Keeps concentrating and focused.

"Well, they did have an outer guard after all, well hidden though less skilled then their raiding party. My sword is jealous of your cross bow bolt sister, it tasted blood this day."

Snoric wasted no time.  Rushing to the very treeline where the goblins had been hiding, he took up a defensive position with cover and kept his crossbow trained on the cave entrance.  They hadn't been especially noisy but he wanted to be ready in case their battle had attracted attention.  If things stayed quiet they might have time to plan but for now he wanted to be prepared in case there was a 'second wave'.


OOC: Taking a sniping position in the north end of the trees on the east side of the river (so between where Allura and Solgran's icons are on the map).

Perception: 10
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Tue 20 July 2021.

As the last Goblin fell, I push my thoughts to Edgar, sending him a picture of the cave entrance and a sense of urgency. As the Owl takes off to inspect the cave I sit down cross legged and focus on the view from Edgar's eyes.

Summary
Osmon
Move: Sit down, (prone) within my Minor Illusion.
Action: Use Edgar's senses

Edgar
Move into the cave, trying to be stealthy, will proceed through up to two rooms or to 100' from Osmon whichever comes first.
Perception: 14 Focus will be looking for guards or traps, especially signs of the water trap we were told about.
Stealth: 23

Yulin sighed as the creatures were quickly felled. "Well that makes six." She said to nobody in particular.

Still in the bushes she noted what Osman was doing and walked over beside him. A similar illusion of dense shrubbery appeared a few feet away from him and Yulin copied the mage by sitting inside it. Clever man, she decided and made a mental note to watch the humans use of magic, she had already learned one trick from him and if she paid attention Yulin was confident she could pick up a few more.  There was much to be said from having others accompany her, the Bardic College had bards to learn from but lacked the variety present in her current group. She also had her eye on the hatchling and her healing magic, she felt she would be able to learn a trick or two from the cleric and if time permitted she would sit down and discuss the girls divine powers.

She watched the cave entrance, not expecting any more trouble but being prepared for it regardless. She stummed a soft melody on her lyre, barely able to be heard, as she sung a quiet tune.

Casting Minor Illusion.
12:31, Today: Yulin Scalesong rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Perception.

And just like that, the battle was over, almost before it started. Hearing Solgran's comment about not knowing the number of goblins present, she scoffed, and look at the big man. If only she had her mother's powers to amplify her voice, she would show him! Taking a deep breath, she instead went to him and said in a normal voice.

I did call there were four goblins in the trees, Ophelia saw them. Maybe next time you'll be able to hear me?

Giving the big man a small ironic smile, she quickly went to the goblins to see if there was anything interesting to pick up, another lesson from her father. She didn't think they were heard inside the cavern, the scuffle had been so brief, and Snoric was in position to warn them, if there was anything coming their way.

Action, Check the goblins for interesting loot

Today: Amalia Firnam rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Amalia perception.

Yana gave her sister a wry smile
"Don't worry,  Sister.  Goblins breeed like rabbits,  so i suspect that there are plenty to satisfy your bloodlust."
Keeping her bow ready, Yana joined in the search of their fallen foes

"I suppose." She looked around and made sure to keep clear of the water after hearing about that water trap.

She folded her arms and waited for the others to carry out their salvage operations or whatever else they were planning. In her mind it was a good start having slain these ones before even entering the cave system.

As the group settles, searching the goblins and finding leather armor, showtbows, arrows and daggers on each, Snoric and Osmon set to scoping out the cave, Snoric taking watch at the entrance while Osmon sends his familiar in.

All is quiet, and the owl flies in a little way when the sounds of wild animals could be heard echoing from the caves.

Amalia looked at the meager loot and decided to take a dagger... it might come in handy later. Picking a crude quiver of arrows, she approached Yana and offered it to the locksmith.

Here, since you are the one among us using a bow, you might need these.

Her quick inspection revealing nothing else on the corpses, she slowly got closer to the mouth of the cave, shield in hand, and tried to see inside, with her superior night vision.

Today: Amalia Firnam rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Amalia perception.

Solgran seemed bothered by the fact that he had missed hearing about the goblins. He made a mental commitment to pay better attention in the future. He couldn't protect people if he was the one putting them in danger in the first place. He began to run through mental exercises that he had done off and on since he was a little kid, to help him notice and retain things that the others had said. He didn't know if it was a matter of forgetting, one of not hearing, or one of distraction. What he did know was that he'd made a mistake, and not one he cared to repeat.

He kept his eyes and ears occupied with distractions while he kept his mind focused on the exercise.
00:10, Today: Solgran Farnzythe rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Survival.
00:10, Today: Solgran Farnzythe rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

Yana nodded her thanks to the cleric, and got ready to move.
She looked at the barbarian
"Are we ready to move on?"

Snoric waited patiently in the trees, his crossbow loaded and ready.  Osmon's bird hadn't returned yet and apart from some growls there had been no indication of activity from the cave.

Hearing to conversation between Yana and Solgran he pointed at the cave.  "The bird is scouting ahead.  If that doesn't work I can still go in disguised as one of them." He gestures to the dead goblins.  "If I keep my distance it should be enough to get a looksie."

With the group scattered around the clearing verbally telling everyone what Edgar had found had to high a risk of being overheard by any sharp-eared Goblin within the cave. Given this group's sensitivity to magic this may not go over well but that is the more acceptable risk.

<"Please pass this on to the others near you. There is a cave immediately to the right of the entrance where some animal noises are coming from. Possibly the wolves we were warned of. Further along there is a Y branch with sloping passage to the left on the opposite side of the river and the entrance path going off to the right. No sign of more guards or the water trap yet. Edgar will investigate the first cave.">

Summary
Osmon
<Indicates use of the Message cantrip>
Action: Cast message to one member of each cluster of party members (all within 15 ft). If necessary refresh Minor Illusion, and watch Edgar's feed
Verbally pass on info to Yulin

Edgar
Move: Enter cave to the right staying high
Perception: 12
Stealth: 8
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Wed 21 July 2021.

Yulin waited patiently in the illusion bush she had made, quite pleased with herself in exploring greater uses for her magic. She watched the others as they walked between the corpses and looted them, she had no interest in smelly goblin leathers or old, broken weapons so remained where she was. She was a little concerned as the hatchling started to walk towards the cave, peering inside the dark interior, but with most of the group nearby and the scouting owl having already flown in her concern quickly passed.

Then Osmon spoke to her, she reached out towards the mans illusion bush so it would fade for her and she could see him. Apparently he had returned to scouting after relaying the message, returning to the same dead stare she had now become familiar with from both the hatchling and him. Yulin thought about rising from where she was to go and tell the others but as they started to gather and talk between themselves it appeared they had received the message as well. She elected to remain, deciding it best not to leave the mage alone in the bushes by himself.

She busied herself by meticulously crafting her illusion bush into a perfect sphere of dense leaves. She added what natural color she could see in the immediate area as flowers, buds and seedpods sprouted around her bush. Not overly concerned anymore with using the illusion to conceal herself she instead decided to make it look beautiful.

Yana proceeded into the cave, trying to stay alert, despite her eyes not adjusting well to the change in lighting

OOC:  05:45, Today: Yana Whitlock rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Stealth.
05:45, Today: Yana Whitlock rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Perception

As Yana was moving in, Amalia approached Solgran, who would be following soon. As she was about to speak, she received the wizard's message, always a surprise, even if she was familiar with the magic. She looked at Snoric and Allura, who were close by and gestured to them to come closer.

Edgar reports there are no more guards in the entrance. To the right of the entrance, there is a cave with animal noises, if the wolves are there, that smelly horse meat you are carrying will find a purpose, Allura. Edgar will go investigate there. Further along, there is a Y branch with the left side going up and the path following the right. I will send Ophelia to check the left branch of it. Maybe she will find the water trap, Edgar didn't see it.

Please let me know when the lighting will be an problem for you, I might not realize that you can't see enough anymore. I will give you Selune's blessing to see then. If there is a big fight, come to me, I will use my powers to protect everyone. But for now, go with Selune's awareness.

She lightly touched the big man's forearm then moved back to her rear guard position. Mentally probed, the snow owl took flight and entered the cave.

Give Vigilant Blessing to Solgran, advantage on next initiative roll
Ophelia to investigate the left branch of the Y junction
 Today: Amalia Firnam rolled 18 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  Ophelia perception check (advantage).
 Today: Amalia Firnam rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Ophelia Stealth.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:21, Wed 21 July 2021.

Allura gives a brief nod of understanding. She gets the horse meat ready to toss to any wolves she might come across and follows in a distance behind her sister looking for this side cave that was mentioned, and keeping alert for the animal noises.



Giving about 30' between her and her sister so she can move up quickly if need be but allowing her sister to be stealthy without her clunkly armor clad self giving away Yana's exact position.


06:43, Today: Allura Whitlock rolled 1 using 1d20.  Perception.

Solgran listened to the report, taking in the details and repeating them to himself in a mental sing-song voice. He gave Amalia a single nod and looked down as she touched his forearm. He was ready to go, but he wasn't going to make the same mistake of moving before they were all ready. All he needed was a sign. Any moment now.

Any moment...

Solgran watched Amalia for the queue to move. He might be one to lead the group into battle, but in an ambush situation his clothing and flesh was not hard to pierce. Once they knew it was safe, or where to direct their assault, he would move in.

Any moment now...

As people slowly decide to enter the cave, the darkness slowly creeps away up along the river. Just inside the cave mouth, a few uneven stone steps lead up to a small, dank chamber on the east side of the passage. The cave narrows to a steep fissure at the far end, and is filled with the stench of animals. Savage snarls and the sounds of rattling chains greet your ears where three wolves are chained up just inside the opening. Each wolf’s chain leads to an iron rod driven into the base of a stalagmite.

With the chains, the wolves are out of reach to anyone at the entrance, though any further in you can tell they would reach.

In the distance on the west side of the main passage from the cave mouth climbs steeply upward, the stream plunging and splashing down its west side. In the shadows, a side passage leads west across the other side of the stream.

Allura tilted her head to the side for a moment she hadn't expected chains.
She looked at Solgran, "Shall we end the threat to people in the future by slaughtering them now ?"

She had no illusions that these were happy little puppies and that they should feel bad about ending them.

Yana nodded at her sister's words
"Not a bad idea.  What do the rest of you think?  Take out the dogs before we move on?"

"I grew up in these woods, much further north. Wolves rarely care to attack people, but they will attack other predators that would. I suggest we throw them the meat, let them fill their bellies, and they'll have no reason at all to attack us as long as we leave them alone. Chained as they are, they are no threat if we leave them be."

"If you feel they must die, get all of the ranged combatants up here and you can kill them while the chains keep them away."

Yulin frowned as most of the group disappeared into the cave, she could understand them moving on and decided that waiting for the owl was futile.

She dropped her illusion and shook Osmon by the shoulder. As she stood and brushed herself off she spoke to the human, "They've gone in, we best follow them."

She walked out of the bushes and shrugged as she passed Snoric and walked into the cave.

The dim light was not a problem for the yuan-ti and it wasn't long before she arrived by the others only short distance inside. She peered into the cave as the humans and devil discussed the wolves. Catching the tail end of the conversation she nodded in agreement with Solgran, "Feed them and leave them, I agree." Although that still left the problem of leaving the animal chained up when their group eventually left the cave. She sighed, not entirely trusting the animals not to turn on them were they freed. A problem for later then but she would very much not like to attack chained and defenseless creatures.

Amalia shook her head faced with the suggestion of the bloodthirsty Allura.

I agree with Solgran and Yulin, toss them the meat and leave them be. They are probably left hungry to be so mean. Once we have freed Gundren and Sildar, if they are still here, we could free them to live their life as they should, in the wild.

Looking at the beasts, she still had a small knot of fear in her stomach. Those teeth looked sharp!

Tossing them the meat, "You are all endangering us as well as future travelers. Those chains mean they are trained and domesticated. So be it, they attack you later perhaps you will learn. They attack me later on and I will ensure that you learn." She was not speaking to the wolves.

Allura didn't think a kind heart would serve one bit in this situation. She would rather see the things dead. The meat tossed to them she watched the wolves reactions as well as looking to see if the water level ever changed in the cavern.