Loran remaines quiet but ready.

l'Atreq looks at Orum and awaits his answer.

Eonwe waits at the ready for an explanation from Orum.

With everybody crowding around him, Orum feels taller than his modest stature warrants.

"Vermin," he says under his breath, "the kind that makes high-pitched twittering, squeaking and chirping calls."

l'Atreq makes a face. "That usually means more danger than the minimal benefit available would warrant."

"Either we bypass them or I can try a Speak with Animals spell?  What should I tell them?" Tarrahn asks of the group if they want to consider his options

“We could ask the rats for anything shiny, hard, big, or metallic in the room/nest and we’ll leave them be.  We can give them some food in return as well.”

"Ask them about any other tallies they have seen," Orum suggests.

"Rats don't normally chirp though, unless sick," Víxl stated, "so it could be something bigger. If powerful enough, you might want to consider the animal friendship spell for a companion as well, Tarrahn. In any case, I have a sleep spell memorized," she added, "So if the conversation does not go well, that will hopefully end things. Let's try it."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:35, Sun 08 Jan 2023.

Loran still remains quiet but ready.

Time passes as the infidels debate attempting to twitter with those who are twittering beyond the closed door.

There is no more debate. Five have elected to see what is behind the door, so we try it.

OOC: Agreed.  Just waiting for door to be opened (Fodor happy to do so and get out of the way) so that Terrahn can Speak With Animals and then Víxl will cast Sleep if SWA doesn’t work.

Tarrahn will stand ready with his spell if he thinks it will work for him when the door is opened.

With utmost confidence in the plan Orum readies his darts.

The room had seemed safe enough at first glance:

Painted on the walls of this room are scenes of a throne room with a man giving advice to kings and queens. In the center of the room lies a wooden coffin. Large holes have been gnawed in the sides of the coffin.

Then, four giant needle-nosed fanged furry things had emerged from the holes and twittered fiercely at the trespassers. They scampered across the chamber and launched themselves at Fodor and l'Atreq, finding several chinks in their armor through which to begin their gnawing anew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giant shrews! Save vs. Death or flee.
Giant shrews! automatically win init.
Giant shrews! AC 4
2 Giant shrews! attack fodor 4x and hit 1x for 2 dmg.
2 Giant shrews! attack l'Atreq 4x and hit 2x for 6 dmg.

18:03, Today: The Lord of Divine Words rolled 20,5,15,4,1,3,17,1 using d20,d6,d20,d6,d20,d6,d20,d6.  2 shrews attack l'Atreq.
18:02, Today: The Lord of Divine Words rolled 7,3,8,3,1,5,17,2 using d20,d6,d20,d6,d20,d6,d20,d6.  2 shrews attack Fodor.

V swallows any concern she has and casts sleep on the shrews.

As they all start to doze, she says, "Tie one up if Tarrahn wants to make friends and take it a companion. We can finish off the others."

After that, they could care for their injured, and then check the coffin.

"Fodor, l'Atreq, how are you feeling?"


(ooc)
I cannot find shrews in ORIC, but in basic D&D they have 1HD so she would put at least four of them to sleep as a minimum. So that takes care of all of them.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

Fodor ain’t afraid of no shrews.

00:21, Today: Fodor rolled 20 using 1d20.  Save vs Death or Flee (14).

He dispatches at least one of the sleepers, assuming they all slept. If any remain awake, they get the pointy end of the magical long sword (6 dmg - if they are S/M; more if L).

00:27, Today: Fodor rolled 8,9,23,6 using d20+4,d8+4,d20+4,d8+4.  1st rnd, double attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

Eonwe waits where he is and keeps a close eye on the coffin in case the commotion disturbs the entombed.

Loran despatches a giant shrew.

l'Atreq aims his flail at a giant shrew but misses

20:50, Today: l'Atreq rolled 14 using 1d20.  Save  versus Death or Flee (10).
20:51, Today: l'Atreq rolled 10 using 1d20.  Attack with  Flail.

(OOC): l’Atreq: fortunately, the shrew was sleeping, so you killed it!!  Probably easier to dispatch the final (4th sleeping) shrew and save the Animal Friendship for the next lion or bear we encounter!

It doesn't take long to determine that this is a room that doesn't have much of anything, save for the chewed-up coffin and the wall murals. The coffin used to house four giant shrews, but three of them are now dead, with the fate of the fourth being debated. Whatever else might have been in here has long since been stolen.

"If you wanted a giant shrew," Orum said to Tarrahn. "Well, I could have introduced you to my Auntie Esmeralda."

Tarrahn laughs heartily.  "Can she cook?"