those rooms first before exploring the rest of this cavern.'

As Archie volunteers to head back by himself Gracy shakes his head 'Absolutely not.  You're more likely to get jumped and killed than to send us a warning.  We stay together, move cautiously and clear this place thoroughly.'

'Klaus, stay close and keep that shield up' In the absence of any loud objection from the party, Gracy moves back into the room with the bunks and moves back into the middle of the room, carefully scanning the room but not moving past the midpoint until the rest of the party was in and someone had blocked the secret door with some furniture to at least slowdown anyone coming through in that direction.

 Archibalds looks at the floor and mumbles..."Ok but you don't have to be so rude."

Archibalds tries to quietly makes his way back up behind Gracy and stands next to the trap door.  He will "help" Gracy scan the room to give him advantage. 

Stealth: 18

There is a room with a closed door at AREA 22. You guys both see the secret room. Finally, you can detect undead from AREA 23.

Gracy claps Archie on the shoulder 'Sorry my friend, if I seem brusque, it's just because I'm trying to keep us all alive'