Filimena take a look at what's going on in the room and feels as though it might be from a magical mishap that created these areas of invisibility.

The group quickly comes to a split in the tunnel - one heading west and the other northeast. Omaron is very sure their foe headed northeastward.

OOC: PC Map
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Mon 27 Nov 2017.

OOC: Yep! That's the fork Marik was telling Omaron about. I think you can move us directly to the northeastern room.

OOC: Rodger! Rodger!

---

The Dark Creeper you were chasing after for lies dead in the middle of the floor. Blood pooling around his collapsed form.

Given a moment to look around this dark room you can see exits in the north and southwest walls, plus gear doors set into the south and east walls.  A stone oven fills the northwest corner.  Iron tings hang from a hook nearby.  Bottles, flasks, and pottery clutter shelves and tables haphazardly pushed against the bare walls.  Shards of broken glass and ceramic cover the floor such that you think it would be difficult to cross the room without stepping on them.

"There's a lot of broken crocker and glass in this room," Omaron says to those behind him. "I can possibly clear it somewhat, but it won't be quiet. Anyone else have a better idea?"

Coming in after the others, Marik takes a few second to study the room.

"Mmm...I was taught some spells that could muffle the cracking sound, but I have yet to master their intricacies...The [Language unknown: haseauand comstison] are not so easily swayed...". He pause. "Rani may be wounded, but that jump seems feasible. If you're willing to carry the human for a few moments, I could scout ahead and tell you if some noise is acceptable."

He pause again, looking more attentively to the Creeper's corpse.

"That being said, do we know how our... how this...thing...met it's end?"

OOC: Given Rani's size and her ability to jump, if Marik direct her to hop on the Creeper's corpse and then use the momentum to jump on the other side of the room, would that be easy enough for her or would that require a check? If so, would that be Acrobatics, Athetics, Animal Handling?

Also, is the cause of death of the creeper obvious if he's bleeding so much? I figure it's not foot bleeding?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:22, Tue 28 Nov 2017.

Filimena frowns at the sight of the loathsome creature lying on the ground in a pool of its own blood. She’s still not entirely sure what the thing is, which irks her somewhat. Her attention turns to the shards of sharp glass and ceramic covering the ground. If only she knew how to cast a silence spell. She’s seen it done before. Possibly this is what the elf was talking about. It might not come to magic, though. One of the benefits of being small: you can fit in very tight spaces. There is a limit to this, though.

OOC:: Perhaps a medicine check to see whether Filimena can tell cause of death from a distance? Dunno if you wanna set a higher DC or if I should just roll with disadvantage, so rolled 2 dice anyway, 11 and 12. Guessing not enough in any case.

Would Filimena’s halfling nimbleness help in this case? If she can move through spaces occupied by creatures larger than herself conceivably she could move through the shards of grass and eramic, assuming their footprint is the same as that of a creature larger than herself =P
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Tue 28 Nov 2017.

All the questions! If she's leaping across give me Atheltics

The source is the creeper's back which it is currently lying on.

Filimena is PRETTY sure it has something to do with the blood coming out from the creeper's back

I'll allow Acrobatics w/ Advantage.

OOC: Slow clap for questions titles, DM XD

As he gets a better view of the corpse, Marik get the sense they are not alone. Something murdered this creature. Better get a sense of what it is, and maybe kill it, before Omaron reveal their presence by clearing a path in the glass shards.


"All things considered...I'll try it. Better to know and see if another path is preferable before you go in. Here...keep the human for a moment" he says, as he hand Jo'ren body to Raszire. "Move aside a bit..." he add, as he direct Rani to move back as far back as he can in the tunnel.


As he gives the signal, the panther growl and traverse the tunnel at full speed, leaping just before walking on the shards littered on the floor.

OOC: Rani rolled 12 for her jump.

Filimena moves up to the edge of the broken glass and ceramic and hesitates momentarily. Is it wise for three of them to cross before knowing what exactly lies on the other side? She banishes the thought with a quick shake of the head and decides to trust her gut instead.

OOC: 19:36, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 18 using 2d20+3, keeping the highest dice only, rerolling ones, unique dice with rolls of 6,15.  Acrobatics.

Omaron lets the others pass him, watching thw room ahead carefully. He gently sets Jor'en against the wall, keeping the human's feet locked around his ownndwarven boot.

Rani carries Marik across the room in an impressive bounding leap. The pair stand in a short ten foot side and long hall. They are joined shortly after by Filimena who glides across the floor with calculated steps.


OOC: PC Map

Raszire knelt to one knee beside Omaron, "Allow me to carry the human for now. It should make things a bit easier."

Filimena begins to walk northward to get a better look at what lies beyond the room, but realises she probably won't be able to see much in the dark. Pausing, she looks towards the elf and, not wanting to make any noise, reaches out to him telepathically (OOC: with Awakened Mind), Perhaps you ought to go first. I won't be able to see.

Marik tense suddenly as he hears the halfling voice in his mind, before taking a deep breath. He'll never get use to this...He turn to look, and is surprised to see her standing right behind him. Marik sense a shiver going though his spine seeing her this close to them. Rani turns her head and bare her teeth as she sees Filimena, hissing lowly but increasingly louder. Marik quickly grip the fur on her neck, a signal for silence. The big cat stop hissing immediately and look a bit confused, looking at the elf and Filimena in turn. Marik signal her to march forward. The panther obey reluctantly, her teeth still bared.

Marik look at Filimena, making his best to hide his fear. "She's on your side..." He think. "She was defending herself... it doesn't mean she'll attack you" he tells himself in loop. It does help. He think he manage to put on a calmer face, without hints of dread. He think he even manage a convincing smile as he nod the head in response. He's pretty sure she already catches glimpse of his unease. Better try not to make it worse...

A thought cross his mind. He hope she can't read his mind as well.

He turn away as Rani begin to move and peers into the darkness, looking attentively for signs of movement in the hall or the room right in front of them.


OOC: Marik and Rani will slowly advance about 10 feet westward in the long corridor.  Marik rolled 23 for Perception and Rani rolled 15 for Perception with Smell.

OOC: Marik rolled 16 Deception to hide his fear to Filimena.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Sat 02 Dec 2017.

Omaron nods to the dragonborn. "Stay close by. I'll protect you both then," he says, keeping his shield at the ready.


OOC:
Just readying to intercede should an enemy appear.

Filimena thinks she sees a strange look flash across the elf's face as he turns away from her and peers down the hall. She can't quite make it out. The big cat's hiss, however, makes its displeasure quite evident, and it's also clear that that displeasure is directed towards her.

Filimena finds herself simultaneously annoyed and perplexed. What has caused this sudden change in behaviour? Just a short while ago she'd ridden the creature and there hadn't been any problem at all. Has something changed in the way she looks or smells? Is there something she did? It's the spell, isn't it? Her Hellish Rebuke. Filimena glances briefly down at her palms, recalling how she had sent flames bursting forth from them towards the mechanical monstrosity that had hurt her. She'd thought at the time that Marik had reacted strangely to that as well.

The dwarf says something in the room behind her, bringing her attention back to the present. Now is not the time for rumination. There is danger here. She needs to be careful

OOC: 22:19, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 15 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones.  Insight check!

I actually have a pretty good idea what the matter is. Just keeping player and character knowledge separate and trying to imagine whether/how Filimena would figure it out. Surely she must have some idea.

To the north Marik makes out  a pair of empty weapon racks stands in the middle of the room. There are also two soot-blackened hearths in the northern corners and in front of each rests an anvil and bellows, and implements hanging from nearby hooks.  Two barrels of stand against the north wall.

To the west Marik see a doorway which leads south. Farther west there is makeshift wall made of wooden planks farther down the hall.  Iron spikes hammered into the walls and iron braces bolted to the floor keep the wall from tipping over.

OOC to Filimena: Of course, I'd be surprised otherwise if she didn't figured it out at this point. Marik would also know he let out more than he wanted to, but I think he would try to cover up his fear or Rani defensiveness toward him nonetheless, to not show weakness or worsen the situation.


Not seeing any signs of life in what he assume was the local forge, Marik lead Rani further on the way to check the "south" room. Rani continue to sniff the air ahead.


If the south room appear clear after a quick check, he'll go inspect the makeshift wall. If it's a makeshift wall, I assume there would be numerous hole and gap between the bolted planks? If so, Marik would try to look or listen through one of the gaps to see if he can make out activity on the other side.




OOC: In case of necessity, Rani rolled 13 for Perception (smell) and Marik rolled 7 for a Perception check of the south room.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Tue 05 Dec 2017.

"What do your elf eyes see, Marik?" Omaron stage whispers to the elf and halfling as the sneak through the room.

Marik sees into the south room half-made kegs, tables, bookshelves, and chests clutter the dark room.  Most of these unfinished works have been pushed against the outer walls, making room for four cots in the middle of the floor.  Two workbenches covered with carpenter’s tools flank the north exit.  A few rat bones litter the floor.

Marik eyes widen. Cots. Four of them...

"I see our prey and the unluckiest hobgoblins to ever hatch..." he thinks, cracking a grin.

They are here. The children are really here. Their chase is coming to a end.

He study the wall. The creature probably threw it together in a hurry while they were chasing the hobgoblins down the halls for Jo'ren. The children are behind that wall, he's sure of it. Time to send in the bulkier part of their force.


He turn and see Filimena following behind him. As she see the fours cots in the room, Marik nods the head. He wish he could talk to her in her head like she does with them. He want to approach to whisper her to get the others, that he'll keep watch of the wall, but he doesn't want to risk provoking a reaction from Rani if he gets too close.

Instead, he point to Filimena and then in direction of Omaron and Raszire. Afterward, he point to the makeshift wall, and then to his own two eyes, signaling he'll stay here and keep watch.

He then focus his attention on trying to see or hear beyond that wall. He get's Rani just close enough so he can lean in and see between the small gaps between the wood planks.


OOC: Marik rolled 19 for Perception.

OOC: Does it look like the wall could break with a good charge? Would it be a straight Strengh check if we decide to do so?


OOC: I don't think Marik could hear Omaron at this distance, but I couldn't pass up being LOTRed ^^
This message was last edited by the player at 00:23, Wed 06 Dec 2017.

I don’t see anything yet, Filimena informs the dwarf, telepathically, turning to him briefly to shrug. Some movement catches her eye, however, and she turns back to the elf and notices him motioning at her. It takes her brief moment to realise what he is trying to tell her. She nods and turns again, first to the dwarf, then to the dragonborn, reaching out to each of them in her mind, There’s some kind of makeshift wall here. I think the elf has seen something behind it and wants us to move in while he keeps watch. Let me see if I can ask him what he’s seen behind the wall.

Then, to Marik, What’s behind the wall? Do you mean for us to attack it? She mimes sending an Eldritch Blast at it.

OOC: Damn. Should have gotten the Message cantrip. Was considering it but decided it overlapped a bit too much with Filimena’s Awakened Mind ability already.

Omaron glances toward Raszire, then takes a deep breath before stepping into the room with the shards of glass and pottery. He does his best to pick a path between the largest groups of shards, and makes his way into the hall behind the halfling and elf.


OOC:
Stealth- 19

In response to "What's behind the wall?", Marik point again to the four cots in the south room, and then point the wall again. To further push the point, he show off some of the children clothes he keep in one of his bag. At the mention of a "Eldrith blast?", he grin and point to Rani large form below him, then point to the wall before making a gesture as if he was smashing his palm with his fist. He then point to Filimena, and extend the arm as if to do a Eldrith blast, before making his best mockery of a hobgoblin by putting his hand to mimick little pointy ears and by making a ugly grimace.


Hoping she understood, Marik return to his watch, trying to ascertain what exactly is hiding behind that wall.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Wed 06 Dec 2017.

Filimena nods at Marik and grins.

There are four cots here, she begins telling the dwarf. I think the elf believes the children might be behind the makeshift wall. I reckon he wants us to burst through the walk and hopefully surprise whoever or whatever might be behind them.

Seeing the dwarf nimbly make his way across the glass and ceramic shards, and realising the dragonborn might conceivably have a harder time, an idea strikes her: Tenser’s Floating Disc. She’s had that spell written down as a ritual in her Book of Ancient Secrets, which she’s been carrying around all this while. She never felt confident enough to use it up till now, but with all the training she’s had since she started on this adventure, she reckons she could do it now.

Do you think we have 10 minutes to spare? she turns back to Marik. I could cast a ritual to help the dragonborn cross the broken glass and ceramic. Might be better than risking making any noise.