The five adventurers make their way to a place Kellen says is quite near the waterfall hideout but still hidden enough to be safe.  After resting and eating and sleeping and studying, you move out in the deep night. Kellen, for whatever else he may be, knows his way in the woods at night and leads you to fast roaring water, and then down through some trees, grasses and onto a stony path.  It splits and pointing up to the left he hand symbols that the large cave is up that way and you can see the path is thin, dangerous and wet and actually disappears behind the massive waterfall.  The path to the right leads into a tunnel with stairs leading up.  Following this, in a few minutes you are far enough away from the roar of the water fall to speak to each other.  Their are several tunnels that branch out and eventually just end, but to the north is a real stone door.

"So many waterfalls! I doubt I will ever see another without assuming there is a door behind it."

Checking on her little friend, Delta slips it a small handful of mixed nuts.

Glancing about the corridor, she admires mother natures works at carving the place out of the stone.

"This place in lovely. Oh, wait, Vala, can you see? Is it safe to light my lantern, Kellen?"

"They may have trapped the door with an alarm; let me check."

Tanyl checks for traps on the door.

In reply to Tanyl Miaras (msg # 3):

As Tanyl set to work, Delta had a question for the ranger. "Kellen, not sure how much you can learn by tracking and such, but is there any sign of goblins or kobolds here yet? I cam do a pretty good job of impersonating one, some of the time."

Kellen nods to Delta,  "I think lantern would be safe, but be ready to douse if we see or hear someone coming.  Human tracks, hobgoblins, gnolls even, but I didn't see anything as small as a goblin"

Tanyl checks the door for traps and does not find anything.  In fact, in looking at the lock, it appears to be unlocked.

"Are we ready?" Tanyl asks, not wanting to open the door prematurely.

Disappinted that there seemed to be nothing that her magicks could make her resemble, Delta unhooked her bullseyes lantern from her pack, and filled the oil well. Using her flint to slight s small piece of tinder, she lit the lantern, then reduced the slit to about fifteen degrees, for her barbarian Princess. Expecting Vala to be tense at the thought of combat, she put out her hand, and if Vala accepted it, she would give it a nice warm squeeze.

Part of the little gnome felt the urge to pull out her lute, but she knew this was not the time. She looked around the cave for any sign of local life, uncertain what exactly she would find in a place like this, but the proximity to water meant there was probably something. She rather wished she had brother a net, to try and catch and fish tumbling down stream. She imagined they would be very fresh, and delicious.

All of these thoughts were an effort to distance herself mentally from the proximity of danger, and she found comfort in the distraction...

Vala accepted Delta's hand and cheerfully returned the squeeze of affection. While she wasn't at her best in dim light she'd be willing to bet she was equal enough to a bugbear or two!

"I am ready, I don't know you folks so do you have a scout, or should I go in first? I'm pretty quiet but if I see something evil, I'll kill it as quietly as I can but am not likely to wait for vote"

"I usually scout, because I'm quiet and can see in the dark.  I am less a threat than you, however -- we can advance together if you like."

As usual. Delta will hold her lantern, minimizing the light, just enough for Vala to walk safely. Until an enemy was engaged, of course, then she would fling the shutters wide. She was torn about her other hand, and how it would be more useful, but opted to draw her blade. Though she had grown in prowess to a minor degree, she still wished to ration her arcane energies if possible.

Matthias takes his customary position at the party's rear, just behind Delta. He is thankful for Delta's lantern because otherwise he would be stumbling in the dark.

The sooner they find these bugbears, and more to the point, the missing sisters, the better. His sleep was dogged by terrible, dark thoughts he hopes are proven misfounded.

Cracking the door open and peeking in, Tanyl can immediately see that the door opens into an alcove.  He almost laughs because it looks like an old and empty tombstone alcove, something he's seen an awful lot of lately!  The alcove itself is in the dark but beyond is a larger room that is dimly lit with flickering torch or lamplight.

He can see a bench style table, littered with dishes and drinks, a round table with chairs around it, further into the darkness, he can see some empty beds.  There are two men at the round table, both shirtless and strongly built but without armor. They appear to be looking over some papers on the table.

Tensing, Delta double and triple checks that her light is dim and faint, and not traveling as far as Tanyl. She wonders what he sees, but knows better than to ask...

Tanyl turns back to the others and holds up two fingers.  Once he's made eye contact with everyone, he points into the area beyond the door.

He then silently draws his weapons and whispers: "Gonna hide." He then sneaks in.

In reply to Tanyl Miaras (msg # 16):

Assuming Kellen is the next sneakiest, Delta will wait a moment to see if he proceeds, then wait to see if Vala wants to go third. She will then advance, hopefully in  that position, with her dim light between the two who need it the most.

Only two of whatever these will be doesn't seem too bad.

Tanyl slips into the room using the torchlights to stay completely hidden in the shadows.  Kellen follows into the alcove which is very dark.  Sadly, Tanyl doesn't see a small copper urn sitting in the dark and steps into it, and it goes clank, clank, and then rolls quite noisily across the floor and into the torchlight.

The men at the table, stand and grab rapiers at their waists.

ooc: Tanyl made his hide roll, but rolled a 100 in silence, Tanyl and Kellen can react this round,  everyone else will need to use this round to enter the room.

"Damnit," Tanyl says, expressing more irritation at the urn than himself.

He then casts a spell.

Matthias winces when he hears the first metallic clank and then winces even harder when the solitary clank turns into a roaring clankity clank. He looks first to Vala and then Delta and whispers, "oh no, I don't like the sound of that."

Hearing Tanyl's curse confirms it and the cleric springs to action when he hears his companion begin reciting arcane syllables.

"So much for that. Time for action," he says while bring his shield and mace into advancing position.

OOC: moving toward Tanyl
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Fri 14 May 2021.