Admiral
  Which is louder-
The cry of a thousand soldiers
or a whisper in a king's ear?  
   -Old gnome proverb   
Athedia
 "Can't anyone answer a question!?"   Mithril shouted but the Voice had already left.  She heard her shout bounce off the walls, the question answering itself.  She turned toward the wall, trying to get some sleep.  Rhenner or someone else could fix her nose in the morning.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia walks along the path again, her weapons drawn as she looks around at the minute flaws in the stone, listens to their footsteps echo around the hall as she tries to pay attention.

 
 Spoiler 
Also, can we assume she charged her dagger with Shocking Grasp at some point?

Spot:  (d20+12)[ 19 ] 
Listen: Take 10 for 22.
 
Admiral
Natalia whiles away the hours wandering along her patrol. Guard duty doesn't suit her particularly well; Choros seems distinctly bored, as though he's not expecting trouble, and she quickly gives up trying to move quietly as he has no interest in doing the same, at least not by her standards of stealth.

As they patrol, they occasionally run into dwarves heading into or out of the mines, often covered in soot, and sometimes briefly overlap with the patrols of other guards. Choros shares a few words with them, or sometimes a brief conversation in Dwarven, leaving Natalia feeling a bit left out.

Early in her route her darkvision potion runs out, and from that point on she carries a torch to help her see- the only light this deep in the mines. Her footsteps echo through the halls, monotonously ticking away the moments, step by step-

Until suddenly the sound of footsteps is gone, and with it all other sounds- the clanking of Choros's armor, the distant echoes from the mine, even the sound of her own breathing. In a panic she turns to Choros- but while just moments ago he had been two steps behind her, she now finds herself entirely, terribly alone.

 
 Spoiler 
She's in the middle of a corridor about fifty feet long. She gets another Spot check now if she wants to spend a round really looking around.
 
CoffeeIncluded
No, no, NO! What happened?! Are they here, are the drow back? Choros was right next to her; where did he go?!

 
 Spoiler 
could she have dropped lanterns along the route? Or have hung one off her belt? Can we say she got one?

Also, redoing a spot check is a standard action, so:  (d20+12)[ 24 ] 

Or take 10.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

There's no "Or take 10", you rolled.
 


Natalia jerks her head up and down the corridor, wondering where the dwarf could have gone.

Two corners ahead on the route she had lit a torch on one of her previous circuits- the reflected light emerges very dimly around this corner, only slightly visible. Now before her eyes, the light from around the corner disappears, as if extinguished.
CoffeeIncluded
 "DROW!"  she screams at the top of her lungs, praying that the silence spell has a limited range as she runs to where the light was extinguished. She screams the whole time.

 
 Spoiler 
i have uncanny dodge now.

I don't know what the right thing to do is and I'm afraid Choros is already dead.
 
Admiral
Natalia races forward, screaming, but however much she runs her words never even reach her own ears. And as she rounds the corner, terror grips her heart as her worst fears are confirmed.

The light from her torch shines down the short hallway, and onto the corpses of three dwarf guards, scattered along the rough stone floor. Blood spreads from a face-down guard's neck, with more blood visible on the axe near him, and she can spot arrows emerging from the other two.

But this sight, as horrifying as it is, barely registers with her as she glimpses the dimmest outline of a shape ahead in the darkness: someone- or something- moving towards her out of the shadows.

 
 Spoiler 
Something fifty feet away, she can't  quite  see it with her torch yet.
 
CoffeeIncluded
No. No. No. Three dead dwarves, and that means three arms. Why. Why? He thought they wouldn't care? He thought--****!

Couldn't save them, couldn't save her friends, and now she can't save herself. And if she does make it out of here...well, there won't be much left of her to save anyway.

Not another one, not another step. Natalia's somewhere else now, where everything is sharp and clear as she starts to hysterically laugh inside, her mind fractured. Three lives, three limbs. That damned tyrant of a mayor has good as doomed her anyway, so why not save her friends as well?

She presses her hand to her chest and casts cats grace, and them meets the figure in the dark.

 
 Spoiler 
memento magoca, and if not I have a cats grace scroll.
 
Admiral
As Natalia charges closer to the shadow, it becomes illuminated by her torch- a
short humanoid figure, but somehow strange- moving in a sort of unearthly hopping motion. As she draws closer it takes it's full form, into something intensely familiar and yet grotesque, an image from her worst nightmares.

She recognizes the face, his white hair and beard, then his raggedy outfit, but only subconsciously- for what she most notices about the gnome is what he is missing. Shiny hops frantically out of the darkness, both of his arms nothing but bloody stumps, hopping on his one remaining leg with his mouth wide open, and the silence around her ceases just in time to hear him scream.
CoffeeIncluded
No. No, it's impossible. How is this possible?! But his scream is so real and it burns through her. Natalia, now screaming and sobbing incoherently, rushes forward to cradle what's left of Shiny in her arms

 (something's wrong, this isn't right, Shiny's asleep and so is the mayor, how did this happen just now?) 

And attempt to bandage his wounds, her fingers slipping against his blood and bone. She tries not to vomit, and fails.

 "My fault my fault I'm sorry I'm sorry so sorry sorry sorry,"  she screams, though she knows it's not enough, will never be enough. Her fault her fault all her fault as she sobs.

 
 Spoiler 
i see where this is going. I was thinking about this. 😏
 
Admiral
As Natalia grabs Shiny, her fingers clutching at his injured arms, something feels  off , what she senses not matching what she sees. And the gnome's scream grows strange, less painful, until it gradually turns into a cheerful cackle.

 "AHHHHHAHAHAhahahaha you should have seen your  face! "  Somehow the gnome's arms are back now, having grown back when she wasn't looking. And there's another sound now, a deeper set of chuckles alongside the gnome's laughter. She realizes that the corpses of the dwarves seem to be cracking up as well.
CoffeeIncluded
What the ****?! Natalia jerks back and regards Shiny again.  "Shiny! What--why--what--?!"  Her head's spinning, equal parts fading adrenaline and horror and utter bewilderment. This isn't right, even for Shiny this is unnecessarily capricious and cruel. She spins on her heal and frantically checks each of the dwarves, each bloody corpses laughing hysterically and sending her mind reeling even more with each cackling laugh.

 
 Spoiler 
 Attack:  (d20+9)[ 10 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (d3+4)[ 7 ]  nonlethal
 
Should I make heal checks? Are the corpses real? Because this makes it seem like they're not.
 
Admiral
As Natalia bends towards the nearest dwarf guard, the body bolts upright towards her with a jolt.  "BOO!"  the dwarf says, before joining in the laughter. Ahead of her Natalia can see the two other "corpses" sit up, laughing as well. And lastly Shiny, still gasping with laughter, steps down the corridor with his hands outstretched until he seems to find someone, and moments later Choros reappears into view from his invisibility, looking a bit sheepish.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia screams and falls backwards, scrabbling back on her hands and feet. Shiny's there, howling with laughter, and so are the two guards, and so is Choros, and how? How could he think this was funny?! How could he think it was funny to wander out of the dark, her nightmares come to life?

Still shaking, still sobbing, Natalia turns to Shiny, and with a scream leaps onto the gnome, punching him repeatedly in the face, while screaming and crying out,  "WHY?! NOT FUNNY!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Ok, now she's pissed. Ignore sneak attack if Shiny's not flatfooted. Of course, everything's nonlethal.

Attack:  (d20+7)[ 8 ] 
Crit:  (d20+7)[ 12 ] 
Damage:  (d3+4)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ]  NONLETHAL

Attack:  (d20+7)[ 13 ] 
Crit:  (d20+7)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d3+4)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 8 ]  NONLETHAL

Attack:  (d20+4)[ 17 ] 
Crit:  (d20+4)[ 10 ] 
Damage:  (d3+4)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ]  NONLETHAL
 
Admiral
Natalia's first swing is far too careless to go anywhere near the gnome, and the short prankster easily dodges the next one, still giggling as he does. The last punch is deflected only by the magic of the gnome's protective ring.

 "All right now, that's enough!"  the nearest guard states, his laughter stopping. He puts his hand on Natalia's shoulder firmly.

 
 Spoiler 
If the guards have to start making grapple checks they will, though they'd rather not.
 
CoffeeIncluded
How could he? How could he think this is all a big joke?! People's lives are at stake! Their limbs and lives are at stake! And he knows that Mithril offered herself up to it.

But Natalia can't say all that, and she's too upset and her eyes are too blurred with tears to land a blow, so instead she sinks to the ground when the dwarf presses a hand to her shoulder, and cries out,   Why?!  Why joke this?! Cruel...even for you!"  through her hiccuping sobs.

Little lion wannabe, only competent in the shadows that so many fear. Some brave girl she is.
Admiral
Shiny's laughter slows, and he sits down next to Natalia, though a step or two away. Choros takes the seat on the other side, and the three guards, whom she now recognizes as some of the guards and miners whom they had passed on their patrol, shift over to the other side. Away from the heat of battle, she can clearly see that their "injuries" were fairly simple disguises- in retrospect the blood doesn't even look real, but seems more like oil mixed with an earthen chalk.

Choros shrugs apologetically.  "Don't beat yourself up, Natalia. We all got hazed when we started guard duty. I nearly axed Thorley there-"  he gestures over to one of the former "corpses-"  "when they got me. And you took everything so  seriously ... even on a night like this we couldn't resist." 

Thorley nods.  "Your gnome friend came to me half an hour ago... been a long time since I hung out with a gnome, I forgot how devilish they can be." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sits down, and her breathing slows, and the tears stop, but her speech is still ragged and husky, as if she'll burst out crying again at any moment, and she's still shaking. Eventually, though, she sniffles and speaks again.

 "What prank you? And..."  She stops to take a breath.  "And serious because scared. Because...you know mayor's words to us? He said...if you died...he maims us. One limb, each death. As if...we didn't care. Doom us too."  It would have been a funny prank otherwise--if she hadn't seen the bodies, hadn't stuck her hand inside a bomb to attempt to defuse it, didn't have the mayor's cruel bet hanging over their heads. But she can't say that, so instead she just raises her hands and lets them fall into her lap, giving them a shaky smile.  "It okay. I understand." 
 "Thought sleeping. Why?" 
Admiral
 " That's  what you're so worried about, huh?"  Thorley says, with a curious expression. He chuckles and leans forward to slap Natalia on the back reassuringly.

 "Marcos is a mean old bag, but he's not a maniac,"  he says.  "If someone does get killed, you could just offer to take their body north to a city and pay to get them raised. Did you think of that?" 
CoffeeIncluded
She had, she had, but... "But still died. Even if back, still died. Still... price. "  Unless, is he right?

And it's not just that, it's more than that. It's Miriam and the bomb and the drow and the voice and the gunpowder and all these things that are worrying her and eroding her mind.
Admiral
Thorley scoffs.  "Like I said, he's not a maniac. He doesn't go chopping off folks' arms for no reason." 
 "Not except that one who got caught stealing food during the siege,"  interjects another one of the dwarves.

 "No, but that wasn't for  no reason, "  Thorley reminds him.  "The cooked arm replaced the thief's rations that month. So everybody ended up happy."  The dwarf's expression gives no indication that he's joking.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia just stares at Thorley. What? Did he just--?

 "And you say not maniac?!"  Still, she grasps this scrap of hope, as there's been too little of it lately.  "So if we revive, then we keep arms?" 

Wait, this month? Wiping her eyes again, she asks,  "How long siege?" 
Admiral
 "Ehhh, it's just a guess, I suppose,"  says Thorley with a shrug.  "only one person who knows what's goin' on in his head." 

Another dwarf seems a bit amused by Nataliams disgusted reaction.  "He knew the rules, we all do. This wasn't the first siege Deldon's had t' hold off. Zombies came here twenty years back, and goblins thirty years before that. And that's just the start. Way I hear it, the first siege was the nastiest, about three centuries back, when he came up with the rule about folks stealin' food. Word is that a fifteen-year-old child tried to test it, figurin' he wouldn't follow through with the punishment. Figured wrong- kid was eating his own arm by the next day." 

Thorley shakes his head.  "No, no,"  he says helpfully,  "he chopped off the kid's  mother's arm, and fed it to the kid." 
 "Not the kid's arm fed to the mother?"  Choros asks, confused.  "I guess I shoulda paid more attention in history class." 
 
 Spoiler 
Siege was two months. "That month" might have just been an turn of phrase, meaning "until the arm ran out."
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "F-fifteen?! Mothers arm?!"  what the ****?! She did nothing! And if dwarves live that long, then a fifteen year old is literally a child! How could he do that to a  child?! 
 "A CHILD?! He more than tyrant, he's...****ing psychotic! Worse than Mad Larian King of stories! How? How can you...accept as leader? How let...him lead?!"  a monster like that, if that's true, how could they accept it? A coal of rage and indignation glows brighter within her. If this is true, then he's as big a monster as the ones they fave, just a monster on a smaller scale.

Or are they just messing with her like before. She reaches out to Thorley and says, implores,  "Please, real or not real?" 
 
 Spoiler 
i think youre joking but im not sure. hm, if this is true...

Also, sorry about the delayed response. And the mad Larian king is a reference to my comic.
 
Admiral
Thorley shakes his head as they all stand up.  "We're through playin' with ye, lass,"  he says as he stands up.  "It's Deldon history, here, we're not going to joke about it." 
 "Oh, that reminds me of a favor,"  he asks, looking suddenly squeamish.  "Please dont be telling Cordrey- or any of the Iron Guard- about this little prank. She doesn't have the sense of humor you do, 'specially not about fooling around on guard duty." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stares at the dwarves in horror.   "How?  How accept butcher as leader?! Why accept? Because...because afraid?" 

She knows that feeling far too well, as she numbly nods at their request. But to accept such an evil butcher as Marcos as their leader when he mutilates children? For three hundred years? She needs to get out of Deldon. She can't stay any longer in this prison. But she can't leave these dwarves under such a psychotic dictator either. But what can she do?
Admiral
Thorley raises an eyebrow at Natalia's question.  "You ever been in a city under siege?"  he asks her, in a serious tone.  "You seen someone starve to death?"  He frowns, then heads off with the other guards to return to his patrol.

Choros nudges her.  "Come on, let's get back to it."  Shiny pats Natalia on the back-  "No hard feelings?"  he asks, with an amused twinkle- and then heads back to his room.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Thorley raises an eyebrow at Natalia's question.  "You ever been in a city under siege?"  he asks her, in a serious tone.  "You seen someone starve to death?"  He frowns, then heads off with the other guards to return to his patrol. 
 

 "So punish child with evil?!"  Natalia roars.  "Or mother, who..DID NOTHING WRONG?! I can think better, right now! Imprison, miss...twice meals stolen!"  How are they okay with this?  "How? How you accept? How you think funny?! What's...wrong with you?!" 

 Choros nudges her.  "Come on, let's get back to it."  Shiny pats Natalia on the back-  "No hard feelings?"  he asks, with an amused twinkle- and then heads back to his room. 

She's still shaking, now from rage, as Shiny and the dwarves leave, wanting to scream and cry at the injustice, Natalia instead growls,  "Choros, we...leaving soon. Please, truth. What of mayor, tyrant of fear?"  And as they walk, the rage and injustice grows and glows. Force-feeding an innocent mother's ****ing arm to a scared kid? Threatening to mutilate her and her friends? He's a dictator, a butcher, a tyrant!

And he's the mayor of Deldon, so nobody's going to do anything about it. Nobody can do anything about it. He'll never pay for his capricious evil, his draconian punishments that can be dealt with...anything other than  that,  mutilation and forced cannibalism,  and oh Gond will he make her eat Mithril?!  which sickens her to the core. Just as the Crusaders and the slavers will never completely pay for their crimes until someone's who's strong enough stands up to stop them.

What do you do with someone the law can't touch?
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "So punish child with evil?!"  Natalia roars.  "Or mother, who..DID NOTHING WRONG?! I can think better, right now! Imprison, miss...twice meals stolen!"  How are they okay with this?  "How? How you accept? How you think funny?! What's...wrong with you?!"   
 

 "You need some sleep,"  Thorley says, a bit put off by her aggression. As he walks away, he turns to Shiny, and mutters something in dwarven. The gnome gives a short response, looking over his shoulder with a concerned expression before they round the corner.


 She's still shaking, now from rage, as Shiny and the dwarves leave, wanting to scream and cry at the injustice, Natalia instead growls,  "Choros, we...leaving soon. Please, truth. What of mayor, tyrant of fear?"  

 "Hmmmm,"  Choros considers the question.  "Not sure I'd call him a tyrant, but he's definitely a scary sort. When the orcs are at the gates, though, scary's just what you want in your corner." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You need some sleep,"  Thorley says, a bit put off by her aggression. As he walks away, he turns to Shiny, and mutters something in dwarven. The gnome gives a short response, looking over his shoulder with a concerned expression before they round the corner. 
 

If Natalia hears, she asks Choros what they were saying. If she doesn't pick it up, she makes a mental note to ask Shiny later.


  "Hmmmm,"  Choros considers the question.  "Not sure I'd call him a tyrant, but he's definitely a scary sort. When the orcs are at the gates, though, scary's just what you want in your corner."  

 "And when not? He rule...by fear then too? Maim all who oppose? Cannibalize lawbreakers?"  She's stolen food, on those days where she didn't have enough to eat and she was too small to hunt and hunger gnawed at her. And he'd mutilate her? Mutilate her and take away her hands and blind her as thoroughly as if he had literally done it?  "Why he leader alone? For so long?" 

EDIT: She sighs, and it does little to quench the fire within. She needs to tell Kurt what the mayor's doing. She needs to tell everyone. They're hardly the first victims.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 If Natalia hears, she asks Choros what they were saying. If she doesn't pick it up, she makes a mental note to ask Shiny later. 
 

 "I don't... err..."  Choros says awkwardly, seeming quite uncomfortable at the question.  "I didn't hear it." 

  "And when not? He rule...by fear then too? Maim all who oppose? Cannibalize lawbreakers?"  She's stolen food, on those days where she didn't have enough to eat and she was too small to hunt and hunger gnawed at her. And he'd mutilate her? Mutilate her and take away her hands and blind her as thoroughly as if he had literally done it?  "Why he leader alone? For so long?"  

 "Don't think I've heard of him chopping off limbs in peacetime, no."  Choros states, his eyes oriented upward as he thinks.  "He oversees the mines, keeps them productive, deals with the Firm, manages our trade with the rest of civilization. Never drinks, though, that makes him one dwarf of a kind in here." 

Choros shrugs as he thinks about her second question.  "I'm just a simple sort of soldier, I don't get involved in politics- and I'm only seventy-four. But I'm not sure you can rule by fear alone for three hundred and fifty years. The soldiers I know- the Iron Guard more than any- they'd die for Deldon, and die for Marcos more than anyone."  He coughs as he shrugs once again.  "Maybe fear can do that to a fella, what do I know." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "I don't... err..."  Choros says awkwardly, seeming quite uncomfortable at the question.  "I didn't hear it."  
 

Natalia softens a bit.  "Please, Choros, truth." 

  "Don't think I've heard of him chopping off limbs in peacetime, no."  Choros states, his eyes oriented upward as he thinks.  "He oversees the mines, keeps them productive, deals with the Firm, manages our trade with the rest of civilization. Never drinks, though, that makes him one dwarf of a kind in here."  

 "And does Firm know of mutilations? Of...forced cannibalism? What would...say if known?" 

 Choros shrugs as he thinks about her second question.  "I'm just a simple sort of soldier, I don't get involved in politics- and I'm only seventy-four. But I'm not sure you can rule by fear alone for three hundred and fifty years. The soldiers I know- the Iron Guard more than any- they'd die for Deldon, and die for Marcos more than anyone."  He coughs as he shrugs once again.  "Maybe fear can do that to a fella, what do I know."  

Wait. What did he just say? Natalia blinks in confusion.  "When you say...die for Marcos more than anyone...you mean they...follow Marcos over Deldon? Then...what happens when Deldon but no Marcos? And they...support draconian rule? Approve of eating mother and child?"  Natalia fights to keep her tone even, and this time she manages it. She's trying to show Choros that while she can't stand the mayor, she wants to remain on good terms with him, and as much as Deldon is a prison now, it's not that way through and through. It can't be.

But she can't get past that. She just can't, it horrifies her so thoroughly, both what he did and what else he has in store for her and her friends.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia softens a bit.  "Please, Choros, truth."  
 

Choros coughs awkwardly.  "Thorley... he said something like 'You told me your friend could handle the prank, but now she's going a bit....' errrr... well, he said 'nutty.' And your gnome friend, he said 'She'll be OK...'" .

 
 Spoiler 
Just to be clear, that dialogue is in reference to the earlier prank with pretending to be a drow attack, not anything to do with the conversation.
 


  "And does Firm know of mutilations? Of...forced cannibalism? What would...say if known?"  

Choros frowns.  "You see the Firm here saving us now? Even the food you brought came from the Church. I don't think we much care what they say about our laws. But from everything I heard about the Firm, they don't care who they're making deals with, as long as the profit comes in." 

 Wait. What did he just say? Natalia blinks in confusion.  "When you say...die for Marcos more than anyone...you mean they...follow Marcos over Deldon? Then...what happens when Deldon but no Marcos? And they...support draconian rule? Approve of eating mother and child?"  

 "Wait..."  Choros puts his hand to his forehead, looking more confused then ever.  "Was it a mother  and  child that got eaten? Yesterday I thought it was the kid's, Thorley was saying it was the mother, now you're saying it was both? Anyway, I can't make heads or tails of what you're sayin'. It's been a long night, let's finish it up without makin' it more complicated." 

--------------

Only one hour remains until her guard shift finishes and the party awakens, and Natalia begins to feel relief, as if she and her friends might be in the clear.

For most of the hour, nothing happens.

And then in the remainder of the hour, nothing continues to happen. Before Natalia knows it, Choros tips his helmet to her and heads off back to the Iron Hall. When she finds her way back to the room, she finds the party just starting to rise, with Rhenner preparing for his morning prayer and Mithril laying out her spellbook.

 
 Spoiler 
Party's reunited.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Choros coughs awkwardly.  "Thorley... he said something like 'You told me your friend could handle the prank, but now she's going a bit....' errrr... well, he said 'nutty.' And your gnome friend, he said 'She'll be OK...'" .

 
 Spoiler 
Just to be clear, that dialogue is in reference to the earlier prank with pretending to be a drow attack, not anything to do with the conversation.
 
 
 

Natalia winces when he says "nutty." Of course.  "Thanks..."  she says, trying to sound more appreciative.  "Thought would say. But...I'll be fine."  Hopefully.

 
 Spoiler 
Ah, thanks. Does he know about the Nuts thing?
 


 Choros frowns.  "You see the Firm here saving us now? Even the food you brought came from the Church. I don't think we much care what they say about our laws. But from everything I heard about the Firm, they don't care who they're making deals with, as long as the profit comes in."  

Natalia furrows her brows, confused.  "Then why follow Firm? Why...does Eldgar force membership anyway."  Shackles upon shackles, not that she doesn't like everything the Institute offers, but still. And they won't touch him. Nobody touches him and how can they approve of such barbarianism? She just doesn't get it, and she's not sure she wants to.


  "Wait..."  Choros puts his hand to his forehead, looking more confused then ever.  "Was it a mother  and  child that got eaten? Yesterday I thought it was the kid's, Thorley was saying it was the mother, now you're saying it was both? Anyway, I can't make heads or tails of what you're sayin'. It's been a long night, let's finish it up without makin' it more complicated."  

 "Does...it matter? Either way...wrong is wrong!"  She sighs.  "Sorry...about tangled speech. Long night makes worse." 

 Only one hour remains until her guard shift finishes and the party awakens, and Natalia begins to feel relief, as if she and her friends might be in the clear.

For most of the hour, nothing happens.

And then in the remainder of the hour, nothing continues to happen. Before Natalia knows it, Choros tips his helmet to her and heads off back to the Iron Hall. When she finds her way back to the room, she finds the party just starting to rise, with Rhenner preparing for his morning prayer and Mithril laying out her spellbook.

 
 Spoiler 
Party's reunited.
 
 

Natalia laughs, weak with relief when the hour finishes and they're safe, they're alive, they at least have escaped.  "Thank you,"  she says to Choros as he leaves, giving him a salute before stumbling off to her friends herself.

Interrogate the drow. All they have to do is interrogate the drow and she needs to find out about the gunpowder from Rosla and then they can get the heck out of this place...

...and leave the dwarves to Marcos.

When Natalia finally makes it back to the quarters, anybody who looks at her can see her fingers shaking, can see her eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot and deep dark bags under her eyes. She's unharmed, and she seems to relax a bit when she sees her friends are the same (unless Mithril's turned around) but she still seems shaken.

 
 Spoiler 
YAAAY! So now it's the interrogation and I do need to go to Rosla at some point, if that's okay?

Seriously good job here. This was sickening to read and you've given me a few ideas for my next campaign.
 
Athedia
Mithril looked up from her book at Natalia's arrival.   "You didn't sleep at all did you?"   Her face was focused but overall happy, and no hint of the previous night showed on it.  Her mind was still whirring though, barely able to focus on her spells.  But they had other matters to attend to now and she couldn't let the others know her mind was not safe.  She knew if she thought the Voice was in one of their heads she would have left them behind, and feared that she would be forced to stay away from her answers.

 
 Spoiler 
Help, I forget what spells we need today
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "No. Guarded rounds with Choros, Iron Guard dwarf, and...and though all live, we not only victims of mayor."  She explains in detail what the dwarves told her. And though she leaves out the prank she describes the draconian and cruel punishments of the mayor, emphasizing that he forced a starving child or teenager (she's not quite sure how old 15 is in dwarven years but it's not a human 15, that much she knows) to eat his mother's arm when she was innocent, on top of everything else! She's pacing back and forth by the end of the conversation, face screwed up to keep from screaming.

She looks back at Mithril, and the blackened eye that wasn't there the night before, and pauses.  "You okay?"  she asks, her thoughts interrupted as she points to the bruise.

 
 Spoiler 
We need Tongues and maybe Telepathic Bond and as many Detect Thoughts as you can prepare.
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
It was her nose not her eye
 


Mithril tried to pay attention, but her focus was on her books.   "Natalia, it takes while to study and absorb these texts.  I am sorry, could we chat later?"   At the question of the bruise she quickly deflected.   "Rolled out of bed, I guess I was used to the ground." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia bites her lip.  "Okay..."  she says, though she's a bit uncertain. And more than disturbed by what just happened an hour before. And exhausted, more and more exhausted by the minute. She'd normally read along with Mithril, but right now she just wants to sleep, even if it's an hour long nap.

 
 Spoiler 
Do I need 8 hours of rest to prepare my spells?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Spontaneous spellcasters don't need to sleep to get new spells per day.

Currently Natalia is fatigued, as is Kurt. Once they've gotten 8 hours of rest (presumably after the interrogation) they'll be better.
 


Natalia drops into a bed and gets what rest she can while Mithril and Rhenner prepare their spells. Not long afterwards there is a knock at the door. Upon opening it they find a pair of guards, meant to escort them down to the detention wing.

 
 Spoiler 
The party is able to head down, where they'll find a tired but vigilant Kurt keeping watch. We'll be needing spell lists from Mithril and Rhenner.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia yawns and sluggishly gets up when she eventually hears the knocking on the door. She had fallen right asleep when she got in bed, and as she follows Mithril and Rhenner and Shiny down the hall, escorted by the guards, she can feel the fatigue slowing her down and making her feel heavy and sluggish. But then she seeks Kurt wearily standing watch outside the door, where he'd been all night, and she straightens and stiffens, for she knows what's coming next. Though her body is tired and her mind is a bit slow, it's still sharp and able to make connections like always.

When Natalia sees Kurt, she takes him aside and says,  "Last night, heard we...not only victims of mayor."  She then recounts what she heard from the other dwarves as best she can, describing the draconian and cruel punishments of the mayor, emphasizing that he forced a starving child or teenager (she's not quite sure how old 15 is in dwarven years but it's not a human 15, that much she knows) to eat his mother's arm when she was innocent and he was the thief, on top of everything else. She's panting a bit when she's finished, the fire returned, and she looks to see how Kurt reacts to this.
CWater
After waking up Rhenner goes to the chapel for a morning prayer and to meditate on his spells. He meets the party again in the detention wing.

He looks a bit confused when he sees Mithril's swollen nose.  "What has happened to you? I thought there were no trouble in the night?" 

When he sees Natalia, he digs a scroll from his bag.  "You lent this to me yesterday. That battle is now over, but would you allow me to keep this for another day? It contains spells that I usually prepare myself, but today I thought there might be need for different ones." 
 
 Spoiler 
This okay? I imagine him going to the chapel if he has the chance and I think it'll be better for the flow of the story, since I wasn't up when you guys started the day.

Spells for the day:
(Also on his sheet.)

Orisons:
Create Water
Detect Magic
Detect Poison
Guidance
Light x2

1. level:
Bless
Bless Water
Comprehend Languages
Detect Evil
Protection from Evil

2. level:
Gentle Repose
Hold Person
Remove Paralysis
Status

3. level:
Prayer
Searing Light
Speak with Dead x2

4. level:
Divination
Discern Lies
Sending

If there is something that someone thinks really should be changed, with Admiral's permission, we can do that.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt is haggard looking, his eyes unusually sunken. He's more than tired, although he still stands stalwart against the wall opposite the door of the prison. Anytime he'd almost fallen asleep, all he'd had to do was remember the still vivid nightmare explosion to keep his eyes open...and when that failed, the earlier dream of his sword passing through Miriam would keep his eyes open whether he wished it or not.

As Natalia recounts the story of Deldon he grunts a bit, his face setting more than usual.  "I've heard of worse things done during a siege. And that was a long time ago, a confused story."  He holds up a hand when she opens her mouth, forestalling any further question.  "Natalia, what would you have us do? Fight him? Kill him? Maybe we could - but our violence would only lead to more."  A hand on either side of the hilt of Daybreaker, he looks tiredly down at them.  "They might kill us, or each other, or a worse mayor come along to stop something like it happening again. I do violence because......"  He trails off slowly, not able to find satisfactory words for it.  "Because I'm good at it. It solves some things. Maybe. Not just badly. Maybe. But it shouldn't be what we look for first." 

He looks up at the door, suddenly, his eyes sharply focused.  "Or we could take the easy way. You didn't seem a fan of that when talking about him." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "That's fine. You...can use best, Rhenner." 

She winces at Kurt's words. Maybe he's right, and her exhaustion and rage is sending her mind spiraling to dark places again. She tries to explain herself.  "Even if worse, still wrong. And Kurt...I a thief too. Stole food back years, when my food taken, thrown in well, or...just not enough and so hungry. Heard that and thought of me." 

But fight the mayor? Kill the mayor? She could never do something like that!

...could she? Could she do something like that, kill a tyrannical leader, even if not necessarily the mayor?

 "Not torture. Never torture. And not easy, and not violence first. I fight to protect. Protect self, protect friends, protect...what I care for. But what if...Kurt...What if first methods..."  She can't bring herself to say it out loud, not just yet. Bit it's still there in her mind:  What about people the law can't touch? People who just keep hurting and hurting--not necessarily the mayor, but other people? 

Natalia shakes her head. She's exhausted, she's still shaken. She nods to everyone and says,  "Lets find answers." 
Admiral
A dwarf arrives whom Kurt had seen a few times during his guard duty- Jordon, Deldon's magistrate. With him come Brander and Lucius, looking serious.

 "All right, mayor's orders-"  Jordon says to the party,  "two of their group and two of yours in the interrogation- along with me. Who's going in?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt steps forward immediately.  "I am. I said I would be there and I meant it."  Stone-faced, he doesn't look to the others for confirmation, unwilling to let people talk him out of it. He has to be there, in the sea of uncertainty within his gut, that is the rock he stands on. For now, it remains solid.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Only two? But two of ours can cast, that makes three."  She sighs, realizing she won't be allowed in no matter how much she wants to, how much she feels it's right. And she wouldn't dare try talking Kurt out of it right now.

She asks Mithril,  "Could you please...let me listen in...through telepathic bond? Maybe I...find other answers in meantime, get all done now. Tell you through mind link, save time. Please?"  Perhaps she could speak to Rosla about the gunpowder, or... "Rhenner, do you want...answers from dead shadow? See if we...can speak corpse?" 
Admiral
 "If you'll excuse us a moment-"  Shiny says pleasantly to the magistrate, before stepping aside with the others.

 "Kurt, I'm sorry, but there are spells that both Mithril and I can use that will let us interrogate him without violence,"  Shiny explains diplomatically.  "If we can't use these spells, that's exactly what Lucius will be counting on." 
Cavelcade
Kurt crosses his arms and shakes his head, lips tight.  "If you need to swap, if Mithril can't do everything she needs to, then swap. I can't not be there during this...I'm sorry Shiny, I know this is important. But there are a lot of reasons it's important, not just to get the information." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses.  "Kurt, I know you...need be there, but maybe mind reading bond. Between you, shiny, Mithril, maybe us. Then...we know what happens inside, even if we away. I know best, but...swapping best, but if can't, maybe listen through mind good?"  she timidly suggests.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Rhenner, do you want...answers from dead shadow? See if we...can speak corpse?"  
 

 "...Sure, of course" , Rhenner replies,  "I hope we'll be able to learn something. ...To my understanding, even if the spell succeeds, the answers might be cryptic."  There is an tiny odd streak in his tone.
Admiral
Shiny gives a long sigh at Kurt's response, before stepping back to the magistrate.  "Look, I know this wasn't your plan..."  he begins...

 
 Spoiler 

Don't have time to write it  right  now. Diplomacy:  (1d20+18)[ 33 ] 
 


After a brief conversation Shiny steps back to the group, wagging his finger at Kurt.  "You're lucky I'm as charming as you are stubborn,"  he says,  "or we'd never get anywhere. Anyway, they're letting me switch out with Mithril once my spell gets cooking." 
 
 Spoiler 
Shiny's plan is to use  suggestion s until one of them takes (if one does), suggesting to him to answer all questions and answer them truthfully, then switch out with Mithril.

In terms of optimization, Shiny should really be there, since he has the highest bluff, diplomacy, and sense motive. But this isn't a final exam in DND 124: Optimization, this is a story, and Kurt and Mithril are definitely the ones I'm interested in seeing in there.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "...Sure, of course" , Rhenner replies,  "I hope we'll be able to learn something. ...To my understanding, even if the spell succeeds, the answers might be cryptic."  There is an tiny odd streak in his tone. 
 

 "Then worth trying, lets ask to see bodies! Though...maybe you speak."  Natalia looks curiously at the cleric.  "Rhenner, you okay?" 

EDIT: Natalia asks the guard,  "Can we...see dead drow?" 
Admiral
The magistrate steps towards the door, flanked by Kurt and Shiny on one side and Brander and Lucius on the other. Lucius raises his hand suddenly before they enter.

Before they do, Shiny places a hand on Kurt, casting a spell. Moments later Kurt's mind expands as he seems to gain knowledge of languages he'd never before comprehended. Moments later Shiny casts the same spell on himself, before looking over to Brander and Lucius.

 "I know you speak the drow's language,"  Shiny says to Lucius,  "but what about you?"  He raises an eyebrow towards Brander.

 "Don't worry about that,"  Lucius interrupts.  "The drow understands the common tongue perfectly, it was obvious from his face while you were talking. He's just trying to keep that a surprise."  Then he turns to Kurt and Shiny, and glances over their shoulder at the others.

 "I know you don't think much of me,"  he says in his low growl.  "But don't forget who the enemy is in there." 
 
 Spoiler 
See above, Shiny will switch out with Mithril halfway.

Does Mithril want to telepathic bond the gang together? As noted, it wouldn't require  tongues  on anyone except the one listening.

I wrote this post already and am putting it up since I'll be offline soon, but if you want to  speak with dead  first, we'll do that.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia hesitates, then gives Lucius a nod.

EDIT: She gives Shiny and Kurt a smile.  "Thanks,"  she says.
Cavelcade
Kurt relaxes when Shiny gets what he needs, and again he smiles one of his true smiles for Shiny, masking the tiredness his red eyes and slouching back demonstrate so clearly for the moment as he does.  "If I weren't as stubborn as you were charming, we'd never get anywhere because we'd be going everywhere. Thank you, Shiny."  He nods, very slightly, to Lucius before facing the door.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Then worth trying, lets ask to see bodies! Though...maybe you speak."  Natalia looks curiously at the cleric.  "Rhenner, you okay?"  
 

 "Oh yes, I am perfectly fine" , Rhenner answers with a smile, though Natalia does get the feeling that it is somehow forced,  "This situation just makes me a little nervous. And being so long under the mountain.." 
 
 Spoiler 
This cleric would really suck at poker😏
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt relaxes when Shiny gets what he needs, and again he smiles one of his true smiles for Shiny, masking the tiredness his red eyes and slouching back demonstrate so clearly for the moment as he does.  "If I weren't as stubborn as you were charming, we'd never get anywhere because we'd be going everywhere. Thank you, Shiny."  He nods, very slightly, to Lucius before facing the door. 
 

Natalia agrees, smiles at Shiny and Mithril, and Kurt as well.  "Stubborn, but solid. You...know way. Or if not, then knowing more and more. Wish I did too."  She feels like sand, not stone.


 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Oh yes, I am perfectly fine" , Rhenner answers with a smile, though Natalia does get the feeling that it is somehow forced,  "This situation just makes me a little nervous. And being so long under the mountain.." 
 
 Spoiler 
This cleric would really suck at poker😏
 
 
 

 "Same,"  Natalia says.  
"Feel trapped now. But...ask now, right?"  Rhenner looks undoubtedly nervous, but Natalia can't really figure out why. Is it the general creepiness of talking to a dead person? It does somewhat disturb her, she has to admit.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia would be even worse.
 
Admiral
Before the group enters the interrogation room, the guards carry a pair of corpses up from the morgue. The bodies stink of decay; it seems the dwarves weren't particularly interested in embalming or preserving them.

In a cell down the hall from the drow mage's, they lay out the pair of bodies side by side. Mithril, Rhenner, and Natalia stand over them, and Mithril casts her spell of mental connection on Shiny, before he nods and walks back to the cell.

When they are ready, the door opens, and they see the mage still curled up in the corner. Before anyone says anything, Shiny reaches forward and casts his spell.

 
 Spoiler 

First try at suggestion. In sync, Rhenner can try Speak With Dead. Decide whether he wants to talk to the armor guy or the trapsmith first, and what he'll do if it fails (cast on the other one or try again on the same one).

Drow Will save:  (1d20+7)[ 11 ] 
Shiny CL check:  (1d20+10)[ 13 ] 
 
Admiral
The drow sneers as Shiny's spell is ineffective. Growling quietly, the gnome tries again.

 
 Spoiler 

Will:  (1d20+7)[ 9 ] 
CL:  (1d20+10)[ 25 ] 
 


Suddenly the drow's eyes widen as the spell takes hold, and Shiny seizes his moment.

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;You're in a dangerous position, drow. I  suggest  that you answer all of the questions you are asked today, that you answer them entirely truthfully- and, if you can do so, speak in the common tongue.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 

The drow closes his eyes and shudders, but then moments later answers weakly-  "Yes." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia retches at the stench of the dead bodies, the sickly-sweet smell of rotting meat. She looks to Rhenner and asks,  "Ready?" 
 
 Spoiler 
i say the trapsmith first. Also, yes!
 
Admiral
The gnome's voice floats into Mithril's mind.  "The spell worked, he'll answer any questions you ask him. You can come and switch with me if you want." 

Perhaps it is residual discomfort from her experience last night, or perhaps she is just not used to hearing the gnome's voice in this way, but Mithril finds Shiny's voice somewhat strange and off-putting. It takes her a moment to diagnose the issue, but it's as if the usual energy and enthusiasm of the gnome's voice doesn't come across in the telepathic link.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia retches at the stench of the dead bodies, the sickly-sweet smell of rotting meat. She looks to Rhenner and asks,  "Ready?" 
 
 Spoiler 
i say the trapsmith first. Also, yes!
 
 
 

Rhenner nods, but still hesitates for a moment. Oh, he doesn't mind the smell, or the dead bodies, he's seen plenty of those and in worse condition in his life. But the thought of one of them starting to move while still remaining dead...

  This is stupid. It's just going to answer a few questions, it's not like it's going to get up or grab anyone.

...I really shouldn't have thought of that.  
 [Elven]"Fharlanghn, grant me courage..."[/Elven] , he mutters holding his holy symbol.

He is slightly pale when he starts the long mantra to give the trapsmith's body the ability to speak once more.

 
 Spoiler 
You're letting us use Speak with Dead twice on the same corpse?

Oh, and Rhenner will cast the language spells only if Speak with Dead succeeds first.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at Rhenner, pale and scared. She knows elven.   "You okay? It okay if scared."   she asks Rhenner in Elven, laying a calming, supportive hand on his shoulder.

 
 Spoiler 
Thanks. It should be pretty obvious that I've gotta know when Tongues is up, you know? 😛
 
CWater
Startled by the rogues words, the cleric throws a quick glance at her. But he doesn't say anything before casting the spell.

  Right, that obvious, is it?  
Athedia
While Shiny went into the room Mithril prepared herself.  Even if the drow could speak common, nothing said his mind would also behave in such a language.

  Shiny, could you get him to let me into his mind?  It would be easier to do this if I knew my spells would work.  

Mithril took a deep breath.  What she was going to do was still torture, she knew that after last night.  Even the feeling of the others sending thoughts into her mind was unsettling, it reminded her to much of the Voice.
Admiral
 "I'm sorry, Mithril, but asking too much could break the enchantment entirely. Your spell will have to get in on its own." 
 
 Spoiler 
Shiny's cramming a  lot  into that suggestion spell, and again I'm always cautious about making the spell overpowered. (In my opinion, V's use of it to tell the dragon "Take no actions except those which I explicitly ask of you," was too powerful, as it was basically Dominate.
 


Rhenner casts his own spell on the corpse of the rogue.

 
 Spoiler 

Oh, right, sorry, can't cast twice on the same target. I had forgotten.

Will save:  (1d20+3)[ 8 ] 
 


Rhenner feels his spell succeed- he knows he can ask four questions of the drow corpse.
CWater
 "Perhaps...it would be better... if you'd ask the questions, it... will answer four" , he says quietly to Natalia,  "I have a spell to... to make sure language will not be a problem. But be careful...of how you...phrase the questions. They...tend to be cryptic and...evasive if they can."  His voice is steady, but it sounds like he has to concentrate hard on every word.

 
 Spoiler 
As agreed, he casts Tongues on Natalia and Comprehend Languages on himself.
 
Athedia
  Okay, wish me luck.    Mithril walked to the door to switch places with Shiny.

The mage was still in the cell, Mithril felt a pang of doubt if she was doing the right thing.  But looking at Kurt and then at Lucius she knew she had made the right call.

Standing in front of Kurt so he would not be targeted by the spell (if the other's were she didn't care, it would let her read Lucius's mind anyway) she cast it forward toward the drow.

 
 Spoiler 
Drow Will Save:  (1d20+7)[ 27 ] 
CL Check: I don't think I get bonuses on this one  (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins as Rhenner casts the spell on her, and she tests out her refound language.  "Thank you, Rhenner. You really have no idea how wonderful it is to be able to speak, even if it is kind of odd. I mean, well, I can't even remember if I ever spoke normally outside a spell. So it feels like Nutspeak is a part of me, even if it's a part I hate, if that makes sense?" 

She shakes her head and banishes the thoughts for the moment. Natalia takes a deep breath (away from the corpses!), then leans forward and asks the corpse a question that's been burning in her mind:  "Who was involved in making the gunpowder bomb that you smuggled in, and that I disabled?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Again, please tell me when the spell wears off. I'll be asking one question at a time, and I'm going to let Mithril ask the "how/where did you guys get in, if that's okay?
 
Athedia
Mithril cursed as the spell failed to take hold.  Reaching down she attempted a second time.

 
 Spoiler 
Drow Will Save:  (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
If needed CL:  (1d20+8)[ 18 ] 
 
Admiral
The corpse stirs, and its voice bubbles as if fluids fill its throat. Rhenner's magic forces the jaws to open and close, but there is nothing natural in their movement.

 "I was." 
 
 Spoiler 
It's a literal answer to the question.
 


---------

The drow hisses as he shakes his head clear of the spell once again- Shiny's suggestion doesn't seem to have made him more friendly.

 
 Spoiler 
Coffee's right, CL checks aren't necessary since SR doesn't apply to Detect Thoughts.
 
CWater
This came before Admiral's post:

Remembering that the other spell requires one to touch the subject, Rhenner frozes in place for a few seconds.  "Oh, that's nice" , he replies to Natalia, not really heard what she'd said.
 
 Right. Forgot about that... I really shouldn't lose my concentration like this.  

But the corpse is yet to show any behaviour uncommon for a corpse, so he kneels down, and touches its dark fingertips, just a little.

  It's just a dead body,    just  a dead body.  
Athedia
Mithril tried again, hopefully for the last time.

 
 Spoiler 
Drow Will Save:  (1d20+7)[ 12 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "She made the bomb, or at least she was involved,"  Natalia says to everyone, closing her eyes at the unnatural, disturbing movement. She asks the next question:  "Who sent you on the mission into Deldon that we stopped, and was this person or people also involved in making the bomb?" 
 
 Spoiler 
If only one part can be answered, then answer the first part, please. And YIPPEE!
 
Admiral
This time, Mithril senses her spell succeed, and she senses the drow's mind ahead of her. He's truly cunning- perhaps as smart as she is- but then again, she is out here while he is locked up in there.

Moments later, she hears the echoes of his thoughts in her mind.   "&lt;undercommon&gt;...pathetic girl, getting her friends to throw me in here like a rat while she probes away at my head, sticking a knife in me wasn't enough for her-&lt;/undercommon&gt;   His thoughts seem focused on her with a deep hatred.

 
 Spoiler 
Technically, I should have let the earlier ones get to the point of recognizing the drow's Int before he got a Will save.

Drow's Int is 19.
 


The corpse's mouth stretches open unnaturally yet again.  "Our commander did." 
 
 Spoiler 
No double questions.
 
Athedia
Mithril sat down across from the drow and looked him in the eye.   "I am sorry about all the measures we have taken, but you did try to kill everyone here.  Now I can't just call you drow or mage, what is your name?" 
CWater
 "Evasive, I told you" , Rhenner mutters. He sits very still, his other hand clenched in a tight fist. He's looking away from the trapsmith.
Admiral
  "&lt;undercommon&gt;Foolish human girl I won't I ARGGGHHGHHGH&lt;/undercommon&gt;"   his mind seems to rip apart from internal turmoil.

 "Sonorus,"  he answers in a dull tone.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Their commander sent them. She said commander, not commanders. This means only one person sent them." 

Natalia places a hand on Rhenner's shoulder and asks the next question.

 "What is the name, title, and physical appearance of your commander, and is he also known as The Voice?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Does that mean I can't repeat questions, or I can't have multi-part questions?
 
Admiral
 "Captain Cornos. He's a tall, muscular, drow." 
 
 Spoiler 
That means no compound questions (like "Is he also known as the Voice" or "and were they involved in making...")
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
   "&lt;undercommon&gt;Foolish human girl I won't I ARGGGHHGHHGH&lt;/undercommon&gt;"   his mind seems to rip apart from internal turmoil.

 "Sonorus,"  he answers in a dull tone. 
 

 "Okay Sonorus, thank you.  I think the most important thing my dwarven friends would like to know is how did you get in?" 
CoffeeIncluded
  Captain Cornos?   Natalia turns to Rhenner and Shiny.  "Now we're getting somewhere. Should we ask if he knows the Voice, or how he's related to the orcs? We can only ask one more question. Shiny, please tell Mithril to ask the drow about Captain Cornos!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Guys, what do you think is best?
 
Admiral
 "So?"  the drow asks. His mind is simply filled with hateful and spiteful thoughts towards her.

 "That wasn't a question,"  Lucius whispers from behind her, in a hissing tone that might pass in his mind for helpful.
Admiral
 "Getting somewhere?"  Shiny asks, scratching his head.  "It's just a name. "  Still, he passes the answers to the questions so far along to Mithril through their link.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thanks. Guys, can we please wait to see what answers about Captain Cornos Mithril can get from the wizard before we ask the last question--unless, Rhenner, how much time is left before the spell runs out? Unless you have any better ideas about what to ask?" 
CWater
 "Not very long, few more minutes." 
 
 Spoiler 
How much time has passed?
 
Athedia
 "My friends say Captain Cornos was the one who sent you.  What was the mission Captain Cornos sent you on?  How did you get into the mountain? How was the gunpowder bomb created.  And how much of an annoyance is Lucius here?"   Mithril glared at Lucius.
Admiral
As the drow speaks, Mithril gets the unusual view of the inside of a mind under one of Shiny's enchantment. It is not a pleasant sight- every time the drow tries to resist answering her question, the spell seems to twist his mind until it breaks- all without visibly affecting the elf's countenance.


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "My friends say Captain Cornos was the one who sent you.  What was the mission Captain Cornos sent you on?" 
 "To destroy the food supplies in Deldon." 
 How did you get into the mountain?" 
 "We made a tunnel and walked in." 
 "How was the gunpowder bomb created." 
 "That's not my field." 
 "And how much of an annoyance is Lucius here?" 
 "Not as much as you are, you twisted wretch,"  he spits out, the spell having offered him some opportunity for honesty. 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses and thinks, then thinks out loud so her friends will know her thought process.  "I can find out about the gunpowder from Rosla, and I might be able to reproduce the bomb with some blueprints--I already have a general idea how it works, and I'm honestly upset we couldn't save it because it was some amazing craftmanship. If I had the whole thing I could reverse-engineer it. As it is, I can probably make a good start at it and maybe muddle my way through with some better textbooks, materials, and practice. Possibly, I'm not sure. So we need to know three things: Who made the gunpowder, who gave them the gunpowder, and if he also supplied the orcs with gunpowder. I suspect the answer to the last question is 'yes,' and I could show Rosla both sample of gunpowder from here and before. Different chemists make things differently; if the Horde gunpowder and the drow gunpowder came from different sources their composition would be slightly different." 

She pauses and looks back at the drow.  "I think we should ask for the identity of the gunpowder supplier, and see if they made it as well. But the identity would be more important here. What do you think?" 
 
 Spoiler 
If someone agrees I'm posting that next.
 
Athedia
 "Good to hear.  I am glad your actual thoughts are being expressed."   Mithril kept her face calm, if Lucius was an expert at physical torture, she knew a little about the mental side.

 "What were you exact instructions on what your mission was?  What was your exact path into the mountain, working backward from the storeroom?  Just for fun, where is your familiar and what type of creature is it?" 
CWater
Rhenner turns to Natalia, momentarily distracted from the unpleasantly enchanted corpse.

  She sounds different than before... Did the spell really have that big effect on her?  
 "I...guess it would indeed be good to know where they got it, if that is possible..." 
Admiral
The drow wizard growls angrily.  "Our mission was to get to the storeroom, to plant the gunpowder bomb so that it would destroy the food supplies, then escape the way we came."  His mind struggles terribly with itself as he speaks.

He describes a route through the mountain that Mithril recognizes as the one they'd followed, with the corpses of guards along the way, and then descends down into the mines on the western side of the mountains via an entrance only a few hundred yards past where their bunks are.  "The drow have a tunnel that approaches close to one of the tunnels in that mine. The last ten feet we dug through temporary magic- the  passwall  spell. Our leader had a telepathic link with the drow soldier waiting there. I can only guess that when he died, the drow dismissed the spell." 

The last question is the one he resists the most strongly, but in the end he is forced to answer.  "A snake. From my communication with him I can only guess he is in a tightly confined space." 
Athedia
Mithril understood his fight, the bond she had with Whiskers was so powerful she would do anything to save him.   "I will promise one thing.  No harm will come to your familiar, at least if I have the power to prevent it."   Turning to one of the dwarf guards she nodded.   "Now you know where the danger is, isn't that what you wanted to know." 

Turning back to the drow she started in on questions more to her interests.   "Do you, your companions or your leaders have any dealings with the Horde and if so what are they?  Where did the drow get the gunpowder?"   Looking around she quickly spoke the next question.   "Do you worship Lolth?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you. We'll have to trust in Mithril and your spell for anything else."  Natalia exults in her fluency, in her ability to speak clearly and coherently, in the strange and yet wonderful sensation to say exactly what she means and what she thinks and the thoughts that run so quickly through her head. Leaning over, she asks the drow her final question, the one approved by Shiny and Rhenner.

 "To the best of your knowledge, what is the name, title, and, if you can answer, the physical appearance of the person, people, or group who gave, sold, or supplied you with the gunpowder used to make the gunpowder bomb?" 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Answers below
 


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Turning back to the drow she started in on questions more to her interests.   "Do you, your companions or your leaders have any dealings with the Horde and if so what are they?" 

The drow sneered.  "As little dealings as we can. They are a clumsy race. We trade with them when it is useful." 
 "Where did the drow get the gunpowder?" 
 "We  made  it." 
 "Do you worship Lolth?" 

The dwarf magistrate, who had been following along intently, looks confused by this last question, but the drow answers readily.  "All drow appreciate the power of the Spider Queen."  
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 [COLOR="DarkOrchid"]
 "To the best of your knowledge, what is the name, title, and, if you can answer, the physical appearance of the person, people, or group who gave, sold, or supplied you with the gunpowder used to make the gunpowder bomb?"  
 

 "The drow miners made it." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's eyes widen.  "Drow miners? They made it? Does this mean the Voice is a drow? Or if maybe he found out about it?"  There are so many questions here.  "Shiny, you've got to tell Mithril that! Rhenner, can you cast a spell on the other one?"  They got so little information, but hopefully it was helpful to Mithril.
Athedia
 "Who made the gunpowder?  Did the drow ever trade any gunpowder to the Horde?" 
CWater
 "I can try. It will take a while."  He remains kneeling next to the corpses and begins muttering another spell.

  Really, not so horrible. I should calm down already.  
 
 Spoiler 
Speak with Dead has actually 10 minutes casting time, so technically Mithril and the others should get quite much of their interrogation done in that time.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you, Rhenner. Shiny, are you getting anything from Mithril?" 

She leans in close to Rhenner.  "Are you scared of dead things? Even though you're a cleric?"  she teases a bit, though her expression is kind.
CWater
Rhenner does not answer to Natalia, just continues casting the spell. His frown deepens a bit though, so it can be assumed that he heard her.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Who made the gunpowder?  Did the drow ever trade any gunpowder to the Horde?"  
 

 "The drow manufacture gunpowder from the earth, to use in our tunneling. I heard once that they have traded gunpowder to the Horde before." 
Athedia
  Shiny the drow made the gunpowder!  And they at some point traded some to the Horde.  They got in by a spell, passwall he called it. Apparently one of their tunnels runs by a dwarven one.  They planned to destroy the food and then escape.  
 "Was the plan to destroy the food an act of convenience due to the siege?"   She looked up at the others in the room.   "Anyone else have questions?  I could go on all day, but I would not necessarily ask what you are looking for." 
Admiral
 "I don't know why my commanders sent us in now,"  the drow answers.  "Orders come to us from the Lords of the Underdark. We were assembled and briefed just hours before we went in." 
Athedia
 "Which of the dead drow was your leader?"   Mithril leaned in and focused on the drow, her next question in the most serious tone yet.   "Are the drow involved in the War of Whispers?" 
Admiral
Brander, Lucius, and the dwarf magistrate all give puzzled looks when Mithril mentions the "War of the Whispers."

 "Lunden was our crew's leader. He's the one in the heavy armor. I've never heard of that 'war.'" 
 
 Spoiler 
I'm guessing Kurt would too. Mithril mentioned that Avaralynn had a quest, but I don't think she went into detail.  Here  is most of what people besides Mithril know, for reference.
 
Athedia
  "The guy in the heavy armor was the leader.  Can his corpse be questioned?"  

And no information on the War.  Mithril felt there was more to ask the drow, but couldn't think of questions.

One struck her, something she knew would never happen but still made her curious.   "If we let you go, what would you do?  I am just curious." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "We can try to question him,"  Natalia tries.  "Please Shiny, could you tell Mithril to ask him if the drow have any further aggression planned, or of they were planning any aggression before this, towards the dwarves or anyone."  she waits for Rhenner to finish his spell.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 One struck her, something she knew would never happen but still made her curious.   "If we let you go, what would you do?  I am just curious."  
 

 "I would  dearly  enjoy killing you,"  he answers.  "Anything after that would just be a bonus." 

His thoughts are a bit more detailed, as he can't help himself constructing a plan, most of which revolves around getting the front doors open as a diversion.

Shiny passes along Natalia's question though the mental link:   "We're wondering why the drow are aggressive now, and if they will continue to be so aggressive in the future."  
Athedia
 "I thought as much.  Do you know why the drow have become aggresive and if they will continue to be agressive in the future?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks down at the second dead drow--the leader, apparently.  "Rhenner, are you almost done with the casting? Do you or Shiny have any questions you want to ask? I kind of want to ask if they've heard of Avaralynn." 

EDIT:  "I wonder why he was the leader,"  Natalia muses as she looks at the dead drow.  "Is it because he was the strongest, or because he knew the most about what was going on? For that matter, why were these drow in particular choosen? We're they selected from a group, were they the only ones for the job, or did they volunteer. Shiny, could you please tell Mithril these things? They night be worth asking, so we know what to ask his corpse." 
Cavelcade
Kurt relaxes as the interrogation continues. As he sees the magic at work - while slightly unnerved it...reassures him, the Drow will not be harmed to get this information. Slowly his exhaustion starts to overwhelm even this stubborn dwarf's ability to keep his eyes open, slowly he starts to fall asleep as they discuss the danger in front of their eyes.
Admiral
 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Are you actually  falling asleep? &lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 

Lucius's whisper is quieter than ever, and yet it drips with incredulity. He still looks intently forward at the drow as the prisoner speaks, but whispers to Kurt out of the side of his mouth.

 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;What is  wrong  with you." 
 
 Spoiler 
😛
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "I thought as much.  Do you know why the drow have become aggresive and if they will continue to be agressive in the future?"  
 

The drow sneers.  "Aggressive?"  he asks.  "Do you see us up there squinting in the sunlight? All beneath the surface is ours by right." 
 "Why the Lords chose this opportunity is not up to me. It is simply my privilege to be a part of it. But I do hear... just a rumor... I did hear they have someone prisoner, and for some reason that prisoner made it worth acting now." 
 
 Spoiler 
Sorry, needed to edit in that last bit.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt's eyes jerk open, he blinks a few times, fuzzily, shaking the fatigue off himself a bit.  &lt;Dwarven&gt; "Plenty. But right now I'm mostly just tired. Do you know what's wrong with you?"&lt;/Dwarven&gt; 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The drow sneers.  "Aggressive?"  he asks.  "Do you see us up there squinting in the sunlight? All beneath the surface is ours by right." 
 "Why the Lords chose this opportunity is not up to me. It is simply my privilege to be a part of it. But I do hear... just a rumor... I did hear they have someone prisoner, and for some reason that prisoner made it worth acting now." 
 
 Spoiler 
Sorry, needed to edit in that last bit.
 
 
 

 "A prisoner?"   Mithril looked up at Kurt, who could the prisoner be?   "Did your leader know more about the plan?  Also where is your spellbook?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt spreads his hands slightly, answering Mithril's confused look with one of his own. A prisoner could be literally anyone - and she'd now more about who than he would.

 "...was...is the prisoner a dwarf?" 
Admiral
Lucius just keeps staring forward and seethes with anger, though it is barely distinguishable from his usual expression.

 
 Spoiler 
Ha!
 


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "A prisoner?"   Mithril looked up at Kurt, who could the prisoner be?   "Did your leader know more about the plan?  Also where is your spellbook?"  
 

 "I don't know, it's possible,"  Sonorus says offhandedly.  "He's the one I heard it from." 
 "You don't seriously think I'd take my spellbook into the field,"  the drow says with a raised eyebrow.  "It's back with my commander." 

 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt spreads his hands slightly, answering Mithril's confused look with one of his own. A prisoner could be literally anyone - and she'd now more about who than he would.

 "...was...is the prisoner a dwarf?"  
 

 "I don't have the first idea." 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

About time for that Speak with Dead Will save:

 (1d20+4)[ 19 ] 
 


Rhenner's spell on the second corpse fails, the body remaining entirely still.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia curses.  "****! We're not going to get any more information for a while...Rhenner, how soon can you try again with him?" 
CWater
 "With these two, it would take a week" , Rhenner says rising up, not looking at Natalia.  "...I guess we could try with the other corpses tomorrow, or if the dwarven clerics have prepared the spell today."  It shames him, but he is secretly relieved that the spell failed.

 "If you excuse me" , he walks away from the cells to the tunnel, just far enough to get out of sight.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Seriously? A week? Rhenner, Shiny, what do you think we should do?"  No way was she staying in Deldon a week. Though maybe they could ask the other dwarves if they could question the other corpses? She yawns, exhaustion suddenly catching up with her--how's Kurt doing? Has he fallen asleep?

Natalia sees movement out of the corner of her eye and turns to see Rhenner walking off. She frowns--is he okay? He doesn't really seem it, and she doesn't feel its right to pry just yet.
Athedia
 "What is the layout of where you came from?  Is it a fortress or a town?" 
Admiral
 "The Underdark is not one city, it is a world- our world, far grander than the pitiful settlements you have staked out on the surface. I come from Tol'Garun, a drow city twenty miles north of here, far deeper below the surface." 
Athedia
 "Are there any nearby exits onto the surface and if so where are they?" 
Admiral
Sonorus shrugs.  "I have heard that there are routes to the surface near Tol'Garun, but I have never taken them. The surface has little to offer us." 
Athedia
Mithril turned to the dwarven magistrate.   "After I am done here, what will happen to him?" 
Admiral
 "That's for the mayor to decide,"  whispers the magistrate, looking up at the drow as if he'd rather the prisoner not hear.  "I could see him going, er, either way." 
Athedia
 "And what does that mean?"   Mithril did not whisper, the prisoner had a right to hear his fate.
Admiral
 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;You don't discuss this during an interrogation!&lt;/Dwarven&gt;"  Lucius hisses, his hand to his forehead, but the dwarf seems intimidated into answering.

 "Erm, that he could be executed, or could be kept as a prisoner of war. What, why?" 
Athedia
Mithril glared at Lucius wondering if he remembered she had the ability to understand him.   "&lt;Dwarven&gt;I discuss what I please.  What happens to him if he is kept?  Does Lucius get a shot at him, does the Mayor?&lt;/Dwarven&gt; 
Admiral
 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;A  shot  at him? What are you talking about?&lt;/Dwarven&gt;"  The magistrate seems somewhat distressed by Mithril turning the interrogation on him.
Athedia
 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;I want to make sure Lucius does not use his unique talents on the drow.&lt;/Dwarven&gt;"   Mithril turned back to the drow, focusing on his mind.   "Do you have family back in Tol'Garun?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks down at the dead drow, then at the tunnel where Rhenner walked down, and then Shiny.  "Shiny, could you please ask if I could ask the wizard a few questions as well?" 
 
 Spoiler 
If you want me to edit this into my previous post, please just say so.
 
Admiral
Lucius gives Mithril an odd look at her comment. After Mithril's question, the drow hisses  "Arghhyou don't want to be asking that- yes."  His thoughts grow violent and defensive.

A message passes into Mithril's mind-   "Once you're done with your questions, Natalia is interested in speaking to him as well."  
Athedia
 "I am sorry.  You may not believe me, but I understand you not wanting to endanger them.  I will be leaving soon, but before I go there is one more question I have.  If you had the choice of being executed or kept as a prisoner of war, which would you chose?" 
  I am almost done.  Before she comes in I have some more information.    Mithril shared what she had learned of the Underdark, of the drow and gunpowder and even of the fact that the drow had family back home.
CWater
Rhenner wanders back to the scene when the girls are switching places. Any trace of nervousness is gone and his face is of normal colour again. He listens quietly to Mithril when she summarises what she had learned.

 "Hmm, so what now?" 

Sometimes seems to come to his mind.  "Just curious, but you never told who punched you." 
 
 Spoiler 
Just being a little practical here with the timing.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks in confusion. Lords of the Underdark? A prisoner? If there is a prisoner down there, it's looking more and more likely that they're going to be heading to the city, both to escape and possibly to do a prison break as well. But Natalia knows nothing about drow and the underdark besides rumors. But those rumors do scare her, and she plays her hands over each other while waiting for Mithril to finish.

Plus, she doesn't want to start a fight in a city, where civilians would get involved.

 "If we're traveling into the Underdark, which it looks like we might, we need as much information as possible." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "I am sorry.  You may not believe me, but I understand you not wanting to endanger them.  I will be leaving soon, but before I go there is one more question I have.  If you had the choice of being executed or kept as a prisoner of war, which would you chose?"  
 

The drow hisses.  "Well, I surrendered- doesn't that tell you?"  Mithril hears that his thoughts are filled with mental mockery.


   I am almost done.  Before she comes in I have some more information.    Mithril shared what she had learned of the Underdark, of the drow and gunpowder and even of the fact that the drow had family back home. 

Shiny relates the information as he receives it over the mental link.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you,"  Natalia says.  "I hope he answers my questions too."  She looks down at the body of the trapsmith. At least hell be able to understand her. She waits for Mithril to finish and leave.

 
 Spoiler 
id walk in now but athedia told me she wants to post Mithril leaving and the switch-off between the girls first. You'll be in in an hour, right? I just don't want to hold anyone up too long.
 
Athedia
 "Thank you.  By the way I like the gift."  Mithril let her sleeve fall back to show the dagger on her wrist.  With a smile she left the room and the drow behind.   "Natalia, I hope you have a speech spell cast.  He will not hesitate to insult." 

As Rhenner asked the question, she paused flustered.   "Did I say someone punched me?  I fell.  Nothing more." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles.  "I do, and thank you. I won't need to worry about him not being able to understand me."  She looks pained at Mithrils explanation, but says,  "I've been having nightmares too. I hope we'll be able to sleep better soon."  Natalia gives Mithril a hug and then enters the room where the drow is held.

She nods to Kurt, Brander, Lucius, and the guards, then says,  "So, Sonorous, I also have some questions, but let's finish this quickly. Who or what exactly are the Lords of the Underdark?"  She doesn't just want to finish quickly to be done with it--she doesn't know how much longer this spell will last, and she wants to revel in her ability to speak as long as she can.
Admiral
 "They are a government of the drow, one of several that rule the lands below Eldgar,"  the mage hisses.  "Tol'Garun is their capital city. There are larger nations of the drow, though none as fearsome." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses. It's a good thing she has Tongues active, otherwise she might be incapable of saying Tol'Garun and might end up calling it Drowtown or something instead.  "What do you mean by "none as fearsome?" What are the government and the city like? Do you know anything about the other drow governments in Eldgar? And Sonorous, if we travel to Tol'Garun, or go close in order to return to the surface, will we be attacked? Or will we be able to travel through the city without much trouble?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I still have a few more questions.
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 As Rhenner asked the question, she paused flustered.   "Did I say someone punched me?  I fell.  Nothing more."  
 

Rhenner raises an eyebrow. (Okay, both of them. I don't think he's capable of raising only one.)  "Really... That is a very curious injury from a fall. I could swear that came from a fist.. not a very strong fist though, which is curious since most here are warriors who could have easily broken your nose. Or I suppose it could have just been a poor hit too. Still, there are few here who would have reached that high... If you angered a dwarf they would have more likely punched you in the gut."  It is somewhat unclear is he still speaking to Mithril, or rambling by himself.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm sorry if I'm making a too big of an assumption that a medic for 20 years would recognise a punched nose. ^^'
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "What do you mean by "none as fearsome?"  
 

 
 "One day all the under-realms will be ruled by the Lords of the Underdark in the nation of Zyvonar, as is their right." 
 
 Spoiler 
Don't take his patriotism too literally.
 


  "What is the government and the city like? Do you know anything about the other governments in Eldgar?"  

Spitting as he does, the drow forces out a short description of a few of the other nations.

 
 Spoiler 
...that I don't quite feel like writing right now, but will bring up as it becomes relevant. Basically he lists two others, two larger than Zyvonar and one smaller. The Lords of the Underdark are just what the Zyvonar nation calls their government.

One of the drow nations, Ackosar, is located in the northernmost stretches of Eldgar under the Denbold Mountains (not to be confused with Deldon), and is the friendliest (in a relative sense) to the surface realm. The Firm has a very shaky alliance with Ackosar where they assist the drow in mining the rich natural resources under the mountains. (This alliance came up in my tabletop campaign, which is the reason I have it ready).
 


 [B]"And Sonorous, if we travel to Tol'Garun, or go close in order to return to the surface, will we be attacked? Or will we be able to travel through the city without much trouble?" 

 
  

 "Ha!"  He spits.  "It has been centuries since those of the surface walked through the grandest city of the deep! You would be a fool to step foot in their halls, and a dead fool soon after!" 
Athedia
 "My elbow must have caught on something.  Yes, my elbow caught while I was falling." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "One day all the under-realms will be ruled by the Lords of the Underdark in the nation of Zyvonar, as is their right." 
 
 Spoiler 
Don't take his patriotism too literally.
 




Spitting as he does, the drow forces out a short description of a few of the other nations.

 
 Spoiler 
...that I don't quite feel like writing right now, but will bring up as it becomes relevant. Basically he lists two others, two larger than Zyvonar and one smaller. The Lords of the Underdark are just what the Zyvonar nation calls their government.

One of the drow nations, Ackosar, is located in the northernmost stretches of Eldgar under the Denbold Mountains (not to be confused with Deldon), and is the friendliest (in a relative sense) to the surface realm. The Firm has a very shaky alliance with Ackosar where they assist the drow in mining the rich natural resources under the mountains. (This alliance came up in my tabletop campaign, which is the reason I have it ready).
 
 
 

Natalia grits her teeth and wipes the spit off her face. She ignores him and continues.  "And are you the only one who mines and manufactures gunpowder? If not, who else can? Speaking of which, do you know why your nation sold gunpowder to the Horde, and did you know what they would do with it? When you say that you deal with the orcs when it is useful, are you saying that you are manipulating them, and if so, to what ends?" 

She pauses and scratches the side of her ear.  "When you say "all the underrealms will be ruled by the Lords," are you including the dwarven cities and those part of the Eldgar government? And do you know if there will be another attack against Deldon in the future?" 

  "Ha!"  He spits.  "It has been centuries since those of the surface walked through the grandest city of the deep! You would be a fool to step foot in their halls, and a dead fool soon after!"  

 "Even when you know what we can do? Nobody will be willing to grant us safe passage and avoid a fight?"  She pauses.  "Do you know where prisoners are held?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia grits her teeth and wipes the spit off her face. She ignores him and continues.  "And are you the only one who mines and manufactures gunpowder? If not, who else can? Speaking of which, do you know why your nation sold gunpowder to the Horde, and did you know what they would do with it? When you say that you deal with the orcs when it is useful, are you saying that you are manipulating them, and if so, to what ends?"  
 

The drow snarls.  "Other nations may manufacture their own gunpowder, it is of little interest to me. I have heard of the nation of Zyvonar selling gunpowder to the orcs, but it is not my concern why, or what they won in return. Such operations take place on the far western side of the kingdom, in the mountains on the shore." 

 She pauses and scratches the side of her ear.  "When you say "all the underrealms will be ruled by the Lords," are you including the dwarven cities and those part of the Eldgar government? And do you know if there will be another attack against Deldon in the future?"  

 "The tunnels beneath the Farchild Mountains are within our rights as well, but we have no immediate need of them. When we choose to take our claim is at the discretion of the Lords of the Underdark." 

  "Even when you know what we can do? Nobody will be willing to grant us safe passage and avoid a fight?"  She pauses.  "Do you know where prisoners are held?"  

The drow spits again, though he seems to be running out of moisture.  "What you can do? You were underhanded in capturing me, and beyond that lucky. The Lords of the Underdark have power beyond what you can imagine." 
 "The prison of Tol'Garun is on the eastern end of the middledark, four miles below the surface." 
 
 Spoiler 
Also, if you're going to be prison-breaking I doubt you'll get much safe passage.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The drow snarls.  "Other nations may manufacture their own gunpowder, it is of little interest to me. I have heard of the nation of Zyvonar selling gunpowder to the orcs, but it is not my concern why, or what they won in return. Such operations take place on the far western side of the kingdom, in the mountains on the shore."  
 

 "And you knew nothing about the siege of Deldon either? I'm trying to make sure of the order of events." 

  "The tunnels beneath the Farchild Mountains are within our rights as well, but we have no immediate need of them. When we choose to take our claim is at the discretion of the Lords of the Underdark."  

Natalia looks at the dwarf guards at his statement.  
"And yet you didn't invade when the dwarves were at their weakest. Which may answer my previous question for me, actually." 

 The drow spits again, though he seems to be running out of moisture.  "What you can do? You were underhanded in capturing me, and beyond that lucky. The Lords of the Underdark have power beyond what you can imagine."  

 "Not lucky so much as skilled. You didn't even begin to see Kurt at his full strength, and I saw most of your traps and evaded the rest--speaking of which, what did you coat the arrows with? My best guess is that it may be some kind of poison, but I've never seen anything like it before."  She holds up the crossbow bolt that she dodged, the one coated with drow poison.

 "Also, out of curiosity, what was the trapsmith's name? The one I kept calling my shadow? And what is your relationship to the rest of your raiding party? Were you all selected, or did you volunteer? And why were each of you chosen for the job? What unique skills do you have?" 

  "The prison of Tol'Garun is on the eastern end of the middledark, four miles below the surface." 
 
 Spoiler 
Also, if you're going to be prison-breaking I doubt you'll get much safe passage.
 
 

 "The middledark? Does this mean that the prison is above Tol'Garun itself? Do you know how it's defended, and what the layout of Tol'Garun is like?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I know, but if we go down there we might have to. At least, that's what it's sounding like.
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "My elbow must have caught on something.  Yes, my elbow caught while I was falling."  
 

Rhenner gives her another disbelieving look, but drops the subject.
 "I guess it is none of my business who you quarrel with." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "And you knew nothing about the siege of Deldon either? I'm trying to make sure of the order of events." 
 "We knew about the siege, and cared not." 

 
Natalia looks at the dwarf guards at his statement.  
"And yet you didn't invade when the dwarves were at their weakest. Which may answer my previous question for me, actually." 

 
 "We struck when we did so that they would  remain  weak,"  he says, although his face shows a trace of doubt, as if he's not sure himself.

 "Not lucky so much as skilled. You didn't even begin to see Kurt at his full strength, and I saw most of your traps and evaded the rest-- 
 "The gnome's cowardly spell forces me to answer your questions, not entertain your bragging-" 

 
"speaking of which, what did you coat the arrows with? My best guess is that it may be some kind of poison, but I've never seen anything like it before."
 
 
 Spoiler 
As Natalia doesn't have ranks in Knowledge (Nature) or Craft (Poison), she wouldn't know if the poison was anything special, although Rolsa might.
 

 "That is a sleeping poison, culled from the vegetation of the deepest caverns of the Underdark, and favored by our warriors." 

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"]"Also, out of curiosity, what was the trapsmith's name? The one I kept calling my shadow? 
 

 "I don't know what  you  called her. Her name was Ilsirren." 

 And what is your relationship to the rest of your raiding party? Were you all selected, or did you volunteer? 

 We are soldiers within the Zyvonar army." 
 
 Spoiler 
 And why were each of you chosen for the job? What unique skills do you have?" 
 

 
 Spoiler 
I'd rather not do this conversation, which is like "what classes do you each have," even if in-game it would be interesting to Natalia.
 

 "The middledark? Does this mean that the prison is above Tol'Garun itself? Do you know how it's defended, and what the layout of Tol'Garun is like?" 
 "Pitiful clueless girl- the middledark is the slice of the underdark from three to ten miles deep, where much of Tol'Garun is located."  He proceeds to give a short description of the city's layout, although as he has never visited the prison he knows little about it.


  
 Spoiler 
I know, but if we go down there we might have to. At least, that's what it's sounding like.
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Don't be fooled by his bluster. It'll be fun. Just don't get caught.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "We knew about the siege, and cared not."

"We struck when we did so that they would remain weak," he says, although his face shows a trace of doubt, as if he's not sure himself. 

Natalia shakes her head, but says nothing.


 "The gnome's cowardly spell forces me to answer your questions, not entertain your bragging-"


"That is a sleeping poison, culled from the vegetation of the deepest caverns of the Underdark, and favored by our warriors." 

 "Thank you. Though I'd say that's pretty cowardly as well. It's certainly useful though." 

 "I don't know what you called her. Her name was Ilsirren." 

Natalia winces and sighs.  "I called her my shadow because her abilities were much like my own. As I disabled and destroyed the bomb she made, I kept thinking about how wonderfully crafted it was."  She describes the design and mechanisms of the bomb, enough to make sure Sonorous knows she knows what she's talking about.  "If Ilsirren made that bomb, she was incredibly skilled. I would have loved to work with her, and we could have made such wonderful things together. But instead she tried to blow up food, and killed dwarves, and so we had to kill her. I'm not happy that we fought you, though I am happy we won and saved the food, and Deldon as well. But I'm not pleased that we had to fight you all. I only see it as a massive waste." 

 We are soldiers within the Zyvonar army."


 
 Spoiler 
I'd rather not do this conversation, which is like "what classes do you each have," even if in-game it would be interesting to Natalia.
 
 

 "Are you preparing for war? Are you at war right now, and if so, against whom?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Ok, fair enough.
 


 "Pitiful clueless girl- the middledark is the slice of the underdark from three to ten miles deep, where much of Tol'Garun is located." He proceeds to give a short description of the city's layout, although as he has never visited the prison he knows little about it. 

Natalia rolls her eyes at his insults.  "Why would I know? I've never been to the Underdark before, and I've never seen a drow before yesterday. What is the road from here to Tol'Garun like? Are there any special hazards, like cave-ins, wild animals, bad air, or anything else?" 
CWater
 "Can I ask you another question?"  Rhenner asks Mithril. This had been bothering him a bit since last night. He pauses for a moment, thinking how to arrange his words.  "Yesterday... you were first willing to torture the drow for information yourself, but later you were willing to risk your limbs for that not to happen. ...Why?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Can I ask you another question?"  Rhenner asks Mithril. This had been bothering him a bit since last night. He pauses for a moment, thinking how to arrange his words.  "Yesterday... you were first willing to torture the drow for information yourself, but later you were willing to risk your limbs for that not to happen. ...Why?"  
 

 "Long or short answer?"   Mithril let out a small laugh.  Did Rhenner really think what she had just done was not torture?
CWater
 "Whatever thoughts you are willing to share."  Rhenner replies, with an expression that is similiar but not quite a smile.* "Even if travelling with people one doesn't understand is probably amusing, I would personally like to have an idea what to expect of them." 
 
 Spoiler 
*My dictionary has failed me.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Whatever thoughts you are willing to share."  Rhenner replies, with an expression that is similiar but not quite a smile.* "Even if travelling with people one doesn't understand is probably amusing, I would personally like to have an idea what to expect of them." 
 
 Spoiler 
*My dictionary has failed me.
 
 
 

 "The simplest answer is I didn't want Lucius to get to him.  Either method would have prevented that.  The second is more complicated.  Rhenner, Shiny and I did torture him.  I was hoping to avoid such a thing." 
CWater
 "What difference does it make who holds the knife? Although I admit I already hate said man." 

He rubs his forehead.  "I imagine having one's mind read or will bent to be unpleasant too, nevertheless, the situation is dire and I consider it to be a much lesser evil." 
 
 Spoiler 
Rhenner has seen significantly more physical suffering than mental. I don't think he really understand how the latter could compare, at this point.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "What difference does it make who holds the knife? Although I admit I already hate said man." 

He rubs his forehead.  "I imagine having one's mind read or will bent to be unpleasant too, nevertheless, the situation is dire and I consider it to be a much lesser evil." 
 
 Spoiler 
Rhenner has seen significantly more physical suffering than mental. I don't think he really understand how the latter could compare, at this point.
 
 
 

 "Unpleasant?  No, Rhenner when you realize that every single though you have is open for display, when the thoughts you want hidden surface purely due to you not wanting to think about them, when you fight and struggle but still do what you have been fighting against.  That is torture.  I would rather be cut and beaten than go through something like that.  To doubt myself, my own will?  The option you think is less evil, I doubt you would think so after you had to experience it."   Mithril was still shaken from the Voice the night before.  It was making her doubt whether her thoughts were safe, whether she was betraying her friends.  If that was only a fraction of what she had just done to the drow she had not done a lesser evil.
CWater
Rhenner is quiet for a moment, considering this. He thinks he can grasp the idea of what Mithril is trying to say, but...

 "Have you ever seen someone tortured?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner is quiet for a moment, considering this. He thinks he can grasp the idea of what Mithril is trying to say, but...

 "Have you ever seen someone tortured?"  
 

 "No.  I can't say I have.  Though from your tone the same can not be said for you."   Mithril looked at the door where Natalia was still questioning the drow.   "Don't tell her any of this.  I don't want to lose her trust." 
CWater
The weary lines under Rhenner's eyes seem to increase a bit.

 "...I give you the same promise as before." 
 
 Spoiler 
He's referring to their first discussion when they were coming back from the chapel.
 
Athedia
Mithril attempted to change the subject.  "The Drow confirmed the question you were wondering about.  Apparently it holds true for all drow." 
CWater
 "All?! You mean..." , this seems to shock Rhenner, he throws a quick glance at Shiny who is also in the corridor,  "Are you sure?" 
Athedia
 "His exact words were 'All drow appreciate the power of the Spider Queen'.  Does that help?" 
CWater
 "...I see. I'll have to think about that. Thank you, Mithril." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia winces and sighs.  "I called her my shadow because her abilities were much like my own. As I disabled and destroyed the bomb she made, I kept thinking about how wonderfully crafted it was."  She describes the design and mechanisms of the bomb, enough to make sure Sonorous knows she knows what she's talking about.  "If Ilsirren made that bomb, she was incredibly skilled. I would have loved to work with her, and we could have made such wonderful things together. But instead she tried to blow up food, and killed dwarves, and so we had to kill her. I'm not happy that we fought you, though I am happy we won and saved the food, and Deldon as well. But I'm not pleased that we had to fight you all. I only see it as a massive waste."  
 

The drow sneers at Natalia's speech.  "Spare us your pity. She  was  talented, and she was also a good soldier. She would have killed you without hesitation if she'd had the opportunity." 

  "Are you preparing for war? Are you at war right now, and if so, against whom?"  

 "The Lords of the Underdark are always prepared for conflict if necessary, no more so now than in our thousand year history. But our operation in Deldon is not war. It is pest control." 
 
 Spoiler 
OK, that's stolen from Doctor Who but I like the line.
 


  "What is the road from here to Tol'Garun like? Are there any special hazards, like cave-ins, wild animals, bad air, or anything else?"  

 "The underground road has many dangers, none of which you are prepared for. The volcanic veins spout poisonous gases and bursts of heat at unpredictable points. The beasts are as varied as those in your world, perhaps more. And both the Zyvonar nation and the bandits in the territory set traps, illusions and ambushes along the way." 
 
 Spoiler 
Oh, it will just be  so  much more interesting if some of them are a surprise.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt leans forward a bit, interested in the description of the area at last, keeping himself awake just about.  "Why are you warning us about them like that? You keep saying "You're not ready", "You're not prepared", "You'll be killed before you get far", what do you care if we do? And one other thing - how many of the tunnels in the underdark are natural, how many made by you or the others down there, and are they all guarded?" 
 
 Spoiler 

My apologies if these have been asked before, I just haven't been able to keep up with the thread properly.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The drow sneers at Natalia's speech.  "Spare us your pity. She  was  talented, and she was also a good soldier. She would have killed you without hesitation if she'd had the opportunity." 
 "The Lords of the Underdark are always prepared for conflict if necessary, no more so now than in our thousand year history. But our operation in Deldon is not war. It is pest control." 
 
 Spoiler 
OK, that's stolen from Doctor Who but I like the line.
 
 
 

 "Gaaaah!"  screaming in frustration, she tugs on her mess of hair, and lunges forward to grab the drow by his robe before checking herself.  "You idiot, don't you get it?! That's  exactly  why this is such a waste! You know what any reasonable person would think? 'Oh look, someone who shares my interests wants to work with me. If we put our heads together we can use our combined knowledge to make some great things. And who knows, maybe I'll learn something from her too!'

"But no! If you're so damn arrogant that you think we're pests and that you're better than anyone else, then you have no idea what you're doing, so let me tell you! Even leaving aside the inherent worth and value of life--which is a pretty ****ing big aside--don't you realize that if you only draw knowledge from one source, it gets old and stale? You're dooming yourself to stagnation by thinking you're so much better than everyone else when in fact you'd benefit even more than everyone else if you accepted other sources of knowledge and shared your own! That's what I like about eldgar's institute, and that's why this was such a waste! And if you can't see that, then you're the stupidest wizard I've ever met, and you're as dumb as the crusaders, for the exact same reason!"  She staggers back a few steps, breathing harshly as she collects herself.

 
 Spoiler 
and that's stolen from avatar but I like the line. 😉
 


  "The underground road has many dangers, none of which you are prepared for. The volcanic veins spout poisonous gases and bursts of heat at unpredictable points. The beasts are as varied as those in your world, perhaps more. And both the Zyvonar nation and the bandits in the territory set traps, illusions and ambushes along the way." 
 
 Spoiler 
Oh, it will just be  so  much more interesting if some of them are a surprise.
 
 

Natalia turns to Kurt, who just asked a question she was thinking about, and whispers,  "I can find the traps, and I can probably see the ground heating up before the heated gases escape."  
 
 Spoiler 
Because Natalia's synesthesia means she can literally see physical sensations and changes in temperature (things get redder and brighter as they heat up to her), can she get a bonus on a check to notice a heated vent about to go off, because she can literally feel the ground heating up and turning red, and she'll notice a color change as well as a temperature change?
 


She looks back to the drow.  "And why are you warning us away? Is it because you're afraid of what could happen if we make it to Tol'Garun?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt leans forward a bit, interested in the description of the area at last, keeping himself awake just about.  "Why are you warning us about them like that? You keep saying "You're not ready", "You're not prepared", "You'll be killed before you get far", what do you care if we do?"  
 

 "I'm answering you because the blasted spell is making me."  He pauses for a moment before seeming to reluctantly continue.  "And because the pitiful wizard girl threatened my family." 

 And one other thing - how many of the tunnels in the underdark are natural, how many made by you or the others down there, and are they all guarded?"[/color] 

 "Those along the path to Tol'Garun are mostly natural. The last mile and a half to Deldon we crafted years ago, for just such an eventuality. Tol'Garun itself was carved over the course of a millenium. Few routes there are guarded, but many are watched, and not by us. The drow are not the only inhabitants of the deep." 
 
 Spoiler 
To be continued with responses to Natalia
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Gaaaah!"  screaming in frustration, she tugs on her mess of hair, and lunges forward to grab the drow by his robe before checking herself.  "You idiot, don't you get it?! That's  exactly  why this is such a waste! You know what any reasonable person would think? 'Oh look, someone who shares my interests wants to work with me. If we put our heads together we can use our combined knowledge to make some great things. And who knows, maybe I'll learn something from her too!'

"But no! If you're so damn arrogant that you think we're pests and that you're better than anyone else, then you have no idea what you're doing, so let me tell you! Even leaving aside the inherent worth and value of life--which is a pretty ****ing big aside--don't you realize that if you only draw knowledge from one source, it gets old and stale? You're dooming yourself to stagnation by thinking you're so much better than everyone else when in fact you'd benefit even more than everyone else if you accepted other sources of knowledge and shared your own! That's what I like about eldgar's institute, and that's why this was such a waste! And if you can't see that, then you're the stupidest wizard I've ever met, and you're as dumb as the crusaders, for the exact same reason!"  She staggers back a few steps, breathing harshly as she collects herself. 
 

The drow rolls his eyes obnoxiously as she speaks. When she finishes he hisses at her.  "What do you know of the underworld? What could you have to teach us about survival? The surface world is soft simple, and it breeds soft minds. You live short, pitiful lives of squalor and decay. You would presume to lecture those who have survived the dangers of-" 

The magistrate slams his axe against the bars, and the drow quiets.  "All right, that's enough of the debate, both of you."  He glares at Natalia.  "If you don't have more questions I'd just as soon we finish up here." 

  
 Spoiler 
Because Natalia's synesthesia means she can literally see physical sensations and changes in temperature (things get redder and brighter as they heat up to her), can she get a bonus on a check to notice a heated vent about to go off, because she can literally feel the ground heating up and turning red, and she'll notice a color change as well as a temperature change?
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Nah, not unless she spends a feat on it. It's a different way of perceiving things, but that doesn't make it better or worse.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grits her teeth. Honestly she just wants to throttle this drow.  "You'll never understand, and furthermore you don't want to understand, and that's why you're a close-minded idiot. It's not just about merely surviving, it's also about  living,  and growing, and learning, and seeing what else is out there! And if you think we're soft and squalid then you're either lying to yourself or a delusional fool. Second, will you stop saying pitiful?! You keep using that word and I don't think it means what you think it means. And finally, Mithril was not threatening your family. She would never do anything like that! She told me you had family back home and that's part of the reason I asked if we could travel through Tol'Garun without being attacked!" 

She looks back at the dwarf as he smacks the bars and asks,  "One more thing, I think. What other races are down there and are they as hostile as you? Can we negotiate with them?" 
 
 Spoiler 
fair enough. I guess if it's a reflex save I can rp it that way. Could I use aid another like with Mithril and the bag of holding?

And I don't think there's a feat for that. What would it be?
 


EDIT: Natalia pauses.  "Is your family in the army as well? Would only the army attack us if we traveled to Tol'Garun?" 
Athedia
Mithril stood in silence again, deep in thought.  "Rhenner, he said he had family.  Do you think the mayor would listen if we asked that he not be executed.  Even if they keep him for a while... even if they keep him prisoner his family should know he is still alive." 
CWater
 "Family..."  Rhenner is quiet for a moment, thinking this.  "Could they really keep him imprisoned for longer? He is a mage after all. I...have some dislike for executions, but... I also understand if the dwarves consider him to be too dangerous." 

When Mithril says his family should be told, the cleric looks genuinely surprised.  "...I guess... but how would you inform them?" 

There is a small smirk.  "I can see a few problems in sending a letter." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia grits her teeth. Honestly she just wants to throttle this drow.  "You'll never understand, and furthermore you don't want to understand, and that's why you're a close-minded idiot-"  
 

 "I said we're  done  with the arguing,"  the magistrate interrupts loudly, seeming impatient. Lucius gives Natalia a withering look of contempt.


  "One more thing, I think. What other races are down there and are they as hostile as you? Can we negotiate with them?"  

 "The underworld is not an environment that rewards mercy. The creatures of the deep would not be friendly to your trespassing." 
 
 Spoiler 
Aww, if he gives a list it will spoil the surprises.

Here's a deal. The characters, not the players, can do some research afterwards on the most common creatures or races in the Underdark, which will give them a bonus of varying sizes (depending on how common) on Knowledge checks if you do run into them. Sound good?
 


 EDIT: Natalia pauses.  "Is your family in the army as well? Would only the army attack us if we traveled to Tol'Garun?"  

He seethes for a moment before answering.  "They are not. And the Tol'Grizzith, the city guard, are the ones who would defend it." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "I said we're  done  with the arguing,"  the magistrate interrupts loudly, seeming impatient. Lucius gives Natalia a withering look of contempt.



 "The underworld is not an environment that rewards mercy. The creatures of the deep would not be friendly to your trespassing." 
 
 Spoiler 
Aww, if he gives a list it will spoil the surprises.

Here's a deal. The characters, not the players, can do some research afterwards on the most common creatures or races in the Underdark, which will give them a bonus of varying sizes (depending on how common) on Knowledge checks if you do run into them. Sound good?
 
 
 

 "We'll see for ourselves, and find out for ourselves,."  Natalia says with a glare back at Lucius as well as sonorous.

 
 Spoiler 
Sounds good. How much can we do in Deldon and how long would it take?
 


 He seethes for a moment before answering.  "They are not. And the Tol'Grizzith, the city guard, are the ones who would defend it."  

 "And I assume they're not on the guard either? Good, then they shouldn't get in harms way no matter what happens. How well guarded is the city? Thank you, and I think that's all ill need."  she waits to hear his response, but, she's pretty sure she's done.

 
 Spoiler 
im gonna be gone for a while, I can check in every so often but may not be able to post. Does anyone want to ask anything else?
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "And I assume they're not on the guard either? Good, then they shouldn't get in harms way no matter what happens. How well guarded is the city? Thank you, and I think that's all ill need."  she waits to hear his response, but, she's pretty sure she's done.  
 

 "The Tol'Grizzith guard the city with vigilance. The drow do not sleep, as you do, so our security does not have the weaknesses yours have." 
CoffeeIncluded
Now Natalia's grinding her teeth.  "Yes yes, drow are superior beings, we're all pitiful, blah blah blah. You go keep telling yourself that. Thank you for sharing with me."  Natalia gets up and nods to Kurt and the dwarf guards, then gives a more curt nod to Lucius and Brander.

Once Natalia gets back to the others she shouts,  "Good gods! That was the most arrogant, pompous, self-righteous jerk I have ever has the misfortune to meet!"  She describes what he told her in detail, and finishes with,  "If the other drow are just as convinced that they're superior as Sonorous is, then I'm the one who pities them! They're just dooming themselves to stagnation. As it is, if we are going to the under dark, if they think so little if us, then they'll badly underestimate our capabilities and we can use that to their advantage. I may have a good idea of what drow traps are like, and I doubt they've ever seen halfling, kobold, or human style traps before. And you all are even more amazing."  She grins, and then the grin quickly fades.  "Either way, we need to stock up if we're going to the under dark. I'm going to talk to Rosla the chemist about this gunpowder; maybe she has other stuff that's useful? Although, honestly, I don't know if we should have the samurai go with us. I have a feeling well need to be stealthy, and they're, well, not. And if they go with us, then they'll fight and some will die, while they'll be safe here in Deldon. I can't tell them to come along knowing that it will condemn some of them To death, especially when it wasn't even their mission to begin with. I just can't." 

EDIT:
 
 Spoiler 
i actually have a thought on what to do with that. Wanna hear?
 


She repeats her concerns and thoughts when Kurt returns. She waits to hear what everyone else has to say and think.
Admiral
Once Natalia leaves, Lucius steps forward.

 "We want to know the exact point you entered Deldon,"  he says curtly, drawing a map from his bag.  "Let's talk." 
 
 Spoiler 
Lucius figures out exactly where the drow entered, which doesn't need to be described in dialogue. I expect Kurt will stay as long as Lucius does, but everyone else can chat.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt waits patiently as Lucius asks his question, content to simply wait and see what the outcome is. After all, if they plan to go into the underdark themselves, it is important to know where they'll be going in - they're unlikely to find other ways out. As Lucius leaves, he suddenly thinks of something quite important.

 "What is there to eat in the underdark? Are there thing you harvest, animals you eat? Could we do that on our way?" 
CWater
Rhenner listens to what Natalia has to say, trying to follow her quick speech.  "...under.. We are going to the Underdark?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I somehow imagine Natalia to talk really fast, espcially with Tongues.😛 This correct?

And sure, Rhenner can come along to meet Rosla if you like.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "It seems like that's what's going to happen. After all, the Horde is right outside and there's that prisoner who gave them impetus to invade. But I don't think the samurai should come with us. If we get attacked, they'll get hurt and die under a mission that isn't theirs. I don't know, maybe Brander and everyone would be able to sneak them out under the Horde's nose? Though that's incredibly dangerous, probably suicidal. Or maybe they can stay in Deldon until the siege breaks or were able to get them. I hope the food lasts that long--it looked like several months' worth but I don't know with the samurai. Mithril? Everyone? What do you think?"  

She paces back and forth as she speaks, trying to figure out what to do with the information, trying to formulate a plan in her mind. From Kurt's questions it sounds like he's in on it too.

 
 Spoiler 
Thanks. I figure we should go o Rosla and do all the research and supply buying after this conversation. So lets get going! 😁

And I actually see Natalia as having a very strange, halting cadence to her speech. Like sometimes her words get stuck and she has to drag them out--that's what the "..." In her speech is for. Ask athedia.
 


EDIT: Natalia looks back in her haversack, at the scrolls she'll probably never use and the hundreds of caltrops she'll also probably never use.  "I wonder if I can trade for these for items like with the axe?" 
CWater
Rhenner shakes his head a little. There is much that he would like to think about, in peace and for a good time. Though somehow he suspect he won't reach any proper answers even then.

 "How... were you planning on getting to the Underdark? You said the drow got here with Passwall spells.." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia thinks.  "Well, we could ask the dwarves to tear down the wall or blast a hole in it; the drow told us where they used this passwall spell to get in. But that's really dangerous, and then there'll be a huge wall in the cave. Or..."  Her eyes brighten and she claps her hands together.  "I got it! They only used that passwall spell for a few feet! If you and Mithril use your short-range teleport spell--you called it Dimension Door, right?--then we can get inside the tunnels through the walls of the cave without having to blow it up or tear it down!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Two dimension doors should bring us all inside the drow tunnels; no blowing up the cave necessary! What do you think?
 
CWater
 "I guess... It depends on how many are coming, I can move only two other people with me. And Fharlanghn grants me the spell only once every day." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia falters.  "Oh. And with the horses and Hilton and Rocky, that's too many people for the both of you, isn't it."  Damn, and she thought she had come across the solution.  "I could use Gaseous Form to bring someone over, but I can only cast it on one person at a time, and it'll only work if the wall is porous or cracked. Damn, we may have to blast a hole in the wall after all to get through. Though at least it didn't sound like the drow were planning another attack on Deldon. I guess we'll have to hear what they think on the situation."  She runs her fingers through her hair.  "I mean, this is their home."  Natalia sighs. Twenty miles. It'll take a day at least to get to Tol'Garun, and how much longer from there to the surface? Probably longer if they have to do this prison break. It's starting to feel like a tomb under here; she wants to see the sky again.

EDIT:  "Rhenner, what do you know about the under dark? What do you think we should get?" 
CWater
 "Very little, I'm afraid. I have never travelled there and all I've heard is vague rumours. I imagine we shold have enough light sources at least. And if the drow use poison, some antitoxin could be useful." 

He lets out a sad sigh.  "My knowledge... is awfully limited for a follower of Fharlanghn, I've noticed. Even though I have been to many parts of Eldgar, of lands beyond its borders, I know shamefully little." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Very little, I'm afraid. I have never ventured there and all I've heard is vague rumours. I imagine we shold have enough light sources at least. And if the drow use poison, some antitoxin could be useful."  
 

 "It sounds like the dwarves here have more knowledge. They knew about the drow at least. Maybe we should ask them about what else lives in the under dark. As for light and antitoxin, we've got ever burning torches, and we should ask Rosla if she has antitoxin too!"  She pauses.  "There's also something else I saw back in the institute, I think they were called chronocharms? They look useful." 
 
 Spoiler 
chronocharms are cheap magic items in the mic. Would they sell them here? There's three in particular that I really want.
 


 He lets out a sad sigh.  "My knowledge... is awfully limited for a follower of Fharlanghn, I've noticed. Even though I have been to many parts of Eldgar, of lands beyond its borders, I know shamefully little."  

Natalia looks at Rhenner curiously.  "This whole adventure has been my first time outside my town. I'd heard about Eldgar before, but never thought I'd actually come here. And now that I am...I don't think I like its underside too much. Especially the animosity between the church and institute. It makes no sense, it's just like the drow. Can't they see they're only hurting themselves? Rhenner, is everything okay?" 
CWater
Rhenner smiles.  "Your first journey, and already you are on another continent. Though I don't know your exact age, I'd estimate I've seen twice the years you have. And sometimes I wonder, have I used that time as well as I could have." 
Athedia
 "If I know anything about your people, you have many more years to waste." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Im nineteen, though I'll be twenty in...a few days. Heh. Never thought I'd live that long."  She mutters the last part to herself; Rhenner, Mithril, and Shiny would have to listen carefully to pick it up.

 "How old are you? And what do you mean, you haven't used the time well?" 
 
 Spoiler 
You can comment on her aside if you want to. I'll be gone for a bit--sorry!
 


She smiles at Mithril's comment.  "Thar still doesn't mean they should be wasted. Though I know what you mean. I feel that way myself too." 
CWater
 "...42, I think."  Rhenner considers Natalia's other question.  "I don't mean that they've been a complete waste... I've managed to do some good during them, I hope. But..."  He is quiet for a moment, then lets out a nervous laugh,  "I'm not really sure what I mean myself." 

He nods to Mithril,  "Perhaps you're right, not nearly as many as full elves though. I don't think my youngest half-sibling is even properly an adult yet, even though he is technically older than me",  he adds with a smirk.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks when Rhenner tells his age.  "Wow. I guess Kurt's about the same age though. I never asked. I must seem so young to you. But do you, uh, do you keep in contact with your family?" 

She shakes her head.  "Never mind. I know you've done good, if you've always been like how I've seen you. But Rhenner, if you don't know what you mean, I mean, would talking it out help? If not now, maybe later?"  She taps her fingers together, hoping the spell isn't running out on her.

 "We should wait for Kurt and Lucius to finish before going to Rosla, right? I just don't want to have the spell run out before we get a chance to speak." 
 
 Spoiler 
what else is there to do before going to Rosla?
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia blinks when Rhenner tells his age.  "Wow. I guess Kurt's about the same age though. I never asked. I must seem so young to you. But do you, uh, do you keep in contact with your family?"  
 

 "We write, sometimes. Though honestly, I haven't seen most of them in several years." 

 She shakes her head.  "Never mind. I know you've done good, if you've always been like how I've seen you. But Rhenner, if you don't know what you mean, I mean, would talking it out help? If not now, maybe later?"  She taps her fingers together, hoping the spell isn't running out on her.  

 "That is a very nice thing to say, especially of someone you don't even know."  He smiles a bit.  "And it is really nothing to be concerned of, I don't even know why I said that." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "We write, sometimes. Though honestly, I haven't seen most of them in several years."  
 

 "Oh."  Natalia falls silent, and in the discumfort starts idly twisting her hair around her hands. That just makes things worse.


  "That is a very nice thing to say, especially of someone you don't even know."  He smiles a bit.  "And it is really nothing to be concerned of, I don't even know why I said that."  

Natalia looks back up.  "But I think I know enough about you to know you did whatever you could to help, even if I've only known you a couple days. But in those couple days you,"  She starts counting off on her fingers.  "You were on the front lines healing the Iron Guard, you comforted me and Kurt and even Shiny and Mithril after Miriam...d-died, you were there for the funeral even though you didn't have to be, when the drow attacked you were right there helping us out and keeping us alive and fighting that giant summoned ape head-on so it couldn't hurt Shiny and Mithril, even though you were risking your own life in the process. And Mithril seems to trust you, and you never called me Nuts. At least, not on purpose, and never to hurt."  She smiles.  "And that's why I know. But if something's bothering you, I mean, well, we've all got things that bother us. I just want to help, even though I know I'm not the best at talking things out." 
CWater
 "You make it sound like I am some kind of self-sacrificing saint",  he says with a smirk,  "I assure you I am nothing so noble. But fixing wounds is what I do for a living. I guess sometimes, like with the ape, that also includes some preemptive actions." 

In a more serious tone he says,  "But I am very sorry that you had to lose a friend to get here. Losing a comrade... it is hard." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia reddens at Rhenner's statement. "I wasn't--I know you're not a saint, you're not..."  She trails off, but she knows what she was thinking.   You're not Miriam, who for all her faults was probably the closest thing to a saint I've ever seen. 

"Thank you,"  she says, looking as if she's about to reach out to Rhenner for a hug, wants to do nothing more than that at the moment.  "Even if you're not a saint,"  not Miriam,  "I'm glad you're coming with us." 
CWater
 "Glad to be of service",  Rhenner replies with only a slightly sarcastic tone and pats Natalia on the shoulder.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia hugs Rhenner, needing the contact and the comfort, needing to see him through touch as well as sight like with everyone else. She's glad he's coming, and is glad he's not a self-sacrificing saint. That's a good way of describing Miriam, though she always had stronger words than "self-sacrificing."

 "Thank you,"  she says as she steps back.  "Mithril, Shiny, are you coming along too?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I have a feeling Natalia might feel a little jealous once she learns that Rhenner and Mithril are sharing secrets.

Goodnight everyone! See you tomorrow morning!
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
  "What is there to eat in the underdark? Are there thing you harvest, animals you eat? Could we do that on our way?"  
 

 "We eat a variety of fungi- some grows in the wild, but our farmers harvest most of it in pools formed by volcanic springs, on the deepest level of the Underdark. Of the fauna we eat, some is hunted in the wild and some is bred and raised in cages."

"Some of the wild fungi  can  be eaten... but some is poisonous, and it takes a skilled eye to tell the difference. The same is often true of the wildlife." 
CoffeeIncluded
Once Kurt and Lucius and everyone return and they're filled in on the rest of the information, Natalia says,  "Then we should probably split up, restock, and learn as much as we can about the under dark."  she's repeating herself, she knows this, but she's tired and needs to focus and needs to say it while she still can. Before leaving to Rosla with Rhenner, she thanks Kurt and embraces Mithril.

 "Thank you for not torturing him. For remembering yourself,"  she says.

Natalia's actually able to find her way to Rosla with little trouble this time. If Rosla's in her lab, she knocks and enters and then explains herself. She tells the chemist what happened yesterday and today, talks about the gunpowder, about the drow poison, and about the under dark. And that she can only speak clearly because of a tongues spell, in order to clear up the confusion. She finishes by giving the dwarf chemist small samples of the poison and gunpowder, and asks,  "Could you please help me analyze the gunpowder and sleeping poison? And possibly help clean and dry the gunpowder, if you have devices to do that? You're much better than me at chemistry, and you're the first person I thought of to help me and help us with this. And also, what do you know about the under dark, and do you have any advice or knowledge or supplies for us? Please?" 
 
 Spoiler 
on my phone so responses will be more to the point.
 
Athedia
Mithril had been thinking about Rhenner's question.   "When we were coming to Deldon a spell was used.  Something that allowed us to communicate to the dwarves inside here.  Could that spell be used to let him get a message home to his family?  Just a short, I am alive message?" 
CWater
 "You mean with a Sending? I...suppose it would be possible, though not knowing the recipient can make it a little hard... but not impossible. I think a name would be required at least. I...am not sure would that be enough though." 

He tilts his head,  "You don't cease to surprise me, strange mage. Not many would have suggested that." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "That's why Mithril is so amazing!"  Natalia says, beaming.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "You mean with a Sending? I...suppose it would be possible, though not knowing the recipient can make it a little hard... but not impossible. I think a name would be required at least. I...am not sure would that be enough though."  
 

 "That spell can be dangerous,"  states Shiny seriously.  "You never know who you're talking to." 
 "I once had an eight-month correspondence, entirely by  sending , with someone who claimed to be a gnome princess in a distant desert kingdom. She regaled me with tales of the noble life- the ennui of the royal court, her resentment at being forced to marry a sultan she didn't love... needless to say, I was swept off my feet." 
 "Until one day I visit the local diviner- I'd saved up my copper pieces for four months to afford the fee- and I asked her to locate the gnome I'd been communicating with, that I may seek her out and rescue her. You can imagine my dismay when I learned that my metaphysical pen pal was not in some magnificent desert palace, but was in fact just a few hundred yards down the road, at an address I recognized as that of my mischievous childhood rival, Vogel." 

Shiny grumbles.  "Now, I appreciate a good prank as much as the next gnome, but he had gone way too far in toying with my heart. So I sat down right there and composed the nastiest, cruelest, most savage message ever crammed into twenty five words, and sent it right across the link." 
 "I felt better... right until the moment I stepped out of the diviner's tent and saw a parade of elephants fifty feet tall, lined up down the road as far as I could see. Perched atop the front elephant was my absentee lover, as beautiful as she'd described herself, bawling her eyes out and turning the entire caravan around."  Shiny scratches his short beard sadly.  "She'd had the same idea as I did- to have a diviner track me down. But on her way to my house, she'd stopped to get directions from Vogel." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia starts snorting, then giggling, then laughing hysterically at Shiny's tale, right up until the punchline. Then she abruptly stops laughing, and her face falls.  "Oh..." 

She smiles, though it's not the loud laughter of before.  "You know, I'm really glad that that particular story is made up. That would have been just too cruel for everyone. I hope nobody ever led you around like that, though knowing what you can do they completely deserved whatever you gave them in return!"  Natalia closes her eyes, then looks at Shiny, Mithril, and Rhenner.  "I don't know magic as well as you guys, but if you can identify someone through sending spells alone, then it might be too dangerous for us to tell them by sending. For one thing, we could be completely giving ourselves away, or let them know we're coming, which is really dangerous! I dunno, maybe we could tell them after we leave? Or maybe if we see them in Tol'Garun? Though I don't think it's a good idea to look for them either." 
 
 Spoiler 
I would have given you so much bonus exp if I were the DM for that post. I wish I could say more in response IC. And heh, I went right to Rosla because I didn't know this conversation would happen. Can we assume that happened after?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
I'll go ahead and continue this conversation for the sake of expediency. If you want to continue the one with the party you are welcome to do so concurrently.
 


Natalia finds her way to the lab, and finds it closed. Once she knocks Rolsa shouts grumpily for her to come in. As soon as she's inside she nearly gags on the odor permeating the room, though the chemist seems used to it. Rolsa is bent over a row of tubes, adding a few measured drops to each in succession, each reaction emitting a fouler odor than the last.

Rolsa barely seems to remember the rogue, and is particularly startled when Natalia greets her as 'Rosla'.  "You can't even remember my name right, you're expectin' me to remember you?" 
 
 Spoiler 
(Couldn't resist- Coffee's been misspelling it for weeks 🙂).
 


The dwarf closes her eyes and shakes her head like a maniac, before glancing back at Natalia.  "Oh, sorry, dear, you'd be the one was here yesterday asking about Alchemist's Fire. Couldn't find her way to the end of a sentence without a map, but sounds like you've kicked that."  She closes her eyes and gives another quick shake.  "Anyway, I heard something about you getting into a tussle over the food, so I suppose you're not completely useless. What can I do for you?" 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 If Rosla's in her lab, she knocks and enters and then explains herself. She tells the chemist what happened yesterday and today, talks about the gunpowder, about the drow poison, and about the under dark. And that she can only speak clearly because of a tongues spell, in order to clear up the confusion. She finishes by giving the dwarf chemist small samples of the poison and gunpowder, and asks,  "Could you please help me analyze the gunpowder and sleeping poison? And possibly help clean and dry the gunpowder, if you have devices to do that? You're much better than me at chemistry, and you're the first person I thought of to help me and help us with this."  
 

 "You're bloody right I know more about it then you,"  Rolsa lectures. As Natalia spoke the potionmaster had never stopped her experiment.  "Well, everyone knows about the poison of the drow, it'll knock you asleep. Uses some mold from deep in the Underdark- they say it grows along the edge of underground rivers. No one ever got that mix quite right with surface materials, nor with the loot of Deldon- it's  hard  to knock a bugger out. Not hard to knock him on his arse, though. I've got a few things for that."  She waves carelessly towards a shelf on the other side of her lab.  "You give me some gold, I'll test it like any old thief would, but if it was on a drow's arrow that's what it'll be." 
 "Gunpowder! Hrm. You know how often I've heard from the Firm about what they'd pay for gunpowder? The Institute too, as that matters. I guess this blasted siege did grant me a reprieve from all the shrill whining, less we count present company."  She closes her eyes, shakes again, and then continues her careful work with the chemicals.  "Can't do a thing to make it here in Deldon. The main component is firestone, and you can't find it here- can't find it anywhere less than twelve miles down. Dwarven mines never come close." 
 
 Spoiler 
If you're curious, firestone is the  very  rough equivalent of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), except it has all the properties I bloody well want it to have. Starting with the fact that it is found only very, very deep.
 

 "But where were we... oh. Never worked with gunpowder meself before, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try. Drying any volatile substance is a similar routine, though this is a lot nastier than eromite- that's the stuff you coat a thunderstone with. How much of it do ye have, anyway?" 

  "And also, what do you know about the under dark, and do you have any advice or knowledge or supplies for us? Please?"  

 "The Underdark?"  For the first time Rolsa turns fully from her rack of test tubes.  "What would possess you to go there?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  
 Spoiler 
I'll go ahead and continue this conversation for the sake of expediency. If you want to continue the one with the party you are welcome to do so concurrently.
 


Natalia finds her way to the lab, and finds it closed. Once she knocks Rolsa shouts grumpily for her to come in. As soon as she's inside she nearly gags on the odor permeating the room, though the chemist seems used to it. Rolsa is bent over a row of tubes, adding a few measured drops to each in succession, each reaction emitting a fouler odor than the last.

Rolsa barely seems to remember the rogue, and is particularly startled when Natalia greets her as 'Rosla'.  "You can't even remember my name right, you're expectin' me to remember you?" 
 
 Spoiler 
(Couldn't resist- Coffee's been misspelling it for weeks 🙂).
 
 
 

Natalia gags at the stench but manages to compose herself.  "Sorry, Rolsa. It's harder to say and I'll try my best." 
 
 Spoiler 
I gotta run soon, but expect "Rosla" on my phone thanks to autocorrect. And sounds good!
 


 The dwarf closes her eyes and shakes her head like a maniac, before glancing back at Natalia.  "Oh, sorry, dear, you'd be the one was here yesterday asking about Alchemist's Fire. Couldn't find her way to the end of a sentence without a map, but sounds like you've kicked that."  She closes her eyes and gives another quick shake.  "Anyway, I heard something about you getting into a tussle over the food, so I suppose you're not completely useless. What can I do for you?" 
 "You're bloody right I know more about it then you,"  Rolsa lectures. As Natalia spoke the potionmaster had never stopped her experiment.  "Well, everyone knows about the poison of the drow, it'll knock you asleep. Uses some mold from deep in the Underdark- they say it grows along the edge of underground rivers. No one ever got that mix quite right with surface materials, nor with the loot of Deldon- it's  hard  to knock a bugger out. Not hard to knock him on his arse, though. I've got a few things for that."  She waves carelessly towards a shelf on the other side of her lab.  "You give me some gold, I'll test it like any old thief would, but if it was on a drow's arrow that's what it'll be." 
 "Gunpowder! Hrm. You know how often I've heard from the Firm about what they'd pay for gunpowder? The Institute too, as that matters. I guess this blasted siege did grant me a reprieve from all the shrill whining, less we count present company."  She closes her eyes, shakes again, and then continues her careful work with the chemicals.  "Can't do a thing to make it here in Deldon. The main component is firestone, and you can't find it here- can't find it anywhere less than twelve miles down. Dwarven mines never come close." 
 
 Spoiler 
If you're curious, firestone is the  very  rough equivalent of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), except it has all the properties I bloody well want it to have. Starting with the fact that it is found only very, very deep.
 

 "But where were we... oh. Never worked with gunpowder meself before, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try. Drying any volatile substance is a similar routine, though this is a lot nastier than eromite- that's the stuff you coat a thunderstone with. How much of it do ye have, anyway?"  

 "I have about forty pounds, and most of it is wet,"  Natalia says, watching Rolsa give demonstrations.  "What does firestone look like, along with the mold? Should we mind some and bring them back for you?"  When the dwarf mentions gold, Natalia chews her lip and asks,  "Actually, I was thinking, I can pay, but would you like to barter too? I noticed that you often have your hands covered, and would you like me to build something to open the door for you so you don't have to handle the door with your hands and whatever they're covered with?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Can't you make saltpeter from urine though?
 


  "The Underdark?"  For the first time Rolsa turns fully from her rack of test tubes.  "What would possess you to go there?"  

Natalia explains their predicament, though she remains vague about the Voice.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "I have about forty pounds, and most of it is wet,"  Natalia says, watching Rolsa give demonstrations. 
 

Rolsa bites her lip a moment before speaking.  "All right, bring it in and I'll give it a try." 
 
 Spoiler 
Could use a Sense Motive roll. Don't read anything into it.
 


  "What does firestone look like, along with the mold? Should we mind some and bring them back for you?"  

 "What, it's not enough you're walking down into the Underdark, you're gonna set up a  mining camp  while you're down there? Carving firestone out of a cave wall is like shaving with a waraxe, you're liable to set yourself on fire or start a small earthquake if'n you don't know what you're doing. That's if somethin' else don't kill you in the days it takes to extract it. Don't go using me as an excuse for your suicide." 
 "Can't say I know what the mold looks like. I hear it happens in underground rivers that run through  deepsoil - that's blocks of dirt 8-10 miles down. However the drow farm it, it can't be easy." 

 When the dwarf mentions gold, Natalia chews her lip and asks,  "Actually, I was thinking, I can pay, but would you like to barter too? I noticed that you often have your hands covered, and would you like me to build something to open the door for you so you don't have to handle the door with your hands and whatever they're covered with?"  

 "So I can let  more  people bother me? You can't be making something to  stop  people comin' in, huh? Like to see you invent that."  Rolsa pauses her angry rant for a moment.  "Suppose that would just be a lock,"  she mutters thoughtfully. Again she closes her eyes and shakes her head.  "Look, if you build something like that... I'd take a look and maybe it wouldn't be worthless. Have to see it first." 

  
 Spoiler 
Can't you make saltpeter from urine though?
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
But this isn't saltpeter, this is firestone. Can't get firestone from urine, everyone knows that. Clearly you should have paid more attention in Imaginary Chemistry 101.
 


 Natalia explains their predicament, though she remains vague about the Voice. 

Rolsa rolls her eyes.  "You hear me talkin' about all these riches deep in the ground. You know why nobody goes tunnelin' down there? Cuz there's no riches worth disturbing what's already livin' there. Whatever war you think you're fightin'... you better ask yourself what it's worth to you." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rolsa bites her lip a moment before speaking.  "All right, bring it in and I'll give it a try." 
 
 Spoiler 
Could use a Sense Motive roll. Don't read anything into it.
 
 
 

 "Thanks. Could I see what you do?" 
 
 Spoiler 
sense motive:  (d20+6)[ 10 ] 
 


  "What, it's not enough you're walking down into the Underdark, you're gonna set up a  mining camp  while you're down there? Carving firestone out of a cave wall is like shaving with a waraxe, you're liable to set yourself on fire or start a small earthquake if'n you don't know what you're doing. That's if somethin' else don't kill you in the days it takes to extract it. Don't go using me as an excuse for your suicide." 
 "Can't say I know what the mold looks like. I hear it happens in underground rivers that run through  deepsoil - that's blocks of dirt 8-10 miles down. However the drow farm it, it can't be easy."  

Natalia pales at the description of the Firestone.  "It's that explosive?"  maybe it wouldn't be the best idea to mine it. They've already nearly blown themselves up enough times.


  "So I can let  more  people bother me? You can't be making something to  stop  people comin' in, huh? Like to see you invent that."  Rolsa pauses her angry rant for a moment.  "Suppose that would just be a lock,"  she mutters thoughtfully. Again she closes her eyes and shakes her head.  "Look, if you build something like that... I'd take a look and maybe it wouldn't be worthless. Have to see it first." 
 
 Spoiler 
But this isn't saltpeter, this is firestone. Can't get firestone from urine, everyone knows that. Clearly you should have paid more attention in Imaginary Chemistry 101.
 
 

Natalia shakes her head.  "No, id make it so that you can get out without using the doorknob, but people would still need to knock to get in. But sure, I can make it for you right now!" 
 
 Spoiler 
so we could never make gunpowder, ever?

And that sounds fair with making the device! Should I roll a craft check, and do I know what would be a success?
 


 Rolsa rolls her eyes.  "You hear me talkin' about all these riches deep in the ground. You know why nobody goes tunnelin' down there? Cuz there's no riches worth disturbing what's already livin' there. Whatever war you think you're fightin'... you better ask yourself what it's worth to you."  

 "It's not for riches, but to stop the horde and the attacks. I'm sorry, that's all I can say,"  Natalia says. But in truth, she has more questions. The voice is sinister, sure, and so is this war, and they need to stop the horde and the giants and everyone, but she knows she's missing something.
Athedia
Mithril knocked on the door where the prisoner was being kept.  Natalia had left and she was afraid Kurt was going to fall asleep again.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

If Kurt has more questions he can ask them; otherwise he can rejoin Mithril.
 


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Thanks. Could I see what you do?"  
 

 "You want to watch powder dry? Hard to think up a duller use of your time." 
 
 Spoiler 
sense motive: [roll0]
 

 
 Spoiler 
Nothing special.
 


 Natalia pales at the description of the Firestone.  "It's that explosive?"  maybe it wouldn't be the best idea to mine it. They've already nearly blown themselves up enough times.  

 "It's nasty when it's in the ground, they say. Half of the other ingredients in the full powder are about keeping it stable. Other half are about speeding up the reaction- firestone burns hot but slow." 

 Natalia shakes her head.  "No, id make it so that you can get out without using the doorknob, but people would still need to knock to get in. But sure, I can make it for you right now!"  

 "Long as you don't bother me or break anything." 

  
 Spoiler 
so we could never make gunpowder, ever?
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Do you  want  to make gunpowder? You haven't asked whether you can mine gold, or gems. It's not well tailored to the party's skill sets.

If you seriously wished to start you could start putting ranks in Profession (miner), but it would take quite a few ranks before you started comparing to professional dwarven miners in terms of skill. And even then, mining and processing is slow work.
 


  
 Spoiler 

And that sounds fair with making the device! Should I roll a craft check, and do I know what would be a success?
 
 

 
 Spoiler 

How complicated is the device she's imagining? That will determine the cost, DC, and whether Rolsa likes it.
 


  "It's not for riches, but to stop the horde and the attacks. I'm sorry, that's all I can say,"  Natalia says. But in truth, she has more questions. The voice is sinister, sure, and so is this war, and they need to stop the horde and the giants and everyone, but she knows she's missing something. 

 
 Spoiler 
She's missing something.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You want to watch powder dry? Hard to think up a duller use of your time."  
 

 "I'm curious. Especially since you sound like you've done it before. You really seem like you know what you're doing, and it's interesting to watch, just as it's interesting to watch someone build something. Plus I'm curious to see how you'd dry something that explodes so easily. I'll build my door opener for you while you dry it, so you can see how I work too! Please?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia would ask this no matter what her sense motive roll was, especially since I don't know what the roll is for. You know how curious she is about this sort of stuff.
 


  "It's nasty when it's in the ground, they say. Half of the other ingredients in the full powder are about keeping it stable. Other half are about speeding up the reaction- firestone burns hot but slow."  

 "That's also why I want to see! Though how do you know all this? Have you worked with gunpowder before?"  Has Rolsa been to the Underdark?


  "Long as you don't bother me or break anything." 
 
 Spoiler 
Do you  want  to make gunpowder? You haven't asked whether you can mine gold, or gems. It's not well tailored to the party's skill sets.

If you seriously wished to start you could start putting ranks in Profession (miner), but it would take quite a few ranks before you started comparing to professional dwarven miners in terms of skill. And even then, mining and processing is slow work.
 

 
 Spoiler 

How complicated is the device she's imagining? That will determine the cost, DC, and whether Rolsa likes it.
 
 

Natalia grins, and holds up some items she already purchased yesterday with her coat--some wire, some pitch, rubber or cloth tubing, a couple springs, and a couple clamps.  "I won't, I promise! I'm going to make a sort of pressure/tripwire thing, and I'll run it up the wall and on the floor and cover it so you don't accidentally trip over it. When you step on it, the wire will pull taut and pull on the springs and clamps, and that'll open the door for you! But it'll only work on the side of the door it's on, so you won't have to worry about people getting in." 
 
 Spoiler 
its a variant of several different traps, with pieces or each put in. I'm tired and a little drunk and I can't quite explain it better. Sorry. But Natalia got the stuff for it yesterday in-game. But it's not particularly complicated, and it should be fairly unobtrusive.

EDIT:  The closest thing to describe it on Natalia's class skills (so you can stat it out) would be a slight twist on a combination of a trip rope trap (the wire going taut when it's stepped on) and a drop trap (the suddenly taut-wire triggering the clamp to turn the doorknob and open the door).  Is this helpful?

As for making gunpowder, it seems as though the supply of it is going to be ludicrously limited, if we have no way of making our own and never will short of mining it ourselves. Which I suppose is fair, though it's the very long-term implications that I'm wondering about.
 


  
 Spoiler 
She's missing something.
 
 

And that's another reason. The prisoner. She doesn't know what's going on, but she has a feeling that the prisoner will provide answers.

 
 Spoiler 
do we know about the war of the whispers? Or does only Mithril know about that? When you say Natalia's missing something, is it something she should know about that I've forgotten, or something neither of us know?
 
Cavelcade
Kurt hesitates a moment. He's weary as he's never been before, a deep ache in his bones that it making him want to lie down straight away and not get up until this age is done - but there's work to be done, and there's still a question he wants to ask. Just like with the slavers, he sets Daybreaker against the wall behind him, going over to the Drow, desiring to speak with him almost privately.

 "I can't remove my friend's suggestion, I think. I'm too tired to think of another way to phrase it, so just a question. Why do you want to kill these dwarfs? What makes you think that they...that we deserve your hatred and death?"  He looks up, forcing his mind to work, his eyes staying clear.  "Is there anything that would change your mind?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
  "I can't remove my friend's suggestion, I think. I'm too tired to think of another way to phrase it, so just a question. Why do you want to kill these dwarfs? What makes you think that they...that we deserve your hatred and death?"  He looks up, forcing his mind to work, his eyes staying clear.  "Is there anything that would change your mind?"  
 

 "Change my mind?"  The drow's eyes flare with anger.  "You're looking for a traitor, a spy or a saboteur. I will do no such thing." 
 "You've never been to the Underdark, have you, dwarf? Your people think yourself miners and explorers and yet you have quite literally only  scratched the surface  of this planet. The wonders of the Underdark are matched only by its terrors- monsters and dangers you cannot imagine- and yet our civilization has persevered for more than a thousand years. We survive because we are not afraid to kill when we must. The Underdark is a graveyard littered with the remains of more merciful nations." 
 "I kill as every good soldier kills. I kill under orders. The vision of the Lords of the Underdark has built the grandest of civilizations in a world where even the strongest are in constant peril. Theirs is the vision I trust." 
 "You think us depraved, perhaps? What would you call a captor who forces a prisoner to betray his own people? Your gnome's twisted magic has "changed" my mind- perhaps he will "change" it farther. But I will turn no further against my people of my own will." 
Cavelcade
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Change my mind?"  The drow's eyes flare with anger.  "You're looking for a traitor, a spy or a saboteur. I will do no such thing."  
 

Kurt shakes his head at that, angry at himself for failing to explain.  "Traitor, no, that's not what I meant! I would prefer if you could be free, with no obligation, rather than kept imprisoned here or killed. But I'd also prefer if you could stop thinking of as so beneath you. 

 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You've never been to the Underdark, have you, dwarf? Your people think yourself miners and explorers and yet you have quite literally only  scratched the surface  of this planet. The wonders of the Underdark are matched only by its terrors- monsters and dangers you cannot imagine- and yet our civilization has persevered for more than a thousand years. We survive because we are not afraid to kill when we must. The Underdark is a graveyard littered with the remains of more merciful nations."  
 

He sighs quietly at the thought of descending into it - he doesn't doubt that this drow is simply telling the truth. "Aye, 'Hard stone needs a harder pick' they say, and you must have had the hardest stone there is to mine. But I've seen my share of terrors already - I'm not going to turn back from a few more."  He seems to be distracted for a moment, looking out the hallway where they others went. Whatever he's thinking, he doesn't say.


 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "I kill as every good soldier kills. I kill under orders. The vision of the Lords of the Underdark has built the grandest of civilizations in a world where even the strongest are in constant peril. Theirs is the vision I trust." 
 "You think us depraved, perhaps? What would you call a captor who forces a prisoner to betray his own people? Your gnome's twisted magic has "changed" my mind- perhaps he will "change" it farther. But I will turn no further against my people of my own will."  
 

He hesitates then, suddenly having the realisation of what had just happened laid out in front of him. He takes a slight step back, thinking of Shiny, and the Voice and the way Mithril would read thoughts without a niggling doubt.  "You're right. That was...that...awful."  He grimaces angrily.  "I'm not even sure if it's better than the methods of Lucius, when you say it so plainly."  He grimaces at himself.  "And I thought I was here to stop an evil act...but no, I don't want you to betray your people. Just to stop hating ours."  He laughs at the blind hope his own words, shaking his head as he goes back to pick up Daybreaker.  "Not that we're doing ourselves favours..." 
Admiral
The magistrate seems somewhat bored by Kurt's moral discussion. Brander, hardly having spoken in the cell, just gives a somewhat bemused look, while Lucius only watches intently.

 
 Spoiler 
Incidentally, Lucius and Brander wouldn't leave until Kurt did either. There be a standoff of wills.
 

 "We done here?"  asks the magistrate.
Cavelcade
 "I have nothing more to say. What about you two?"  Glancing over at Brander and Lucius, willing to lose the argument at this stage - at this point he just wants to go to sleep.
Admiral
 "One last question- to find out the spells the mage has prepared,"  Lucius says simply. He steps forward with his quill and starts his interrogation.

 
 Spoiler 

Thanks to Rhenner for that idea, which Lucius should have had from the start. Will post remaining spell list OOC when I get the chance.
 


Afterwards, the group leaves the cell with Kurt, the drow still hissing epithets in Undercommon as the door slams shut.
CoffeeIncluded
 "How was it?"  Natalia asks as she sees Kurt and everyone emerge from the cell.
Cavelcade
Kurt nods to both men.  "I'm sorry for keeping you. I just wanted to know. Now then..."  He goes to find his bed, getting lost a few times before he reaches it, collapsing into it and almost immediately snoring.
Admiral
As the interrogating group leave the cell, they run into Natalia, Mithril, Rhenner and Shiny on the outside.

The magistrate takes a deep breath.  "All right, I'm on my way up to brief the mayor on the interrogation. He said you could come too, if you wanted."  On the way out of the prison wing he passes by a guard, and mutters a few quick orders in Dwarven- those who listen hear that he's ordering the wing of the mines where the drow had entered to be shut down and put under guard.

Afterwards, those who follow head back up the long journey to the summit of Deldon.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stifles a yawn as she heads upstairs with everyone but Kurt. She's fighting to keep her eyes open, and needs to brace herself against Mithril and Rhenner A couple times, but she's not missing this meeting, and no way is she sleeping through the meeting.

 "Does anyone have any coffee?"  she asks,weary.
Athedia
Mithril nodded and followed, thinking about the drow locked in the prison.  She would try to convince the mayor to spare his life and allow a message to be sent to his family.
Admiral
Kurt collapses into his bunk, and within minutes is asleep.

Suddenly he awakens in a snap, feeling alert but exactly as exhausted as he was when he fell asleep. Shiny comes bounding into the room.

 "Oh good, you're awake. Come on, we don't want to miss the meeting. Get moving." 
 
 Spoiler 
 Rouse .
 
Admiral
The party finds their way up to the council chambers, though Shiny darts off halfway up the stairs to go find Kurt. Lucius looks over at Natalia.

 "You let him get in your head,"  he says, no more grumpily than usual.  "Trying to gain his sympathy is one thing, though not a strategy I'd have recommended. But as soon as he got frustrated, you may as well have been the one behind the bars." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia yawns and looks at Lucius, shifting uncomfortably. As much as she dislikes him, he's right. But...

 "I wasn't really trying to gain his sympathy, even though I wanted it. I just wanted him to understand. He's like the crusaders here. They don't realize that everyone's portent, that they're not inherently superior, that they're only hurting themselves by excluding everyone else. And I don't get it, I don't understand why they can't see that, and why they see themselves better than everyone else. It...I just can't wrap my head around it." 
Cavelcade
Kurt stares at Shiny through bleary eyes. For a long moment, a debate rages in his head about how he could knock Shiny out and blame it on the drow - it rages so long it almost goes into a daydream before he catches himself...there's no point, Shiny's going to win.  "Meeting. Right. Good. Let's go."  He stands, yawning, murmuring several choice dwarven curses under his breath.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "I wasn't really trying to gain his sympathy, even though I wanted it. I just wanted him to understand. He's like the crusaders here. They don't realize that everyone's portent, that they're not inherently superior, that they're only hurting themselves by excluding everyone else. And I don't get it, I don't understand why they can't see that, and why they see themselves better than everyone else. It...I just can't wrap my head around it."  
 

 "Understanding your enemy is as important as you say,"  Lucius says seriously.  "You're just too daft to do it right." 

Brander shoots Lucius a poisonous look, and the rogue churlishly falls behind to the back of the party for the rest of the trip up the stairs.
CoffeeIncluded
 "I am not daft,"  Natalia says through gritted teeth. But as she walks up the stairs, anyone looking at the rogue can see her shaking, her hands clenched into fists and her head hung low to hide the hot tears that threaten to spill down her face.
Admiral
 "Er, I'm sorry for him..."  Brander says uncomfortably, sounding a little like Kurt in his stumbling shyness.  "If you knew-"  He trails off into silence.

The party, Shiny and Kurt still fallen behind, finally reaches the top of the steps, where they find the familiar table with the dwarf guard standing next to it.  "You know the drill,"  he mumbles tiredly- it seems Kurt and Natalia are not the only ones whose guard duties have been thrown out of sync by the invasion.

Once the party and magistrate leave their weapons and enter, they find only Marcos, Rogan and Cordrey seated at the table in front, in the midst of some quiet argument that quiets when the guests enter. Marcos glares straight ahead at the party for a period of silence, his eyes scanning them slowly as his axe slowly rotates in the air. Only after ten full seconds of studying them does he speak.

 "Do I know you?"  he finally asks.  "Hmm... oh, right, you lot. And I see you brought all your limbs. Sit down, I suppose." 
 
 Spoiler 
Shiny and Kurt will be in in a minute or two, just being realistic with the timeline.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at brander blearily.  "Knew what?" 

There's no time to dwell on this though, because just then the meeting starts. She stares at Marcos as he addresses them and mutters under her breath,  "No dwarves died. Don't even think about it."  but eventually she sits down.
CWater
Rhenner looks a bit worriedly at Natalia, the girl looks like she could almost walk to a wall.  "Careful on the stairs",  he says before they start climbing.

To her question of coffee, he says  "No I don't, but even if I did I wouldn't give it to you. You need sleep after this; hopefully the mayor keeps it short." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you,"  Natalia says to Rhenner as she ascends the stairs, occasionally reaching out to grip his hand or shoulder when her right leg buckles beneath her. It only happens once or twice, but she curses mentally as it occurs. She must be very tired for this to happen.

But she needs to stay awake, at least for now.  "After this, I need to speak to Rolsa. Then research. Or...maybe I should sleep, then do the research. But I need to speak to Rolsa after this meeting." 

When she finally sits, she lets her heated emotions keep her awake.

 
 Spoiler 
You know what's really appropriate? Watching Frozen with your friends when it's -11 (-24 Celsius) outside.
 
Admiral
Once the group sits down, Brander, Lucius, and the dwarf magistrate on the other side from Natalia, Rhenner and Mithril, Marcos speaks up.

 "I had a dream last night,"  he begins, in a melodious version of his usual rasp.  "I was walking up a staircase, and it seemed like the staircase would never end. But then I get to the top-"  he holds out his hands-  "and wouldn't you know there's a statue of me. And I say- 'That looks just like me'- but I can't, because now  I'm  the statue. And then I'm stuck standing there like a putz for the rest of the night. That ever happen to you?"  he says as he turns to Cordrey, who rolls her eyes at the question.  "No? Well, after that I wake up." 

He pauses for a moment to take in the room's reaction.  "Lords, you get old, everyone expects your stories to  mean  something. Sometimes I'm just talking."  He grunts, unsatisfied, and lets his axe thunk into his desk.  "Whatever I just said, that'll take the place of any chit chat." 
 "So this is the interrogation took nine hours to do right. I'm looking forward to hearing how worth the wait it was. Let's cut to the good bit where you tell me how the drow got in." 

The magistrate rises.  "Mr. Mayor, the drow entered through a tunnel that passed close to one of our mines, in the iron district. The drow passed the last ten feet through a spell." 

Cordrey rises slightly.  "We weren't aware of any such drow tunnels in that region." 
 "No, sir,"  the magistrate replies,  "they must have been expanded since our last survey."  What follows is give minutes of a somewhat dull discussion on security and geology. Most of the discussion is between Cordrey and the magistrate, with a few details interjected from Lucius that he'd heard from the drow, but from time to time Marcos interjects with a pointed question. Halfway through Kurt and Shiny stumble in, having surrendered their weapons outside, and outside of a grunt from the mayor sit down without incident.

Once the discussion has run its course, Marcos knocks the axe like a gavel.

 "I am impressed and astonished at how you have risen above my sub-Lowerdark expectations,"  Marcos announces drily to the room, and perhaps to the world at large.  "Cordrey, I trust that by the end of the day any drow trying to come through there will find themselves as frustrated as, well, as I am on union grievances day." 
 "Now, I get the feeling from all these hopeful faces looking up at me that there is more to discuss. And I take it I am just the man to discuss it,"  he says with a tone of dismay.  "How can I help you." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's somewhere between rolling her eyes and gaping in disbelief at the Mayor's dream. Has he gone senile too?

Her eyes glaze over as they start talking about the security and geology, and she starts nodding off onto the table, but Natalia shoots back upright as the mayor effectively says they'll seal off the passage by the end of the day. She looks at Mithril, Rhenner, Shiny, and Kurt with alarm.  "They can't!"  she whispers.  "We need to get there too! Please!"  

She'd say it herself, but...she can't.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia isn't saying anything out loud to the mayor, not yet anyway.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt merely looks up tiredly at him, then sighs, shrugging his shoulders back.  "We need to get into the underdark before you cut off the tunnel. In fact the sooner we can get in there, the better."  His exhaustion drains his words of any emotion, merely a statement of fact.
CoffeeIncluded
 "But we can't do it today,"  Natalia quickly interjects, suddenly terrified of being shoved into the under dark this very moment.  "We're exhausted. If we go in the under dark right now it'll be...suicide. We need to rest, and resupply, and research the under dark. As soon as we do those things, then we can go." 
Admiral
 "'Need' to get to the Underdark..."  Marcos mumbles, almost inaudibly.  "Suicide. Research. Tomorrow." 

He speaks up.  "I feel like I'm missing something here, and that's not a sensation that bodes well for anyone. What's this about the Underdark?" 
Athedia
 "We need to get out of Deldon.  It would be suicide to get past the Horde outside and I would rather leave with my horse before she has to be eaten.  You would also have fewer mouths to feed.  It may be suicide to go into the Underdark, but it may also give us answers.  Or more questions, they tend to be closely related." 
 
 Spoiler 
Freaking subzero temperatures here.  Of course the most hilarious thing is the people from Florida and California who are wearing so many layers and there is me in my normal long-sleeve t-shirt combo and jacket/hoodie.  My extra concessions for the temperature are gloves and an tank top under my shirt.  I guess what they are in my mind is how we are in yours CWater.  Though at least we have knowledge of how to shovel.  I met a girl last night who had never done so in her life.
 
Cavelcade
 "Mmm. Either way, we're out of your hair and no longer your concern. We brought you food, and swords. Now we have to leave, and we need your help to do so."  He rubs at his eyes, finding them extremely irritated already.  "After restocking and sleeping. Yes." 
Admiral
 "You wish to escape through the Underdark?"  Cordry asks, surprised.  "The Horde is dangerous indeed, but the Underdark has dangers far greater. And we have no idea what the nearest path to the surface is- it may be many miles away. There is risk escaping the Horde, but you've done it before, even with a full caravan- perhaps you could do it again." 

The mayor closes an eye and points his axe at Mithril like an accusatory finger, seemingly ignoring Cordrey's words.  "Answers. Hm. What  are  you up to, now." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "And learning about the under dark. We asked questions of our own in the interrogation. But we can't leave now, were not ready now. Well be ready later."  Natalia yanks on her hair; the sudden sharp pain and the crinkling dry yellowish sounds her hair makes as the strands rub against each other next to her ear help make her a bit more alert for the moment.

 
 Spoiler 
Same here athedia. Though since I needed to get to the other side of campus I'm wearing my fleece, hat, gloves, and boots. My medicine also makes me sweat more so I get even colder in winter. It is funny seeing everyone from California and down south in this weather though.
 


EDIT: Natalia glares at the mayor as he points his axe at Mithril, and shifts her chair so she's closer to the Mage.

 "There are too many whys here. We need to find them." 
CWater
 "I would be going with them to the Underdark",  Rhenner says,  "If you have no heavy objection to this route, other than that it is very dangerous, could you help us to get there?"

"If we come across any information on this journey that would be relevant to you, for example another attack by the drow, I promise to send you a message." 
CoffeeIncluded
Help them get there. Natalia looks up, remembering her earlier conversation with Rhenner.  "I don't think we can use magic to get through the tunnels like the drow did. If you dug or blasted a hole to the tunnels, just large enough for us and our horses to get through, how long would it take and could you seal it up again? 
Admiral
 "Now hold on!"  says Cordrey harshly, as the mayor sits quietly, scratching his beard and nursing a frown.  "If you head into the Underdark, the danger would not just be to you. We don't know whether the drow will attack again, but an act of aggression could only increase the likelihood. Not to mention that if you're captured and interrogated, you've stayed in Deldon and have intelligence on its interior layout. The risk to Deldon is too great. I can't allow you to go." 

The mayor looks up.  "You. Sleepyhead."  He points his axe towards Natalia.  "What whys are you babbling about." 
 
 Spoiler 
Surprise post.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You wish to escape through the Underdark?"  Cordry asks, surprised.  "The Horde is dangerous indeed, but the Underdark has dangers far greater. And we have no idea what the nearest path to the surface is- it may be many miles away. There is risk escaping the Horde, but you've done it before, even with a full caravan- perhaps you could do it again." 

The mayor closes an eye and points his axe at Mithril like an accusatory finger, seemingly ignoring Cordrey's words.  "Answers. Hm. What  are  you up to, now."  
 

Mithril just stared for a while at the end of the mayor's axe.  For all the sharpness of the axe, she did not actually fear losing a limb.  In fact after the previous night, after the Voice, after the shear vulnerability of the one thing she did not want to lose had been revealed, she found the idea of losing a limb almost amusing.  As he switched the pointing to Natalia she spoke up.   "You do like to swing that around don't you?  And what we know of Deldon could fill a thimble.  Without guides the only place I seem to be able to find is the temple.  Anyway, the same would hold true for the Horde capturing us now wouldn't it?  " 

She walked towards him and in front of Natalia, placing a hand on the head of the axe.   "You wanted to know about my question answers.  They are the musings of a foreigners brain about the lack of cooperation among the guilds, though I believe that is not much of a concern during a siege such as this."   A gentle push of her hand, nudged the axe head to the side.   "You have a question as well though.  What to do with that drow prisoner of yours.  As I see it you have two options, keep him locked up or kill him." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "MITHRIL!"  She doesn't have time to think consciously about her decision, but instead immediately leaps to her feet once Mithril starts nudging the axe. Terrified what the mayor would do, Natalia leaps onto the table and races straight to Mithril and the mayor, practically shoving the mage out of the way and putting herself in Mithril's place, right in front of the axe.

Natalia gulps as her vision clears and the adrenaline fades and she sees herself starting down that axe pointed right towards her neck, but still she presses on and says,  "Why the drow attacked, and why the horde is attacking right now, not just Deldon, but lots of other places in Eldgar as well."  And at home, she thinks, but doesn't say that out loud.  "The drow leaders have a prisoner in their city, and this prisoner has something to do with why they attacked now. If we go to the underdark, we'll find out why the drow attacked when they did, and why the Horde is attacking, and maybe how to defeat them as well. The drow sold gunpowder to the Horde. You could be looking at bombs outside your gate soon. And if we go to the underdark, we'll also be able to find out if there's going to be another attack on Deldon, and warn you about it, and maybe even sabotage it." 

She's shaking in front of the mayor; she keeps moving to adjust her necklace or copper wire bracelet but every single time her right hand moves to the bracelet it slips and fumbles. But she still stands there, and the thoughts race through her mind:   Please don't hurt Mithril, please don't hurt me, please don't hurt any of us.  
 
 Spoiler 
I'm sorry Cavelcade, but once Mithril stood in front of the mayor like that and started toying with his axe there was only one way Natalia could respond, and I also feel it was more thematically and dramatically appropriate to have her response right after Mithril's.
 
CWater
Rhenner just stares at this audacious display of both sense and emotion, with slight disbelief. 
 Great. A fine group have I gotten involved with... I wonder if all of them have self-destructive tendencies, or is it just the women.  
 
 Spoiler 
Please excuse his snarky musings.😛
 
Cavelcade
 
 Spoiler 

The wonderful thing about PbPs is, even if you'd waited until after Kurt responded, you could have had her reaction happen immediately after Mithril's actions. Ah vell, done now, the conversation has moved on.
 

 "Hm. Aggression, yes, that's the problem isn't it. We don't plan on being aggressive, though."  Shaking his head at his own words, realising the flaw in them immediately.  "But as my teacher always said, 'Everyone has a plan until they get hit' - and the act of going in there could be an act of aggression for them. Still, it has to be done, with or without your help." 

He's about to say more when the girls jump up, switching back and forth. Were he less tired, he might find Mithril's actions more alarming - as it is, he simply watches.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Was Kurt trained by Mike Tyson? 🙂
 


The mayor raises an eyebrow as Mithril walks towards him and his axe, and the eyebrow rises even further once Natalia shoves herself in the way.

 "Now why do you come running up here like that, just to shiver there all terrified,"  he states to Natalia.  "You worried I'll bite?" 

After a moment's pause, Cordrey speaks up.  "Whatever you hope to discover, we cannot allow-" 
 "Sure we can,"  interrupts the mayor quietly, his axe and eyes still pointed towards Natalia.  "And we will. This siege has gotta end someday. We kill a thousand orcs, they'll just send a thousand more. If we're not gonna look for whoever's behind it- folks with the power to stop it- perhaps the Schmuck Squad here should."  He chops his axe into the table in front of him by way of settling the matter.  "Or maybe I just want them dead, who's to say." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Yes,"  Natalia says, steadying herself with a breath, though her hand is still trembling slightly.  "But I'm more worried you'll bite Mithril, and I'm not going to let that happen."  

She breathes slightly easier when the mayor seems to allow them access, though she's still stunned by his seemingly capricious and insulting nature. Still, she looks at Mithril when he asks her a question, despite thinking to herself,   Because Mithril's better than you.  
 
 Spoiler 
he did ask her a question. And I love surprise posts! How's the procrastination going? 😛
 
Admiral
[QUOTE=CoffeeIncluded;16853286] "Yes,"  Natalia says, steadying herself with a breath, though her hand is still trembling slightly.  "But I'm more worried you'll bite Mithril, and I'm not going to let that happen."  
 "Now what makes you so afraid of that?"  he asks, the corner of his mouth upturned.

 
 Spoiler 
this part of the conversation can happen before he turns to Mithril.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "The way you talk to us? Your threats to dismember and main us?!"  Natalia retorts, clapping her hands over her mouth the moment the words leave it. At least she didn't say anything about what she hears.
Admiral
 "We also heard about the kid's mother you chopped up and fed to him,"  Shiny adds from his seat in a helpful tone.
CoffeeIncluded
Normally pale with a slight almost yellow tinge, Natalia's face goes ashen as Shiny comments behind her. Her eyes go huge and she exhales audibly as she takes a half-step back, in Shiny's direction. But to her credit she doesn't run for it, or completely lose it.

 
 Spoiler 
sorry about the delay, I was headed back for dinner. It's above 0 now!
 


She turns so she stands between the mayor and Shiny, staying there despite her fear.
Admiral
The mayor tilts his head slightly, then briefly shows his cracked, yellowing teeth in a short smirk.  "Did you now." 

He turns to Mithril.  "Now, let's see... You. TallFairAndMagicky. What do you care what happens to the captive drow?" 
 
 Spoiler 
This is the line of dialogue that originally happened earlier, we spliced in his interaction with Natalia.
 
CoffeeIncluded
This guy's the mayor? And they call her Nuts! Though maybe he's making sense in his own way too. But she'd never make a good ruler with her...her, so why the mayor? Is he truly going senile? Is he like her, making sense under the confusion? Or is he faking it all--and if so, why?

Before Natalia realizes it, she croaks out,  "Is it true?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I feel it makes the most sense for Natalia to say this now while the subject's still on this, rather than have it be sidetracked again. And after this I'm shutting up and waiting for Mithril. If you want me to say it after Mithril then just let me know and I'll delete and repost it.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The mayor tilts his head slightly, then briefly shows his cracked, yellowing teeth in a short smirk.  "Did you now." 

He turns to Mithril.  "Now, let's see... You. TallFairAndMagicky. What do you care what happens to the captive drow?" 
 
 Spoiler 
This is the line of dialogue that originally happened earlier, we spliced in his interaction with Natalia.
 
 
 

 "Because."   At this Mithril looked at Natalia tight lipped.  She had been about to say that he had been tortured, but not with her in the room.   "Because he has a family, because he surrendered and wants to live.  My family back across the ocean has no idea if I live or where I am, but my greatest hope is to return one day.  I know he is the enemy, but if a dwarf was captured would you not want them returned alive?  Should you not prove yourself better than those you call your enemies?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Because."   At this Mithril looked at Natalia tight lipped.  She had been about to say that he had been tortured, but not with her in the room.   "Because he has a family, because he surrendered and wants to live.  My family back across the ocean has no idea if I live or where I am, but my greatest hope is to return one day.  I know he is the enemy, but if a dwarf was captured would you not want them returned alive?  Should you not prove yourself better than those you call your enemies?"  
 

 "Can't say I have any interest in proving myself to you,"  Marcos states matter-of-factly, while continuing to scratch his beard as tenaciously as if it were filled with termites.

 "But I am interested in your, ehh, moral philosophy. First you wanted him to live, now you're talking about him getting set  free , going home. That drow and his crew killed six dwarves last night. If they'd gone through with their scheme they'd have killed four hundred and fifty more, through deaths of slow starvation. Maybe they set murderers free where you come from. Can't say it'll catch on here." 
CoffeeIncluded
He's making sense. He's making complete sense instead of his ramblings from before. But is this a moment of lucidity, of the true intelligence breaking through the seeming senility, or a momentary dropping of the mask? And again, if it's the latter, why?

And, loathe as she is to admit it, he does have a point. It may be war, and he may be a prisoner, but he's still a murderer. She thinks back to the Linwood executions, but also how they let that one Orc go only to find that he was killed by his own later.

And the Orc Shiny charmed and questioned, only to have Kurt bring the axe down upon his skull when he was done. Even now, the act disgusts her. And how different is this? What should they do here?

 "Remember Linwood?"  she asks her friends.

 
 Spoiler 
i was gonna suggest a hostAge negotiation but Natalia doesn't think like that.
 
Athedia
 "I said return, not set free.  They do have a prisoner down there who gave them information.  I am certainly not planning to stage a jailbreak, but now they have their info they might be willing to trade."   Despite his axe waving, limb threatening habits Mithril thought of Marcos as a decent leader.   He certainly had nothing to prove to her.   "And even if this prisoner isn't an ally, he has information that led the drow to you.  Aren't you interesting in how he got that?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "I said return, not set free.  They do have a prisoner down there who gave them information.  I am certainly not planning to stage a jailbreak, but now they have their info they might be willing to trade."   Despite his axe waving, limb threatening habits Mithril thought of Marcos as a decent leader.   He certainly had nothing to prove to her.   "And even if this prisoner isn't an ally, he has information that led the drow to you.  Aren't you interesting in how he got that?"  
 

 "Prisoner, eh?"  Marcos mulls it over.

Lucius stands up to say his piece.  "Just because the drow is in captivity doesn't mean he's not still dangerous. Think if the drow try and contact him through magic- he could still share what he's learned from our interrogation of him. This would become all but certain once you reveal to them that he's still alive, even if the exchange never goes through." 

Marcos keeps thinking, before deciding with a grunt.  "Yeah, well, he can tell them all about the rotten rations he's getting. Drow's leverage, he keeps his head for now. All right, go get yourself lost in a mine, I'd call my patience with you about done." 

He picks up his axe and seems ready to slam it into the table to conclude the meeting, until he pauses abruptly. He points the axe straight at Natalia.  "Except for CopperCoil here. You stick around a minute." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia freezes in place as Marcos points his axe at her. She frantically shifts her gaze left and right, only to find everyone else leaving.

When everyone else is going or gone, Natalia asks,  "What do you want me for?"  even as she looks around the room and tries mentally calculating the fastest escape route, the best way for her to dodge the axe and run for it if things go south. If she screams, they'll come running, but she doesn't want to start an all-out brawl. Not now. And hopefully she won't have to. She doesn't think he'll try anything, but can't be too sure.

Even as she tries calculating the escape route and options, Natalia finds her gaze sliding over to Marcos again and again, gauging his intentions, trying to figure out how much is real and how much is fake.
Admiral
Once the others have left, a guard slams the heavy iron door behind him, and Natalia and the mayor are alone in the room.

The mayor stays at his desk, even with just the two of them in the room, remaining about two feet above her.  "You're tired."  the mayor says bluntly, his axe still in his hand.  "Had a hard time sleeping, did you?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "I guarded Deldon last night, did the rounds with Choros. Why are you asking?  Natalia doesn't take her eyes off the mayor, and she especially doesn't take her eyes off his axe.

 "Why did you close the door?" 
Admiral
 "It's different when you have to protect them  all , isn't it?"  the mayor says, but he doesn't elaborate.

 "Notice you're speaking less daft than you were yesterday, well, to whatever extent you seem able. Were you broken then or fixed now? Oh, never mind,"  he notes as he waves his axe,  "I don't care." 
 "You asked me if somethin' was true. Well,  can't tell you without knowing that something- what've ye heard, girl?"  he asks, with a sneer.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "No. A few or all, it's the same, I think. We would have protected them anyway, whether or not you threatened us like that." 

She winces as he calls her daft as well. She's really starting to hate that word.  "Rhenner cast a tongues spell on me. I'm speaking the way I normally do, but the words come out right. It'll wear off soon."  And then Natalia takes a deep breath and explains what she heard down near the mines, all of it, all the different rumors, her voice growing harder by the moment. When she finishes, she swallows. Might as well go for broke. It's also on her mind and if he's going to attack her, that might have been enough.

Finally, Natalia asks,  "People call me stupid because I can't speak properly. I'm not. The things you say and do, the rambling about dreams, the way you say non sequiturs and follow them up with logical arguments, how much is real?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt casts an eye over the other party members as they leave, looking at each of them in turn as he takes back Daybreaker.  "Right. I'm going to take this back with me, go to bed, and fall asleep. I hope your gods have mercy on the one of you that rouses me before I wake up because I swear to mine that I won't."  With that grumpy announcement made, he makes his way back to his bunk, wanting nothing more than that for the rest of his days as far as he's concerned.
CWater
Rhenner rises his hands a bit,  "I have no wish to test how high in Fharlanghn's favour I am at the moment, sleep in peace good warrior."  He glances at the others.  "I have much thinking to do, I'll be in the chapel if anyone suddenly needs a cleric." 
 
 Spoiler 
Unless he's needed elsewhere, he'll go back to the small chapel.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia shakes her head.  "No. A few or all, it's the same, I think. We would have protected them anyway, whether or not you threatened us like that." 

She winces as he calls her daft as well. She's really starting to hate that word.  "Rhenner cast a tongues spell on me. I'm speaking the way I normally do, but the words come out right. It'll wear off soon."  And then Natalia takes a deep breath and explains what she heard down near the mines, all of it, all the different rumors, her voice growing harder by the moment. When she finishes, she swallows. Might as well go for broke. It's also on her mind and if he's going to attack her, that might have been enough.

Finally, Natalia asks,  "People call me stupid because I can't speak properly. I'm not. The things you say and do, the rambling about dreams, the way you say non sequiturs and follow them up with logical arguments, how much is real?"  
 

The mayor ignores her last question and leans forward on his table, axe pointed towards her.  "All right, you tell me somethin', girl. You say you're so keen on protecting everyone."

"Let's say you were in charge. Setting our scene two hundred and forty six years ago. You've got a town of hundreds under siege, living on minimal rations for four weeks- three dwarves in the infirmary, one already dropped dead. Word from north is that it could be another three weeks before soldiers arrive, and even at the snail's pace you're going you're expectin' to run out in two and a half." 
 "A dwarf kid takes a mace and smashes a guard's head until he's unconscious. Makes it all the way to the storeroom, only the Iron Guard there lays him out flat. Now there's already a law that anyone who steals loses an arm. And if you show him mercy, you better be ready to show every kid under fifteen mercy when they storm the storeroom en masse." 
 "So you tell me, girl."  He leans forward across the desk. His sneer of contempt shows his cracked yellow teeth once more.  "What would  you  do?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The mayor ignores her last question and leans forward on his table, axe pointed towards her.  "All right, you tell me somethin', girl. You say you're so keen on protecting everyone."

"Let's say you were in charge. Setting our scene two hundred and forty six years ago. You've got a town of hundreds under siege, living on minimal rations for four weeks- three dwarves in the infirmary, one already dropped dead. Word from north is that it could be another three weeks before soldiers arrive, and even at the snail's pace you're going you're expectin' to run out in two and a half." 
 "A dwarf kid takes a mace and smashes a guard's head until he's unconscious. Makes it all the way to the storeroom, only the Iron Guard there lays him out flat. Now there's already a law that anyone who steals loses an arm. And if you show him mercy, you better be ready to show every kid under fifteen mercy when they storm the storeroom en masse." 
 "So you tell me, girl."  He leans forward across the desk. His sneer of contempt shows his cracked yellow teeth once more.  "What would  you  do?"  
 

He attacked a guard? Then again..she thought the kid would be like her. Sneaky, not looking to hurt. Just looking for bread when her--his--ribs stuck out under layers of clothes and the pain of a body desperately consuming itself struck through every moment. She never got that bad, though she got close.

But he was still starving and desperate. So he was still like her.

Natalia shakes her head.  "His mother did nothing wrong to punish her like how I heard you did, if you did. And you don't know why he took it. Maybe he was sick, maybe his mother was sick. He was a desperate child. I...know what that's like. And what if it were a ten year old? A five year old? Someone who needs more food to live? What then?"  She pauses. That won't work. Emotion and hot logic won't work, she need to find the cold calculus and show it to him.

 "I never would have made that rule in the first place. There are better ways to punish. You'll be making him useless forever. You're miners, you need both legs, both arms. I fight with both arms, I run around the battlefield. Take away any of it, and I'm useless, both to myself and to my friends. You could have locked him up, taken away twice the rations he stole, put him to work. But the violence isn't necessary. You made things more brutal than they had to be. Why?" 

She closes her eyes.  "I became a killer about four months ago. I shot an orc my age in the eye, killed him with a single crossbow bolt. He was attacking me, rushing towards me screaming with an axe in his hands. I promised myself I'd remember each person I killed. After Soshima, I can't keep that promise."  When Natalia opens her eyes again, they're wet.  "I fight to protect. I fight to protect myself, and my friends, and everyone and everything I care about. But I would never go looking for a fight. If we can sneak through the Underdark and not kill anyone, that's what I'd prefer to do. I would never look for the most violent solution first. If that's the only way...that's the only way. But it rarely is. I wouldn't have made that law at all." 
Admiral
 "And I never had to,"  Marcos grunts thoughtfully.  "Anyway, I wasn't really asking you the question, I was asking myself. I ask myself all the time what I'dve done to that kid... if'n that was the law. I like to think I'd have done the right thing. But ye never know yerself- I might just've shown mercy." 

He shakes his head.  "What were we talking about. Oh right- the punk kid Edwin Woolcott, got his hand caught in the cookie jar. You really want to hear the truth? Well then. Let's talk about the Woolcotts." 
 "Old family, here back when Eldgar didn't have a tenth as many schmucks running around as it does today. And Lysa Woolcott was a real piece of work- young dwarf looking to make her own fortune. Guilds had barely been around thirty years, but she'd already gotten a job with the Brearshaw Firm, and she was down here checking out these mines to see if the Firm'd be investing in us. Coulda been half a million gold for us if she liked what she saw, and that would've been just the start. But while she was down here dreaming about her career, reality of the desert got in the way, and goblins came and locked us in." 
 "Course, from the start she was sure she had nothin' to worry about. A fortune riding on her word- she figured she was going to be fed just fine, maybe given a little extra for the inconvenience, cuz that's how things worked where she came from. Imagine how she felt the first time she got handed a bowl of flour mixed with gravy and grain, same as everyone else-"  Marcos can't help but snort.  "Oh, the threats and the cajoling and the bribes. I guess I needed some entertainment anyway." 
 "So one day I get the message that her punk offspring Edwin got caught in the storeroom. Now, we didn't have any special siege laws- this was the first time it had happened, and I was just a dumb kid too, trying to keep everything together. Not even a century under my belt. So all the walk down to the prison unit I'm askin' myself what I'm supposed to do with him. Not a short walk from here to the prison, you'll be knowing that, but that was the longest it had ever been." 
 "But the moment I see him something clicks into place. Start of the siege kid was a spoiled little bugger- all overfed and pudgy, like a sloth. But now the kid looked a damn skeleton, musta lost fifty pounds- amazed he could even lift that rock. But I guess hunger makes ye' crazy. And he  had  been hungry- hungrier than he even shoulda been on the rations we were giving. And that's the moment-"  Marcos drops the axe into the table in front of him, before picking it back up-  "I start lookin' for something rotten." 
 "So I talk to the poor little snot, try and ferret out what really happened. Now, it was easy to tell his mother had him scared- damn scared. But it's easy to scare kids."  Marcos gives a pointed look to the woman three hundred years his junior.  "So I got it out of him. Turns out the siege hadn't stopped Lysa looking for her fortune. She'd gotten a black market going- bullying the poorest miners into selling their rations, then flipping them to the richest folk for a crazy profit. Real sharp woman,"  he says with distaste.  "But it wasn't enough for her. So she took her son's rations, to sell them too. Told him he owed her for all she'd fattened him up. Told him that if he wanted food, he should go steal a week's worth for them to sell together- then she'd finally be  proud  of him." 
 "So I pick up the dumb kid by the ear and march him over to Lysa's room, tellin' all my guards they can stay behind. I find her sitting at her desk, a couple of her cronies around. I don't have to say much, just 'Your son's told me what you've been up to.' She takes one look at the two of us, grabs a rapier next to the desk, and comes runnin'."  He slams the axe into the table harder than she'd heard yet, with a solid thud.

 "Now, I never did find out if she was comin' at me or the kid. Didn't make a spot of difference either way. I was fast then, not like now when I gotta make a ten minute plan every time I stand up, and I never go anywhere without Reason here."  He pats the handle of his axe with a fondness that far outstretches any expression she'd seen on his face.  "So Lysa's rapier ends up on the ground, her arm along with it." 
 "And there's a couple o' seconds there, where it's mostly, eh, awkward. Lysa collapsed on the floor, her weird cronies just starin' like idiots."  He coughs.  "And I figure I'm supposed to say somethin'. So I point to the arm on the ground, and I say to Lysa 'You want something to eat? You can go ahead and eat that'. "  He shrugs his shoulders.  "Or something like that- that's what I was aimin' for but it probably didn't sound too cool. I stuttered like an oaf back then." 
 "I took the kid away to some more responsible folk for the night, though I had to give him back eventually. She dragged off her kid the moment the siege ended, and we didn't get that Firm investment. They came back around a few years later- folks that greedy have a short memory."  He looks grumpy at the memory.  "But all that time before she left she and her minions spread the rumor- a poor hungry kid got caught stealing and the mayor punished the  poor innocent mother ."  He pauses, and then lets out a single loud laugh.  "Damn fool probably never knew the favor she did me! We went a hundred fifty years, three more sieges, before the next time someone tried to steal food." 
 "And like I said..."  he adds thoughtfully,  "I never did have to make that law. But then law ain't worth nothin next to reputation." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks, and embarrassment and shame start squirming their way up inside her. If what he's saying is true...

She could say she was tired, that exhaustion and grief made her not think straight. But that would be lies, or if not entirely a lie then too much of one. Kurt's losing the rage, becoming calmer and more rational. Less embroiled in the passions of the moment and less likely to make a huge misjudgment. What's happening to her? She needs to learn to do that again!

****. Nothing's as easy as it seems. But...but at the very core her dilemma is still in place. She sighs and says,  "Does that mean you wouldn't have hurt me? Or Mithril? Or anyone else?"  biting her lip, she looks down at the ground and says,  "The reputation may have helped you during the siege, but what about with everything else? Is that why you act like that? She made you out to be a capricious monster, and you had to play the part? You seem so much...calmer now, that it's the two of us.  Less mean." 

And nobody can touch her. No, she needs to stop thinking like that.

Still, why did he have to return the kid, if she treated him so badly?

 
 Spoiler 
should I sense motive? I don't think he's lying.
 


EDIT: Natalia looks back up at the mayor.  "Thabl you, for telling me the truth about what happened. You...Gond, if that was the truth I feel ashamed now. But why did you tell me, if you like your reputation so much?"  there's nothing but curiosity in her voice.


 
 Spoiler 
sorry it took this long to edit. I haven't been able to devote time to a longer edit until just now.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia blinks, and embarrassment and shame start squirming their way up inside her. If what he's saying is true...

She could say she was tired, that exhaustion and grief made her not think straight. But that would be lies, or if not entirely a lie then too much of one. Kurt's losing the rage, becoming calmer and more rational. Less embroiled in the passions of the moment and less likely to make a huge misjudgment. What's happening to her? She needs to learn to do that again!

****. Nothing's as easy as it seems. But...but at the very core her dilemma is still in place. She sighs and says,  "Does that mean you wouldn't have hurt me? Or Mithril? Or anyone else?"  biting her lip, she looks down at the ground and says,  "The reputation may have helped you during the siege, but what about with everything else? Is that why you act like that? She made you out to be a capricious monster, and you had to play the part? You seem so much...calmer now, that it's the two of us.  Less mean."  
 

 "Hurt you?"  He scratches his beard in recollection, then frowns.  "Oh, the limbs? No, it  doesn't  mean that. Of course I would have held you to your promise. Lords,"  he mumbles,  "humans always hearing one thing and thinking it says something else." 

 EDIT: Natalia looks back up at the mayor.  "Thabl you, for telling me the truth about what happened. You...Gond, if that was the truth I feel ashamed now. But why did you tell me, if you like your reputation so much?"  there's nothing but curiosity in her voice. 

He snorts.  "This story's been around two and a half centuries. You think you can kill it if you wanted to?"  He raises his eyebrows.  "You think  I  could?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Hurt you?"  He scratches his beard in recollection, then frowns.  "Oh, the limbs? No, it  doesn't  mean that. Of course I would have held you to your promise. Lords,"  he mumbles,  "humans always hearing one thing and thinking it says something else."  
 

Natalia looks like she's going to start crying again.  "But we wouldn't have done anything wrong. And what if we did everything we could and drow died anyway? What if there was another attack during the meeting?"
 It isn't fair, and it isn't right. And that's why I was so scared earlier." 

 He snorts.  "This story's been around two and a half centuries. You think you can kill it if you wanted to?"  He raises his eyebrows.  "You think  I  could?"  

 "So you spread it instead and make people fear you more? Is that why you told me, because of how scared I was last night? That's why I acted like I did just now. I was so scared you'd attack Mithril for pushing aside your axe. That's why I pushed her aside. I was terrified, but I was more terrified of you hurting her. Is that why you told me the truth?"  

But he does have a point.  "Actions make reputations. Maybe you could if you tried?"  but the truth is that she doesn't know. And the look on her face makes that clear.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia looks like she's going to start crying again.  "But we wouldn't have done anything wrong. And what if we did everything we could and drow died anyway? What if there was another attack during the meeting?"
 It isn't fair, and it isn't right. And that's why I was so scared earlier."  
 

 "No, it's not fair, is it."  Marcos shuffles off of his seat and disappears behind the desk. Moments later he steps out from behind it, shuffling towards a small table at the side of the room, using his axe to keep him steady.  "One person can't protect hundreds of dwarves by themself, and no matter what you did it might be of no use. In the morning a dwarf could still be dead, and you ripped apart." 

He glances back at her darkly.  "Try that for two hundred and fifty years. And no, it's not the least bit fair." 

  "So you spread it instead and make people fear you more? Is that why you told me, because of how scared I was last night? That's why I acted like I did just now. I was so scared you'd attack Mithril for pushing aside your axe. That's why I pushed her aside. I was terrified, but I was more terrified of you hurting her. Is that why you told me the truth?"   

 "Nah,"  he says dismissively. He's pouring a dark liquid from a clay pot into a mug, while his left hand still keeps his balance with his axe.  "I start doing favors for folks just because they're scared of me, I'd never have time for anything else." 

He finishes his work and starts shuffling slowly back towards Natalia.  "I told you because you asked me- you asked me if it was true. Haven't been asked that a lot, though you're not the first I've told. Most visitors wouldn't have the stones. Most dwarves just accept it as they hear it, or come up with their own version." 

He stands with his mug thoughtfully.  "This here's miner's coffee. We don't grow it like you do, on a... er..."  he snaps his fingers a few times as he tries to remember the word-  "...tree. This comes from a mineral called bellonmite two and a half miles deep. Has more of a kick than your kind, and they say that after a hundred years you start to get used to the taste."  He takes a sip and shudders deeply.  "They  say  that, anyway. I better offer you been ready to collapse since you came in here. I'm that way half of the council meetings, but it's damn rude when you're not the boss." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "No, it's not fair, is it."  Marcos shuffles off of his seat and disappears behind the desk. Moments later he steps out from behind it, shuffling towards a small table at the side of the room, using his axe to keep him steady.  "One person can't protect hundreds of dwarves by themself, and no matter what you did it might be of no use. In the morning a dwarf could still be dead, and you ripped apart." 

He glances back at her darkly.  "Try that for two hundred and fifty years. And no, it's not the least bit fair."  
 

Natalia pauses.  "...No. You're right. It's not fair. But I don't think it's fair to spread the unfairness to other people too."  she sighs, and it turns into a yawn halfway through despite her best efforts.  "I...know. I understand. Kind of. A little. But I guess you...I...need to keep trying and do the best possible. And I know how dumb it sounds." 

  "Nah,"  he says dismissively. He's pouring a dark liquid from a clay pot into a mug, while his left hand still keeps his balance with his axe.  "I start doing favors for folks just because they're scared of me, I'd never have time for anything else." 

He finishes his work and starts shuffling slowly back towards Natalia.  "I told you because you asked me- you asked me if it was true. Haven't been asked that a lot, though you're not the first I've told. Most visitors wouldn't have the stones. Most dwarves just accept it as they hear it, or come up with their own version." 

He stands with his mug thoughtfully.  "This here's miner's coffee. We don't grow it like you do, on a... er..."  he snaps his fingers a few times as he tries to remember the word-  "...tree. This comes from a mineral called bellonmite two and a half miles deep. Has more of a kick than your kind, and they say that after a hundred years you start to get used to the taste."  He takes a sip and shudders deeply.  "They  say  that, anyway. I better offer you been ready to collapse since you came in here. I'm that way half of the council meetings, but it's damn rude when you're not the boss."  

Natalia accepts the cup, its aroma steaming and pungent in her nose.  "Thank you,"  she says to Marcos before drinking deeply.

Then stops and gags and chokes on the horribly bitter substance. Somehow she manages to force half the sip down. But she feels more alert already.

 "Thank you, mayor Marcos. ...wait. You think I have courage to ask that?"  He thinks she was being brave? And why would the dwarves accept that?  "Why do they just accept the story? Why don't they ask if it's true themselves? Why don't they find out?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia pauses.  "...No. You're right. It's not fair. But I don't think it's fair to spread the unfairness to other people too."  she sighs, and it turns into a yawn halfway through despite her best efforts.  "I...know. I understand. Kind of. A little. But I guess you...I...need to keep trying and do the best possible. And I know how dumb it sounds."  
 

 "Long as you know,"  he replies gruffly.


 Natalia accepts the cup, its aroma steaming and pungent in her nose.  "Thank you,"  she says to Marcos before drinking deeply.

Then stops and gags and chokes on the horribly bitter substance. Somehow she manages to force half the sip down. But she feels more alert lately

 "Thank you, mayor Marcos. ...wait. You think I have courage to ask that?"  He thinks she was being brave? 

The mayor is shuffling towards the front door now.  "You're shaking in your boots, but you still run towards the axe because it's pointed at your friend? You think I'm a tyrannical maniac, but you let yourself get locked alone in a room with me, just so you can tell me that to my face? Hell, you hear about a starving dwarf fortress on the edge of the world and decide that's the place you want to be?"  He looks over his shoulder.  "What else would you call it?"  he asks, as though it's obvious, followed by a bit of mumbled Dwarven that sounds distinctly exasperated.


 And why would the dwarves accept that?  "Why do they just accept the story? Why don't they ask if it's true themselves? Why don't they find out?"  

 "Well-"  he says, pausing and stretching by the door, panting a bit from the exertion of the journey,  "folks in Deldon grew up on stories like that. For most of them, I'd guessing they'd  rather  it be true. One of these days I'll have the good sense to take all the hints my body's sending me and die, and then there'll be nothing but stories left." 

He hammers on the door a couple times and shouts a few words in Dwarven. Shortly afterward, the door to the steps opens from outside, and Marcos starts limping back past her, to the door to his chambers on the other side of the room.

 "Off with you now,"  he mutters as he shuffles by, then stops to grab her arm. His grip is surprisingly strong, considering how feeble his legs seem.  "Oh, one more thing. If you really are heading to the Underdark... well, if you find the drow who ordered the attack on Deldon, you give him a piece of my mind."  In his last words his voice drops to a dangerous growl.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Long as you know,"  he replies gruffly. 
 

 "But that still doesn't make it any less true. At least for me." 

 The mayor is shuffling towards the front door now.  "You're shaking in your boots, but you still run towards the axe because it's pointed at your friend? You think I'm a tyrannical maniac, but you let yourself get locked alone in a room with me, just so you can tell me that to my face? Hell, you hear about a starving dwarf fortress on the edge of the world and decide that's the place you want to be?"  He looks over his shoulder.  "What else would you call it?"  he asks, as though it's obvious, followed by a bit of mumbled Dwarven that sounds distinctly exasperated. 

Natalia's silent at that statement, looking into her pitch-black coffee. Courageous. Brave. She was brave for doing all this. And here she thought she was still the same pathetic coward who couldn't do anything, the girl terrified of everything. But brave? These things were brave? Because she's scared, this whole time she was petrified, scared of fighting the horde, scared of the threats, scared of confronting the mayor and facing his wrath...

And yet she did all these things anyway.

She never thought of it like that before.


  "Well-"  he says, pausing and stretching by the door, panting a bit from the exertion of the journey,  "folks in Deldon grew up on stories like that. For most of them, I'd guessing they'd  rather  it be true. One of these days I'll have the good sense to take all the hints my body's sending me and die, and then there'll be nothing but stories left." 

He hammers on the door a couple times and shouts a few words in Dwarven. Shortly afterward, the door to the steps opens from outside, and Marcos starts limping back past her, to the door to his chambers on the other side of the room.

 "Off with you now,"  he mutters as he shuffles by, then stops to grab her arm. His grip is surprisingly strong, considering how feeble his legs seem.  "Oh, one more thing. If you really are heading to the Underdark... well, if you find the drow who ordered the attack on Deldon, you give him a piece of my mind."  In his last words his voice drops to a dangerous growl. 

Natalia nods, a quick sharp jerk.  "I will."  She smiles now, warmer than before as she turns back before heading down the hallway.  "And Marcos? Thank you for being honest with me, and showing me another thing that's true. And I hope that the cruel stories aren't the only ones they'll ever hear, and I hope they aren't the only ones you'll ever make. I don't think you deserve that, and neither do they."  And then she's gone, her weapons back in her sheaths as she walks down the hall to where Rolsa's lab is. And she's contemplative.

 
 Spoiler 
This was...Wow. Thank you, seriously. She's certainly got a lot to think about. 🙂

So, back to Rolsa now?
 


EDIT: She can't quite forgive the mayor for what he threatened to do to her and her friends, but she understands a little better now.
CoffeeIncluded
Even the few sips of coffee are enough to perk up Natalia as she heads over to Rolsa's lab, and eventually she ends up sitting on the floor of the workspace, making measurements and testing the strength of her materials as Rolsa dries the gunpowder. And she also spends a lot of time watching her dry it, watching the chemist spread the gunpowder out over a thin screen and run hot air over it. As the gunpowder dries, it stops clumping and falls apart into tiny individual grains, which fall through the screen and collect into the container set below. Eventually, probably because she's too tired to work, Natalia finishes the blueprints and measurements and calculations and just watches Rolsa dry the powder. It may be dull, but the process behind it isn't, and eventually Natalia asks,  "Rolsa, how make air steady? Magic or not? If not magic, where...make wind? And make wind steady? And...can I touch? Feel powder dry yellow?" 

And then Natalia realizes the words that came out of her mouth, and her face crumples.  "Oh...I'm sorry...magic ended." 

She still watches Rolsa dry the powder, but she's quiet now, and tries to keep her questions to herself. Especially since the coffee's starting to wear off. Eventually she sits down, and then lies down, and then starts to nod off, jerking her head up whenever a particularly large amount of gunpowder falls through the screen.

But Rolsa's done soon enough, and as Natalia takes back the gunpowder, she says,  "Thank you. I...sleep now, rest from two nights awake. Then back, show you device. Build fast, back soon as can, promise."  And with that, Natalia hurries back to her room as fast as she can. She barely has time to take off her boots before flopping on her bed and passing out.

To her blessed relief, she has no nightmares, no dreams, at least none that she can remember. It's like Natalia blinked and when she opened her eyes...an unknown amount of time had passed. Probably eight hours, but she's not quite sure. It's so hard to tell in the cave, and she wants to see the sun again. But the sooner they finish their tasks, the sooner they can head outside again.

Natalia is about to head to Rolsa, but on the way she remembers something. Ducking into the shop where she had sent her coat to be emblazoned with the emblem, she picks it up and thanks the dwarf as she runs her fingers along the emblem. A lightning bolt striking the hollow center of a nut.

She can make the name mean something else.

Shrugging the coat over her shoulders, she smiles as it fits perfectly, hugging her waist and cutting out around her hips and flaring behind her like tailfeathers. Now she runs to Rolsa's room, rested though still uncertain. But she knows what she can do here. Natalia knocks on Rolsa's door and says,  "I'm back, awake. Can finish machine now." 
 
 Spoiler 
You said that "Tomorrow Natalia can skip through her sleep to Rolsa," so I'm sorta operating on good faith here. And I don't want to slow anyone down. Is this okay?

And if you don't like what I sent in the PM we can always change it.
 
Admiral
 "Well, let's see if it's worth the wait,"  sneers Rolsa, still seated at her bench. She closes her eyes and shivers.  "All right then. I'll be open just two hours more. You spill or break anything, you get to find out what the bottles on that shelf do-"  she points ominously to a high shelf in the back of the lab that can be reached only by a ladder.

 
 Spoiler 
You can describe building of the device now. At the end of it make a Craft (mechanical device) check.
 


The others have the day free to take a look around Deldon's markets.

 
 Spoiler 
Let's get all shopping lists in one place? Posting them in spoiler tags IC would be great. If you head to the Underdark it might be a bit before you go shopping.

Once you've got that, there's one or two more bits of Deldon business to take care of.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "You okay?"  Natalia asks when she sees Rolsa shiver. While waiting for the chemist's response, she gets to work.

Immediately Natalia realizes a problem. Rolsa sits pretty far back from her workbench. If she puts too much tension in the wire, then when the door opens it could smash into a chair, and cause that to knock over the bottles of dangerous chemicals...

No, better to play it safe, especially since she doesn't want to risk angering Rolsa too much. It upsets and disappoints her, how Rolsa seems as though she's constantly condescending to her, or about to be. Natalia thought she found someone she could talk to, if not about traps then about different areas of expertise. But every single time she wants to learn something, well, she does learn something but does it have to be said so harshly?

So Natalia's cautious, perhaps more cautious than she should be. She feeds the wire by and up and across the door, covering it with rubber so Rolsa won't trip and the wire won't break. She attaches the wire to a clamp, and then fixes the clamp to a knob. She has few equations to go off of, little learned knowledge, just the textbook and the things her mentors taught her and neither of them went over this specific circumstance. So Natalia takes what can apply, and sort of goes in blindly, feeling with her intuition, closing her eyes and plucking the wire, trying to feel and see when it's right, when it's just green and springy enough, but not too green, not too taut or too loose.

Eventually, Natalia opens her eyes. That should work. It wouldn't open the door as much as she'd like or as she originally planned, but it should work. And better to be cautious here than have the door fly open. She gingerly tests the weight of the wire, stepping on it, and then jumping on it. Each time she can feel the wire pull under the rubber strip and see the clamp turn the knob and see the tension pull the door in. Not much, just a few inches, but it's enough for her to wedge sideways and force the door open with her shoulder. No hands, and it's actually a bit faster than turning the doorknob. Especially if both her hands are occupied.

 "Think I'm done,"  Natalia says out loud.  "Want to see? Try?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Taking 10 for a 27. I'll post my IC shopping list once I see what Rolsa does and how she reacts.

Also, Natalia asked people about Rolsa after she woke up (she asked the shopkeepers as she picked up her coat). What did she hear?
 
CWater
Rhenner sits on the bench in the small chapel, in front of Fharlanghn's statue. He's holding his palms together, but the soundless words are more an attempt at meditation than a proper prayer.

He has been there for a while now, but his thoughts have found few conclusions. Instead, they keep wandering around in wide circles.
  ...Drow. A whole society who worships an evil god. How is that possible? 'All drow appreciate the power of the Spider Queen'... What does that really mean? Are all evil gods the same? Sick and twisted? But if they are why would anyone follow them? ...What kind of question is that? Many would do anything for power. ...But a whole society?

There are the Crusaders though, I'd call their ideals evil... But that's different, they are a bunch of like-minded individuals gathered together, not a natural community. ...I wonder what gods their clerics follow. Wouldn't furthering such goals be evil of the god as well?

...What makes a god 'evil' then? How    much  is enough to warrant that 'title'?  

Rhenner sighs and leans back on the bench.  "Well, good, evil or neither, one thing you have in common",  the cleric eyes the statue of his deity,  "You don't exactly hand out easy answers, do you?"  His gaze shifts to the wall.  "I really hope that does serve some purpose." 

Eventually, he gets up, muscles complaining about the long time spent in the same position. There is no point to continue this further, he doesn't know nearly enough to even begin to understand. Maybe... the Underdark could provide answers, who knows.

Right before he steps out from the shrine, he glances back, at the statue and the bench that have become so familiar to him during the past weeks. And this might well be the last time he sees them.  "Time to follow the road again",  he says with a small smile and a bow.

 
 Spoiler 
He proceeds to get some supplies, here's a list:

-Antitoxin, 3 * 50 gp
-Diamond dust, 2 * 100 gp
-Silver dust, 4 * 25 gp
-Ruby dust, 50 gp
-Some small (metal?) object, ? gp (a target for Continual Flame)
-Piece of cloth, ? gp
-Incense, 2 * 25 gp

(What is it with divine spells and dust?😛)
Total: 550 + ? gp with standard prices.
 
CoffeeIncluded
When Natalia and Rolsa finish, she asks Rolsa,  "Are you....open to buy?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I normally wouldn't pseudo double post like this, but I'm going to be gone for most of the day. I may be able to check online and post here and there, but I will not have time to make a shopping list for approximately 11-13 hours. I'm doing this now so, just in case we actually finish shopping today, you won't be waiting on me.

Natalia's getting:
80 arrows (Base price: 4 GP)
3 Tanglefoot Bags (Base price: 150 GP)
3 Sunrods (Base price: 6 GP)
1 Protection from Evil Potion: (Base price: 50 GP)
1 Shield of Faith +2 Potion: (Base price: 50 GP)
 Maybe  1 Darkvision Potion unless Mithril gets Mass Darkvision or something of that nature occurs. (Base price: 300 gp, and this is getting too expensive, we need more money.)

However, part of the reason Natalia made the device for Rolsa was to see if she could get any of these items for free or at a discounted rate. Also, if possible, she sells or swaps her  shocking grasp scroll  and/or  entropic shield scroll  and/or  fifty caltrops  to pay less for these things, since I don't want to pay this much money. At this rate I'll never ever be able to afford even gloves of dexterity, much less anything else.
 
Admiral
Rolsa looks over Natalia's work, clucking her tongue quietly. She presses her foot on the pedal, and raises her eyebrows as the latch opens and the door springs opens a crack.

 "What, you expectin' me to fit through  that ?"  she asks haughtily. Then she presses her right palm into her forehead and quivers in a brief spasm.  "Er. Yep, I suppose it's not too useless. I could even open it rest of the way with my boot. Suppose it  will  make things a bit easier,"  she shrugs. She points to the mechanism.  "Where's you learn how to rig this junk? The Institute teach you that?" 
 "Anyway..."  she tilts her head back towards the bench.  "I reckon I don't have to charge you for drying the gunpowder, then. Woulda been about a hundred. Was interesting to get to take a glance at it, anyhow. Speaking o' which..."  She thinks for a moment, accompanied by a few twitches.  "Those tanglefoot bags and sunrods you mentioned? I'll throw in a set of alchemist's fire and a set of antitoxins- that's half a dozen each- if you let me keep a pound of the powder once it's dry. Got too much of this junk lying around in the siege, and I guess taking a look at the powder would ease the boredom." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rolsa looks over Natalia's work, clucking her tongue quietly. She presses her foot on the pedal, and raises her eyebrows as the latch opens and the door springs opens a crack.

 "What, you expectin' me to fit through  that ?"  she asks haughtily. Then she presses her right palm into her forehead and quivers in a brief spasm.  "Er. Yep, I suppose it's not too useless. I could even open it rest of the way with my boot. Suppose it  will  make things a bit easier,"  she shrugs. She points to the mechanism.  "Where's you learn how to rig this junk? The Institute teach you that?"  
 

Natalia grins and nods. From what she knows of Rolsa, that's practically glowing praise. She says,  "Institute showed...theory, the parts, but I...built this myself! This not in books I read, though...maybe in books I haven't. But haven't read, so still...made my own!" 

  "Anyway..."  she tilts her head back towards the bench.  "I reckon I don't have to charge you for drying the gunpowder, then. Woulda been about a hundred. Was interesting to get to take a glance at it, anyhow. Speaking o' which..."  She thinks for a moment, accompanied by a few twitches.  "Those tanglefoot bags and sunrods you mentioned? I'll throw in a set of alchemist's fire and a set of antitoxins- that's half a dozen each- if you let me keep a pound of the powder once it's dry. Got too much of this junk lying around in the siege, and I guess taking a look at the powder would ease the boredom."  

Natalia doesn't even have to think twice. There was about 40 pounds of gunpowder in there. Giving a pound to Rolsa with an opportunity to maybe get even more when traveling through the Underdark if they sneak into the right places in Tol'Garun, while getting alchemist fire and antitoxin for the road ahead? Especially when she knows for sure that was poison on the drow's arrows (Including the one that nearly hit her, and if that was a knockout toxin...she doesn't want to think about it.)?

 "Don't see why say no. Okay."  She pauses for a bit at Rolsa's spasms. Was she doing that before?  "Rolsa, you...twitching. You okay? Need...to see cleric?" 
 
 Spoiler 
And I'm going to bed; it's 1 AM and I have to get up at 7:40. Night everyone, and...actually, I'm sticking to what I said OOC. I'm only gonna post if necessary tomorrow, and after that I'm gonna try and cut back on my IC posting more. No more posting every other thing unless I have to. Please don't wait for me. I need to try this for at least a day.

CWater, do you still want to buy the antitoxin? And this twitching is making me a bit nervous.
 
Admiral
 "Well aren't you the bleeding busybody?"  Rolsa snaps harshly.  "You don't see  me  askin' you why you're stuttering out every word like it's a damn chore!" 

She pauses, shuts her eyes tightly, and quivers for a few more seconds. When she opens them she seems calmer.  "Oh, well I guess I did ask you that,"  she says sheepishly, and with a frown she steps back to her bench. Once she's packaged up the promised goods she shoves the box at Natalia, muttering  "Powder'll be ready by tomorrow morning,"  and then goes back to her work without further comment.

Once Natalia returns to the rooms, she finds Brander waiting outside them, accompanied with Shiny, who seems at his usual ease around the soldier.  "We need to talk to your party,"  he says with a quiet urgency.

 
 Spoiler 
In our timeline, Shiny has finished shopping, and Shiny+Natalia+Brander can find the others. Players can post a shopping IC post about buying the items on their lists, if they like, or they can just say "Kurt completes his purchases when he runs into Natalia, Shiny and Brander." Up to you.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses in confusion at Rosla's outburst, and the way she twitches even more. What the hell...? What's going on with Rolsa? Is she sick? Why is she acting like this, so eager to kick her out?

As Natalia finishes her shopping and walks back to the room, she sees Brander talking to Shiny, and she freezes when she hears Brander's urgent words. In the meantime an ugly thought enters her head. What if she's under a spell like the one shiny casts?  "Why? What wrong?"  She pauses.  "Does this...involve Rolsa, dwarf chemist? I gave...gunpowder to dry. She gave fire flask, antitoxin. But she...acting strange. Twitchy, something off. Acting funny. Maybe." 

She listens to whatever is going on intently, only interjecting if it's important.

 
 Spoiler 
shes under some sort of enchantment, isn't she. I just made a huge mistake. I know i did but i figured Natalia wouldn't know that. I posted because it sounded like this was addressed towards me. Goodnight, everyone, for real. I'll see if there's anything directly said for her to respond to in the morning. If not, I'll read and enjoy and try to learn to care less and get less worked up c
 
Cavelcade
Although it's early in the day when he goes to rest, it's not until late afternoon of the next day (or what would be the daytime, were they in a place the daylight could easily reach) that Kurt finally stirs. Whatever thoughts he's been having, or dreams he might have had, he doesn't remember them anymore, something he feels as a blessing for the day. As soon as he arises, he looks towards Daybreaker pensively - by sleeping, he had woken up with the decision already formed in his mind. There's no time to get that blade reforged - and besides, he doubts he could afford it, even with his plan.

Still, he goes to find an arms dealer in the town of Deldon with his mithral full plate, the magical plate they'd found on the drow on his back and Daybreaker in its sheath at his waist. When he gets there, he gets down to the business of haggling, discussing with the owner and the smith about trading in the armour he had worked to afford and asking how much extra they'll need to exchange his Mithral plate for a sword that doesn't have to be a weapon of death and to resize the armour to fit him. When asked about any superstitions over using the drow's plate and why a warrior like him, going down into the underdark (as the rumours are already spreading) would want a blade that doesn't kill, he simply shakes his head and restates his desire - he wants to have the armour resized, and the weapon as stated. After some doubtful negotiation and looks at each other they agree, taking both sets of armour and giving him the blade in return (having confirmed they hadn't the desire to add the enchantment to Daybreaker, nor would he have the gold) and he takes his leave, telling them he'll be back soon for the full plate, as he'll need it as fast as they can make it or sooner.

He returns to the rooms with an oddly light step, but stops at the door as he sees Brander, Shiny and Coffee already there.
CWater
Shiny and others find Rhenner arguing with a dwarf about the prices of jewel dusts. When they come, he sighs and grudgingly pays the dwarf what he was asking, to end the conversation.
Athedia
Mithril browsed the market, almost buying the bag of tricks a merchant showed to her.  But instead she bought some potions and a belt that they claimed would allow her to heal.  With her purchases bundled in her arms she went back to the room they had been given.   "What do you want with us Brander?" 
Admiral
 "We need to head back to our chambers,"  Brander says quietly. He leads the party a short distance across the fortress, seeming a bit suspicious, before they reach the other party's room.

Calric Jr and Lucius are seated at the table in the corner of the room, Lucius with his back to the wall. Ezra leans against a wall adjacent to the table. When the party arrives Calric stands up and nods. Brander coughs as he enters the room behind them.

 "I'll get right to the point,"  Brander states with a cough.  "Lucius received a message by  sending  just minutes ago, from the Minister of Information- a form of communication that was to be used only in case of emergency."  He picks up a sheet from the table to read off of it.  "Hooded orc in Eldgar. Teleported last night from Faerun to southeast forests, four companions. Multiple sources confirm. Exact location and goals unknown. Investigate and report." 
Athedia
 "The Hooded One?  And he has the power to teleport, this does not sound good.  He is one of the ones behind this organization, they must be planning something big if he is here. 
 
 Spoiler 
Will post more after class
 
Cavelcade
Kurt grunts softly, as if the news had knocked the air out of him.  "At least that means he's not working there anymore...but what are we supposed to do about it?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nearly chokes on her breath. Stammering, rubbing the fabric of the gloves, she says,  "You think revenge for tribe? But it weeks since that, why teleport now? And if hunt us, why teleport to woods, not Deldon?"  so it can't be revenge, not entirely. She runs a finger down the thread holding the two sides of the glove together, following its path. Her mind races, trying to figure out the thread through the knots.  "Hoodie follows voice. Horde follows voice. Drowtown prisoner may know of voice. Hoodie...here to help horde? Or hunt us? Both? Why teleport now? Is voice scared, needs all mouths?"  She asks the others,  "Where forests from here, from drowtown? And if he hunts us...trap if we go?" 
Athedia
 "I wouldn't mind running into him again.  He needs to answer for what he did to Henry."   Mithril raised an eyebrow as she stared pointed at the other group.   "Unless you are afraid of him." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at Mithril curiously.  "I think...all want him stopped. But if he hunts us, then expects us. Maybe...not expect you,"  she says, looking at Brander and his teammates.  "Maybe...what if...you scout in woods. We...go to Underdark, find prisoner, find...why drow attack now, why Hoodie teleports now. We talk with spells, talk answers. We...leave Drowtown, meet at surface. You know of Hoodie. We know of prisoner. We both to forests...How far away?"  And how would Brander and his teammates even leave Hulburg anyway, with the Horde outside? Is that even possible without attacking? There's even more of them now than before!

Wait. It is possible to sneak past without attacking. She and her friends did it already!

 "Guys! Think know how to split, learn above and below!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Like I said OOC, there's no way Natalia can coherently make the plan without pictures, so I really want to actually draw some tomorrow and post them. Or if not tomorrow, whenever anybody asks so she can post. May I draw them, please?

Goodnight!
 
Admiral
Brander nods.  "We were just about to ask for your assistance in our escape. We thought you would be coming with us, but it sounds like you have other plans."  His eyebrow raises slightly, perhaps surprised by their intention to explore the Underdark.

They lay out a sheet of paper and Natalia does her best to offer her ideas. The others watch, with Brander or Lucius interjecting a few times with their own thoughts.

 "Flying horses... we really are a long way from home."  Brander sighs. He glances over to Ezra.  "We could carry this out today?"  The sorceress nods with a shrug.  "Then let's get to work." 
 "It's midday out so this is the right time to move. I'll go consult the Iron Guard about opening the doors long enough for our escape. Meet us at the western entrance in one hour: agreed?" 

If there is no further business, the group departs to make their final preparations.

 
 Spoiler 
Thought I'd speed it along. If Coffee would like to describe Natalia's drawing in a post she's welcome to.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods and grins as she folds up her drawings. They actually understood her, and they actually thought her ideas were good. She does a little dance of happiness as she finds Rhenner and Ash and shows them her drawings as she explains the plan.

 "Shiny makes all Hulburg vanish like we at Soshima. Ezra makes horses fly. Mithril make...second door, wall of spells to block. Door open, Hulburg flees, horde...attacks but blocked by spell wall, spell door. Then need help. ash, you tell horses to fly, use talking magic. Rhenner, need your help to fight. Some horde will...be inside, between iron, spell doors. Need help to fight. Help make short. Please come with?" 
 
 Spoiler 
ill add the drawings tonight; they came out crappy.
 


After telling Rhenner and Ash, Natalia brings them and rejoins the others. It's not until they're standing there, before the gate, that she's nervous.

 "Are...you ready?"  she asks everyone, drawing her bow.  "Please, tell us when safe. We...keep contact, contact magic." 
CWater
When Natalia explains her plan to him, Rhenner lets out a small chuckle,  "Fly on the horses? Haven't actually seen that before. Well, since your goal is for people to escape this... 'imprisonment', I think Fharlanghn would be quite morose if I didn't assist",  his smile turning to a more genuine one he adds,  "Of course I'll help, if I can." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you,"  Natalia says with a smile.  "I'm...glad you with us. Coming with us. And more than can help. Will help with attack. You strong too, Rhenner." 

When everyone assembles in the tunnel and Mithril prepares to cast her spells, Natalia's struck with another idea.  "Shiny, could you...cast spell? Fake tunnel path over Mithril's spells? So Horde...sees tunnel, not web and tentacles and...water wall? They run to it, run in it?"  She looks to Mithril.  "If any...get through, I stop, and Kurt stops. Promise." 
 
 Spoiler 
I just got another idea: Shiny puts an illusion of an empty tunnel in front of/on/however the technicalities say it works; it can be done and that's what's important Mithril's Web and Black Tentacles and Wall of Water? That way the orcs don't see these spells but rather an empty tunnel, and so they run down the tunnel and right into the spells? That's just too funny and Shiny would find it hilarious too, I think.

I don't think there's anything else I can do, except cast Cat's Grace on myself the round before they open the door. I guess all that's left are the spells. Oh man, this is gonna be hilarious.
 


She looks at everyone assembled.  "Ready?"  Please work. Please please please let this work.   
Admiral
An hour later, the party finds their allies from Hulburg assembled at the Western entrance, along with their horses, Corddrey, Stanton, a third Iron Guard, and a half a dozen soldiers and healers. Corddrey is briefing them on the planned escape.

 "Orcs have set up an iron wall five yards from the entrance,"  she explains,  "There are usually five or six orcs stationed behind it, keeping cover against our arrows. In the whole camp there are about one hundred fifty now- went up since you arrived- but sounds like if your plan works you won't need to worry about any of them." 
 "Stanton, Rubin and I will be the ones handling the entrance. Everyone else, stay behind us and make sure you make room for the ones heading out. . Corddrey points to the party as they arrive.  "I hear you'll have some spells that can help us seal up the tunnel behind us? That'd help: we don't much like the idea of even one orc getting by us and running around loose. In the meantime-"  she nods to Rhenner when she recognizes the cleric-  "Any spells you have that can protect the handful of us when we go out there, that'd be much appreciated." 

Brander turns to the party, stepping away from the dwarves for a moment.  "I suppose our paths split here,"  he says seriously.  "We've heard much of this hooded orc and the threat he might pose to Hulburg- if we can learn why he traveled to this continent we may learn how to stop him. But perhaps your journey to the Underdark will bear fruit as well."  He bites his lip.  "I've heard only a little of that world, but what I do know... well, take great caution in every step." 
Athedia
 "We plan too.  Stay safe out there."   Mithril nodded and then went to look where she would cast her spells.  With a the tentacles, a web and that new spell the orcs would most likely die before making it into the main area.  Or at least a few less would be sleeping in camp that night.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods and smiles.  "You too. Stay safe, stay talk. We...meet again later, all alive. Promise." 

As Cordrey tells Rhenner to cast protective spells on her and her comrades, Natalia waves her hand and says,  "I can cast too! Swift spell, nimble move spell! One for me, two for you." 
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia will cast an Arcanist Gloves cats grace for three minutes of +4 dex, giving her a +2 to attack and ac. She'll offer her remaining two castiga to any of the dwarves, if the dex bonus will help their attack or ac.

Also, is Cordrey male or female? 😛
 

 "You ready? Need me...back stopping break through spell wall, or fighting front outside?"  Even though Natalia would much prefer being behind Mithril's wall of spells, if they need her fighting outside, she'll do it.

Still, it sounds like those three will be handling the entrance alone. Though Natalia feels guilty about it, she's also relieved--and a bit guilty about that relief as well! Either way, unless one of the three members of the Iron Guard tells her to fight with them, she steps back to Mithril and gives the Mage a smile.  "Ready?" 
CWater
 "I have Bless, Protection from Evil and Prayer prepared",  Rhenner replies to Corddrey,  "You're leading this defence, so I'll leave it for you to decide on whom and when should I cast them."  He sighs and rubs his forehead, then adds,  "Do you have a healer with you at the gates? I was there the last time you opened them, I can do so again." 
Admiral
 "We do have one,"  Corddrey tells Rhenner,  "but your assistance as well would be deeply appreciated. Any spells that bestow their benefits on all your allies equally, or those that  would be especially useful." 

The dwarves politely refuse Natalia's spell, and Corddrey lets the rogue know that she's welcome to stand back behind the spells.  "We have enough fighters here."  As Natalia walks back down the tunnel, Calric Jr. gently grabs her arm.

 "I'm sorry that you lost your friend,"  he says sadly.  "I'm sorry I didn't know her more than a day... The orc who killed her faced the justice of St. Cuthbert within moments, but if what you've told me is true, there is someone else who deserves justice on her behalf. If my father truly is alive-"  he grips her hand tightly-  "I swear on the mace of St. Cuthbert that I will find him and make him pay for all he has done." 

And so it is that Brander, Lucius, Calric Jr and Ezra line up their horses, with Rhenner, Kurt, Ash and Shiny standing alongside . Ash casts a spell and walks along each of the horses, whispering quietly to them and calming them with a touch. Shortly after, on Corddrey's cue, Ezra walks along the horses and casts a spell of flight on each. As she does so, Shiny walks to the first two horses, and with a spell on a copper piece he vanishes along with Brander, Lucius and their mounts. Moments later he reappears as he steps towards the back two horses, and with another spell they all vanish, such that Ezra cannot be seen as she remounts her horse. Once they are ready, Corddrey begins to unlatch the door.

 
 Spoiler 
Corddrey may not be up to date on the names of spells, but her
thought would be Bless before they open the gates, and Prayer once they're fighting the orcs.

The Iron Guard wear extremely heavy and intricate full plate, and a Dex bonus wouldn't help.

Forgot to mention Ash was there originally.

Up to Mithril what spells she'd like to cast. I'm guessing Mithril would rather be behind the defensive spells, with Natalia and all the non-Iron-Guard dwarves.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, but can't entirely hide the sigh of relief.  "I'll keep then in wall." 

She stops short at Calric's vow, and response to his squeeze with a squeeze of her own, and then an embrace. Her voice is almost vicious, filler with indignation and grief and barely restrained rage at the one who hurt Miriam so much in the first place.  "Then...will have to beat us. Or...we share. Thank you, Calric. You real name." 

As Natalia steps back between Mithril and the other dwarves, she asks Shiny,  "Spell seeing unseen, so know when they gone?"  she then take a deep breath, draws her bow, and waits for them to unlock the door.

 
 Spoiler 
ok, thanks.

Maybe shiny can cast see invisibility so we know when they're gone and can close the gate? Sorry, I just thought of this.

And thanks! I'm sure were all hankering to avenge Miriam.

And fair enough with the cats grace. I think athedia said which spells she wanted, all 3 of them, but it's up to her of course.
 
CWater
Rhenner holds his holy symbol and mutters a few words,  "Dweller on the Horizon, please give us your blessing, help us aid our allies to fly free and continue their journey." 

EDIT:
 
 Spoiler 
Casting Bless. A readied action to cast Prayer when the first enemies reach the gate. He would also like to cast Protection from Evil before they open the gates, let's say on Corddrey, unless she'd prefer it cast on someone else.
 
Athedia
Mithril started casting spells as soon as everyone was in location.  First in the empty area the web fell down covering the grond and then the bed of tentacles rose from the depths, finally a thin wall of water blocked the tentacles.  She brushed her hands off as finished, this was something that Ezra couldn't do.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia watches the wall of water swirling around on itself. She pokes it curiously with her finger, feeling the water stream around it. Then she places her whole hand into the water and feels the vortex pull her closer to the center, where it could trap her!

She yanks her hand back after that, draws her bow, and looks at Mithril.  "How long...will whirlpool stand?" 
Admiral
Corddrey throws open the gates at last, and the Iron Guard step forward to defend the entrance, Rhenner stepping right behind them. Shiny casts a spell targeting the group on horseback, meant to make them even faster..

A few orcs run forward into battle, but Corddrey's battleaxe easily meets them, and most of the orcs seem to be establishing a perimeter rather than fighting their way into the door. One dwarf is hit by a nasty axe wound, but the other strikes clank against the tower shields and intricate armor of the Iron Guard. And almost as soon as the battle began, Shiny gives a shout acknowledging that the escapees are clear, and Corddrey and the other dwarves slam shut the heavy door, fighting off orcs as they do.

 
 Spoiler 
Easy enough. As I said, opening the door for a round or two isn't too hard- heck, they held it a lot longer when you were getting the caravan in, and they didn't have Corddrey at that entrance.

Natalia's idea about See Invisibility was a good one, Shiny used it. He also cast Haste on both the horses and the people right as the doors were being opened, to get them out the door quicker and give them a head start once they started flying.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps at the wound one of the dwarves recieves and hoists her bow, pausing only to line up a clear shot through the water...

And just at that moment Shiny shouts, the dwarves fall back, and the gate slams shut. She blinks, bewildered. That's it?

 
 Spoiler 
So that's it? No orcs are inside? If so, that was anti-climactic. 😛

When did you start spelling Cordrey's name with two D's? And I'm really glad I was able to give you such good ideas!
 

 "You okay?"  she shouts, her voice muffled behind the water wall. She's still holding her now, an arrow drawn and ready to fire.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Note that since there are (more than) 20 feet of web between Natalia and the front, there's total cover- she can't see anything going on. (The tentacles and the water don't help either).
 


After a minute, Mithril's spells that had conjured water and tentacles vanish, leaving only the web. Mithril and Natalia hear a shout through the web giving the all-clear, and once she dismisses it, Cordrey, Stanton, Shiny, Rhenner and Kurt come trudging back down the tunnel, while the other Iron Guard holds his post at the gate.

 "Well, they're on their way,"  says Cordrey.  "If you have any sense, you'll leave by the same means, and not by the exit you're planning."  She strides by them on her way back to Deldon.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles grimly to herself. No sense. Heh, that's not exactly new. Didn't Shiny call them the Asylum Avengers? The name's getting more appropriate by the day.

Either way, she needs to find out more about the Underdark, and it's not like she has much else to do before tomorrow--she did all her shopping and Rolsa said she couldn't pick up the gunpowder until tomorrow. So Natalia meanders her way to the library and starts looking for research. And she asks about Rolsa on the way as well.

 
 Spoiler 
Huh, I always thought the total cover in the case of the web was that you couldn't get a clean shot, not that you couldn't see anything, since the web's horizontal flat on the ground. Oh well.

Do I need to roll anything for research?
 
Athedia
Mithril gestured to Rhenner to follow her as she made her way back towards the where she had last seen the magistrate.  She wanted to let Sonorus's family know he was alive so they would not grieve.

Cordrey had been right.  The quick flight out would make more sense, and be safer especially for the horses.  But the Underdark held so many mysteries, and she didn't think the Horde would fall for the same trick twice.
CWater
 "That went better than I expected",  Rhenner says and follows Mithril,  "What now?" 
Athedia
 "Do you think you can help me convince the magistrate to let us send a message to Sonorus's family?  Only if you are comfortable with the idea.  And maybe you should be the one to ask him who they are... he doesn't like me and I understand. 
CWater
 "I see no harm in it, though I doubt I'll be much help in convincing anyone. I'm not exactly the eloquent speaker",  he says with a smirk,  "I can try of course. Also, I'll need more details about the one whose going to receive the message, I cannot target a 'drow who has relative called Sonorus' with the Sending." 
 "Though I wonder",  he says with a darker expression,  "what would people who worship such a god like the drow think of one who has let them down, even if it's one of their own." 
Athedia
 "He made that choice.  He could have easily gone down fighting with his companions.  And I was hoping you could ask Sonorus for more details, I don't think he would be receptive to me." 
CWater
Rhenner is quiet for a moment.  "I can try." 
Admiral
Natalia easily finds a grappling hook in the shopping district, buried in a a somewhat grimy store of mining equipment.

 
 Spoiler 
For a decent one, say 2gp. Up to you if you deduct it.
 


She continues on to the library, hidden away at the end of a widely spiraling arm of tunnels. Upon pulling open the thin but sturdy iron door, she finds the library in a disastrous disarray, with books and scrolls scattered along the floor while some shelves lie empty.

For a moment she panics, for the mess looks precisely like the work of a raid: perhaps the drow had gotten here first and their attack had gone unnoticed. But then a bald head pops above one of the piles of books, its shiny skin reflecting the orange light from Natalia's torch.

 "Eh? What's the matter?"  the dwarf asks, squinting. Then he seems to jump into alertness.  "Oh! You're here for the library."  His head disappears and then the dwarf, the shortest Natalia had ever seen, scurries around the pile of books to reach her, dancing across the various books strewn across the floor. He has a short, trimmed beard, and Natalia spots the insignia of the Institute on his hand.

 "Would you mind putting out that torch, then? It's not safe for the books."  he requests, before his eyes widen.  "Oh, but you're a human! Pardon me, then, suppose you can't see without it... oh, and that torch would be magical, wouldn't it... the things you forget..." 

The dwarf librarian bows and invites her in, not seeming to notice the obstacle course of literature that lies on the floor in front of her.

 
 Spoiler 
Update for Mithril + Rhenner momentarily
 
Admiral
Shiny joins the cleric and wizard in heading down to the office of Langdon, the chief magistrate of Deldon. He looks tired, and is starting a mug of miner's coffee as the three arrive.  "Ah, you're back,"  he says with a resigned tone.  "What's the matter?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Shiny will definitely use his Diplomacy roll when the time comes, but for interactions like these I'm usually more interested in how the characters explain what they're looking for.
 
Athedia
 "I would like to talk to the prisoner again.  This time no questioning, no interrogation.  I just want to talk to him." 
CoffeeIncluded
On the way to the library, Natalia gets another though in mind. Sonorous had said something about sheer cliffs. They'll want to have something to get past that. She goes back to the general store and picks out an inexpensive yet sturdy and strong grappling hook, with a hole in the middle to attach her rope. She can do it one-handed with the right knot as well.

Then, when she's done and sees Shiny, Rhenner, and Mithril go off together, Natalia heads to the library to see what she can find.

===

Natalia smiles as she purchases the grappling hook. On second thought, as a last minute decision, she also buys a bullseye lantern and several flasks of oil.

 
 Spoiler 
The bullseye lantern provides 120 feet of vision, but only in a cone.
 


She jumps back as the dwarf bursts out of the piles of books, then relaxes and laughs a little as he scurries back and forth. When he mentions the torch, Natalia passes her hand through it (not without a moment's reflexive hesitation!) and says,  "Don't worry, it safe. I'd...never harm books."  As the dwarf invites her in, Natalia carefully picks her way around the pile of books, occasionally lifting one up to look at the title. After a few, she stops--nearly all of them are in dwarven, and she can't read that. Dammit, she should have asked Rhenner or Mithril for another Tongues spell.

 "I'm...Natalia,"  she says, introducing herself.  "Your name? And...why piled books, hole in mound? What books here?" 
Admiral
 "Oh, I'm Corkdon. I've been watching over the Deldon library for a hundred and ten years, since my mother passed it on to me."  The little man seems to notice no irony in describing the disheveled burrow as a library.

 "Books! We have one thousand, two hundred and thirty one books here. I've read them all but there isn't room, you see,"  he explains, tapping his head,  "so when I finish there's nothing to do but go read through the lot of them again. That one's my favorite!"  he declares with a squeak, pointing to a book whose spine Natalia can actually read, for it says " Dwarven-Common Dictionary ."

 "Dwarves don't come here anymore... well,  dwarves  plural haven't come here for a long time, now that I may correct myself... but one always did, once a week, would sit and read with me. Perhaps he scared all the others off, with that great big axe he carried everywhere... but he's too old now, haven't seen him here in twelve years." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "I would like to talk to the prisoner again.  This time no questioning, no interrogation.  I just want to talk to him."  
 

Langdon frowns.  "The last time you spoke to him was under special orders from the Mayor- we don't let strangers talk to our prisoners any old day. Why do you want to talk to him?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Oh, I'm Corkdon. I've been watching over the Deldon library for a hundred and ten years, since my mother passed it on to me."  The little man seems to notice no irony in describing the disheveled burrow as a library.

 "Books! We have one thousand, two hundred and thirty one books here. I've read them all but there isn't room, you see,"  he explains, tapping his head,  "so when I finish there's nothing to do but go read through the lot of them again. That one's my favorite!"  he declares with a squeak, pointing to a book whose spine Natalia can actually read, for it says " Dwarven-Common Dictionary ."

 "Dwarves don't come here anymore... well,  dwarves  plural haven't come here for a long time, now that I may correct myself... but one always did, once a week, would sit and read with me. Perhaps he scared all the others off, with that great big axe he carried everywhere... but he's too old now, haven't seen him here in twelve years."  
 

Natalia blinks.  "Marcos? Mayor? Why here? And...what read?"  She looks through the books with fondness and desire and more than a bit of sadness. Books shouldn't be here all alone, and neither should Corkdon. They should be shared with the world. Oh, she wants to read these books so badly. She can't read many but she can recognize the diagrams and drawings on a few--the engineering books, because math is a universal language.

 "Why...your favorite the dictionary?"  she asks Corkdon before coming up with an idea.  "Corkdon, you want...read with me? Not a dwarf, but not scared off. And want to learn."  She pauses. Oh, she wants to read every single book here, but she can't, and she doesn't have the time. So instead Natalia says,  "Books on Underdark?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Langdon frowns.  "The last time you spoke to him was under special orders from the Mayor- we don't let strangers talk to our prisoners any old day. Why do you want to talk to him?"  
 

 "Surely you heard my friends and I are suicidal idiots who plan to journey through the Underdark.  Or has the word not reached you?  Anyway we just wanted to send a little message, nothing that would put you in danger, but it should prevent his family from coming up here after him." 
Admiral
 "You want to send a-"  Langdon bristles.  "Have you run this by Cordrey?!? 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia blinks.  "Marcos? Mayor? Why here? And...what read?"  She looks through the books with fondness and desire and more than a bit of sadness. Books shouldn't be here all alone, and neither should Corkdon. They should be shared with the world. Oh, she wants to read these books so badly. She can't read many but she can recognize the diagrams and drawings on a few--the engineering books, because math is a universal language. 
 

 "Oh, that  was  his name..."  Corkdon says with a sad smile.  "I think I lost it the last time I was working my way through the W's." 

  "Why...your favorite the dictionary?"  she asks Corkdon before coming up with an idea.  "Corkdon, you want...read with me? Not a dwarf, but not scared off. And want to learn."  She pauses. Oh, she wants to read every single book here, but she can't, and she doesn't have the time. So instead Natalia says,  "Books on Underdark?"  

 "Oh sure,"  the dwarf says immediately.  "But that's reading them all out of order. You'll want to start with  Alchemy , over there-"  he points to a tall pile on the other side of the room.

Suddenly he pauses, and puts his finger down.  "Oh, or... no, of course you can read those. Just going to need help digging."  He steps over to a heap of books that are flowing off of a shelf, and starts laying them carefully aside one by one. Eventually he reaches a thick black book, on the front of which is engraved a complex Dwarven word, and blows the dust off lovingly. He stumbles his way back down the pile, drops the on the floor on top of an open book that seems to be about octopus mating habits, and flips it open to show a handdrawn map.

 "Everything you could want to know about the Underdark,"  he says with a smile.  "Well, to a point. It's an old book- written a century and a half back, and I don't believe I've updated it in forty years. But the Underdark is slow to change too, I suppose." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Was? Corkdon, he still mayor. Saw few hours ago."  Staring in bewilderment at the book about octopus mating habits, Natalia's finally drawn to the map Corkdon shows her. It's beautifully drawn, even though she can't understand it.

 "Thank you,"  Natalia says, looking through the books and the drawings--drow and mushrooms and hot steaming shoots of gas and patches of fungi and eyeless fish and even...dragons.  "Corkdon, I...can't read Dwarf? Could you please...read with me?" 
 
 Spoiler 
And I'm back! Sorry about the delay; I was helping three people with their chemistry lab. I actually like enthalpy and specific heat!

Anyway, do I need to say what I'm specifically looking for?
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Was? Corkdon, he still mayor. Saw few hours ago."  Staring in bewilderment at the book about octopus mating habits, Natalia's finally drawn to the map Corkdon shows her. It's beautifully drawn, even though she can't understand it.

 "Thank you,"  Natalia says, looking through the books and the drawings--drow and mushrooms and hot steaming shoots of gas and patches of fungi and eyeless fish and even...dragons.  "Corkdon, I...can't read Dwarf? Could you please...read with me?"  
 

 "Well..."  the dwarf librarian says slowly,  "I did have a lot I wanted to get done today..."  He looks over longingly at a teetering pile that Natalia surmises is the G section.  "But I guess we can give this one a look. Now what are you looking for..." 

He pages through a bit, and starts to read to Natalia a description of the dangers to be found in the Underdark.

 
 Spoiler 

Most of my my information comes from a Forgotten Realms book on the subject, but with many adaptations (for Eldgar) as I see fit. As mentioned, I won't mention here the kinds of monsters that can be found in the Underdark, and I think it would be more fun for you guys if you avoided doing research on the subject, and certainly didn't read the book (suffice to say the variety is as great as what can be found on the surface). Once you run into a monster or race, how common it is will determine whether Natalia had heard of it in this speech and what she knows about it.

Some other information I'll give you as you go. The number one thing, and the first thing that Corkdon describes, is the layers:

 Upperdark : 0-3 miles below the surface, the "safest" level of the Underdark. The deepest mines of Deldon just  barely  reach the bottom of the upperdark. Other dwarf settlements, and orcs, often have tunnels that spread through this area, and on occasion surface dwellers may descend into it. The drow came in at a point in the Deldon mines at about 2 miles deep, so when you start your journey you'll already be near the bottom of the Upperdark.

 Middledark : 3-10 miles deep: this is primarily drow territory (the drow may ascend into the Upperdark but never build settlements there). The Middledark is in many spots suffused with magical energy called  faerzress , which is known to interfere with scrying and teleportation magic. (This all comes from the book). Faerzress also serves as an energy source for some of the fungi of the region.

Several other races, and many other monsters, inhabit this level, although none as powerful as the drow.

 Lowerdark : Deeper than 10 miles:  very  bad news, occupied by the harshest conditions (poisonous gas, bursts of heat) and nastiest monsters. Drow and other civilized races descend here only to mine valuable resources, such as firestone, that can be found only at this depth.

ETA: If you're wondering, in my cosmology the planet Toril is round and considerably smaller than Earth, and you are on approximately the opposite side of it from Faerun (the continent Hulburg was on). I've thus added this continent into the usual planet.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's eyes widen as she listens to Corkdon. Ten miles? That's...that's as deep down as the tallest mountains are high up. How deep are canyons? If there's a canyon several miles deep, if you dig a mile under that canyon is it upper dark or lower down? And...  "Ten miles deep. Does Underdark...go under sea?" 

That magic disruption field sounds really threatening as well. She needs to tell Mithril and Rhenner about it right away.  "Corkdon, does faerzress...affect which way? In, out...both?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Is there magma in the lowerdark too, since it's probably really close to the mantle of the planet's crust? And Tol'Garun and where we're traveling are in the middledark, right?

I really hope the drow aren't as uniformly psychotic as they're described in the books, though thankfully that doesn't seem to be the case. 🙂
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You want to send a-"  Langdon bristles.  "Have you run this by Cordrey?!?  
 

 "Somehow I have a feeling that if she hears about this, it's going to be a 'Not in a million years'",  Rhenner mutters, hopefully loudly enough for Mithril and Shiny to hear.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia's eyes widen as she listens to Corkdon. Ten miles? That's...that's as deep down as the tallest mountains are high up. How deep are canyons? If there's a canyon several miles deep, if you dig a mile under that canyon is it upper dark or lower down? And...  "Ten miles deep. Does Underdark...go under sea?"  
 

 
 Spoiler 
A lot deeper than mountains are high! Mt Everest is just 5.5 miles tall.
 

 "The sea?"  the dwarf asks, and chuckles a bit.  "The middledark beneath the sea is rather different indeed... yes, the tunnels do go under the sea, but almost all are entirely submerged. Only the hardiest of marine life can survive in those underground caverns... though those few brave explorers that have returned say that that region is far larger and more miraculous than the more familiar Underdark." 
 
 Spoiler 
If you're curious why you can go deep underground here without hitting (much) water, just write it off as big natural or magical dams along the edge of the continent. But in my view the Underdark beneath the sea is flooded.
 


 That magic disruption field sounds really threatening as well. She needs to tell Mithril and Rhenner about it right away.  "Corkdon, does faerzress...affect which way? In, out...both?"  

 "For teleporting, you mean? Well, from the description here it sounds like it'll be a problem either way. 

  
 Spoiler 
Is there magma in the lowerdark too, since it's probably really close to the mantle of the planet's crust? And Tol'Garun and where we're traveling are in the middledark, right?
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
This planet's geology doesn't necessarily match up to Earth's. But yes, there are random bursts of volcanic activity. Yep, Tol'Garun is in the middledark, and Sonorus  mentioned  that the prison was four miles below the surface.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia whistles as Corkden describes the under dark under the sea. It sounds so...fascinating. What must the pressure be like there? It sounds like it's probably not a link between the two continents though, at least not an easily accessible one.

The faerzress though, she needs to tell Mithril and Rhenner about that.  "Can you...sense it? See, hear, feel before find out through broken spells?" 

EDIT:  "And...not just teleport. Scry too?" 
 
 Spoiler 
i don't know how tall mountains are in your setting. And thanks! Anything else I should specifically ask or do?
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You want to send a-"  Langdon bristles.  "Have you run this by Cordrey?!?  
 

 "I don't know.  Shiny did you talk to Cordrey?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The librarian's book doesn't know any more beyond that information: just that teleportation and scrying don't work well. That's the basics of what the librarian would say in response to Natalia's questions. 
 

Hm. It seems like that's all Corkden knows and all that's here. It's not as much as Natalia would have liked, but it's still useful! Especially that bad spell reception thing.  "Thank you, Corkden. Good knowledge there."  She stands to leave then realizes something. Turning around, Natalia asks,  "Corkden, how...know this? Did you wander Underdark time ago?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Seems like this is all she can do, unless I misread something? Since the stuff about monsters is going to be a surprise! 😁
 
Cavelcade
Kurt makes sure Brander and the others have been set loose on their flying steeds - a feat which, even in the heat of battle he can't help but be awed by - before he relaxes a little. The more he sees of powerful magic, the more he wishes he could forget some of it. It truly is mind-bending stuff to see it.

Once he's done there, he goes to find the slavers. He frowns after a while, realising he's going to have trouble communicating with at least one of them. Still, he'll at least talk one of them. He goes to find Hilton then, taking him aside for the discussion.  "As far as I'm concerned you've proven yourself, prove that you've changed. To me you're free to go where you will...and I don't recommend coming with us. We're going somewhere that there's a good chance we won't come back, although I'm not sure the others really see that. The drow almost ended this siege very quickly - and we're going into their nest."  He keeps one eye on him carefully, trying to gauge his reaction.  "So I'm going to say this, you can come with us but if I were you, I'd take your freedom and use it somewhere else. 
Admiral
Kurt finds Shiny for help before going to speak to the slavers, and the gnome helpfully casts a spell of  tongues  on Kurt, enough to let the dwarf talk to each of the slavers separately. Kurt explains

Kurt has barely finished talking to Rocky before the ranger shakes his head.  "We make our gold together, and then we bring him back."  he says sharply.  "About this, you gave your word. When he is back, we take our freedom and go. Without him, this freedom is no good. Without you,"  he shakes his head again-  "where will I go." 

Hilton seems more queasy after Kurt explains the situation to him.  "Into their nest?"  he asks slowly.  "The Underdark, you mean?  He closes his eyes and puts his hand to his forehead.

 "I never thought the gods cared a whit about me or what I do... guess that's normal for those in my profession. But I guess sometimes things go the way they do for a reason. I can't believe I'm saying this... but I think you'll want me there. Maybe the Underdark is my chance to be worthy of your mercy. You see..."  Hilton's next sentence is in a harsh tongue that Kurt only understands thanks to Shiny's spell.

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;It wouldn't be my first time there.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Hm. It seems like that's all Corkden knows and all that's here. It's not as much as Natalia would have liked, but it's still useful! Especially that bad spell reception thing.  "Thank you, Corkden. Good knowledge there."  She stands to leave then realizes something. Turning around, Natalia asks,  "Corkden, how...know this? Did you wander Underdark time ago?"  
 

Corkden shakes his head emphatically, looking somewhat scared at the prospect.  "Me? Noooo. I've never left Deldon since I was born. But others have... and I read about them. Explorers."  He points to the cover of the book.  "Arlas Stoneslammer... she wasn't afraid of anything. She went down to the Underdark time after time, each one longer than the last- once spent three years there. Learned more each time. But the last time she descended, a hundred and fifty years back, she never returned."  He shrugs.  "Since then, what I add is just stories from travelers coming through. Added a bit about the Necromancer, too..."  He shudders.

 
 Spoiler 
Post soon with Shiny et all
 
CoffeeIncluded
Stoneslammer, wasn't that Marcos's last name?  "Arlas...she mayor family?"  Natalia bites her lip as he continues.  "Corkden, do you want...share stories?"  All alone, with nobody to tell them to. At least she can hear then, and share them.

When Corkden finishes, if he wants to share, Natalia stands up and shakes his hand with a smile.  "Thank you, Corkden. You great help. And I promise...We return. Bring more stories."  If there's nothing else to do in the library, then Natalia reluctantly leaves, and hurries to tell her friends about what she learned. Mithril especially needs to know; she uses the divination magic so much, and she needs to know it might not work down there.

 
 Spoiler 
Well, I wasn't expecting that with Hilton. Can't wait to find out more about this.

If there's nothing else to do, Natalia's meeting up with the casters and telling them about the crappy reception in the Underdark. 😛 Is there any way to tell you're in those zones before casting any spells?

I figured she'd listen to his stories too.
 
Admiral
Shiny smiles at Langdon.  "Cordrey's got no problem with this plan,"  he lies with a wide smile.  "We're not going to endanger the fortress in any way. We were helpful in the interrogation, weren't we? And we captured him in the first place (not to mention getting the supplies here safely): surely we've earned this small bit of trust from Deldon." 
 
 Spoiler 

As Mithril was talking, Shiny cast  Glibness  (no verbal component). Might have needed to use a 4th level slot for it after the suggestions, zones of invisibility, and tongues.

Bluff:  (1d20+44)[ 64 ]  Not often you see a number like that on a skill check.
Diplomacy:  (1d20+18)[ 35 ] 
 


Shiny speaks so effectively about Cordrey's agreement that even Mithril and Rhenner are inclined to believe him. The magistrate seems sympathetic to his argument, and after a moment's consideration grabs the keys from the wall.  "All right,"  he grunts.  "Let's go see him." 

A minute later the magistrate opens the door, and Mithril can see the mage huddled in the corner where she had left him.
Athedia
Mithril stared at Shiny as he so cheerfully lied.  It felt even odder after she had shared thoughts with him, the difference was so stark.  Quietly she followed as the door was unlocked.

 She stood, looking through the doorway at the curled up mage.  Her gaze only lingered on him for a second before she turned to look at the wall opposite the entrance.   "Shiny, Rhenner.  I can't.... I can't talk to him.  Please the two of you, he will listen I think." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Stoneslammer, wasn't that Marcos's last name?  "Arlas...she mayor family?"  Natalia bites her lip as he continues.  "Corkden, do you want...share stories?"  All alone, with nobody to tell them to. At least she can hear then, and share them. 
 

 "Oh,"  he says shyly.  "I suppose..." 
 "Mayor's family, oh, yes... she was Marcos's niece. Marcos founded Deldon with his brother, Arlos, who became the first of the Iron Guard. Arlas was his daughter, and she never did like to stay put. Arlos's son, Cordos, took charge of the Guard after he died, and then passed it to his own daughter, Cordrey."  He sighs.  "My mother met Arlas once... got her to write down some of her stories into this book. She said... she said it was clear that Marcos was the nice one in the family." 

The dwarf speaks some more of the history of Deldon and the library. At first Natalia is interested, but Corkden has an unfortunate tendency to mix the trivial in with the interesting, as though with a library's worth of knowledge in his head he has forgotten how to tell the difference. She ends up in a thirty minute lecture on the history of iron ore purification, which resists all Natalia's attempts to redirect it.


 When Corkden finishes, if he wants to share, Natalia stands up and shakes his hand with a smile.  "Thank you, Corkden. You great help. And I promise...We return. Bring more stories."  If there's nothing else to do in the library, then Natalia reluctantly leaves, and hurries to tell her friends about what she learned. Mithril especially needs to know; she uses the divination magic so much, and she needs to know it might not work down there. 

The feeble dwarf nods nervously at Natalia as she leaves, and as she closes the door he already is making his way back to his spot at the bottom of the pile.

On her way back, Natalia finds herself in the Artisan's Quarter, and decides to indulge a curiosity. Finding the merchant who had fixed her jacket, she asks about Rolsa.

The dwarf looks at her with a confused shrug.  "Rolsa? Who?"  After a few moments, he smiles in recognition.  "Oh! You mean ol' Shaky. Why, did she drag you into a conversation?"  he asks with sympathy.  "Poor old bat." 
Cavelcade
When Rocky finishes his speech, Kurt opens his mouth to try and convince him...and can think of nothing that would do so. He simply nods. Besides - it might be better for him to keep Rocky close by, he's less...reformed than Hilton.

It's Hilton's words that truly strike Kurt dumb, though. For a full minute he's silenced by surprised before he manages to speak into the awkward silence.  "The gods are...indirect. Maybe I am their instrument to give you a chance, maybe you're their instrument to help us get through...either way, thank you. You've already earned your freedom - but this is more than that. Thank you, Hilton."  The gruff dwarf is smiling a little at the end, his chest oddly light as he goes to pick up his armour.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Oh,"  he says shyly.  "I suppose..." 
 "Mayor's family, oh, yes... she was Marcos's niece. Marcos founded Deldon with his brother, Arlos, who became the first of the Iron Guard. Arlas was his daughter, and she never did like to stay put. Arlos's son, Cordos, took charge of the Guard after he died, and then passed it to his own daughter, Cordrey."  He sighs.  "My mother met Arlas once... got her to write down some of her stories into this book. She said... she said it was clear that Marcos was the nice one in the family." 

The dwarf speaks some more of the history of Deldon and the library. At first Natalia is interested, but Corkden has an unfortunate tendency to mix the trivial in with the interesting, as though with a library's worth of knowledge in his head he has forgotten how to tell the difference. She ends up in a thirty minute lecture on the history of iron ore purification, which resists all Natalia's attempts to redirect it. 
 

The...nice one?

You know what? She actually doesn't want to know.

Natalia manages to stay awake through Corkden's rambling about iron ore, no mean feat in itself. Though she tries to pay attention, she still can't keep her gaze from glazing over as she starts sorting out what she's learned about drow traps in her head. If her shadow's traps were indicative of the drow norm, then they like to chain their traps. They use the darkness to their advantage, which means they may not be able to hide traps as well in brighter-lit places. And they chain their traps. They connect one to another to another, so if you trigger one, they all go off, and if you fail at disabling one and the one next to it, another goes off. You've got to do them all at once.

She needs to learn more.


 The feeble dwarf nods nervously at Natalia as she leaves, and as she closes the door he already is making his way back to his spot at the bottom of the pile.

On her way back, Natalia finds herself in the Artisan's Quarter, and decides to indulge a curiosity. Finding the merchant who had fixed her jacket, she asks about Rolsa.

The dwarf looks at her with a confused shrug.  "Rolsa? Who?"  After a few moments, he smiles in recognition.  "Oh! You mean ol' Shaky. Why, did she drag you into a conversation?"  he asks with sympathy.  "Poor old bat."  

 "Poor old bat?"  Natalia repeats, confused. Ol' Shaky. Seems like she's earned herself a nickname too.  "Why call that?"  Batty. That means Nuts too, right? Someone whose mind isn't all nice and seamless together. Why is he calling Rolsa that--she seemed perfectly sane to Natalia, if condescending and rude.

 
 Spoiler 
How old is Rolsa?
 
CWater
Rhenner steps carefully to the cell. What a depressing place, he thinks.

He stops a few feet away from the drow, and since he feels it's somewhat awkward to talk down to tied up person, he also crouches down. He's not really sure what to say, so he goes straight to the point.

 "I've been asked to deliver a message to your kin that you alive and are imprisoned by the dwarves here. But to do this, I would need information about someone who would receive this message." 
 
 Spoiler 
The part of my brain that has grammar stored is not agreeing with me today.
 
Admiral
The merchant raises an eyebrow.  "You didn't notice all the twitching? Not to mention being nasty and bitter about every old thing."  He shakes her head with pity.  "Way I hear it, Shaky used to be as nice as they come. But those fumes she kept inhaling all day... The headaches got so she couldn't handle them. One day she goes tearing through the mess hall cursing and biting at everyone, had to be dragged away a shuddering mess. This'd be fifteen years back."  He shrugs.  "Way I hear it, long as no one's around she can stand it better. Any time I've had to talk to her... Well..."  he puts his hand to his head and shivers to demonstrate.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stares, her face paling.  "Did see. Did notice. But thought...that her. Sure it was fumes? They...made her that?"  Rolsa's mind was damaged by the fumes? She was made that way? But cursing and biting people?  "Did any help? Or just call Shaky?"  The name sends a flare in her chest. They shouldn't do that. They shouldn't call her that. Even if she was made that way and not Nuts as long as she could remember, it's no different. Actually, it's probably worse, remembering when you used to be normal and having that taken away...

And she still works with the chemicals. Won't that hurt her even more?

If this is true, then even though Natalia's hurt by Rolsa's rudeness, her heart still goes out to the chemist. Could that be part of why Rolsa's so mean to her? Natalia reminds her too much of herself? It certainly explains why she was so angry at Natalia's inquiry; she'd unknowingly touched something raw and painful. She should have known better; it's the same with her. Well, not quite the same because Natalia's always been like this as long as she can remember, her whole life, and her mind may be strange and crazy and nuts but it's not damaged (and oh, she's thankful for that) as far as she knows. But the effects, what comes of it, Natalia understands all too well. Especially if they all call her Shaky.

Is it true? Rolsa's body and movements as tangled as Natalia's words, turned mean and cruel, but why? Was it a switch, or did the Shaky help? If it's true, if it's true...

Natalia shakes her head, and only then realizes she's been standing there silent for nearly a minute.
Admiral
The drow mage looks up and hisses at Rhenner.  "You wish to taunt my family? What do you think that will accomplish? They'll give no concessions to you over my survival." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia stares, her face paling.  "Did see. Did notice. But thought...that her. Sure it was fumes? They...made her that?"  Rolsa's mind was damaged by the fumes? She was made that way? But cursing and biting people?  "Did any help? Or just call Shaky?"  The name sends a flare in her chest. They shouldn't do that. They shouldn't call her that. Even if she was made that way and not Nuts as long as she could remember, it's no different. Actually, it's probably worse, remembering when you used to be normal and having that taken away...

And she still works with the chemicals. Won't that hurt her even more?

If this is true, then even though Natalia's hurt by Rolsa's rudeness, her heart still goes out to the chemist. Could that be part of why Rolsa's so mean to her? Natalia reminds her too much of herself? It certainly explains why she was so angry at Natalia's inquiry; she'd unknowingly touched something raw and painful. She should have known better; it's the same with her. Well, not quite the same because Natalia's always been like this as long as she can remember, her whole life, and her mind may be strange and crazy and nuts but it's not damaged (and oh, she's thankful for that) as far as she knows. But the effects, what comes of it, Natalia understands all too well. Especially if they all call her Shaky.

Is it true? Rolsa's body and movements as tangled as Natalia's words, turned mean and cruel, but why? Was it a switch, or did the Shaky help? If it's true, if it's true...

Natalia shakes her head, and only then realizes she's been standing there silent for nearly a minute. 
 

The merchant raises his hands.  "Anyone interested in helping her, she drove away a long time ago. Look, just be glad she still has her trade to take care of her- I still deal with her for some items- or she'd probably be a vagrant by now."  The merchant loses interest in Natalia's internal debate and politely shoos her from the store.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia leaves, more slowly this time. She can't stop thinking. How much of Rolsa's bitterness was because of what happened? How much was because of how they treated her? How many people truly tried?

And fear grips Natalia too, along with the empathy. Is that what's going to happen to her? A vagrant, unable to communicate, beholden to the mercy of others? Isn't she halfway there already?

No. She shakes her head. No, that's not what it's like. Her friends like her regardless, she hasn't chased them off. They're a place where she belongs. Rolsa deserves that too, and if people only know her as Shaky then that's not a home any more than Natalia's town was.

Still, she owes Rolsa an apology tomorrow.

When Natalia looks up, she notices that she's walked practically into Mithril, who's...by the prison cells?

 "Mithril, what doing here?"  she opens her mouth to speak of Rolsa, then decides against it. Instead she says,   "Found about Underdark. Important for your magic." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The drow mage looks up and hisses at Rhenner.  "You wish to taunt my family? What do you think that will accomplish? They'll give no concessions to you over my survival."  
 

 "I didn't think they would, and that was not the reason I was asked to do this. No, someone just thought that it would be fair to tell your family that you were alive, so they would not grieve. Would you rather have them think you are dead?",  a small sarcastic smile climbs to his face,  "To be honest, the request surprised me, it is not something many would have cared about in this situation." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "I didn't think they would, and that was not the reason I was asked to do this. No, someone just thought that it would be fair to tell your family that you were alive, so they would not grieve. Would you rather have them think you are dead?",  a small sarcastic smile climbs to his face,  "To be honest, the request surprised me, it is not something many would have cared about in this situation."  
 

Sonorus raises his eyebrow suspiciously.  "Who asked you to do this? The wizard girl?" 
 "No,"  interjects Shiny without warning,  "I did."  The gnome steps forward.  "I'm sorry that I enchanted you earlier. I follow my orders, like any soldier- like you. But just because we're soldiers doesn't mean we have no souls." 
 "I lost a brother once in war... his name was Fenton, and he had been guarding an outpost that was overtaken and burned by ogres. We knew the raiders had taken prisoners, but not if Fenton was among them. You can imagine the pain of looking through those charred corpses..."  Shiny shudders.  "The war raged on for four years, but we never found him. The war brought tremendous costs, and we lost other loved one- but none stung so terribly as the mystery of what happened to him. If we could have simply buried him, it would have been a different matter." 
 "I know your family is strong. I know your people pride themselves on your resolve, and I do not doubt for a moment your or their sincerity. But no one, however strong, deserves that fate. That's the reason we ask." 
 
 Spoiler 

Bluff:  (1d20+44)[ 54 ] 
Diplomacy:  (1d20+18)[ 25 ]  Excellent, just barely changed him from Hostile to Indifferent, which is what we needed.
Sense Motive without modifiers:  (1d20)[ 2 ] 
 


Shiny's tale brings a sincerity Rhenner had not yet heard in the gnome's voice. The drow frowns as he hears the story.

 "We  are  strong,"  Sonorus mutters.  "But if that's really what you're doing... I guess you can let them know. Long as you make one promise. If they send you a reply, don't tell me what it is. I don't think it's something I'll want to hear." 
CWater
 "If that is what you wish." 
  It's not like we probably get to talk to him again anyway.  

Out loud he says,  "I'll need some details about the one I'll send this message to. A name is a good start, or something else that differentiates them from others." 

He waits for Sonorus answer, but before they leave he can't help asking,  "I was told... that your people follow a deity called The Spider Queen. Can I ask, is she the only god you worship?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I'm sorry if I put the last part too early, I just fgured the conversation wouldn't go on much longer. I can remove it if this is not the case.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 When Natalia looks up, she notices that she's walked practically into Mithril, who's...by the prison cells?

 "Mithril, what doing here?"  she opens her mouth to speak of Rolsa, then decides against it. Instead she says,   "Found about Underdark. Important for your magic."  
 

 "Hmm?"   Mithril had been standing by the door, listening to the small scraps of conversation through it.   "Nothing, what about my magic?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses. What was going on inside? Wasn't that Sonorous's cell? why was mithril listening in to it? Never mind; she could ask later. Right now she needed to tell what she learned.  "Went to library, was read Underdark map, monsters and land alike."  She describes the monsters and geography of the Underdark to the best of her ability, and then explains the faerzress.  "Mithril, know you like seeking magic, knowing magic, but those magics...sometimes blank. Spots where knowing magic, travel magic fail, in...and out, I think. Needed to warn you before." 
 
 Spoiler 
wait, sonorous is indifferent to the party now? Could he turn sonorous to helpful in one or two goes? That's broken.
 
Admiral
 "All right..."  Sonorus goes on to give the name and a physical description of his older brother, who sounds to be a magical craftsman in the city. The mage seems wary of giving away too much, but seems to understand the parameters needed for the Sending spell.

When Rhenner asks him about Lolth, he snarls.  "Do not mistake me for a friend, half-breed. I have no interest in discussing theology with you." 
 
 Spoiler 

a) Repeated Diplomacy checks don't "stack," that would be absurd.

b) He's indifferent to Shiny, not to the party.

c) And he's indifferent within this particular context. In this context Shiny is offering help so it makes sense: he got him to a point where he was willing to make a deal that Sonorus thought benefitted him, as opposed to not trusting any of you. If Shiny were asking Sonorus to betray his people he never would have gotten that far (there would have been a -20 circumstance penalty or something along those lines).
 
CWater
 "You know, as far as insults go, that doesn't even deserve an eye-roll",  Rhenner sighs and gets up.

 "I think we're done here",  he says to Shiny.

 
 Spoiler 
Could go on, but I think we all want to move forward.
 
Admiral
Shiny and Rhenner leave the cell, and rejoin Natalia and Mithril on their way back up to the rooms to finish their preparations.

Along the way, they hear a dwarf jogging up behind them, and Hartley, the priest of Pelor, approaches.  "Ah, Rhenner!  he exclaims.  "Rogan said you would be leaving tomorrow. I must say I'll miss our discussions."  He turns to the wizard.  "Oh, Mithril, I have something I wanted to show you, if you'd accompany me a moment. 
CWater
 "Fharlanghn has showed me a new path to continue my journey, so I must say goodbye",  Rhenner replies and nods to Hartley,  "I pray that the siege will break soon." 
Athedia
Mithril looked at Rhenner as if asking if it was safe.  He knew this man, but she was wary after the voice in her head and the images from the mask.   "What did you wish to show me that it can not be brought to our quarters?" 
Admiral
 "You'll understand when you see,"  the cleric says with a smile. Sensing her discomfort, he adds  "Rhenner could come with you." 
Athedia
Mithril bowed her head a little, embarrassed he caught her unease.   "Would you Rhenner? Please?" 
CWater
 "Of course, I'll come if you want me to",  Rhenner says with another nod,  "Though you can trust Hartley, he is serious in his devotion to Pelor."  The smallest hint of a smirk passes by his face.

 
 Spoiler 
Surprising, I though she would snap back, like 'I'll be quite fine by myself, thank you!'😛 Guess she's not that type of person then.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses as Mithril goes off...with Rhenner. Again. She trusted him so quickly. And it's not that Rhenner isn't likable or doesn't have this charm about him, but...

 "Um, Mithril, was my knowing...can I..."  She trails off, fidgeting awkwardly.
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
She would rather feel safe and knows she isn't safe on her own.

On the other hand Badger would definitely snap like that.  But Mithril was hoping someone would offer to come along anyway.
 

 "Thank you.  And Natalia, you helped a lot, thank you for doing that research."   Mithril turned back and followed Hartley.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia brightens at Mithril's thanks, and she says,  "Of course! Mithril, can I...come? Or you with Rhenner?" 
 
 Spoiler 
it seems like it's just Mithril and Rhenner.
 


She falters as Mithril walks off, and looks at shiny as she twists her fingers. Now what? She can't go back to Rolsa yet. And Mithril and Rhenner...what is this flare in her?
Admiral
Hartley smiles as he invites the two along with him, down a set of carved stairs in a side tunnel, as the rest of the party returns to the rooms.

 "I've thought much on our conversation,"  Hartley informs Mithril.  "As I said when we met, I have not seen a cleric or even a follower of Boccob in a long time. Thirty years I've been here, arriving after the last cleric posted by the Church passed away... Kristoff, also a faithful servant of Pelor. Now, where was I... ah yes." 
 "I did say that Boccob is not known to interfere in the mortal realm, and to the best of my knowledge this is true. But a deity's true blessing to our world is not through any dramatic act of the gods, or even in the divine magic he grants. It is in the actions, values and character of his followers. Your choice to help bring supplies through the dangerous siege shows great character, and I hear your actions last night in the storeroom saved the lives of hundreds."  He frowns.  "If more wizards used their knowledge and power with the sincerity you do..."  but he shakes his head and it passes. He makes a turn and the three find themselves deep in the Artisan's Quarter.

 "Our chapel is far more humble than that of Moradin... but we do have a budget, small as it is, and little else to use it for during this siege. I take it the Underdark is the next step on this quest Boccob has sent you... I hope you find what you are looking for. But I also hope you return someday to Deldon. And if you do..." 

They enter a small stonemason's shop, exquisite statues lining each of the walls. In the corner an dwarf artisan with a grimy beard and a tremendous pair of glasses carves expertly around a moderately sized boulder. On the table next to him lies open three worn leather books. Mithril immediately recognizes the figure drawn on each of the pages- an old man in a thick cloak, his cane bearing the All-Seeing Eye. On the wall behind the stonecutter's work hangs a large sheet of paper, and drawn in charcoal pencil is a sketch of the Lord of All Magic.

 "Well,"  Hartley adds awkwardly.  "I don't imagine Boccob would care what statues we display in our chapel. But again, not all worship is about the gods- some is about the followers." 
Athedia
 "Oh"  This small exclamation was all Mithril could say as she saw the carving that was to be made.  They hadn't had too, indeed she had never thought they would.  Slowly she stepped forward, touching the stone that had been carved, seeing the beginning of the statue.  Turning back to Hartley she smiled, tears in her eyes.   "I will return, if only to worship again in your temple." 
 
 Spoiler 
I had a feeling it was going to be something like this.
 
CWater
 "It is a very thoughtful thing you have done. Even if the followers of Boccob are scarce and travel here only rarely, a statue made of stone lasts long and can eventually see many." 
 
 Spoiler 
Sorry it took so long, I was delayed. We can go back and cast the Sending now.
 
Admiral
After bidding farewell to the kindly cleric, Rhenner and Mithril find their way back to the room. They spend the rest of the evening talking over preparations with the well-researched Natalia, before heading to sleep.

 
 Spoiler 
Sending was Mithril's idea, so she can dictate the message sent at her leisure and I'll let you know a response if there is one. I am curious whether Natalia has a response to Mithril's return.

Don't reach tomorrow morning until I progress it there.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles as Mithril and Rhenner make their way back to the room, though it falters slightly when she sees the pleased and overwhelmed look on their faces--particularly Mithril's. She shakes her head. No, she shouldn't think like that. Something good happened; she should be happy for her!

 "Mithril, Rhenner, what...happened where called?"  She runs her fingers over her copper wire, pressing against the coils and feeling them bend.
Athedia
Mithril saw Natalia fidgeting and placed a hand on the bracelet.   "They are building a spot in the chapel for Boccob." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks down at Mithril's hand over her bracelet, then up at the wizard's face. She breaks into a grin and hugs her.  "That wonderful! I know...what means for you."  And she does, truly.  "Surprise for all? Is...it done?" 
CWater
 "You've made an impression on the locals, it would seem",  Rhenner says,  "Now, I think I have message to send."  He looks at Mithril,  "Since it was your brain, or heart rather, that came up with it, do you have an opinion on what words should I use?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Admiral said you'd get to dictate the message, so, what is it?😛
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Of course...would impress,"  Natalia days before blinking in confusion.  "Wait, what words?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia's right there. 😛
 
Athedia
 "Sonorus is alive. He was the only of the squad to surrender.  The remainder died. Add what you want, but that is the message they should hear." 
CWater
 "Don't think there's much need for lenghty descriptions, or space for that matter",  Rhenner answers dryly. He nods to both ladies and goes to find a calm spot to cast the Sending. Sitting down legs crossed and eyes closed, it looks a bit as if he's meditating, though his holy symbol emits a faint glow.

 "Wise farseeing Fharlanghn, please guide this message to the right person, where ever he may be."  The cleric recalls Sonorus' description of his brother and focuses on that. Now to keep concentration for the long casting time. He'd sometimes wondered why it took so long, perhaps because the spell could have the whole wide world to search for the recipient.

When he finally feels the spell make a connection, he speaks:
 "The members of the squad sent to Deldon are dead, except for Sonorus, who surrendered. The dwarves of Deldon will keep him imprisoned for now." 

EDIT:
 
 Spoiler 
I think Natalia heard about the plan  here. 

I don't think it was ever to be a secret from her, it's Cordrey we'd prefer not to hear about this.😉
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia chews her lip as she watches Rhenner send the spell. She glad they're doing it, so happy at her friends' compassion, but at the same time she's a little afraid. She hopes that this doesn't turn out to be a huge mistake.

 
 Spoiler 
Right, sorry. Deleted and reposted.
 
Admiral
Rhenner finishes his ritual, and a full minute passes as he waits for a response. He almost gives up on receiving one, until words flow into his head in a harsh Elven accent.

 "The next drow that come to kill you will not be so cowardly." 
 
 Spoiler 
more in a few min
 
Admiral
That night the party heads to sleep, after Natalia's stories of the Underdark leave them nervous for the days to come. In one room, Shiny alone heads to sleep immediately, with Rhenner drifting off soon afterwards. Kurt, the memory of last night's nightmares fresh in his mind and having spent much of the day in bed, takes the longest.

In the other room, Natalia lies awake nervously for a few minutes, but eventually sleeps as well. Mithril tenses as she rests, terrified that the voice will return to haunt her mind, but eventually slips into unconsciousness...

Only to awaken in a terrified jolt as she feels a sharp pain clamp down upon her. She bolts upright, clutching at her chest, but finds no reason behind the pain, and even through the haze of sleep she comes to understand the cause- as she sees Whiskers roll off the bed before her in a tangle with a red, sleek shape.

 
 Spoiler 

As Whiskers was asleep, coup de grace attempt. Auto-crit for 2 damage, and Whiskers has to

a) Make a DC 10+2 Fortitude save or die
b) Make a DC 10 Fortitude save for poison.

Three way initiative: please roll for Mithril and Whiskers separately. (Mithril can yell to wake Natalia on her turn).
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Whiskers Fort Saves:
Saving Throws
For each saving throw, use either the familiar’s base save bonus (Fortitude +2, Reflex +2, Will +0) or the master’s (as calculated from all his classes), whichever is better. The familiar uses its own ability modifiers to saves, and it doesn’t share any of the other bonuses that the master might have on saves. So +2 either way.

Save or Die:  (1d20+2)[ 19 ] 
Vs Poison:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 

Initiative:
Mithril:  (1d20+2)[ 20 ] 
Whiskers:  (1d20+2)[ 9 ] 

Crossing my fingers.  If Whiskers dies Mithril may go berserk.

EDIT: Thank god he made it.
 


Mithril sat up screaming Whiskers name.  She could see the snake he fought with.  Damn that Sonorus, he would pay.  She had tried to be kind, had said his familiar was not to be harmed, and now.  Now this.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia bolts awake at the sound of Mithril's scream. Her vision's still blurry with sleep, but she's already reaching for her blades and raising one hand to her chest to cast her spell.  "Mithril! What wrong?!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Initiative:  (d20+7)[ 9 ]  She's not jumping in unless Athedia wants her to, though.
 
Admiral
The snake snaps at Whiskers as they roll onto the floor.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+6)[ 16 ] 
Damage 1, save for poison.
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Assuming Block init otherwise Mithril delays until after Whiskers.

Also Fort Save:  (1d20+2)[ 4 ] 
 


Whiskers bit at the snake, using his entire being to attack the creature.  A small spark of light brightened around his mouth, but there was no way to tell if there had been any effect from it.

 
 Spoiler 
Bite
Attack:  (1d20+4)[ 24 ] 
Crit:  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 
Damage:  (1d3-4)[ -3 ]  Always a 1, ignore the negatives here.
If snake is evil then Smite Evil equals +8 damage.

Also he attempt to Attach.  If he hits then he stays biting down and does damage every turn.  He loses the dex bonus leaving him at 16 AC
 

 "Stay back Natalia.  This is our fight."   Mithril still tired but willing to do anything to save Whiskers from a second death raised her hands.  Four spinning balls of force appeared and then hurtled toward the snake.  As they sped toward the snake her left hand twitched and the dagger appeared.

 
 Spoiler 
Magic Missile:
 (4d4+4)[ 14 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps as she sees Whiskers and the snake--Sonorus's familiar--bite and maul each other, rolling on the ground in a frenzy. No. Her fault. All her fault for not finding that snake before.

As the snake bites down on Whiskers, Natalia screams,  "I'll Rhenner!"  throws an antitoxin onto Mithril's bed where it bounces on the mattress before coming to rest, and then sprints to the room next door, screaming Rhenner's name.
Admiral
Whiskers latches on to the snake, holding fast even as the poison courses through his system. Mithril casts her spell, but somehow it bounces off the snake with no effect.

The snake lashes back at Whiskers, his eyes glowing red.

 
 Spoiler 

What is Whisker's natural HP? He should have 8 d8 HD (+ no con), which in my calculation is 8*5=40. After the poison takes its effect he has a -3 Con penalty, so HP is 40-8*3=26.

This time he Smites Good. Also, I miscalculated his attack last time: it is +4 (master's BAB) + 3 Dex + 2 Size=+9. This is a tough one.

Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 11 ] 
1+8=9 damage, Poison again. Con damage:  (1d6)[ 1 ] 
 


Distracted by the weasel latching into his flesh, the viper misses his target even as fiendish fire bursts from his teeth.
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Hit Points
The familiar has one-half the master’s total hit points (not including temporary hit points), rounded down, regardless of its actual Hit Dice.

So 21, now at 18 health. With Con Penalties of -5 leaving him at 5 Con.
 


Whiskers released the snake, scrambling back to his perch behind Mithril's head.  The wizardess looked down at the snake still bleeding from the bites.

 "Me first." 
 
 Spoiler 
Double move from Whiskers to get as far away as he can.
 



EDIT: Have to double post due to needed rolls.  Sorry.
Athedia
Mithril reached out, grabbing the cold rod from the pile on her over-clothing.  While it normally hung from her belt, that was not a practical idea while sleeping.

 
 Spoiler 
MM Empowered:
Caster Check:  (1d20+8)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (4d4+4)[ 20 ]  *1.5 = if 17 is good enough to beat SR than 30! damage.

Saving Spell
Circlet(2/3)
Rod (2/3)
 


The fight of cold and warm made her wince.  And over a snake, a price of her forgiveness of the drow mage.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pounds on the door, screaming Rhenner's name until the cleric opens it. When he does, she screams,  "Sonorus snake attack! Bit Whiskers, poison bite, familiar against familiar! Mithril, Whiskers alone fight! Rhenner, you have healing magic, poison healing! HELP!!!" 

If he comes along, she drags him to their room and flings the door open, screaming,  "Mithril! Whiskers! Brought Rhenner! Please, alive?!" 
 
 Spoiler 
I'm doing this now since I'm going to bed soon and CWater will be awake when I'm asleep. I don't want him to wait for me to reply and then hav you all wait for Rhenner to come over later in the day so I'm doing this now to make it easier for everyone.
 
Admiral
Mithril's anger and protectiveness seems to lend her spell even more power than usual, and the snake is nearly split in half. After a final unworldly rattle it falls silent, and the sinister red light in its eyes goes dark.

 
 Spoiler 
Nice max damage on the MM. Combined with Whisker's damage it is dead dead (not pining for the fjords).
 
Athedia
Mithril reached down and picked up the antitoxin from the bed.  Sitting where it had been tossed she uncorked the bottle and held it to Whiskers mouth.   "Brave boy, just drink up okay?  I will make sure you are okay."   Holding the bottle with her right hand she reached over to the new belt she had bought.  Time to test if it had been worth the gold.

 
 Spoiler 
Healing Belt 1 charge
 (2d6)[ 7 ] 
 
CWater
Rhenner wakes up to someone banging the door and yelling his name. He quickly shrugs away any traces of sleep and heads for the door. He has barely got it open, when Natalia grabs his arm and drags him to the other room, babbling incoherently. Something is clearly wrong, that much is clear from the girl's distress.

 "Who is wounded?",  he asks, when they get to the room. Mithril seems alright, he can spot no wounds on her, but the little weasel in her arms doesn't look so good.  "Whiskers?",  the medic sounds clearly surprised and he walks closer to get a better look of the little fellow.

 "And you, take a deep breath",  he adds to Natalia,  "I can't understand what you're saying." 

When he hears about the poison, he says,  "I didn't prepare the spell against poison today, I'll need the scroll you gave me. It's in my bag, which I didn't have time to grab before you grabbed me." 
 
 Spoiler 
He could go get it himself, but from what I know of Natalia's character, I imagine she would rush after it before him.

Anyway, after he gets the scroll, he'll cast the Neutralize Poison on Whiskers.

He's not used to fast spoken Nutspeak.😛
 
CoffeeIncluded
Rhenner doesn't even have time to finish his sentence before Natalia races out the door. She's back in seconds, and presses the bag and scroll into his hands screaming,  "Please! Fix now!"  before running over to Mithril and Whiskers. Seeing the bloodied weasel, shaking and shuddering in Mithril's arms, Natalia falls to her knees.

 "I'm sorry!"  she cries out!  
"So sorry! My fault, my fault for not finding when promised..." 
Athedia
Mithril glared at Natalia.   "This is NOT your fault.  I was trying to do a mage a favor, let his familiar go free.  I should have known better." 

Looking at Rhenner she nodded.  "Sonorus's snake attacked him while we slept.  I think he is poisoned." 
Admiral
Natalia sprints to Rhenner's bag to find the scroll, and skitters back with it in a panic. When she hands him the scroll, the cleric touches Whisker's head and casts it, with all the calm and efficiency of an accomplished healer. The weasel still pants from exhaustion and looks to be sickly from his intense struggle, but the magic appears to have done its job, and not a moment too soon.

 
 Spoiler 
you're out of combat. With a heal check Rhenner's can recognize that Whiskers is still at a Con penalty
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces at the harshness in Mithril's tone, but she's right. She sighs in relief as Rhenner's work cures the little weasel and purges the venom from his body.

 "Nothing to gain from attack. Wonder if...Sonora order or snake choice."  She shakes her head and hugs Mithril, reaching out to stroke Whiskers before stopping herself. Mithril's words help but she still feels terribly guilty.
CWater
 "He's still weak" , Rhenner says and pats Whiskers a little,  "But it shouldn't get any worse. It might take him a few days to recover all his strength, though some spells should help." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Do you have spells?"  Natalia pleads. Or do they have to wait for tomorrow?
CWater
 "Not right now, I'm afraid. But I could prepare them in the morning. 'Til then, the little fellow should rest."  Rhenner picks up his bag and heads for the door.  "If there was nothing else, I think I'll go back to sleep. But call me again if Whiskers, or anyone else, gets worse." 
 
 Spoiler 
Guess Mithril decided to ignore the fact that she was in her underclothes?😉
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Little concerned with the whole Whiskers near death thing.  I was waiting til he was safe :P
 

 "Thank you."   Mithril hugged Whiskers and stroked his fur.  Her rage and fear had finally calmed and she put the rod back on her clothes.  On... her... clothes....

Her face turned bright pink as she realized that Rhenner had come in while she was under dressed.   "Natalia... close the door please." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "O-oh!"  Flushing bright red, Natalia quickly slams the door shut, then pulls the blanket off the bed to drape it around Mithril.  "Sorry..."  she sits next to the Mage.  "Want sleep? I guard." 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "O-oh!"  Flushing bright red, Natalia quickly slams the door shut, then pulls the blanket off the bed to drape it around Mithril.  "Sorry..."  she sits next to the Mage.  "Want sleep? I guard."  
 

Mithril pulled the blanket around her.   "Thanks.  Just sleep, I don't think we will have any more surprises."   She lay down on the bed, still holding Whiskers close.  He was shivering a little, the stress shaking his little body.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia brushes a stray strand of hair behind Mithril's ear, and if she allows, smooths some of Whiskers's fur stuck in place. She eventually calls asleep, leaning next to Mithril, her blades at the ready. Hopefully she won't have to use them until tomorrow.

 
 Spoiler 
and see you in a few hours.
 
Admiral
After Whiskers' harrowing ordeal, the party goes back to sleep, Natalia keeping the longest watch. Thankfully, morning comes without another threat, and the party finishes their packing.

Rhenner and Mithril have just enough time to prepare their spells before heading down to the mines, from where they'll make their voyage into the Underdark. Rocky follows sullenly and quietly as usual, and though Hilton tries to put on a brave face he seems more nervous than he's ever been.

The trip down to the mines is difficult, heading even deeper than where Natalia had had her shift, and it grows more difficult once they reach the area where the drow had breached. The entire wing has been closed off, and a series of makeshift checkpoints and hastily constructed barriers set up. They are surprised to see an Iron Guard making a perimeter of the region, even as they see both Cordrey and Stanton up ahead next to a hastily carved out section of the tunnel, a few other guards and miners milling about. It seems that this rare vulnerability within the fortress has them all nervous.

Cordrey grunts as she sees the travelers approaching: it seems her feelings about their descent into the Underdark have not changed.  "Well... listen up. A few of us are going to be following you in, but not for very long. Once we secure the first half mile, we're going to seal it up strategically: a few collapses, some masonry, and some other tricks we have up our sleeve. So let me make this clear: we're not leaving the door open for you. They won't be getting through, but you won't be coming back this way either."  She frowns.  "Not too late to change your minds." 
 
 Spoiler 
Spell lists, please. And please add whatever potions/scrolls/items you bought to your inventory: I'll do the same with Shiny tomorrow morning.

I'll assume Rhenner cast gentle repose on Karn. Rocky would very much like to keep Karn's body, not just a piece. Is anyone volunteering 190 pounds of space in their Bag?

What do you guys do with the dead snake? Just leave it around?

Oh, I just remembered Natalia wanted to have a conversation with Rolsa. Let's have it in parallel.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt chuckles a bit at the offer, although he finds it impossible to articulate what about it strikes him as funny, as he fails to fully see what it is himself. Something for him to ponder for later, but not now.  "We are travelers who have made our arrangements. I doubt our new companion would approve us deciding to stay still all of a sudden." 
CoffeeIncluded
The next morning Natalia opens her eyes, then snaps awake. Nerves and tension wash away the exhaustion. Today's the day. They're headed into the Underdark. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't terrified.

As Natalia meditates to refresh her spells and Mithril reads through her spellbook, she nudges the cold stiff body of the snake familiar and asks,  "What do, Mithril?  Sonorus...knows, if bond same with you, Whiskers. Return? Or give Deldon?" 

Regardless, either way when they travel down into the cool and the dark, and the carved tunnel opens before them like some giant mouth, Natalia swallows, her mouth suddenly dry. It's actually happening. This is real and the anticipation in her stomach takes on another note of dread.

 
 Spoiler 
This better be survivable, Admiral. 😛
 


===

Natalia walks down to Rolsa's room and study. She knows the path fairly well by now. As she knocks on Rolsa's door, she shuffles and plays her hands over each other while waiting for the dwarf to appear. She isn't sure what to say. What can she say to make things better, especially since Rolsa's...Rolsa?

Well, what would she not want someone to say to her? That would be a good place to start.

When Rolsa opens the door, Natalia swallows, looks down, and says,  "Is...powder dry? Thank you,"  she says with a smile. Then it falters and she splays her fingers over each other again.  "Uhm...Rolsa? I'm sorry." 
Athedia
Mithril studied her spells in the chapel, hoping to ask Hartley for help with Whiskers.  She had picked up the snake from the ground keeping it with her.

When she say Hartley she had one other small request.   "Please take care of Honey for me.  Don't let her get butchered.  She is the last possession of two brave men, and I promised to protect her.  If I am not back in a year, she is yours.  Sell her to someone kind if you must.  But wait for me.  I will be back." 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  ++++

Making a detour on her way to join the group she left a note at the magistrates office.    Sonurus's familiar attacked me and my weasel in our sleep last night.  It is contained here in this bag, don't worry it is very dead.  Please tell the drow his attempt failed, we still live.  The corpse is a present for him.  Tell him he will have to try harder for my guts next time.  
 
 Spoiler 
She might be tempting fate, but she is not happy.
 


======

 "Whiskers and I survived an murder attempt last night.  Sure feels like the Underdark will be safer.  At least there we have no illusions about our safety."   Mithril was nervous, but she had survived so much, if she died here fate would only be playing catch-up.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt chuckles a bit at the offer, although he finds it impossible to articulate what about it strikes him as funny, as he fails to fully see what it is himself. Something for him to ponder for later, but not now.  "We are travelers who have made our arrangements. I doubt our new companion would approve us deciding to stay still all of a sudden."  
 

 "Oh yes, I believe the deity I follow is not very fond of cancelled travel plans, which means that I must not either",  the cleric adds with a smirk.

=====
Rhenner prays in the chapel in the morning, asking Fharlanghn's help for their journey through the ominous underdark. He meditates on his spells with Mithril after they've asked Hartley to help with Whiskers.

 
 Spoiler 
I'll post the spell list after I know if the dwarves helped.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Not to mention...too many questions. Here may know answers. Share answers like food."  Natalia smiles at her friends and the dwarves, and tries to stop her hands from shaking.  "We back, all back. All alive. Promise."  I won't fail again. And none of us will. We can do this.   

She nods.  "Ready?" 
Admiral
Mithril and Rhenner head to the chapel once they wake.

 
 Spoiler 

Let's see if Harley is an earlier riser:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 


They find the dwarf cleric sitting at his desk reading, the chapel already prepared for visitors. He is horrified when Mithril tells him of the attach, looks saddened when he sees the sickly weasel, and sighs apologetically when Mithril asks for his help.  "I would have been glad to, Mithril, but I've afraid I've already completed my prayers to Pelor, and did not prepare a spell that could restore him." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia walks down to Rolsa's room and study. She knows the path fairly well by now. As she knocks on Rolsa's door, she shuffles and plays her hands over each other while waiting for the dwarf to appear. She isn't sure what to say. What can she say to make things better, especially since Rolsa's...Rolsa?

Well, what would she not want someone to say to her? That would be a good place to start.

When Rolsa opens the door, Natalia swallows, looks down, and says,  "Is...powder dry? Thank you,"  she says with a smile. 
 

Rolsa pulls forth a sack with Natalia's powder in it, having set aside her small share.  "There, good as new, or there abouts. But that don't mean you should go dropping it in a damn puddle again!"  She pauses, pinches her fingers between her eyes, and shakes her head once more.


 Then it falters and she splays her fingers over each other again.  "Uhm...Rolsa? I'm sorry."  

 "You damn well better be!"  she grunts, before once again shivering her head clear.  "Well hold off on that. You're sorry for what?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins, and takes out a pinch of powder, laying it on the floor outside. Gingerly, she lights a splinter of wood and sets it to the powder, smiling in satisfaction as it ignites with a pop.

 "Knew could, would,"  she says to Rolsa before her smile falters.  "Im sorry for asking...shaking. Didn't know...wound behind, didn't see...I pressed.. Didn't know name to hurt, name like...Nuts. But...should have. Same wound pressed...for me." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Mithril and Rhenner head to the chapel once they wake.

 
 Spoiler 

Let's see if Harley is an earlier riser: [roll0]
 


They find the dwarf cleric sitting at his desk reading, the chapel already prepared for visitors. He is horrified when Mithril tells him of the attach, looks saddened when he sees the sickly weasel, and sighs apologetically when Mithril asks for his help.  "I would have been glad to, Mithril, but I've afraid I've already completed my prayers to Pelor, and did not prepare a spell that could restore him."  
 

 "It's alright, I can cast the spell myself. Unless you know someone else who would like to help? We are about to venture to the Underdark after all." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia grins, and takes out a pinch of powder, laying it on the floor outside. Gingerly, she lights a splinter of wood and sets it to the powder, smiling in satisfaction as it ignites with a pop.

 "Knew could, would,"  she says to Rolsa before her smile falters.  "Im sorry for asking...shaking. Didn't know...wound behind, didn't see...I pressed.. Didn't know name to hurt, name like...Nuts. But...should have. Same wound pressed...for me."  
 

Rolsa scratches her mangled hair as she squints at Natalia. Five full seconds pass before she speaks.  "Damned if you're not babbling worse than ever,"  she says, exasperated.  "I haven't the first damn clue what you're saying. But if it'll get you on out of here so I can get old in peace-"  she pauses, presses her fingers to her temples, and spasms quietly...  "I guess I'll accept it." 

-------------

Hartley shakes his head apologetically at Rhenner's question.  "The few servants of Moradin who can cast that spell are reserved for the protection of Deldon. I myself prefer to use the gifts of Pelor for healing..." 
 
 Spoiler 
Rhenner knows from his time here that Hartley is a pacifist. That's the reason he wasn't at the gates in the battle to get in, if anyone was wondering.

The other clerics would be all stocked up on Bull's Strength and Bear's Endurance.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs. She tries closing her eyes and lining up the words one by one.   "Im sorry...for asking twitch. Didn't know reason behind...or name. I...should have, because....know it...hurts."  She gives a little bow.  "Thank you. I promise we use well." 
 
 Spoiler 
assuming the powder works. I think I'm done here and ready to go.
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Hartley shakes his head apologetically at Rhenner's question.  "The few servants of Moradin who can cast that spell are reserved for the protection of Deldon. I myself prefer to use the gifts of Pelor for healing..." 
 
 Spoiler 
Rhenner knows from his time here that Hartley is a pacifist. That's the reason he wasn't at the gates in the battle to get in, if anyone was wondering.

The other clerics would be all stocked up on Bull's Strength and Bear's Endurance.
 
 
 

Rhenner nods,  "Your own defence comes first of course. If you'd say a word of us in your prayers, I'd be grateful. Even though",  he shakes his head a little,  "the rays of the sun do not reach where we are going. It's been good to get to know you, Hartley. Farewell." 
 
 Spoiler 
Okay, done here too. I'll post the spell list in OOC soon.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner nods,  "Your own defence comes first of course. If you'd say a word of us in your prayers, I'd be grateful. Even though",  he shakes his head a little,  "the rays of the sun do not reach where we are going. It's been good to get to know you, Hartley. Farewell."  
 

Hartley shakes his head as well.  "I haven't seen the sun in a decade, my friend. But the dark is where Pelor's work is most needed." 
 "In any case... I'm glad you'll be back on the road." 
CWater
 "Yes, people like to see the back of me."  Rhenner can't help the sarcasm, but his smirk is friendly.
Admiral
Cordrey shrugs as she sees the determined looks on the party's faces.  "Well... good luck, then."  She gestures to the wall, where a simple tunnel several yards long appears to have been carved in a hurry.  "Now, our miners have it down to the last few inches. We don't know what's behind there so we're assuming the worst. When we breach- small gap, you'll have to duck- I'm coming in with you with half a dozen guards and a cleric, Stanton and Rogan-"  she gestures to the Iron Guard and the high priest of Deldon, who are waiting to the side-  "will stay here and make sure the entrance remains secure."  She turns to a muscular stonesmith who carries a tremendous sledgehammer (which from its sheen appears to be constructed from adamantine) and gives an order in dwarven, then readies her own axe and shield.

The burly stonesmith steps forward, raises his hammer, and swings it hard into the wall with a loud crack. He raises it again and again, each swing cracking apart a piece of the stone. Soon his axe breaks through the surface and the party can see the darkness behind it. After just a few more powerful swings, the mason has opened a gap in the stone about three feet tall and two feet wide. Rogan steps forward and casts a spell of endurance on Cordrey, and she gestures to her soldiers to follow.

 "Move in!"  she shouts, first in Dwarven then in the common tongue, and ducks her way through the gap. After a few soldiers and a young cleric of Moradin follow her, it is the party's turn. The threshold to the Underdark lies before them.
CoffeeIncluded
The darkness beyond is more than anything Natalia's ever seen before. Even through this small tunnel, it seems like it's about to reach out and consume them. Walking into there is like walking straight into a hungry animal's waiting mouth. But they've got to do it anyway.

With a look back at Deldon, Natalia swallows, wraps her hand around her horses' reins, slides her torch into her belt loop, draws her blades, and ducks through the opening, into the darkness beyond. She blinks, and looks around, waiting for anything to strike.

 
 Spoiler 
Don't forget, we have our horses with us. Athedia was...rather insistent on that. 😛 Maybe have the tunnel 4 feet tall instead? Are you looking for all four of us to describe going through?
 
Athedia
Mithril took looked down the tunnel, getting an idea of what was on the other side.  She crouched down, removing a weakened Whisker from her shoulder so she would not scrape him against the walls.  Whiskers scurried through the tunnel after her, climbing back to his perch on her shoulder.
CoffeeIncluded
As Mithril and Honey warp in front of Natalia, the rogue steps through the opening into the darkness when she feels a resistance behind her. Turning around, she sees Rust step back, whinnying as he rears away from the hole.

 "Rust, please,"  Natalia begs, tugging on the reins.  "If stay, you starve. Or...fed to starving. Please."  Another tug, harder this time, but he puts up even more resistance. Natalia works her mouth, screws up her face to keep from crying. She can't bring him with her, she knows that. She knows how unreasonably dangerous it is to bring seven horses (well, six horses and a pony) into the Underdark, and that it would make it so much less likely for them to survive the journey. But at the same time, she can't leave him here. If she does, he'll either starve to death or be killed and carved up for meat. He doesn't deserve that after all he's been through. To do that to him would be a horrendous betrayal.

So she turns to the dwarves with tears in her eyes and asks,  "If I promise, back soon for horse, back with some food too...will you promise...he here, alive for me? And...not meat? And promise for all?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I really don't want to make a whole mishegoss out of this, so that's why I made this post IC. They're cool with it, right?
 
Admiral
Rogan shrugs.  "We'll do our best, Natalia. And it's a long time before we'll have to resort to that again. But decisions like that are up to the mayor." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks to the ground and clenches her fists.  "Will be back before long time. Promise. Please, tell mayor."  She looks places a hand on Rust's long nose and feeds him a bit of dried carrot in her pocket.  "I'm sorry...I can't bring. But back soon, bring to light soon. Promise."  Looking to the dwarves and her friends, wiping the tears out of her eyes, Natalia steps into the dark, waiting to see what lies in wait.

 
 Spoiler 
My torch is on my belt. What do I see on the other side? I mean, if you want.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt shakes his head a little at Natalia's words, sighing to himself.  "Don't make promises you can't keep, Natalia. We might all be dead...or worse, much sooner than we'd like. If they have to eat the horses, they'll make it clean - better that than the horses starve too."  That said he squeezes through the hole before she can answer, Daybreaker held in his hand as he comes through.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's mouth hangs open as Kurt climbs through before she can even start a response. On the other side, she says in a quiet voice, quieter than she even thought as the dark seems to swallow her words,  "Kurt, please don't say. We...need make promise, need keep. Broke too many already."  She looks around at her friends, all of them, then holds out her torch and looks around.
Cavelcade
He simply snorts at that, amused by it.  "We can only control ourselves Natalia, here especially we're at risk...something as mundane as a rockslide might end us, or maybe this Spider Queen might decide to take us out personally. We can't stop either except by not going down, but down we're going to go...so don't make promises you can't keep." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia works her hands together, plays her fingers over the hilts of her drawn blades. She can't quite look Kurt in the eye, but she says,  "Then...keep promises we make." 

That sounded a lot better in her head. But it is true. She vowed not to fail her friends again. She'll do anything to keep that vow.

Still.  "Kurt, why so...why act like this? Like...want to die? You...died once, why say again? Why not...?"  She trails off. Not fight? He is fighting. But to be so near-fatalistic about it, she doesn't like it. Not one bit.

 
 Spoiler 
Do you want to hear my marching order idea?
 
Cavelcade
 "I died once, and I'll die again. Until then I'll fight, but I'll swear no oaths and make no promises - because I fight, I'll die before I want to and that would mean I'll break some. The only thing I can guarantee is to try and do the right thing, no matter the cost. And that's what I'll do, until I'm struck down."  His face is set in determination, a familiar stubborn expression.
CoffeeIncluded
 "I don't want...to die,"  Natalia says.  "Nearly before...not..."  She trails off, looking steadfast somewhere off in the inky black distance. It's a while before she speaks again.  "If...which won't let! But if...please, back again. Can't..."  She looks at Kurt.  "Kurt, need you. And most good here. Waste otherwise, all waste." 

The right thing. They've got to be doing the right thing here. Natalia turns, shedding light on everything around her, taking in the underdark for the first time.
Admiral
Shiny, Rhenner, Hilton and Rocky follow them through the door, and the party begins their journey.

As Kurt speaks to Natalia, Rogan passes them by, and grabs Kurt's arm gently.  "Have faith, my son,"  the High Priest of Deldon whispers quietly to him, too quietly for others to hear.  "More often than not, faith will be rewarded."  He then steps away to help Cordrey in her progress, bearing a fearsome warhammer emblazoned with the sigil of Moradin.

 
 Spoiler 
Retcon: Rogan is coming with Cordrey and the others to help clear the tunnel, not staying behind with Stanton to hold the breach.
 


Cordrey, Rogan and the guards take the lead, passing back and forth brief orders in Deldon as they clear each turn. Cordrey cuts a particularly intimidating figure with her exquisitely crafted armor, shield and axe- her skill, strength and professionalism are obvious in every movement. The dwarves' approach to the tunnel appears supremely paranoid- but then, the party reasons, this is likely the first time in many years they'd had to emerge from the safety of Deldon, and they were certainly proceeding into enemy territory.

After a few minutes of cautious progress Cordrey stations two of the guards at a turn, serving as a midway checkpoint. She does the same a few minutes later, leaving just Rogan and the two guards continuing. Finally they come to a piece of the tunnel that is particularly short and narrow, such that Mithril's horse will have a bit of trouble squeezing through. Cordrey turns to Rogan.  "&lt;Dwarven&gt;"Will this do?"&lt;/Dwarven&gt;  The priest takes a few moments to study the tunnel, then nods in assent.

Cordrey turns back to the party.  "This is where we part ways. Rogan will be sealing up the tunnel behind you: that'll give us a bit of safety while we start our work securing and collapsing the rest of the tunnel. No turning back from here."  She pauses a moment.  "Be careful. The Underdark claimed the greatest warrior I've ever known."  Then she steps back to let them pass.
CoffeeIncluded
Their best warrior.  "Arlas Stoneslammer?"  Natalia asks, her mouth dry. Though she's pretty sure she already knows the answer.

The paranoid of the dwarves does little to help calm her, and now the fear threatens to override everything else? What are they doing, going here with nothing but the danger and the darkness? But they've got to. They've got to find out answers, and they've got to light the way.

Besides, they have light, and she can sneak through the darkness as well as any drow.

Not cocky, not even confident, but they've got to do this. They must. Natalia reaches down and gives Cordrey a quick hug, saying,  "We will. Thank you."  And then, with a gulp, she looks beyond the tunnel, and if it's safe she then passes beyond. No turning back.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm going to back off for a bit now unless directly addressed or something happens. I really mostly talked here because Natalia knows about Arlas.

Guys, I think the marching order should be, from first to last, Natalia, Kurt, Mithril/Shiny, and Rhenner. Do you want me to give my reason OOC?
 
Athedia
 "Thank you. If I survive I will be back."   Mithril started to go through the tunnel before stopping and turning back.   "Oh, and you don't need to worry about the mages familiar anymore."   She then entered the tunnel, carefully feeling along the sides of the passage to make sure she kept her balance.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Their best warrior.  "Arlas Stoneslammer?"  Natalia asks, her mouth dry. Though she's pretty sure she already knows the answer. 
 

As the party passes through the thin gap, Natalia notices a gruff smile break through Cordrey's grim expression.  "I always called her Aunt Arly,"  she answers,  "...but only because she hated it." 

Rogan bends down and runs his fingers along the side of the rock while muttering a prayer. The side of the tunnel bulges outward, sealing off the bottom half of the crevice with a thick chunk of rock. He peers out toward the party as he places his hands on a higher portion of the wall, casting a second spell, and moments later rock fills the passageway completely. The party is now completely sealed off within the Underdark.

They progress on cautiously through the tunnels, with Kurt's dwarven instincts keeping a general sense of how far they have progressed. After only about a quarter of a mile and a short descent, they come to a point where the tunnel turns far steeper, leading them down into the deep. This part of the passage can be walked only cautiously, although it seems that steps have been crudely carved into the ground to make it a bit easier. They progress down this tunnel for a slow, cautious half hour, enough that Kurt lets them know they've descended about half a mile deeper under the surface.

 
 Spoiler 

I'm down with Hilton and Rocky walking behind Kurt, and with Shiny being on the horse. Who is carrying torches and/or magical light? I know Natalia has one on her belt.

Spot and Listen checks from everyone, and a Knowledge (Dungeoneering) check if anyone has that.

Spot:
Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ 6 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 14 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+2)[ 15 ] 

Listen:
Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ 5 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+2)[ 12 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
The air's cool down here, just a little bit damp. And so still. Every footstep seems to echo off the walls, and her torch casts shadows off every single angle and crack in the stone. Steps have been carved into the stone, but the pebbles and dirt suggests that they haven't been well-maintained. And it's so steep. It reminds her of the path to the orc caves back by Linwood. The one with the roc.

Natalia descends cautiously, even though her boots help keep her upright and her hops and jumps over rubble seem lighter, easy to do. She keeps her eyes and ears open, as best as she can.

 
 Spoiler 
Would a Knowledge(Architecture and Engineering) or Knowledge (Local) check work for Natalia since she did a lot of research and reading?

Spot:  (d20+12)[ 31 ]  Nice.
Listen:  (d20+12)[ 20 ] 
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Spot:  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
Knowledge Dungeoneering:  (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
 


As Mithril walked, one hand resting on Whiskers, the other one on the rod at her belt in case of trouble.  When she passed deeper shadows she would twitch away, all to clearly remembering the choker from before.
CWater
Rhenner walks last, holding the light he created just a moment ago in his right hand. Despite the ominous surroundings, he can't help smiling a little. Finally, he is on the move again. Though the long stay in Deldon wasn't all that bad, and this darkness or being surrounded by so much stone don't bother him as much as they would have before his arrival to the fortress. He glances back sometimes, to the tunnel they just came from, even though he knows it is closed now.

 
 Spoiler 
Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 15 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 7 ] 
 
Admiral
The tunnel they are in finally levels out- the ground is now longer descending, but it is now rougher: apparently they've found themselves in a natural cave. Kurt estimates they are just about three miles underground: the lowest reaches of the Upperdark.

The party stand deeper than any Deldon miner had ever delved, and the air itself seems to remind them of this fact: it is eerily cool and impossibly still. The echoes around them are creepy and isolating, especially for those who had never lived in caves before Deldon.

The caves are filled with stalactites and stalagmites that seem to grow larger as they progress forward. Often the natural formations are so tremendous they have to carefully climb and squeeze through them. But mostly the caves are more spacious than the tunnels they'd navigated so far.

Natalia, who has been attentively scanning the tunnels as they progressed, suddenly spots a vague and unfamiliar dark shape in the stalactites above. It could just be a shadow except that Rhenner's light seems to shine directly on it. Scanning the ceiling more carefully, she spots another shape a little deeper into the cave.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Something on ceiling. Two things, there and there,"  Natalia whispers harshly, stopping short as she points at the figures on the ceiling. Drawing her bow, she slips ahead and looks up to get a closer look.

 
 Spoiler 
natalia gets within sneak attack range of the first one, preferably taking cover behind a stalactite. But she gets close enough to sneak attack and identify it, that's what's most important.
 
Admiral
Natalia moves closer to try to get a better look. Taking cover behind a stalagmite, she studies the two shapes she say. Each looks like a black flag hanging on the stalactite.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm inventing a category called Knowledge (Underdark). Both Natalia and Hilton (having been there before) can make untrained Int checks in it. Of course other Knowledge checks (Architecture and Engineering, Dungeoneering, Nature, Arcana, Religion) could often be as or more important depending on the context.

The advantage Natalia gets from research will depend on both the result of the check (did she see it, did she remember it, did she apply it correctly) and how well known the feature of the Underdark is.

Anyway: can make a check.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Flags? What are flags doing there? Natalia licks her lips, trying to remember if these match with Corkden's description.

 
 Spoiler 
knowledge (Underdark):  (d20+4)[ 22 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia has to think for a moment before she remembers the story of a common creature in the Upperdark caves: one that appears like a cloak or cloth, but in fact can swoop down on its prey.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Diving raptor cloth!"  Natalia shouts back to her friends as she splays he have over her chest, casting the Cat's Grace spell.   "Dive down to eat! They think we prey! Now!" 
 
 Spoiler 
does she know a name?
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Shoot down! Shoot before dive!"  Natalia screams, firing her bow twice at the nearest creature in rapid succession.

 
 Spoiler 
attack:  (d20+12)[ 27 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 8 ] 

Attack:  (d20+7)[ 10 ] 
Crit:  (d20+7)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 7 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia's first shot hits the black shape solidly, and the creature's unearthly screech confirms that it is no flag.

 
 Spoiler 

We'll wait for Rhenner to continue, as I need to head off for the night anyway.

In case you might be worried this encounter will be too easy, know that the two cloakers on the map are just the ones you see.
 
CWater
The creature's scream alerts Rhenner to its position.  "Hartley thinks the sun has power even in these dark caverns. Wise Fharlanghn, Your humble servant begs You to agree with him."  He takes a few steps back, to be sure he doesn't hit anyone in the party with the spell. A beam of light shoots forward from his hand, towards the thing on the ceiling.

 
 Spoiler 
Searing Light

Ranged Touch:  (1d20+8)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (4d8)[ 15 ] 
 
Admiral
Rhenner's beam of light hits the creature solidly, and the beast is wounded.

In a chilling sight the swarm of cloakers drop from the ceiling: the two Natalia saw both sweep down, but from the dark ceiling behind them emerge two more.

The cloaker Natalia had shot flies straight in front of Kurt, pauses, and opens wide: from underneath it no longer looks like a simple black cloth, but rather a hideous beast with stretched, veiny skin. It opens its gnashing maw, and a low rumble seeks to shake the party members to their core.

The second cloaker flies towards Natalia, pauses near her while remaining twenty feet in the air, unfurls and lets out its own roar.

 
 Spoiler 

Visual aid:

 

DC 15 Will save everyone except Natalia, for whom it is a DC 15 Fortitude save.

Shiny:  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+2)[ 7 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+1)[ 16 ] 

C1 is bloodied, by the way.
 
Admiral
Hilton shrieks at the cloaker's appearance, and turns to flee back down the tunnel as fast as he can. While this might seem in character for the rogue, he is oddly followed by Shiny immediately afterwards, the gnome waving his hands in panic.

 
 Spoiler 

Those failing the save are panicked for 2 rounds.
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Will Save vs DC 15:  (1d20+9)[ 20 ] 

And I should have rolled my other rolls as well.... sorry I will have to double post.
 
Athedia
Mithril raised an eyebrow as Shiny and Hilton fled.  Shiny never fled from anything.  Swiftly removing the rod from her belt she sent two orbs of force toward each of the descended creatures.

The spell returned as swiftly as it left her mind.

 
 Spoiler 
MM Empowered, Remembered. Rod and Circlet (2/3)

C1:  (2d4+2)[ 8 ] 
C2:  (2d4+2)[ 6 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's eyes widen as Shiny screams and runs down the cavern. What did that creature's roar do to him?! She's about to find out for herself as the other one bears down on her and lets out another roar, a deeply unpleasant one that shakes her to her bones.

 
 Spoiler 
Fort save:  (d20+6)[ 24 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia groans at the creature's horrible sound, but manages to shake off the effects. With a growl, she dashes forward, draws her blades, and tries to plunge one dagger into the cloaker's back. Maybe that would bring Shiny and Hilton back!

 
 Spoiler 

Flanking with Kurt!
Attack:  (d20+14)[ 17 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 

****, I forgot to add sneak attack, but I think that missed anyway.
 
Admiral
Rocky steps out towards the beast, undeterred by its moan and ignoring the others who had run. He draws his greatsword and swings in a powerful downward arc.

 
 Spoiler 

Flanking with Natalia.

Attack:  (1d20+11)[ 26 ]  Crit:  (1d20+11)[ 31 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 10 ]  Crit:  (2d6+6)[ 12 ] 
 


His swing tears into the beast, wounding it right to the edge of death. The beast flaps aimlessly in the air, terribly weakened.

 
 Spoiler 
I had forgotten that Mithril's spell was Empowered. As a result, this guy is  disabled  at 0 HP. Haven't seen that in a while.
 
CWater
The creature's roar rings in Rhenner's ears. In his mind, it turns into a scream that calls forth vivid images from memories he wished he'd never have to recall. He steps back, trying to flee them.

 
 Spoiler 
You can move him to an appropriate square.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Kurt grimaces as Shiny, Hilton, and Rhenner flee, but manages to stay firm. Taking his longbow, he fires straight at the cloaker in front of him. If he manages to slay it, he fires another arrow straight at the one behind Natalia.

 
 Spoiler 
Attack:  (d20+16)[ 19 ]  (+2 for flank)
Crit:  (d20+16)[ 31 ] 
Damage:  (d8+5)[ 7 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 30 ]  (+2 for flank)
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d8+5)[ 9 ] 
 
Admiral
Kurt takes down the creature in front of him with a pair of arrows.

The two distant cloakers descend. One flips opens and lets out its own supersonic howl.

 
 Spoiler 

That's C3. Kurt, Natalia, Rocky and Mithril all take -2 on attack and damage rolls: no save.
 


Another cloaker floats above the four remaining party members, flaps open, and moans as well.

 
 Spoiler 

This is C4. I'm going to have to roll these saves myself, because what C2 does depends on these results.

Fortitude DC 15 saves:

Kurt:  (1d20+11)[ 19 ] 
Natalia:  (1d20+6)[ 19 ] 
Mithril:  (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
 
Admiral
Rocky collapses to the ground alongside the party, gripping his stomach and grimacing in intense pain.

The remaining cloaker floats forward to pause directly above Kurt. There it pauses for a moment, then through some trick of the darkness it seems to split into many identical copies, all floating within each other.

 
 Spoiler 
Rocky is nauseated (you don't know for how long).

There are:  (1d4+2)[ 3 ]  copies of C2: you cannot tell which is real when you attack/cast spells at it and have to roll at random. (Roll a die with that many (4) sides, and if it's the maximum value you hit the real one). See  Mirror Image .

Note that there are four versions you can see: three of them are copies. So roll a d4.
 
Athedia
Mithril stared as the thing split into three and then waved her hand at them casting an orb at each until she found the real one.  That should show them quick enough.  The circlet flooded her body with warmth, she wasn't going to waste the rod on this parlor trick.

 
 Spoiler 

Image 1:  (1d4+1)[ 3 ]  Is it real? (1d4)[ 2 ] 
Image 2:  (1d4+1)[ 3 ]  Is it real? (1d4)[ 3 ] 
Image 3:  (1d4+1)[ 2 ]  Is it real? (1d4)[ 2 ] 
Image 4:  (1d4+1)[ 5 ]  Is it real? (1d4)[ 4 ] 

If it is real all the remaining MM go straight at it.  Circlet(1/3), Rod (2/3)

EDIT: Cool that it was the last image that it hit.  And for max damage.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia steps back as the creature splits into three, though she still shakes from the moans. She then growls and steps forward. If she can't tell which one is real, then she'll hit all of them!

Just as Natalia is about to attack, Mithril fires her missiles at the cloaker. Three of them burst and vanish, while the other one shudders--the real, only remaining one. With a grin and shout of,  "Thanks!"  Natalia attacks.

 
 Spoiler 
flanking! If she hits the real one the rest are directed towards it.

Attack:  (d20+10)[ 12 ] 
Crit:  (d20+10)[ 27 ] 
Damage:  (d6+3)[ 5 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 13 ] 
Real?  (d4)[ 3 ]  EDIT: unneeded thanks to Mithril.

Attack:  (d20+10)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+10)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (d4+3)[ 4 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 16 ] 
Real?  (d4)[ 3 ]  EDIT: Unneeded thanks to Mithril.

Attack:  (d20+7)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+7)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d6+3)[ 4 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 
Real?  (d4)[ 4 ] 
 
 EDIT: unneeded thanks to Mithril.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia steps back as The cloaker splits into four, then shoots Mithril a grin and a,  "Thanks!"  as the cloaker's images vanish. She steps protectively towards Rocky, draws her bow, and attacks.

 
 Spoiler 
attack:  (d20+10)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+10)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d6)[ 5 ] 
 
Admiral
Kurt fires a pair of arrows towards the cloaker that Mithril and Natalia had wounded.

 
 Spoiler 
Attack:  (d20+14)[ 31 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (d8+5)[ 10 ] 

Attack:  (d20+9)[ 29 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 20 ] 
Damage:  (d8+5)[ 8 ] 
Crit:  (d8+5)[ 8 ] 
 
Admiral
The underbeast is badly wounded by Kurt's arrows.

 
 Spoiler 
C2 is bloodied
 


The wounded monster starts a new, powerful rumble.

 
 Spoiler 

DC 15 Will saves:

Kurt:  (1d20+4)[ 9 ] 
Natalia:  (1d20+3)[ 8 ] 
Mithril:  (1d20+9)[ 23 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+1)[ 16 ] 
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

I am going to make an executive decision that Kurt uses this roll for his Zealous Surge. As always, if anyone has an issue with my rolling for characters I strongly urge them to tell me about it: I try very hard to be respectful.

Also I accidentally rolled Kurt as a +4: when he's not raging I believe it is a +2.

Kurt Will reroll:  (1d20+2)[ 4 ] 
 
Admiral
Kurt and Natalia shriek, and begin running from the monsters that have somehow terrified them beyond all reason- abandoning the wizard behind them.

The cloaker whose low, steady tone was wearing at the party's minds, through some strange trick of the light, begins to blur midair.

The final cloaker floating above Kurt chooses this moment to drop down upon Mithril, the sole party member still standing.

 
 Spoiler 

Hoo boy. Let's see if we can replace Mithril's fear of strangling with fear of smothering.

Touch attack:  (1d20+4)[ 5 ] 
If hits, grapple attempt, opposed by Mithril:  (1d20+13)[ 24 ] 
 


Perhaps from his overabundance of eagerness, the beast's attempt to grab hold of Mithril just barely misses the wizard.
Admiral
Around the corner, Shiny, Rhenner and Hilton suddenly halt their flight midstep, blinking their eyes clear.

 
 Spoiler 
They're one turn away from running back to the turn.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Somewhere in her mind Natalia knows this is wrong, she shouldn't be doing this. But that is washed away by the moan that turns her guys to jelly. With a shriek she runs away from a the cloakers--straight into the wall of the cavern, where she presses herself up against the smooth stone as flat as she can.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia has cloakers before and behind her. I think the only place she can run is to the side.
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 

Oh.... Aberrations love me don't they.

Spell List:
Level 0 (4):
Light
Detect Magic
Light
Mending

Level 1 (5):
Magic Missile
Mage Armor
Alarm
Magic Missile
Dawn Burst

Level 2 (4):
Web
Acid Arrow
Cloud of Knives
See Invisibility

Level 3 (4):
Daylight
Deeper Darkvision
Dispel Magic
Haste

Level 4(3):
Dimension Door
Black Tentacles
Wall of Water
 


Mithril's eyes bulged as she watch her friends, even Natalia who always protected her and Kurt, Kurt who ran screaming toward danger, flee.  She was tempted to turn and run with them, but a quick look at Rocky made her change her mind.  Even if she was hurt here she could not leave him to die.

This distraction allowed the cloaker to try to land on her.   "No.  No, no NO!"   She was angry now.  What did these things think they were doing?  She didn't have time for this!  4 orbs of power appeared again, the circlet flaring and then dying out for the day.  The rod still felt strong, she could still use it, but not much longer.

 
 Spoiler 
MM Empowered, Remembered.

C2:  (2d4+2)[ 6 ]  *1.5 = 9
C3:  (2d4+2)[ 6 ]  *1.5 = 9
 


The spell cast Mithril began to backpedal, hoping the cloakers would focus on the pesky one hurting them instead of Rocky.  She stopped as her foot hit the large stalagmite behind her.  
 Spoiler 
Move to J5
 
Admiral
As Shiny, Hilton and Rhenner turn to run back to the fight, Shiny casts a spell granting them additional speed.

 
 Spoiler 
Haste on the three of them. Next turn they'll be back around the corner.
 


As Mithril moves away, the creature next to her swings at her.

 
 Spoiler 

AoO

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 22 ]   (1d20+8)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+5)[ 6 ]   (1d6+5)[ 8 ] 
 


Mithril's spell wounds both creatures, but neither falls. The beast that had tried to entrap her tries once again.

 
 Spoiler 

(I rolled touch attack wrong last time, though it missed anyway)

Touch:  (1d20+8)[ 27 ] 
If successful, grapple:  (1d20+13)[ 14 ] 
 
Admiral
The wounded cloaker above Mithril floats towards her and peers down with monstrous eyes, emitting a horrifying screeching noise only she can hear.

 
 Spoiler 

DC 15 Fortitude save for Mithril.
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Fort vs DC 15:  (1d20+7)[ 22 ] 
If this fails can I say it is because of the cloakers breath?
 


Mithril stared back at the creature.   "No, sorry.  My brothers tried that.  It doesn't work on me." 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Looks like the cloaker Engulfed a mint this morning, so Mithril is safe.
 


The last cloaker descends on Rocky as he lies helpless on the ground.

 
 Spoiler 

Touch attack:  (1d20+8)[ 16 ] 
Grapple check:  (1d20+13)[ 20 ] 
Rocky's grapple:  (1d20+9)[ 20 ] 
 


The cloaker entirely engulfs the slaver like a blanket, leaving only a shivering hunk on the ground.
Admiral
Shiny, Hilton and Rhenner round the corner.

 
 Spoiler 
All three are Hasted, and are where they are now on the map. Their turn.

Shiny wants to see what Mithril does before he casts his spell.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia presses herself back against the wall, screaming as Mithril dodges the cloaker and flees while another one engulfs Karn entirely. Something's wrong, she needs to help, but she's too scared to move. Sobs start breaking through her screams, but she can't do anything other than try to claw backwards through the wall as if it'll actually crumble under her fingers and provide a way for her to escape.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm looking at the grappling rules and there's rules for breaking someone out of a pin, but no rules for breaking someone out of a plain old grapple? Should we houserule it? Even if it ends up being unnecessary now, it might be some day.
 
CWater
Rhenner runs back to the cave with Shiny and Hilton and sees how Natalia and Kurt are have backed to the other side of the room. And at least two of these cloaked monsters with sharp teeth are hanging in the air. What on earth are these strange things, that can make seasoned warriors to flee. Though it seems that the mage has gone nowhere.

The cleric moves forward, chanting a quick prayer to Fharlanghn as he goes, though the haste effect pushes the words together, so no mortal could understand what he says. Fortunately, the gods have a better hearing.

 
 Spoiler 
Yup, casting Prayer.

 I'm sorry tha Kurt is left out of the range, but he can't move further this round.☹️ At least I don't think he can. .

Scratch that, my brain's not working today. Wait a moment.

Right, if he moves to H7, everyone but C4 and Rocky should be in the spell's range, no? Also, trasferring the morningstar's enchantment bonus +1 to AC and setting Dodge against C3. It gets an AoO, but since Rhenner has Mobility his AC against those is... 27.  Regular AC is 22, and 23 against C3.

EDIT: I8 then, so everyone's in range.
 
Admiral
The beast swings at Rhenner with his tail as the cleric passes.

 
 Spoiler 

I don't like this guy's chances 😛

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 17 ]   (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+5)[ 8 ]   (1d6+5)[ 8 ] 
 


The experienced cleric nimbly ducks well out of the way without even breaking stride.
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Spell List:
Level 0 (4):
Light
Detect Magic
Light
Mending

Level 1 (5):
Magic Missile
Mage Armor
Alarm
Magic Missile
Dawn Burst

Level 2 (4):
Web
Acid Arrow
 Cloud of Knives 
See Invisibility

Level 3 (4):
Daylight
Deeper Darkvision
Dispel Magic
Haste

Level 4(3):
Dimension Door
Black Tentacles
Wall of Water
 

 "Try not to run away again."   Mithril summoned  forth the spell that had not been used since the last time she was forced to fight in a cave system.  The knives spun around her head for a second until their blades focused on the cloaker she was looking at.  They hung in the air as if waiting for her command.

 
 Spoiler 
I have them for 8 rounds, get to send one out as a free action at the beginning of my turn +12 attack and does 1d6+2 damage if it hits.
 
Admiral
Hilton circles around behind the cloaker fighting Mithril, drawing his rapier as he does. He dips into a duck to avoid the cloaker's tail as he passes.

 
 Spoiler 

Taking into account prayer.

Tumble:  (1d20+12)[ 17 ] 

If fail, AoO:
Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 16 ]   (1d20+7)[ 23 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+4)[ 7 ]   (1d6+4)[ 9 ] 

Hilton:
Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 16 ]   (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
Dmg:  (1d6+1)[ 6 ]   (1d6+1)[ 7 ] 
Sneak:  (3d6)[ 10 ] 
 


Hilton makes it to the other side of the monster, but his slash misses.
Admiral
Shiny races forward, dodging the cloaker as he goes. Standing in the center, he casts a spell on a small stone, swallowing all sound in the area. He gestures frantically at Kurt to join him.

 
 Spoiler 
Tumble check to avoid AoO (only natural one fails):  (1d20+13)[ 25 ] 

From his position Shiny does not catch Mithril or Kurt in the spell, but he does catch C3 (until the cloaker moves), Hilton, Rhenner and Natalia. Shiny can still cast Silent spells and folks can shoot from there while protected from the moans. Obviously Rhenner and Mithril can't cast spells (with verbal components) if they stay in/enter the area.

Finally, I neglected to roll the bite attack of the cloaker against Rocky last turn:

Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 14 ]   (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
Damage:  (1d4+2)[ 3 ]   (1d4+2)[ 3 ] 
 


Even nauseated, the slaver manages to escape the cloaker's bite.
Admiral
The tide of the battle turned against him and finding himself in silence, the beast fighting Mithril rises up into the air, escaping Shiny's spell, though that gives Mithril and Hilton a chance to take another swing at him..

 
 Spoiler 

Hilton gets another sneak attack AoO while he's flying up. Mithril does too as I believe she's holding a dagger.

Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 15 ]   (1d20+7)[ 13 ] 
Dmg:  (1d6+1)[ 2 ]   (1d6+1)[ 5 ] 
Sneak:  (3d6)[ 8 ] 
 


Once he is in the air, he focuses on Mithril and makes another low rumbling noise.

 
 Spoiler 
DC 15 Fortitude save for Mithril. (Don't forget +1 from Prayer)
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Fort vs 15  (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 

Well she had to fail eventually.  Two questions, is this the same cloaker that did this same moan before?  (That she saved against) And is this the one that is affecting Rocky?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
No, this is C3, the cloaker she saved against is C2. The cloaker wrapped around Rocky is C4.

Here's what C2 and C4 do:
 


The wounded cloaker drifts over Shiny's cloud of silence, and starts its own low moan near Kurt and Natalia. Natalia cannot hear it, as the spell dissolves all sound near her, but Kurt can, and the sound is familiar.

 
 Spoiler 

DC 15 Will save from Kurt.
 


The final cloaker keeps trying to bite its prisoner.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+6)[ 8 ]   (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (1d4+1)[ 2 ]   (1d4+1)[ 5 ] 

I am somewhat less than impressed by the cloaker's titular ability.
 
Athedia
 "Wha-"  Before Mithril could finish she was frozen, unable to move or even cast a spell.   
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+8)[ 11 ]   Another 3.
 


She felt helpless watching her friends fight against the cloakers.  At least this had not happened while they were running away.
Admiral
Shiny splays out a palm towards the wounded beast flying above him, frowning as he does.

 
 Spoiler 

Silent Whelm at C2.

Save:  (1d20+6)[ 19 ] 

Can't Distract Assailant first because Silent Spelling is a full-round action.
 
CWater
Rhenner is about to answer something snarky back at Mithril, when he sees the mage freeze into place. He turns around, hoping that the silence doesn't strecth too far, though he understands its purpose. He's relieved when the silence ends where Mithril stands, though it leaves them vulnerable to the creature's attacks. Anyway, he casts a spell to free the mage from the paralyzis.
 "GreatFharlanghnpleaseletthisfellowtravellercontin  ueherjourney." 
 
 Spoiler 
Casting Remove Paralyzis. Hope the cloaker doesn't get them again next turn.😛 Rhenner would stand between the cloaker and Mithril if he could, but with the thing in up in the air... He can't stand in the same square as Mithril, or can he? Or she couldn't take a 5-foot step after freed? Although Mithril is kinda reckless, so she might not anyway.😏
 


EDIT:  "You on the other hand could run a little more",  he says after the spell takes effect, in response to her earlier comment.
CoffeeIncluded
 "NO!"  Natalia screams as her senses return to her, just in time to see Mithril frozen solid by the cloaker, and Rocky struggle to escape. Though her scream is lost in the silence, it also protects her as she steps forward and raises her bow...just in time to see Rhenner free Mithril. With a sigh of relief, she whips around and fires her bow at the badly wounded cloaker, returning to fire at the one that froze Mithril if her first strike finishes it.

 
 Spoiler 
attacking c2, c3 if she downs it in the first strike. Can Mithril use cloud of knives anyway? This battle is proving to be a rather protracted affair.

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d8+1)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 11 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d8+1)[ 4 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia's first shot slays the beast floating above her, though the second falls far from the second she aims at.

 
 Spoiler 
Due to the accidental double, first counts.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner is about to answer something snarky back at Mithril, when he sees the mage freeze into place. He turns around, hoping that the silence doesn't strecth too far, though he understands its purpose. He's relieved when the silence ends where Mithril stands, though it leaves them vulnerable to the creature's attacks. Anyway, he casts a spell to free the mage from the paralyzis.
 "GreatFharlanghnpleaseletthisfellowtravellercontin  ueherjourney." 

EDIT:  "You on the other hand could run a little more",  he says after the spell takes effect, in response to her earlier comment. 
 

 "-t."  Mithril finished the word, glaring at the cloaker.   "Point taken." 
Cavelcade
 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+3)[ 5 ]  Will Save.
 


Rather than regaining his senses, even with the gesturing of Shiny, Kurt simply keeps shaking his head and trying to dig through solid rock with his shoulder blades. Whatever he sees, he keeps to himself, his lips white and nostrils flaring as he breaths in rapid gasps.
Admiral
Seeing the cloaker drift out of reach of his rapier and net, Hilton draws his crossbow.

The beast makes one more attempt to scare away the combatants.

 
 Spoiler 

One more Will save for Mithril and Rhenner.
 


The creature fighting Rocky tries again to grab hold.

 
 Spoiler 

Tail:
 (1d20+7)[ 16 ]   (1d20+7)[ 11 ] 
 (1d6+4)[ 5 ]   (1d6+4)[ 7 ] 

Bite:
 (1d20+6)[ 19 ]   (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
 (1d4+1)[ 3 ]   (1d4+1)[ 2 ] 
 


His bite does manage to clamp down on the slaver.
Admiral
Rocky, finally recovered from the effect, tries to escape from the cloaker's hold.

 
 Spoiler 
He rolled a 4 on my secret check of "number of rounds nauseated", shame for him.

Grapple:
 (1d20+9)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20+12)[ 30 ] 
 


And yet the beast still maintains its hold.
Admiral
Hilton fires a crossbow bolt at the creature floating above him.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ]   (1d20+7)[ 12 ] 
Dmg:  (1d8)[ 6 ]   (1d8)[ 5 ]  Should have been +1 from prayer.
 


He lands a bolt in the cloaker's wing.
Admiral
Shiny too tries to take down the creature, splaying his hand out towards it in a silenced spell.

 
 Spoiler 

Silent Whelm.

Will save:  (1d20+6)[ 14 ] 
Rolled in OOC: 18 nonlethal damage.
 


The spell wears powerfully at the cloaker's mind, and it staggers momentarily in midair.
CoffeeIncluded
With a silent growl, and a silent apology to Mithril (and Rocky, who has resumed his struggling in the cloaker's hold), Natalia steps to her right, then whips out two more arrows and fires them at the cloaker in mid-air.

 
 Spoiler 
Attack:  (d20+13)[ 28 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 33 ] 
Damage:  (d8+1)[ 7 ] 
If crit:  (d8+1)[ 6 ]   (d8+1)[ 2 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 28 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (d8+1)[ 9 ] 
If crit:  (d8+1)[ 3 ]   (d8+1)[ 3 ] 

Boom baby!
 
Admiral
Natalia's first arrow lands solidly in the cloaker's wing, and her second lands deep in the weakest part of its underbelly. With a screech that Natalia cannot hear, the creature falls to the ground, unconscious.

 
 Spoiler 
Nice crit. As Shiny's spell was nonlethal it's currently unconscious, not dead.
 
Admiral
Seeing all three of his companions fall, the last cloaker arises off Rocky, who when revealed seems more irritated than injured by the embrace. The creature turns and glides back into the darkness at the rear of the cave.

As soon as he is released Rocky rolls into a stand and draws an arrow for his longbow, but by the time he has notched it the creature is already too far for his eyes to see. He mutters something nasty as he lowers his bow.

 
 Spoiler 

Mithril still has to make her save for fear to see if she'll end up panicked, but the combat is over. (Someone might want to comfort Kurt).

If Rhenner wants to cast a spell after the retreating cloaker I suppose he can with his low light vision. It'll be 80 feet away from Rocky so the humans can't spot it.
 


Shiny remains in the protection of his silence for some time even after the creature disappears, cautious of its return, but nothing emerges from the darkness.
CoffeeIncluded
As the final cloaker gets off Rocky and floats away, retreating in the face of a futile fight, Natalia eventually lowers her bow. When she leaves the silenced zone, she shouts,  "Everyone...Okay?"  She can't quite meet Mithril in the eye, and hangs her head in shame. What had happened? What about that roar had made her so panicked as to run away again? She  promised... 

Why? Why did this happen--and to everyone, not just her? It as just her own weakness, wasn't it?

 "Kurt..."  She reaches out and touches her panicking friend on the shoulder. He was still terrified. What did he see? She couldn't remember anything other than the fear.  "Kurt...it okay. All gone. It...they...gone." 

She can't look anyone in the eye.

 
 Spoiler 
Since Natalia has her torch out, is the cloaker now visible?

Also, searching all three cloakers (take 20 for 36 on each) and if allowed/doesn't take too much time, I search the general area too:  (d20+16)[ 31 ] 
 
CWater
Guess this came before the cloaker fled:

After the closest enemy falls, Rhenner looks around and spots the struggling mass that is Rocky and the last cloaker.   There is someone under that thing?!   Without stopping to deduce who exactly it is, the cleric takes a few steps to the side to get a better aim and fires the second burst of light at the creature.

 
 Spoiler 
Casting Searing Light, out of 3rd level spells.
Ranged touch:  (1d20+9)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (4d8)[ 18 ] 
 
Athedia
As Rocky was freed and Natalia expressed her concern Mithril started laughing.  She sat down against the stalagmite and tears were rolling down her face.   "You guys don't realize how funny you looked.  Panicking over flying bits of cloth with mouths.  You scampered so fast I could have sworn the Horde was following you." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks up from where she's bent over one of the cloakers, searching its body for anything of value. She quickly looks down again, but it's enough to see how she's trying not to cry.

 "Promised,"  she whispers.  "I promised, wouldn't flee. Don't know...how, why...?"  Her voice takes on an almost begging tone.

 
 Spoiler 
Wonder if we can make flying carpets out of these cloakers? Wonder where they keep their treasure? Do they have pockets? 😛
 
Admiral
Natalia searches the corpses of the three cloakers, being careful with the one that seems to still be breathing, but finds nothing notable on any of them. A quick look around the surrounding floor finds nothing either.

Having dismissed his spell of silence, Shiny raises an eyebrow.  "Who was panicking?"  he asked.  "I simply thought I had left my  wand of back shaving  on the last hill, and was rushing back to get it before a troglodyte discovered it and sullied it with his own uses.  But I was barely around the corner when I realized it was behind my ear all along!"  He chuckles.  "In any case, I was pretty sure you could handle yourself here." 
Athedia
 "You mean you didn't realize?  These things use some form of magic, they probably are used to feeding on slower, weaker travellers.  And don't you worry.  You came back right?"   Mithril stood up and went over to ruffle Natalia's hair.   "I was tempted to follow, but something my mother said about friends jumping off a cliff convinced me to stay." 

Seeing one creature still breathing she gestured to the halo of knives still floating around her head.   "Should I finish it off?  If they were hungry enough to attack us I don't really want to leave it here." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sniffles, rubbing the back of her hand over her eyes. Then she looks up at Mithril with a smile.  "...Thanks."  She did come back. And if it was magical, then...it wasn't her fault, not really. Not like...well, not like before.

Shiny's quip helps, and she laughs a little. She feels a bit better already. The guilt's still there though like a not, though at least it's loosened slightly.

When Mithril goes over to kill the final, unconscious cloaker, Natalia frowns.  "Wait. Last cloaker fled. They smart. Maybe...they speak? Reason now that surrounded?" 
Athedia
 "That tiger from before fled as well.  Animals do that if they can't win a battle.  Only humanoids are stupid enough to stick around to die." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "That tiger from before fled as well.  Animals do that if they can't win a battle.  Only humanoids are stupid enough to stick around to die."  
 

 "Heh, true. Still...something about, not sure."  She smacks the ground in frustration when she finds nothing on the cloakers.

 
 Spoiler 
Does Natalia know they're intelligent from her check?
 
CWater
Rhenner follows Mithril, to stand next to her and Natalia.  "Interesting dilemma. In any case, you are wounded",  he says to the mage,  "Can you keep those blades steady for a moment? I'd like to heal you, but I'd prefer not to get cut myself." 
Athedia
Mithril looked up, the blades turning to point at the ceiling she stared at.

 "That better?  Don't worry they will not hit you." 
CWater
 "Oh I hope so, you seem to like playing with knives."  Rhenner taps Mithril's shoulder, casting a small curative spell.

 
 Spoiler 
Detect Evil to CLW:  (1d8+5)[ 12 ] 
 

 "Are you alright?",  he asks Natalia,  "Is anyone else hurt?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "I'm fine. Thanks,"  Natalia says, smiling at Mithril and Rhenner's banger, though the smile doesn't entirely reach her eyes. She looks up, and at the stalactites hanging down.

 
 Spoiler 
Search check for looking up? Anything?
 
Admiral
Hilton chuckles as Natalia goes searching around the ground. He walks over and shares a few quiet words with Shiny. At first the gnome seems confused, but after a moment he grins, and shakes Hilton's hand while muttering something, and finally hands Hilton something small that the rogue pops into his mouth with a grimace.

Hilton walks over to the cave wall, which is covered with complex stone structures.  "Natalia, if they left their treasure there..."  he places each of his hands against the wall...  " anyone  could get it."  He raises his foot off the ground and places it on the wall cautiously, then does the same with his other foot- somehow he stays perfectly on the wall. Satisfied, he clambers his way up the side of the rock wall, picking his steps carefully but nimbly, until he is climbing across the ceiling, at which point he starts carefully examining the rock structures.

 
 Spoiler 
Hilton has some firsthand Underdark experience. And, of course, Shiny's  spider climb .

Hilton is taking 20 on the ceiling. May take a few minutes.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia groans in frustration, then slams her head against the cave wall. How could she have missed something so obvious?!

 
 Spoiler 
I'm just a useless idiot. Why did it take me so long to figure this out? I'm not an idiot.
 
CWater
 "Hey, now, that cannot be healthy." 

Rhenner sighs and looks around. The dwarven warrior, Kurt, still stands by the other wall, his face pale. The cleric asumes the cloaker's frightening moan got him too.

  I wonder what he saw..  
Athedia
 "Natalia, I don't think Rhenner wants to heal injuries if he doesn't have too.  Anyway,  normally we don't have to deal with a roof.  Things can't hide their treasure in the sky." 
Admiral
Hilton keeps searching stone by stone, stepping over them carefully with all fours, until suddenly he grins.

 "There's a gap here, under this, uh... stalah-whatever."  he points vaguely to the stalactite: it seems his experience of the Underdark has limits.  "Far as I can tell, it leads into a burrow. Let's see what we can find...  He sticks his head and his torch cautiously into the crevasse.

 "AHHHHHHH!!!"  Suddenly the air is split with his scream. He whips his head back, startled, as a small cloak flaps past him on its way out. Something seems wrong with Hilton's face, until the party below realizes a second small cloak is latched directly on top of it.

 
 Spoiler 

Visual aid:

 

Meet the Cloakites.

Grapple check:
Cloakite:  (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+4)[ 18 ] 

Initiative:
Natalia:  (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
Enemies:  (1d20+7)[ 16 ] 
Rhenner:  (1d20+3)[ 18 ] 
Slavers:  (1d20+3)[ 9 ] 
Kurt:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 
Shiny:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 
Mithril:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 
 


The creature latches firmly onto the rogue's face, leaving Hilton flailing wildly. His two feet remain stuck to the ceiling, leaving him impotently hanging.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps as she sees the cloakers fly out, and one latch on to Hilton's face. She instantly draws her bow and fires at the one flying around while shouting at Hilton,  "Fall now! We reach ground!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Attack:  (d20+13)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (d8+1)[ 3 ] 
If crit:  (d8+1)[ 3 ]   (d8+1)[ 7 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (d8+1)[ 3 ] 
If crit:  (d8+1)[ 4 ]   (d8+1)[ 5 ] 
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
How many rounds of knives does she have left?
 


Mithril quickly slotted the rod back in her belt, grabbing a wand instead.  Twin orbs spun out of it, headed for the baby thing on Hilton's face.   "Explains why they were hungry and willing to risk it." 
 
 Spoiler 
Wand lvl 3:
On Hiltons Face:  (2d4+2)[ 6 ] 
 
Admiral
The party can hear some distant noise emitted from the small beast on Hilton's face.

 
 Spoiler 
Hilton's Fort save:  (1d20+2)[ 13 ] 
 


Hilton shakes a bit but doesn't seem to be affected.

The free cloakite swoops down over the party and lets out a moan: it sounds somewhat like the one that had affected Rocky earlier, but higher and much less intense. After swooping over them, it heads towards the door.

 
 Spoiler 

DC 12 Fortitude save everyone.
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+8)[ 16 ]  awwww, adorable.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Rhenner! Take...my crossbow!"  Natalia shouts as she doubles over, trying to throw off the effects of the scream.

 
 Spoiler 
Fort save:  (d20+7)[ 25 ] 
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Shiny:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+7)[ 11 ] 
 


Rocky grimaces, showing a disgusted expression.

 
 Spoiler 
Rocky is sickened (not nauseated) for [roll]1d3[/roll] rounds.
 
Admiral
Shiny winds up and lobs a spell straight at the lowest creature.

 
 Spoiler 

Sleep.

Will save:  (1d20+2)[ 8 ] 
 


The one who had moaned at them drops to the ground, asleep.
Admiral
Rocky aims and fires an arrow at the creature that Hilton had pushed away.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+10)[ 27 ]  Crit:  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+4)[ 9 ]  Crit:  (1d8+4)[ 6 ]   (1d8+4)[ 12 ] 
 


This one too drops to the ground with a sickening splat. On examination, it appears to have died in the fall.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia breathes a sigh of relief, then walks over to pick up the tiny dead cloaker.  "Hilton! You okay? Anything...in cavern?"  she asks, shouting up. She looks back down at the cloakers with an expression of distaste.  "I think they babies, and parents. Don't...want to kill more. Maybe...Tie? Leave?" 
Admiral
Hilton keeps panting.  "What the damn..."  It takes him a while to calm down, and then a little more to steel his nerves to look back in the burrow.

 "Ick..."  comes his voice echoing from above.  "This is a nest, all right... but I'll take a look to see if we can salvage anything."  He carefully draws his rapier and reaches it inside.

 
 Spoiler 
Treasure rolling OOC.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia takes both unconscious cloakers and drags them over to the side of the cavern, where she wedges them between a stalagmite and the wall. She pushes them in tight; it'll take some time for them to struggle out from between the stalagmite and the wall but they'll be able to manage it. As she does this, she says,  "Nobody else follows. No...point in killing hunter, when finished hunting. When...we gone."  The rogue looks at her friends, hoping they won't protest.

She then calls up to Hilton, shouting,  "You find anything?"  ...and is immediately greeted by a rod to the face.

Rubbing the rising lump on her forehead, Natalia peers over the rod before handing it out for someone else to take.  "Go now, when all down here?"  she asks.

 
 Spoiler 
Should we leave now before they wake, or try to interrogate the cloakers?
 
CWater
 "If everyone's alright, should we continue? We still have a long way to go." 
 
 Spoiler 
On second thought, if Natalia wants to borrow that crossbow to Rhenner, he'll take it.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "That what think,"  Natalia says, looking at the cloakers before handing her crossbow and sack of bolts to Rhenner.

 
 Spoiler 
Of course! Here you go.
 
CWater
Rhenner examines the crossbow in his hands.  "It seems like ages since I last fired one of these.. Hope I still remember how." 
 
 Spoiler 
Thank you! How many bolts?
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "It not hard,"  Natalia says, showing Rhenner the mechanism for loading and firing it.

After handing it over, she look back down at the cloakers.  "What do? I want...leave. Don't want kill, especially...other young." 
 
 Spoiler 
Is there going to be a majority vote on this?
 
CWater
Rhenner is conflicted. From a logical point of view, they are dangerous creatures, and could be a threat to them or someone else later. And on the other hand, they are living beings too, and also unconscious and helpless. Killing them like that, well, it  feels  wrong to him.

  Pointless sentimentality really, they'd happily eat the next travellers that come around.  

In the end, he says nothing.
Athedia
 "Then just kill the adult.  But we killed most of the group.  The young would not survive anyway. 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at Mithril, as if she can't believe the words that are coming out of the wizard's mouth.  "Mithril, fight...to protect. They no threat, and you heard Deldon. We...only ones this way. Not walk back either. Nobody here, no danger, none to protect. If none to protect, then...no reason to kill."  

It just feels wrong to her. If they were still attacking, then she'd fight without hesitation, but they're not. They're defeated and helpless and no threat to them. She doubts they'd chase them. And if they are, well she's wedged them pretty firmly in there.
Athedia
 "Exactly, the young will be left to starve.  Better to kill them now so they don't suffer." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "Still two parents. And...Mithril, remember Orc caves? Nursery seen?" 
Athedia
 "Do you know those are the parents?  Do you know that they care?  No, and if I was the one that had fled I wouldn't be coming back to check if we hadn't finished the job.  This is not a friendly place Natalia.  We can't afford to be too kind here." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "These probably parents--why else here?!"  Wasn't she listening?  "If parents, they back regardless. That what parents do...should do."  She closes her eyes and winces.  "And even if not friendly, why turn harsh? Why turn...as bad as Underdark?" 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
I'm leaving aside the question of what they do with the cloakers. My guess (could be wrong) is that Kurt would prefer to leave them alive. It's not a spoiler to say these guys are not exactly recurring villain material, though.
 


Once the party has finished their preparations and healing, they continue down the path, perhaps a bit more cautiously than before. The tunnels continue in much the same character, primarily natural with some ancient-looking artificial passages along the way. Every few minutes they reach a thin crevasse they must squeeze through or hill they must climb over, but despite all their precautions run into no danger yet. Three hours pass as they head through similar winding caverns, and Kurt notices that the caverns do appear to be gradually sloping downhill- by the end of three hours they are three and a half miles underground. The party also realizes after some time that the tunnels make wide, slow turns, such that while they have walked many miles they may be only a little closer to the city of Tol'Garun.

 
 Spoiler 

Spot+Listen checks from everyone, please.

Spot:
Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ 7 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 8 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+2)[ 16 ] 

Listen:
Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ -1 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 7 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+2)[ 17 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia eventually calms down, though her breathing is shallow and quiet as she leads the way down the tunnel. Every footstep is cautious, and she presses her feet flat against the ground, trying to sense any change in color, any vibration her ears may no pick up. Not that her ears aren't working, and her eyes are trying just as hard to discern odd shapes in the gloom, shadows that shouldn't be there or strange stalactites that seem wrong.

 
 Spoiler 
Spot:  (d20+12)[ 17 ] 
Listen:  (d20+12)[ 31 ] 

It's probably a good idea. Sorry about all this.
 


Natalia groans internally as she realizes they're walking down switchbacks. She looks over the edge, edging as close as she dare go. Is there any way they can climb down a ledge or two?

It's so quiet...She can even hear the links of her chain shirt rubbing against each other.
Athedia
Mithril kept checking on Whiskers as she walked, now taking the time to check the ceiling as well as the walls.

 
 Spoiler 
Listen: (1d20+3)[ 7 ] 
Spot:  (1d20+3)[ 6 ] 
 
Cavelcade
When Kurt rejoins the others to find them discussing killing the now helpless enemies, he simply shakes his head.  "Don't kill without need, there's no need here."  He gathers his things and starts walking again, keeping an eye out again.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20)[ 19 ]  Listen
 (1d20)[ 18 ]  Spot
 


He makes sure to look up as well as ahead now, listening curiously to the underground sounds - different here to what they would be even in his home mines.
CWater
Rhenner follows the others, as they continue forward. He is honestly relieved of the outcome, though a little concerned as well. But there are other things to focus on now, so he brushes that aside. That was only the Underdark's first greeting to them, who knows what else they will meet before the journey ends.
  One way or another.  

He mutters a silent prayer as he walks, also looking around for anything suspicious.

 
 Spoiler 
Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 11 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you. Exactly..."  Natalia says to Kurt in relief. He understands.
Admiral
As the party continues down the tunnel, Natalia's sharp ears pick up a muffled noise coming from up ahead- it's hard to tell but it sounds like rustling and clinking. When she stops and listens closely, it seems almost as though the noise is coming from inside the cavern walls on the upcoming right side.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stops short.  "Rustle, clunk, inside and ahead" 
 
 Spoiler 
back in a few hours, I'll edit then. You know how I play her. If hostile, cars grace arcanist gloves, inspecy if possible, blades if melee.
 


Inside the wall? That's where it's coming from? Natalia presses her ear to the wall, humming quietly to herself and ticking her finger back and forth like metronome. She keeps time to the clicks, trying to identify its source.
Admiral
As Natalia approaches the wall, she noticed that it seems not to be as natural as it first appears- it seems like a well constructed and designed piece of stone masonry.

As she gets close, a thin slot on the wall seems to break open suddenly and she finds herself staring at a pair of crossbow bolts, held by sentries she cannot add. Urgent, alarmed shouting in Undercommon comes from within the door, and from the tone it's easy to tell what they want. Hilton slowly raises his hands in the air, but keeps his eyes on the rest of the party to take their cue.
CoffeeIncluded
With a yelp, Natalia jumps back and away from the crossbows. She raises her hands in the air, though her right hand is still gripping her longbow out of reflex.  "Please...tell me speak same too,"  she mutters, breathing hard as she tries to pinpoint the voices.

 
 Spoiler 
what can Natalia tell about the voices. Are they male, female, young, or old? Are the voices coming from up high or below? Can she tell anything about their race from their voices as well?
 
Athedia
Mithril slowly raised her hands, looking around.  If the worst happened she could just get Kurt behind that door.  They could do this.
CWater
Rhenner follows the other's example an rises his hands a little, if they can avoid a fight, that would be good. And they were the intruders here.
Admiral
As the party members raise their hands a bit, the harsh voices speak a big more, in what sounds like a different language.
Cavelcade
Kurt blinks in surprise, almost dropping Daybreaker before he catches himself, coughing a little before responding in a similar tongue, trying to catch some kind of accent he might have heard before, or something else to identify them.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20)[ 1 ]  Listen check.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  OOOOOOOOOOL
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia turns around in confusion at Kurt's response.  "Kurt? You know?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt engages in a short, sharp communication with the duo behind the walls, calling out and answering a few times before he holds up his hands soothingly and looks at the others.  "They want to know where we're going and why...maybe if we tell them they'll let us through, maybe not - can anyone explain what we're doing here to them better than me? I'll  translate if I need to. They speak dwarven." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks. Dwarves? Here?  "Deldon dwarves? If not...do they know?!" . She pauses.  lNot sure words, but we...go drowtown, try leave there. Should we...say Deldon? Talk what drow did? Or...find more first?" 
 
 Spoiler 
would Natalia know about this?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Are these people dwarves? Or someone else? Had Deldon mentioned that at all--and if they did, was there any contact? Or were these settlers, assuming they were dwarves, new (relatively speaking, at least)? Natalia tries to think and remember. And as she does so, she asks her friends, especially Shiny and Kurt who know the language,  "Could you...ask who they too? And...how much we say? Just...passing through?"  That is true, but it's not all they're doing or planning here. Either way,  "We...don't want fight." 
 
 Spoiler 
I think this would be a good idea, to see if she heard anything about this. Knowledge (Underdark):  (d20+4)[ 9 ] 

Guess she doesn't know much. 😛

Also, can she see any additional signs of construction around here?
 
Admiral
After conferring very briefly, Shiny turns towards the slot in the wall.

 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;We don't want any trouble. We have no other way out of the Underdark, but we heard that if we go deeper there are some other exits we can take. If you'll just let us continue on...&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 
 
 Spoiler 

Diplomacy:  (1d20+18)[ 21 ] 
 


The voices both let out a synchronized grunting noise that sounds like a vague, twisting imitation of laughter.  "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Continue on? You're at a dead end, gnome! There's nowhere to continue to but our town, and you won't be goin' there without gettin' filled with holes!&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 

Shiny frowns.  "&lt;Dwarven&gt;I don't understand. We've followed a single, simple tunnel forward...&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 
 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Single tunnel?!?&lt;/Dwarven&gt;  The second guard speaks up.  "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Have you never been to the bloody Underdark before, gnome? Learn yer way around! The paths sprout out the right-hand side of the tunnel, all the way back, you just gotta find 'em! Just don't go lookin' with yer eyes like a damn surface-slouch."&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 

Shiny raises an eyebrow, then turns and relates his short strange conversation to the party.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks in confusion, and then possibly in comprehension. Is it the same as with the cloakers? Or are there tunnels in the walls themselves, hidden away? She asks loud, for Shiny or Kurt to translate,  "If not with eyes, they by ears? Feet? Carved through walls, hollow blocked off? Or...underground, or above?" 

She waits for the conversation to be interpreted, and meanwhile asks everyone,  "Should we...go back, look back now? Seems like...only way, if not let forward?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Should we get going? Am I thinking along the right lines or not?
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 She waits for the conversation to be interpreted, and meanwhile asks everyone,  "Should we...go back, look back now? Seems like...only way, if not let forward?"  
 

 "We... could do that. I'd rather not press the issue with these people if it's not necessary. Though at least they didn't shoot at us right away, which I guess is good sign." 
 "But I wonder how far back do they mean... And they implied there are more than one. Assuming that we find these paths, how will we know which to take?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses.  "Kurt know? Or them if ask? Could...they tell for price?"  Natalia asks out loud, asking shiny and Kurt to ask.

Should they just turn around and go?

 
 Spoiler 
should we just do that, guys?
 
Admiral
The door starts to close, but Shiny turns back, and shouts a few words in Dwarven, getting a curt response. He turns to Natalia.  "Sounds like they don't want gold or gems. But they might accept something else if we offer." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses. What could they need?  "What wanted? Food? Healing? I...maybe few scrolls, but not many."  She turns to her friends and asks,  "What have offer? What want trade?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Do we have to offer something specifically or will they give suggestions first? Also, can I or any of us sense motive?
 
Admiral
Shiny responds to the voices, and a few moments of bargaining later he turns back to the party.

 
 Spoiler 

His old Diplomacy roll still applies. Sense Motive (Natalia can't because she doesn't understand the language or see the speaker):  (1d20+9)[ 19 ] 

I've been meaning to update Shiny's inventory.
 

 "Sounds like a healing potion would do it." 
CoffeeIncluded
With little hesitation, Natalia dogs into her haversack and fishes out a green vial. She uncorks it, sniffs it to confirm the contents, and then hands it over to Shiny. As she does she says,  "I have...another, if need. But this enough?" 
 
 Spoiler 
i have six, actually!
 
Admiral
Shiny holds out the potion cautiously, but the voices respond in what sounds like a negative. After a moment's more bargaining, he reaches down to his own belt and pulls free a second vial, which he holds forth cautiously as he approaches the slot. A stubby, hairy hand reaches out and snatches the potion from the gnome, before the slot slams suddenly shut.

For a moment there is silence, and the party worries about whether they'd been had- but then a few badly muffled sentences of Dwarven come back through, and Shiny ushers the party back up the tunnel in a hurry.

Once they'd cleared a safe distance, Shiny whispers  "It sounds like what tunnels there are along the side are disguised by permanent illusions of the rock wall: they said it's a common drow trick. We'll need to run a staff along the wall as we walk, or something like that."  He pauses.  "They also said 'watch out for surprises on the other side', whatever that means." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief as Shiny explains what they said and the two on the other side hold to their word. Still,  she's tense.  "So hide like Alabaster's tomb? And...other side. Could be traps on other side."  After a moment's thought she pulls her wire off her wrist and folds it over several times, until it's one thick bundle about ten feet long.  "Tie to rod end, give extra length. Less for surprises to grab!" 

She pauses.  "Should hurry then, right? Wonder why they here."  they didn't look like drow. Were they trying to avoid them? It seemed like they lived there too.

 
 Spoiler 
We can use the wire to add length to the rod and make us further away when we tap the walls. What do you think; is it a good idea?
 
Admiral
The party assembles a couple of the poles in the tent Kurt carries, building a rod about eight feet long. As they walk back down the corridor, they tap along the wall like a blind man, feeling each stone to test if it is illusory.

 
 Spoiler 
Any volunteers to hold the staff? How do they walk relative to the rest of the party?
 
CoffeeIncluded
If nobody else volunteers, Natalia takes the pole and says,  "I look. Sense danger best."  And so she'll walk along the path slowly, first in line as she drags against the wall and taps each stone. She feels the vibrations and the sense of solidity travel up her hand. She keeps her eyes open and wary, waiting for the pole to sink in and for the colors she feels to change and vanish. Her swords are out as she walks and she watches intently for any other trickery as well.

 
 Spoiler 
If nobody else volunteers, Natalia takes the pole, and is either first or second in line.
 
Admiral
Natalia taps her way along the right-hand side of the tunnel, just as the mysterious guards had suggested. With this tapping, the travel goes much slower: two hours pass before they recognize landmarks from less than an hour earlier. As the monotonous journey continues, the party wonders whether they'd missed the illusion, or indeed whether the sentries had conned them.

Until Natalia sticks out the rod, expecting to feel the ten thousandanth tap of wood against stone, when instead the stone seems to give way and she feels nothing but air, and watches the pole dip into the wall. She pulls back as quickly as she can, but for now there seems to be no reaction.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia jerks back her pile, immediately crouching into a defensive stance.  "Found it,"  She whispers, indicating the place again.  "Can you see?"  Cautiously, she crouches and draws her blade, carefully peering in for a closer look. She shudders as she remembers the choker from so long ago and says,  "Could be danger. All ready? Mithril, you okay?" 
 
 Spoiler 
can I see through the illusion? Can anyone else? What checks do I need to look for danger, traps, and things like that?

Guys? You're all still here, right?
 
Admiral
Natalia can poke the stick through, but the illusion remains: she cannot see what lies on the other side, nor can anyone else who is viewing it.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks in confusion.  "I thought visions faded...whe know mirage. Remember Alabaster's tomb? Unless...like smoke portal within?  Any know what this? Should we...go in as one?" 
 
 Spoiler 
spellcraft? What's it look like?
 
CoffeeIncluded
After a bit of thought, Natalia fishes the crystal of detect magic out of her pocket and focuses, trying to see if she can see beyond the illusion with this object, and even if there's anything magical beyond the illusion to see. As she focuses, she tells her friends.  "Remember choker, months ago? I don't want...walk ahead, alone. If something happens, can't hear, scream, run? Can we...walk, look together? Please? Don't want alone..." 
 
 Spoiler 
Of course, the, the reason I'm double posting and not editing this in is to see if I can make an untrained spellcraft check with this crystal:  (d20+4)[ 18 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia carefully moves the pole from side to side within the gap, and recognizes that the hole is about three feet wide.

She brings it up to the top of the gap until it taps stone, then brings it down. After swinging it carefully for a couple of feet, she feels it snag and hears a faint  click .

 
 Spoiler 
Reflex save.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Trap!"  Natalia shrieks, dropping the pole with a loud clatter as she hurls herself to the side and, dropping her shoulder down, tucks into a roll, attempting to roll out of the way of whatever's coming next.

 
 Spoiler 
reflex save:  (d20+12)[ 30 ] 

Aww yeah.
 
Admiral
Natalia is just barely to roll out of the way when a deafening thundercrack fills her ears, and she feels nearly thrown forward by a powerful gust of hot smoke. From the smoke and ash hanging in the air, it seems Natalia had triggered a trap similar to the trap she had set in the Orc camp, though on a far smaller scale. Thankfully, she had managed to dodge the blast in time, and other than a shrill ringing in her ears she is unharmed.

 
 Spoiler 

For simplicity let's say the others kept a safe distance.

Party is deafened for one round, -2 to Listen checks for 1 minute afterward.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia lies there dazed for a moment, panting heavily as the ringing in her ears fades to a shrill whine. She gawks at the cloud of smoke hanging in the air, the remnants of the gunpowder trap she triggered. Guess someone else thought of a mine first.

She slowly gets to her feet and shouts,  "IS EVERYONE ALRIGHT?"  but pauses in horror as she felt her throat say the words but didn't hear them come out. Shaking her head frantically, she waits a few minutes for the ringing to subside a bit more and again shouts,  "EVERYONE OKAY?" 

There! She could hear it, even if it was muffled and further away. But she should be okay, and so should everyone else.

 "SHOULD WE...WALK MORE?" 
CWater
Rhenner holds his hurting ears, momentarily deafened by the blast. He's relieved to notice Natalia managed to dodge the trap.

The medic lets out a small cough; he doesn't like the smell of this smoke.
 "I'm fine, though my ears scream. Do you think there might be more of those in the tunnel?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia scrambles to her feet and dusts herself off.  "YES,"  she shouts, though she's only inches away from Rhenner and everyone else.  "I THINK MANY MORE. I THINK I LOOK FIRST." 

And indeed, Natalia carefully pokes her head through the image as that's exactly what she does.
Admiral
As Natalia carefully pokes her head through, sticking her torch through as well, she is at first surrounded by the sight and smell of smoke and faint echoes of the blast that bounce around the tunnels. As the mist starts to clear, she becomes confused that the tunnel seems to come to a complete stop only a handful of yards in front of her.

Moments later, the mist clears farther, and she understands- she is in fact looking over a deep, steep pit, the tunnel plunging directly downward. She reaches out her torch but cannot see the bottom.

To her right she sees the mechanism of the trap she'd triggered, now obliterated by the blast beyond anything useful. A charred piece of wire remains attached to the other side.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stops short as the chasm beckons before her. She steps back a moment and looks around in thought. She holds out the torch to see if she can find the other side--how far away is the pit from other side? She looks around as well, on the walls and ceiling and even on the sides of the pit, poking at them with the pole to see if they are also illusions. Then, she inspects the trap. It's ruined, but maybe she can find some clues from it.

 "I OKAY NOW, BUT DEEP DEEP PIT AHEAD!"  she shouts back, lower than before but still a bit loud.

Then, finally, she takes the wire, and some rubble. She drops the rubble into the pit and counts how long it takes for it to reach the bottom, and for her to hear the sound. As she waits, she inspects the pit. Was it natural or constructed? And if it was constructed, can she tell if it was done by magic or by hand? Is there anything else about the pit and tunnel she can learn?
Admiral
Natalia sees that the other side of the tunnel is about six yards away, and that the rock surfaces around her are solid. The trap is too obliterated by the explosion to learn anything from any piece of it. She drops a stone into the tunnel and waits for a while, but if it hits a surface below, she can't hear it.

 
 Spoiler 
Knowing the nature of the tunnel would require a knowledge check. Note that Architecture and Engineering is basically dungeoneering with a penalty (since dungeoneering is specialized to underground work)
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pales when she realizes she can't hear the rock hit bottom. Another thought strikes her. Taking out her rope, she ties another, larger rock to the end of it. Holding the other end of her rope firmly in her hand, she lets the end with the rope drop into the pit, lets it uncoil and stretch out. If the pit is less than 50 feet deep, then the rock will hit the bottom with rope to spare, and Natalia will see the rope go slack. But if the pit is more than 50 feet deep, then the rock on the end of the rope will dangle and swing like a pendulum, and the rope will be taut. As she tests this, she looks around and thinks.

 
 Spoiler 
I think this is a good idea! What do you think?

Also, Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering):  (d20+5)[ 7 ]  apply a penalty as needed.

Guess she doesn't know much of anything. 😛
 


She can't tell much about this pit. Did they dig it themselves? Did they take advantage of the natural environment? Kurt and her other friends might know.  "Guys!"  she shouts.  "Come look careful! What think?" 
Admiral
Natalia tries swinging a rope down below, but though it reaches out of the light it touches nothing but the rock wall.

 
 Spoiler 
Others could take a look. Guessing they're open for ideas.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Deep. Really deep. More than 50 feet deep. If they fall they're dead. Natalia bites her lip and pulls up the rope. As she does she calls over her shoulder,  "Come look, deep pit! Very deep! Need cross!"  But how? They could definitely use magic, but could there be another way? She looks down at her ropes, and then remembers the grappling hook she bought on a whim. Oh!

 
 Spoiler 
Sounds good! I edited in a couple of ideas in my previous OOC post; what do you think?
 


EDIT: Natalia throws a rock at the other side, waiting to see if it passes through or bounces off. Then she tries gauging the depth of the chasm again, first with two ropes tied together and then two ropes and a wire. As she does, she shouts,  "Can anyone fly?" 
CWater
Rhenner steps through the illusion and crouches down next to Natalia, looking down the pit.  "How charming",  he mutters. To Natalia's question, he answers,  "I'm afraid not.. Didn't think it would be needed ...down here. Guess I need to revise my thinking a bit. Assuming we want to go down here and not look for other paths.. Does anyone else have helpful spells?"  He eyes the omnious looking tunnel.  "Also... Should we all go down at once, or would someone like to scout ahead first?" 
CoffeeIncluded
That didn't work either. This is really deep, and she has no clue what's at the bottom. They could climb down with some in the bag of holding, but what if they run out of air? Natalia calls her friends over and explains the situation.

 "Deep way down, only way. But too deep for rope and wire, too deep to hear fall. Maybe...climb down, fly down. Shiny's spider walk and my make mist. But not sure if enough for...three loops. Unless."  She looks up and presses her hands together. Of course!  "Can't hear bottom, but...can see, if light. Little light bright for far. Mithril! Your...light spell."  she holds out another rock.  "Light falls, time to fall. Time to climb from there! And..if no light, maybe try with sunrod?" 
 
 Spoiler 
if Mithril doesn't do this then I guess I can use a sunrod. Either way is good.
 


She looks at Rhenner.  "No light to bright Underdark? It Underdark, not undersun! But...thanks. Do you...any spells for scout? Summon scout?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 She looks at Rhenner.  "No light to bright Underdark? It Underdark, not undersun! But...thanks."  
 

Rhenner smirks,  "I meant the flying. Didn't think it would come up. A bit silly though, I admit, bats fly as well as birds."  He pokes the metal he cast Continual Flame on,  "And as for light, I thought this would be enough. Well, guess I thought wrong there too." 

  "Do you...any spells for scout? Summon scout?"  

 "Not those either. It seems I won't be much help here." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles a bit.  "Guess what makes Underdark not undersun. You still help. Mithril?" 

If Mithril doesn't cast the spell on the rock, then Natalia takes out a sunrod, activates it, and ties it to the rock. She holds it out over the pit and lets go, counting off the seconds as she watches the light fall until it stops. And if Mithril does cast the light spell on the rock, she does much the same thing.

 
 Spoiler 
my battery is gonna die soon and I can't charge it for an hour and a half. Sorry.
 
Athedia
Mithril looked at the pit for a second before backing up and standing against the far wall.   "I do not like that.  It looks like the pit we saw the Hooded One at."   She still listen to the conversation on the other side of the illusion wall.   "I was going to light up Whiskers collar again, but your idea sounds like it will work."  Mithril cast the spell on a rock about the size of her fist and handed it to Natalia.

 "But can't you ghost down and back up?  We could camp here overnight, that way tomorrow we could safely get down." 
CWater
 "I agree. I don't like the idea of anyone falling down.. We could also look for other paths here, before we rest." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses and shakes her head as she opens her hand and lets the stone fall. She counts off seconds in her head and doesn't look up as she says,  "Once we know, I think down tonight. Use spells now then rest, not...rest then spell so much."  Her cadence is even more pronounced than usual, though now it's regular--she's counting off seconds in the lilt of her speech.

Then the other thing Mithril said registers and she stiffens.  "You think like Hoodsie pit?" 
Admiral
 "I could get us all down there,"  Shiny says thoughtfully.  "We could climb for more than an hour... if we had to we could climb for miles. It's not, err, pleasant-"  he adds, as he reaches into his pouch and holds up a small handful of small, dead spiders. Hilton winces a bit in recollection.

 
 Spoiler 
After the previous battle, Shiny has left:
6 L0s (cast 0)
12 L1s (cast 1)
3 L2s (cast 4)
6 L3s (cast 1)
4 L4s (cast 0)

He can cast any L3 as an L2. Therefore he can cast up to 13 spider climbs (duration 80 minutes) today if he wants to (though that wouldn't leave him much to fight with). 7 spider climbs would be doable. Shiny is also willing to try riding in a BoH.

Natalia checking out the pit with gaseous form wouldn't go that deep, as her speed is only 10 feet and she has only two minutes (so she can go down 200 feet and come back up 200 feet). She could scout ahead with spider climb if you like: would take half as long and she could save her spell.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grimaces as Shiny presents the spiders, though she keeps her eye on the falling glowing rock. Without taking her eyes off the pit, she says,  "If need, I climb ahead..." 
 
 Spoiler 
Actually, Natalia can double move for 20 feet a round and with arcanist gloves she can go for 6 minutes. But you're right, an hour and a half is much better. She should be able to go down and up and then back down again with no problem. And we can strap Shiny to Kurt too so he doesn't have to worry about a bag of holding, or we could put someone in there for a bit.

Anyway, what did the light dropped show?
 
Admiral
Natalia watches the glowing stone drop for about two minutes, as it slowly becomes dimmer. She sees and very faintly hears it knock against the adjacent wall a few times, the sounds disappearing as the distance increases.

 
 Spoiler 

Oh, listen and spot checks from Natalia to see how accurate her assessment of the light's movements were. We'll assume she waited to recover from the gunpower blast.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's eyes widen as the stone falls and falls and keeps falling. Is this pit bottomless? Does it go to the center of the planet? Does it go to another place entirely?!

 
 Spoiler 
Two minutes? 😦

Spot:  (d20+12)[ 31 ] 
Listen: Take 10 for 22.

She's paying  very  close attention, apparently. 😛

Natalia's decision to scout will depend on this, but odds are it's yes. And either way, I'm on all night!
 
Admiral
After about two minutes, the pebble is nothing more than a distant pinprick of light, which even in the darkness Natalia can only recognize by straining her eyes. It's hard to say, but she guesses that it has stopped drifting or becoming dimmer.

 
 Spoiler 

If Natalia would like to scout ahead, Shiny would be happy to cast the spell now. Just let me know how far she wants to climb. Normally Shiny would give her invisibility too, but she'll need to carry a light, and a source of light would give her position away anyway (and Shiny needs every L2 he can get at this point).
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Two minutes,"  Natalia mutters. That's...hang on...She leans down into the dirt and traces out numbers with her fingers, glaring at the patterns to keep them straight in her head. She opens her eyes wide.  "231,000 feet?!"  Did she mistime something?

 
 Spoiler 
Actually, Mithril can cast Deeper Darkvision on me, or I can drink the potion. Mind if I ask Athedia now and then we can retcon it? Either way, I'm good with scouting until I see the bottom or something interesting.

Also according to the math the stone is 231,496 feet below us or 70,560 meters below us; that can't be right.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
I thought you got an A in physics, Coffee. Look up terminal velocity (even small pebbles do have air resistance). Besides which you heard it hit the side of the wall multiple times (wall may be on a slope) so you don't know how much that slowed it.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Spoiler 
Wouldn't she be able to see the slope from the light? And even though I ignored terminal velocity, this isn't a particularly large rock. I don't think it would be enough to account for ~200,000 extra feet. 😛

Oh, and I just talked to Athedia; she's cool with casting Deeper Darkvision on Natalia  in the morning when she wakes up  so no torch required.
 


Natalia scowls and wipes out the figures with her hand.  "Stupid. Terminal velocity. Less long."  She nods at Shiny.  "I'll look ahead." 
Athedia
Mithril laid her hands over Natalia's eyes.   "&lt;Drac&gt;Darksight&lt;/Drac&gt;  You have a better eyes than a dward now.  But please careful down there."   She felt the usual rush of nausea looking down at the pit.  Why had they come down here?  This was insanely dangerous.  If Natalia didn't come back, well there was no way they were going to find her.

 
 Spoiler 
Spell List:
Level 0 (4):
 Light 
Detect Magic
Light
Mending

Level 1 (5):
 Magic Missile 
Mage Armor
Alarm
 Magic Missile 
Dawn Burst

Level 2 (4):
Web
Acid Arrow
 Cloud of Knives 
See Invisibility

Level 3 (4):
Daylight
Deeper Darkvision
Dispel Magic
Haste

Level 4(3):
Dimension Door
Black Tentacles
Wall of Water
__________________
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head at the sudden change in vision, the warm halo around each of her friends suddenly appearing. She looks at Mithril and smiles, though the rogue is pale and nervous. She swallows roughly.  "Don't worry, I fine. If danger, then back. Promise."  She hugs Mithril, and gives a warm smile to all her friends in turn. She'd done this safely before, when she scouted ahead to check out the ogre camp...

...and then everything went terribly wrong, and hadn't she almost died there anyway? But she didn't, and...ugh.

She can do this. She's the only one who can.

 
 Spoiler 
Hey, maybe Whiskers can come along to see what's up or not? It's all your choice, of course. Either way, I'm climbing down.
 
Admiral
 "Hold on-"  says Shiny. He gulps down a vial he had drawn from his belt.  "I can't find my left earring,"  he explains helpfully,  "and I think I may have dropped it down the pit. So I guess I'm going down with you to look for it." 

He tosses a spider in his mouth and makes a face, then slaps one into Natalia's palm. Once he's cast the spell on her, he drops to his leg and shimmies over the side.  "You better keep your own eyes peeled for the earring too. It's shaped like a naked half-gnome half-bugbear." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at the dead spider in her hand with a grimace. Oh well, not like she hasn't done worse. She pops it into her mouth and grimaces, trying not to gag. Ugh--it tastes awful! And the legs are scratching at the sides of her throat as she swallows it too.

She immediately takes a couple nuts out of her trail rations and gulps them down. They help, a little. Natalia then gives a nod and a smile to her friends, a promise they'd be safe, as she scrambles down the ledge, taking very close care to not look down. Even though she can climb well thanks to the spell, and skitter across the wall and ceiling without any trouble, the vertigo still sends her reeling and she presses herself against the wall.

 "Thanks, Shiny,"  she whispers as they climb down. She really is grateful for his help; it'll be safer with another person. Especially since his spells complement her skills so well, or make them redundant. But in this case, well, can't be too careful.  "So earring...someone you know?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I figure we climb to the bottom or until we see something of interest?
 
CWater
 "Be careful",  Rhenner says as he watches the two climb down the tunnel. There's a slightly worried frown on his face.

  If they hurt themselves, there's no way to help them, is there..  
Admiral
Shiny casts a spell as they head over the side.  "There... now we can hear everything going on out there, but as long as we stay close,"  he explains,  "we can talk to each other and not be heard." 

And talk Shiny  does , all the way down the tunnel. The gateway above them sheds no light and thus disappears after a few moments, leaving them in a darkness. For the first minute or two Natalia and Shiny can see the other side of the tunnel, but the tunnel seems to widen as they descend, until soon it passes outside the range of their spell. The wall around them, in turn, widens until it seems much more like the side of a cliff than the inside of a tunnel, and indeed they can feel the tunnel sloping very gradually under them: it's not a sheer drop.

Even with the help of the spell, their arms and legs get tired descending so quickly for so long, and just as they are starting to ache the cliff become far less steep and far rougher, with massive boulders jutting out at random intervals. A little more climbing and the two find themselves approaching ground that feels nearly level.


 Let's assume we set up a plan for someone on top to hold out a torch through the gateway after ten minutes have passed, to serve as a way to get back up. Otherwise we're lost down there.

Listen and Spot checks from Natalia.

Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ 3 ]   (1d20-2)[ 13 ]  
CoffeeIncluded
Shiny speaks for the both of them, as Natalia focuses on looking around at the tunnel around them, and keeping her strength up. She's much stronger than before, but this extended climbing is steadily wearing her out and her words soon come rough and ragged as she pants them out. The tunnel's getting wider and wider, so wide she can't even see the edges. This isn't exactly a comforting thought. The sudden black-and-white of darkvision isn't helping much either, and she groans as the shades mess with the color of the rubble and stone she feels under her hands. But eventually the tunnel slopes and becomes level. Have they reached the bottom?

Natalia looks around at the bottom of the cavern, and then back up. The height is dizzying just looking at it. How did the drow get up here, assuming they did? Did they fly or use the same spell? But she looks, and listens, and also searches for the light she dropped. Then she'll know they're on the bottom.

 
 Spoiler 
Spot:  (d20+12)[ 30 ] 
Listen:  (d20+12)[ 24 ] 

Guess she's getting used to darkvision.

How long did it take? Light lasts 80 minutes so it should still be up?
 
Admiral
In the last few minutes of Natalia's descent, she is able to hear distant rustling coming from the dark area away from the cliff: as close as she listens she can't quite tell whether it's the movement of some kind of creatures or simply wind through the tunnels.

Shiny and Natalia can spot see the light from the fallen pebble: it seems to lie a couple of thousand feet away, over a rough, stony hill. Natalia and Shiny climb towards it slowly, but as they do, they see the light flicker as though something had passed in its way.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps and practically throws herself at the wall, drawing her blades. She whispers to Shiny (though she doesn't have to thanks to his zone of silence spell, but instinct is strong),  "Something rustling there. Look, or...go back?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Is the rustling noise in the same direction as the light? Are we invisible? How long did it take to climb down?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
They're a bit farther from the wall right now, so she can't reach it in a hurry (without leaving Shiny behind).

The only general direction Natalia could ascertain for the rustling was "away from the wall", which the light is in.

Forgot to mention: Natalia can't "look up at the cliff" and be dizzy, as deeper darkvision has only a 60ft range, so anything above that is just darkness.
 

 "You never know,"  Shiny says as he grabs Natalia's hand and runs with her back to the wall.  "Whoever that is could be friendlier than the last bunch we ran into." 

He places his hands onto the wall alongside her and starts to climb, urging her as well.  "But here we are in what is presumably his home without a proper gift,"  he explains as they climb,  "which is simply rude. I'd give them my earring but I still haven't found it. So I say we head back and see if anyone else has anything suitable." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks back at the light and where the rustling noise is, and shivers. Shiny's right, they should get going now. She'd rather face that with all her friends. Though she stumbles as Shiny grabs her hand and urges along, she rights herself and practically leaps onto the cliff as she scrambles her way back up alongside the gnome.

 
 Spoiler 
Was she able to see down the hill or what the tunnel was like because of her darkvision and the illumination of the rock?

I guess, though it's probably unnerving to her either way.
 
Admiral
The climb up is harder than the climb down, as Natalia's and Shiny's arms and legs have already grown weary. Part of the way up the cliff, they spot the torch being held by their friends, and head towards it. Natalia looks back down frequently, but sees only the light of the pebble she dropped, growing dimmer and dimmer with distance. When she's halfway up, she sees a shadow pass in front of it once more, so quickly that for a moment she thinks she imagined it again.

Finally, after about ten minutes of climbing, they clamber back into the tunnel.
CWater
The medic is relieved when the two clamber back up with no other ailments than exhaustion.

 "Well.. how does it look down there?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia is panting as she drags herself up onto the ledge. She sits down, stretching out her arms and wiggling her fingers. But she can't hide the look on her face.

 "Mouth widens, and things inside. We knocked with light. They answered. Heard rustle, saw flickers before light."  She looks up.  "We should...look now. Answer now, instead of...wait for them to search. Safer to answer now." 
Admiral
Shiny clambers over the side, and seems to mouth a few words silently before he remembers his spell, and steps closer to the others, bringing them into the range of his zone of silence.  "I'm with Natalia Nononsense,"  he says.  "Between the blast and the light, we've been announcing our presence quite a bit. So..."  he reaches into his bag and holds out a handful of dead spiders.  "Who's first? (By the way, you're lucky we needed these today. I've developed a taste for the little buggers- can't keep myself from snacking on them lately. I might've run out by tomorrow)." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gags at Shiny's comment, but adds,  "About ten minutes, sloped at end but rough. And wide. More things around light, so...ready. Think should hurry before more come."  She hopes they're friendly, but gets the distinct sense that the things down there probably aren't.  "And Shiny spider taste, but not me. Take with something else; better then." 
 
 Spoiler 
Is everyone going to be going in line and are you looking for detailed plans, or do you just want a general assent from most of us?
 
CWater
Rhenner glares at the small spider given to him.  "Truly it looks delicious indeed.."  Then his expression changes to serious and he just stands there staring at the spider for a while, seemingly lost in thought.

When it comes his turn to swallow the thing, he doesn't object, though he grimaces when it goes down his throat.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grimaces as she looks back down at the pit. This won't be like the ogres. This won't be like the ogres.

 "Not like ogres..." 

...Crap, did she say that out loud?
Admiral
Shiny casts his spell on each of the seven travelers in sequence, and then they step forward carefully onto the cliffside. For those who hadn't used the spell before, it is a greatly disorienting experience, but soon they realize they can keep contact with just the tips of their fingers and still feel as stable as on level ground.

For several minutes they descend, keeping an eye on the distant light Natalia had dropped.

 
 Spoiler 

Sorry it took a bit longer than expected. Spot and Listen checks from everyone.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Thanks to Mithril's darkvision spell, Natalia can see the sides of the cavern whether or not the torch is present. She skitters a little bit out of the way of the torch, just far enough away that she can at least try to hide, and climbs down carefully, keeping her eyes on the light and her ears peeled all around her as best she can.

 
 Spoiler 
It's okay; I was busy last night and it seems like everyone else was too.

Question: I need to use both hands to climb, but can I stand on the side of the wall just fine without my hands?

And since I'm sneaking off to the side, do I need to roll anything else?

Spot:  (d20+12)[ 15 ]  Heh.
Listen:  (d20+12)[ 29 ] 
 


Ugh. The torchlight may be about 15 feet away, but it's still within her range of vision. Her sight flickers back and forth between the color of regular light and the shades of darkvision, and the black and yellow she feels beneath her hands as she touches the dry stone only serves to disorient her even more. Natalia presses the heel of her hand to her eyes and groans silently.
Athedia
As Mithril swallowed the spider she remembered why she had learned to cast spells WITHOUT such components. She shuddered and gagged a bit as the taste stuck around.

The feeling of climbing down the wall was odd, like she was crawling, but also using a ladder.  How Shiny looked so at ease she could not figure out.

 
 Spoiler 
Listen: (1d20+3)[ 9 ] 
Spot:  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia feels a bit disoriented by the mix of light and dark, and as she clambers down it seems almost like the colors of the rock are dancing before her.

But on consideration, she realizes that the colors represent something else: she can feel soft tremors beneath the rock- mostly from her companions next to her. But as she focuses, she feels another set of footsteps through the stone: as though there are dozens more legs clambering with quick feet, closer and closer by the second, coming up the rock wall.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm treating that as an extension of a Listen check.
 
CoffeeIncluded
What was that? Natalia stills, and closes her eyes. She spreads her hands and fingers out broad, presses herself against the cliff, and listens. There...there! She can feel it, she can feel what the the stone is showing her, the movement and flow of it. The yellow of the almost powdery dryness squeezing together and becoming almost imperceptibly darker for a moment, then springing back to normal again before darkening again with that same swift rhythm. And now, as she presses the pads of her fingertips into the stone, she doesn't just see it. She feels the stone move as well.

Natalia shoots upright, standing straight and horizontal on the wall; her ponytail drapes down beside her head and she can feel gravity threatening to pull her forward. But she stands firm, draws her blades, and presses a hand to her chest. As she casts the spell and draws the magic from her gloves as well, she hisses to her friends.  "Something coming; many climbing legs!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Everyone else can see Natalia stand up and draw her blades, and how loud does she have to say this? And thanks! That is really neat.

Can she estimate how far away it is? How far away is Natalia from the group?

Oh, and she casts an Arcanist Gloves Cat's Grace as her last action.
 
Athedia
Mithril quickly cast her protection spell on herself, the force armor surrounding her.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia tries to edge closer to her friends or a place where she can stand normally, and looks down into the dark. Are they close enough to be seen? Many of them. She really hopes they're not spiders. The rogue shudders, remembering that spider marching along the wall towards them as she and her friends fired st it, and then more recently the web in the forest...

Natalia shudders. Don't think about that right now.

 
 Spoiler 
should I switch to my bow? Admiral, if we fire arrows straight down, do we get a bonus because of gravity?

Cavelcade, is Kurt in a stance?
 
Admiral
Shiny also casts a spell in response to Natalia's warning, granting all seven members of the party new speed and agility.

Moments after the party's spells are cast, however, tendrils of silk seem to appear out of nowhere, lashing around the party's arms and legs, trying to tether them to the rock face. Moments later, two tremendous spiders appear in the edges of Kurt's light, crawling eagerly towards the web.

 
 Spoiler 
Map is the same as before. That was pre-init (you got a pre-init action because of Natalia's warning, enemy got one for having better darkvision than you.) If you are wondering, while the rules don't mention this, spiders have the ability to crawl on the  web  spell just as well as on the wall.

Everyone except Natalia make a Reflex save as per the Web spell. Remember to add +1 because you're Hasted.

Initiative:

Natalia:  (1d20+7)[ 27 ] 
Rhenner:  (1d20+3)[ 18 ] 
Slavers:  (1d20+3)[ 5 ] 
Enemies:  (1d20+3)[ 11 ] 
Kurt:  (1d20+2)[ 3 ] 
Shiny:  (1d20+2)[ 9 ] 
Mithril:  (1d20+2)[ 5 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gawks in horror at the enormous spiders before her, and begins to whimper in terror. The whimpering only grows more high-pitched as the spiders shoot a web at her friends. She starts to shake as her mind is transported back to that frantic escape from the giants, where she got caught in a web and struggled, helpless, as a spider the same size sank its fangs into her side. She still isn't sure how she managed to escape.

But now it's her friends who are caught. While every part of her is crying to run away, she crawls forward, just a few steps, and shoots her bow at the nearest one.

 
 Spoiler 
Damn, I was going to say I drew my bow instead; I thought I said that. I was too busy studying to really check though. Am I able to change it?

Do they look like giant spiders, or is there anything else weird about them?

Natalia moves to just within sneak attack range, draws her bow, and shoots. Upon looking at the map, she's 10 feet out of sneak attack range anyway from where she is right now--unless she can use the anklet?

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 31 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 19 ] 
Crit damage:  (d8)[ 2 ]   (d8)[ 7 ] 
 
CWater
Spiders.. It seemed like they were becoming a theme here. Avoiding the web strands Rhenner climbs down the wall past Mithril and Shiny, detaching one orb from the necklace he got a few days ago. He eyes the golden bead for a second. And they claim these things contained the same power as a wizard's spell? The cleric can't help doubting this a little and drops the small orb almost experimentaly.

 
 Spoiler 
The orb is a 5d6 and Rhenner lets it drop far enough that the flames will hit the spiders, but not touch the web. He's NOT trying to burn it away. (People could get hurt.)

Damage?:  (5d6)[ 14 ] 
Ref. save DC 14 for half, I think.
 
Admiral
Natalia moves carefully across the stone, stepping so lightly that the spiders can't even sense her movement, before firing a perfectly aimed arrow into the closest spider's underbelly. Rhenner then drops a bead at the vermin that somehow turns into a raging inferno, and the spiders sizzle and crackle as the flame overtakes them.

Moments later, the party's eyes are overwhelmed by a flash of what seems to be lightning, as a powerful bolt drives straight through Kurt and Shiny.

The spider Natalia shot crawls quickly towards her, stopping just short of reaching her. The other spider crawls towards the web, approaching its prey: and two more spiders of the same size appear behind them out of the darkness.

 
 Spoiler 

The spider Natalia shot (S2) is bloodied. S1 was wounded by the fire.

Kurt and Shiny DC  15  16 reflex save for half damage. We first need to make a DC 15 Web reflex save, as if we fail that save we get -4 penalty on Dex (and therefore on the following reflex save).

Shiny Web save:  (1d20+4)[ 16 ] 
Shiny Lightning Bolt save:  (1d20+4)[ 15 ] 

Oh, I forgot that he gets +1 to Reflex for Haste. And lucky that, because I also forgot that the Lightning Bolt save is actually DC 16. Shiny just barely makes both saves.

ETA: No, one more correction: Shiny is still entangled even having made the save, and therefore takes a -4 to Dex and to his Reflex save. He fails the Lightning Bolt save.

Lightning bolt damage:  (6d6)[ 23 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny manages to dodge the worst of the web's tendrils, but cannot escape the powerful bolt of lightning that drives straight through him. Wounded, he quickly tries to cast a spell to free the group from the web.

 
 Spoiler 

Dispel Magic. Concentration check DC 18 for casting while entangled:  (1d20+14)[ 20 ] 
CL Check:  (1d20+8)[ 23 ] 
 


The web wrapped around the party suddenly vanishes, its coils wasting away into nothing.
CWater
 "Ah, apparently..",  Rhenner mutters when the flames burn the spiders.

Seeing the lightning hurt his new comrades, the cleric reaches to heal the smaller caster.  "You should get back, we're a good target hanging close like this! Unless the spiders of Underdark have mage as a career option, there's something else too. Do you know what's the range of a spell like that?" 

He picks up the morningstar from his belt.

 
 Spoiler 
Resounding Voice into CMW:  (2d8+8)[ 17 ] 

Moving the morningstar's enchantment bonus to AC again.
 
Athedia
 "I really think this is going to look weird."   Mithril grimaced and slammed her hand onto the wall.  Below her, where she had seen the spiders the tentacles rose out of the wall.

 
 Spoiler 
I can't get to the map right now, can you position it to hit as many of them as possible?
 
Admiral
The hideous tentacles sprout out of the side of the wall, each trying to grab hold of the spiders' giant legs.

 
 Spoiler 

Grapple checks:

S1:  (1d20+18)[ 20 ] 
Tentacles:  (1d20+16)[ 32 ] 

S2:  (1d20+18)[ 24 ] 
Tentacles:  (1d20+16)[ 29 ] 

S3:  (1d20+18)[ 37 ] 
Tentacles:  (1d20+16)[ 27 ] 

S4:  (1d20+18)[ 30 ] 
Tentacles:  (1d20+16)[ 20 ] 
 


The tentacles manage to grab hold of the two spiders in front, those that had been burned by Rhenner's ball of fire, but the two in back just barely manage to scramble out of their reach.
CoffeeIncluded
 "What the ****?!"  Natalia shouts reflexively as a lightning bolt appears out of nowhere to pierce Shiny and Kurt. Meanwhile, the spider that she wounded continues crawling mindlessly to her. Its giant mandibles clack hungrily as venom drops from them, and Natalia falls back, terrified. At that moment, Mithril casts her spell and the two closest, injured spiders find themselves snared in the tentacles. Breathing heavily, Natalia shuffles further down the cliff, draws her sword, then rolls up and tries stabbing between two armored plates of exoskeleton, trying to pry a leg from the spider's body.

 
 Spoiler 
Would I be able to listen to see how many more are coming?

Draw blades, move to L13, sneak attack S2, the bloodied one. Planning a full attack next turn.

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 9 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 
 
Admiral
With a precise thrust, Natalia slays the spider, and it goes limp, releasing its grip from the wall. The black tentacles keep their grip on the vermin's corpse, and seem determined to tear it limb from limb.
Cavelcade
Kurt moves forward to attack the other living spider, getting pierced by the magical bolt as he does but struggling on despite it.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+4)[ 12 ]  Reflex

Oh, +2 to attack and damage from furious counterstrike - then I take remaining damage from the lightning bolt. Poor Kurt. :(

Move into range to attack S1.

 (1d20+13)[ 14 ]  Attack
 (1d20+13)[ 17 ]  Crit

 (4d6+7)[ 20 ]  Attack
 (2d6+7)[ 14 ]  Crit
 
Admiral
Rocky and Hilton move forward to slash at the spider as well.

 
 Spoiler 

Rocky greatsword:

Attack:  (1d20+11)[ 12 ]  Crit:  (1d20+11)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 11 ]  Crit:  (2d6+6)[ 11 ] 

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 22 ]   (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Dmg:  (1d6)[ 6 ]   (1d6)[ 5 ] 
Sneak:  (3d6)[ 8 ] 

S1 is bloodied.
 


Rocky's powerful swing misses, as he's disoriented about fighting on the side of a cliff, but Hilton manages a precise jab at the spider.
Admiral
The wounded spider held by the tentacles struggles to free itself.

 
 Spoiler 

S1:  (1d20+18)[ 22 ] 
Tentacles:  (1d20+16)[ 25 ] 
 


The spider remains in the grip of the tentacles, unable to face the enemies in front of it.

The other two spiders move out of the grasp of the tentacles, one approaching close to Hilton.

As the spiders make their approach, a new web appears out of midair, once again doing its best to latch on to all the members of the party.

 
 Spoiler 

Reflex save DC 15 everyone but Hilton. Don't forget +1 from Haste.

Shiny:  (1d20+5)[ 20 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+8)[ 18 ] 
 
Admiral
Gritting his teeth, Shiny once again casts a spell to free himself and his friends from the web.

 
 Spoiler 
Have to burn one of his four L4s on Dispel Magic.

Concentration DC 18: [roll]1d20+14[roll]
CL Check:  (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 

Messed up the first roll but it doesn't matter.
 


This time his magic has no effect, and the web keeps its hold.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia launches forward and tries to escape the web as her panic threatens to bubble to fear.

 
 Spoiler 
reflex:  (d20+15)[ 16 ] 

You know, I needed anything but a one there. At least I still have my anklet.
 


Natalia's instincts tell her to launch forward, but that doesn't work when fixed to the wall by magic. Conscious effort classics with instinct clumsily, and the bet result fixes her to the wall.
CoffeeIncluded
Again! She's trapped again, bound in webs and unable to get free as the spiders approach. Natalia starts screaming in panic as she flails and kicks, and in the struggle turns her ankle...

And with a flash she pops out of the web, practically on top of the bloodied spider. She figures out what happened remarkably quickly and, panting for breath, starts madly slashing and stabbing at the bloodied, wounded spider.

 
 Spoiler 
thats one anklet charge gone. NOW I attack s1, who is bloodied. 😛

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 14 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 24 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 

Holy crap, max damage. I REALLY hope this first one hit--and it might have, if they're flatfooted. I hope.

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 22 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 23 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 14 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 
 


If Natalia's first strike kills the spider then as gravity pulls it off the ledge she clambers along the space where it's body was, and motions for Hilton to make a flanking position with her around the third spider he's closest to.
Admiral
Natalia slays the spider with a single expert stroke, and is able to climb closer to Hilton afterwards.

 
 Spoiler 

Cool; the probability of 5 6's in a row is 1/7776. No more complaining about dice ever.
 
CWater
 "Those things again..."  Rhenner is not too happy to see the hideous tentacles again, as useful as they may be. The sight of them crudely tearing the dead spider apart doesn't improve his opinion.  "This is why some people think wizards have sick minds",  he mutters.

Then the second web sprouts, and this time it binds him to the wall. Not bothering to struggle much, he takes another golden bead off the necklace, this one a little darker than the previous one.  "I wonder if the colour has any significance...",  he ponders and throws the orb at the spiders.

 
 Spoiler 
In my mind, the more powerful the fireball is, the deeper is the colour of the bead that holds it.

I think it is possible to target the blast so that it hits  all three  both spiders, but not Natalia.

Damage:  (7d6)[ 24 ] 
Ref DC 14 for half.

And for the record,  I  think the tentacles are charming!😏😛
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Spider reflex saves:

S3:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
S4:  (1d20+5)[ 6 ] 

Neither is bloodied yet.
 


This fireball is even bigger than the last: one spider is badly burned by it, though the other scrabbles away and avoids the worst.
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Those things again..."  Rhenner is not too happy to see the hideous tentacles again, as useful as they may be. The sight of them crudely tearing the dead spider apart doesn't improve his opinion.  "This is why some people think wizards have sick minds",  he mutters.

Then the second web sprouts, and this time it binds him to the wall. Not bothering to struggle much, he takes another golden bead off the necklace, this one a little darker than the previous one.  "I wonder if the colour has any significance...",  he ponders and throws the orb at the spiders. 
 

Mithril shrugged, but didn't look at the tentacle as she did so. "If that is reputation I have to live with, at least I live."  She grabbed some of the web and pulled, chanting as she did so.  The words sounded familiar to what Shiny had uttered earlier.
 
 Spoiler 
Dispel Magic
If I need a concentration check:  (1d20+15)[ 30 ] 
Reflex (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
 
Admiral
Rocky tries to climb free from the web.

 
 Spoiler 

Str check:  (1d20+4)[ 13 ] 
 


Even the musclebound ranger has a hard time getting leverage on the side of the cliff, and he cannot escape the tendrils.

Hilton cringed at the approach of the tremendous spider, and momentarily hesitates, cringing, at the idea of trying to outmaneuver it- but with a momentary glance back at Kurt he tries to climb alongside it to get a better position.

 
 Spoiler 
Difficult climbing tumble check, DC 25:  (1d20+12)[ 30 ] 
 


Hilton is able to climb to the opposite side of the spider, letting him draw its attention from Natalia.
Admiral
Hilton swings his rapier at the distracted beast.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 27 ]   (1d20+9)[ 16 ] 
Dmg:  (1d6)[ 1 ]   (1d6)[ 1 ] 
Sneak:  (3d6)[ 16 ] 

Not that it matters much with that damage, but it's a confirmed crit. S4 is bloodied.
 


He manages to land a well-placed blow to the creature's underbelly, wounding it badly.
Admiral
Kurt tries to dodge the tendrils of the web as they appear in midair.

 
 Spoiler 
It occurs to me that Kurt's round will be spent, one way or another, trying to break free of the web, so I'm OK rolling this one for him:

Reflex:  (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 
Str check to either move or escape:  (1d20+4)[ 5 ] 
 
Admiral
The spider, having seen Natalia deal the killing blow to two others of its brood, launches towards her with mandibles larger than Kurt's arms.

 
 Spoiler 

S4 on Natalia:
Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 23 ]   (1d20+9)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 10 ]   (2d6+6)[ 16 ] 
If hits, DC 16 Fort save or  (1d8)[ 1 ]  Str damage.
 


The other spider climbs up alongside it and bites at Hilton.

 
 Spoiler 

S3 on Hilton:
Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 21 ]   (1d20+9)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 12 ]   (2d6+6)[ 14 ] 
If hits, DC 16 Fort save or  (1d8)[ 1 ]  Str damage.
 


Hilton hisses in pain as the monster bites a gash into his leg, and for a split second closes his eyes as he feels himself weaken from its venom.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Rhenner and Shiny only:
 
 Spoiler 

I'm serious, Rhenner and Shiny only:

 
 Spoiler 
Now Coffee, what did I just say? 😏
 
 Spoiler 
Though the black tentacles block much of their view, Rhenner and Shiny can see two creatures emerging from the shadows below, about seventy feet away- from a distance and through the waving tentacles they look like smaller spiders than they ones they are currently facing.
 

 

 


Party's turn.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia yelps and rolls back as the spider snaps out at her--and the mandibles click together inches above her head. They didn't even touch her at all. And she looks back at the two spiders behind her, their corpses currently being torn apart by the tentacles, killed by her hand. She's not the girl screaming and trapped and poisoned and scarred by the spiders anymore. She can fight them. She can defeat them. She's not alone and running, she's with her friends, and these are even larger and scarier than the ones that nearly killed her, and she can fight them.

It's empowering.

With a wild grin, Natalia flips her daggers, lunges forward, and stabs.

 
 Spoiler 
Attacking S4, and continuing the attack on S3 if S4 goes down midway. Natalia can see down to I 27; is there anything in her line of vision?

Oh, and I'm flanking off Hilton for sneak attacks; if any go onto S4 then just remove 2 from the attack roll and remove the sneak attack.

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 15 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 27 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 16 ] 

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 20 ] 

Attack:  (d20+10)[ 21 ] 
Crit:  (d20+10)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ] 
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Mithril shrugged, but didn't look at the tentacle as she did so. "If that is reputation I have to live with, at least I live."  She grabbed some of the web and pulled, chanting as she did so.  The words sounded familiar to what Shiny had uttered earlier. 
 

 "Point",  Rhenner admits. He then puts his palms together in quick prayer.  "Lord of wanderers and free travel, your faithful servant would like to leave this trap if you'll allow it."  The web strands binding him to the wall seem to suddenly lose their hold and the cleric climbs down, out of the area covered in the sticky webbing.

 "I saw you take hit from that lightning as well",  he says to Kurt and casts a healing spell on him.

With the tentacles playing with the dead spider's corpse right next to him he almost misses the small movement far away, on the edge of his vision. But the many years on battlefields have taught him to pay attention even to seemingly small changes to the surroundings. The half-elf squints his eyes to get a better look.  "There are two other likely enemies farther down, several tens of feet away!",  he shouts and points in their general direction,  "They look like smaller spiders, but I can't be sure!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Hold Person to CMW:  (2d8+8)[ 15 ] 

2/5 freedom of movement used.

Out of both L2s and L3s now.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt struggles against the binding webs, growling in anger as he drags his legs out of the sticky substance.

 
 Spoiler 

Rage

Str check:  (1d20+6)[ 18 ] 

I'm not entirely clear - can I then make an attack if I'm able to move, or is the move a full round action? If so, kurt would move down to I14 and attack S4.
 
Admiral
Kurt feels the rage fill him, giving him strength to push off the ground and tear himself free from the web's tight grasp-

 
 Spoiler 
I need a surprise Reflex save from Kurt.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "More spiders?"  Natalia calls back as she quickly dispatches the third spider with her second swing and watches it fall off the wall, smash against the top of the spider below it, and then continue falling out of sight until the sound of its impact with the ground below echoes up seconds later. She leans forward and looks down in the direction Rhenner indicated, straining to see if these additional spiders are close enough to be spotted by Mithril's spell.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm not sure exactly how far a 60 foot radius extends on a diagonal with these 5 foot square maps; they do a lot of rounding and estimation. Wish we had a cutout or something! 😛

Anyway, are these extra spiders close enough for Natalia to see from where she is?

And I'm posting now because I think looking is a natural response, and I think it's a free action too?
 
Cavelcade
 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+4)[ 12 ]  Surprise Reflex Save.
 
Admiral
Kurt tears himself free of the web too powerfully, forgetting in his fury his precarious position on the side of a wall, and launches himself away. He swings back at the wall to regain his hold, but too late- he's falling freely through the air-

Until moments later he feels one of Mithril's unworldly tentacles latch hold of him, its instinct the only thing saving him from a grisly fate at the bottom of the cliff.

 
 Spoiler 

Grapple check:  (1d20+13)[ 27 ] 

If Kurt beats the grapple check he can regain his "footing" and climb through the tentacles (starting next turn).

Without saying more, there is good reason behind this happening, not just "random PC suffering."
 
Athedia
Mithril took a deep breath.  Her previous spell had failed.  It must be that magicless area Natalia had been talking about.  But the others spells had worked.

She gritted her teeth and retched her arm off the wall and web and latched onto the back of Shiny's neck.   "I will try to hit a wall, but if this works we may fall." 
 
 Spoiler 
CL:  (1d20+8)[ 25 ] 
Concentration: (1d20+15)[ 24 ] 

Trying to aim a good bit below the spiders if this works.  Close enough for Shiny's spells to work.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Oops- I actually meant to ask for a Spellcraft check, not a CL check, but with that roll Mithril makes that even more easily (much more easily in fact), so we're good.
 


As Mithril casts the spell, she feels that it is somehow more difficult than it had been on the surface, and at the last moment she has to improvise to keep her mind on the target. Luckily, her magical skill is more than up to the task, and moments later Shiny and Mithril reappear below the tentacles and manage to cling to the wall once more. Before them they see a pair of extraordinary creatures- their upper bodies appear similar to silver-haired drow, one male and one female, but their lower bodies sprout giant spider legs.

 
 Spoiler 
Visual aid:

 
 
Athedia
Mithril turned pale as she looked down at the creatures.   "I am really starting to think this was a bad idea.  A very very bad idea." 
Admiral
Shiny places his hand on Mithril with a smile.  "Nonsense,"  he says cheerfully as he casts a spell.  "All the best ideas I've ever had started this way." 

As Shiny finishes his casting, Mithril looks down, and finds that she has disappeared from sight. She looks back to Shiny, and the gnome is already clambering horizontally across the cave wall, waving to draw the monsters' attention.

 
 Spoiler 
Greater Invisibility on Mithril. 8 rounds, she can attack as she likes.
 
Cavelcade
 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+14)[ 24 ]  Come on be good!
 


Kurt struggles valiantly against the tentacles that are holding him in place in the air, but despite his best efforts their combined efforts are enough to hold the fuming dwarf in place.
Admiral
One tentacle wraps around Kurt's left arm, a second secures itself around his right, wrestling him in midair. Kurt struggles powerfully with the tentacles. His strength isn't enough- just pull harder- the fury overwhelms him-

 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Get a hold of him, dammit!&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 

Even through the haze, Kurt recognizes a gruff, low voice he hasn't heard in years. He looks to his right and sees his old master-of-arms, grabbing Kurt's elbow and pinning it roughly.  "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Get that axe out of his hand!&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 
 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Kurt, you damn fool- it's us!&lt;Dwarven&gt;  Kurt recognizes the second voice, in a moment that stings far worse. He turns and sees his older brother, grappling his left arm. And he's not in a cave anymore, he's on a mountain clearing, the sun rising behind him, his trainer's corpse on the ground-

 "&lt;Dwarven&gt;Snap out of it!&lt;/Dwarven&gt;" 
Cavelcade
Kurt grunts, continuing to struggle from instinct alone - unwilling to cease as he sees the corpse in front of him, now struggling to get free of them to run to make it so it wasn't so.  &lt;Dwarven&gt;"No! Let me go to him! No, no, no, this isn't right, let me go! Let me fix this!"&lt;/Dwarven&gt;  As he speaks, his struggles grow more frantic but less thoughtful, no longer hitting the weak points, wincing as he feels his arms being bent back unnaturally far.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
I made a mistake earlier in saying Natalia couldn't reach the second spider after killing the first, as I forgot where she was: she could indeed jump ten feet to reach the second spider.
 


Cautious of being further injured by the remaining spider, Hilton draws and loads his crossbow without approaching it.

Rocky struggles hard to escape the thick, sticky web.

 
 Spoiler 
Str:  (1d20+4)[ 17 ] 
 


The former slaver just barely manages to break free and step out of the web.

The male drider points towards Shiny and casts a spell, firing a sparkling ray towards the gnome.

 
 Spoiler 

D1 ranged touch ray on Shiny:

 (1d20+6)[ 20 ] 
If hits:  (1d6+3)[ 6 ]  str damage

Shiny did not exactly have an overabundance of strength. Str score is now 3, his load is now a heavy one.
 


The gnome seems to clutch onto the wall far more tightly, grimacing and grunting as though a massive burden had been placed on him.

The other drider reaches her palm out towards the gnome, and fires a burst of bright light at him.

 
 Spoiler 

D2:

 (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
If hits:  (3d8)[ 10 ] 
 


The light burns Shiny's skin, and he closes his eyes as the brightness overwhelms him.

Even from above the tentacles, Rhenner easily sees the blast of bright light contrasted against the dark cliffside. To his confusion, he recognizes the spell as one he'd cast earlier today- it's a spell he's sure only the divinely inspired could master.
Admiral
The spider fighting Natalia lashes towards her with a vicious bite.

 
 Spoiler 

Spider:
Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 14 ]   (1d20+9)[ 10 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 16 ]   (2d6+6)[ 13 ] 
If hits, DC 16 Fort save (I'll roll Str damage later)
 


With her improved speed, Natalia is easily able to dodge the spider's attack.

 
 Spoiler 

Party's turn. As noted, Natalia was able to attack the spider twice last round, though did not get sneak damage in either time.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Shiny!"  Natalia shouts as she sees the gnome suddenly appear in her vision, then stumble as a blast of light shoots him from behind and makes him stagger and grimace and stumble in pain.  "What chasing? I help, if past spider here! If here, flank, I kill faster!" 
 
 Spoiler 
if shiny moves straight up I can flank full attack sneak attack this spider and probably kill it this round, then get to the driders in the next. May shiny please do that? He'll be able to cast a spell hat round too. Either way, thanks.

Is it bloodied from the fireball and Natalia's attacks? There was 26 damage total done to it, I think.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  
 Spoiler 
if shiny moves straight up I can flank full attack sneak attack this spider and probably kill it this round, then get to the driders in the next. May shiny please do that? He'll be able to cast a spell hat round too. Either way, thanks.
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Can Shiny with a current Str score of 3 please step right next to a creature that deals Str poison?

Think before you ask favors.
 


  
 Spoiler 

Is it bloodied from the fireball and Natalia's attacks? There was 26 damage total done to it, I think.
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Bloodied.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Spoiler 
oh, sorry. I didn't see the 3 strength thing. Well, hopefully Hilton and rocky can help finish it off!
 


Natalia grimaces as she gets a better look at shiny and the damage done to him. She can't let him get close to this spider, not in his state. With a growl she lashes out, praying her strikes will be enough to bring it down without any other help.

 
 Spoiler 
in that case, attack!

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 21 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 21 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 26 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia slays the spider before her, and it tumbles down the cliff.

Recognizing his precarious position, Shiny hurriedly casts an illusion. a pattern of rainbow lights appears around the two spider-like creatures, much like the spray he'd used before, but far larger and more intricate.

 
 Spoiler 

Rainbow pattern, second to last L4 spell:

D1 Shiny CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 23 ] 
D1 Will save:  (1d20+8)[ 27 ] 

D2 Shiny CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 
D2 Will save:  (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
 


The male drider shakes off the spell's affects, but the female one halts in its paces, momentarily fascinated by the lights.

Afterwards, Shiny holds up his hand (shaking from the exertion to do so)-  "Don't attack that one! It'll break the effect." 
Admiral
Immediately afterwards, Shiny casts a second spell, this one much faster than the first.

 
 Spoiler 

His final L4: Greater Mirror Image. It's an immediate action. For now creates:  (1d4+2)[ 4 ]  illusory duplicates.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "What one?"  Natalia asks Shiny, leaning down, ready to clamber after him and help him out. What's at the edge of her vision, just out of sight?  "Shiny, what chasing? What casting?" 
 
 Spoiler 
What about an invisible creature attacking?
 
Athedia
Mithril nodded, then realized they could not see her.  But she could still attack.  She stared at the male drider and concentrated.  As soon as the spell left her fingers she shuffled a

 
 Spoiler 
Casting Acid arrow
Ranged Touch:  (1d20+6)[ 7 ] 
Damage:  (2d4)[ 7 ] 
Will do two rounds of damage if it hits
Move to G4

EDIT: I doubt that hit...
 
Cavelcade
 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+16)[ 36 ]  Grapple roll.
 
Admiral
With a powerful roar Kurt tears himself free from the tentacles' grasp, but his strength is too great- and the next moment he is falling, falling beyond the reach of the bizarre field of gruesome appendages, falling towards the darkness...

Until something catches him by the hand as he passes by, something that feels like a metal gauntlet, securing him with a firm grip. As Kurt swings to a stop he catches a glimpse of who had caught him: a familiar figure in heavy armor, holding on to the side of the cliff. His face is covered and yet Kurt recognizes the man from his own dreams. Kurt reaches out and uses his adhesive fingers to catch onto the wall, safely out of reach of the tentacles. Once he has grabbed hold safely he looks back up, but no one is above him- his savior has vanished.

 
 Spoiler 
Kurt fell to below the tentacles, see map. This counts as Kurt's movement for the turn (in practice it is almost identical to getting out and climbing around the tentacles).
 


Rocky and Hilton clamber down the wall, and both fire arrows at the drow that had resisted Shiny's spell.

 
 Spoiler 

Rocky:
Attack:  (1d20+10)[ 16 ]  Crit:  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+4)[ 7 ]  Crit:  (1d8+4)[ 6 ]  Crit:  (1d8+4)[ 8 ] 

Hilton:
Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 17 ]   (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
Dmg:  (1d8)[ 5 ]   (1d8)[ 8 ] 

Still need Rhenner's turn before the enemies go again.
 


Rocky's arrow goes wide, but Hilton's hits the spider-like creature squarely.
Cavelcade
Kurt pants harshly, looking around everywhere to try and find his saviour, despite the fact that he knows it must be a figment of his imagination - how else could he have gotten down here with them with no-one else knowing. And yet...here Kurt is, standing (or hanging, or walking, or whatever it is Shiny's spell has allowed him to do) on the wall, safe from the fall that would surely have shattered bones. Gripping the hilt of Daybreaker nervously, he feels his rage drain away into uncertainty, leaving his limbs heavy.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Don't feel bad about waiting on Rhenner's turn: I needed the weekend off for other reasons anyway.
 


The male drider, unfazed by Shiny's spell, clambers over to the other and shakes her free. Once her head is clear, the second drider looks up at the party, sneers, and casts a spell: moments later the two creatures are surrounded by a dark cloud of smoke.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia races down just in time to see the hideous spider...things cast a bloom of black mist over themselves. She grits her teeth in frustration; she can't fire into this smoke. And they'll just keep casting spells. Unless...

Racing down, she takes out a stone half-cracked down the middle, and hurls it into the middle of the mist.

 
 Spoiler 
i think I have one thunderstone. I'm throwing it at where she saw the two drow last--I think that's m30? Anything in range has to make a dc 15 fort save or be deafened for an hour. They'll have a 20% chance of miscasting spells. I hope this works and it wasnt a waste of a round. Oh, and Natalia moves down 50 feet and draws her bow too.

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 23 ] 
 
Admiral
The party can hear the crack of the thunderstone through the thick mist.

 
 Spoiler 

You don't know whether they made it, so don't read this:

 
 Spoiler 

No really, don't read this:

 
 Spoiler 
Why are you still opening spoiler tags, Coffee? Don't read this.

 
 Spoiler 
See, how did I know that wouldn't stop you. Really, it's meta game info, stop opening.

 
 Spoiler 

If you keep this up I'm going to have to start making rolls secretly.

 
 Spoiler 

Or at least take the cryptographic alternative. SHA256:

372db8b472f18278bf5d6ed6e88a631fc6e936e5331d26daeb  6e4a48f14f3c15

 (1d20+5)[ 15 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 24 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 21 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 10 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 14 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 19 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 14 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 12 ] 
 

 

 

 

 

 
CWater
 
 Spoiler 
This is a description of both the last turn and the current one.
 


 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The other drider reaches her palm out towards the gnome, and fires a burst of bright light at him.

 
 Spoiler 

D2:

[roll3]
If hits: [roll4]
 


The light burns Shiny's skin, and he closes his eyes as the brightness overwhelms him.

Even from above the tentacles, Rhenner easily sees the blast of bright light contrasted against the dark cliffside. To his confusion, he recognizes the spell as one he'd cast earlier today- it's a spell he's sure only the divinely inspired could master. 
 

  
Divine magic?   So this wasn't just a group of spiders defending their territory or hunting food. Had the drow perhaps set guards on the passage? But they were still so far away from their city.. Rhenner climbs down after the others, circumventing the grisly tentacles. His god's protection might allow him to pass through them unharmed, but it's still not something he'd like to try.

When the hideous things are no longer in his way, he gets a better look of the "spiders". His eyes widen at the sight. Drow who are half spiders. That.. is not a coincidence, is it.

Rhenner reaches the others just before the spiderwoman covers the two in thick fog. The cleric recognizes the spell, it's troublesome, but fire or wind could get rid of it. Fire.. He picks up a sphere from the necklace, but hesitates for a while. Throwing these at spiders was one thing, but these were part humanoid.. Then his expression turns more firm. These were hostile casters, and he'd seen spells like this often thrown in battle and it hadn't bothered him in a while now, so what was the difference. Besides...

He looks back to where he last saw the drowspiders and frowns. Still, he changes the orb to a brighter one before letting it drop down to the smoke.


 
 Spoiler 
Fire damage:  (3d6)[ 9 ]  although their spell resistance probably protects them.
 
CoffeeIncluded
As the smoke clears and the mist dissipates, Natalia can clearly see the two slightly singed drow...spider...things. And her eyes widen as she remembers what they are.

 "Driders!"  she shouts.  "Not Nutspeak, but real name! Driders...drow made spiders! Drow skills, and...spider skills too. Skin magic shield, and magic cast, but...Hurry or more spiders!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Figured she'd tell them what's going on right away. Can we tell if D2 is deafened?
 
Cavelcade
Kurt refocuses his tired mind on the task at hand, grunting from exertion as he forces tired muscles to move towards the nearer Drider, slicing quickly with Daybreaker as he does.
 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
 (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
 (4d6+4)[ 16 ] 
 (2d6+4)[ 7 ] 
 (1d5)[ 1 ] 
 (1d4)[ 4 ] 
 (1d3)[ 2 ] 

For maneuvers. If one is a standard action, use it.
 
Admiral
Shiny grabs the pair of gloves Natalia offers, then casts a quick pair of spells at the closer drider.

 
 Spoiler 

Assuming based on Coffee's most recent OOC post that she offers the gloves to Shiny.

Distract Assailant then Whelm on  D2  D1 (apologies, I got the two on the map mixed up), where Whelm has the gloves applied.

DA CL Check:  (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
Whelm CL Check:  (1d20+10)[ 28 ] 
DA Will save:  (1d20+8)[ 19 ] 
Whelm Will save:  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Whelm damage:  (5d6)[ 22 ] 

If D2 has to roll either Will save (even if he makes it) he gets Unsettling Enchantment: -2 to attack and AC.

Also, forgot the driders' reflex saves against the earlier fireball:

D1:  (1d20+4)[ 21 ] 
D2:  (1d20+4)[ 10 ] 
 
Admiral
Shortly after Kurt's blade swings into the drider's flesh, Shiny's spell wears mightily at the aberration's mind. Overwhelmed by the assault, combined with the burns and crossbow, the creature's eyes roll back. His legs lose their grip on the wall as he tilts into unconsciousness, slipping to fall into the chasm below.

 
 Spoiler 

Because Kurt is not in a rage, he has the opportunity (and presence of mind) to grab the drider and keep him from falling to his death, if Kurt wants to.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt spies the other Drider getting away and hurriedly gestures to Natalia.  "Go, Natalia, cut her off before she can summon any others!"  Pointing with Daybreaker to quickly show the shortest path.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks, startled as Kurt's words give her a sudden surge of energy.  "Yes! Hurry, help stop!"  she shouts to everyone else. She cant stop this drider herself, but with a bit of help...Drawing her blades, she dashes down the cliff and draws her blades. With a shout, she tries to duck under the drider's mandibles and stab it in the less guarded underbelly.

 
 Spoiler 
i have just enough movement to get to d2. Not sure if Shiny's going to move his Whelm and distract assailant to d2 and I'm not sure if distract assailant worked and made her flatfooted, so I'm rolling sneak attack. Please ignore if it's not the case. Also, not sure if I need to tumble, so if I don't please ignore that too.

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 32 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril clung to the cliff as she looked down to see the drider fall.  Which meant she could fall.  Shiny's spell had better hold.

With a deep breath she pried her hand from the wall reaching for her wand.
 
 Spoiler 
MM lvl 3 both at D2
 (2d4+2)[ 6 ] 
 
Admiral
Soon after Daybreaker deals a fatal blow to the male creature, causing it to collapse off of the cliff, Shiny casts a spell at the other one, wearing at her mind. Natalia sees her opening and scrambles forward, stabbing at the creature's weak point. With a screech she falls into the darkness as well.

Soon afterwards Shiny's spell of speed ceases, as do Mithril's conjured tentacles, and the last spider corpse caught in its hold tumbles down the cliff.

 "...erm..."  Shiny says weakly, clinging onto the side of the wall, sweat pouring down his forehead from the exertion.  "I'm feeling a bit under the weather..." 
 
 Spoiler 

Combat's over, for now at least.

Note that Hilton was poisoned (1 Str damage) and could probably use help with the followup save (Shiny just got hit with the ray of exhaustion, not poison, though he does probably need help with that too).
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief as the drider she stabs tumbles down into the dark. The screech echoes in her mind. It's disturbing, hearing that come out of the spider...drow...thing. Ugh, this whole things is just disturbing. She rubs her head where a leg knocked against her. Those things were even more disturbing In real life than the books.

At Shiny's weak mutter she turns around to see him staggering down the cliff and Hilton poisoned and also staggering. She scampers up and offers a hand.  "Need help? Though think heavy to carry easy, still get. Hurry to ground, right?" 
 
 Spoiler 
well, Natalia can't exactly help Hilton with the poison. She'll carry shiny if she has to though it'll put her at medium capacity.
I think once we fix Hilton's poison we should get to the ground ASAP.

Do you want me to say I'm searching the driders and spiders for treasure now or wait until we actually get to the ground?
 
Cavelcade
 "Come on Shiny, up you get."  After a disorienting moment where Kurt tries to put him on his shoulders and he almost falls forward by overbalancing he moves him down to along his back.  "Cling on like a spider and it will all be fine."  He's more cautious moving forward now, still breathing a little more heavily.
Admiral
 "Ah, how kind of you, Kurt Kincarrier,"  Shiny says cheerfully as he scrabbles along the dwarf's back, his magically adhesive palms eventually grabbing a firm hold of Kurt's armor.

 "Would you believe this is not the first time a dwarf has carried me?  he continues, as Kurt begins to climb.  "Indeed, far from it- I spent my nineteenth to twenty fifth years in such a state. You see, losing my first leg to flesh eating jellyfish wasn't such an inconvenience, as Shiny Tumbletrip, ballet dancer and scorpion tamer, was a champion of the traditional game of Gnome Triple-Hop. But perhaps in retrospect it was unwise to wager my second leg in a card game (everyone knows never to play a halfling with fewer teeth than toes). I was bedridden for weeks until I received a strange visitor- a dwarf who was missing his arms (he'd accidentally dropped his ring in a bucket of acid, and and was in possession of more stubbornness than sense). I took a belt and latched myself to his back, and just like that our problems were solved." 
 "Our arrangement was quite mutually beneficial (though I confess his wedding night ended up a tad awkward). I was just getting used to it when who should we run into but my old adversary, the dentally disadvantaged halfling. I saw my chance, and we started up another card game, betting what appendages we had left. I played as poorly as the first time, I confess, and I had just resigned myself to my limbless fate when my dwarf chauffeur saved us both- turns out he was the best gambler I'd ever seen, even though he had to handle the cards with his toes."

"In the end we won the halfling's whole stash. The dwarf got himself a new pair of arms- left from a goblin, right from a lizardfolk, but to his credit he never complained about the asymmetry. To my luck the halfling still had the leg he'd own off me, though it did have three tattoos I'd never seen before. But the halfling did not share my good fortune: to settle his debt he had to hand over one of his own. Which is why to this day I never wear short trousers, and why I always have such a difficult time finding appropriately shaped footwear." 
Cavelcade
Kurt manages an appreciative chuckle at Shiny's elaborate tale, though he seems to be mostly concentrating on the walk downwards.  "Ah, so tell me then, was his bride a beauty?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt manages an appreciative chuckle at Shiny's elaborate tale, though he seems to be mostly concentrating on the walk downwards.  "Ah, so tell me then, was his bride a beauty?"  
 

 "Well, t'wasn't a  bride  he married,"  Shiny explains.  "Now, I consider myself an open-minded gnome, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't add to the awkwardness." 
CoffeeIncluded
:
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Well, t'wasn't a  bride  he married,"  Shiny explains.  "Now, I consider myself an open-minded gnome, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't add to the awkwardness."  
 

 "Right! Uhm, I look ahead! Down first!"  Natalia abruptly shouts, tearing herself away from the conversation she couldn't help overhearing. She shakes her head for a moment, trying desperately to banish the thoughts it summoned from her mind. Waving for her friends to follow, she climbs down the cliff, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for the light below and the sounds of any more enemies--including spiders. Can she see the silhouettes of the ones she and Kurt killed below?

 
 Spoiler 
just tell me whatever rolls I need to make!

Also, since Kurt finished d1 and Natalia and shiny finished d2, does that mean that Mithril never cast magic missile from her wand at all?
 
CWater
Rhenner takes a quick glance at everyone present to see if they have any injuries, he thinks there was at least one that wasn't treated yet.

 "That seems like a nasty bite",  he says to Hilton,  "Now stay put for a while so I can take a look at it. I particularly don't like that odd colour around the wound, spiders can be poisonous.. Did you feel anything else than the obvious pain after it had bit you? Weakness or stiffness in the muscles? Sudden heaviness in breathing?" 

The medic removes the fabric around the wound with one hand and digs his medical bag with the other.  "Weakness then? Alright.. Sorry that I can't heal the actual wound yet, if the spell closed the wound entirely treating the poison would be harder."  He's about to take some things out of the bag, when he is reminded of the 'reversed' gravity.
  Right, one thing at a time then.  

First he quickly cleans the wound, then opens a small jar containing something green and mushy.  "Now stay still, this won't hurt much. Can itch slightly, but still  don't  touch the wound."  He applies the salve to the spider bite and binds the wound. After a minute or so he seems satisfied and also heals Hilton with a curative spell.

 
 Spoiler 
Heal check:  (1d20+17)[ 20 ]  (includes +2 from Healer's Kit)

Comprehend Languages to CLW:  (1d8+5)[ 12 ] 

This is all assuming that Hilton is at least a relatively co-operative patient.😏
 
Admiral
Hilton shudders momentarily when Rhenner drains the poison from the wound, but the cleric gets the sense that the man has seen worse. Time passes, and Rhenner guesses that if the poison were going to take a further toll it already would have.

The party climbs down slowly, and over the next few minutes they run into no further trouble. Slowly the cliff slopes until it is at a less dramatic slant, and in their dim light the party can see the corpse of one of the spiders and one of the driders ahead, almost flattened on an outcrop of rocks.
CoffeeIncluded
The trip down the cliff is quick and cautious. Natalia hops down first, glad to be against solid ground, pressing against it in thanks. Cautiously ,she draws her blades and approaches the bodies of the spiders, wincing as she sees the flattened corpse of one of the driders. She carefully inspects them, making sure they're dead. And as she searches the area, she looks around for the other dead spiders and driders--if they're not here, where did they go? She presses up against the outcrop of rocks, looking and listening for anything else coming. And she searches the bodies as well.

 
 Spoiler 
Take 20 on the bodies for a 36 on Search. Treasure Time! 😁 I'm also on the lookout for anything else. I'll be back in a few minutes if I need to roll anything else.
 

 "Everyone okay?"  she asks. She's particularly concerned about shiny and Kurt.

 "Kurt, what...happened?" 
Admiral
Natalia searches the giant spider, quite grossed out by its crushed organs splattered against the rocks. She finds nothing of value, though she does note the glands that likely injected poison through the pincers.

Stepping over to the drow/spider creature, she grins as she spots a bag of possessions held on its back.

 
 Spoiler 
If Natalia tries to collect the poison, then as Rhenner said she can't be described as an arachnophobe anymore! (Someone else could).

Also, the way I'll play it is that there is indeed a risk when collecting poison (5%, just like applying it to a weapon) unless you get a feat for it (can't find the feat right now).

Treasure time. I'm rolling this and the other drider (if you can find it) separately, each as a CR 9 (cuz they had their spider buddies).

DMG on 1, MIC on 2:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 

Rest of rolling happens OOC
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grimaces as she sees the poison glands, and shudders as she remembers smaller ones sinking into her side. Her fingers shake as they close around the paltry treasure the drider has. She looks at the fangs again. Still, she has harvested poison before, and there's a chance it might be useful in the future. Come on! She's terrified of other things, but she does them anyway. This shouldn't be any different!

As she looks around, she remembers the other drider. And the other spiders. Where could they be? Where could they have fallen? She looks up, as far as Mithril's spell allows. And she looks around, and she thinks about climbing to the other places she saw.

 
 Spoiler 
Which drider is this? Could she see where the other one fell up top? What does the area look like? Are there any suspicious places she might be able to see? How much longer will Shiny's Spider Climb last?

Should I roll search and other checks?

And huh, that isn't much. Let's hope I can find the other one!
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Not much,"  she shouts to her friends.  "Some gold, scrolls. Maybe poison, if..."  Shr shudders.  "Rhenner, could...you help? Help take poison, if...I poisoned again?"  She shakes her head. Dammit, she could do it before! She needs to be able to do it again. She just has to.

Natalia looks up and around, searching for the other drider and the rest of the spiders. Where could they have fallen? Could they have rolled? Is there a...trail for her to follow?

 
 Spoiler 
search:  (d20+18)[ 22 ]  this is why I'm double posting. Anything else needed?

I think she can re-search if the roll goes bad

EDIT: aaaand it did. Ah well. I really hope we can find the other one.
 
Athedia
Mithril touched Whiskers collar, bringing more light to the area.  "Do you want help looking?  I am curious about those drider.  Some magic had to have created them." 
 
 Spoiler 
Search:  (1d20+3)[ 10 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins as Mithril helps out, casting the spell.  "Thank you. Yes, help good. May need climb swift though."  she chews her lip as she looks, the light casting odd shadows through the irregular cracks.  "Read driders in book, but not magic made. Said unknown...what made mutants." 
 
 Spoiler 
whats the dc for aid another? 10 or 12?

How much longer is spider climb?
 


EDIT: Natalia looks over at Mithril and offers a hand.  "Do you know... magic could?" 
Athedia
 "Magic could what?  Create those things?  I wouldn't, but accidents happen and crazed wizards exist." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders.  "Need crazed, to turn half spider. Why spider?!"  she pauses.  "They magic, driders. You think turned themselves...or others?" 
 
 Spoiler 
does Natalia know drow are obsessed with spiders?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia doesn't really know more than mentioned in the earlier knowledge check. (In particular she did not hear of Lolth from the Underdark book).
 


Natalia and the rest of the party search along the rocks. They soon come across the body of the other drider, who had fallen a bit further. Natalia searches the corpse, but aside from its mundane weapons finds nothing of value.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at the drider in confusion, then looks again. What the?  "Where go?"  She searches around, looking for a place where the bag could have dropped. Was she even carrying one?  "Mithril? See or find anything?" 
 
 Spoiler 
i think this is the one Natalia fought. Did she see a bag?

What's going on? Did I do something wrong? Did I piss you off and so you don't want to do any treasure as a result or something? What did I do?
 


EDIT: Natalia turns to the others.  "Any guesses? Treasure in ceiling, walls like cloakers?" 
CWater
Rhenner crouches down next to the crushed body of the spiderlady.  "...Strange. And still, you've heard of these beings. What did you call them? Riders?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Anything interesting about the drider at all?

Also, should I roll some knowledge check if I want to know if Rhenner has ever seen or heard about similiar, uh, combined creatures like these? For example centaurs or chimeras.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head, inspecting the pincers but not getting too close.  "No, driders. Drow spiders. Like my speech would say."  she pauses and holds up a bottle, then looks over to Rhenner.  "Rhenner, could I...favor ask please? Spider venom on all, venom makes weak. Can collect, have before, but...scared, now. Hurt by venom before, and..."  she pauses, drifting off for a moment before snapping back.  "It...was bad. Maybe later. But Rhenner, if I collect, could you...there, please? Help if accident?" 
 
 Spoiler 
tjat was my request. Could Rhenner please be there with a neutralize poison or a heal check in case Natalia poisons herself? Sorry about the double post. I might be on more than I initially thought for the next hour--this is one of the worst-reffed games I've ever seen.
 
Athedia
 "I wonder if they are like that chimera we saw before.  Do you remember that Natalia, it ran away, but it had three different creatures, a work of a mad god or wizard." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders.  "Don't remind me. Dreamt brought friends, ate you all. And mad god? You think born, made, or...fused?"  again, she shudders, and looks around. It's deep, but from what she knows about them the gods don't care about depth.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia shakes her head, inspecting the pincers but not getting too close.  "No, driders. Drow spiders. Like my speech would say."  she pauses and holds up a bottle, then looks over to Rhenner.  "Rhenner, could I...favor ask please? Spider venom on all, venom makes weak. Can collect, have before, but...scared, now. Hurt by venom before, and..."  she pauses, drifting off for a moment before snapping back.  "It...was bad. Maybe later. But Rhenner, if I collect, could you...there, please? Help if accident?"  
 

Rhenner looks up at Natalia,  "You've been badly hurt before, but still want to try again? What is it you people, taking all these risks.."  He sighs.  "Fine, but be very careful, you hear me? I can do nothing about the initial effect if you sting yourself, I can only prevent the poison from hurting you more later." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods grimly.  "I know. And...Thank you."  she reaches over to the spider, reaches out...

And stops. She freezes in place. With a jolt she's yanked back to months ago. Once again she's trapped in a web, thrashing and screaming for help, Biting and clawing to escape, struggling uselessly to escape, crying out for pain as the spiders sank their fangs into her side and worked their poison into her system, making her sluggish and weak and helpless, only able to watch as the spiders moved in to devour her...

If not for her dagger cutting through the web at the last moment...

Natalia's eyes snap open fast enough to make her dizzy for a moment. Breathing hard, she looks back at Rhenner and says, shakily,  "I know poison. Maybe...later. Later. We do later, after search treasure and for and safe."

 And we will do this. I have to do this. No matter how scared I get I've got to do this.  Come on, Natalia! Be brave! Even Marcos thought you were brave!  

EDIT: Natalia continues to scour the place from top to bottom. Not until later, where it's safe, where her being poisoned wont matter. Then she'll get the poison.
Admiral
Natalia and the rest of the party hunt along the cliffside, searching for clues as to where the driders might reside. Nearly an hour passes as they search, and as they realize the cavern may be even bigger than they originally guessed.

 
 Spoiler 
Note: in case it wasn't clear, quarter of a mile wasn't necessarily the depth of the cavern, since in the darkness they can't see the other wall. They just guess that it is at least that size.
 


The search seems frustrating and fruitless, until a glint catches Natalia's eyes, and she looks up at an outcropping of rock in the rough cliffside about twenty feet above the ground. She realizes that the outcropping hides a crevasse that is more spacious than it first appears, and though she's not sure what glint had caught her eye she spots a tunnel that extends into the rock that looks like it might be artificially constructed.

 
 Spoiler 
BTW, the party's spider climb will still be in effect for about another fifteen minutes.

Need one more search check for Natalia if she's the first one exploring in.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Huh? What's that?  "Found something,"  she says.  "Tunnel built up above, made by hands. I...going in. Close, please."  cautiously, very cautiously, Natalia climbs up and peeks inside, her weapons at the ready.

 
 Spoiler 
search:  (d20+18)[ 25 ] 

Hope you're close behind me!
 
Admiral
As Natalia approaches the tunnel, she spots a few strands of spider webs stretched across it. This isn't an odd sight, as she's seen stray spider webs stretched around the cave at various points, but as she moves towards it she suddenly spots a thin wire hidden among the strands. The wire disappears into the rock at the top of the tunnel entrance: she can't tell from looking what the trap is designed to do.

However, upon glancing at the trap she deduces that the wire is designed to be easily detached and moved out of the way, leading her to guess it was designed to protect an entrance that was commonly used. With almost no trouble she detaches the wire and moves it to the side of the entrance, leaving plenty of room for her and the others to sneak through.

Looking ahead, she notices something else odd: that the tunnel, while quite wide, quickly opens into a deep pit: a natural crevasse occurring in the cliffside. It seems the path was designed to be inaccessible to anyone who could not climb along walls. With her darkvision she can see a small cavern across the crevasse, about twenty yards ahead.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia moves the wire out of the way, then drops a rope down where she entered, fixing it in place so they can climb back. She shouts for her friends to follow, saying,  "Pit, then cavern!"  looking behind her to see if her friends are following, she climbs along the wall and takes a look inside the cavern.

 
 Spoiler 
its tunnel, pit, then cavern and to enter the cavern we have to walk along the wall or make a bridge across the pit, right?

Taking a look--here's hoping there's treasure and not pain here! 😛
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Everyone has spider climb so there's no need for Natalia to leave a rope.
 


Natalia climbs slowly across the wall, followed by the remainder of the party. As she gets closer to the chamber on the other side, she sees some kind of curtains hanging within it.

As she clambers across she accidentally crushes something with her hand- lifting it up she sees a tiny spider smeared across her palm. Startled, she notices that the entire wall is covered with spiders clambering through the cracks, and looking up and down she sees cobwebs strewn across the crevasse. Looking ahead to the cavern she sees that the "curtains" it is filled with are also giant webs, and focusing on it she can see them tremble with movement.

 
 Spoiler 
FYI: This spider swarm is not looking to attack you. It is there, there being gross.
 
Athedia
Mithril followed a little behind Natalia, giving her enough room to test for traps like the one at the entrance.  She grimaced at the spiders but couldn't help but thinking that if Shiny needed more spiders for his spell....  She shook her head, she didn't want to think about that, she still felt ill.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia jumps back with a shriek that she cuts off by stuffing her fist into her mouth. Scrambling back as far away from the cracks and cobwebs, she makes the mistake of looking up to see more cobwebs and tiny spiders just above her. One dangles inches from her nose. She feels something tickle her arms behind her back and brings them out before her to see even more tiny spiders marching along her arms.

 "AAAAHHHHHH!!!!"  Natalia shrieks, terrified out of rational thought for the moment. Flailing her hands in the air, still screaming as spiders fly off her limbs and hair, she runs in a random direction, and trips through the curtains of cobwebs. Falling to the ground, Natalia stops screaming for a moment as the wind is knocked out of her. And then she feels the cobwebs pressing against her body as she's all tangled up in them, with hundreds of tiny spiders trapped in the webs with her, crawling over her.

 "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! FIRE! BURN IT! CLEANSING FIRE!!!" 
 
 Spoiler 
the rope is in case we need to get back here tomorrow. And tormenting Natalia is fun!

Oh, and she's in the cavern now. Don't worry, I'm sure shell snap out of it in a moment.
 
Athedia
Mithril jumped down the last foot off the wall and rushed to Natalia.   "Calm!  They can't hurt you.  It's okay, it's okay."   She pulled the cobwebs off Natalia, holding her close and picking the occasional spider out of her hair.   "See, all better.  Calm, calm." 
Admiral
As Natalia scrambles, panicking, into the cavern, tortured by the presence and feel of the spiders, she feels a cord click against her shin, barely realizing that in her panic she hadn't been watching for traps.

 
 Spoiler 
Injury to insult.

Arrow:  (1d20+10)[ 18 ]   (1d20+10)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (1d8)[ 1 ]   (1d8)[ 4 ] 
Fort save if hits.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia freezes as she hears the click, the panic from the spiders replaced by a new one. She can't get away--

And then she hears something scrape, and feels something poking but not piercing her side. Looking down, she sees another arrow--a poisoned arrow--caught between the links of her chain. As Mithril rushes over and calms her down, Natalia's screaming turns to panicked hyperventilating, which then turns to gasps and muffled sobs. She stays there for a while, until the sobs fade to sniffles. She wipes her eyes and nose but still lets Mithril hold her, and holds her back as the initial panic fades.

 "T-thank you..." 
Admiral
The others follow Natalia and Mithril into the cavern. Once inside, they see that it is larger than it had appeared from outside, but that it is nonetheless crowded with vermin.

Spiders scurry across nearly every surface, some so small they are barely noticeable, some as large as a fist. Most seem to keep their distance from the party, perhaps because of the light or the torches, but some smaller ones crawl quickly across their boots. When braver spiders start approaching in clusters, it takes a quick stomp or swipe of a torch to get them to scatter.

Above them the party can see a thick, deep web, through which scurries thousands of tiny arachnids. It takes a moment of studying the web before they notice that it forms odd, artificial clusters- and a moment more before they recognize it as the source of the hideous stench: they are looking at wrapped corpses being slowly devoured.

 
 Spoiler 
Everyone needs to make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be sickened. Natalia gets a -2 circumstance on the check.

Shiny:  (1d20+5)[ 14 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+1)[ 21 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+7)[ 16 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
This isn't helping her calm down any. Where are all these spiders coming from? And that stench, the hideous stench of...rotting...flesh...

Slowly, as if she's being forced, Natalia looks up to see the sagging rotting half-devoured corpses. Her eyes big out and she makes a high-pitched keening noise as she claps her hand over her mouth.

 
 Spoiler 
are we getting cold on the treasure trail? Are you calculating exp separately like the treasure?

And fort:  (d20+4)[ 21 ] 
 


Somehow--and Natalia really isn't sure how--she manages not to vomit. But her normally sand-toned face is instead faintly but definitely green.
Admiral
As Natalia gets used to the stench and the vermin, Natalia looks around and starts taking in the room, as do the other members of the party. At first they had taken it to be a featureless cave, but they start to realize it is a fully stocked nest, except it is suspended in the upper reaches of the chamber.

On one wall of the chamber there is a tremendous carving of a spider: much of the wall is coated in webs but the webs all avoid covering this emblem. Mithril and Rhenner immediately recognize the icon as the sigil of Lolth. Across the rest of the wall they can see obscured writing: it can't be read under the various webs, even by those who speak the tongue, but it looks to be written in Undercommon.

 
 Spoiler 
Anyone who makes a DC 20 Spot (including Natalia):

 
 Spoiler 
One can see cushioned webs in the upper corners that seem to comprise large beds: one on each side of the chambers. Next to each hammock one is surprised to see a small crevasse that seems to contain several books each. In another alcove of the room one can spot a pile of coins and other assorted items.
 


Anyone who makes a DC 20 Listen (including Natalia):

 
 Spoiler 
It's hard to hear anything over the scurries of spiders, which seem to echo infinitely through the cave. But listening carefully one can almost pick out another sound... at first it sounds like it could be the whistling of wind through the tunnel. But the air is still in the Underdark... and soon one realizes the noise is in fact faint, weak murmuring, coming from one of the webbed cocoons.
 

 
CWater
Rhenner climbs the spider covered wall after the others, trying not to think too much about the millions of tiny feet moving around him.   How charming, these are going to show up in a nightmare later, aren't they. Well, at least spiders would be something new..  

Natalia's screams concern him for a moment, but the wizard is there for the girl.

He has the torch in hand when they enter the cavern and waves it in the spiders' direction whenever they come too close. It doesn't burn, but the light seems to be enough to irritate them.

 
 Spoiler 
I'll post more after I know what came of these rolls.

Fort:  (1d20+6)[ 11 ] 

Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 9 ] 
Add -2 if he fails the save.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks in surprise. A nest. No, a room. They lived here. And...ate here. It's a disgusting parody of how humans and humanoids live. And Natalia is reminded of what Mithril was saying about mad wizards and cruel gods.

The spider means nothing to her (although it is disturbing and it's got to be significant) and the writing is illegible until he webs are clear, but the books intrigue her and the treasure excited her. And then she hears it. A noise. No, a voice. From above. In the web.

She doesn't think twice. In fact, Natalia is halfway up the wall, crawling over webs and spiders, before she realizes what she's doing.  "ALive!"  she shouts.  "Still alive! Don't worry, you safe!"  she shouts to the bundle as she takes her swords and slices away the webs, cutting the figure loose.
Admiral
Natalia manages to clamber up the wall, but as she starts slashing at the webs the spiders around her swarm onto her.

 
 Spoiler 

Natalia can climb up and make an attack roll against the web (no sneak attack, of course) as her pre-init action. (She doesn't know how much HP the web has but knows it isn't too high). She is 15 feet above the ground. After her first round she can make full attacks against the web if she wants.

Initiative:
Natalia:  (1d20+7)[ 15 ] 
Spider Swarm:  (1d20+3)[ 18 ] 
Rhenner:  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
Slavers:  (1d20+3)[ 21 ] 
Kurt:  (1d20+2)[ 7 ] 
Shiny:  (1d20+2)[ 12 ] 
Mithril:  (1d20+2)[ 19 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "HELP!"  Natalia shrieks as the spiders swarm all over her, biting at every available inch of her skin. It takes everything she has not to abandon her rescue attempt and run for it from these spiders.

 
 Spoiler 
do I make an attack roll? Or just damage? Ill do both to be safe.

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 28 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
 
Admiral
As the spiders rush towards Natalia, Rocky leaps onto the wall. Grimly he climbs up to the web, ignoring the spiders he climbs past, and swings his greatsword at the strands.

 
 Spoiler 

No crits against objects, by the way. Power attack -3/+6:

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 27 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+12)[ 18 ] 
 


His slash cuts deep into the web, but it doesn't quite break.

 
 Spoiler 
Incidentally, while the rules don't talk about breaking spider webs, my ruling is that they have substantial damage reduction / slashing. (Bludgeoning or shooting them won't do much!)

 Hilton's going to delay his action.  There is only room for one more person to climb up and slash at the web.

Rhenner and Mithril's turns.
 


Hilton draws his net from his side and unfurls it, looking cautiously at the body in the web above them that seems poised to fall.  "Someone grab the other side!"  he says, shaking the net.
Athedia
Mithril stared in fear at the sign of Lolth.  If they annoyed the goddess... the idea didn't even want to be thought.  Gritting her teeth she climbed up next to Natalia, slashing at the bundle with the black dagger.

 
 Spoiler 
Attack: (1d20+5)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (1d4+1)[ 2 ] 
 
CWater
Deeper in the cavern, the stench of the rotting flesh makes Rhenner feel sick and his head ache. It's not the first time he's smelled it, but some things are hard to get used to. He takes another glance at the bundles hanging from the ceiling, but looks quickly away. Better not to even guess what those used to be.

Rhenner looks around in the chamber and his gaze stops at the spider sigil. He steps closer eyes fixed, not even blinking. To be honest, it feels a bit unreal. He's actually tempted to touch the hideous thing, to make sure if it's really there and not some illusion; he's feeling ill enough not to entirely trust his senses.

Then Natalia screams again, and he's snapped out of his thoughts. Turning around, he sees the rogue trying to cut a bundle loose. His eyes widen,   There's someone alive in there?!  

He steps closer and grabs the other end of Hilton's net.

 
 Spoiler 
If the bundle doesn't fall this round, it might be better for someone stronger to hold it.😏
 
Admiral
Spiders swarm from all sides onto all three of the party members on the wall, perhaps out of some sort of collective instinct to protect the web.

 
 Spoiler 

Spider swarms on all three. Damage from a swarm is automatic.

Natalia Damage:  (1d6)[ 1 ] 
Mithril Damage:  (1d6)[ 3 ] 
Rocky Damage:  (1d6)[ 4 ] 

Each of you also has to make 1) A DC 11 Fortitude save or be nauseated (no actions except movement) for one round, and 2) a DC 11 Fort save against poison or take 1d3 Str damage (roll the Str damage with the Fort save, please).

Rocky: Nauseated:  (1d20+7)[ 14 ]  Poison:  (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  Str Damage:  (1d3)[ 1 ] 
 
Admiral
Gritting his teeth and ignoring the spiders crawling over his skin, Rocky raises his sword and swings once again.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+12)[ 18 ] 
 


Combined with the damage that Natalia and Mithril had dealt, the web finally snaps. The webbed bulge swings downward and falls, landing directly in the net Hilton and Rhenner are holding.

Rocky clambers down off the wall.
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 

Nauseated: (1d20+7)[ 19 ] 
Poison: (1d20+7)[ 14 ] 
Str Damage:  (1d3)[ 1 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril gripped the wall and shook, scattering a few of the spiders off her.  She quickly climbed down, curious who or what they had cut off the wall.
CoffeeIncluded
When Natalia feels the net tear open and drop the person inside, and feels the spiders swarm over her, she allows herself to scream.  "OFF GET OFF GET OFF!!!!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Fort save against nausea:  (d20+6)[ 11 ] 
Fort save against poison:  (d20+6)[ 26 ]  or  (d3)[ 3 ]  strength damage.
 


Natalia drops down to the ground, stomping any spiders off of her. She gets close to the person(?) they rescued and takes out a flask of fire, and it's only the fear of setting herself and everyone aflame that stops her from smashing the webs right there. Of course, if the spiders keep attacking...

 
 Spoiler 
She auto-passes the jump/tumble checks to avoid damage and so doesn't take any.

Is the swarm still attacking? If so, I use my standard action (Move was to fall and draw the alchemist fire) to smash the flask.
 
Admiral
Rocky, Mithril and Natalia drop off the wall: the swarm had felt so immense and suffocating when it had engulfed them, but when they sweep their fingers over their own skin they see they had only been left with a handful of bites.

 
 Spoiler 

No XP for the swarms (small CR and you didn't kill them). Natalia gets 100 roleplaying XP for her arachnophobia. (But she'll have to keep up having -2 on spider-related Fort saves).
 


The body that has fallen is still engulfed entirely in webs, but now everyone can hear its pained, desperate moaning.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps for breath, shaking down her body, tearing off her longcoat and stomping up and down on any part that moves. She's about to do the same to her shirt when she hears the pained moaning from inside the webs. Instantly, Natalia pulls her coat back on and runs over to the bundle, slicing it open with her blades and then pulling the webs apart.  "It okay!"  she shouts.  "Alive safe, we help! You...be okay! Rhenner! Please!"  She shouts for the cleric to come over as she desperately tries to see what kind of state he--or she--is in for herself.

 
 Spoiler 

Untrained Heal check:  (d20+1)[ 20 ] 

As long as the poison DC doesn't change (which wouldnt make much sense anyway) then I'm cool with it. Thanks!

And Natalia is gonna get the treasure and books and stuff, but only after making sure this guy is okay.

Is there only one entrance/exit to this tunnel? If Natalia sets the webs on fire will the whole thing burn down?
 
Admiral
The party's attention turns to the body in the net. The webs are strong and sticky, and still hold spiders crawling through them, but bit by bit they are able to tear it off.

The shape of the figure slowly becomes visible as they remove layers of the spider web: a slender male, with the stature of an elf. And as they rip a few more pieces off, they recognize him as a drow- one who is badly wounded, delirious, poisoned, and clearly starving.

 
 Spoiler 

He is at 0 HP and 0 Str.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia instinctively jerks back when she sees the pitch black skin and stark white hair. Every drow she's ever seen before this has been out to kill her. But then the moment passes, and she feels a deep wave of shame wash over her. It's like the orcs.  "One not all, all not like one..."  It doesn't matter. He needs help. He's someone who needs help. And regardless, he's delirious. He's starving. He's nearly dead. He's completely helpless. He's like her, like when she crawled her way back to Hulburg.

Nobody deserves to die like he was going to. Like she could have.

 "It okay,"  she says again, taking out a piece of bread and soaking it in water before putting it between his lips. She knows this poison. He's probably too weak to move.  "Driders gone. All safe, promise."  She looks back at her friends, pleading.  "We help, I promise. Who...are you?"  Who was he? How did he end up here, in this state? The questions well up and threaten to completely spill out, but she holds back for the moment.

 
 Spoiler 
I had a feeling it would be a drow. This is gonna be interesting.

Natalia's going to wait to see if Rhenner heals him before giving him one of her potions. But she gave him a bit of food and water.
 
Athedia
Mithril looked at the dagger in her hand and carefully slid it away out of sight in the sheathe beneath her sleeve.  No need for him to see that, to associate her with the dagger's previous owners.  She reached toward her belt,  willing to test its magic again.

 
 Spoiler 
I realized I never updated my character sheet with the items I bought, but I did deduct the gold.  Whoops.  Anyway since I did get the belt w/ Admirals changed rules for it I am spending 1 charge on healing elf boy here.

 (2d6)[ 8 ] 
 
Admiral
Moments after Mithril touches the elf, the worst of the many bites along the drow's body heal. The elf's head rolls back, then forward, bleary eyes open...

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;I could beat you each apart. I'll take you all together!&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  he shouts in a haze. Gradually he takes stock of his surroundings, and raises an eyebrow.  "Why won't my arms move?"  he asks in the common tongue, with moderate fluency.
Athedia
 "We just dragged you out of a Drider web.  I have no doubt that they and their little pets poisoned you.  After all a motionless meal can't fight back."   Mithril set about removing the remaining strands of web from the drows body.   "What are you doing here anyway?  Not exactly a friendly place, a spiders web." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief as Mithril heals the drow and he wakes. She leans against her and closes her eyes briefly in thanks, remembering how she and...Miriam...healed her, helped her, saved her so long ago. As Mithril cleans the webs off him, Natalia soaks some more of the hardtack in water to soften it and offers it to the drow. She says,  "Driders, spiders poisoned. Need it...heal itself. But driders gone, we beat. And we help. You safe now, promise."  She gives a hint of a smile.  "Who...are you?" 
Admiral
 "What? Oh. Uh. No! I won't say a word!"  he declares, his eyes narrowing.  "Torture me all you want, you stinking surface-dwellers, you won't get a thing." 
 "AIEE!"  he squeals as Mithril rips a piece of the web off one of his deeper wounds.  "Hey, I didn't think you'd actually  want  to torture me. That changes everything. Besides, you can't listen to what I said, I'm clearly delirious."  With great effort he shuffles his head a bit back, looking at the bodies suspended around the cave.  "Eeesh. Good thing you got to me before I ended up like one of those suckers,"  he says hopefully. After glancing in their eyes and back at the wrappings of web still around him he shudders.  "Oh." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Torture?"  Natalia blinks, bewildered, and a bit horrified.  "Who said torture? Saw you hurt, so...we help. Couldn't..."  She looks down, and the rest of her sentence is quieter.  "Shouldn't leave you...in web bound like that. Not you, not anyone."  Natalia pauses for a bit, shuddering at the memory and the presence of spiders around them, and then asks,  "Just wanted to know...who you are? And why here, alone? Because so dangerous."  She glares.  "And we're...not stinking either!"  She sighs. Odds are she isn't going to come across well, but she's quite empathetic for his plight, unless he does something to botch it. Which she really, really hopes he doesn't.

 
 Spoiler 
Okay, this guy's funny. He kinda reminds me of Shiny a bit. What's he look like?

And I'm going to bed. If there's no good place to put it in assume Natalia gets all the books and treasure and tries to cut down the rest of the bodies at some point. I'll try to post that in a good place tomorrow. Goodnight!
 
CWater
 "Delirious at least seems correct",  Rhenner says dryly,  "And none of us is going to harm you. Though you might want to stay away from the wizard, just to be on the safe side" , he adds with a slight sarcastic smile.
Athedia
Mithril shot Rhenner a glare.   "The wizard healed him didn't she?  Which I thought was your job."   She more carefully removed some more web, gently this time.  "Anyway, I am Mithril.  Though serioiusly a little gratitude.  We almost missed you in that web, good thing Natalia here has good ears." 
CWater
 "Yes, you seem to have caught her in a good mood. Lucky you",  Rhenner says to the drow. He looks at Natalia.  "Are you sure there aren't any others alive?" 
Admiral
The drow winces as the party pull the last few layers of web off of him.  "Why should I thank you? You just woke me up from a great dream. Well, a terrible dream, but it was better than this."  Speaking seems to be difficult, but he suffers through as though it's worth the effort.

He slides his eyes from side to side, still trying to get a better view.  "You can call me Ildan. And you can find me my possessions while you're at it. Last I remember, I was carrying a burlap bag, a chain shirt, a rapier, and all the stuff you've got in your pockets." 
Athedia
Mithril looked down at him.   "Everything?"   She reached into her pocket and found a small spider that had climbed into it.   Laying it gently on Ildan's forehead she smirked.   "There, one item returned, would you like more." 
CWater
Rhenner sighs at Mithril's teasing.  "I thought you agreed not to torment him",  he complains, but doesn't sound angry, more like resigned.  "I'd like to take a better look at his wounds, but since he doesn't seem to be dying in our arms I'd rather get him out of this spider hole first." 
 "One of the scrolls you gave me could get him walking.. Not that I wouldn't like a patient who for once wouldn't be in position to further damage themselves or would lay still and rest when I tell them to."  The medic throws a quick glance at Natalia after the last sentence.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia snorts.  "Dream sounded bad to me, Ildan. And...I Natalia. Heard you, saved you. Mithril!"  She gapes at Mithril's teasing, but it's honestly a little funny, in a cruel way. At least he doesn't seem to be as terrified of spiders as she is; she'd probably start crying. Still.

She does however, return a look to Rhenner at his comment.  "Then let lie; he walk tomorrow." 

It's after that that Natalia addresses Ildan's remark about his stuff.   "And...nice try, but we brought in. I'll...look though, for yours here. Tell me, what specific yours? Specific. And...no peeking! And could say please!"  she adds as an afterthought.

With that, Natalia climbs up the wall, using the rope and grappling hook to help her if the spell runs out, and takes down every book, every item, every gem, and every piece of gold. She strips the nest clean of anything valuable or interesting, showing absolutely no mercy to the spiders in her way (though her hands do shake), and puts the items in a little pile in the center of the room.

 
 Spoiler 
Treasure Time! Natalia also takes all the books and anything interesting/informative.

Does she find the sack, chain shirt, rapier, and anything else obviously Ildan's?

And if you want me to roll treasure I can do it right now, before class.
 


EDIT: Natalia shakes her head at Rhenner's question as she climbs.  "No. But...I'll look."  she pauses and looks back at the thick swarm of spiders over the bodies.  "Actually,"  she says in a frantic tone,  "Could another look and cut? Please?" 
Admiral
Natalia clambers up the wall to grab the driders' possessions. The spiders scurry around her furiously but don't swarm her as they had before. Still, she's greatly relieved when she reaches the alcove and is able to collect what she can.

She next climbs over to each of the web hammocks: these areas are far more infested with arachnids, but she is still able to grab the books without incident- two from each hammock- and clambers back down in a hurry.

When she gets back to the ground and takes a look at the books, she smiles- one of them has the appearance of a wizard's spellbook.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia whimpers and fails to keep herself from shaking as she climbs up and feels the spiders scuttle all over her. Several times she has to stop, close her eyes, and repeat the mantra of,   I'm doing this because there may be traps. I know how to handle traps. I need to do this. I need to be brave.   Even so, as she yanks the gold and potions and books out of alcove, and snatches up the spellbooks to tuck them under her arm (after very thoroughly inspecting them!) she's shaking against the wall from fear. And when her fingers close around a necklace much like the one Rhenner's wearing and had used in the battle barely an hour ago, she entertains the notion of setting this whole place aflame in a cleansing inferno for far too long.

She sprints down and spends more time than she probably should trying to get her breath back and her racing nerves under control. And then she looks at the items, and the book, and smiles.  "Mithril, spellbook!"  She's about to hand it right over to Mithril before remembering Alabastor's spellbook. This could be trapped as well. So instead, Natalia peruses every word on every page, keeping her eyes peeled for anything suspicious.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm checking the spellbook for traps, and you bet I'm taking 20 (for a 38) on this one.

Does she have any clue what are in the others?
 
Athedia
Mithril yanked the spellbook from Natalia's hands.   "Don't you think we should get out of here first?  Maybe away from spiders for a little."   Putting the book in her pack she started up the wall, trying to get out before Shiny's spell ended.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Hey! Careful,"  Natalia says as Mithril yanks the book out of her hands, carefully taking it back and tucking it away.  "Remember Alabastor?" 

She looks back at the cavern and shudders. Sure, she wants to run for it too, but...

 "What about bodies in webs? Or Ildan? Or words on walls? Shouldn't...try to read, bury first? And who carries back?" 
Athedia
Mithril shouted back, already halfway up the wall. "I wasn't frozen, you were. The things will still be here tomorrow!  
CoffeeIncluded
 "You say we look tomorrow?"  Natalia shouts after Mithril as the mage climbs over the chasm. She scoops everything into her bag then picks up Ildan, grabbing him under his arms, and starts to drag him a few feet when she stops. Oh, right. They need both hands free to climb the side of the wall, don't they. How are they going to get Ildan across?

Hang on, that's it! Natalia takes out a piece of rope and asks Rhenner, Karn, and Kurt,  "Who wants...to carry on back? So both hands free?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I figure Natalia ought to climb before Shiny, so if the spider climb runs out mid-crossing she can save herself with Gaseous Form, and Shiny can then hold on to Kurt, Rhenner, or Karn's back, or something. What do you think?
 
Cavelcade
Kurt merely sighs and picks the Drow up, after some consideration of how to get him onto his back without the taller creatures limbs getting everywhere.  "There we go." 
CoffeeIncluded
Once Kurt gets Ildan on his back, Natalia goes over and helps arrange the drow so he and Kurt can be a but more comfortable. Then she takes her rope and ties it around both their midsections, holding Ildan in place so he won't fall.

 "Comfortable?"  she asks.

 
 Spoiler 
take 10 on use rope for a 20. That should be enough!
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Sprung for wi-fi on the plane.
 


Ildan grimaces as Mithril places the spider on his forehead.  "You've got a rotten streak, Mithril,"  he growls, as he tries to blow the spider off, but can't manage to summon sufficient breath.

 
 Spoiler 
Now that was pretty mean! 😛 He's joking around but he  is  nearly paralyzed.
 


As Natalia checks the alcove, she finds some items that fit Ildan's descriptions, including a rapier, a chain shirt, a pair of leather gloves, and a small burlap bag that appears to be filled with coins, some diamond dust, and a couple potions and scrolls.

Once Natalia's set Ildan up on Kurt's back, the party scurries back across the chasm. Natalia goes first, nervous about how long the spell will last, but they all manage to make it across safely. Once they get back to the cliff the fresh air hits them powerfully: they had barely realized how suffocating the smell had been.

Once Ildan is out of the chambers he sighs with relief.  "Listen-"  he says limply from Kurt's back,  "you said you had a scroll to get this wretched poison out of my system today? I'm not much inclined to flop around for a day." 
CWater
Rhenner leaves the chamber last, casting one more look at the emblem on the wall before climbing over the crevasse after the others.


 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Once Ildan is out of the chambers he sighs with relief.  "Listen-"  he says limply from Kurt's back,  "you said you had a scroll to get this wretched poison out of my system today? I'm not much inclined to flop around for a day."  
 

 "Well, yes I do",  Rhenner says and gestures Kurt to set the drow down,  "But we still have a dangerous journey ahead of us and who knows if it might be needed later. I think we are planning on resting now, so after 8 or so hours I can prepare the same spell myself. Waiting would also make sure that you don't go wandering around, which is good because you clearly need rest",  he adds with a slight smirk.  "I'm a healer and I'd like to examine and bind the rest of your wounds now, do you mind?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Is it possible to estimate how many HP damage he has left, if any?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nearly kisses the ground when they get back, gulping down air and so, so happy to be out of there. As she goes over to help Ildan and untie the rope, setting him gently to the ground, she also puts the items she found beside him.  "Think this yours. This all in your pockets?"  she does emphasize the "your" part.

When Ildan asks about the scroll, Natalia looks back at Rhenner. She does need to ask him to help her out with a spell too, just to make sure she can find some of the trickier traps that might be in the book. She turns back to the drow and asks,  "His scroll, not mine. Either way, promise you safe. We watch for foes. But Ildan, how end up there? Why...you here, alone? And where you go after poison cured? Sure...you safe here? Still hurt, and if you leave, still alone."  she looks at her friends again. She wants to trust Ildan. And they did save his life; if nothing else he owes them his life. And his help would be extremely handy around here. She just hopes he has more sense in him than Sonorous.

Best they not mention that though.

Either way, while she waits for Ildan's answer, Natalia opens the spellbook, looking up with a smile and thanks when Rhenner casts the spell to make her better able to notice any potential traps. She looks over him to the spider corpses, where she's planning to harvest the poison. Which she honestly...doesn't want to do right now. Or ever. But it might be useful, even if she really doesn't want to...

But even when Natalia inspects the spellbook she can't escape the spiders. They're everywhere--on the cover, scrawled into the margins, written into the spells themselves.

 "GAAAHH!"  she screams, nearly throwing the book across the room.  "Spiders everywhere! Spider spells, spider men, spider walls, spider rooms, all spiders all time down here, what is it with spiders?! Ildan; why all spiders?!"  maybe he'd have a better idea because she sure as heck needs an explanation for this borderline fetish and complete insanity!

 
 Spoiler 
thanks to Rhenner's guidance, take 10 for 29 on searching the spellbook and other books if possible for traps.
 
Athedia
Mithril sat down heavily on the ground, Whiskers finally coming out of her pack.   "Rhenner if you could prepare another spell for Whiskers I would appreciate it.  He is still weak after the poison."   She looked over at Ildan.   "No offense, but I feel safer if we don't heal you just yet.  Haven't had the most pleasant experiences with your type."   She flipped through the book that Natalia had not taken back to check for spell traps.  It had information on everything she could think of, gods, kings, rock formations, even the mating habits of the owlbear (something she wished she had never read).
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Mithril sat down heavily on the ground, Whiskers finally coming out of her pack.   "Rhenner if you could prepare another spell for Whiskers I would appreciate it.  He is still weak after the poison."   She looked over at Ildan.   "No offense, but I feel safer if we don't heal you just yet.  Haven't had the most pleasant experiences with your type."   She flipped through the book that Natalia had not taken back to check for spell traps.  It had information on everything she could think of, gods, kings, rock formations, even the mating habits of the owlbear (something she wished she had never read). 
 

 "My  type ?"  Ildan scowls, wincing from the effort.  "You don't see me popping up on the surface to poke around, insult your race and save your life." 
 "If you don't feel safe, how do you think  I  feel? Something comes along tonight, all I can do is  flop  at them. Anyway..."  he grits his teeth.  "You won't be too safe sitting out here in the open. Are you going to scale the cliff tonight?" 
 
 Spoiler 

ETA- forgot response to Natalia's action.
 


Natalia takes a careful look over the spellbook: it bears a few icons of spiders and some writing in Undercommon. She studies it carefully but can't see a mechanism that would activate a trap on opening. Upon opening to the first page, she places her hand on the page and slowly lowers it, letting her see only one line at a time to check for anything unusual without . She turns the page, places her hand back on it, and halfway down she abruptly stops and looks away- barely averting it in time. She knows a magical trap when she sees one.

 
 Spoiler 

 Explosive Runes.  Disable Device check to remove it, though you could also just avoid that page.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "My  type ?"  Ildan scowls, wincing from the effort.  "You don't see me popping up on the surface to poke around, insult your race and save your life." 
 "If you don't feel safe, how do you think  I  feel? Something comes along tonight, all I can do is  flop  at them. Anyway..."  he grits his teeth.  "You won't be too safe sitting out here in the open. Are you going to scale the cliff tonight?"  
 

 "No, but I do see you pop up there and try to kill us. Tiny but important difference.  Anyway we are not here to kill anyone, we will make sure no harm comes to you."   She looked up at the cliff and quirked her mouth.   "You are right, but we used the last of our magic to get down here.  Up would be near impossible.  I do have a spell that will warn if anyone comes near though.  At least give us some warning." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "No, but I do see you pop up there and try to kill us. Tiny but important difference.  Anyway we are not here to kill anyone, we will make sure no harm comes to you."   She looked up at the cliff and quirked her mouth.   "You are right, but we used the last of our magic to get down here.  Up would be near impossible.  I do have a spell that will warn if anyone comes near though.  At least give us some warning."  
 

 "To get  down  here?"  Ildan's eyes widen.  "I just figured you found on your way  out . Lands ahead aren't safe for surface-dwellers, you'd have to be addled to head any deeper." 
 "Listen: I know a cave near here that will give us some shelter. The guards don't know about it, so even if a patrol comes by they won't find us. Don't leave us sitting out here in the open." 
 "Oh, and watch your words- you didn't see  me  do anything! Who tried to kill you?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Forgot to answer CWater: he has about 40 HP remaining to heal
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Bomb book!"  Natalia shouts, yanking her head up just in time to avoid setting off the trap, and just in time to see Mithril's argument with Ilden. She places a hand on the Mage's shoulder.

 "Mithril, I know whiskers...and all else happened. And hard for me too, harder than should. But Ilden not them. May be better. I hope."  the last two words are quiet as she looks around. He is right. It's not safe out in the open. But no way is she going back in that room. Unless...

 "What about tunnel to room? Not room!"  she adds hastily,  "But tunnel to? Only one way, and up on cliff. Makes a bit safer." 
 
 Spoiler 
can she check the rest of the book, and mark which pages are trapped for Mithril to avoid, so she can get what she can out of it before Natalia tries to disable it?

Also, what about the stuff Natalia asked Ilden?
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "To get  down  here?"  Ildan's eyes widen.  "I just figured you found on your way  out . Lands ahead aren't safe for surface-dwellers, you'd have to be addled to head any deeper." 
 "Listen: I know a cave near here that will give us some shelter. The guards don't know about it, so even if a patrol comes by they won't find us. Don't leave us sitting out here in the open." 
 "Oh, and watch your words- you didn't see  me  do anything! Who tried to kill you?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Forgot to answer CWater: he has about 40 HP remaining to heal
 
 
 

 "Do you traditionally ask the names of those trying to kill you?  Odd custom.  Though yes, you did nothing."   She stood up sliding the book away.   "Where is this cave?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Go down to get out,"  Natalia says.  "Not looking for fights."  might as well say it.  "You know paths?" 

She pauses when he mentions the cave.  "Guards for city? We that close? And where cave? How you know it?"  she may be a bit suspicious, but she's also curious too.

 
 Spoiler 
sense motive:  (d20+6)[ 23 ] 
 
Admiral
 "Well, I'm not going to help you long as you're leaving me like this!"  Ilden says angrily.  "More than a bit cruel, isn't it? Haven't I been poisoned long enough? Who knows how long I was in there: my hair used to be black!" 

ETA:


 She pauses when he mentions the cave. "Guards for city? We that close? And where cave? How you know it?" she may be a bit suspicious, but she's also curious too. 

 "What do you think those crawlers were? They guard the borders of the nation. Creepy buggers. Anyway, I use the cave in my work." 
 
 Spoiler 

Natalia gets the impression he's telling the truth about the cave and the guards.
 
Athedia
 "How in all the gods names are we SUPPOSED to heal you?  We use that scroll, someone else gets poisoned tomorrow and we can't save them.  You will live, Rhenner said so and I believe him.  And it sounds like you want to avoid patrols as well, or should we leave you out here for them to find?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia snorts when Ildan mentions his hair, and says something about him getting along well with shiny under her breath, but it hurts too much to stay silent as He and Mithril fight.

 "Stop! Please! Mithril, please, you better! Ildan not lying! I know hurting; I...am too. But not fair to Ildan! Please Mithril, I..." 

She breaks off, and spends several moments taking deep shuddering breaths, trying to hold back the tears. Finally, she attempts to compose herself and asks Ildan,  "Why do driders guard? Why all spiders here? And...what work? We keep you safe, promise. I promise." 
 
 Spoiler 
is he a thief?
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 She breaks off, and spends several moments taking deep shuddering breaths, trying to hold back the tears. Finally, she attempts to compose herself and asks Ildan,  "Why do driders guard? Why all spiders here? And...what work? We keep you safe, promise. I promise." 
 
 Spoiler 
is he a thief?
 
 
 

Ildan frowns, clearly not accustomed to sharing that kind of detail, but eventually he seems to decide it's the lesser evil.  "I move goods across the border,"  Ildan says.  "Goods that the Lords of the Underdark would prefer I didn't." 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia snorts when Ildan mentions his hair, and says something about him getting along well with shiny under her breath, but it hurts too much to stay silent as He and Mithril fight.

 "Stop! Please! Mithril, please, you better! Ildan not lying! I know hurting; I...am too. But not fair to Ildan! Please Mithril, I..."  
 

Mithril leaned back against the wall.   "I am just curious, that's all.  Not hurting, not angry.  If someone rescued my life I would not be trying to antagonize them, so he intrigues me."   And amuses  she thought to herself.  She hadn't run into someone like him since, well ever.  He was like a character from the old stories.   "Smuggler then." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Smuggler then."  
 

 "That's an ugly word in any language,"  the elf says.  "I prefer ' handsome devil .'" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sniffs.  "Still scares me, seeing you..." 

She trails off in thought as Ildan explains his "job."  "Smuggler? Smuggle what, to whom? And where?"  this could be useful. This could be very very useful. Especially since.

They don't want to be seen at all.

 "Ildan. Do you know Tol'Garun news? Know way around? And...do you smuggle...people?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Ildan. Do you know Tol'Garun news? Know way around? And...do you smuggle...people?"  
 

 "You mean slaves?"  he asks with a raised eyebrow.  "No, not my line. But I do know Tol'Garun. Can't say I'm in the mood for chatting, though. You still have me at something of a disadvantage." 
 "As for the spiders- this your first time down here? It's all the Church of Lolth, the Spider Queen. The crawlers- driders, that is- those are their soldiers." 

Rhenner takes a look at the books besides the ones Mithril had studied: both have the sigil of Lolth emblazoned on the cover. He glances at a few pages: the writing is entirely in Undercommon, but he's seen enough holy texts to recognize one when he sees it.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs a little in relief that he's not into slave trading, even though that wasn't quite what she was asking. Still, he knows Tol'Garun, and he probably knows how to get around the city without being spotted. She should ask him and her friends about her idea of how to sneak through an unknown hostile city, but first--

 "Church of Lloth? Spider queen? You worship...spider god?! Do they...make driders?"  her last words come out as a whimper.

Why spiders? Why?

 
 Spoiler 
wasnt quite what I was asking about with the smuggling, but I'll raise the question of having him smuggle us through the city in a bit. If you're fine with it? I think only one question really fits in at a time here.

Do you think it's a good idea anyway?
How long will my sense motive check hold for?
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You mean slaves?"  he asks with a raised eyebrow.  "No, not my line. But I do know Tol'Garun. Can't say I'm in the mood for chatting, though. You still have me at something of a disadvantage." 
 "As for the spiders- this your first time down here? It's all the Church of Lolth, the Spider Queen. The crawlers- driders, that is- those are their soldiers." 

Rhenner takes a look at the books besides the ones Mithril had studied: both have the sigil of Lolth emblazoned on the cover. He glances at a few pages: the writing is entirely in Undercommon, but he's seen enough holy texts to recognize one when he sees it. 
 

 "We want in there.  Admittedly we didn't quite think the plan through."   She shifted awkwardly and rubbed at her neck.   "And we don't do slaves." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "We want in there.  Admittedly we didn't quite think the plan through."   She shifted awkwardly and rubbed at her neck.   "And we don't do slaves."  
 

Natalia looks over at Mithril and grins. Yes! Exactly! That's it! The confusion and disgust about Lloth is there, but at least there's a bit of relief from Mithril now.  "Know my thoughts like voice, Mithril! Ildan, you don't...smuggle people, but...can you? Smuggle willing through city safe? We want in, then out 

She breaks off and whispers to her friends,  "How much should tell? Jail dangerous." 
 
 Spoiler 
I think, if we can keep him as an ally, he could be a very useful one to have. What do you all think?
 
CWater
Rhenner examines Ildan's wounds as he argues with Mithril, and concludes that they are quite severe.  "What are these goods that the Underdark Lords would not prefer not to have around?" , he asks.

 "And it might indeed be better if 'the handsome devil' stayed like this for a little while longer, I'm now even more convinced that you're just the type to go scampering around even when told that its not good for you."  Rhenner sighs.  "Look, why couldn't you tell us where this cave is. It would be safer for you too than to stay here. I promise that if we run in to any trouble, I cast the scroll so you won't be helpless."  He heals the worst of Ildan's wounds despite what he answers.

 
 Spoiler 
Energy Vortex to CCW:  (4d8+8)[ 20 ] 

Not sure if a Heal check is required for anything, but I'll roll anyway. Use or ignore, whatever works. Rhenner would bind the rest of his wounds just to make his current existence less uncomfortable.
 (1d20+15)[ 26 ] 
 
Cavelcade
Kurt stands up again suddenly, glancing at the others before shrugging and picking the Drow up again.  "I'm Kurt. Now tell me where this cave is - we can argue about how merciful to be there."  He glances back, adjusting Ildan.  "I won't let them kill or torture you, if that's what you're worried about. But don't think of betraying us." 
CoffeeIncluded
Betraying them. Natalia closes her eyes and lets out a sigh. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't been considering that, fearing that, this whole time. But she couldn't be the one to state it, didn't want to. She wants to trust Ildan, and she can't help but feel the deepest empathy for his plight--it's how she herself almost died. And she needs to be better than that...hadn't Marcos taught her that?

But still, she can't lock it away. That's just as dangerous. What's the best path then? What should she do? How can she be suspicious and hold these doubts in her mind without letting them take hold of  her? 

Natalia sighs again, and opens her eyes. She needs to ask her friends what to do, because she really has no idea. Or rather, she does, but she isn't sure how to do it. Still, she says to Ildan, as she runs her fingers along the links of her shirt,  "Don't betray. We saved you, but, if you betray..."  She shakes her head and leaves the statement unfinished.

Once Natalia finishes checking the spellbook for traps and marking all the trapped pages, she pulls herself up.  "I'm getting p-poison. Rhenner, could you...please help?"  She's starting to shake as she approaches the spiders, but it's not nearly as bad as before. Probably because she knows they're dead, because she killed them herself, fought and beat some of her demons even though more are going to come to take their place.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia's getting the poison now, if that's okay?

Oh, and she finished checking the spellbook for traps first. Did she find anything else? Can she mark the pages that have traps so Mithril can avoid them, and how many pages are trapped?
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner examines Ildan's wounds as he argues with Mithril, and concludes that they are quite severe.  "What are these goods that the Underdark Lords would not prefer not to have around?" , he asks.

 "And it might indeed be better if 'the handsome devil' stayed like this for a little while longer, I'm now even more convinced that you're just the type to go scampering around even when told that its not good for you."  Rhenner sighs.  "Look, why couldn't you tell us where this cave is. It would be safer for you too than to stay here. I promise that if we run in to any trouble, I cast the scroll so you won't be helpless."  He heals the worst of Ildan's wounds despite what he answers. 
 

Ildan grunts gratefully as the cleric heals and bandages his wounds.  "I have two healing potions in my bag,"  he says reluctantly.  "You think you could hand me one?" 

Natalia finishes checking the spellbook before leaving: for most of the book she assumes that the first trap she'd found had been the only one, but about two thirds of the way through she suddenly comes across another- luckily she had been paying attention.

Afterwards, she tries extracting the spider venom from each of the spiders.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia would know that she can safely take 10 and Disable Device the traps. It's good to be a rogue.

Extracting the spider venom has a 5% chance of getting yourself poisoned (this is based on the rules for handling poisoned weapons). So please roll a 1d20, 1 means poisoned) for up to 4 spiders, however many she checks. (Fort negates as usual, so she might want to chug an antitoxin before doing so- at that point her odds of both getting poisoned and failing the save are pretty low)
 


 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt stands up again suddenly, glancing at the others before shrugging and picking the Drow up again.  "I'm Kurt. Now tell me where this cave is - we can argue about how merciful to be there."  He glances back, adjusting Ildan.  "I won't let them kill or torture you, if that's what you're worried about. But don't think of betraying us."  
 

 "Well,"  Ildan grunts as he's hoisted onto Kurt's back,  "doesn't seem like you're leaving me much of a choice. But you lot owe me one. It's a half hour walk, but don't start complaining about feeling weary. We start by heading along the bottom of this ridge- that way."  He points with his eyes, looking somewhat frustrated.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia breaths in relief as she goes through the book. There were only the two traps there. Thankfully she knows how to deal with them. Several minutes of thought and a few rubbed out letters later and she's finished. The original message is mostly intact (and Natalia has full faith Mithril can piece together what's missing), but the critical letters and words are erased, destroying the spell. Grinning in triumph, satisfaction, and a desire to please, she hands the book over to Mithril and says,  "Done! Two traps, but they gone now. All safe for your spells!"  She shuffles happily, hoping to see the smile on the wizard's face.

 
 Spoiler 
good thing you bought the extra spellbook! 😛
 

 "Owe you?"  Natalia calls back, only somewhat teasing. She's eager for anything to distract her, even though she knows how important concentration is, and even though dealing with these spiders she killed is easier.  "We saved you!" 

Still, she chugs an antitoxin and waits for Rhenner to come over before she starts.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia stops once she's finished or actually poisoned and has Rhenner use a neutralize poison, whichever happens first. How much poison can I get in a bottle?

 (d20)[ 19 ] 
 (d20)[ 5 ] 
 (d20)[ 7 ] 
 (d20)[ 20 ] 

I think I'm good. 😛
 


It turns out that neither were necessary. Natalia's hands were more than steady enough, and the poison drips into the bottles with little trouble. She's grinning as she corks up the last one, and can't help but kick the dead spider's head and shout,  "Ha! How you like?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan grunts gratefully as the cleric heals and bandages his wounds.  "I have two healing potions in my bag,"  he says reluctantly.  "You think you could hand me one?"  
 

 "Don't see why not."  Rhenner picks up a potion from the burlap bag.  "This one?"  Unless someone else stops him, and the potion doesn't look  awfully  suspicious, he helps Ildan drink it.

 
 Spoiler 
Healers should get a bonus on identifying a healing potion.😛
 
Admiral
  
 Spoiler 

 (2d8+3)[ 13 ] 
 


Much of the elf's remaining wounds heal. 
 
 Spoiler 
what's the worst it could have been- Bull's Strength or Lesser Restoration I suppose, but even then he'd be at quite the disadvantage.

You're walking now, lemme know if there's any business or conversation to take care of.

Natalia gets one poison dose per spider. Let's say it's mixed together by the glands one dose at a time. If Natalia had some more poison skills and/or feats she might be able to get more.
 
Athedia
Mithril held out her hand blocking Rhenner.   "Not to be rude, but I would rather you didn't drink that."   Seeing the looks on their faces she pushed her cloak aside, revealing her belt.   "This is still available tomorrow, while your potion will not be.  Wouldn't you rather save that for a more desperate day?" 

She reached over to him and used the last power in her belt to heal him.

 "I am not always so mean." 
 
 Spoiler 
 (2d6)[ 9 ] 
 (2d6)[ 9 ] 
 
CWater
Rhenner gives Mithril a slightly surprised look, but nods then. Smiling a little to himself, he puts the potion back to Ildan's bag.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles and squeezes Mithril's hand. It's a relief, and a confirmation.  She hopes...well, she hopes. And she needs to talk to her friends later, about how to walk with these shadows, even though she knows they can do no more than offer advice, and that in the end it's her decision.

When they're ready to move on, Natalia helps tie Ildan to whomever is carrying him, binding him with a special knot.  "Tight this way, loose this way,"  she shows, demonstrating before retying it.  "And can do one-handed." 

She takes the lead, scouting ahead, looking back at Ildan for directions.

 
 Spoiler 
natalia ties Ildan to whomever is carrying him with a falconer's knot, which can be tied or untied one-handed, and has a safety catch so the bird can't undo it and fly away.

Should I make any checks?
 
Admiral
Ildan grunts in thanks.  "Maybe you're not so bad, for a guildy." 

The party carries the drow along the bottom of the ridge, keeping their eyes out. The cliff curves in a wide arc, suggesting the cavern may be even bigger than they'd originally expected. After about twenty minutes of walking, Ildan tells the group to head up the hill a bit, which is tough but not overwhelming climbing without the benefit of Shiny's spell, and they come across a tunnel in the side of the rockface- small but not particularly hidden.  "It's a few minutes down this way,"  he notes.

They walk down the tunnel for a bit, which is cramped and difficult climbing, with Ildan studying the rocks as they pass by.  "Bit farther..."  he says, as he watches the terrain.  "All right, here we are."  He gestures with his eyes to an unremarkable section of the wall.

 "Passage goes through this wall. It's trapped to the gills- I'd disarm them, but someone didn't think giving me my arms back was worth the trouble. Suppose I could walk you through it if you're careful." 
CoffeeIncluded
EDIT: Natalia smiles at his thanks, and leans closer to Mithril when he acknowledges his to her as well. Why doesn't he like the guilds though? Is it a thing down here, and why?

Natalia moves to spit on her hands and rub the accumulated blackened dust off, as they climb, worried about it rubbing into the accumulated scrapes and nicks on her elbows and hands, but remembers a fragment of advice about how dusty hands can help grip stone better when rock climbing. So she keeps her hands dirty for now.

As they reach the section of the wall, Natalia pauses to look at it. Where could he have gotten the spell to do that, and make it permanent? Is he a caster too, or does he just have friends or a lot of scrolls? Still, traps aren't too much trouble, though she knows not to be cocky by this point.  "I know traps,"  she says.  "If you show, I can do."  She looks at the wall again, nervous about sticking her hand inside after the gunpowder trap she had triggered just a few hours ago.

Hang on, could he have set that too?

 
 Spoiler 
If Ildan walks me through it, all, would I be able to study and then temporarily bypass/disable the traps so he can reset them again on his own later without too much trouble?

And have any of you done rock climbing or bouldering? You rub chalk dust on your hands to keep them from getting sweaty and slipping on the rocks.
 
Admiral
Natalia carefully reaches her hands into the wall, and lowers them until she finds a wire Ildan had described. With a couple of careful moves she is able to disconnect it from the mechanism. This happens again for two separate wires, each reaching across the mouth of the tunnel in varying orientations, until he finally gives the go-ahead and they step inside. As they do, Ildan speaks a couple of mysterious words in Undercommon- when asked, he notes that his words had disabled an additional magical trap that guards the mouth of the tunnel.

Moments later the party finds themselves in a small, somewhat cramped chamber, that as far as they can tell is entirely empty. The room can fit the eight party members when sleeping, but only just barely. As they step inside, Ildan is careful to point out an additional pressure plate that makes up the floor: if he hadn't pointed it out Natalia isn't sure she would have seen it. If the drow had built the traps himself, it seems clear he is rather crafty at them.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia lets out a slow breath that might also be a whistle as she carefully inspects and disables the trap, trying to do it in a way so that Ildan can reset it with little trouble later.  "These yours alone, Ildan?"  she asks as she works.  "They good. And I...know traps some."  It's not an exaggeration. These are well-crafted and hidden traps. She looks around at the cavern, just large enough to hold them, and presses her ear against the floor and wall to check the acoustics.  "Is this all cavern?"  Or is there more, hidden behind these walls? If he hides out here, shouldn't there be goods, or at least a place to sleep? Does Ildan work alone?

 "What smuggled, anyway? And...to whom?"  He still hasn't answered that question.

Either way, when Natalia finishes, she looks to everyone and smiles, scooting aside so they can stretch out more. She has things on her mind, things she wants to try and discuss, but she'd rather wait a little bit first.

 
 Spoiler 
Do any of these traps look familiar? Can Natalia study them to learn how they work?
 
CWater
 "I'm not sure I'm entirely happy to trust him yet",  Rhenner says quietly to the others,  "Though I guess he is in a bit bad position to betray us right now." 

He goes to make sure the helpful drow is lying comfortably, though thanks to Mithril almost all of his wounds are gone. If he complains more, Rhenner assures him that he will get his ability to move back tomorrow and that they're not waiting out of malice, but practicality.

Then the cleric sits down with his back against the wall and closes his eyes for a while. After opening them again, he takes his holy symbol to one hand and stares it for some time, before his gaze shifts aimlessly to the ground. He seems to be lost in thought.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia frowns. Rhenner is right, and everyone else is thinking that too. Perhaps she's gone too far the other way,  fighting too hard against the shadows and doubts and how...strong she's become. She isn't even sure what to think. Except that it was probably dumb not to give an alias, but it's too late for that now. But she wants to trust him. Still...

 "I know thought,"  she whispers to all her friends.  "But good...potential...here. For drowtown. And...maybe after."  She needs to turn her head, look at the world in a different way, a more utilitarian way.  "What if not friendship, but owing, use? Saved life, so owe. And after...Smugglers need customers. Strong customers here." 

Natalia spends some time looking at the traps and cavern, occasionally asking Ildan a few questions about his smuggling operation or Tol'Garun, trying to gauge how many allies, if any, he has, along with what he smuggles. Then she's silent, and thinks about her forming plan, hoping that it works. She worries about what's in store for them, and for her future as well. She's got the magic. She has friends. She has a place that will accept her. She's had everything she's ever dreamed of, so why is she so worried?

After some time in thought Natalia notices Rhenner next to her in much the same pensive state. She turns her head.  "You okay? What eating thoughts?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 After some time in thought Natalia notices Rhenner next to her in much the same pensive state. She turns her head.  "You okay? What eating thoughts?"  
 

The question calls Rhenner's mind back to the present. Still, it takes him some time to answer. He eyes his holy symbol again.  "Ever tried to confirm something, maybe just to prove it to yourself? And after you have, been unsure what to do about it next?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses and looks at the ground, tracing the dust with her finger as she chews the inside of her lip.  "Sort of. Now, actually. Always wanted the magic, know the machines. And now have it. I hole the magic. I have friends. Learning the traps, and institute accepts. But...still something. This danger, and new dangers. Not sure where next. I see doubts, shadows. Shadows and blood, much by me. I...don't know where to walk, how...to use shadows, but not be used."  she lets her hand flop into the ground, aware she's making even less sense than usual.

 "But I don't think problem like yours. What found that makes doubts?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia pauses and looks at the ground, tracing the dust with her finger as she chews the inside of her lip.  "Sort of. Now, actually. Always wanted the magic, know the machines. And now have it. I hole the magic. I have friends. Learning the traps, and institute accepts. But...still something. This danger, and new dangers. Not sure where next. I see doubts, shadows. Shadows and blood, much by me. I...don't know where to walk, how...to use shadows, but not be used."  she lets her hand flop into the ground, aware she's making even less sense than usual.  
 

Rhenner lets go of the holy symbol and shifts his gaze to the cavern ceiling. "Those that fight need to figure out these things. Everyone need to find their own path to wander. Just... Well, I hope you won't use your 'shadows' unless it is necessary. There are already too many in the world who misuse the power they have."  There's are weary tone in his voice when he speaks the last sentence.


  "But I don't think problem like yours. What found that makes doubts?"  

 "Something that others told didn't exist, even when... Well, anyway, now I know without doubt that it does." 

He has a strange expression, as if he's trying to smirk, but doesn't quite manage it.  "But it is not something I'm happy to have been right about." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner lets go of the holy symbol and shifts his gaze to the cavern ceiling. "Those that fight need to figure out these things. Everyone need to find their own path to wander. Just... Well, I hope you won't use your 'shadows' unless it is necessary. There are already too many in the world who misuse the power they have."  There's are weary tone in his voice when he speaks the last sentence. 
 

Natalia looks at Rhenner, then Mithril, shiny, and Kurt.  "Hope I won't, with you watching, holding light. I think shadow where I'm best, but I know most danger too. Hopefully I...can evade too." 

  "Something that others told didn't exist, even when... Well, anyway, now I know without doubt that it does." 

He has a strange expression, as if he's trying to smirk, but doesn't quite manage it.  "But it is not something I'm happy to have been right about."  

What exactly is Rhenner talking about? What was he told didn't exist? And who told him?  "Who hid what lies?"  was this what he and Mithril were bonding over?
Athedia
The room was so small Mithril had not had a choice but to listen to the conversation.   "Who do you think.  The same people who have been avoid all our inquiries.  These guilds have a dark side to them as well, a series of lies and internal conflicts that we have been forced into by coming here." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces and looks down at her guild mark. Has she been so excited that she's ignored something obviously rotten?

 "What have guilds hid? And...you think voice makes shadows and fights?" 
CWater
Rhenner doesn't say anything more, just letting his gaze wander across the small room. It's a peculiar crowd, he realizes suddenly. Strangers and guildless people. And him.

He eyes his own guildmark for the first time in a long while. He rarely pays it much attention, it's just something that's there. Visible, yet not something you think about. But when you meet a new person, you register what guildmark they have even without thinking... And it's the lack of one that you notice, what stands out.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia states at her guild mark as well. Miriam has hated the thing so much. And she had been ambivalent too. She remembers the fears, mostly subsumed by the joy of acceptance but welling up again after what happened in Deldon, the worries that the guilds will force her and her friends apart.  
 Spoiler 
dont forget, we pcs have guild marks too!
 

 "Rhenner? Why are guilds important? And why force...members, force splitting? What if want to be many?" 
CWater
 
 Spoiler 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 dont forget, we pcs have guild marks too! 
 

That's why there was a difference between 'strangers' (but with guildmarks) and 'guildless'.
 


Rhenner smirks slightly.  "Only a stranger would voice a question like that. What can I say.. They've been around for a long time now. That's just how things are. Though I guess... one could ask why." 
 
 Spoiler 
I forget, how long have the guilds been in power? And marked their members with these magical marks?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shares Rhenner's wry smile.  "Well, why? And never said what hid?" 
 
 Spoiler 
aww, we're still only strangers to Rhenner?
 
CWater
 "I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean. Why what?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses and tries again.  "Two questions. What...does church hide, shadow? And...why do guilds...make you choose one? What if want gods, and magic, and business, and sneaking? Why force...fit in boxes?"  Her hands run over the necklace again and again, feeling every inch of smooth blackness, every little scrape and nick that send a jolt through her fingers and makes the colors skip as she rubs them.
CWater
 "The guilds have different rules about many things, pledging your alliance to many would be practically impossible. And the system has worked, what I understand that the old regime had many problems. Or so I've been told, the last of it collapsed before I was born." 
 
 Spoiler 
Do tell, if I seem to have misunderstood something Admiral. I just work with what I know. ^^
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "The guilds have different rules about many things, pledging your alliance to many would be practically impossible. And the system has worked, what I understand that the old regime had many problems. Or so I've been told, the last of it collapsed before I was born." 
 
 Spoiler 
Do tell, if I seem to have misunderstood something Admiral. I just work with what I know. ^^
 
 
 

 "But why make separate anyway? Then like four countries...in one. Why do that, if want one nation?"  four nations, each restrictive in some way.  "How was old? And we're guilds...always this way? Bitter between should be allies?"  or did something make them that way?

 
 Spoiler 
i guess Rhenner is evading the question of the church hiding the existence of the evil gods?
 


EDIT:

Natalia looks around at the cave underground.  "Rhenner, do people know secrets here?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia lets out a slow breath that might also be a whistle as she carefully inspects and disables the trap, trying to do it in a way so that Ildan can reset it with little trouble later.  "These yours alone, Ildan?"  she asks as she works.  "They good. And I...know traps some."  It's not an exaggeration. These are well-crafted and hidden traps. She looks around at the cavern, just large enough to hold them, and presses her ear against the floor and wall to check the acoustics.  "Is this all cavern?"  Or is there more, hidden behind these walls? If he hides out here, shouldn't there be goods, or at least a place to sleep? Does Ildan work alone?

 "What smuggled, anyway? And...to whom?"  He still hasn't answered that question. 
 

Ildan goes through a series of facial spasms- it takes a moment to realize he is trying (and failing) to raise an eyebrow.  "Here you are with all the questions! It's not like you lot told me what you're doing down here." 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia looks over at Mithril and grins. Yes! Exactly! That's it! The confusion and disgust about Lloth is there, but at least there's a bit of relief from Mithril now.  "Know my thoughts like voice, Mithril! Ildan, you don't...smuggle people, but...can you? Smuggle willing through city safe? We want in, then out  
 

 "Oh, sure, I'm definitely in the mood to do you lot favors,"  Ildan says dryly, with an eye roll that seems to take effort.  "In return you'll just have to put a couple more spiders on my forehead." 
 
 Spoiler 
Welcome back, folks.
 
Athedia
 'You're into that? Drow are weird."   Mithril started flipping through the spellbooks as she spoke, observing what spells she didn't have in hers.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs and looks at her friends.  "We looking for way out..."  She trails off and looks to her friends, wondering how much they should say and what to say.

She frowns at Ildan's sarcastic comment.  "Well, we...saved you. Stopped you from being drider dinner. And you smuggle, right? We strong, you know, you saw. We beat what beat you. And you smuggle. Smugglers...need customers. Need news from above? Shiny? Mithril, Rhenner, Kurt, what say? What think?" 
 
 Spoiler: Yay! 
its good to be back! Though I won't be on much this week. I'll try my best though!
 
Admiral
 "Hell if I know I'm much better off. Maybe you've just been fattening me up to eat me yourselves. Anyway..."  He closes his eyes, and lets out a fain, weak grunt- one gets the sense the poison in his system is taking a more painful toll than the rogue is letting on.  "Once I've got my strength back we can talk." 
 
 Spoiler 
Let me know if there's anything else you want to do before sleeping. Mithril is able to find all the spells discussed earlier. Rhenner can look at the other books if he likes.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Hell if I know I'm much better off. Maybe you've just been fattening me up to eat me yourselves. Anyway..."  He closes his eyes, and lets out a fain, weak grunt- one gets the sense the poison in his system is taking a more painful toll than the rogue is letting on.  "Once I've got my strength back we can talk." 
 
 Spoiler 
Let me know if there's anything else you want to do before sleeping. Mithril is able to find all the spells discussed earlier. Rhenner can look at the other books if he likes.
 
 
 

Natalia nods, and tries to adjust Ildan so he's more comfortable. She knows from experience how painful spider venom and the feeling of being helpless can be.

Afterwards, she sets up a couple of traps at the mouth of the cavern--a tripwire and a loaded crossbow, the arrow tipped with drow poison, already prepared for her. Once that's done she settles in, keeping watch and looking over Mithril and Rhenner's shoulders as they read.
CWater
Rhenner is silent during Ildan and Natalia's discussion, but he frowns slightly when the drow shows signs that he's not really feeling too well. Still, this is not the first time he's around a bed-ridden person who's in pain, and he can't do anything more about it right now. Well, technically he  could , but his allies, new as they may be, are his priority and they might need that scroll later. He tries not to think about it anymore and direct his thoughts to other things, though it does still gnaw at his conscience.

The cleric eyes the spider-patterned covered books for a while, then lifts his gaze back to the cavern ceiling. He can feel his old questions and doubts rising up again. Perhaps he should pray, if that would help anything. Though Fharlanghn is not exactly the kind of deity who goes around comforting his followers when they are troubled. And in a way Rhenner appreciates that.
Athedia
As the others settled to sleep Mithril lay a ward around the room.  It was set to give her a silent ping if anyone walked into the area or left it while she slept.   
 Spoiler: OOC 
Setting Alarm
 


Before she went to sleep she looked around nervously.
 
 Spoiler: Admiral ONLY 
 
 Spoiler: Seriously are you Admiral? 
 
 Spoiler: Okay, Athedia too but I wrote this 
 
 Spoiler: Are you Athedia or Admiral? 
 
 Spoiler: Fine spectators can read this too 
 
 Spoiler: Are you Athedia, Admiral OR a spectator? 
 
 Spoiler: Okay you can read this 
Leaning against the wall she opened her mind up, letting herself relax.  "Voice?  Are you there?"  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler: Athedia only 
 
 Spoiler: No, seriously, Athedia only: 
 
 Spoiler: Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër?  
 
 Spoiler: If you're not Athedia, stop clicking 
 
 Spoiler: That means you, Coffee 
See PM. 😛
 

 

 

 

 


The party makes their evening preparations before falling asleep. Their first night in the Underdark is nervewracking, with no way to tell how much time has passed when they wake in the night, and no telling what dangers could be lurking in the caves outside. But after a long and nervous night, the party wakes feeling at least a bit refreshed, though miles of stone and soil separate them from the morning dawn.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia awakes quickly. Her sleep was restless, but at least she had it. Which is more than she could say for too many nights recently. As she meditated and concentrated on replenishing her few spells, the rogue looks around the cavern again, and peeks over Mithril and Rhenner's shoulders as they read. And when Ildan stirs, she goes over to him and asks,  "You better? Rhenner finish soon."  she then breaks off a piece of her Jerky and hands it to the drow, saying,  "Food helps." 

As she stays by Rhenner and Mithril and reads over their shoulders, she finds herself unconsciously hovering closer to the Mage.
CWater
Rhenner doesn't sleep well either, he keeps waking up and a few times he needs to remind himsefl why it is important to try to close one's eyes again. But right after he thinks he's rested enough, he pushes the unpleasant dreams off his mind and begins his morning prayers and meditation for the spells for the day. When he is done, he picks up a small jar out of his bag and walks over to Ildan.  "Try not to inhale too much of this now, it's not good for the lungs",  he says and sprinkles the sparkly dust on the drow. Then the medic concentrates on the spell to cure the damage the poison had done.

 
 Spoiler 
I'll figure out the complete spell list in a moment. But consider Restoration prepared and cast.

I would also like to remind that Rhenner has enough Diamond Dust to only one other similiar spell with him. (And the scroll, of course.)
 

 "Feeling better?" 

EDIT:
Next the medic turns to Mitril,  "Morning, if it now is that. How is Whiskers today?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Didn't forget!
 
Admiral
Ildan grunts as Rhenner brings out diamond dust.  "I've got the gleam, no need for charity. Last thing I need is to owe you lot a favor." 

With his eyes he gestures towards the burlap sack among his belongings, where Rhenner does indeed find some diamond dust: about four times as much as he'd need for the spell.

 
 Spoiler 
In my Underdark diamond dust (or 'gleam') is a moderately common alternate currency.
 
Athedia
 "Do you have another of those spells that you used on Whiskers?  He is doing better, but is still a little weak."   Mithril produced the weasel who was curled up in her hands.
 
 Spoiler 
I will get a spell list done tonight or tomorrow morning.  I have to finish a take home test and do some homework first
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Heh. Gleam, not gold?"  isn't he kind of in their debt already?

She bites her lip and looks down at her hands, curled into fists and pressed against her pants. She looks at all her friends, and especially at Mithril and Whiskers. Mithril and Whiskers, who were generous to Sonorous and tried to make a deal, and Whiskers nearly died for it. The rogue squeezes her eyes shut. She's not a verbal trickster, she's no diplomat. Is she making a huge mistake here, a mistake all the worse because she thinks it's a good idea?
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Do you have another of those spells that you used on Whiskers?  He is doing better, but is still a little weak."   Mithril produced the weasel who was curled up in her hands.  
 

Rhenner nods and pats Whiskers head casting the less powerful version of the spell he cast on Ildan a moment ago.
 
 Spoiler 
Healing: (1d4)[ 1 ] 
He also recovered some of the damage through natural healing, right?
 

 "I hope he'll feel better now." 

Rhenner eyes the spider books again, and after a while he also picks one up and starts to glance through its pages.
 
 Spoiler 
Assuming it's in a language he doesn't understand, he'll cast Comprehend Languages.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "How Whiskers now?"  natalia asks, holding out her fingers for he weasel to sniff or let her pet him. If that's not prying. She's still not quite sure what the protocol for familiars is.

She then looks to her friends, and Ildan as well.  "Now what? Any thoughts on next move?" 
Admiral
Ildan breathes in deeply as Rhenner casts his spell, before sitting up slowly. Though the paralyzing effect of the poison appears to have worn off, his muscles and joints are still weak with disuse. Very slowly he stretches out his limbs.

 "Hmmmph, about time,"  he mumbles by way of thanks. Then he turns to the others.  "You said you're looking to get into Tol'Garun? That's about the toughest sneak there is. Not to say I can't do it but it'll cost you. What are you trying to find in there, anyway? You should hope it's something you could find somewhere else?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia cracks a smile, though it's not as broad as it could be. She hopes he's more grateful than he cares to let on. Still, she barely opens her mouth to answer his question before closing it. She then pauses and turns to Shiny, raising her eye rows and giving him a pleading look. How much should they tell him? What should they say? She has so much trouble keeping her truthful words coherent that there's no way she can lie. Or even lie by omission.

And then there's the question of price. Can they trust him? She wants to, but if he's like Sonorous...

So instead she leaves his question for Shiny or someone else to answer and instead asks,  "How know price for trust? What of...my question last night? Pay, and exchange in future too, if...this works?"  

Dammit! Should she just go out and say she wants to trust him, but for the sake of herself and her friends needs to be suspicious? Though he probably understands. Price. It's all about price.

 
 Spoiler 
looks like we're gonna need diplomacy, bluff, and sense motive. Natalia may be competent with sense motive but I don't trust her alone without a backup. More importantly, only Shiny has the bluff and diplomacy skills needed here. What do you guys think?

And I can't do color on my phone now? I'll edit it web I get home in a bit.
 


EDIT: Natalia presses her fingers to her mouth, looking to the floor in thought. She looks over to her friends and sees Rhenner engrossed in his book, completely oblivious to the world at large. But this is equally important. After a moment's hesitation, she taps the half-elf on the shoulder.  "Rhenner, you listening?" 
CWater
Rhenner flinches slightly when his reading is interrupted,  "Hm, what? Did you say something?" ,
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces, but then leans in and whispers,  "Ildan talking about smuggling, smuggle through Drowtown for price. But wants...know where, why. What...think say?" 
CWater
Rhenner eyes Ildan over his book,  "I'm not sure... Do we trust him?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks back over her shoulder. She raises her hands halfway, then lets them fall into her lap.  "...Don't know. Want, but can't. Not like want. Not with what learned in travel, when danger and second glances, second thoughts needed. And when price high...like Mithril, Whiskers..."  She closes her eyes.  "But maybe...safe if owed, if price best, pay longest."  She works her lips together in an odd manner.  "But don't know! These...thoughts not my first. What you think? Better minds...than mine."  She might be deceptive in her motions, but not in her words and mind. Though it's not really deception they need here anyway, more an understanding of it and a way to potentially avoid it.

 
 Spoiler 
If she's making less sense than usual, that's because she's stressed and concerned.
 
CWater
Rhenner is silent for a while, not knowing how to respond. Finally he says with a slightly bitter tone,  "I don't know.. I'm really... not one to tell who to trust." 
 "A local's help might be very useful though",  he adds.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 So instead she leaves his question for Shiny or someone else to answer and instead asks,  "How know price for trust? What of...my question last night? Pay, and exchange in future too, if...this works?"   
 

Ildan lets out a laugh.  "Thanks for dragging me out of the web and all, but if you think I'm going to stick my neck out like that and just trust you to return later to pay me back, you really are new to the Underdark." 
 "Look, what are you trying to find in the city?"  he presses.  "If you're looking to steal something I have some acquaintances with a disturbing lack of respect for property." 
 
 Spoiler 
I'm happy to have Shiny try a Diplomacy check, but you guys should decide what you trust him with.
 
CoffeeIncluded
The rogue pauses at Rhenner's statement, then gives him a quick hug.

Natalia shakes her head. Seems like she wasn't clear enough (when is she), so she tries again.  "Of course pay now. I meant...pay future too, both ways. Even if trust drought...on both sides, still helpful...useful to each other. We strong, but still...need local help, like Rhenner said. And you, smuggler evades Tol'Garun law, and needs...customers. Information. Can...work in future, even after this. Maybe. Not neck if mutual work."  She lets out a shaky sigh, that does turn into a snort when Ildan quips about his friends' "lack of respect" for property.

Then again, that could be a roundabout way to ask about getting into the prison. Or wherever this guy is being held. Whomever he is.  "What property? And...know Tol'Garun news?"  She taps her fingers on the ground, and looks to her friends. She doesn't trust herself, doesn't think she can say it right, and so errs on the side of caution.

 
 Spoiler: Explanation 
I don't want to overshadow you guys. In character, Natalia's still remembering what Lucius said a couple days ago.
 
Admiral
Rhenner looks through the first book, and what he finds profoundly disturbs him. The book is clearly a standard holy text like the ones he had seen in the Church his whole life, yet it seems to have replaced virtue with vice and compassion with cruelty. In all his searches for evidence of the evil gods he had wondered what form their worship could take, and it has taken a form more dreadful than he could have expected.

The book starts with a long series of hymns to the goddess Lolth, the Spider Goddess, Queen of the Drow- though the rest of the book is written in Undercommon, these hymns are in some older language in an unfamiliar script. By finding clues the paeans to malice and cruelty he is able to learn more about Lolth than he'd learned in years of searching above ground. The rest of the book is a mythology of the drow, tracing a series of clerics and their acts of evil in the service of their goddess.

 
 Spoiler: For Rhenner 

Short version of what he learns (ask if you have more questions):

-He knows that Lolth appears as a beautiful female drow or a spider with a female drow's head
-He sees that their sworn enemy is Corellon Larethian, deity of the surface elves. The two messages that Lolth imparts among her followers are to dominate the Underdark and to rise up against the surface elves.
-Drow clerics are exclusively female, and the religion is organized as a matriarchal hierarchy. Men serve as soldiers, and the highest rank they can attain within the Church is to become a "paladin of slaughter"
-There is a brief reference to the driders as "Gifts of the Spider Queen," but little beyond that that he can make sense of
 


While this first book had the appearance of a universal holy text that had likely been passed down for a millenium or more, the second book is shorter and appears more specific to this nation, describing the faction of the religion that possessed power here. Some of it is redundant with the holy text, or seems only to differ in the details of the philosophy of slaughter and tyranny. One notable difference is that the "Lords of the Underdark" are framed as Lolth's chosen stewards, destined to rule all the realms beneath the ground. Made up of both men and women, the Lords of the Underdark form the center of the nation's secular government. Technically they are subservient to the Church of Zyvonar in all matters, though it seems the church allows them to handle the day-to-day management without interference.

The structure of the Church of Zyvonar interests Rhenner most, for it possesses features he hadn't noticed in the other holy text. The Church of Zyvonar is obsessed above all else with  secrets ; he gathers that the faction interpreted Lolth's writings encouraged collecting forbidden knowledge, and protecting what knowledge they had obtained, above all else. Clerics rose through the ranks largely through their divination abilities, and the Church's ability to divine the secrets of other drow realms lay at the heart of Zyvonar's military strategy. At the center of this structure were the Temples of the Unspoken, where the Priestesses of Shadow collected their knowledge.
CWater
 
 Spoiler 
Not entirely sure at what point in the morning this happens, but oh well.
 


The cleric's clenches the book tight in his hand, almost ripping the page that is open. He clenches his other hand to a fist to stop it from shaking.

  Why?    Why?!  Why would anyone... Why would  anyone  follow anything like that.. It just...   Rhenner can't wrap his mind around it. His opinion of the world in general might be somewhat grim, but still. Still, he had hoped, had had some stupid naive hope that it wouldn't be  this  bad. Or maybe it was desperation, that he had still deep down wanted to deny it, even if he had decided he wouldn't be like those people. Even if he should have known better. But this... His eyes run up and down the page. He's not sure what he expected, but it's so much more hideous than he could have ever thought.

And to think they've built a whole society who follow these insane teaching and practice this horrendous way of life at this very minute! His hand is now shaking visibly, even if it's clenched in a fist. What they do to people, it makes him want to scream.

A snippet of conversation happens to float through his barrier of concentration and Rhenner looks up from the book. The others are still talking with the drow rescued from the webs. Drow...  "All drow appreciate the power of the Spider Queen." 

Suddenly the cleric gets up and walks over to them. Without warning he grabs Ildan by the collar, half dragging him up.  "Why! Why in the name of this damned world would you follow something like this?!!"  He shakes the smuggler and it looks a bit like he's going smack him with the book, but in the end just flails it in the air.  "Isn't there enough evil already in the world as is!! Do you have to DELIBERATELY TURN IT INTO A HELL!!!"  The book passes a few times dangerously close to Ildan's head.

 
 Spoiler 
So much for being the sane and calm one around here.😛

Not really sure how well I managed with describing this. The scene was very strong in my mind, so it was hard to put down to words.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Suddenly the cleric gets up and walks over to them. Without warning he grabs Ildan by the collar, half dragging him up.  "Why! Why in the name of this damned world would you follow something like this?!!"  He shakes the smuggler and it looks a bit like he's going smack him with the book, but in the end just flails it in the air.  "Isn't there enough evil already in the world as is!! Do you have to DELIBERATELY TURN IT INTO A HELL!!!"  The book passes a few times dangerously close to Ildan's head. 
 

The drow snarls and draws his dagger after Rhenner assaults him, though it seems more out of instinct than malice.

 
 Spoiler 
This was assuming he was able to retrieve his dagger and gear from his bag, which is the first thing he would have done upon getting the use of his body back.
 

 "What the bloody #$%@'s gotten into you?"  he snaps, looking confused.  "You got some kind of problem with smugglers?"  He raises his eyebrows as he looks at the book the cleric is waving.  "What is that anyway, the Arachnomicon?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Oh right, I'm naming the first book the Arachnomicon.
 
CWater
 "So you regocnise it?! Why? Why would you follow such a thing? Build a city, a country after something like that?!",  Rhenner's voice is still angry, but he's stopped shaking Ildan. His mind does register the dagger in the drow's hand, but he's still too furious to react to it much.

If he'd be able to think more rationally, he would likely realize that a smuggler is far from the right person to impose such questions on, but alas, he doesn't.

 
 Spoiler 
Is the grammar okay here? I'm a little unsure..
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks up when she hears the paper crumple and crunch in Rhenner's fist, and springs to her feet when the cleric roars and grabs Ildan by the collar. She's running between them as the scene threatens to erupt into complete chaos.

 "Wait!"  she shouts.  "rhenner, What saying? What read? What about deliberate hell? Ildan, what follow, what arachnomicon?"  what is going on here?

 
 Spoiler 
if you don't want me to post I'll delete it.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "So you regocnise it?! Why? Why would you follow such a thing? Build a city, a country after something like that?!",  Rhenner's voice is still angry, but he's stopped shaking Ildan. His mind does register the dagger in the drow's hand, but he's still too furious to react to it much. 
 

The drow takes a moment to register, then he relaxes, seeming more exasperated than offended.  "Case you didn't notice, you found me all bundled up in those crawler's webs,"  he points out.  "I don't think you'll find me praying to the Church of Zyvonar any time soon." 

He continues to stretch, though he doesn't put down his dagger, and still keeps an eye on Rhenner.  "Just because the spidey-supplicants have the Lords' ear doesn't mean all drow are like that. Blast, you'd think I'm the first under-elf you've ever met." 
Athedia
 "Second if met means talked too, fourth or fifth otherwise.  Though this time it was on less murdery terms until now.  Rhenner, Boccobs clerics teach a little more care toward books."   She plucked the book from his hand, making sure it didn't get damaged.  She didn't even have to stand up, the cave was so small.

She gestured toward Ildan's dagger.   "Even if you managed to stab him, he would heal himself.  That and a weasel would probably end up latched somewhere delicate.  Bad luck to hurt the only one here with holy water." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The drow takes a moment to register, then he relaxes, seeming more exasperated than offended.  "Case you didn't notice, you found me all bundled up in those crawler's webs,"  he points out.  "I don't think you'll find me praying to the Church of Zyvonar any time soon." 

He continues to stretch, though he doesn't put down his dagger, and still keeps an eye on Rhenner.  "Just because the spidey-supplicants have the Lords' ear doesn't mean all drow are like that. Blast, you'd think I'm the first under-elf you've ever met."  
 

Enough gets through Rhenners anger that he sees the sense in those words. He's too upset to completely calm down, but he lets go of Ildan. He doesn't let Natalia to move between them though, unless she is very persistent. "But they still have major power in your society? How? How can people allow that? Just live with something so sick around?!" 

He let's Mithril take the book from him without protest, but he keeps his eyes on the drow.

 
 Spoiler 
Ok, Mithril threatening with Whiskers cracked me up. Fortunately my work mates were out of the room at the time.😉
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 He continues to stretch, though he doesn't put down his dagger, and still keeps an eye on Rhenner.  "Just because the spidey-supplicants have the Lords' ear doesn't mean all drow are like that. Blast, you'd think I'm the first under-elf you've ever met."  
 

 "Yes,"  Natalia says in an unusually blunt voice, though it's not quite cold.  "Well, first friendly met."  For a certain definition of friendly, but he's not attacking us and is offering to help.  "Hope more like you." 

 The drow takes a moment to register, then he relaxes, seeming more exasperated than offended.  "Case you didn't notice, you found me all bundled up in those crawler's webs,"  he points out.  "I don't think you'll find me praying to the Church of Zyvonar any time soon."  

Ildan's remarks, combined with what Rhenner is actually saying, sends a chill down the rogue's spine. What exactly does he mean by something so sick? Once the cleric lets go of Ildan, she places a hand on his shoulder and asks, in a low voice,  "Rhenner, you're...like me in trap room before, but more. Worse. Shocked and scared and...horror. What read in spider book?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Ildan's remarks, combined with what Rhenner is actually saying, sends a chill down the rogue's spine. What exactly does he mean by something so sick? Once the cleric lets go of Ildan, she places a hand on his shoulder and asks, in a low voice,  "Rhenner, you're...like me in trap room before, but more. Worse. Shocked and scared and...horror. What read in spider book?"  
 

 "They follow madness and evil, turned into a  religion ",  Rhenner replies through gritted teeth. He turns to face Natalia, and is silent for a moment, before turning away again.  "But I guess that wouldn't shock you so much",  he says in a dark tone.

 
 Spoiler: A bit of elaboration 
I'd just like to clarify, in case it is not clear to us players, that he's not saying that because of Natalia or her personality, but because she's a foreigner. And from his earlier conversation with Mithril Rhenner is bitterly (and possibly falsely) assuming that she'd coolly know about evil gods and their worship's existence as well.

How Natalia takes it, is of course a different question.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Hey! Gond not like that!"  Natalia shouts defensively. Then the implications of what Rhenner said sink in and she pulls back.  "Wait, what shock? Evil gods in home country, but...thought only gods by few. Linwood orcs...worshipped eye god, but none seen in Horde. Wait..."  she pauses and looks back up with Rhenner with alarm.  "No evil gods above in Eldgar, and none known, not by what heard. Is that...what shock?"  she whips around to face the others as well. Did Rhenner not know as well?

 
 Spoiler 
posting now because I'm on lunch break and don't know when I'll have a chance to post again. If the sense motive check I rolled ooc changes anything please tell me.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Enough gets through Rhenners anger that he sees the sense in those words. He's too upset to completely calm down, but he lets go of Ildan. He doesn't let Natalia to move between them though, unless she is very persistent. "But they still have major power in your society? How? How can people allow that? Just live with something so sick around?!"  
 

Ildan shrugs.  "You don't choose where you're born,"  he says.  "Complaining about it won't do anything, you just gotta live with it and work around it. You're going to tell me things are so much sweeter up on the surface?" 
 "Anyway, there are nastier things than Lolthites in the Underdark. You ever seen someone get swallowed by an ooze?"  He winces.  "Eeeeesh. Not to mention all the foreigners popping up, hurling their weasels at unsuspecting innocents."  He glares at Mithril.
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan shrugs.  "You don't choose where you're born,"  he says.  "Complaining about it won't do anything, you just gotta live with it and work around it. You're going to tell me things are so much sweeter up on the surface?" 
 "Anyway, there are nastier things than Lolthites in the Underdark. You ever seen someone get swallowed by an ooze?"  He winces.  "Eeeeesh. Not to mention all the foreigners popping up, hurling their weasels at unsuspecting innocents."  He glares at Mithril. 
 

 "I was just telling you what would happen.  I can't stop him, though I don't think I would try if you stabbed my friend here.  He just picks out some favorites.  Actually he just likes people who give him food."   She stood up and stretched,  "I wanted to head back to check out the room we found you in.  There was drowish script all over the bloody place, I am curious as to what it says." 
Admiral
Ildan frowns at the suggestion of returning to the room.  "Drow guards patrol these cliffs every twelve hours or so... if they did come by and find the crawlers dead, they'll be waiting for us. I didn't keep this face so pretty by taking unnecessary risks." 
Athedia
 "Well as much as I would like to ask if you could enchant me Shiny, I guess I have to leave it.  It would have been nice to know what that was saying.  Anyone manage to read any of it?" 
Admiral
Hilton coughs uncomfortably.  "I took a glance..."  he says guiltily.  "What the cleric was saying, about the the evil gods- it did look awfully like a prayer." 
Athedia
 "How, how would  you  know that?"   Mithril looked at Hilton, sizing him up again.
CoffeeIncluded
Just gotta live with it and work around it. Natalia gives a small melancholic smile. Maybe that's why he hasn't once made a comment. Still, this is a bit different.  "I...know. But still, if make hell, why...not stop? If others against like you." 

She steps close to Mithril, though shoots the Mage a look at her suggestion.  "Back to spider pits?"  still, she doubts she can talk her out of it and asks Ildan,  "How know if guards by yet? They looking, how close we...to Tol'Garun? Can...we sneak?" 


She stares at Hilton at his remark.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia got a natural 20 for a 26 on her sense motive of Ildan before when he said he wasn't part of the church down here (and not a Lloth worshipper?). Did she get anything?
 


EDIT: Natalia stares at Hilton.  "You know words? And know evil gods too?" 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia gets the sense Ildan is telling the truth about disliking the religion.
 


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "How, how would  you  know that?"   Mithril looked at Hilton, sizing him up again. 
 

Hilton has a short intake of breath.  "Never said I didn't read the language,"  he points out.  "As you can see, the talent came in handy." 

Ildan scratches his head.  "I didn't take a look before running out, and I was a bit tied up on the way in." 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Back to spider pits?"  still, she doubts she can talk her out of it and asks Ildan,  "How know if guards by yet? They looking, how close we...to Tol'Garun? Can...we sneak?"  
 

 "I had my way, there's a back tunnel we'd take out of here. The patrols don't usually take it, though you'll have to be a bit cautious of the wildlife. Once we hit Grunt Grotto I know a portal that'll take you halfway to Tol Garun." 
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia has heard of "portals" from the book: they are magical passageways that teleport someone from one location to another, fairly common modes of transportation in the Underdark.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  
 Spoiler 
Natalia gets the sense Ildan is telling the truth about disliking the religion.
 
 
 

 "Rhenner, he's...telling truth. Doesn't like it,"  she says, gently holding the ckeric's arm.


 Hilton has a short intake of breath.  "Never said I didn't read the language,"  he points out.  "As you can see, the talent came in handy." 

Ildan scratches his head.  "I didn't take a look before running out, and I was a bit tied up on the way in."  

 "Hilton, how know? Time in Underdark, ever?"  where had he gone? Is the slavery ring involved down here too? The slavery ring. She hasn't thought about that I says, and now she feels terribly guilty for even thinking if it. Natalia clenches her eyes shut and digs her fingers along the ground. They need to rescue the captives.


  "I had my way, there's a back tunnel we'd take out of here. The patrols don't usually take it, though you'll have to be a bit cautious of the wildlife. Once we hit Grunt Grotto I know a portal that'll take you halfway to Tol Garun." 
 
 Spoiler 
Natalia has heard of "portals" from the book: they are magical passageways that teleport someone from one location to another, fairly common modes of transportation in the Underdark.
 
 

Natalia opens her eyes as Ildan continues, then nods. She explains portals, at least what she heard of them, to her friends. Then she holds up a hand.  "Wait. How know portal? Who built? And..think talk price, details before? Of plan, and maybe thief friends?"  She gives her friends a significant look. They need to get to the prison, which means they should tell Ildan, but how? And how much should they tell?
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan shrugs.  "You don't choose where you're born,"  he says.  "Complaining about it won't do anything, you just gotta live with it and work around it. You're going to tell me things are so much sweeter up on the surface?" 
 "Anyway, there are nastier things than Lolthites in the Underdark. You ever seen someone get swallowed by an ooze?"  He winces.  "Eeeeesh. Not to mention all the foreigners popping up, hurling their weasels at unsuspecting innocents."  He glares at Mithril. 
 

Rhenner quiets down. His anger is not gone, as one can notice from his still clenched fist, but it is pushed back enough to allow him to think. He listens to the conversation, but doesn't feel like speaking.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Hilton, how know? Time in Underdark, ever?"  where had he gone? Is the slavery ring involved down here too? The slavery ring. She hasn't thought about that I says, and now she feels terribly guilty for even thinking if it. Natalia clenches her eyes shut and digs her fingers along the ground. They need to rescue the captives.  
 

Hilton sighs, but doesn't answer.


 Natalia opens her eyes as Ildan continues, then nods. She explains portals, at least what she heard of them, to her friends. Then she holds up a hand.  "Wait. How know portal? Who built? And..think talk price, details before? Of plan, and maybe thief friends?"  She gives her friends a significant look. They need to get to the prison, which means they should tell Ildan, but how? And how much should they tell? 

 "Took the words out of my mouth,"  Ildan states,  "though not always in the order I'd have used. Look, I'll be heading to the grotto anyway: have some business to take care of around there. Let's call it five hundred gold for the risk of sharing the route with you lot. But if you want to go all the way to Tol'Garun, that'll take a bit more doin', and I'll have to know where you're headed." 

Shiny thinks for a moment, then speaks up.  "The settlement we were staying in was attacked by drow. From our interrogation, all we were able to learn was that the Lords of the Underdark were keeping a prisoner, and that this prisoner was the reason they decided to attack. We came to learn what we could of the prisoner." 

Ildan whistles.  "A jailbreak, huh? You're not fooling around. Breaking into the Spider Pit is a bit too nutty for my blood, but I might know just the nut to talk to. I'll let you know he's not as friendly as me." 
 "We'll still head to the portal in the grotto, that'll take us eight miles, past some of the guards and traps along the way. But it's the last few miles that'll be the tough part: the eastern side of Tol Garun is the most heavily guarded. There's two ways I can think of to get past em... but I don't know that you'll like either of them." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Hilton sighs, but doesn't answer. 
 

Natalia looks at Hilton, her expression harder.



  "Took the words out of my mouth,"  Ildan states,  "though not always in the order I'd have used. Look, I'll be heading to the grotto anyway: have some business to take care of around there. Let's call it five hundred gold for the risk of sharing the route with you lot. But if you want to go all the way to Tol'Garun, that'll take a bit more doin', and I'll have to know where you're headed."  

Natalia nods. The price seems high, but not exorbitant.  "Split even each?"  she asks, turning around to face her friends before turning back to Ildan.  "Don't worry, we strong and sneakers too. But Ildan, what smuggled, and to whom? If...this works, we safe and you too, then maybe...more business later? Goods and news?" 

 Shiny thinks for a moment, then speaks up.  "The settlement we were staying in was attacked by drow. From our interrogation, all we were able to learn was that the Lords of the Underdark were keeping a prisoner, and that this prisoner was the reason they decided to attack. We came to learn what we could of the prisoner."  

Wait, what? Hold the scroll, was Shiny  honest  there? She lets out an amused laugh and is still registering this when Ildan answers.

 Ildan whistles.  "A jailbreak, huh? You're not fooling around. Breaking into the Spider Pit is a bit too nutty for my blood, but I might know just the nut to talk to. I'll let you know he's not as friendly as me."  

 Spider Pit?   "Why spiders?! Why always spiders?! Can't their brain hold other than webs!?"  Natalia shrieks, throwing up her hands again. It takes her many deep rapid breaths to calm down. And when she does, she asks, shakily,  "What know about friend? Or news, prisoner, or...Spider Pit?"  Ildan did say he knew some of the news around Tol'Garun. Maybe he would know something.


  "We'll still head to the portal in the grotto, that'll take us eight miles, past some of the guards and traps along the way. But it's the last few miles that'll be the tough part: the eastern side of Tol Garun is the most heavily guarded. There's two ways I can think of to get past em... but I don't know that you'll like either of them."  

A rough swallow.  "What ways?" 
Athedia
 "Do drow keep slaves?  It would be the perfect excuse for surface folk to be down here."   Mithril expressed the idea that had come to her as one of the solutions Ildan had mentioned.  She wouldn't like it, but she already had herself bounded to a god, a guild and most importantly this mission.  Everything was worth risking to stop the Horde and protect her friends.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at Mithril, then grins.  "If true, that brilliant idea! Or prisoners ourselves, maybe. Though...not sure if that safer."  she turns back to Hilton and Rocky and gives them a significant look. Especially if Hilton may have been involved back here. Hopefully after this, if they can, they can rescue all the people actually captured as slaves.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "We'll still head to the portal in the grotto, that'll take us eight miles, past some of the guards and traps along the way. But it's the last few miles that'll be the tough part: the eastern side of Tol Garun is the most heavily guarded. There's two ways I can think of to get past em... but I don't know that you'll like either of them."  
 

 "Let's hear them then."  Rhenner's tone is still not very friendly, but he seems to have managed to push his worst anger aside for now.


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Do drow keep slaves?  It would be the perfect excuse for surface folk to be down here."   Mithril expressed the idea that had come to her as one of the solutions Ildan had mentioned.  She wouldn't like it, but she already had herself bounded to a god, a guild and most importantly this mission.  Everything was worth risking to stop the Horde and protect her friends. 
 


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia looks at Mithril, then grins.  "If true, that brilliant idea! Or prisoners ourselves, maybe. Though...not sure if that safer."  she turns back to Hilton and Rocky and gives them a significant look. Especially if Hilton may have been involved back here. Hopefully after this, if they can, they can rescue all the people actually captured as slaves. 
 

 "That plan would mean we wouldn't have our weapons, armour or other things at hand if we run into trouble, which seems likely in any case. Is that wise?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Oh, right. They wouldn't have any weapons. How could they have overlooked that? Mithril, Shiny, and Rhenner could probably get by on spells alone, but her own magic, while useful and something she's forever grateful for, is limited. And Kurt doesn't have any magic at all.

Could they smuggle weapons in? Natalia takes her dagger and carefully drops it down the front of her shirt, then takes out a small scratched mirror and regards her appearance. It hasn't worked at all; the outline of the dagger makes a dent in her shirt that wouldn't be hard to spot with a pair of keen eyes. Frowning, she pulls out her dagger and sheaths it, muttering,  "So much...for secret compartment. Stupid Victoria..." 
Admiral
Ildan raises his eyebrows at Mithril.  "That was my first idea precisely." 
 
 Spoiler 
It actually was!
 

 "Tol'Garun does keep slaves... the mines are filled with them, but only dwarves and other beings from the Underdark (including their captured drow enemies), who are suited to such work. Humans, a gnome, and a dwarf... they might not be noticed in the city itself, where the wealthy keep their houseslaves. And as for your weapons and armor, I could carry them for you (I have the means to carry large amounts invisibly), though if we end up in a tight spot it would be difficult to get them to you quickly." 
 "But they'd need a guard to be with them... and not just me, a known slavetrader or there'd be too many questions. And I don't have any contacts who would be willing to take that kind of risk for me..." 
 "I do,"  says Hilton quietly.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia closes her eyes, her face pained at the confirmation of more slavers.  "Why? Why do that? Why would anyone...hurt others like that? Can we...free who we can?"  She knows deep down it's a dangerous idea, but the thought of leaving others to suffer when they'll be right there, right there and able to help out...When Natalia pleads with her friends, it's as much to have them talk her out of it as to have them agree to help, as much as she desperately wants their help to free whomever they meet. Her eyes widen, however, when Hilton speaks up.

 "You know? Worked here with group we beat? Down here before alone? Or... How? "  Are there multiple heinous slave-trading rings? More people they need to stop? Or one big thing that goes all the way down here? And if that's the case, how does this link in with the religion? Nobody in the guilds seems to know about religions like this...Lloth goddess, but if slave rings work down here then they'd know about it. Rhenner found out easily enough and it seems like the religion permeates everything from what he said. Then again, they're not part of the guild...

 "Hilton, did you know spider...goddess..."  she says the word like there's something sour in her mouth,  "too?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan raises his eyebrows at Mithril.  "That was my first idea precisely." 
 
 Spoiler 
It actually was!
 

 "Tol'Garun does keep slaves... the mines are filled with them, but only dwarves and other beings from the Underdark (including their captured drow enemies), who are suited to such work. Humans, a gnome, and a dwarf... they might not be noticed in the city itself, where the wealthy keep their houseslaves. And as for your weapons and armor, I could carry them for you (I have the means to carry large amounts invisibly), though if we end up in a tight spot it would be difficult to get them to you quickly."  
 

 "Give away all our equipment to a shady smuggler.. I like this plan already",  Rhenner comments with a voice dripping with sarcasm.


  "But they'd need a guard to be with them... and not just me, a known slavetrader or there'd be too many questions. And I don't have any contacts who would be willing to take that kind of risk for me..." 
 "I do,"  says Hilton quietly. 

Rhenner looks at Hilton surprised. He and the other guildless man hadn't spoken much and it wasn't quite clear to the cleric what was their relation to the rest of this party.
Admiral
Hilton sighs.  "I've worked in this territory before... for two years, when I first came to Eldgar. There was a drow trader named Guldor, who dealt in slaves from the surface. We'd trek down through the Upperdark and at three miles deep we'd trade the cargo- the captives- off to him. We went through some stuff together... we could probably trust him on this." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia glares at Hilton ,and it's clear that she's barely restraining herself from launching at the man and shoving an elbow in his throat. Still, she speaks in a growl, her rage directed not merely at Hilton, but the whole sick "business."

 "What stuff? What...learned from him? And how...how can this everywhere...Two years and not once thought wrong?! And whole rings, above and below...How..." 

She punches the wall, biting back a scream.
Cavelcade
 "The past is the past, Natalia. We use what we learned but there's no point in whipping ourselves with it...or others."  Kurt speaks softly from where he's still sitting, looking at Daybreaker in its sheath, pondering something to himself.  "If Hilton believes he can be trusted, that's enough for me...at least, we can give it a try. What other option is there?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "It...more than that,"  Natalia says, staring down at her scraped knuckles for several moments before rubbing and squeezing the grit out of them. The pain is sharp but focuses her.  "All the people there, there's...many. Will be many. And we need hurry, hunted. See them all, captured, and...and...we can't save all seen, can we?"  It would be the most coherent thing Natalia's said in a while, if she wasn't trying not to sob in the middle of it.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
  "The past is the past, Natalia. We use what we learned but there's no point in whipping ourselves with it...or others."  Kurt speaks softly from where he's still sitting, looking at Daybreaker in its sheath, pondering something to himself.  "If Hilton believes he can be trusted, that's enough for me...at least, we can give it a try. What other option is there?"  
 

Ildan grimaces.  "Well... I really would prefer we take this first gambit... but..." 
 "The city of Tol'Garun is well guarded: only a handful of tunnels enter, and drow soldiers guard each carefully. There are careful counter-measures in place to catch magical trickery as well, just in thought you could turn invisible and sneak on by. I have my ways of getting goods across (risky in themselves), but not living, breathing folks- not unless you were passing as slaves. You could try to overcome the soldiers with force, but more would arrive, and soon half the army would be upon you." 
 "But there's one route into Tol'Garun that the guards dare not enter, for what lies within terrifies them. Below the city, in the center layer of the Middledark, runs the Quiet Crevice, a deep valley carved into the rock. And in the crevice, right below the city, is the Temple of the Unspoken: that's the high church of the nation. The Crevice is where they hold their strange rituals to Lolth. Drow hear stories from childhood, but we don't really know what to believe, just that we're better off staying out."

"Still, I've heard stories of smugglers traveling through... but never firsthand, and never the details of what they faced."  He scratches his head and shrugs.  "You took out those crawlers, that's a good start, I suppose... but not sure I could say whether it's passable." 
Athedia
Mithril looked a little smug as Ildan confirmed her first guess.  As for lack of weapons, it wasn't optimal, and she didn't exactly trust the man, but she was fine with the idea.

 "Hilton, would your contact have gotten news from your organization that you were dead or whatever you are to them now?  If no-one else is comfortable I will not pursue it.  But be warned Ildan, a wizard as a slave is apparently more trouble than its worth so I would not cross us on the plan."   Mithril calmly looked at Hilton as she spoke, carefully choosing her words.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gives Mithril a strange look when the wizard stares at Hilton and seems to pick her words with care, but doesn't pry into the subject. She knows she's missing something, but figures it's probably best not  "And sneakers dangerous too. Know tricks, traps as well." 

As she listens to Ildan's other suggestion, she swallows and grows paler with every sentence. Sure, they were able to beat the driders with little trouble, but that's because she had heard them coming and there were only two. And if there were religious ceremonies down there...

 "Ildan, if down there, where lead out? Are you...with us? And...what stories heard? Maybe some true."  she looks over to Rhenner.  "Rhenner, what in spider book says...what could...in webs below?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Ildan, if down there, where lead out? Are you...with us? And...what stories heard? Maybe some true."  she looks over to Rhenner.  "Rhenner, what in spider book says...what could...in webs below?"  
 

Rhenner is not quick to answer, and when he does he speaks slowly,  "No one would describe the details of defences in a book that could be read by anyone. Well, unless they are stupid enough to boast. About the Temple itself..."  He pauses for a moment.  "Well... the other book describes them to have an obsession for knowledge. Especially with what could be described as secrets, though the book also says they carefully hide everything they've collected. And that they also rely much on divination magic to gather their knowledge. If they use it for defence too, it might be difficult to sneak by, though if some smugglers manage to do it, they can't be that careful." 
  That is not actually so deranged ,  he thinks,   But gods know what else they do down there.  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, slowly. Just a little time around Mithril and Shiny has shown her just how powerful and dangerous divinations can be.  "Any guesses for spell walls?"  she asks the three of them.  "From magic known, learned?"  she swallows and then speaks to Rhenner, trying and failing to hide the tremor in her voice.  "You said their religion makes hell,"  she says, pointing to the first book as she does so.  "Does spider book...say what done down there? What...is done?"

 Are we going to have people to rescue?  
CWater
Rhenner gives Natalia a tired look.  "I hope, I really do, they are not following the book, Arachnomicon, literally." 

Old memories are attempting to surface in his mind, and he tries to shoo them away.

Despite the grim subject, a hint of sarcasm slips back to his voice,  "Do you really want me to read out the details?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia falls silent. Does she really want to find out what they're doing down there? But if they go, they're bound to find out eventually. Better to know beforehand, right? And what if...

 "What if people trapped in webs below?"  squeezing her eyes shut, she gives a quick nod.  "Think need know. Ildan may already. Best to...know what if going, right?"  her voice ends in a squeak. This is gonna be disturbing, but...it can't be as bad as the Orc caves, as bad as what they saw during the ogre rescue mission, right?
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia falls silent. Does she really want to find out what they're doing down there? But if they go, they're bound to find out eventually. Better to know beforehand, right? And what if...

 "What if people trapped in webs below?"  squeezing her eyes shut, she gives a quick nod.  "Think need know. Ildan may already. Best to...know what if going, right?"  her voice ends in a squeak. This is gonna be disturbing, but...it can't be as bad as the Orc caves, as bad as what they saw during the ogre rescue mission, right? 
 

Rhenner looks back at her with disbelief, but the girl seems to be serious. Does she have no idea what she's asking to hear, or is she so jaded she wants to know anyway? It's hard to believe the latter, but then again she is a deadly fighter and who knows how these foreigners are raised. Still... just the thought of looking into that book again makes him feel sickened. He doesn't think he has ever resented a book so much, with the possible exception of 'Detailed Recordings of the War of Unlife'. Rhenner fights back a shudder. Still, would knowing about these things in advance made a difference that other time? Can you ever prepare yourself to horrors like this?   And is there something wrong with my mind when I constantly recall these unpleasant things..  

Realizing that Natalia is still looking at him for answer, the cleric sighs and picks up the Arachnomicon.  "As you wish, though I warn you",  the next words he directs at the whole group at large,  "If someone would prefer to preserve their sanity a little longer, I recommend you to close your ears."  With a frown, he begins to read snippets from the spider book, the spell doing the translation for him. He avoids the most horrific parts and keeps his voice low enough that anyone who doesn't want to participate in the creepy story session can choose not to listen.

 "...A sacrifice can be sent to the Spider Queen even through the smallest of spiders. A modified coffin made of steel is recommended, so the sacred beings can come and go as they please and the offering stays alive...
...When the nourishment of the spiders is not crucial, should all parts unnecessary to the Queen be removed, but always be careful not to damage the vocal chords so the repeating of prayers is not compromised...
...To truly gain the favour of the Spider Queen, must the Paladin of Slaughter offer the skins of 64 of his enemies...
...carved spider web decorations are known to please Lloth even on a live surface..." 

He goes on for a while, until he can't stand it any more, and slams the book shut.

 
 Spoiler 
Fill in the blanks how you see fit. :J I have no idea of what holy texts of any kind should be like, so these probably don't resemble any at all though.. Could have thought of this more, but I'm short on time..
 
Admiral
Ildan winces as he hears the descriptions.  "Can't say I'm surprised. Sounds about like what I've heard. So if you're heading down into those pits... I won't be going with you. Unnecessary risks and all that." 
 "You won't have to decide until tomorrow morning, after we've gone through the portal. We should hit the road." 
 
 Spoiler 
Love the Arachnomicon excerpts!! 100XP for Rhenner.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia thought she could handle it. She thought that hearing the awful things in the abstract wouldn't be as bad as experiencing them, that experiencing them would dampen the fear somehow. That whatever Rhenner's reading couldn't be as bad as the orc caves, and the pile of half-eaten, half-rotten bodies found in the ogre camps, that he was exaggerating or overstating what he found.

She was wrong.

By the very first paragraph Natalia has paled, and she's green before he can even finish the second. A high-pitched faint repeating of  "Nononononononononononononononono..."  fills the air when he gets to the...the live spider sacrifices...and it takes a moment for Natalia to realize she's the one making the sound. Eventually she falls silent, staring at Rhenner in horror and nausea, clutching the clothes of whomever is closest to her with an increasingly white-knuckled grip. By the time he's done she's wincing, and looks as if she's about to start crying and be sick at the same time.

She almost is, and dry-heaves in the corner a few times, though thankfully only a thin thread of spittle comes out. It takes some time for words to return to her, and when they do the first thing she croaks out is,   "Why?"  

If they're going down there, they need to save whomever's trapped. But just the thought horrifies her, and makes her want to run screaming in the opposite direction.

Ildan seems to share the same thoughts, and after Natalia takes several deep breaths and slowly gets her breathing under control, she nods.  "L-Later. See which l-later..." 
 
 Spoiler 
Are we hitting the road now? Do you want my second sense motive check now or later?

Oh, and you all decide whom Natalia grabbed. 😛
 
Athedia
Mithril sat impassive in the corner.  As Natalia panicked and Rhenner looked unnerved she shrugged.   "That was better than I expected.  A truely cruel group would have healed the sacrifices as they were being fed to the spiders, the more pain and suffering they felt the more worshipful to Lolth."   She looked at the horrified faces around her and stood up.   "I have had time to think about this.  Boccobs temples back home may not have had this sort of thing, but they had recorded history.  At least the drow and Lolth let you die.  That is better than some." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stares at Mithril, horrified. How could she sit there and be so impassive, so  blase  about it? She looks up in her best friend's eyes and stammers out,  "Mithril, please...you think that...that... evil,  right? How did...what else...Why shrug? Why...pretend it doesn't hurt?"  The other possibility is too awful to contemplate. And so she doesn't. Mithril's just trying to be strong for everyone, right?

 
 Spoiler 
Mithril is affected by this, isn't she? A big part of this is the way Natalia views her and being shaken by it. She's had her nearly iron-solid faith in Mithril shaken a lot the past couple days.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia stares at Mithril, horrified. How could she sit there and be so impassive, so  blase  about it? She looks up in her best friend's eyes and stammers out,  "Mithril, please...you think that...that... evil,  right? How did...what else...Why shrug? Why...pretend it doesn't hurt?"  The other possibility is too awful to contemplate.

 
 Spoiler 
Mithril is affected by this, isn't she? A big part of this is the way Natalia views her and being shaken by it. She's had her nearly iron-solid faith in Mithril shaken a lot the past couple days.
 
 
 

 "If you are asking if I would do it, no.  But I don't worship Lolth."   She tried to figure out how to explain and lacking the right way to do it she opened her spellbook.   "Our good and evil are mostly concepts.  These people probably don't think what they are doing is what they consider evil.  I am sure we are considered evil by the families of those we have killed."   She found the pages she was looking for and showed them one by one.   "But am I not as bad as them in some minds.  This spell, conjuring unnatural tentacles to crush and tear.  I know you find it useful, but it is not a pretty or good spell.  Or this one, do you think there is a good application for reading minds?  That it is something that good people do?  Do you think it is  pleasant  to have your skin dissolved with acid."   With a snap she shut the book.   "So you tell me.  Why should it hurt, why shouldn't I shrug?  It is no shock, it is life." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia staggers back as if struck.  "Mithril, how? How say something like that?"  Tears  begin to well in her eyes and fall down her face. How could Mithril say, think something like that?  "H-How say, how  think  that they not, and we are...?" 

The rogue falls silent, except for her sniffling.   I wish you were here, Miriam. You'd know what to say. You'd know how to say it. Please...Mithril, why are you saying these things? Why are you doing this?  

And then she stops. She stands still, staring down at the ground. She's stopped sniffling, stopped crying. The tears have stopped flowing. So has the despair. It's still there, but mostly subsumed by anger--by indignation.

She's not quite sure where she got the energy, or the strength. But suddenly she's launched herself at Mithril, grabbed the wizard by the shoulders, and started shouting in her face.

 "DAMMIT MITHRIL!"  she roars.  "DON'T DARE SAY THAT! You KNOW! You know it false! You know there difference! You think they like us?! You think Crusaders, who kill all different like us, who help any in need? You think slavers, who get gold from pain are good? They know it wrong, to live off misery, but they do anyway?! No, I don't know...why do, or how those thoughts, but I know still wrong! You think Lloth religion, where god demands pain and blood okay? Nobody good...wants pain, blood! We don't want, but we do because must! Fought driders because they attack! Fought Horde because they attacked! We...fight to protect, we hurt to protect, because must! We...take surrender, we try redemption! We help...whether human or drow! You use spells to protect, to defend. Fight and hurt to defend, not...to hurt! You don't do that, and that why you good! Why we better!"  She shakes Mithril, vaguely wondering at how much easier it is to do something like that now.  "Mithril, I use shadows! I use sneaking, and stab in the dark! I stealth, and traps, and bomb the Horde! I use what people say bad too! You think I...don't feel same? That I without nightmares? Mithril, I always wonder what right, what best! But difference is...how! I use to protect, to help, to save Ildan! Wouldn't bomb to avoid, I don't...bomb and stab because I like blood! I hate the pain! But do it to protect you, because...otherwise, they hurt and hurt and hurt because they want! And so...I need stop! You need stop, and we stop, and can only...stop with force! Because Crusaders won't stop themselves, Horde won't stop themselves, and these of Lloth...they go for centuries, if drow life like elf life! You think...they stop themselves? We...need stop them, to protect those they hurt! And that what different! Why we good! We just...need careful!"  Natalia pauses for a moment, panting. It's odd, she realizes. Somehow, she's at least partially articulated a thought that's been plaguing her for some time as well. Then, just as suddenly as she grabbed Mithril by the shoulders, she embraces the much taller mage and holds her tight.

 "I don't know why...your thoughts flow like this,"  she says into Mithril's shoulder. Now, she lets the tears flow and moisten the wizard's cloak.  "Don't know why you don't think you good. Don't know why...you hide behind stone like this. But...I believe in you." 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  
 Spoiler: Natalia's Rant 
Natalia staggers back as if struck.  "Mithril, how? How say something like that?"  Tears  begin to well in her eyes and fall down her face. How could Mithril say, think something like that?  "H-How say, how  think  that they not, and we are...?" 

The rogue falls silent, except for her sniffling.   I wish you were here, Miriam. You'd know what to say. You'd know how to say it. Please...Mithril, why are you saying these things? Why are you doing this?  

And then she stops. She stands still, staring down at the ground. She's stopped sniffling, stopped crying. The tears have stopped flowing. So has the despair. It's still there, but mostly subsumed by anger--by indignation.

She's not quite sure where she got the energy, or the strength. But suddenly she's launched herself at Mithril, grabbed the wizard by the shoulders, and started shouting in her face.

 "DAMMIT MITHRIL!"  she roars.  "DON'T DARE SAY THAT! You KNOW! You know it false! You know there difference! You think they like us?! You think Crusaders, who kill all different like us, who help any in need? You think slavers, who get gold from pain are good? They know it wrong, to live off misery, but they do anyway?! No, I don't know...why do, or how those thoughts, but I know still wrong! You think Lloth religion, where god demands pain and blood okay? Nobody good...wants pain, blood! We don't want, but we do because must! Fought driders because they attack! Fought Horde because they attacked! We...fight to protect, we hurt to protect, because must! We...take surrender, we try redemption! We help...whether human or drow! You use spells to protect, to defend. Fight and hurt to defend, not...to hurt! You don't do that, and that why you good! Why we better!"  She shakes Mithril, vaguely wondering at how much easier it is to do something like that now.  "Mithril, I use shadows! I use sneaking, and stab in the dark! I stealth, and traps, and bomb the Horde! I use what people say bad too! You think I...don't feel same? That I without nightmares? Mithril, I always wonder what right, what best! But difference is...how! I use to protect, to help, to save Ildan! Wouldn't bomb to avoid, I don't...bomb and stab because I like blood! I hate the pain! But do it to protect you, because...otherwise, they hurt and hurt and hurt because they want! And so...I need stop! You need stop, and we stop, and can only...stop with force! Because Crusaders won't stop themselves, Horde won't stop themselves, and these of Lloth...they go for centuries, if drow life like elf life! You think...they stop themselves? We...need stop them, to protect those they hurt! And that what different! Why we good! We just...need careful!"  Natalia pauses for a moment, panting. It's odd, she realizes. Somehow, she's at least partially articulated a thought that's been plaguing her for some time as well. Then, just as suddenly as she grabbed Mithril by the shoulders, she embraces the much taller mage and holds her tight.

 "I don't know why...your thoughts flow like this,"  she says into Mithril's shoulder. Now, she lets the tears flow and moisten the wizard's cloak.  "Don't know why you don't think you good. Don't know why...you hide behind stone like this. But...I believe in you." 
 
 
 

Mithril released the dagger from its hilt as Natalia dove at her, but managed to keep it held in her hand.  She pushed the girl off her as she tried to hug her after the attack.   "What I think doesn't matter.  Natalia.  You don't know me.  You take surrender.  I know Kurt believes in redemption.  I believe in regaining the balance, and that is all that matters.  Lolth is part of that balance, whether I like it or not.  And if you truely believe that I haven't done things to hurt than you are blind.  Or was it charity for me to have the dead snake delivered to his master.  What right do you have to judge any of these people, to think that I am good."   She slid the dagger back in the sheath, looking Ildan straight in his eyes.   "I don't trust a smuggler's word, but I don't really trust anyones any more.  So you are as good as any." 
Admiral
A moment of silence falls upon the group, followed by Ildan's awkward cough.

 "Well, unless you wanted to do a bit more shouting and make sure everyone from here to the Glimmersea heard us... perhaps we'd better get on our way."  He packs what is left of his gear.  "It's a twisting road to Grunt's Grotto, but we should be able to reach it and cross through the portal before we have to rest again." 

Ildan starts dismantling his traps that Natalia had reset the previous night, and once they're removed he steps through the illusory wall out into the tunnel, beckoning the others to follow.

 
 Spoiler: Natalia's Sense Motive 
Natalia doesn't get the impression he's planning on betraying them.

Oh, I didn't mention it IC but he'd like half now and half later of the 500gp for the trip to the grotto.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's last to follow, as she's sitting in the ground where Mithril rebuffed her.

Dammit, what is going on? Why is Mithril acting like this? Why is she making herself out to be the villain of the piece? She's not, can't she see that? This is Mithril, the Mithril who listens to her, who taught her the magic, who has always understood her words and never judged! Why is Mithril saying she wants to keep he balance when she offered mercy to the familiar, when she offered to Give knowledge?

But then again, Mithril has been acting really oddly lately. What was going on a couple days ago when she tried to...torture...him in the first place? Why is she doing these thing? Natalia's shoulders shake and she pounds the ground with her fist, biting back loud cries but instead letting a few silent tears fall. Dammit, what is going on?! Why is she driving her away? What's happening?! Natalia's livid and dejected, but she's also terrified. For Mithril's sake, and her own, and everyone else's as well.

When Natalia leaves the cavern she gives the group a quiet nod, not trusting herself to speak.
CWater
For a moment Rhenner was afraid that the women start a real fight right there, but fortunately that was avoided. He quickly regrets that he agreed to read the book outloud, he should have known better. The wizard may be cold, but Natalia was obviously disturbed, and while there where other reasons for the outburst, the book did seem to have worked as a trigger. Well, what was done, was done, he thinks and tries to forget about it. He places the two hideous books in his bag of holding and thinks absent-mindedly that if he's going to keep them, he needs to disguise them somehow before they get back to the surface or soon after. Perhaps an enchantment could be found, he's not sure he'd trust them with only new covers.

Rhenner looks back at the crying Natalia when he leaves the cavern, but decides not to bother her. It's not the kind of pain he knows how to heal.

Unless Ildan demands that they must stay absolutely silent, he moves to walk next to Mithril and addresses her instead,  "So you decided not to sugarcoat your actions to your friend after all. What made you change your mind?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 For a moment Rhenner was afraid that the women start a real fight right there, but fortunately that was avoided. He quickly regrets that he agreed to read the book outloud, he should have known better. The wizard may be cold, but Natalia was obviously disturbed, and while there where other reasons for the outburst, the book did seem to have worked as a trigger. Well, what was done, was done, he thinks and tries to forget about it. He places the two hideous books in his bag of holding and thinks absent-mindedly that if he's going to keep them, he needs to disguise them somehow before they get back to the surface or soon after. Perhaps an enchantment could be found, he's not sure he'd trust them with only new covers.

Rhenner looks back at the crying Natalia when he leaves the cavern, but decides not to bother her. It's not the kind of pain he knows how to heal.

Unless Ildan demands that they must stay absolutely silent, he moves to walk next to Mithril and addresses her instead,  "So you decided not to sugarcoat your actions to your friend after all. What made you change your mind?"  
 

 "The last time I went into caves and into the home of my enemies someone died.  Someone I had hidden the truth from."   Mithril was focusing on the path ahead of her, grey eyes hard and tired looking.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stiffens as she sees Rhenner and Mithril whispering to each other, but sets her jaw and says nothing for the moment. She marches past them, only pausing briefly to tell Rhenner in a low voice,  "Thank you for letting know. This not your fault."  she looks over at Mithril with hurt eyes, then turns away and heads to the front of the group to scout. Anyone looking closely can see her hands are shaking and balled into fists.

 
 Spoiler 
if you're cool with me listening in just say so. And should I roll scouting checks?
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia stiffens as she sees Rhenner and Mithril whispering to each other, but sets her jaw and says nothing for the moment. She marches past them, only pausing briefly to tell Rhenner in a low voice,  "Thank you for letting know. This not your fault."  she looks over at Mithril with hurt eyes, then turns away and heads to the front of the group to scout. Anyone looking closely can see her hands are shaking and balled into fists. 
 

Rhenner gives her a tiny tired smile in return. When she has gone, he lets out a small sigh and shakes his head a bit.



 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "The last time I went into caves and into the home of my enemies someone died.  Someone I had hidden the truth from."   Mithril was focusing on the path ahead of her, grey eyes hard and tired looking. 
 

 "I'm sorry."  Rhenner lets his gaze wander around the structure of the cave.
 "But did she die because she didn't have enough knowledge about the cave or you?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "But did she die because she didn't have enough knowledge about the cave or you?"  
 

 "He, his name was Henry.  He wasn't even supposed to be there."   Mithril clenched her fist at the memory.   "I can't explain."  And I wouldn't if I could    Mithril dropped her head, slowing her pace down.  She needed to ask a favor of someone in the group, but who?  Rhenner the stranger who had joined them and had secrets of his own, or Kurt, trustworthy Kurt.  Of all the people he would be the most likely to follow her request if it was needed.  At least she hoped he would.   "Kurt, can we talk?" 
 
 Spoiler: For Cavelcade 
If you want to talk PM me
 
CWater
Rhenner gives Mithril a long look, but nods. He picks up his pace to allow the two speak in peace.
Admiral
Ildan leads the party along the tunnel carefully, turning back to hush them occasionally as he goes.  "It's bad enough we'll have to be carrying those damnable torches,"  Ildan whispers.  "This means we'll have to take the tougher path... if we stepped out into that open cave with them we could be seen for miles."  Suddenly he turns around.  "What good are eyes that can't work without a big blazing beacon nearby? Fire is for burning things, not for  reading  them. Guildies got it all backwards."  He turns back around and continues.  "Lucky for you I know another route." 

After clambering along the tunnel for about fifteen minutes as it grows steadily narrower, they reach a steep incline reaching the top of the tunnel- by the appearance it seems to be the result of a cave-in. Ildan clambers up up the hill.  "This tunnel was forgotten a few centuries ago after it collapsed, but a few buddies and I dug a tunnel right through to make a handy shortcut."  He moves aside a few rocks, and indeed a small tunnel appears through the collapsed rubble: hardly large enough to crawl through.

 
 Spoiler 
Mithril and Kurt are very welcome to have your conversation by PM while the party is traveling.

Party order through the crawl tunnel?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's silent as they march, at least until they get to the tunnel. She doesn't even make a remark at Ildan's comment. When they get to the tunnel, however, she looks at it, then gives a nod.  "Me first."  she steps to enter the tunnel, but then pauses to look back at Mithril.

 
 Spoiler: Hey, athedia? 
can Mithril cast darkvision on me? If not, I'll drink the potion.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia's silent as they march, at least until they get to the tunnel. She doesn't even make a remark at Ildan's comment. When they get to the tunnel, however, she looks at it, then gives a nod.  "Me first."  she steps to enter the tunnel, but then pauses to look back at Mithril.

 
 Spoiler: Hey, athedia? 
can Mithril cast darkvision on me? If not, I'll drink the potion.
 
 
 

Mithril reached over and touched Natalia's closed eyelids.   "Darksight."   She waited for the spell to take effect and then stepped back eyeing the tunnel cautiously.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia offers a wan smile, and opens her mouth to say something but then closes it, shaking her head. Instead she says,  "I'll shout or flee if something, but you all behind, right?"  and then carefully draws her blades and enters the tunnel.

 
 Spoiler 
what rolls do I need?
 
Cavelcade
 "Aye, we can talk Mithril."  He watches her closely as she does, oddly silent even for me, as he has been since the fight with the driders. Even with the others fighting amongst themselves he didn't rouse himself to stop it, or intervene, but let it go on to its own conclusion. He seems tired as well.  "We should try and keep our noise down, my armour makes enough already."  The rest of the march to the tunnel he spends quietly conversing, his armour making muffled noises thanks to the enchantment, almost inaudible thankfully.

 "When I've failed to before, it's cost me dearly Natalia. I'll be supporting you."  He speaks it softly, a hand on her shoulder for a moment before he goes back to his watch as well.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you,"  Natalia says, quietly.  "I think other eyes good in dark."

 I know what people say about the ends justifying the means. But what they're talking about, those people forget why they were going for those ends in the first place, and why they were important, right? I wish you were here, Miriam. You'd know what to do about Mithril better than me. I know know what's going on! I don't know how to help!  

Unless Ildan is strongly against it, she goes in after him, keeping her eyes and ears open.
Admiral
Ildan looks at the group.  "Any volunteers?"  After pausing a moment, he frowns and grumbles.  "Yeah, that's what I thought." 

He slowly climbs into the tunnel headfirst, beckoning for Natalia to follow.

 
 Spoiler 
Full complement of checks from everyone: Spot, Listen, Move Silently (there's no such thing as hiding in a tunnel)
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shuffles along carefully, keeping an eye and ear out, ready to drag Ildan back if something happens.

 
 Spoiler 
I can't even hide with darkstalker? Or does that not count in what the feat allows me to do?
Spot:  (d20+12)[ 31 ] 
Listen:  Take 10 for 22 
Move Silently:  (d20+19)[ 20 ]  Eh, if I had to get a nat 1 on something, might as well be this.
 


It's getting easier to see in darkvision with practice, and the fact that the light is behind her helps a bit. Still, the weapons she insists on having out scrape once or twice against the ground. Her shirt somehow muffles the worst of it but it's still jarring, and she glares down at the offending weapons during a particularly loud scrape.
Athedia
Mithril stood behind the others, nervously shift with the torch as one by one they climbed into the tunnel.  When it was her turn she had some trouble figuring out how to crawl through the tunnel with the torch in one hand.  Luckily the constant smashing against the wall did not damage the magical flame.

 
 Spoiler 
Spot  (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
Listen  (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
Move Silently  (1d20+2)[ 19 ] 
 
Cavelcade
Kurt grumbles along, Daybreaker in hand, keeping his words to himself for now, his vision burdened by his conversation with Mithril it seems.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20)[ 11 ]  Listen
 (1d20)[ 1 ]  Spot
 (1d20+2)[ 13 ]  Move Silently
 
CWater
Rhenner follows the others to the small tunnel. He's not very good at moving silently, but he'll try to keep his senses sharp at least.

 
 Spoiler 
Sorry, I forget, does Mithril have a torch of her own, or did Rhenner give his to her?

Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
Move Silently:  (1d20-1)[ 6 ]  (Includes Armor Check penalty.)
 
CoffeeIncluded
As Natalia climbs into the tunnel and starts crawling behind Ildan, a thought comes to her. She whispers, hoping he can pick it up,  "Ildan, how old are you? Are drow lives like elf lives, years in decades, centuries?"  The thought itself is barely comprehensible to her. But if the guilds were founded only a few hundred years ago, then people here might be alive to remember a time before them. Heck, the founders might still be alive, if they aren't human.

 "Rhenner, Ildan, who...founded guilds? Are makers still living?"  she whispers in a hush. Though it really isn't necessary. Even she's having trouble moving silently and her friends are doing even worse.

 
 Spoiler: Explanation 
ive actually been sitting on this post for several days. I'm at the vet school open house helping out right now. How's everyone else doing?
 
Admiral
The party crawls onward for half a mile: the slight uphill incline of the tunnel makes the already grueling journey even more difficult. At a few points the tunnel gets so narrow that Kurt barely fits through in his cumbersome armor. Only Shiny is mostly comfortable in the space, and his gnome constitution suits him well for the tiresome climb.

After a while, the tunnel slowly widens: still too narrow to stand, but wide enough to let the party relax a bit.  "There's about a quarter of a mile left,"  Ildan whispers back quietly.  "Good to see it's still-" 

Suddenly a shape bursts from the ground below the dark elf, flailing arms grabbing a hold of the elf. A second appears right in front of them, blocking the path. Another bursts in between Shiny and Mithril, driving the gnome backwards and forcing a gap between the leading five travelers and the three in the rear. A final beast pops up behind Rocky, shrieking as it does. Each has multiple twisted arms, and the travelers can see eyes scattered strangely across its body.

 "Travelers,"  screeches the beast in front of the party, in an obscure enunciation of the common tongue,  "meet our demands or die!" 
 
 Spoiler 

Visual aid:  http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2.../6/6a/Xorn.jpg 

Map is the same as last time; see link in sig.

Knowledge Underdark (untrained) check from Natalia to recognize the creature. (I'm letting you know at the start that I have made modifications to the monster from its appearance in the MM. If you make assumptions based on meta-knowledge from the MM they are unlikely to work out well for you.)

As a pre-init action one of them (X2) is grappling Ildan. The others haven't attacked you yet.

Touch attack:  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] 
Grapple:  (1d20+10)[ 14 ] 
Ildan:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 

Natalia:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
Ildan:  (1d20+4)[ 24 ] 
Rhenner:  (1d20+3)[ 8 ] 
Slavers:  (1d20+3)[ 8 ] 
Kurt:  (1d20+2)[ 9 ] 
Shiny:  (1d20+2)[ 12 ] 
Mithril:  (1d20+2)[ 15 ] 
Enemies:  (1d20)[ 12 ] 

ETA: Ones that can go before enemies are

Ildan
Natalia
Mithril
Shiny
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Gaagh!"  Natalia screams, jumping back in instinctive revulsion at the mutant frog-like tentacles things. She whacks her head against the ceiling of the cavern abs lets out a short yelp, then looks around. They're surrounded, and two are grabbing Ildan. Not good.

 "What demands?"  she asks suspiciously, trying to edge her way to Ildan.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls and question  
knowledge:  (d20+4)[ 24 ] 

Yippee! We're back! Question before Natalia does anything: can she get to Ildan?
 
Admiral
With a nimble twist the drow rogue rolls out of the beast's grasp, but ends up on the other side of the creature from Natalia. The bizarre creature takes up almost the full tunnel, such that Natalia has completely lost sight of Ildan, though she can still hear his voice.

 "No need for this to go bad, copperchompers!"  they hear him shout in a deeply guarded tone that still suggests some familiarity with the creatures.  "All of us here are going to sort this out like the greedy fiends we are." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "You okay?"  Natalia asks Ildan, her view blocked by the beast.  "Not grabbed? You know them?" 
 
 Spoiler 
sorry, I didn't see the results of the grapple before posting!
 
Admiral
Natalia recognizes the creatures from the Deldon library: luckily she'd been curious enough about them to ask a few questions at the time.

They are called Xorns: monsters from another plane that had taken up residence in the Underdark. She knew they like to eat metal and gems, and usually ambush travelers who are carrying them, either negotiating for a tribute or, if necessary, looting their corpses. They can glide through earth as easily as a fish moves through water (which is likely how they were able to sneak up on the party without them feeling so much as a tremor). She also realizes that the monsters multiple eyes mean her usual tricks of surrounding a foe to strike at weak points will not be effective.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia can't reach Ildan as there is right now a xorn in the way.

The way I'm playing this tunnel is the following:

Because you're crawling you cannot move more than 5 feet with a move action (10 with a double move or haste). Also, you cannot share a space with anyone (except an enemy you are grappling). This means that if you want to switch spaces with someone right next to you, you have to coordinate your move actions (and be in the same initiative block).

You can, however, cast non-touch spells or use ranged weapons through other friends, basically by yelling  "Get down!"  You cannot cast a spell or used a ranged weapon through an enemy.

There will be more complications (and remember you are always prone, with the penalties that leads to) but we'll address them as they arise.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Xorns,"  Natalia says   "Eyes all around, ground swimmers, treasure eaters. Thought we'd risk lives...not wallets down here too,"  she tries to joke. Hm. It wouldn't be easy to flank these creatures, but she may be able to do it. She's getting to know the dark well.

 
 Spoiler: About all around vision 
actually, I don't need to worry about that. Natalia is perfectly capable of flanking and sneak attacking them--yay darkstalker! Does this mean that my allies can flank off me, or do only I get the benefit? I think it's the latter but I want to make sure.

Can I wait to see what Ildan does and still keep my initiative?
 

 "Ildan?"  she asks cautiously.
Athedia
Mithril looked back as the second creature burst up behind her and before Shiny.  With a yelp she backed up from it running into Rhenner.   "Stay back!"   She slapped one hand on her chest, the magic force building around her to shield herself.  Her dagger was quickly released into her free hand, held nervously as she stared as the mass in front of her.  It wasn't a threatening gesture, more the one of someone who wanted some semblance of protection from the creatures.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm BACK!!!
 
Admiral
The party readies themselves for battle, while trying not to provoke the creatures.

 
 Spoiler 
Shiny uses his turn to prepare a readied action of a  mass whelm  spell against all four creatures, in the event that any attacks.
 

 "We smell tasty diamond dust and delicious dwarven steel..."  hisses one of the creatures.

 "...but that is not what we seek now..."  speaks the one closest to Shiny.  "You carry steel finer than any we've hunted in years." 

The one closest to Natalia points towards Kurt.  "That sword you carry! Give it to us, and you may pass unharmed."  Its eyes are fixed on Daybreaker.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The party readies themselves for battle, while trying not to provoke the creatures.

 
 Spoiler 
Shiny uses his turn to prepare a readied action of a  mass whelm  spell against all four creatures, in the event that any attacks.
 

 "We smell tasty diamond dust and delicious dwarven steel..."  hisses one of the creatures.

 "...but that is not what we seek now..."  speaks the one closest to Shiny.  "You carry steel finer than any we've hunted in years." 

The one closest to Natalia points towards Kurt.  "That sword you carry! Give it to us, and you may pass unharmed."  Its eyes are fixed on Daybreaker. 
 

Natalia's eyes widen at the Xorns' request. Her hands tighten their grip on her crossbow and dagger as she slowly turns to Kurt. Make him give up the sword that means so much to him, the sword that was given by Soshima, that he's using as he completely changes from the wild barbarian she first knew him to be? Natalia doesn't know the details of Kurt's change, but she knows how important that sword is. And so she stares at Kurt with wide eyes, gives him a questioning look along with the smallest of head shakes. She whispers, and then thinks,   "Xorns eat metal."  You're not actually going to give them Daybreaker to EAT, are you?  
 
 Spoiler: Natalia's readied action 
Natalia prepares a readied action to stab/shoot the creature she's flanking with Ildan in a full attack in case this turns hostile. Which, given their demands...
 
Cavelcade
Kurt lets out what sounds like a soft growl as they point at Daybreaker, raising the blade slightly to point it at one of the Xorn's may eyes. His beard bristles somewhat as the creature voices its desire.  "You take Daybreaker from my cold corpse's hands, and not before. This sword is my oath, and I keep them."  He advances a step, looming somehow despite his diminutive stature in the short space offered by the tunnel.  "And I've killed many things worse than you to do so. Get out of my sight, or die." 
 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+9)[ 14 ]  Intimidate.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler: Roll 

Kurt gets +2 circumstance for being Kurt.

 (1d20+7)[ 16 ] 

Tie... Which means:
 


The creature doesn't flinch from Kurt's threat, but it pauses a moment.  "No need to start prying open fingers yet,"  he says upon consideration.  "Two other swords... And some dust... And you can keep your toy." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses and looks at her friends, and Ildan and the slavers as well.  "I have spare sickle. ...your thoughts? Ildan?" 
Admiral
Like Natalia, Shiny hesitates as he looks at the creature next to him.

 
 Spoiler 

Natalia isn't sure about whether the creature is being honest about the deal.

Shiny's Sense Motive check:  (1d20+9)[ 24 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny raises his hands in resignation.  "All right, you can have mine too! Just relax, and we can settle this-" 

Quick as a flash, his hands change into the motions of a spell as he speaks his arcane words, aiming his magic at the monster next to him and at the creature past Hilton and Rocky.

 
 Spoiler 
Looks like Shiny doesn't believe them. Mass Whelm on X3 and X4 (casting defensively, of course):

X3 Will:  (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  Damage:  (8d6)[ 25 ] 
X4 Will:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ]  Damage:  (8d6)[ 29 ] 

Save or not, both are unsettled (-2 to AC and Attack) until his next turn.

We'll go ahead and say that when you started talking it broke initiative and we have to reroll it (but I'm putting Shiny at the end of the initiative order since he just went). Also gives you another chance to catch them flatfooted, or vice versa.
 


The creatures resist the gnome's spell, though they seem distracted by it.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia eyes the Xorns suspiciously, and cautiously says,  "Guys? Remember fourth slaver?" 

She doesn't get to finish her sentence though, because right then and there Shiny--who seems to not trust them at all--casts his spell over the two Xorns closest to him. Quick as lightning, Natalia follows up by firing her crossbow, then stabbing twice in quick succession. She knows she's caught them off guard, even with their many eyes. Because she's been watching them. They may have eyes all over, but those eyes blink. They blink in a pattern. And if she can interrupt the pattern...

 
 Spoiler 
Attack! Full attack flanking sneak attack!
Crossbow:
Attack:  (d20+9)[ 15 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 11 ] 
Damage:  (d4)[ 2 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 

Dagger:
Attack:  (d20+6)[ 13 ] 
Crit:  (d20+6)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 

Dagger:
Attack:  (d20+3)[ 4 ] 
Crit:  (d20+3)[ 7 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 6 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 

Wow that's low. Being prone HURTS attack rolls. Those low rolls didn't help either. Ah well, my luck was gonna run out eventually. I've gotta Cat's Grace next turn, and switch to my shortsword. Does anyone have a Reduce Person on them?

I don't think they get an AoO on me since I caught them flatfooted. This should be an interesting combat! Also, we  really  need some code phrases. 😛
 
CWater
It is cramped and dark, neither which is good from a healers perspective. He can't do anything about the space (or the lack of it), but light, well... Rhenner sighs.  "I hate this spell",  he mutters to himself before placing a hand on his holy symbol,  "But my opinion is irrelevant. Wise Fharlanghn who watches even these hidden paths, please allow the sunlight to travel here, to aid us who wander in the dark." 

A bright corona surrounds the cleric, making him glow and shedding light to the tunnel.

 " ...I still hate this spell. " 
 
 Spoiler 
Rhenner doesn't find it as amusing as I do, can't understand why.😛

Any chance the sudden bright light would bother the Xorns a bit? They live in the dark after all and we only had one torch lit 'til now.🙂
 
Admiral
Rocky draws his greatsword and takes a powerful swing at the creature next to him, after which Hilton fires a crossbow over Rocky's shoulder.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+12)[ 17 ]  Crit:  (1d20+12)[ 23 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 13 ]  Crit:  (2d6+6)[ 15 ] 

Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 9 ]   (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
Dmg:  (1d8)[ 8 ]   (1d8)[ 5 ] 
 


Both of their attacks bounce off the creature's tough hide.
Admiral
The monster next to Natalia springs into action, but appears to focus its strikes not on her but on Ildan. She cannot see the blows, but from his grunts of pain it sounds like more than one hit.

The creature next to Shiny attacks him, as does the one next to Rocky.

 
 Spoiler 

Attacks on Ildan rolled off-forum

On Shiny:
Bite  (1d20+10)[ 18 ]   (1d20+10)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+3)[ 9 ]   (3d6+3)[ 15 ] 

Claw  (1d20+8)[ 23 ]   (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 3 ]   (1d6+1)[ 7 ] 

Claw  (1d20+8)[ 10 ]   (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 3 ]   (1d6+1)[ 4 ] 

Claw  (1d20+8)[ 19 ]   (1d20+8)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 3 ]   (1d6+1)[ 5 ] 

On Rocky:
Bite  (1d20+10)[ 13 ]   (1d20+10)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+3)[ 10 ]   (3d6+3)[ 15 ] 

Claw  (1d20+8)[ 16 ]   (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 5 ]   (1d6+1)[ 6 ] 

Claw  (1d20+8)[ 9 ]   (1d20+8)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 7 ]   (1d6+1)[ 4 ] 

Claw  (1d20+8)[ 23 ]   (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 2 ]   (1d6+1)[ 4 ] 
 
CWater
The glowing cleric picks up a small piece of parchment from his pocket. With the fight going on around him, Rhenner eyes it quickly, choosing a random phrase. Touching the holy symbol with his other hand, he reads:  " ...a true journey is not made only by walking from one place to another. If a traveller's mind and spirit are left at home, it would be better if the feet never left as well. " 
 "Not perhaps the most appropriate for this situation, but it'll do",  Rhenner says to himself, then turns towards Mithril.  "Get behind me, wizard. It would be a shame if that creature sank it's teeth into you before you could weave any of your deadly magic." 
 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Casting Recitation. +2 to attack rolls and saves for allies, -2 to the xorns. One thing the spell description does not explicitly specify, is whether the caster gets the +2 or +3 bonus. Admiral?

Nimbus of Light cast 1 round ago.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks as her blades bounce off his hide, then winces at Ildan's grunts of pain.  "Ildan, you okay? I'm...trying! Hold on!"  She waits a moment and then feels it. Somehow, the scrap of a psalm Rhenner read has invigorated her somewhat. She strikes out three more times, hoping it will be enough. It's awkward enough, moving crouches like this.

 
 Spoiler: Attacks! 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 22 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:  (d20+5)[ 11 ] 
Crit:  (d20+5)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

Okay, if the first two attacks miss then were in deep trouble.
 
Admiral
Natalia's first hit manages to pierce the creature's hide in a vulnerable spot, though due to its toughness the wound is not as deep as she'd expected it to be. Her second swing glances off of the creature's flesh, and her third goes wide.

As Mithril moves past Rhenner, the monster swings after her.

 
 Spoiler 

Natalia's first swing hit.

AoO on Mithril. Xorn is Unsettled by Shiny.

 (1d20+8)[ 26 ]   (1d20+8)[ 15 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 15 ]   (3d6+4)[ 13 ] 

15 damage to Mithril.
 


The beast lands a serious blow on the wizard.

Once she has moved away, Mithril tosses her dagger into the air while casting her spell, and it multiplies into a cloud around her head.

 
 Spoiler 

Rolling for Kurt's available maneuvers. It's not clear which he readied so I will guess. Please someone tell me if I am doing Crusader wrong.

1. Vanguard Strike
2. Crusader's Strike
3. Radiant Charge
4. Leading the Attack
5. White Raven Tactics

 (1d5)[ 3 ] 
 (1d4)[ 4 ]  (no duplicates)

Nice: once Radiant Charge has been expended, WRT is 4th. He uses it.
 
Admiral
As Mithril hurtles past the cleric, Kurt sees his opportunity.  "Behind me!"  he calls out, and ducks under her, combining his assistance with her momentum to keep her moving forward. With this boost, Mithril sees a new opportunity, and sends a dagger flying at the Xorn who had wounded her. Moments later, she splays out her palm and sends four spheres flying towards it, one hand on the rod that lets her enhance spells.

 
 Spoiler 
Feels in character for Mithril to attack the one that hurt her, even if she is closer to X2 and Natalia has wounded it. Since the rules note this as an "attack" she gets a +2 bonus from recitation.

Dagger:  (1d20+14)[ 15 ]   (1d20+14)[ 21 ] 
Dagger:  (1d20+14)[ 31 ]   (1d20+14)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+2)[ 7 ]  (1d6+2)[ 6 ] 

I do not know why I rolled that twice. Sadly I have to go with the first one, so it misses.

Empowered Acid Arrow (I figured she would cast this before MM because it has an advantage earlier in a battle, when there are more rounds in future).

Ranged touch attack:  (1d20+8)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (2d4)[ 4 ]  * 1.5

Hits for 6 damage, more to follow next turn.

Athedia can decide when she returns whether she wishes to use charges to retain the Acid Arrow spell.
 


In her anger she cannot target the dagger properly, but the acid sizzles into the creature's stony flesh.
Admiral
Shiny casts a hurried spell at the creature closest to him, then reaches out to grab it and cast an enchantment by touch.

 
 Spoiler 

Distract Assailant (to give it -2 to AC), Inevitable Defeat.

Touch attack:  (1d20+2)[ 18 ] 
Nonlethal damage this turn (no save):  (3d6)[ 12 ] 
 
Admiral
Rocky swings his greatsword at the creature battling him, and Hilton again fires his crossbow.

 
 Spoiler 

Rocky:
Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 29 ]  Crit:  (1d20+9)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 10 ]  Crit:  (2d6+6)[ 17 ] 

Nice, "double crit."

Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 16 ]   (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
Dmg:  (1d8)[ 5 ]   (1d8)[ 1 ] 
 


Rocky lands a powerful blow on the creature, though Hilton's crossbow bolt bounces off harmlessly.
Admiral
The creature next to Natalia turns his attention to the human rogue, while the other creatures continue to battle Shiny and Rocky.

 
 Spoiler 

Xorn on Natalia:
 (1d20+8)[ 14 ]   (1d20+8)[ 23 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 16 ]   (3d6+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 10 ]   (1d20+6)[ 13 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 4 ]   (1d6+3)[ 6 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 9 ]   (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 8 ]   (1d6+3)[ 5 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 19 ]   (1d20+6)[ 9 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 7 ]   (1d6+3)[ 9 ] 

Xorn on Shiny (Unsettled):
 (1d20+6)[ 25 ]   (1d20+6)[ 7 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 13 ]   (3d6+4)[ 20 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 19 ]   (1d20+4)[ 15 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 9 ]   (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 9 ]   (1d20+4)[ 19 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 6 ]   (1d6+3)[ 9 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 9 ]   (1d20+4)[ 18 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 4 ]   (1d6+3)[ 6 ] 

Xorn on Rocky:
 (1d20+8)[ 28 ]   (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 17 ]   (3d6+4)[ 14 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 21 ]   (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 6 ]   (1d6+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 24 ]   (1d20+6)[ 21 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 6 ]   (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 12 ]   (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 9 ]   (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
 


Natalia easily dodges the attacks of the Xorn next to her, though Shiny is struck with some force. But the monster fighting Rocky, enraged by its wounds, deals a set of devastating bites and blows.
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 As Mithril hurtles past the cleric, Kurt sees his opportunity.  "Behind me!"  he calls out, and ducks under her, combining his assistance with her momentum to keep her moving forward. With this boost, Mithril sees a new opportunity, and sends a dagger flying at the Xorn who had wounded her. Moments later, she splays out her palm and sends  a green arrow  flying towards it, one hand on the rod that lets her enhance spells.

In her anger she cannot target the dagger properly, but the acid sizzles into the creature's stony flesh. 
 

 "Kurt! Be careful!"   Once the bolt left her hand Mithril clutched her side.  She could feel herself bleeding and... yes an attempted deep breath confirmed it.  At least one rib was a the least cracked, at worst broken.  How did people survive the types of injuries without magical healing?  She knew clerics were not as common in the years before and an injury like this could easily kill.

 
 Spoiler 
*cough*EarlyEditions*cough*
 
CWater
Rhenner grits his teeth, with these creatures in the way he can't tell if the other people in the group are wounded or how bad, and even if he did, he couldn't help them. Fueled by a bit of frustration, he tries to whack the xorn in front of him with his morningstar.

 
 Spoiler 
Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 27 ]  (Shiny is threatening this xorn, right?)
Damage:  (1d8+3)[ 11 ] 

If Kurt wants to switch places with Rhenner, he'll do that. AC 21 against the AoO from the xorn.
 
Athedia
Mithril focused herself.  Rhenner and Kurt were taking care of the one that had attacked her.  She turned around almost running into Natalia who was fighting as best she could from her confined position.  A dagger shot past the girls ear aimed at the Xorn attacking her, quickly followed by four orbs of force.

 
 Spoiler: Attack Rolls 

First Continuing Acid Damage:  (2d4)[ 6 ]  I don't know if this is still empowered, also 1 more round of damage

Dagger:
Attack:  (1d20+14)[ 24 ] 
Crit:  (1d20+14)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+2)[ 7 ] 

All 4 orbs attacking X2, Empowered and Saved
Rod (1/3), Circlet(2/3)

Damage: (4d4+4)[ 15 ]  * 1.5  = 22.5 
 
Admiral
Rhenner's morningstar slams into the beast in front of him, cracking its rocklike hide with a satisfying crunch.

Mithril's acid sizzles against the creature's flesh as she launches a set of magical attacks at the other. Her magical bolts seem to injure it severely, but her dagger leaves only a small dent.

 
 Spoiler 

Incidentally, the acid arrow is indeed still empowered.

Kurt's turn.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Mithril!"  Natalia shouts as she hears the crack behind her, hears the wizard's breath hitch in pain and cut off with a gasp. She's about to turn around when she sees four missiles and a dagger clip past her, nicking off a few strands of hair, to hit the Xorn she's fighting.

 "Thanks!"  she shouts, readying herself for another attack, but waiting to see what Shiny does, waiting for the Xorn to blink.

 
 Spoiler: Couple questions 
Is the Xorn Natalia's fighting bloodied? What about the one Mithril, Shiny, and Rhenner hit? Does Ildan have a sarcastic comment to make? 😛

And sadly, I think Cavelcade's gone for the weekend, since it's afternoon in Ireland. So smash time! 😁 I'm pretty sure he gets a new maneuver rolled from his pool this turn, to replace the White Raven Tactics he used last turn.
 
Admiral
Kurt moves past Rhenner as the cleric makes room, drawing an attempted blow from the creature, and thrusts Daybreaker towards its flesh.

 
 Spoiler 

AoO on Rhenner:

 (1d20+8)[ 11 ]   (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 14 ]   (3d6+4)[ 19 ] 

Kurt uses the Lead the Attack maneuver, no power attack.

Attack:  (1d20+11)[ 26 ]   (1d20+11)[ 20 ] 
Dmg:  (2d6+6)[ 14 ]   (2d6+6)[ 12 ] 

Incidentally, X2 and X3 were both already bloodied.
 


The creature misses Rhenner, and Kurt strikes true, although the sword is partly deflected by the stony hide.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia ducks out of the way of the Xorn's blows easily, and with a swallow and a silent prayer, she attacks the wounded Xorn in front of her, shouting,  "Hey! I know...how to slip past your sight! I the most dangerous, not drow!" 
 
 Spoiler: Why I'm attacking now (and rolls) 
I've got to go to bed, I don't want anyone waiting on me, I'm working much of the day tomorrow and all day Sunday, and I don't know how much I'll be free tomorrow morning since I'm going to the raptor program too. Also it seems like Kurt didn't finish that Xorn--please, worry about Rocky! Would Natalia be able to shove Ildan out of the way or something?

Anyway, here we go...

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 12 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 16 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 27 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ] 


Attack:  (d20+5)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+5)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ] 

EDIT: Aww, that's one off a crit confirmation, isn't it. Ah well, hopefully it's enough when combined with Mithril's attacks--I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Night!
 


EDIT:

 
 Spoiler: What I meant last night 
When I said worry about Rocky I meant I would be okay if you and your character wanted to focus on him more. Please, I'm not commanding you to do anything.
 
Admiral
Kurt slashes into the creature, but it remains standing. In the meantime, Natalia slays the beast she's fighting with a precise strike. It collapses in the tunnel, though she'll have to try to squeeze past it.

 
 Spoiler 

Start of Shiny's turn, X3 makes a Will save or takes  (3d6)[ 9 ]  nonlethal damage:

Will:  (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
 


The creature next to Shiny shakes off his spell.
Admiral
Shiny pushes Hilton to the side as he moves forward, switching places with the slaver as he moves towards the badly injured Rocky. He places his hands as if to heal Rocky, and moments later Rocky appears to shift to an illusion a few feet away from his actual position. Secondly he points at the Xorn that Rocky is fighting and casts a quick spell of distraction.

 
 Spoiler 

Tumble away from X3, which he can do without +2 to Tumble DC because he's Small and not prone. Displacement on Rocky, which Shiny figures is the best shot to keep him alive. Then Distract Assailant on X4: it doesn't matter whether he makes it, point is to Unsettle him.

Hilton skips his turn, since a ranged attack, even a net, would draw an AoO.
 


Rocky hardly seems to notice the illusion cast on him as he swings again.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 20 ]  Crit:  (1d20+9)[ 11 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 15 ]  Crit:  (2d6+6)[ 10 ] 
 
Admiral
Rocky's swing misses, and the creatures have their chance to attack again.

One beast swings in a flurry at Rocky, trying to bring down the illusory slaver. Another turns its attention to Kurt. Natalia cannot see what is happening to Ildan behind the dead Xorn in front of her, but she cannot hear him or his assailant.

 
 Spoiler 

Xorn on Kurt:
 (1d20+8)[ 11 ]   (1d20+8)[ 24 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 8 ]   (3d6+4)[ 20 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 26 ]   (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 7 ]   (1d6+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 22 ]   (1d20+6)[ 11 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 6 ]   (1d6+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 18 ]   (1d20+6)[ 16 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 8 ]   (1d6+3)[ 8 ] 

Xorn on Rocky (unsettled):
 (1d20+6)[ 21 ]   (1d20+6)[ 25 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 9 ]   (3d6+4)[ 16 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 22 ]   (1d20+4)[ 14 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 4 ]   (1d6+3)[ 7 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 7 ]   (1d20+4)[ 22 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 6 ]   (1d6+3)[ 8 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 11 ]   (1d20+4)[ 16 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 5 ]   (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 


Kurt is dealt a pair of mild strikes, while Rocky suffers another bite even through Shiny's illusion. He is quite badly wounded but still standing.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief as the Xorn finally falls, then freezes when she realizes she can neither see nor hear Ildan or the other Xorn anymore.  "****!"  she screams.  "ILDAN!"  If there's still no response then she's about to rush over the corpse of the Xorn when she realizes how long it'll take, and stops.  "I'm coming! Make mist, self cloud!"  Feeling herself turn into insubstantial gas held together by more force of will and morphic resonance than anything else, Natalia forces herself through the body of the Xorn to see what's happening on the other side.

 
 Spoiler: Getting past the Xorn? 
What rolls/penalty will it take? Actually, you know what? Screw it, I'm using Gaseous Form.

If I'm in the same space as Ildan, can I cover him when I'm mist? Since it seems from the spell description that I can be targeted by an attack?
 
Admiral
Natalia turns to an insubstantial mist, and floats to the top of the tunnel. There she can easily seep through the crevice, past the corpse of her latest victim.

As she guides her body through the gap, her mind flashes to the worst case scenarios... Ildan's corpse on the ground, the beast in triumph above him... even if he's still alive, her healing potions are insubstantial, and Rhenner's too far to save him... What would they do in the Underdark without him as guide...

And finally she floats through the gap, and sees no Xorn, and for a moment no Ildan. After a moment she spots a thin mist floating away from the battle, and as her eyes adjust she realizes the mist is in the vague shape of the drow rogue.

The cloud of Ildan looks over its shoulder, then spins around and cracks a grin- Natalia can see that he is only mildly injured. He points towards Natalia, then towards himself, his eyebrow raised in an amused expression. Finally he points to the Xorn, and points down into the bottom of the tunnel, accompanied by gestures that she can only assume are drow sign language.

 
 Spoiler 

Oh, in case you were wondering, in gaseous form you can't speak. It's not explicit in the description but I'm basing it on the rule that you can't cast spells with verbal components.
 
Admiral
Shiny glances at the two monsters to either side of him, and after casting a quick spell at the one battling Rocky, splays out his palms at both.

 
 Spoiler 

Distract Assailant at X4, Mass Whelm at X3 and X4.

X4 DA Will:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
X3 MW Will:  (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
X4 MW Will:  (1d20+7)[ 27 ] 
 


Shiny's spell wears powerfully at the creature's mind, and it collapses, unconscious, in the tunnel.
CoffeeIncluded
No Ildan? No Xorn? What happened--did the creature drag their guide off? Now what will they do?!

And then She sees Ildan, turned to mist like herself, and she grins, her eyes wide. Another trapsmith, just like her! Just like...the other one who made the bomb.

But he's not her. Natalia sighs in relief at the sight of his minor injuries, and though she can't understand the sign language she uses, she gets the gist of the other stuff. First, she grins and nods, pointing to him and then back at herself, mining the shape Of a trap. Yes--they're the same. Then she answers--well, confirms what he's saying first.

 She holds one hand out flat, then shapes her other into a crude approximation of a Xorn and mimes it phasing through her first hands representing the ground, then running away. She follows it up with a quizzical gesture, silently asking Ildan if that's what happened. Afterwards, she motions behind her, pointing at the remaining fray, and making a few fighting movements, gesturing that they should go back and help out everyone else.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 But he's not her. Natalia sighs in relief at the sight of his minor injuries, and though she can't understand the sign language she uses, she gets the gist of the other stuff. First, she grins and nods, pointing to him and then back at herself, mining the shape Of a trap. Yes--they're the same. Then she answers--well, confirms what he's saying first.

 She holds one hand out flat, then shapes her other into a crude approximation of a Xorn and mimes it phasing through her first hands representing the ground, then running away. She follows it up with a quizzical gesture, silently asking Ildan if that's what happened. Afterwards, she motions behind her, pointing at the remaining fray, and making a few fighting movements, gesturing that they should go back and help out everyone else. 
 

Ildan raises an eyebrow a bit at her crude gestures but seems to understand and confirm it. When she points back into the battle he shakes his head and shrugs, as if dismissive of the suggestion, and points his gaseous, insubstantial hands at each other as he lazily drifts backwards.

 "Rocky could use some help!"  Shiny shouts, as the slaver swings his sword in a desperate attempt to drop the monster.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 26 ]  Crit:  (1d20+9)[ 13 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 10 ]  Crit:  (2d6+6)[ 9 ] 
 


He strikes the beast, but only a mild blow that doesn't fully penetrate its thick shell.
CoffeeIncluded
Oh, what the ****?! They're struggling back here and he's just wandering off? Dammit, is he seriously abandoning them? What's going on?

She asks Ildan that, angrily mouthing the words, and gesturing for him to get back, help out, and explain exactly what's going on. Or else...

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia mimes the gold they're paying him, and then, after a moments hesitation and a look of regret, draws a line across her throat. The meanings clear.   Get back here and help out or give me a good explanation why you aren't! where are you going? We're worth more to you alive then dead, and if you turn on us...  
 

Then again, if he can't follow the patterns and sneak around the Xorns like she can, it is too dangerous for him to fight. It still grates at her though.

 
 Spoiler: Is this okay? 
is this okay? If not ill delete it.
 
Admiral
Shiny grunts.  "Guess this is my moment in the spotlight..." 

He tugs at Rocky's shoulder, and pushes past the badly injured ranger. Regretfully Rocky switches places with him.

 
 Spoiler 

Shiny and Rocky are gonna try to switch places.

Rocky's Tumble check DC 17 (prone) to avoid AoO:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 

If fails, AoO on Rocky:

 (1d20+8)[ 9 ]   (1d20+8)[ 24 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 13 ]   (3d6+4)[ 15 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 
 


Rocky manages to move safely out of the creature's range, though now Shiny faces him down.

At the same time, Hilton tries firing his crossbow at the Xorn.

 
 Spoiler 

Without Sneak attack he's pretty harmless, but let's see.

 (1d20+6)[ 11 ]   (1d20+6)[ 12 ] 
 (1d8)[ 7 ]   (1d8)[ 2 ] 
 


His bolt bounces harmlessly off the Xorn's armor.
Athedia
Mithril lunged forward at Shiny's cry, grabbing the back of Kurt's armor and what felt like Rhenner's face.   "Sorry!"   She murmured her spell and they winked out of the world appearing, reversed and somewhat more bruised on the side of the still living Xorn.   
 Spoiler: DD out of this dead end 

So tested this with two not so willing friends.  She basically lunges to teleport both and then retreats back to her spot behind them.  It would not be pretty, but it would technically work.
 
CWater
Rhenner makes a muffled sound when Mithril slams her palm to his face.  "...Was that really necessary, wizard?",  he complains once they have moved, rubbing his nose that took the most of the hit. Still, the fight is not over yet, and it seems she moved them to a more advantageous position.

The spell has not yet gained its full power, but he has grown tired of the glitter. The cleric concentrates and collects the light surrounding him to his right arm.  "Watch out!"  he warns Kurt, before releasing the beam of light towards the remaining xorn.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Ranged Touch:  (1d20+6)[ 8 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+3)[ 7 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Kurt stumbles from Mithril's spell, then gets his bearings and pushes forward to attack the last xorn standing, glaring at its many eyes the whole time, daring it to attack anyone else.

 
 Spoiler: Kurt's attack 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 18 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 30 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 16 ] 
Crit damage:  (2d6+6)[ 14 ] 

Kurt goes into Iron Guard's Glare and uses the Vanguard Strike Maneuver (if this hits, everyone gets +4 on attack rolls against the xorn until the start of his next turn.

Aaand it misses. Sorry. At least Iron Guard's Glare is still up.
 
Admiral
Even disoriented from Mithril's palm in his face, Rhenner manages to send the beam into the Xorn, burning its flesh.

 
 Spoiler 
Gotta love unsettling enchantment. Not bloodied though.
 


The creature roars at Kurt after the dwarf's attempted attack, but tries to turn his attention back to the gnome.

 
 Spoiler 

Decided he'd rather aim for the low-armored, injured spellcaster even with the -4. Shame.

Attack:  (1d20+4)[ 21 ]   (1d20+4)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+4)[ 15 ]   (3d6+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20)[ 8 ]   (1d20)[ 19 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 4 ]   (1d6+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d20)[ 14 ]   (1d20)[ 17 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 8 ]   (1d6+3)[ 9 ] 
 (1d20)[ 8 ]   (1d20)[ 3 ] 
 (1d6+3)[ 5 ]   (1d6+3)[ 6 ] 

Shiny is bloodied.
 


His arms miss the gnome, as he is still too distracted by Kurt's attack, but his bite takes a large chunk out of Shiny's side.

Moments later, another monster bursts out of the ground from below Mithril, attacking the wizard as it rises.

 
 Spoiler 

Uh oh, X1 back in play.

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 9 ]   (1d20+8)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+4)[ 12 ]   (3d6+4)[ 13 ] 
 


His attempted surprise falls flat, as he misses the wizard completely, swinging at midair a few feet from her even as he tries to growl menacingly.
Admiral
Even badly injured, Shiny tries to keep up his offense. He reaches out his hand towards the creature, casting first a fast spell of distraction, then his enchantment that causes slow mental anguish.

 
 Spoiler 

Distract Assailant, then Inevitable Defeat. DA is to try to give Hilton sneak attack and give it -2 AC against his touch attack.

DA Will save:  (1d20+7)[ 24 ] 

ID Touch attack:  (1d20+4)[ 8 ] 
Nonlethal damage:  (3d6)[ 8 ] 

Good thing it still gets unsettled and the attack hits.
 


His spell starts to wear at the creature's mind.
CoffeeIncluded
No! Natalia hears the shouts of battle behind her and immediately dashes back into the fray, though not before shooting a glare at Ildan and motioning for him to stay put, at the very least. She desperately struggles to make it back to her fighting friends but she's...so...slow...Even as mist, she grits her teeth together and tries to compose herself despite the frustration, the torture of knowing her friends are in trouble, seeing her friends in trouble, and no being fast enough to help.

She hates this. She hates this so, so much.

 
 Spoiler: Question 
Should I go for Kurt too?
 
Admiral
From his position in the back Hilton tries his crossbow again, though it has been ineffective so far.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+5)[ 21 ]   (1d20+5)[ 22 ] 
Dmg:  (1d8)[ 8 ]   (1d8)[ 6 ] 

What do you know, with unsettlement it hits.
 


The bolt flies into the creature's hide, though it lands only shallowly.
CoffeeIncluded
Kurt growls at the sounds of the xorn attacking Shiny and badly wounding him as the other pops up behind Mithril. His anger drives his sword as he attacks again and again.

 
 Spoiler: Kurt's attacks 
 Should I rage? I forgot the modifiers at first and then I didn't know whether to do it or not without your permission. I was going to just rage off the bat but considering his character arc...
Attack:  (d20+11)[ 18 ]  (20 if rage)
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 23 ]  (25 if rage)
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 11 ]  (14 if rage)
Crit Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 14 ]  (17 if rage)

Attack:  (d20+6)[ 19 ]  (21 if rage)
Crit:  (d20+6)[ 11 ]  (13 if rage)
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 12 ]  (15 if rage)
Crit Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 13 ]  (16 if rage)
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 His attempted surprise falls flat, as he misses the wizard completely, swinging at midair a few feet from her even as he tries to growl menacingly. 
 

Mithril turned and groaned.   "Not again."  A quick knife darted from the cloud around her head, hurtling toward the creature.  As the knife flew Mithril was already climbing over Rhenner, this time while her hand avoided his face a boot landed on it instead.  Once she was safe and away from the creature she wove a spell.  It was a new one, unfamiliar to her still as she had never practiced it before.  But the results were visible.  A wall of pure liquid grew where the Xorn attacking Shiny stood, capturing the creature within it.  In the small space it reached the ceiling quickly.

 
 Spoiler: Rolls 
So Swim DC to escape is 14 (base) + 4 (spellcasting ability modifier) = DC 18

Knife attack: (1d20+12)[ 25 ] 
Crit: (1d20+12)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 

I don't think I have any more rolls, but if I do feel free to take them for me admiral.
 
Admiral
Mithril's knife collides with the creature, but bounces harmlessly off its hide. He lashes out in a snapping motion as she moves away.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+8)[ 21 ]   (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 16 ]   (3d6+4)[ 17 ] 
 


The Xorn seems shocked as it is picked up by the rush of water.

 
 Spoiler 

Reflex:  (1d20+5)[ 24 ] 
 
CWater
Rhenner tastes blood in his mouth as Mithril's foot collides with his jaw. He spits a short curse and mutters,  "What next, a headbutt?" 

But he admits the wizard had a reason to retreat. The first wound was already bad and now she is struck a second time. The medic reaches after Mithril, to heal at least some of the damage.

 
 Spoiler 
Remove Curse to CSW:  (3d8+8)[ 22 ] 

Dodge against X1, thus AC 17.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt lashes out again at the Xorn in front of him, grunting as he drives the blade forward with both hands.

 
 Spoiler 
My understanding is that X1 is in the wall of water - if that's wrong let me know. Kurt attacks X4

I also am unsure if I get a full attack - I'll roll as if I do. Power attack, -3/+6


Attack 1:
 (1d20+10)[ 30 ]  Attack
 (1d20+10)[ 12 ]  Crit

 (4d6+13)[ 23 ]  Attack
 (2d6+13)[ 24 ]  Crit


Attack 2:
 (1d20+5)[ 19 ]  Attack
 (1d20+5)[ 8 ]  Crit

 (4d6+13)[ 26 ]  Attack
 (2d6+13)[ 20 ]  Crit
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Swim check for X4 in water:

 (1d20+3)[ 5 ] 
 


The creature's many eyes bulge in surprise as it ends up suspended within the tight corridor, trapped unexpectedly in a rush of water.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Oh, had forgotten: AoO of X1 on Rhenner:

 (1d20+8)[ 13 ]   (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 16 ]   (3d6+4)[ 14 ] 
 


The beast fighting Rhenner lashes out when he sees the cleric cast a healing spell, but he misses.
Admiral
The Xorn lost in the flood tries again to swim out.

 
 Spoiler 

"Hey, that's the name of the thread!"

Swim:  (1d20+3)[ 10 ] 
 


The other creature tries one more strike against the cleric.

 
 Spoiler 

X1's turn, starts with standard attack.

 (1d20+8)[ 26 ]   (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
 (3d6+4)[ 13 ]   (3d6+4)[ 12 ] 
 


After dealing a bite that wounds Rhenner even through his armor, he disappears into the ground.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Start of Shiny's turn, X4 gets a Will save against Inevitable Defeat continuing its damage.

Will save:  (1d20+7)[ 19 ] 
NL Damage:  (3d6)[ 14 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny tries one more quick pair of spells against the creature suspended in the water, trying to knock it out.

 
 Spoiler 

DA then Whelm on X4.

DA Will:  (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
Whelm Will:  (1d20+7)[ 24 ] 
Whelm NL Damage:  (4d6)[ 9 ] 
 


His second spell fails to overtake its mind, and the creature keeps swimming.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia keeps floating south as fast as she can, cursing her slowness.

 
 Spoiler 
can rocky attack through the water too? He didn't go last turn either, I don't think.
 
Admiral
Kurt swings his axe towards at the creature trapped in Mithril's spell, pushing his axe through the water and slashing into its hide. Combined with its wounds from Rocky and from Shiny's earlier spell, it collapses into unconsciousness, floating listlessly in the water.

 
 Spoiler 

Incidentally, creature's not evil, so a bit less damage: but it still does the trick.
 


Moments pass, and the party prepares to finish battle, waiting for the last creature to return- but it doesn't. They are left alone with the dead and two unconscious would-be thieves, and the many wounds they had suffered.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia races over to her friends, waiting for the Xorns to return. Just seeing the extent of their injuries sends a wave of guilt through her. When they don't, she breaths a sigh of relief, motions shes headed after Ildan, and then does so.

 "Ildan! All gone! Xorns finished! Back here now!" 
 
 Spoiler: Ildan? 
should I go get Ildan? Shout for his return? Is he returning? Or should I look for treasure? Should I do that after?
 


EDIT: Natalia sighs in relief when she sees their guide returning. She runs over to her friends and asks,  "You okay? Everyone okay?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt sighs heavily, leaning awkwardly against the wall of the cavern as the Xorn floats in the water Mithril had summoned in front of him. He keeps a wary eye out for the last enemy, never quite relaxing in the enclosed space, grasping Daybreaker tightly in his fist. After a few moments, he speaks softly, so only those on the side of the water with him would be able to hear it.  "I'm sorry." 
Athedia
Mithril looked puzzled.   "What for?  We are still alive."  She didn't dismiss the wall yet, waiting for Kurt's reply.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks over at Mithri, curious. She didn't hear Kurt but heard her. Sorry? About what? She looks up at the unconscious Xorn swirling around and around in the column of water. They tried to avoid a fight, to negotiate instead. It was the xorns' fault. The rogue sighs in relief when she sees Ildan return, and doesn't chase him down just yet. Instead, she asks,  "You okay? I'm sorry separated! Couldn't help!"  her voice cracks but she continues,  "I...have potions, healing if spells not enough."  she takes some out even as she searches the bodies, angry at herself for not being able to cut through their hide faster to help more, even if she could follow their eyes.

That still helped though...she forces herself to think that.
Cavelcade
He shakes his head again, looking over at her.  "I acted without thinking. I could have avoided the fight, had I chosen to...or I could have at least delayed it, or thought about it instead of trying to bully my way out. I put us in danger over...nothing, really. I'm sorry." 
Admiral
Within Mithril's wall of water, the unconscious creature starts convulsing as it drowns.

 
 Spoiler 

About 2 rounds have passed since the battle; I'm saying you drown a good deal quicker when you're unconscious.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia jerks up at the motion. She draws back instinctively at the sight and stares at Mithril. Suddenly, she's not entirely, completely, 100% sure what the Mage will do.

And the thought terrifies her.

 
 Spoiler 
yeah, makes sense. Is Natalia able to hear Kurt's second statement? What if Athedia's not back for a bit?
 
Athedia
Mithril turned her back on the wall of water and spoke quietly to Kurt.   "Asking you to give up that sword is like asking me to give up my books.  I would not have let you."   She turned back to the wall, looking curiously at the convulsing creature.  Finally, she raised a hand and dismissed the wall, letting the water recede into the walls.
Cavelcade
After a moment he nods, then laughs suddenly, shrugging off his malaise again.  "Aye. Thank you, Mithril."  He watches her curiously, cautiously as she considers the drowning Xorn, a slight expression of relief on his face, maybe, as she releases the wall.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief as Mithril dismisses the spell and the xorn falls to the ground. She looks up at her friends and, smiling, gives them a hug as she breaks off from her search for treasure for the moment..

 "You okay? I'm sorry...so long to help, split up. Ildan...coming back. Are you...not hurt bad, are you?"  She looks at Kurt for a moment, but simply looks grateful, not sure what else to say as she didn't hear his initial question.
Cavelcade
Kurt shakes his head, shrugging a little.  "That was there plan and they're well used to it. We did well enough...no point in killing this one - there's already one of them out there that knows about us, one more won't hurt, one way or another." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief, though she's still a bit worried about Mithril. She heard that crack. Still, Rhenner's here too. She lets out a short smile at Kurt's comment and says,  "And they know...not to try again. Their skills, their stone, and...we still beat. But why attack for metal when ore in ground?"  Natalia almost mutters the last sentence to herself as she searches the Xorn.
Athedia
Mithril sat back against the wall, holding onto her ribs.   "I can take care of myself, don't worry.  I have had worse."   Her belt glowed a little as a charge was expended knitting together her ribs again. She looked over at Rhenner, as she spoke.   "What is wrong with your face?  Did the Xorns get it?" 
 
 Spoiler 
She may not realize that she clawed/stepped on his face.

Healing:  (2d6)[ 8 ] 
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia sighs in relief, though she's still a bit worried about Mithril. She heard that crack. Still, Rhenner's here too. She lets out a short smile at Kurt's comment and says,  "And they know...not to try again. Their skills, their stone, and...we still beat. But why attack for metal when ore in ground?"  Natalia almost mutters the last sentence to herself as she searches the Xorn. 
 

 "Maybe they just don't like their food raw." 

 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Mithril sat back against the wall, holding onto her ribs.   "I can take care of myself, don't worry.  I have had worse."   Her belt glowed a little as a charge was expended knitting together her ribs again. She looked over at Rhenner, as she spoke.   "What is wrong with your face?  Did the Xorns get it?" 
 
 Spoiler 
She may not realize that she clawed/stepped on his face.

Healing:  (1d8+5)[ 10 ] 
 
 
 

 "Much worse, I was attacked by a ferocious wizard. Who, it seems, did not even care to notice",  Rhenner replies with a false smile,  "True, I was bit by xorn too, but it at lest left my face be" , he adds in the same sarcastic tone. He casts a small healing spell to cure some of his own wounds.

 
 Spoiler: Healing 
Protection from Evil to CLW:  (1d8+5)[ 10 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Then buy at restaurant, not steal,"  Natalia says. She looks over at Mithril when Rhenner says she stepped on his face.  "Want climbing practice too now? Rhenner, you know tree climbing?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Then buy at restaurant, not steal,"  Natalia says. She looks over at Mithril when Rhenner says she stepped on his face.  "Want climbing practice too now? Rhenner, you know tree climbing?"  
 

 "A restaurant for metal eaters.. Now that would be sight to witness. And I don't think I have climbed a tree in almost thirty years, but what's that got to do with anything?" 

Rhenner moves past Mithril and Kurt to get to those who were more seriously wounded. Squeezing past the xorn is a little more troublesome, even unconscious the creature blocks most of the tunnel.  "They've got nasty teeth and claws too, these beings",  the medic says when he sees Shiny and Rocky,  "But this should help."  He casts a healing spell on both of them.

 
 Spoiler: Healing 
Healing Shiny, Neutralize Poison to CCW:  (4d8+8)[ 30 ] 
Healing Rocky, Remove Blindness/Deafness to CSW:  (3d8+8)[ 22 ] 

If more is needed, I'll roll those in the OOC thread.
 

 "Is there much of this tunnel left?",  he asks Ildan when the drow comes back to view,  "This crawling is getting on my nerves." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Because better practice than face climbing,"  Natalia says, her mood lifting as her friends' wounds are healed and Ildan returns. She even cracks a joke and continues the banter of Xorn restaurants. As she searches the froglike beasts she replies,  "Restaurants are armories. Daggers as appetizers, full plate as buffet. Belt buckle dessert. Or banks, food stored in vaults unrotted."  she grins at Rhenner.  "But how paid, if money food. If money food, then food money? Pay gold in chicken? Maybe Xorn restaurants our restaurants, but they the cooks. Would...be safer than robbing,"  she says. Just how much had they hoarded with them?
CWater
 "Well, we can hope they think twice before demanding a toll next time." 

Even if the worst of the wounds were healed with magic, Rhenner insists on binding the rest of them before they continue forward.  " 'Just a scratch, just a scratch'... It won't be just a scratch after it becomes inflamed.."  he responds if anyone argues.

 
 Spoiler 
That the right word? It's a new one to me.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia replies with a smile as she lifts up a pouch that clanks inside. And opening it up...

The rogue sighs as she shows the contents to Rhenner and anyone else close.  "And Xorns had stored good already. Didn't need fight, but gluttons. And...call rogues greedy."  she says that last bit loud enough for everyone to hear, even Ildan as he approaches.

 "Unhurt,"  Natalia says as Rhenner offers to bind her up, and she's right. She appreciates his cautious attitude, even if he can be overbearing at times. Bus he means well, and knows what he's doing.

 
 Spoiler: CWater and everyone  
im leaving the treasure vague until we know what it is.

And CWater, inflamed works. Infected does too! Inflammation is one of the symptoms of infection.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins as she finds a bag of platinum coins and not one, but two long swords. She passes around an equal portion of coins to the five of them and checks the swords with her crystal.

 "This magic! Xorns were greedy, had good and wanted more!"  she says, holding up one of the long swords.  "And this..."  she trails off a moment in confusion. What is this sword made from anyway? The metal is paler than others, but doesn't have the sheen of Mithril. Furthermore, it's cool to the touch, and when she touches the blade her mind--the part of her mind that's now awoken to the magic--momentarily fuzzes. Not enough to actually have a real effect, but enough to notice.

 "Guys, what metal made blade?"  Natalia asks, passing around the second sword as Ildan returns and they prepare to move on.

 
 Spoiler 
i figure Natalia's never encountered cold iron before. Would someone else know? Also, she wants to ask Ildan if they want to do a skill exchange.

Should I delete this?
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Guys, what metal made blade?"  Natalia asks, passing around the second sword as Ildan returns and they prepare to move on. 
 

Rhenner takes a quick look at the sword; while not exactly common, he has seen a few made of this material before, when he was still with the Church.  "I think it's cold iron",  he says,  "That would make it more valuable than normal steel." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner takes a quick look at the sword; while not exactly common, he has seen a few made of this material before, when he was still with the Church.  "I think it's cold iron",  he says,  "That would make it more valuable than normal steel."  
 

 "Cold iron,"  Natalia repeats, holding the longsword in her left hand and giving it a few experimental swings. She can use it, but it feels bulky and unwieldy compared to her shortsword and dagger. Her steps are almost off-balanced when she swings with it and she can't use the same adroit precision as she normally does when fighting. And Kurt's greatsword is much bigger than this. It's a good sword, but it fits awkwardly between their preferred weapons. Still, cold iron.  "What's it do? Strong for what?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Cold iron,"  Natalia repeats, holding the longsword in her left hand and giving it a few experimental swings. She can use it, but it feels bulky and unwieldy compared to her shortsword and dagger. Her steps are almost off-balanced when she swings with it and she can't use the same adroit precision as she normally does when fighting. And Kurt's greatsword is much bigger than this. It's a good sword, but it fits awkwardly between their preferred weapons. Still, cold iron.  "What's it do? Strong for what?"  
 

Mithril shuddered a little as she looked at the sword.   "Magic killer.  It shows up in some old stories." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses mid-swing at Mithril's words. She takes the sword and stares at it again, placing her hand on the blade and feeling the cool iron fuzz the trickle of magic in her mind.  "My magic does...blur with touch of blade,"  Natalia says as she withdraws her hand, shuddering slightly as she carefully sheaths the blade, making sure to keep it far away from Mithril and Shiny.  "Scary, but...others of magic. Fey in stories, maybe?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia pauses mid-swing at Mithril's words. She takes the sword and stares at it again, placing her hand on the blade and feeling the cool iron fuzz the trickle of magic in her mind.  "My magic does...blur with touch of blade,"  Natalia says as she withdraws her hand, shuddering slightly as she carefully sheaths the blade, making sure to keep it far away from Mithril and Shiny.  "Scary, but...others of magic. Fey in stories, maybe?"  
 

Rhenner is not entirely sure what the girl means with her tangled words, but he nods anyway.  "According to some stories, you can only kill a fey with a blade made of cold iron. Some demons too. Not entirely sure how accurate that is, but there is usually some truth even in the oldest tales." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner is not entirely sure what the girl means with her tangled words, but he nods anyway.  "According to some stories, you can only kill a fey with a blade made of cold iron. Some demons too. Not entirely sure how accurate that is, but there is usually some truth even in the oldest tales."  
 

Natalia's eyes widen.  "A demon?!"  She turns back to her friends and tries swinging the blade again, more carefully this time.  "Should then keep, even if...between sword sizes. What your thoughts?"  The rogue pauses, chews her lip in thought.  "Rhenner, Ildan, there...demons in Underdark? Real ones, not just name by acting?" 
 
 Spoiler: Why Natalia's asking Rhenner 
It might be in the book, I dunno.
 
Admiral
A cloud of smoke pours through the sides of the tunnel around the dead Xorn, and moments later coalesces into Ildan. A brief glimpse shows he has only mild wounds.

 
 Spoiler 

FYI: He has about 10 HP of damage
 

 "Looks like you lot can take care of yourself,"  he notes, looking around the dead thieves with a raised eyebrow.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Could have used help still,"  Natalia says, her voice clipped but not as angry as she before.  "You trapsmith too, know the magic. Could have helped--why not? Couldn't sneak?"  does he know the secret of slipping past their eyes?

And she is also curious, about the signs he used.
Admiral
Ildan shrugs.  "I always felt like if you gotta resort to stabbing someone, you're doing something wrong." 
CoffeeIncluded
She can't exactly argue with that, especially in context of smuggling. Still.  "But still good for safety, useful sneaking too. How I snuck past spiders. Ildan, where did you...learn shared magic, trap skills? And sign speech?"  The language he used, the symbols with his hands. He can speak without speaking. If there's a standard language, then she can speak. And her hands are mostly steady, even with the occasional weakness in her right. But it's nothing like the words that come out of her mouth. Would she be able to speak clearly with her hands?


And then another thought bubbles into her mind. That was two trapsmiths so far. The same as Karik. But Karik learned from the institute. Where did these drow learn them from? And did Ildan make the gunpowder trap she triggered?

 
 Spoiler: Two birds, one stone 
I don't want to hold you guys up.
 
CWater
Rhenner glances at Ildan's wounds, but they don't look serious.  "Will you manage?"  he asks anyway, out of habit.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 She can't exactly argue with that, especially in context of smuggling. Still.  "But still good for safety, useful sneaking too. How I snuck past spiders. Ildan, where did you...learn shared magic, trap skills? And sign speech?"  The language he used, the symbols with his hands. He can speak without speaking. If there's a standard language, then she can speak. And her hands are mostly steady, even with the occasional weakness in her right. But it's nothing like the words that come out of her mouth. Would she be able to speak clearly with her hands? 
 

Ildan shrugs, uninterested.  "Drow are taught sign language before we're taught to speak,"  he says, leaning in to take a closer look at one of the Xorns.  "In the Underdark, making noise is a dangerous indulgence. Little like lighting a flame,"  he adds, rolling his eyes towards the party's torches.

 "And you can't get past the nation's borders without learning your way around traps. Not a bad way to keep what's yours protected, too, when you're not around to do the protecting."  He fishes a potion out of his bag and chugs it down, his wounds healing instantly. He nods politely at the cleric's offer of healing but seems satisfied to remain self-reliant.

 "Anyway, time to keep moving. Maybe we'll get lucky and won't run into more trouble on the way to the grotto... but no promises."  Ildan carefully clambers over the dead and unconscious bodies in his way and beckons the others to follow him down the tunnel.  "There's nastier things than a few swimmers around here." 

 And then another thought bubbles into her mind. That was two trapsmiths so far. The same as Karik. But Karik learned from the institute. Where did these drow learn them from? And did Ildan make the gunpowder trap she triggered? 

 
 Spoiler 
You're welcome to ask questions as you continue down the path.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, following Ildan carefully. Even with everything else, all her caution, she can't let this opportunity to speak in a potentially clear manner go. So she asks,  "Could you...please teach me signs? I could teach you my sneaking too, how to sneak...past spiders, dogs. Trade skills for skills." 

Also, when there's an opportunity for Natalia to slip back a few paces, perhaps when they're rounding a right corner, she whispers to her friends,  "Remember blast powder trap up top? You think...maybe Ildan's? Should ask, or safer not?"  She really doesn't know and wants to hear what her friends think. Or if they want to ask him themselves.

 
 Spoiler: Why I'm not asking right now 
i want to know your thoughts and see of you want to ask him or not ask at all.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia nods, following Ildan carefully. Even with everything else, all her caution, she can't let this opportunity to speak in a potentially clear manner go. So she asks,  "Could you...please teach me signs? I could teach you my sneaking too, how to sneak...past spiders, dogs. Trade skills for skills."  
 

 "Now who says I need to learn lessons in sneaking from someone relies on a- whatyoucallit-  sun  to see?"  Ildan whispers back as he continues crawling forward through the tunnel.  "I've been sneaking around spiders since before you could lift that bow of yours. Only one time it didn't work, and that time some clueless suckers saved my arse anyway."

"And who's to say you could learn drow sign language? You surface-folk don't even have five fingers!"  He glances back in triumph to emphasize his argument, before catching a glimpse of Natalia's hand.  "Huh. Coulda sworn... Well, that's one bar-bet I lost."  He turns back and keeps climbing.  "Why would you want to learn it? Can't imagine it would come in handy back home." 
 
 Spoiler 
I see no reason Natalia couldn't or shouldn't ask Ildan about the trap. (One note is that we're retroactively calling it firepowder 🙂)
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Now who says I need to learn lessons in sneaking from someone relies on a- whatyoucallit-  sun  to see?"  Ildan whispers back as he continues crawling forward through the tunnel.  "I've been sneaking around spiders since before you could lift that bow of yours. Only one time it didn't work, and that time some clueless suckers saved my arse anyway."  
 

 

How old is he anyway? The thought flashes in her mind before she whispers back,  "If suckers saved you, then what that make you?"  she makes a small laughing noise before continuing,  "Sp you know trick...sneak past spiders, smells, tremors already?" 
 
 Spoiler: Are you able to answer this  
does he have darkstalker?
 


 "And who's to say you could learn drow sign language? You surface-folk don't even have five fingers!" 

 
  He glances back in triumph to emphasize his argument, before catching a glimpse of Natalia's hand.  "Huh. Coulda sworn... Well, that's one bar-bet I lost."  He turns back and keeps climbing.  "Why would you want to learn it? Can't imagine it would come in handy back home." 
 
 Spoiler 
I see no reason Natalia couldn't or shouldn't ask Ildan about the trap. (One note is that we're retroactively calling it firepowder 🙂)
 
 

Natalia waves her fingers, all ten of them, with a smile before continuing her climb.

 "Because you...hear my speech. Fingers steadier than tongue."  Most of the time, anyway.  

After a moments hesitation, she asks,  "Ildan, when climbing down, before spiders and driders, found trap. A mine...exploded. Yours?"  She's deliberately vague about the fire powder inside, for the moment at least. She pauses, waiting to see what Ildan and her friends might say.

 
 Spoiler: Naming 
ok! Nutspeak might corrupt it though.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 How old is he anyway? The thought flashes in her mind before she whispers back,  "If suckers saved you, then what that make you?"  she makes a small laughing noise before continuing,  "Sp you know trick...sneak past spiders, smells, tremors already?" 
 
 Spoiler: Are you able to answer this  
does he have darkstalker?
 
 
 

 "Sure, I have a few tricks up my sleeve,"  he whispers back as he clambers through the tunnel.

 
 Spoiler 

Yep, sounds like it. (Wouldn't get far sneaking against spiders/driders otherwise)

If you're wondering why he didn't flank the Xorns, a) for multiple reasons he's not as effective as Natalia in combat and b) it's not really his style
 


  "Because you...hear my speech. Fingers steadier than tongue."  Most of the time, anyway.   

 "So, what, you're really looking for lessons?"  He turns back with a smirk, which softens when he sees the earnest hope on Natalia's face.   "...hmmm."  He continues his crawl.  "Listen, I'm not really looking for a learning experience here. You have anything to trade that's solid, maybe shiny?" 

 After a moments hesitation, she asks,  "Ildan, when climbing down, before spiders and driders, found trap. A mine...exploded. Yours?"  She's deliberately vague about the fire powder inside, for the moment at least. She pauses, waiting to see what Ildan and her friends might say.  

 "Oh, the traps at top of the Dreadfall cliffs?"  He scoffs.  "Childish little tricks the border guards play, supposed to give them some warning if someone climbs in. My friends and I set them off on purpose sometimes, just enough to keep the crawlers thinking they're doing their jobs. You'd have to be a real amateur to set-"  he catches himself, and looks back at Natalia apologetically.  "Hey, no offense meant." 
 "Anyway... not saying I haven't set a few traps like that, but mine usually do a bit more than warn. Speaking of which, one we're coming up on-"  he studies the surrounding area carefully, then nods and continues-  "maybe five minutes from now, it'll bring the whole damn tunnel down around us. Risky, but a path other folks know about isn't a path that's worth taking." 
 
 Spoiler 

Oh, one metagame note: I don't think the word "mine" for an explosive has been invented (a mine would refer to e.g. Deldon). I'm fine with the word "exploded/explosive": it must exist since we have "explosive runes."
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Sure, I have a few tricks up my sleeve,"  he whispers back as he clambers through the tunnel.

 
 Spoiler 

Yep, sounds like it. (Wouldn't get far sneaking against spiders/driders otherwise)

If you're wondering why he didn't flank the Xorns, a) for multiple reasons he's not as effective as Natalia in combat and b) it's not really his style
 

 "So, what, you're really looking for lessons?"  He turns back with a smirk, which softens when he sees the earnest hope on Natalia's face.   "...hmmm."  He continues his crawl.  "Listen, I'm not really looking for a learning experience here. You have anything to trade that's solid, maybe shiny?"  
 

Natalia pauses, slightly disappointed by the failure of her original idea but still excited and hopeful.  "Thought could trade skill for skill, but skill for favors, gold...works too. Do have some."  A chance to communicate normally, when Mithril's spells run out.

 
 Spoiler: Question  
how much is he asking for?
 


  "Oh, the traps at top of the Dreadfall cliffs?"  He scoffs.  "Childish little tricks the border guards play, supposed to give them some warning if someone climbs in. My friends and I set them off on purpose sometimes, just enough to keep the crawlers thinking they're doing their jobs. You'd have to be a real amateur to set-"  he catches himself, and looks back at Natalia apologetically.  "Hey, no offense meant." 
 "Anyway... not saying I haven't set a few traps like that, but mine usually do a bit more than warn. Speaking of which, one we're coming up on-"  he studies the surrounding area carefully, then nods and continues-  "maybe five minutes from now, it'll bring the whole damn tunnel down around us. Risky, but a path other folks know about isn't a path that's worth taking." 
 
 Spoiler 

Oh, one metagame note: I don't think the word "mine" for an explosive has been invented (a mine would refer to e.g. Deldon). I'm fine with the word "exploded/explosive": it must exist since we have "explosive runes."
 
 

Heh. Looks like he's getting a bit of manners back. He is right though; it was utterly foolish of her not to check for both threats. And she says as much.  "Was looking for chokers, not boom. My fault...not looking, though all evaded."  now she knows for the future though, and she says this last line looking back at her friends as well.

She pales at his casual mention of a trap collapsing the tunnel gulps.  "Thanks."  Looking back to her friends, she whispers,  "Stay close. What...you think?" 

Natalia then pauses.  "But Ildan...we know. Are you...crumble after us?" 

EDIT: When Ildan pauses and waits for Natalia to start negotiations, she asks her friends,  "Help?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Solid, maybe shiny...Natalia licks her lips as they crawl along, alternating between looking at Ildan and the tunnel for traps.  "If gold for lessons, could give. But if other than gold..."  She rummages through her bag with one hand.  "Lots of items. Bottled fire, bottled acid. Poison...and cure. Wand of lightning touch, though...not much left. And scrolls. Scrolls to slip, stun with color, fall from laughter, alert foes, confuse arrows."  She looks guiltily at her friends. What if she's giving up what they need for her desire? Isn't that selfish of her? But still...

 "Or if not enough, gold for lessons, or...future aid, maybe..."  She trails off, her eyes wide at this last statement, and looks back to her friends. Had she said too much, offered too much?
Cavelcade
Kurt grunts a little as he crawls along, even the stout dwarf is finding it tiresome to have to go on like this for so long.  "How much longer past this...rockfall, or whatever, will we have to keep up this crawl? This armour is not designed for maneuverability." 
Admiral
 "Bottled fire, you said?"  the dark elf asks, glancing back with raised eyebrows.  "Where did you get it from?" 
 
 Spoiler 

You can keep bargaining for it as other events happen.
 


 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt grunts a little as he crawls along, even the stout dwarf is finding it tiresome to have to go on like this for so long.  "How much longer past this...rockfall, or whatever, will we have to keep up this crawl? This armour is not designed for maneuverability."  
 

 "Don't worry,"  Ildan calls back,  "it's not much-" 

He jolts as his hand touches the rocks in front of him, shoving back nearly two feet in one swift motion. A few silent moments later he lets out a sigh of relief.  "See, this is what happens when you go about distracting me! Gonna be a moment." 

For thirty seconds he works carefully on the rock surface in front of him. Natalia can catch a glimpse past the skinny elf in the tunnel, but at first it looks like it's just a normal rock. Soon, however, a large piece of slate lifts up that seems to be on a pressure plate- Natalia figures he's done with the trap, but elf carefully snares a piece of wire that appeared to be a secondary trigger specifically designed to trip up would-be disarmers. He flips the piece of rock out of the way, before his hand darts in and flicks another lever in the process of clicking- it appears to be a yet another backup trigger. With her recent focus on swordwork, Natalia hadn't been studying her trapsmithing textbooks, and she is a bit humbled by his precise and clever work.

 "All right now, get along..."  the elf says, waiting for the others to pass. Once everyone has gone past, he carefully re-arms the trap, a process that takes a bit longer, and clambers back after them.

 
 Spoiler 

Next post will be out of the tunnel, just finishing up.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Bottled fire, you said?"  the dark elf asks, glancing back with raised eyebrows.  "Where did you get it from?" 
 
 Spoiler 

You can keep bargaining for it as other events happen.
 
 
 

 "From above,"  Natalia says, a big vague. But then again not all the bottles are from Rolsa.  "Smash and liquid lights. Can't give all, but...think you'd like for traps."  She wants to share the trap she made badly, see what he thinks of it. But she doesn't want to reveal all the events surrounding it, which would be inevitable. Maybe if they keep up a future relationship, she can share it. But not now.

 
 Spoiler 
Sounds good!
 


  "Don't worry,"  Ildan calls back,  "it's not much-" 

He jolts as his hand touches the rocks in front of him, shoving back nearly two feet in one swift motion. A few silent moments later he lets out a sigh of relief.  "See, this is what happens when you go about distracting me! Gonna be a moment." 

For thirty seconds he works carefully on the rock surface in front of him. Natalia can catch a glimpse past the skinny elf in the tunnel, but at first it looks like it's just a normal rock. Soon, however, a large piece of slate lifts up that seems to be on a pressure plate- Natalia figures he's done with the trap, but the elf carefully snares a piece of wire that appeared to be a secondary trigger specifically designed to trip up would-be disarmers. He flips the piece of rock out of the way, before his hand darts in and flicks another lever in the process of clicking- it appears to be a yet another backup trigger. With her recent focus on swordwork, Natalia hadn't been studying her trapsmithing textbooks, and she is a bit humbled by his precise and clever work.

 "All right now, get along..."  the elf says, waiting for the others to pass. Once everyone has gone past, he carefully re-arms the trap, a process that takes a bit longer, and clambers back after them.

 
 Spoiler 

Next post will be out of the tunnel, just finishing up.
 
 

Natalia watches, silent, as Ildan deftly disables and re-arms the trap. He's good. Really good She might have missed the second trigger. With everything that's been going on she hasn't had too much time to study her books, and the guilt curls in her stomach. The moment she's able to, she's cracking them open again. She gets so much joy out of making these devices that it feels wrong that she's been letting it all fall by the wayside.

 "You're good,"  Natalia says as she follows him out of the cavern.  "What...makes collapse?"  She already suspects--a cache of firepowder hidden behind behind a weak point or something of that nature, most likely--but she wants to hear what Ildan says first. It's funny, it feels like they're both dancing around the subject of the firepowder.

 
 Spoiler 
Hey, I'm gonna be taking more trapsmith levels! I just want to take a few more things first. But I'm going to keep maxing out my search and disable device skills.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "From above,"  Natalia says, a big vague. But then again not all the bottles are from Rolsa.  "Smash and liquid lights. Can't give all, but...think you'd like for traps."  She wants to share the trap she made badly, see what he thinks of it. But she doesn't want to reveal all the events surrounding it, which would be inevitable. Maybe if they keep up a future relationship, she can share it. But not now.  
 

 "Where above?"  he pushes.  "Some of the firejuice handed down from the surface, you might as well be spreading on your breakfast." 

  "You're good,"  Natalia says as she follows him out of the cavern.  "What...makes collapse?"  She already suspects--a cache of firepowder hidden behind behind a weak point or something of that nature, most likely--but she wants to hear what Ildan says first. It's funny, it feels like they're both dancing around the subject of the firepowder.  

 "Funny thing about firepowder: you put it out in the open, like those traps you ran into- maybe you lose your hearing and your eyebrows. But you use your head, and you put it where it'll be of some use-"  he jabs his thumb towards the ceiling of the tunnel.  "My acquaintances who built this path: they've got an eye for the stuff, know just how to knock the whole thing down." 
 
 Spoiler 

 Hey, I'm gonna be taking more trapsmith levels! I just want to take a few more things first. But I'm going to keep maxing out my search and disable device skills. 
 

 
 Spoiler 
I know! This is just the way life is: no matter what you focus on you're gonna feel guilty for neglecting something else. Natalia's no different 🙂
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Where above?"  he pushes.  "Some of the firejuice handed down from the surface, you might as well be spreading on your breakfast."  
 

 "Not this. At least, was promised. Straight from Institute member..."  Natalia trails off, turns back, and asks her friends,  "What should say?" 

  "Funny thing about firepowder: you put it out in the open, like those traps you ran into- maybe you lose your hearing and your eyebrows. But you use your head, and you put it where it'll be of some use-"  he jabs his thumb towards the ceiling of the tunnel.  "My acquaintances who built this path: they've got an eye for the stuff, know just how to knock the whole thing down." 
 
 Spoiler 
I know! This is just the way life is: no matter what you focus on you're gonna feel guilty for neglecting something else. Natalia's no different 🙂
 
 

 "...Yeah."  Natalia's voice suddenly goes quiet and hollow; even as she places her hand on the curved stone it's clear her mind is somewhere else.  "Put behind cracked stone, or shrapnel center. Make rockslide, or...blow dam. Firepowder...not just own trap, but can trap all land. Where...did you get flamepowder?" 

Oh boy. She really hopes he doesn't know the drow she and her friends killed, though she doubts that's the case.

 
 Spoiler: Yep 
But then again, she's only 19/20. She's got time yet!
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Not this. At least, was promised. Straight from Institute member..."  Natalia trails off, turns back, and asks her friends,  "What should say?" 
 "...Yeah."  Natalia's voice suddenly goes quiet and hollow; even as she places her hand on the curved stone it's clear her mind is somewhere else.  "Put behind cracked stone, or shrapnel center. Make rockslide, or...blow dam. Firepowder...not just own trap, but can trap all land. Where...did you get flamepowder?" 

Oh boy. She really hopes he doesn't know the drow she and her friends killed, though she doubts that's the case. 
 

Ildan glares back at Natalia suspiciously.  "You'll have to save my life a few more times before I start telling you my sources,"  he says dryly.

The group crawls for another few minutes, and just when they think their hands and knees can barely take it the path starts to widen slowly. Suddenly they're aware that the walls are natural, not burrowed like the majority of the tunnel, and after just another hundred yards they're in a small cavern about five and a half feet tall: the first time in miles that they're (mostly) able to stand and stretch.

Ildan holds up a finger to his lips signal silence, then points to a spot on the wall. He steps towards it and slowly dips his head into the stone, seeming for a moment to have lost his mind until his head dips all the way through, and it appears that the wall is another solid illusion. He looks around through it, then pulls his head back through.

 "Looks like we're clear for now,"  he whispers,  "But listen up. You're done crawling for now, but we're still half a mile from Grunt Grotto, and this is the dangerous bit. We might get lucky and not run into anyone, but bandits, smugglers, pirates, and all kinds of nasty folks head around these parts. A handful of surface folk would be bound to draw some attention. Even if you scared them off, couple of the sniveling cowards would rat you out to the drow in return for a favor."  He shrugs.  "Anyway, that's what I'd do." 
 "Once we reach the portal in the Grotto, we're safe, as long as no one sees us go through: far as I know it's still a secret. Going to have to get a bit wet, though: the portal is twenty feet underwater, in a hidden air pocket under the lake." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Looks like we're clear for now,"  he whispers,  "But listen up. You're done crawling for now, but we're still half a mile from Grunt Grotto, and this is the dangerous bit. We might get lucky and not run into anyone, but bandits, smugglers, pirates, and all kinds of nasty folks head around these parts. A handful of surface folk would be bound to draw some attention. Even if you scared them off, couple of the sniveling cowards would rat you out to the drow in return for a favor."  He shrugs.  "Anyway, that's what I'd do."  
 

 "Of course you would",  Rhenner mutters while throwing a quick glare at the ceiling, it's a little too low for him to stand straight and he'd rather not get more blows to the head today.  "But it would be nice if not many other people had the chance to do that. You wouldn't have any spells that could hide our presence, or at least make us not so recognizable as 'surface folk'?",  he directs the question to the arcane casters of the party.


  "Once we reach the portal in the Grotto, we're safe, as long as no one sees us go through: far as I know it's still a secret. Going to have to get a bit wet, though: the portal is twenty feet underwater, in a hidden air pocket under the lake."  

 "Diving? Lovely.. This underworld keeps coming up with new ways to amaze me. But tell me, is the water safe otherwise, or are there hungry monsters lurking in the lake too?"  he asks Ildan.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Of course you would",  Rhenner mutters while throwing a quick glare at the ceiling, it's a little too low for him to stand straight and he'd rather not get more blows to the head today.  "But it would be nice if not many other people had the chance to do that. You wouldn't have any spells that could hide our presence, or at least make us not so recognizable as 'surface folk'?",  he directs the question to the arcane casters of the party. 
 

Shiny raises his hand helpfully.  "I could make a batch of us invisible, as long as we stick close together and don't attack anyone. I've done it before,"  he adds, counting off on his fingers.  "Sneaking into the orc camp, sneaking into Deldon, sneaking to switch Mithril's weasel with an albino ferret to see if she'd notice..." 

  "Diving? Lovely.. This underworld keeps coming up with new ways to amaze me. But tell me, is the water safe otherwise, or are there hungry monsters lurking in the lake too?"  he asks Ildan. 

 "Oh, you heard about those?"  Ildan responds with a frown.  "I was trying to lay on one bit of bad news at a time. But we'll only be diving for a minute... most of the time I make it fine." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan glares back at Natalia suspiciously.  "You'll have to save my life a few more times before I start telling you my sources,"  he says dryly. 
 

 "Then what of mine?"  Natalia replies in a similarly snarky tone, though she drops the subject for the moment.


 The group crawls for another few minutes, and just when they think their hands and knees can barely take it the path starts to widen slowly. Suddenly they're aware that the walls are natural, not burrowed like the majority of the tunnel, and after just another hundred yards they're in a small cavern about five and a half feet tall: the first time in miles that they're (mostly) able to stand and stretch.

Ildan holds up a finger to his lips signal silence, then points to a spot on the wall. He steps towards it and slowly dips his head into the stone, seeming for a moment to have lost his mind until his head dips all the way through, and it appears that the wall is another solid illusion. He looks around through it, then pulls his head back through.

 "Looks like we're clear for now,"  he whispers,  "But listen up. You're done crawling for now, but we're still half a mile from Grunt Grotto, and this is the dangerous bit. We might get lucky and not run into anyone, but bandits, smugglers, pirates, and all kinds of nasty folks head around these parts. A handful of surface folk would be bound to draw some attention. Even if you scared them off, couple of the sniveling cowards would rat you out to the drow in return for a favor."  He shrugs.  "Anyway, that's what I'd do."  

Natalia stands and stretches, sighing in relief even though her fingers brush the top of the cavern. But at Ildan's remark she drops her arms to her sides and says,  "Then we'll...have to avoid, or fight. You...better not be coward, Ildan."  There's that thought of paranoia and darkness and suspicion again, always questioning, always wondering if he's planning on betraying them and dropping hints as part of a sick personal joke. Whether or not it's true, and she really hopes it isn't.


  "Once we reach the portal in the Grotto, we're safe, as long as no one sees us go through: far as I know it's still a secret. Going to have to get a bit wet, though: the portal is twenty feet underwater, in a hidden air pocket under the lake."  

 "Oh, only bit? So drenched is ocean, or monster? Is...path straight down, how long underwater?"  She hopes it's not long, they can only hold their breath so long.

EDIT:


 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Shiny raises his hand helpfully.  "I could make a batch of us invisible, as long as we stick close together and don't attack anyone. I've done it before,"  he adds, counting off on his fingers.  "Sneaking into the orc camp, sneaking into Deldon, sneaking to switch Mithril's weasel with an albino ferret to see if she'd notice..."  
 

Natalia finds herself nodding along, until the very moment he mentions the orc camp and Deldon. She barely manages to suppress the shout of,  "Shut up!"  into a squeak, but stomps down hard on the gnome's foot. And at the same time elbows his ribs.


  "Oh, you heard about those?"  Ildan responds with a frown.  "I was trying to lay on one bit of bad news at a time. But we'll only be diving for a minute... most of the time I make it fine."  

Oh great.  "Most?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Shiny raises his hand helpfully.  "I could make a batch of us invisible, as long as we stick close together and don't attack anyone. I've done it before,"  he adds, counting off on his fingers.  "Sneaking into the orc camp, sneaking into Deldon, sneaking to switch Mithril's weasel with an albino ferret to see if she'd notice..."  
 

 "So that is why he hasn't made a single attempt to steal my holy water in this whole time. I was starting to wonder",  Rhenner says with a small smirk,  "But invisibily sounds good. Though...",  he looks back at Ildan,  "That wouldn't hide the light we have, right? Would a drow wandering around with a torch also draw too much attention?" 

  "Oh, you heard about those?"  Ildan responds with a frown.  "I was trying to lay on one bit of bad news at a time. But we'll only be diving for a minute... most of the time I make it fine."  

 "And I take it that you are an excellent swimmer?"  he snarks.
Athedia
Mithril quickly turned away from the group, looking in her jacket pocket to make sure Whiskers was there.  She didn't want to leave it up to her suspicions on whether Shiny had been lying again.

 "Swimming?  I haven't done that for ages." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "So that is why he hasn't made a single attempt to steal my holy water in this whole time. I was starting to wonder",  Rhenner says with a small smirk,  "But invisibily sounds good. Though...",  he looks back at Ildan,  "That wouldn't hide the light we have, right? Would a drow wandering around with a torch also draw too much attention?"  
 

 "Hmmmm..."  says Ildan thoughtfully.  "Certainly suspicious- it's rare anyone at all would take a torch into these tunnels- but it's the right idea. Trouble is, even if they don't suspect anything, there's a good chance these bandits would jump a lone drow by himself anyway. Most of the time I either have some backup with me or I stay out of sight." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Hmmmm..."  says Ildan thoughtfully.  "Certainly suspicious- it's rare anyone at all would take a torch into these tunnels- but it's the right idea. Trouble is, even if they don't suspect anything, there's a good chance these bandits would jump a lone drow by himself anyway. Most of the time I either have some backup with me or I stay out of sight."  
 

 "I see, and no chance they would mistake a circle of light travelling by itself for a vengeful ghost and flee?",  Rhenner replies with a sarcastic tone,  "You did say they were cowards." 

He sighs.  "Any  bright  ideas?"  he asks the others.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Swim..."  Natalia trails off for a moment, staring at her feet.

She snaps out of it fairly quickly, however, touches the back of Mithril's hand almost reflexively as the mage looks for Whiskers, and looks back up.  "What path underwater like? Straight sink down, or actual swim to side?"  Looking around at everyone, she asks,  "Why not darksight potions? Kurt has it, I...have spell, but we all...bought potions. Maybe best used here? Especially if...faking slaves." 

Speaking of potions... "Ildan, for bottled fire, maybe...test sample, see if good, without...burning whole bottle? Take little bit...without air."  But how would they do that? Oh! Rolsa showed her!  "Maybe sample under oil, leave rest liquid flame in bottle, test little taken?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Ildan,"  Natalia asks as she thumbs through her various potions and vials,  "If bottled flame works and good, then...what from there for lessons wanted?"  She's about to ask what he thinks of how to extract a small sample of the alchemist fire to test it when she pauses. Slowly, Natalia looks through her potions again, then tugs on the pocket with a frustrated muttered curse.

 "Dammit, forgot...Hilton, Rocky sight. Not enough potions, don't think. Even with me spelled, one short."  She looks around, especially at Mithril, Rhenner, and Shiny.  "What now? How sneak, trick away with needed light?" 
 
 Spoiler: On Rhenner's idea 
I don't want to have Natalia outright mention it; it doesn't feel right since it wasnt my idea. If I have to I will, but maybe this way with Natalia possibly inadvertently sparking an idea in another character's mind might be helpful or work better?
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "I see, and no chance they would mistake a circle of light travelling by itself for a vengeful ghost and flee?",  Rhenner replies with a sarcastic tone,  "You did say they were cowards." 

He sighs.  "Any  bright  ideas?"  he asks the others. 
 

Shiny raises his eyebrows at Rhenner's suggestion.  "Flying ghost? I'm in if you are."  He scratches his head.  "Could be a... will-o-the-wisp, or a floating kinda-persony shape..." 

Ildan rolls his eyes.  "Wish I could say I had a better idea. But on the other hand, Underdark's a funny place. Reckon a ghost would be a less strange explanation then a couple of invisible surface-folk. Anyway..."  he nods at Kurt and Rhenner.  "Your choices are to swim wearing those hunks of metal, to try taking them off at the least convenience moment, or to stash 'em now." 
 
 Spoiler 
Oh: Shiny can mage armor as many people as he has to.
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Shiny raises his eyebrows at Rhenner's suggestion.  "Flying ghost? I'm in if you are."  He scratches his head.  "Could be a... will-o-the-wisp, or a floating kinda-persony shape..." 

Ildan rolls his eyes.  "Wish I could say I had a better idea. But on the other hand, Underdark's a funny place. Reckon a ghost would be a less strange explanation then a couple of invisible surface-folk.  
 

Rhenner stares at them with a blank expression.
  I wasn't being serious..  

  Anyway..."  he nods at Kurt and Rhenner.  "Your choices are to swim wearing those hunks of metal, to try taking them off at the least convenience moment, or to stash 'em now."  

Rhenner shakes his head slightly,  "You said the way is not long. If that is the case, the armour won't be a problem for me." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia closes her bag.It sounds crazy, but that really is a much better idea.  "That bright! Distract, smoke far from flame!" 

She looks down at her mithral shirt--it shouldn't be a problem and she says as much. She also gives Rhenner a curious look when he says the swimming wouldn't be a problem, but then nods, remembering how he managed to step through the tentacles with no problem at all. But Kurt and his armor might be more of a problem.

 "Wait,"  she muses.  "If not long swim--what path, Ildan? Straight sink or swim...to side? Because...with Kurt, could tie to Rhenner. Or maybe in bag, air long enough within, no weight, no sink. What think?"  And it could fit them too, if they couldn't swim straight down.

 
 Spoiler 
What if Cavelcade can't make it on here in time?
 
CWater
Rhenner shakes his head at Natalia's suggestion,  "That would not work. The blessing only applies to me and things that I can normally carry. And I don't know how it is where you come from, but over here elves are not exactly famous for their ability to carry dwarves around, especially in armour. And I don't think being half human helps enough." 
 "No offense",  he says to Kurt.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia frowns.  "Hm. What if belay? Not carry, but not list either." 
Admiral
Once the group has settled on their plan, they begin preparations.

Kurt, Rocky, Hilton and Shiny each shed their armor, for the sake of swimming more easily and moving more quietly, and Shiny casts a spell on each of them that serves as some measure of arcane protection. Natalia's intricately-crafted chain shirt is so light that she feels comfortable it won't get in her way.

Ildan describes the route briefly in a hushed tone, then takes the lead in stepping through the illusory stone wall. Behind him each of the party members follow, and they find themselves in a tall, narrow crevice. Ildan had explained that the secret tunnel they had taken leads into this crevice, and that it in turn merged with the main road a few hundred yards away (those who had built the tunnel had gone to great lengths to prevent it being stumbled upon).

They carefully navigate their way through, without so far the advantage of Shiny's invisibility spell- the spell wouldn't work unless they stayed close together, and the narrowness of the passage made that impossible. Ildan had assured them that no one would think to explore this particular fissure, but their visibility, and use of light, makes this short journey a risk. However, soon the path widens, and once the party can assemble close together Shiny casts a pair of spells: one to muffle noises from himself and those around him, and a second that hides everyone in the party from view. The torch burns on, appearing as a floating sphere of light.

Finally, the invisible party steps out onto a steep hill, and looking down, they see a wide road a short climb down- from the torch they cannot see far but it seems to curve sharply in both directions. According to Ildan, this is the Deeproad, a path that leads forty miles across this section of the Underdark. It's not as well traveled and not nearly as well guarded as many of the major roads in the drow kingdom, which makes it preferred by bandits, smugglers and worse. Just half a mile down the road is Grunt's Grotto, where Ildan's portal awaits, and if they hustle they can make it there while Shiny's spell holds.

 
 Spoiler 

Who is carrying the torch? Any other spells and preparations? Did anyone decide they wanted to travel separately (again, I do see it as a risky move, but Shiny  will  invisible you individually if you ask)

Spot and Listen checks each, please, as you progress through the Deeproad. No Hide or Move Silently if you are in Shiny's zones of invisibility and silence, and he can just barely fit everyone in).
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia scouts ahead when they're forced into single file, but once the path widens and shiny prepares to cast his spells she falls back to rejoin her friends and allies.

She looks up nervously at the floating sphere of light--though she can see the hand (or maybe the belt soon enough) holding it, nobody else would. She prays Shiny's plan with the dancing lights will work, and that it will allow them to put the torch away.

Bandits, smugglers, and worse. Some part of Natalia hopes they they'll be like Ildan (or at least how he's been presenting himself so far), that the criminals in a society as twisted, warped, and ****ed up as Rhenner described actually arent that bad. But she knows that won't be the case.

Natalia gulps as she looks down the cavern, and whispers,  "Ready?" 
 
 Spoiler: Rolls 
spot:  (d20+12)[ 24 ] 
Listen: take 10 for 22.
 
CWater
Rhenner holds the torch in his hand, so it is easy to cover quickly if need be. Before they climb down to the road, he casts a small spell to grant him slightly faster movement.

 
 Spoiler 
Casting Longstrider. Probably won't make any difference, but it's a domain spell, so no reason  not  to cast it either. And you never know what happens.

Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 12 ] 
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Cool, and to finish it out:

Shiny spot:  (1d20-2)[ 2 ] 
Shiny listen:  (1d20-2)[ 7 ] 
Ildan spot:  (1d20+13)[ 19 ] 
Ildan listen:  (1d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Kurt spot:  (1d20)[ 16 ] 
Kurt listen:  (1d20)[ 14 ] 
Hilton spot:  (1d20+5)[ 8 ] 
Rocky spot:  (1d20+2)[ 7 ] 
Hilton listen:  (1d20+5)[ 8 ] 
Rocky listen:  (1d20+2)[ 3 ] 
 
Admiral
The party clambers down along the rock, careful to stay in range of Shiny's invisibility spell. While a few times they accidentally step out of range of his more restrictive silence spell, they manage to remain invisible during the climb, and are soon progressing along the deeproad.

 
 Spoiler 

Reminder: Zone of Silence has a 5 foot radius, Sphere of Invisibility has 10. On the other hand, you can step out of and into of a ZoS and get the effect back, but can't with a SoI.
 


The road is the widest one they've taken since the path where they'd run across the cloaker nest, though this one is even more twisting. The light from their torch only faintly illuminates the path ahead, as does Natalia's and Kurt's darkvision, so the party focuses mostly on the echoes to listen for sounds of oncoming danger.

After a few minutes of quick walking, Ildan holds up his hands to halt the party- moments later, with the party's footsteps quiet, Natalia hears what he hears: a few whispers and footfalls coming around the corner ahead. Shiny hurriedly casts his spell of lights, and a floating humanoid shape appears, drifting creepily in the air a few yards ahead of and above them.

 
 Spoiler 

Please remind me, is Rhenner the one carrying the torch? Whoever it is might want to extinguish it.
 
CoffeeIncluded
If it's a choice between someone else getting knocked out of Shiny's zone of silence or her, Natalia's the one who makes herself heard every time. That is, assuming anyone else can hear her. But she can hear others, and moments after Ildan hears the footsteps (he better not leave this time) she does too. Carefully drawing her blades, but praying she won't have to use them, Natalia looks back at the torch and motions for it to be put away. Her breathing is short and shallow, and tension curls below her chest.

 
 Spoiler: Torch 
I think so, and if not we know it needs to be put away regardless. 😛
 
CWater
Right after seeing Natalia's motion, Rhenner quickly wraps the torch in a cloth and puts it away. The resulting darkness makes him uneasy and he's happy that at least some in the party are not totally blinded by it.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia holds her breath as she waits for the person or creature making those footsteps to come into view and hopefully move on. The glowing lights of Shiny's spell, combined with the darkvision, give her a headache and she can't look at them both for an extended length of time. Quietly, she whispers a question to her friends.  "You think light enough? Or...should add fake sights, sounds? Confuse more?"  
Admiral
The party stops and waits to see what's coming. After a few moments a pair of shadowy figures dart around the corner that lies about a hundred feet in front of them- in the darkness it's difficult to make out any details, but they are short, and seem to be moving cautiously while aiming crossbows.

One whispers something too distant to be heard, and six more figures come around the corner, each as short as the last. Most appear to be holding weapons ready (mostly blades, crossbows, and some kind of menacing hooked hammers) and they're peering at the glowing figure suspiciously. Their builds are quite similar to Shiny's, but their features and skin are hardened and angular, unlike any gnome anyone had seen on the surface.

  "Svirfneblin ,"  mutters Ildan with distaste.

 
 Spoiler 

 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_277qP9dtbI.../s320/snif.bmp 

Natalia can roll a Knowledge (Underdark) check if she likes.
 
CoffeeIncluded
What the? They look like Shiny, if Shiny looked harsh and hard. Wait, would that mean they knew Shiny's tricks too? She looks down frantically at the gnome for a moment.

 "Sfir--"  Natalia tries to say quietly before breaking off and shaking her head, knowing before she even tries that it'll come out a tangled mess. She can try pronouncing it later when they're not trying to avoid a fight.

 
 Spoiler: Knowledge check  
would shiny know anything about them?

 (d20+4)[ 10 ] 
 

 "Ildan, you know?" 
CoffeeIncluded
They look like gnomes. They look like gnomes like how drow look like elves.  "Shiny, you...know of drowgnomes?" 
 
 Spoiler: What would Natalia know about regular gnomes? 
And would any of it be useful?

Knowledge (Local) for gnomes:  (d20+5)[ 9 ] 
 
Admiral
The gnomes glare suspiciously at the floating, glowing figure above them. One at the front of the party in an intricate black chain shirt turns to the rest and whispers something in a particularly hushed tone. Shiny cranes his neck to hear.

 
 Spoiler 

DC 15 Can Shiny hear-  others can't understand (unless I'm missing someone who speaks gnome):   (1d20-2)[ 3 ] .

If he can't hear, others can try with a DC 20 Listen check to pick up few words and pass it to him- it's harder to hear quiet words in a language you don't know.  For Natalia I'm adding an extra +4 to the DC because she's at a disadvantage for pronouncing things. (I don't have a Speak check, so I'm treating it as "She has to hear it really well not to garble it too much for Shiny to understand"). 

Ildan:  (1d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Kurt:  (1d20)[ 7 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
 

 
 Spoiler: For Natalia Only 

The gnome's voice is deeply quiet but coarse and blunt, in a dialect that seems different from the language of the surface gnomes she was familiar with: she can hardly recognize the words.  "Thinkin' it's a trap. Ambush comin' from behind, maybe below, aye? Stay put an' be ready." 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks, taking a brief second to process the few words most thickly accented. She then turns to her friends and whispers, "They know not ghost, but...think trap. From behind, below."  Below? Were they thinking about the xorns as well or was there yet another threat that can tunnel up from the ground?  "They stay, prepare strike. But don't...they not think of creeping mouse, don't think. So...we move past, likely safe if far away."  Yeah. If they're staying put then they won't pursue them. They know it's a trick, but it's not the one they think it is.

She nods.  "We move now. They say won't." 
Admiral
As the gnomes glare at the light, Shiny beckons the group to follow him to the side wall, and they move carefully while staying within the range of invisibility. Moments later they are pressed against the wall, while the gnomes have stayed put- although Natalia and Ildan are now passing just a few feet from some of the adversaries.

As they move, Shiny points his hand to the other wall and mutters a few arcane words, and a burrowing sound emerges from it. Hearing it, the gnomes point their crossbows expectedly towards it, and the group hurries onward, taking advantage of the distraction.

Those without the benefit of darkvision or Rhenner and Shiny's sensitive eyes are in near darkness at this distance from the light, and others grab them to steady their steps. Once they are far enough past the gnomes, Shiny lets the light drift over the gnomes, who by now seem someone confused, and follow them at a reasonable distance. A few of the gnomes whisper to each other, too quietly to be made out. Then to the party's relief, they begin very cautiously stepping forward along the path the party had come from, two gnomes at the front checking each step for traps. Moments later they have disappeared into shadow as the light follows them and the party rounds the corner.

The group's careful journey continues- once Shiny's spell has run out, he recasts it, wary of lighting a torch so soon after running into another group.

 
 Spoiler 

Spot and Listen checks from the group, please.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia hears the sound of her hair brushing softly against her ear as she steps outside the boundary. She moves quickly but quietly, tucking her stone inside her shirt so it doesn't clink against the mithral chain. The distraction and confusion is funny in a way, but Natalia doesn't laugh or make a sound. In fact, she holds her breath and only lets it out in a sigh of relief as the gnomes pass by. She's incredibly grateful they managed to avoid a fight there; they wouldn't have been able to leave them alive otherwise, and it's not like they did anything to deserve it.

Shiny recasts his spell and sends more colored lights in the air as Natalia steps back into the zone of silence and looks around. As she does, she whispers a question to Ildan,  "What...known of undergnomes?" 
 
 Spoiler: Checks: 
Spot: Take 10 for 22
Listen:  (d20+12)[ 29 ] 
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler: Checks 
Spot:  (1d20+3)[ 17 ] 
Listen: (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
 


Mithril edged along the wall, feeling the nervous breath of her companions as they huddled together.  She didn't realize she had been holding her breath until the gnomes passed by and disappeared into the darkness.   "Ildan, who were those?" 
Admiral
 "Svirfneblin,"  Ildan answers Mithril and Natalia.  "I guess they're a little like your uppergnome here-"  he tilts his head towards Shiny.  "All sorts of rackets they're involved in, but most bands sneak goods back and forth across the border, trying to compete with good old dishonest folks like me. It's a good bet that lot was running diamonds."  He looks over his shoulder regretfully, as if weighing the benefits of going back to rob them.

 "Tricky bunch, but they're not the nastiest you'll run into down here. Speaking of which... we're getting close to Grunt's Grotto. Grotto's a little inlet, leads out into the Hidden Sea, and it's turned into a haven for nasty types: smugglers, bandits, pirates, assassins... They talk, trade, drink, fight, kill... Anyway, the Grotto's big enough you won't see much with this light you're bringing, but just about everyone in it will see the light. So once we get there, we'll have to move quickly, before we draw the kind of attention you don't want to draw. There's a thin path along the shoreline: it'll take us about a minute to run along it before we dive in. Once we're in, it's a short swim straight down to the underwater cave with the portal." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gulps at Ildan's description of the inhabitants of Grunt's Grotto.  "You'd think...outlaws of twisted rules...untwisted themselves,"  she mutters in what's probably a poor attempt at a joke.  "You know them, then?"  And considering what he said, probably best to avoid. A minute. They can probably outchase them in a minute.  "Then we hurry."  She stretches, ready to run.
CWater
 "You said there were creatures living in the lake. I hope we don't run into them, but do you know what kind they are?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Should someone carry Shiny if we're going to run?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shivers at the mention of monsters and what lies ahead. And also because it's cool underground, and the air is just a little damper here than it was a few minutes ago.

 "And beyond? What's...Tol'Garun like?"   What do we need to know, how do we need to act, to avoid excess attention?

And you never said just what you smuggle either.   
Admiral
Ildan grimaces at Rhenner's comment.  "There're as many things we could run into in the water as there are we could run into on land,"  he says vaguely.  "No sense guessing. All right, here we are- better start moving." 
 
 Spoiler 

With regard to Shiny: he's got Expeditious Retreat so we're good. (We'll say he cast it a few minutes ago to hurry you along to the grotto; it lasts 8 minutes).
 


The group rounds a corner, Shiny's ghostly light leading the way. About a hundred yards ahead they see the path widen, but the light doesn't quite reach. As they approach, Ildan whispers to rush them along. Shiny casts a spell as they run, and suddenly everyone in the party feels their pace quicken greatly.

 
 Spoiler 
Figure this is a good time for some  haste .
 


The party runs out and suddenly ends up in a wide open space: the light clambers up along the wall above them, weakens and then disappears into shadow. In front of them they can see a patch of rough rock and then glimmers in the distance- a moment's thought reveals they are about two hundred yards from a pool of water.

Some distance to their right they see a large tent: two people stand in front of it, smoke rising from a pair of pipes they hold, eyes glistening in the reflection of the flame and ghostly glow. From their build they appear to be drow. Each ones hand drops idly to a blade at his side as they stare dead-eyed towards the mysterious glow. The light is too weak to see anything else, but Natalia's sharp ears pick up sounds, carried as if from a distance across the water- the sounds of many indistinct whispers ignited by the spark of Shiny's light.

 "This way!"  whispers Ildan harshly as he pulls the party towards the left, away from the one tent they can see, and they run along the shoreline.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Hear them!"  Natalia pants, racing to keep up with Ildan as she sees the drow stare glassy-eyed at the light and cold sweat pricks between her shoulders.  "Sounds...see us...across lake!"  She forces herself to go faster, nearly gliding against the ground even as she draws her blades and grips them tight. Faster, faster, they can't be caught now!
CWater
Running is generally not a problem for Rhenner; the armour would slow him down a bit, but Shiny's spell equals that out more than enough. Though he is not that used to moving  this  fast, especially in poor illumination and on uneven terrain. He doesn't know about the others, the drow is probably accustomed to it, and Natalia and Kurt can see in the dark, but Mithril and the other humans see even less than what he does.
 "Lord of roads who watches even the crooked paths, please guide our steps that none of us will fall.."  The cleric only mouths the quick prayer, he doesn't want to waste breath on actual words.

  Our light might be quite a beacon, but at least there is little chance of any of us wandering astray. Positive sides in everything.   True or not, his imaginary tone is sarcastic.
Admiral
For nearly a minute the party hurries along the shore, their speed bolstered by Shiny's magic. A band of deepgnomes similar to the ones they'd seen along the path wanders along the rocks into the pool of light shed by the ghost-like creature, but their bows seem focused on the light, and in moments the invisible party has passed them. Shortly after they pass by a pair of small boat docked on the shore- they cannot see its inhabitants except for a mass of glittering eyes.

 "Almost there..."  mutters Ildan, and Shiny's spell of speed runs out. They jog a bit out towards the water as Ildan studies the geographical markers around them, and soon they stand on a rocky outcrop hanging above a pool of water.

 "If they spot the light go into the water, they may follow it in,"  Ildan warns. Shiny responds by sending the ghost flying out towards the center of the lake, after which he casts a spell that creates a thick, billowing smoke centered on the water below, engulfing the party in darkness as deep as though the light had been extinguished. Moments later he casts one more spell and a glowing orb appears between them, though the orb's light barely penetrates the thick fog around them.

 "Well?"  Shiny asks, gesturing at the water below them.

 
 Spoiler 

Fog Cloud.

It's a 5 foot drop down into the water. You have time to cast a spell or make a preparation before you dive. It's probably a good idea for a couple people to hold hands with Shiny and dive so that the sound of the splash is muffled. Probably can't all drop at once though.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders at the glittering gleam of those eyes in the boat. She leans over to catch her breath from the sprint--but only for a couple seconds at most. Then she's pulling rope out of her pack, and offering to tie it to everyone's belts--long enough for people to move, short enough to keep everyone together.  "So not lost,"  she says, fixing herself to the others as well.
Athedia
Mithril grabbed hold of the rope and nodded.  The last part.  Not nerve-wracking at all.  She looked down at the dark water and shuddered.  The last time she had swum had not been pleasant, the struggle to keep her head above water as the chamber filled.  She did not want to go through that again.  Pausing a second before she jumped she pulled Natalia over and whispered.   "Can Whiskers hide in your magic pouch?  I don't think he can hold his breath as long as we can." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Mithril grabbed hold of the rope and nodded.  The last part.  Not nerve-wracking at all.  She looked down at the dark water and shuddered.  The last time she had swum had not been pleasant, the struggle to keep her head above water as the chamber filled.  She did not want to go through that again.  Pausing a second before she jumped she pulled Natalia over and whispered.   "Can Whiskers hide in your magic pouch?  I don't think he can hold his breath as long as we can."  
 

Anybody looking closely at Natalia would see that her face is pale as she stares into the water, her legs slightly shaking as she stares at the inky black lake. Nevertheless, she smiles and nods at Mithril's request.  "Of course."  She opens up the bag and extends an arm so that Whiskers can run down Mithril's arm, across both their hands, and into the bag. Afterwards, her hand rests over Mithril's for a bit longer than necessary.  "Ah...Sorry..."  A bit of pink returns to her cheeks when she notices this. But she doesn't let go if it provides comfort and stability to Mithril as well.

 
 Spoiler 
Ach, had a better mental image but there's no time!
 
Admiral
 "Good idea,"  Ildan notes as he helps Natalia tie the ropes,  "and I'll lead the way" . Ildan ties himself to Shiny and Rhenner, who is in turn connected to Natalia, then Mithril, then Kurt, and finally Hilton and Rocky.

 "Watch your step,"  the elf intones drily, then tugs on the rope and plunges into the water, the rest of the party alongside him.

 
 Spoiler 

Everyone except Rhenner (who I believe is Freedom of Movementing) make a Swim check as you jump, please (you won't need another one until/unless I ask). Note that Shiny cast Mage's Armor on anyone going without their armor, which I believe is himself, Kurt, Rocky and Hilton.

Shiny:  (1d20)[ 19 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20)[ 12 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20+5)[ 6 ] 
Kurt:  (1d20+4)[ 20 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia firmly ties the bag to herself, nods at everyone while thanking Ildan, looks over to Mithril and squeezes the wizard's hand. Then, bracing herself against the cold, she takes a deep breath and jumps in.

 
 Spoiler 
Swim:  (d20)[ 3 ] 
 


It's cold. It's freezing, icy, okay not actually covered in ice and not as cold as rushing rivers in winter but it's cold and her whole body tenses as she jumps in and it's all she can do not to shout and exhale in reflexive shock. It's freezing as the water rushes over her head, and then for some reason as her head goes under water, it's a bit better. Still too cold, but not quite as bad as before.

But it's still too cold. Her muscles are too tense to move. Her vision is fuzzy in the water and sudden fear washes over her as well. She flails helplessly, stiffly, guided by nothing but panic.

 
 Spoiler: Ooookay 
So would grabbing the rope help?
 
Athedia
Mithril took a deep breath in before she hit the water as she had been taught as a child.  The cold water almost made her expel the air as she hit it though, darkness overwhelming her.

 
 Spoiler: Swim Check 
Swim  (1d20+2)[ 12 ] 
 


Her limbs were stiff but she could move them, kicking and beating against the water.  And down, fighting against her very instincts.
Admiral
The seven travelers plunge into the cool water, and already the struggle is perilous. The rope keeps the group from getting separated, but it also causes even the strongest swimmers to be dragged around by the weakest.

Rocky, lacking a grasp of the common tongue, had hardly seemed to understand they were heading to the water until they stood above it, and so he is particularly ill-prepared, ending up flailing about helplessly while tangled in the rope. Natalia seems to freeze up entirely, and even Ildan's confidence seems ill-placed as his attempts to lead the others down into the water leave him breathless. Only Rhenner, thanks to a gift of his god, moves freely through the water as easily as he would move on land.

Kurt, as stubborn and sturdy as ever, grabs the struggling Rocky to steady and calm him, and the others who have made their balance do the same for Natalia and Ildan. Once the group has taken a deep breath, they plunge into the water, Kurt pulling Rocky alongside him, and Rhenner helping the nearly helpless Natalia. Their progress into the depths is slow, and made messy by the rope, but they proceed, chasing the orbs of light Shiny projects before him.
CWater
Fharlanghn's blessing might allow Rhenner to move freely in the water, but doesn't make it feel any warmer.

  Could have mentioned that the water is freezing. Though perhaps he thought it was obvious.  

Still, Rhenner is relieved to notice that he can indeed swim without trouble, even wearing the heavy armour. He wonders briefly if the feeling is actually a sign of weakness if his faith, since does it not imply that he had a bit of doubt about it?

Seeing that Natalia is struggling, Rhenner grabs a hold of the rogue and pulls her up so her head is above the surface. Trying to sound calming, he says,  "Don't flail so much. Stay calm. You won't drown, you tied us to the rope, remember?"
"Take a deep breath, I expect we dive soon. Once our guide has pulled himself together."  He throws a quick glance at Ildan, who seems a bit disoriented after plunging into the water as well.

  We better get to the portal and out of the water quick, or I'll be joining their struggling. A god's patience should not be tested. 

"Don't worry",  he says outloud to Natalia,  "We've managed to come this far where few dare to venture. I doubt Fharlanghn will let our journey end in just drowning in a lake."

 At least I hope so. -No, I need to have faith in it.  

He swims close to Natalia when they dive, helping her if she seems to need it, though the rope will pull her forward anyway.

 
 Spoiler: Perception checks 
Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 9 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's aimlessly kicking and flailing and struggling against Rhenner, randomly beating against him and the water and struggling to hold on at the same time. As they break the surface he can hear her panicked babbling, mostly terrified shouts interspersed with occasional words like,  "--Help!"  and  
"--Edmund! Lisk!"  Her eyes are wild, and it's as if she's not even aware of where she is.

It's not until Rhenner grabs her tight and speaks loudly and calmly to her that her eyes clear and her struggling slows. She looks around, somewhat confused, though that haze lifts fairly quickly.  "R-Rhenner?"  Natalia looks around again. Oh...right. They're here, not...

She shakes her head.  "S-Sorry. Thanks."  Feeling the tug of the rope makes her freeze up again, but Rhenner's presence calms her. She still can't swim well as she takes another gulp of air and heads down, and she still needs to fight back the panic, but she manages this time.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Perception checks:

Spot:
Ildan:  (1d20+8)[ 22 ] 
Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ -1 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20-3)[ 11 ] 

Listen:
Ildan:  (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
Shiny:  (1d20-2)[ 5 ] 
Hilton:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
Rocky:  (1d20-3)[ 8 ] 
 


The travelers swim downwards into the water- the more powerful swimmers end up dragging more of the weight but everyone ends up swimming as one tangled mass. The rocky surface slopes inward towards the shore, leading them into a small natural cavern. As they descend into the depths, they start to feel the pressure of the water in their ears, sometimes having to pause briefly, hold their nose, and blow to equalize the pressure. Soon they grow worried how much farther they'll have to dive.

Luckily, before long Ildan points at a spot along the rocky wall. It looks solid and unexceptional, as had several of the gateways they'd passed through while reaching the Underdark, but sure enough Ildan plunges into the illusion without giving it even a moment's thought, gesturing for the rest of the party to follow. Soon he's gone from sight, the rope disappearing into the wall.

 
 Spoiler 

It's been about 6 rounds (diving in a tied-up group like you guys are doing is slow), so no one needs to make a Con check yet (though I bet for the lower-Con folks it is starting to hurt).
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia doesn't let go of Rhenner's hand as she flails her way down. The contact with a chilled but living hand keeps her grounded, keeps her rembering where she is. Looking around and seeing her friends helps too, and she's more under control.

That doesn't entirely hold the panic at bay, and it doesn't stop the sudden spikes of fear when she has to swallow to relieve the building pressure in her ears, and it especially doesn't help as her chest starts to burn. She fights the urge to exhale as long as possible, because even though that'll bring her some relief, it won't be much longer after that when she'll have to breathe  in.  

The illusion-covered pathway couldn't come soon enough. As Natalia swims through it she wonders, not for the first time, who made these passages and covered them in the first place.
Admiral
The entire party follows the dark elf through the illusory rock wall, and upon swimming through are pleased to find a small enclosure, about fifteen feet in diameter, with a small pocket of air above it. Ildan, Shiny, and Rhenner are first, helping pull Natalia up into the air pocket, shortly followed by Kurt, Hilton and Rocky. The air is oddly dense, presumably an artifact of the water pressure, and it stinks quite deeply of the sea: who knows how long the air has been trapped here.

The party barely fits into the small, crowded space, and their gasps make the limited air available even harder to breathe. It takes them a moment to notice the strangest feature of the enclosure: a flat black disk, about three feet in diameter, on the rock wall, just above the waterline. Its surface is as smooth and unbroken as marble.

Ildan swims towards the disk, and after taking a paranoid glance backwards he leans in and whispers some password. Moments later the surface seems to come alive, rippling, bending and glowing with subtle energy.

 "This is the portal,"  Ildan calls out unnecessarily.  "Only goes one way- just hold your breath and head on through."  The elf clambers up into the surface, disappearing into it, leaving the rope dangling surreally out of the wall. The ever eager gnome clambers up the rope to dive into the portal next, with Rhenner and Natalia behind him on the rope line. Shiny's dancing lights follow him through, but the blue glow of the portal keeps the enclosure well-illuminated.
CWater
Rhenner is very relieved to see the portal come to sight, so much that he doesn't even remember to be suspicious. The gift his god granted ran out when they reached the cave and without it moving in the freezing water is difficult, especially with the armour weighing him down. Holding on to the rope, he follows Ildan and Shiny through the portal.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia breaks the surface panting and gasping. The air is stale, but she doesn't care--it's air, beautiful air! She spends some time just lying on the ground and getting her breath back after being pulled onto shore, though she has the presence of mind to open up the bag of holding for a moment and let Whiskers stretch. She's sure there's more than enough air in there for him but doesn't want to take any chances. She sighs with relief as the portal glows a strange eldritch color, though the relief is tinged with a new nervousness. Almost there, but next comes the hard part.

 "Here goes..."  Natalia lets whiskers back into the bag, seals it up tight, takes a deep breath, and swims through.
Athedia
Mithril followed straight after Shiny, taking a deep breath and diving through the portal.  Better get this over with now.
Admiral
Ildan, Shiny, Rhenner and Natalia step through the portal, finding themselves in a small, natural  rocky chamber with a single exit.  "That was twelve miles,"  says Ildan, wringing the water out of his clothes.

Natalia turns back to the portal to watch for Mithril, the rope connection extending into the portal across the link. But Mithril does not come through.

------------

As Mithril starts to climb into the portal after Natalia, she hears a shout from behind her-  "Rocky, look out!" - then she is jerked abruptly backward by the rope on her belt. The rope heading into the portal stays completely taut, leaving her stranded in midair.

Looking back, she sees with horror that Rocky is submerged, in battle with some strange aquatic creature. Moments later Hilton gasps, and he is yanked underwater as well. A spear flies out of the water to whoosh by Mithril's ear, barely missing her, and clatters against the rock wall. Peering down into the water she sees the creature that had thrown it: some hybrid of fish, frog and man, floating near the depths of the enclosure and carrying a thick net.

 
 Spoiler 

Visual:  

Note that the portal is unidirectional. Pulling on the rope from Natalia's side will pull the rope forward, but not the other way.

Not rolling initiative or attacks, you might be able to guess how this plays out. Mithril can make a move (if she does and it requires rolls, roll for it).
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's momentum swimming through the portal carries her forward as she steps onto rocky ground. Surprised by the sudden shift in terrain, she doesn't have time to right herself and falls flat on her face. Groaning, she sits up and wrings the water out of her dripping wet ponytail; her messy bangs are plastered to her face and partially cover her eyes until she brushes them out of the way. She opens the bag of holding to let Whiskers out, then turns around and sees it.

Mithrils hasn't gone through.

 "MITHRIL!"  Still tied to everyone else, she sprints to where the portal spat them out and screams into the empty air,  "MITHRIL! KURT! ROCKY, HILTON TOO!" 
 
 Spoiler: Where's Kurt? 
Is he through or back in the water? Is there a portal on the other side or just empty space?
 
Athedia
Squirming in pain at the sensation of being suspended Mithril looked down at the struggling men and then back at the rope.  The cold weight of the sheath lay on her wrist.  She looked at the knife, then at the taut rope.  One slice, one slice and she would be free of the men, but they would be left behind.  She almost slid the dagger out but stopped.  The men were still alive, she couldn't leave them now.

 "Kurt! What's happening!"   A fumbling moment later she had her wand in hand and two orbs were hurtling towards the creature.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Damage:  (2d4+2)[ 7 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "MITHRIL! MITHRIL! KURT! ROCKY, HILTON, KURT! MITHRIL, KURT, MITHRIL!!!"  Natalia screaming now, ramming herself into the portal again and again, pounding on it in frustration before grabbing the rope in her hands and starting to tug. It's harder now, much harder in air than water and the rope only jerks forward a few inches before, sodden and rough, it burns her fingers and drops. She's undeterred, however, and wraps the rope around her wrists while shouting behind her,  "Stuck, they stuck! Help pull through!" 
 
 Spoiler: Pulling the rope 
How strong does Natalia have to be to pull the rope through? Can she do it, can she do it with other people? What time is this in relation to other things, and Athedia, Admiral, do you not want me to do this?
 
Cavelcade
Kurt grunts for a moment as he feels the rope tugging him in both directions, his natural instinct to go after the others and make sure Natalia and the rest being overridden by the sight of the slavers, dragged under the water. Glancing back at Mithril, taking a breath from the dwindling supply of air he shakes his head, looking for short words to explain his thoughts. Another tug from where Hilton and Rocky went under decides him, his resolve firm he takes out Daybreaker, his mouth set, and swims to Mithril for a second.  "Be safe, and be strong. You are a target, do not fall. Me, we, all of your friends, we love you too much for that...and these two need me more."  He kisses her cheek, cutting the cord between them even as he does so.  "Now go!"  Turning away, the end of the rope dangling behind him, he pushes her towards the portal as he swims towards the air bubbles that show where the slavers are fighting for their lives.
Athedia
Mithril fell against the wall as the tension of the rope release.   "NO! KURT!"   As the rope tugged at her waist, as she felt herself being pulled through she released the dagger into her hand.  Fighting against the pull she sawed against the rope a few of the fibers coming undone, but unable to replicate the sheering power of Daybreaker.

Her last glimpse of Kurt was of him disappearing after the slavers.  Then the portal engulfed her.
CoffeeIncluded
With a groan, a grunt, and one mighty tug, Natalia pulls on the rope with all her strength. It cuts into her wrists, rubbing in marks that won't fade for several days, but finally the rope gives. Mithril comes flying through the portal, tumbling onto Natalia and knocking her backwards to the floor for the second time in as many minutes.

She pushes herself to a sitting position just as quickly as she had before, and throws her arms around Mithril, who's still sprawled over her legs, pushing the back of her calf into a rough stone.  "Mithril!"  Natalia shouts, her voice weak with relief.  "You safe! What happ..." 

And then she trails off, the sudden silence sending a chill through her. Only one person fell through the portal. Only Mithril came through. The smile's wiped off her face and a knot of dread curdles through the rogue as she puts her hands around Mithril's arms and looks up into her face. Her panicked, despairing face. No. Oh no.

 "Mithril? Where Kurt? Where...Hilton, Rocky?" 

The look on the wizard's face tells Natalia everything, but no. No no no nononono that can't be true. They can't be behind in the portal. She pulls herself out from under Mithril, scrabbling to her feet to look at the portal.

The portal's empty. There's no taut rope hanging from it, suspending Kurt and Hilton and Kurt and Rocky and Kurt from the other side like before--

  --Nononononononono--  

--A frantic look down to Mithril's waist shows a slack, cut segment of rope--

  --nononononononono--  

--Kurt and Hilton and Rocky are on the other side of the portal, stranded. And the rope is cut, the rope is cut and they're stranded and they can't get back unless they swim through the portal themselves but why did they get stranded what's happening why are they stranded--

 "NONONONONONONONONO!!! KURTROCKYKURTHILTONKURT!!! KURT! NO! WHAT HAPPENED WHERE YOU GO NO STUCK COME BACK BACK NOW!"  Screaming wildly, Natalia races towards the portal, ramming her shoulder into it again and again, beating it with her fists, trying to jam her fingers into the center of the portal and pry it open.  "KURT! NO! NOT AGAIN! COME BACK BACK KURT! ROCKY HILTON TOO! KARN IN BACK! KURT! KURT!!!!"  Not again, not again, not again, she's failed him  again  and even if he's dead, he's stuck. He would have come through by now! Why can't he?! He's not dead! She starts sobbing as she tries to force the portal open, incoherently screaming Kurt's name.
Athedia
Mithril stared limply down at the rope around her waist, dagger still lodged in the remaining threads.    "I tried. He made me go."   She didn't react to the people around her, just staring at the rope as tears, invisible beneath the water dripping from her hair, made paths down her face.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses. Chest heaving, she looks down at Mithril, silent at her broken whisper. He made her go? Of course he would. Mithril would never leave him behind. But Kurt sacrificing himself? Of course he would.

 "...So him..."  Natalia says, her voice cracked and shaky as hot tears spill down her face and run along her cheeks. Her vision blurs as she draws both longswords they took off the xorns and charges at the portal again.  "This us! This me!"  She screams, pleading to Gond and Moradin and all their gods as she tries ramming both longswords into the portal and pulling, hoping that they may somehow open it though she knows they won't. Can't leave him, can't abandon him, they can't leave him!  "Kurt! Not leave for spiders, not leave to giants!"  she cries.
Admiral
Ildan raises his eyebrows.  "Who was there?"  He draws his rapier as he looks towards the portal cautiously. But moments later, the blue glow disappears, and the portal is replaced by a solid sheet of rock.

The elf breathes a short sigh of what sounds like barely concealed relief, then frowns.  "You were attacked?"  he asks Mithril.
CoffeeIncluded
Suddenly the portal closes and snaps shut--not broken, simply turned off--and Natalia stumbles on the missing space where it was, falling to the ground  again.   "NO!"  she shouts, springing up and frantically searching the walls for any way to activate the portal from this end.

But it's useless, and she knows it. Twelve miles. Separated by twelve miles, and Kurt's stranded. And they're stuck, no place to go but forward. They don't even have a body to raise...Eventually her efforts slow, and she slides to the ground, curled up on herself as she sobs with rough hiccuping cries.

Again. She failed him again. Like her with Hulburg it's just like her and Hulburg only they're separated and she failed him  again. 
 
 Spoiler: Natalia will likely eventually become a determinator 
...but this is not the day. Today is the day for Heroic BSODs.

Anyway, I think Natalia's said enough so she's not going to respond unless/until someone directly addresses her or we leave.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan raises his eyebrows.  "Who was there?"  He draws his rapier as he looks towards the portal cautiously. But moments later, the blue glow disappears, and the portal is replaced by a solid sheet of rock.

The elf breathes a short sigh of what sounds like barely concealed relief, then frowns.  "You were attacked?"  he asks Mithril. 
 

  "Frogmen.  They grabbed Rocky, or Hilton.  I couldn't tell.  Kurt was protecting them.  And me."   She looked up at Shiny from her lower position on the ground.   "He'll live right?  Hilton knows the Underdark, and Kurt is strong.  Right?" 

Whiskers came over and nuzzled his mistresses hand, his fur tickling her skin and soaking up the water still dripping from her clothing.
Admiral
Shiny draws a short breath before answering.  "He'll be fine, Mithril,"  the gnome says convincingly.  "Just like you said... he'll be fine..." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's cries slowly fade to muffled sobs. She's still curled up by the rock wall, huddled up. She's clutching her side, where the rough raised spider bite scar is.  "Kurt alive,"  Natalia says, and for all her voice quavers she seems certain on this.  "If weak me lived giants...spiders, then...strong Kurt live this. If I crawl home, he...walk. Can't leave, can't leave..." 
Dusk Eclipse
How long had he been running? Hours, minutes it didn't matter.   "I did it.... I did it"   he keeps running, trying his best to avoid falling, but the exhaustion and the uneven surface make him tumble into the ground.  "I... I have to survive" 

It is then when he hears something... something that shouldn't be there, someone was crying; using the last of his remaining strength he picks himself up and follows the sound of crying, he eventually finds himself standing in a rocky outcropping over a a cavern. At the bottom he can see three... no four people all standing in front of a a slab of stone.  Pressing his body as close to the ground as possible, he crawls towards the edge of the outcrop trying to get closer to them. But then is when his luck once again fails, the rock formation where he was hiding breaks and the only thing he can think before the darkness claims him is   "crap"  
Dusk Eclipse
Partially buried under the rubble, [the party] can see a boy... no, a man dressed in rags, though in all honestly dressed is being generous as the tattered cloth only serves to protect his modesty. If they go closer to the unconscious human they can see a huge amount of scars and bruises criss crossing his body, the worst seems to be a puncture mark over his left shoulder; as if something had run through him. His long black hair is caked with a combination of dried and fresh blood, if someone decides to roll him over they can see his chest isn't much better than his back, a long scar runs from his right shoulder to his left hip. Each and every wound seems raw, fresh, except for a thin scar running over his left eye.  His hands clutch a pair of simple straight sword, but they somehow seem wrong, one of them has a handle that seems to short for his hands, while the other looks bigger than it should be.
CWater
Rhenner simply stares at the wall where the portal used to be. He hadn't gotten to know any of the men left on the other side very well, but they had still travelled together, fought together. It was not the first time he'd lost comrades, but this was still very abrupt.

  Is it better this way, to not see the broken bodies?   Rhenner shakes his head.   They might not be dead. They're seasoned warriors, they could survive. But still... We might never know. Does the uncertainty bring more hope or anxiety?   His gaze shifts to the crying Natalia. He's worried for the girl, these people had lost another friend before they came to Deldon and he remembered she had not taken it well. He made a mental note to keep an eye on her, in case she'd do something stupid again.

The sudden sound of falling rocks gets him to look around worriedly. The cave is not collapsing on them, is it? No, it is just a ledge that fell under the weight of a.. is someone else here? His first reaction is to grab his weapon, but when the new arrival hits the ground and is even buried under rubble falling after him, the medic completely forgets that idea.

Quickly, he moves closer, unwraps his torch and places it nearby, to have more light than just that from the small enchanments. Then he proceeds to remove the rubble and examine the fallen man. The number of wounds the human has disturbs him, though not enough to shock, he has seen worse. Still, Rhenner can't help wondering what has happened to him.   There's time for questions later.   The healer retrieves his medical bag from his bag of holding, where he put it to prevent it from getting wet and begins treating the man's wounds.

 
 Spoiler 
Heal:  (1d20+17)[ 36 ] , includes +2 from the Healer's Kit.
Does Stephen have actual HP damage?
 
CoffeeIncluded
The sound of falling rubble startles Natalia from her despondent state, and she reflexively turns around.  "K-Kurt?"  she whispers, almost hoping against hope. But there's nobody there. Nothing except sliding rocks and...hair? Hair, a head, an arm sticking out from under the rubble. Rhenner's already tearing down the tunnel towards the man. Natalia gives a long glance back at the wall, but then instinct kicks in and she's running too.

She gasps as she sees his horrible wounds, his backs scored with whip marks and gashes and slashes, some fresh and bleeding, some scabbed over. A human, nearly naked (though her eyes don't linger, she can see how some might), clutching swords that don't quite for him. Swords covered in blood.

Natalia starts pulling boulders and rubble off of him, silently looking to Rhenner for instructions or advice. She only speaks to point out what she sees, and then her voice is thick and choked.

 
 Spoiler 
she can't not help him.

And goodnight!
 
Athedia
Mithril scrambled back as the rocks tumbled down.  All she could see was the thatch of hair out of the rumble.  For a second her eyes tricked her and she could have sworn it was brown, the same as... Another person she had left behind.  She did that a lot, left people behind and then they died.

She stayed pressed against the rock wall, rope still tied about her waist.
Admiral
As Natalia and Shiny help pull rocks off of the body, missing Kurt's dwarven strength, the medic performs his expert work. He recognizes along with the wounds sustained in the fall (which were relatively minor), that he is covered in blade wounds, one particularly severe. With careful examination Rhenner suspects some of the blood covering the man is not his own.

 
 Spoiler 

Stephan is at -1 HP.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grunts as she manages to roll a boulder off of the man, then pauses as she looks down at his wounds. Hesitant, she presses a hand to the bloodiest ones. His skin is still warm, but her hand comes away red and damp.  "Fresh blood,"  she says, looking back at everyone, though she can't glean much more and looks to Rhenner for him to say more.

 
 Spoiler: Question: 
Since it's pretty clear he's been attacked/hurt by something that some of his wounds are recent, Natalia's taking a look around? Should I roll anything?
 
CWater
 "He's been in a fight, not long ago",  Rhenner says looking up,  "And he was not the only one wounded in it."  The medic looks at the man again. His wounds are severe, he should receive magical healing as soon as possible. Other treatment could save his life, but the recovery would be slow and the Underdark was really not the best place to be bedridden in.

The cleric still hesitates for a while, as much as he'd like to heal any wounded he meets, the group he travels with is his first priority and he can't be sure they won't end up in a fight again today. Though on the other hand, he reasons, this person stumbled in here wounded and fresh blood all over him, it would be good to know if anyone is following him, and he'd need to be conscious to speak.

Though before Rhenner casts a healing spell, he picks up the human's two weapons and places them a bit farher away, out of the man's reach. Then the cleric mutters a few short words of prayer and places his hand on the worst of the wounds.

 
 Spoiler: Healing 
Hold Person to CMW:  (2d8+8)[ 19 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks up at Rhenner in alarm. Does that mean there will be more people coming? That there'll be another fight? And whose side is this man on? Looks like there's only one way to find out.

So she draws her blades and stands between the man and his swords (two of them, like her, but larger...), ready to subdue and restrain him if necessary. She stands there, with eyes red from crying, completely silent.

EDIT: The only thing Natalia asks is,  "You think trouble...follows?" 
Dusk Eclipse
The young human groans; he was still in pain, but a lot less than before. He tries to look around trying to make sense of what happened.   "I'm....alive?"  his voice sounds coarse.
CWater
 "It would seem so",  Rhenner replies,  "No peaceful afterlife for you yet. Though you might want to thank any god you pray for that, you we're in pretty bad shape when you crashed in." 

He picks up bandages and a small bottle of transparent liquid from his bag.  "I'd like to bind the rest of those wounds, and I'll see if there's also something to dull the pain. Can you tell how you got here?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs in relief as the strange man slowly pushes himself to a sitting position. She's still guarded, but calls over her shoulder,  "Over here, Mithril, Shiny, Ildan, Ku--"  She breaks off with a choked voice.

Her speech is a little slow, but that could be because it sounds like she's been crying. It doesn't sound too off.

Natalia motions for Mithril, shiny, and Ildan to come over to where they and the injured man is.
Dusk Eclipse
The man struggles as he lifts himself up, his eyes never leave the strange girl with the blades; her eyes look bloodshot. Could she be the one he had heard crying?
 "I fell."  he finally answers.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head. That's not enough. Sure he fell, but it's obvious he was running from something, and it was probably something bad. Look at the state he was in! New wounds are covering old, and if something's coming this way they need to know about it. So they can get back to Kurt.

But she's reluctant to speak, and reluctant to speak at length right now. It's hard enough to talk without gasping, and that's not mentioning Nutspeak. But she needs to ask, and so she keeps her words clipped short, minimizing their tangledness and the strange cadence, though her voice is still husky with choked back tears. She speaks slowly, lining up her words in neat rows--maybe he'll think of her hesitance as trying to collect herself emotionally and nothing more. She got lucky with Ildan, but now all these fears and this emotional pain has stirred up old worries in her.  "No. You ran. Why?" 
Athedia
Mithril pushed herself up and made her way to the man.   "Natalia, did Rhenner say you could interrogate his patient?  He is hurt, and so far is being nicer than Ildan was."  She winced as she sat down next the man.  She would have a bruise in place of the rope tomorrow.   "I am sorry.  We, we just lost someone."   Carefully she reached toward the mans hand and examined the mark on it.   "Institute? So not a barbarian, and not a slaver either.  Are you a mage of a sort?"   She tilted her hand so he could examine her mark.  Holding this conversation was one of the things keeping her from breaking down, it allowed her to focus on matters apart from Kurts de... no not that, Kurts disappearance.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces. Mithril's right. She's been incredibly rude, and he's in trouble, and...Natalia blinks and nods.  "S-sorry."  She moves, ready to help out by offering him a change of clothiers or something, though she whispers to Mithril,  "Can't...don't want speech long. Afraid if he....hears words..." 

She places a hand on Mithril's shoulder, steadying both the Mage and herself.
Dusk Eclipse
 "Not a mage.... at least not according to the Institute"  the man chuckles, thought they come more out like a wheezing sound.  "Thank you.... you know, for rescuing me"  he offers his hand to the institute girl.  "My name is Stephan Exxet blade of the Arcane Order." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 The man struggles as he lifts himself up, his eyes never leave the strange girl with the blades; her eyes look bloodshot. Could she be the one he had heard crying?
 "I fell."  he finally answers. 
 

 "Yes, we saw that. But what we really want to know, is if there's someone following you, and are they a threat to us? Or are you for that matter, but that you'd be unlikely to tell yourself."

"Now, this will sting a little." 
He pours some of the liquid to a cloth and cleans the human's wounds before wrapping bandages around them.

A sad smirk passes through his face after Mithril's comment.  "I'm sorry we're this paranoid. But this is not exactly a friendly place, and as she said, we've just been separated from some of our comrades."

"Also, I'm knew to Underdark, but I don't think a human running around is a very common sight around here."  He throws a quick glance at Ildan.


 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Not a mage.... at least not according to the Institute"  the man chuckles, thought they come more out like a wheezing sound.  "Thank you.... you know, for rescuing me"  he offers his hand to the institute girl.  "My name is Stephan Exxet blade of the Arcane Order."  
 

  Not a mage? Well, he doesn't have the typical body structure of one. Good for him, a frail spellcaster would probably be dead by now. So the Institute has non-magical warriors? Strange, but then again, not all Church members are clerics or paladins either.   He says none of this aloud though and just concentrates on finishing his treatment.
CoffeeIncluded
Part of the institute? Sword of the arcane order? Before Natalia even thinks about it, she's holding up her hand and pulling down her glove to reveal her own insitute mark, and asks,  "Institute teaches blades? Or...engineer like me?"  she pauses with a gasp, because now Stephan can hear it--the halting pauses, the strange lilting cadence in her voice. And she shouldn't be so worried, not when so many here haven't given her trouble for it, but still, still everything that's happened with Kurt has awoken old fears in her.

Nothing can be done about it though. She winces, and then other worries spill out, and she's crying again, quieter now as she tentatively approaches Stephan. Everything's spilled over.  "What happened? Why...hurt so?" 
 
 Spoiler: Comment and question 
And now she'll act more normally, well for a given definition of it.
Do you want me to make spot and listen checks? The old ones were for underwater which were not anymore.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Yes, we saw that. But what we really want to know, is if there's someone following you, and are they a threat to us? Or are you for that matter, but that you'd be unlikely to tell yourself."  
 

 "No one is following me, at least as far as I know"  he answers with a grim smile. "You don't think I'm dangerous, but you still took my blades away from me"  he chuckles darkly  "that was smart" 

 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  
"Now, this will sting a little." 
He pours some of the liquid to a cloth and cleans the human's wounds before wrapping bandages around them. 
 

Stephan winces as the medic works  "Thanks... it's been a while since someone actually treated my wounds" 

 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 A sad smirk passes through his face after Mithril's comment.  "I'm sorry we're this paranoid. But this is not exactly a friendly place, and as she said, we've just been separated from some of our comrades."

"Also, I'm new to Underdark, but I don't think a human running around is a very common sight around here."  He throws a quick glance at Ildan. 
 

 "No you are right to be wary, naive people usually end up dead... or worse" 

 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
   Not a mage? Well, he doesn't have the typical body structure of one. Good for him, a frail spellcaster would probably be dead by now. So the Institute has non-magical warriors? Strange, but then again, not all Church members are clerics or paladins either.   He says none of this aloud though and just concentrates on finishing his treatment. 
 



 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Part of the institute? Sword of the arcane order? Before Natalia even thinks about it, she's holding up her hand and pulling down her glove to reveal her own insitute mark, and asks,  "Institute teaches blades? Or...engineer like me?"  she pauses with a gasp, because now Stephan can hear it--the halting pauses, the strange lilting cadence in her voice. And she shouldn't be so worried, not when so many here haven't given her trouble for it, but still, still everything that's happened with Kurt has awoken old fears in her. 
 

 "Not exactly, there are some people that teach swordmanship at the institute to mages who want to protect themselves, but not many bother to learn something more than the bare basics"   he snorts  "The fools" 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Nothing can be done about it though. She winces, and then other worries spill out, and she's crying again, quieter now as she tentatively approaches Stephan. Everything's spilled over.  "What happened? Why...hurt so?"  
 

 "Drows" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Not exactly, there are some people that teach swordmanship at the institute to mages who want to protect themselves, but not many bother to learn something more than the bare basics"   he snorts  "The fools" 
 "Drows"  he simply answers. 
 

 "Or we don't learn because we like to stay away from the pointy end of those things.  Seems you didn't get the note to do that though."   Mithril put her dagger back in the sheath, the cold weight on her arm again.   "And why were you fighting drow?  Alone for that matter?  We are a group and still hope to avoid conflict." 
Dusk Eclipse
 "And what happens when someone manages to get close to you with the pointy end?"  he ask with a raised eyebrow  "the single biggest error I've seen a mage commit is believing themselves untouchable"   he smirks again  "though I admit swordsmen can also think like that." 
CoffeeIncluded
He didn't respond to the way she spoke. That gives Natalia a bit more confidence.  "If they close, I protect,"  she says with the slightest edge of  so don't even think about it  in her voice. But that's only a more, because the rest of her is filled with compassion and concern.  "What drow? What happened? Why down here? ...naked?" 

She pulls a spare shirt from her bag. Though it's much too small, it's better than nothing.
Dusk Eclipse
 "Drow slavers.... I escaped"  all the humour from before is gone from Stephan's voice,  but he manages a small smile as he takes the offered shirt.  "Thank you" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "And what happens when someone manages to get close to you with the pointy end?"  he ask with a raised eyebrow  "the single biggest error I've seen a mage commit is believing themselves untouchable"   he smirks again  "though I admit swordsmen can also think like that."  
 


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 He didn't respond to the way she spoke. That gives Natalia a bit more confidence.  "If they close, I protect,"  she says with the slightest edge of  so don't even think about it  in her voice. But that's only a more, because the rest of her is filled with compassion and concern.  "What drow? What happened? Why down here? ...naked?" 

She pulls a spare shirt from her bag. Though it's much too small, it's better than nothing. 
 

Mithril nodded at Natalia's comment.   "She doesn't like it when people mess with me.  And I can handle myself, it helps when I can have spells to ward myself.  Not untouchable, just hard to touch."    Except in my head it seems. I can't guard that no matter how I try.  
Dusk Eclipse
 "I can see that"  Stephan stares at the black-haired girl, paying close attention to the blades in her hands  "Florentine style"  he mutters under his breath.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles proudly at Mithril's comment, but then pales at his mention of slavers. She gives Stephan a long look, then swallows, turning to Mithril, Ildan, Rhenner, and Shiny, asking in a low voice,  "Is that...us if plan used? Failed?" 

Stephan's subsequent muttered comment makes her look back to him in confusion.  "Florentine?"  What's he talking about?  "And drow slavers...how?"  Did they take his stuff too?  

She latches onto this, trying not to think about Kurt, trying not to think about what would happen to him if he were captured, even if he's strong, even if he can survive this...
Dusk Eclipse
 "The way you wield your blades"  he points to the shortsword and dagger  "It reminded me of the Florentine school; it pairs a light blade, usually a rapier or a sabre with a dagger, but using other type of blades aren't unheard of"  he furrows his eyebrows.  "Though your confusion make me think you weren't formally trained, am I wrong?"  he asks.
CoffeeIncluded
She didn't know there were other formalized schools of fighting styles beyond the Soshiman one, but when she thinks about it it makes perfect sense.  "No, no school,"  she says, but pauses. He's still not answering what they're asking and worrying about.  "Drow slavers how? Caught...by Cutler above?"  She shudders. What if...what if he was one of the ones captured during their trip to Soshima, where they could have made a detour and done a rescue mission but didn't? What of he ended up in this state because of their inaction?

 
 Spoiler: In case you don't know 
Cutlers gang is the slaver gang on the surface; Hilton told is that they trade slaves with the drow.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "No, I wasn't captured above.... I came into the Underdark to find the Drow myself, that....that didn't work out how I expected." 
CoffeeIncluded
He...He  what?!  Natalia stares at Stephan for a long time, utterly silent. She raises a finger and opens her mouth, then after a long moment of silence closes it. She raises a hand to her mouth, shakes her head, then tries again. Still nothing. Natalia is utterly dumbstruck.

He. Did.  What? 
 
 Spoiler: Should I stop? 
Am I posting too much? Or do you want me to keep talking?
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "No, I wasn't captured above.... I came into the Underdark to find the Drow myself, that....that didn't work out how I expected."  
 

 "And you called mages fools?  We don't go SEEKING death." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "And you called mages fools?  We don't go SEEKING death."  
 

 "A bit questionable statement considering where we are and where we are going next",  Rhenner says dryly,  "But do you see now why I dislike the idea of giving away our armour and weapons to sneak in? Even if it's just for a while." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia eventually regains her senses enough to realize and say, with a dawning realization,  "Can we even...trick anymore? No Hilton left for meeting..."  She lowers her voice so Stephan can't hear.  "Is Lloth cave only way?" 

Speaking of armor and weapons, he's nearly naked and those swords don't look like his.  "Stephan, how long here...and where your blades?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia eventually regains her senses enough to realize and say, with a dawning realization,  "Can we even...trick anymore? No Hilton left for meeting..."  She lowers her voice so Stephan can't hear.  "Is Lloth cave only way?"  
 

 "I don't know, we'll have to ask our guide",  the cleric replies in a low voice, packing away his medical equipment. Only now does he notice that he's still soaking wet from the dip in the lake.  "Could use a change of clothes myself",  he mutters.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia places a hand to her hair and frowns. The problem with it being so long is that it takes a long time to try, and right now it's still plastered to her head and back. She shivers; her shirt is soaked and chills her to the bone; her feet are wet and her socks make squeaking sounds in her boots when she walks. And her swords are still damp. She rubs them down again, trying to make them bone dry so they won't rust, and asks Mithril or Shiny,  "Do you...cleaning magic, please?" 

As she wrings out her ponytail again, she asks Rhenner and everyone in a low voice,  "What think...Stephan? And...wait for Kurt? Open portal himself?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia places a hand to her hair and frowns. The problem with it being so long is that it takes a long time to try, and right now it's still plastered to her head and back. She shivers; her shirt is soaked and chills her to the bone; her feet are wet and her socks make squeaking sounds in her boots when she walks. And her swords are still damp. She rubs them down again, trying to make them bone dry so they won't rust, and asks Mithril or Shiny,  "Do you...cleaning magic, please?" 

As she wrings out her ponytail again, she asks Rhenner and everyone in a low voice,  "What think...Stephan? And...wait for Kurt? Open portal himself?"  
 

Rhenner is quiet for a while.  "I don't know...",  he finally says, speaking slowly,  "I hate to say this, but remember that Ildan spoke some kind of password to activate the portal. You think they heard it well enough to open it themselves? I know I didn't, and I was closer than they were. If that is so, they can't follow us this way, even if..."  The sentence is left unfinished.

 "As for him",  he glances at Stephan and shrugs,  "What can we do? He doesn't seem hostile, though we'd better keep an eye on him, just in case. And I'd also keep the swords away from him, at least for now." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "They alive. Ask Mithril, Shiny. I lost. Fell. Caught by giants, trapped by spiders. Crawled way back home. And...I lived."  She raises her coat and shirt to show the raised rough scar on her side. It's clear she doesn't want to go into more detail on what happened at the moment.  "And Kurt strong, stronger...than me. He alive. Even if...if stuck...if lost. Other ways...to Drowtown, or out, Ildan?"  Her voice hitches on the last few sentences, realizing that Kurt may well be truly stranded, but she seems adamant that Kurt survived this.

 
 Spoiler 
Goodnight guys; I'm headed home tomorrow.

Natalia might share the details of how she got back to Hulburg if you want at some point. Do you?
 


EDIT: She looks back at Stephan.  "You think...he may hear Drowtown whispers? We...can't leave alone for more chasing." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia shakes her head.  "They alive. Ask Mithril, Shiny. I lost. Fell. Caught by giants, trapped by spiders. Crawled way back home. And...I lived."  She raises her coat and shirt to show the raised rough scar on her side. It's clear she doesn't want to go into more detail on what happened at the moment.  "And Kurt strong, stronger...than me. He alive. Even if...if stuck...if lost. Other ways...to Drowtown, or out, Ildan?"  Her voice hitches on the last few sentences, realizing that Kurt may well be truly stranded, but she seems adamant that Kurt survived this. 
 

Rhenner replies to this only with a sad smirk.

 
 Spoiler 
Not sure if there is a better description for the expression he has. Can't think of anything right now.
 

 "Anyway, are we going to stay here and rest for a while, or do we still need to travel forward today?"  This question is directed at the drow.


  
 Spoiler 
Goodnight guys; I'm headed home tomorrow.

Natalia might share the details of how she got back to Hulburg if you want at some point. Do you?
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Sure, if there is a good moment for a little background sharing sometime.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner replies to this only with a sad smirk. 
 

She shakes her head.  "He alive. And...we can call now. Sending spell."  Her eyes widen.  "Sending spell! That it!" 

  "Anyway, are we going to stay here and rest for a while, or do we still need to travel forward today?"  This question is directed at the drow.

 
 Spoiler 
Sure, if there is a good moment for a little background sharing sometime.
 
 

Natalia pauses.  "What about Stephan?"  She turns to him.  "Stephan, how long here? And...where your blades?" 
 
 Spoiler 
That sounds good.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "And you called mages fools?  We don't go SEEKING death."  
 

 "I didn't say I wasn't one too, did I?"  his smiles turns rueful.   "It was stupid I know, and believe me when  I say I paid dearly for that" 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 She shakes her head.  "He alive. And...we can call now. Sending spell."  Her eyes widen.  "Sending spell! That it!" 



Natalia pauses.  "What about Stephan?"  She turns to him.  "Stephan, how long here? And...where your blades?" 
 
 Spoiler 
That sounds good.
 
 
 

Stephan turns his head towards the black-haired girl.  "I don't know, a couple of months maybe; it is hard to tell time down here"  he raises his eyebrow once more  "How did you know those weren't mine?"  he points to the mismatched set of blades he had been carrying.  "Eh, I guess it doesn't matter; all my stuff is back with my lovely captors"  even the most oblivious person could detect the distaste and scorn in his voice.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders. Trapped down here, enslaved for months, it's something she doesn't want to think about.  "We can't leave. And...might follow same paths, or cross,"  she says.  "Stephan, where captors? Might...help, maybe. Oh!"  she hasn't given her name, has she.  "I Natalia." 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan hangs his head in shame  "I don't know, when I saw my opportunity I took it.... I just ran away as far as I could" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia chews her lip.  "What...was taken?"  She points at the blades.  "How find those? Knew...not yours, because..."  She pauses and waves her hand vaguely in the air, trying to find the words but unable to do so.  "Felt wrong. Colors unmatched." 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Everything, my armour, my clothing, my blades"  he clenches his fist in frustration "You have sharp eyes Natalia" .
CoffeeIncluded
A bit of pride warns in Natalia's chest, helped along by the fact that he hasn't said a thing about her Nutspeak either. Still, they took everything (and she has a feeling she can trust him), and so she asks her friends,  "I think...we can help. Might find his gear on our path. And...until then, maybe borrowed blades."  they did have those two long swords from the Xorns.  "And maybe...he knows secrets."  she sighs, shaky.  "Can't leave..." 
CWater
Since it doesn't seem like they're going to leave very soon, and nothing is attacking them right at this moment, Rhenner removes his armour and starts to wipe the worst of the water from it. The enchanment should protect it from getting rusty, but he prefers not to count on it, the armour is not exactly new after all. He listens to Natalia and Stephan chat, but doesn't say anything for a while.

After he's finished with the armour, the cleric proceeds to search for some spare clothes from his bag. It seems to take him some time.  "Well, you're alive, and now also free again",  he says absent-mindedly when the conversation dies down,  "And you've got all your limbs still attached and none of those wounds will cripple you, so it could be a lot worse."  He takes a few books out to get a better view of the contents of the bag.  " They must be  somewhere  here... " 
 
 Spoiler 
Rhenner doesn't mind having his clothes dried by magic, but how many people can you target with one Prestidigitation? If Shiny only has one, I'd imagine he'd use it on himself or one of those people he's known longer.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia wipes down her armor, then pulls her leather coat from her bag where she had stored it, staring sadly at the emblem on the back before putting it ok. She looks back at the cavern wall and asks Stephan,  "Where were you..."  she trails off, unable to finish her sentence.  "What plan now?" 

Plan. Kurt's alive, but... "Rhenner, do you...know sending spell too?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Since it doesn't seem like they're going to leave very soon, and nothing is attacking them right at this moment, Rhenner removes his armour and starts to wipe the worst of the water from it. The enchanment should protect it from getting rusty, but he prefers not to count on it, the armour is not exactly new after all. He listens to Natalia and Stephan chat, but doesn't say anything for a while.

After he's finished with the armour, the cleric proceeds to search for some spare clothes from his bag. It seems to take him some time.  "Well, you're alive, and now also free again",  he says absent-mindedly when the conversation dies down,  "And you've got all your limbs still attached and none of those wounds will cripple you, so it could be a lot worse."  He takes a few books out to get a better view of the contents of the bag.  " They must be  somewhere  here... "   
 

 "I suppose I have to thank you for that...."  Stephan pauses in confusion. "Sorry, I never got your nam." 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia wipes down her armor, then pulls her leather coat from her bag where she had stored it, staring sadly at the emblem on the back before putting it ok. She looks back at the cavern wall and asks Stephan,  "Where were you..."  she trails off, unable to finish her sentence.  "What plan now?" 
[/COLOR] 
 

 "I don't know, it was Gladiator pit, never saw much except for the pit and the cells they kept us in"  he shudders as he remembers  "I want to return to the surface, but in this condition"  he points to himself  "I don't think I can do it on my own" 
CoffeeIncluded
Gladiator pit. Gladiator pit. They'll throw Kurt in there. Kurt, who even before his change never attacked an innocent man. And they're gonna throw him in there and force him to fight other gladiators, other slaves, and make him kill them...

Natalia grabs Stephan by the shirt and pulls him close, her voice high and frantic.  "Who there? Who you fought? Are...all strong caught sent there?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Gladiator pit. Gladiator pit. They'll throw Kurt in there. Kurt, who even before his change never attacked an innocent man. And they're gonna throw him in there and force him to fight other gladiators, other slaves, and make him kill them...

Natalia grabs Stephan by the shirt and pulls him close, her voice high and frantic.  "Who there? Who you fought? Are...all strong caught sent there?"  
 

Stephan tries to calm Natalia by placing a hand on her shoulder  "I don't know,  I fought many different things, sometimes they were humanoids, sometimes they weren't"  he sighs  "Sometimes they weren't even fighters...." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 Stephan tries to calm Natalia by placing a hand on her shoulder  "I don't know,  I fought many different things, sometimes they were humanoids, sometimes they weren't"  he sighs  "Sometimes they weren't even fighters...."  
 

It doesn't help. If anything, Natalia's even more agitated thinking about everything...everyone...Kurt's going to be forced to kill if he's thrown in there.  "Other fighters? Other slaves?! What mean...not even fighters?!" 

Oh Kurt...
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Plan. Kurt's alive, but... "Rhenner, do you...know sending spell too?"  
 

Rhenner shakes his head,  "Not prepared today. I could...try casting it tomorrow."

 And what if there's no reply? What do I tell them then?  

 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "I suppose I have to thank you for that...."  Stephan pauses in confusion. "Sorry, I never got your nam." ] 
 

 "Oh right, that. Sorry, I tend to forget formalities. I'm Rhenner Calami, a devout servant of Fharlanghn, the god who watches over Travellers, Wanderers and generally anyone who decide to move from one place to another that is farther than their own kitchen." 

  "I don't know, it was Gladiator pit, never saw much except for the pit and the cells they kept us in"  he shudders as he remembers  "I want to return to the surface, but in this condition"  he points to himself  "I don't think I can do it on my own"  


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 It doesn't help. If anything, Natalia's even more agitated thinking about everything...everyone...Kurt's going to be forced to kill if he's thrown in there.  "Other fighters? Other slaves?! What mean...not even fighters?!" 

Oh Kurt... 
 

 "I'm guessing he means to say that some people have distasteful opinion of what counts as amusement",  Rhenner says, sounding tired,  "As for getting out of the Underdark... If we'd be going that way, I'd suggest you travel with us, but I'm afraid we'll be taking the scenic route."  Despite the serious conversation, he can't help the slightly sarcastic tone,  "Do you feel like walking back to the spider's nest?"  
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 It doesn't help. If anything, Natalia's even more agitated thinking about everything...everyone...Kurt's going to be forced to kill if he's thrown in there.  "Other fighters? Other slaves?! What mean...not even fighters?!" 

Oh Kurt... 
 

 "Slavers aren't picky with their slaves, specially the ones who make business with the gladiator ring. True they prefer blooded warriors if possible, but in a pinch? An unlucky farmer will do" he says sadly, he rubs his hand, as if he was trying to scrub something off.


 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner shakes his head,  "Not prepared today. I could...try casting it tomorrow."

 And what if there's no reply? What do I tell them then?  
 "Oh right, that. Sorry, I tend to forget formalities. I'm Rhenner Calami, a devout servant of Fharlanghn, the god who watches over Travellers, Wanderers and generally anyone who decide to move from one place to another that is farther than their own kitchen." 
 "I'm guessing he means to say that some people have distasteful opinion of what counts as amusement",  Rhenner says, sounding tired,  "As for getting out of the Underdark... If we'd be going that way, I'd suggest you travel with us, but I'm afraid we'll be taking the scenic route."  Despite the serious conversation, he can't help the slightly sarcastic tone,  "Do you feel like walking back to the spider's nest?"   
 

 "I'm not particularly fond of the idea to be honest, but I guess there is no other way" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thank you, Rhenner,"  Natalia says, visibly relieved. She doesn't even consider the possibility that he won't respond. But then Stephan talks about the people he was forced to fight, and the good feeling vanishes. Instead she feels ill, and though she fights back a wave of nausea she lets out a whimper. And then she looks up at Stephan.

Oh...

She places a hand over his, wishing she could do more to comfort him. Wishing she could do more for Kurt as well.

EDIT: Natalia looks back at her friends. What now?
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "I'm not particularly fond of the idea to be honest, but I guess there is no other way"  
 

 "In that case I suppose you can come with us. At least Natalia doesn't seem to want to leave you here to wander alone." 

Rhenner is starting to feel very tired and sits down, leaning against the cold uneven stone wall.

 "Or does someone object?",  he looks at the other party members.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, her eyes hard.  "We not leaving. Can't...leave..." 

She trails off, staring at where the portal was. Slowly Natalia slides to the ground, and buries her head in the space made between her crossed arms and legs.
Athedia
Mithril grabbed Rhenner and Natalia's arms and pulled the upright.   "The last thing Kurt told me was to live.  The longer we stay her the higher the chances one of those Xorns, a drow or any number of freaks from down here kills us.  And I sure as hell can't survive without you.  So we have to go now, at least to clear distance from the portal.  Kurt will figure this out.  He is a dwarf, he knows the underground.  If not him then Hilton will figure it out."  

Part of her speech was reassuring herself, but it was also the truth.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks up from where she sags limp in Mithril's grasp.  "...Of course. You right. Need you, each other..." 

Her resolve seems to harden, and when Mithril loosens her hold she runs over to where the portal was and shouts,  "KURT! You hear me?! This not goodbye! We find you again! Find each other...again! I promise!" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Mithril grabbed Rhenner and Natalia's arms and pulled the upright.   "The last thing Kurt told me was to live.  The longer we stay her the higher the chances one of those Xorns, a drow or any number of freaks from down here kills us.  And I sure as hell can't survive without you.  So we have to go now, at least to clear distance from the portal.  Kurt will figure this out.  He is a dwarf, he knows the underground.  If not him then Hilton will figure it out."  

Part of her speech was reassuring herself, but it was also the truth. 
 

Rhenner blinks a few times, before the mages words seem to register properly. He looks at Mithril, but for a passing moment he feels like he is seeing someone else. Then reality kicks in again.  "..Right. You're right, this is a bad place to rest."  He picks up his armour and dons it again.

Rubbing his forehead he thinks,   These reminders are starting to give me a headache...  

Then the medic walks up to Stephan again and places a hand on the man's shoulder.   "Guess it would be better to lessen those wounds a little more before we start moving."  His holy symbol shimmers slightly when he casts a healing spell.
 
 Spoiler: Healing 
Status to CMW:  (2d8+8)[ 15 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "It seems that I'm stuck with you guys for the time being."  Stephan stretches as Rhenner's magic mend his body.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Better stuck than...alone."  Though at least Kurt has rocky and Hilton with him. At least there's that.    Natalia shakes her head, turning back from the wall as if she has to wrench herself away.  "Stephan, why? Why...alone to start?"  How could he be so foolish? And is he going to try running off on his own again? She prays he doesn't.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan looks stricken  I....wasn... I escaped alone"  he looks for  his  swords  "I couldn't bring anyone else with me" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "I was asking...why come down alone...first,"  she says, quietly. He couldn't bring anyone with him. Wordlessly she steps forward to give Stephan a hug.
Dusk Eclipse
 "I didn't come alone, but I was the only one who got captured"  he returns the hug.
CoffeeIncluded
He was with someone? Natalia feels a bit more secure--physical contact has always helped her--and she asks him,  "Where...are friends?"  He was alone too, like Kurt...

 
 Spoiler: OOC question: 
Was Stephan really with others? I though he was alone.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Natalia feels Stephan trembling  "They didn't survive" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Why? Because I'm a sucker for cheap drama.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps and stills. All of them, dead?  "W-What--"  she starts, but then trails off. What could she possibly say to comfort him? What could she say, besides the fact that she knows that pain as acutely?

...Still, it's better than nothing. And so it's what she says, slow and halting. The whole time she makes sure he knows she (and hopefully everyone else) are there if he needs them.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia steps back and looks around, finally forcing herself to voice what they're all thinking but don't want to say out loud.  "If no Hilton to guide, speak, then...only way to goal is under. Sneak through monster pit. Plus...even fake slaves may...hurt Stephan more."  There's a question at the end of it.  "Unless you think other way?" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia steps back and looks around, finally forcing herself to voice what they're all thinking but don't want to say out loud.  "If no Hilton to guide, speak, then...only way to goal is under. Sneak through monster pit. Plus...even fake slaves may...hurt Stephan more."  There's a question at the end of it.  "Unless you think other way?"  
 

Mithril nodded.   "I can't say I like the idea of going under.  But without contacts we can not take the other route."   She rubbed at her hand as she thought to herself.    Not to mention this mark would spell a death sentence for us.  What was it again, something about not being worth the trouble magic brings?    She shuddered at that memory.   She still didn't trust any of the slavers, and was a little worried about Kurt being alone with them, but better him than her.

 
 Spoiler 
 Actually what was it?... You sent me the conversation Hilton and Mithril had, but I still lost the thought reading part.  Trouble with PMs really.  I just discovered this while archiving stuff today.   EDIT: Nevermind, found it labeled stupid request.  So ignore the second stupid request as I actually did archive it this time.  Just need to work on labeling things properly.

By the way does anyone have a method for archiving the threads in text form?  I want to make a document for them but can't download them like a PM
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Now that I think so, why are you guys down here?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Now that I think so, why are you guys down here?"  
 

 "Why? You think we'd need any other reason to come to such a lovely place such as this than mere sightseeing? I did say we're going to take the scenic route."  Rhenner's tone is sarcastic, though more bitter than mocking.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan simply stared at Rhenner.  "Oh no, I know how lovely the Underdark is this time of the year, mushrooms just started grow, you can feel the dampness in the air, it is lovely, just lovely."  he responds in complete deadpan.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders, remembering what Rhenner read.  "Don't like either. But if only way now, then I protect. And...if Stephan fights too..."  She trails off, shaking her head. Hell fight with them, out of necessity if nothing else. But if there are people down there, well she can't leave them to die.

Stephan's question makes her pause, but she's not surprised. Hesitantly, she says,  "We told Ildan,"  then turns and with a deep breath tells Stephan,  "Place visited...attacked by drow. Looking for answers. Drowtown prisoner might have."  is that all? Did she say too much? Not enough? She looks over, nervously, at her friends.

But she can't keep a straight face at Rhenner and Stephan's exchange, and so Natalia cracks the first amused smile she's given since being separated from Kurt.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 Stephan simply stared at Rhenner.  "Oh no, I know how lovely the Underdark is this time of the year, mushrooms just started grow, you can feel the dampness in the air, it is lovely, just lovely."  he responds in complete deadpan. 
 

 "Oh, but the scenery is nothing compared to the intriguing local customs. If we're lucky, we might even get to see how some fortunate soul is removed from all their "unnecessary limbs", or even better, receive the honour of being locked alive into a coffin and serve as a buffet for holy spiders."  Rhenner's voice trembles just a little towards the end, the subject being a bit too grim to even snark about with a straight face.


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Stephan's question makes her pause, but she's not surprised. Hesitantly, she says,  "We told Ildan,"  then turns and with a deep breath tells Stephan,  "Place visited...attacked by drow. Looking for answers. Drowtown prisoner might have."  is that all? Did she say too much? Not enough? She looks over, nervously, at her friends. 
 

Rhenner nods.  "Yes, I am afraid we might end up disrupting the peace slightly with a tiny prison raid. Though that remains to be seen." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's breathing becomes harsh at Rhenner's descriptions, and she curls her hands into fists and closes her eyes.  "No. Won't see. If see, then stop. Raid torture and prisons. Raise ruckus, rescue all." 
 
 Spoiler 
knowing Natalia, there's no stopping her.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "That too I suppose"  Stephan remarks much more subdued, he shakes his head trying to dispel the lingering memories brought up by Rhenner. He had seen and done terrible things while captured.

 "Prison raid huh? I'm not sure about a prison, but I can lead you to the gladiator ring they kept me at" 
Athedia
 "Natalia, rushing in and saving everyone will only lead to your and our deaths.  I will restrain you, or do you think that our lives are worthless."   Mithril sighed.  The girl didn't seem to know how to chose her battles.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Prison raid huh? I'm not sure about a prison, but I can lead you to the gladiator ring they kept me at"  
 

Natalia lays a hand over Stephan's again in comfort, but asks,  "Are prisoners...gladiators too?"  stumbling over the word.  "Can you sneak?"  it might be good to have someone who can sneak along with her.


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Natalia, rushing in and saving everyone will only lead to your and our deaths.  I will restrain you, or do you think that our lives are worthless."   Mithril sighed.  The girl didn't seem to know how to chose her battles. 
 

Natalia looks agape at Mithril. What the--?! What's going on, that she's saying things like this? What happened to the Mithril who tried frantically to save Henry?  "Noy worthless! When have...ever said or thought you worthless! Mithril, you...you...mean so much to me. Everyone, all friends. But you..."  Natalia hangs her head.  "If you gone, lost, I..."  She trails off, but her voice says enough.

 "Mithril, please. Saved you. Saved you, Ildan, and Linwood, Soshima, Deldon too. But...failed Morton, Henry, shiny, Kurt, Miriam, Kurt again...Hilton, Rocky, Karn too. Because not fast, strong, smart enough. That why...Mithril, if I see...people there, can't run. Can't, won't leave behind if able, and always willing."  She sort of understands what Mithril's talking about, but she simply can't accept it.  "Not rush, but sneak. And you worth so much...but can't abandon any. Too many already failed." 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia lays a hand over Stephan's again in comfort, but asks,  "Are prisoners...gladiators too?"  stumbling over the word.  "Can you sneak?"  it might be good to have someone who can sneak along with her.



Natalia looks agape at Mithril. What the--?! What's going on, that she's saying things like this? What happened to the Mithril who tried frantically to save Henry?  "Noy worthless! When have...ever said or thought you worthless! Mithril, you...you...mean so much to me. Everyone, all friends. But you..."  Natalia hangs her head.  "If you gone, lost, I..."  She trails off, but her voice says enough.

 "Mithril, please. Saved you. Saved you, Ildan, and Linwood, Soshima, Deldon too. But...failed Morton, Henry, shiny, Kurt, Miriam, Kurt again...Hilton, Rocky, Karn too. Because not fast enough. Failed because not fast, strong, smart enough. That why...Mithril, if I see...people there, can't run. Can't, won't leave behind if able, and always willing."  She sort of understands what Mithril's talking about, but she simply can't accept it.  "Not rush, but sneak. And you worth so much...but can't abandon any. Too many already failed."  
 

Calmly Mithril turned back to Natalia, lifting the girls chin to look up at her.  "I learned from my mistakes Natalia.  It is hopeless to attempt to save everyone and I will not support you in any of those efforts.  We came to get the prisoner in case he had a connection to the Voice.  We stop it, we stop much more from happening.  You would be killing many of the people who believe in what they were doing to save who?  A bunch of hungry ragged slaves we would have to protect jeopardizing our objective, or worse someone who wanted to be sacrificed and then attacked us.  I will not let you abandon our reason for being down here to do something so foolhardy.  Once the Voice and the Orc War is taken care of then feel free to come back, but any such action now would only lead to more trouble."   Her lecture done, she let Natalia go.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stares at Mithril, suddenly scared, unsure, and looking as if something's threatening to break deep inside.  "Only hopeless if you don't try. Don't need to kill to save. Can stop voice and save! If we wait, they die! They...need heroes now, and we...only ones coming!"  she rubs her chin with her hands and swallows something back.  "I know cant search, but if they there...One person. One person can save. I needed heroes, won't deny them same! Mithril...would you ...have left me?" 

She lets this last statement hang, punctuated only by a whispered,  "What's...happening to you?"  I haven't seen this side of you. Please, let me in.  
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia stares at Mithril, suddenly scared, unsure, and looking as if something's threatening to break deep inside.  "Only hopeless if you don't try. Don't need to kill to save. Can stop voice and save! If we wait, they die! They...need heroes now, and we...only ones coming!"  she rubs her chin with her hands and swallows something back.  "I know cant search, but if they there...One person. One person can save. I needed heroes, won't deny them same! Mithril...would you ...have left me?" 

She lets this last statement hang, punctuated only by a whispered,  "What's...happening to you?"  I haven't seen this side of you. Please, let me in.   
 

 "We aren't heroes Natalia.  Simply people to stupid or stubborn to realize when the fight is lost.  And I did leave you Natalia.  We all did." 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia lays a hand over Stephan's again in comfort, but asks,  "Are prisoners...gladiators too?"  stumbling over the word.  "Can you sneak?"  it might be good to have someone who can sneak along with her.  
 

 "Not all of them, but many prisoners are forced to fight and yes I can sneak " 
 
 Spoiler 
Please assume this happen before Mithril lectures Natalia
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Not all of them, but many prisoners are forced to fight and yes I can sneak " 
 
 Spoiler 
Please assume this happen before Mithril lectures Natalia
 
 
 

Natalia sighs in relief. Good, so she won't be alone. And yet a little twinge of...nervousness? trepidation? niggles at the back of her mind.

She pushes it out for the moment, or ignores it, and asks,  "Maybe he there too?" 
 
 Spoiler 
I agree.
 


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "We aren't heroes Natalia.  Simply people to stupid or stubborn to realize when the fight is lost.  And I did leave you Natalia.  We all did."  
 

Natalia recoils as if struck, and she lets out a soft gasp as if punched in the stomach.  "No. You were there. All there when I woke. Stayed. And...even if..."  She pauses, trying to link the two situations together,  "Even if forced separation, didn't mean leave. We're...not leaving Kurt. But separated. Different. And fighting when lost can turn to wins."  Natalia shakes her head. On this, she's certain.  "I know...giving up when pointless, and when not. How it, how others..."  She trails off, suddenly falling silent as she looks down. Natalia clearly wants and doesn't want to talk about this--or rather, she doesn't want to talk unless someone broaches the subject first.
Admiral
Ildan bites his lip as he watches towards Stephan, but once the rest of the party appears to trust the newcomer he ends up seeming more bored than suspicious.  "What do you know... it's been years since I last ran into a surfacefolk in the wild, then I run into eight in two days. I'm Ildan,"  he states, not extending a hand.  "I suppose I can't blame you for coming across us, not with Natalia shouting all about like she's just inviting trouble." 

The drow turns back to the portal with regret.  "Having lost your friend with the unpleasant past, I'd say you ought to ditch one way of getting into the city. Heading to one of the slaver's district without a contact is just a creative form of suicide. Suppose that means you're going through the Quiet Crevice." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia recoils as if struck, and she lets out a soft gasp as if punched in the stomach.  "No. You were there. All there when I woke. Stayed. And...even if..."  She pauses, trying to link the two situations together,  "Even if forced separation, didn't mean leave. We're...not leaving Kurt. But separated. Different. And fighting when lost can turn to wins."  Natalia shakes her head. On this, she's certain.  "I know...giving up when pointless, and when not. How it, how others..."  She trails off, suddenly falling silent as she looks down. Natalia clearly wants and doesn't want to talk about this--or rather, she doesn't want to talk unless someone broaches the subject first. 
 

Rhenner follows Mithril and Natalia's exchange. When they quiet down, he sighs.  "Natalia... It is not possible to help everyone you meet, no matter how much you want to. Even the gods can't save everyone. We can only do the little we can, and hope we get out of this place alive afterwards." 
 "Look...",  he puts a hand on the girl's shoulder,  "If we come across a situation where it seems we could make a difference and maybe not die in doing so, we can consider it then. ...But you need to be prepared that we might see some horrible things on the way... and that there is nothing we can do about them." 

 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan bites his lip as he watches towards Stephan, but once the rest of the party appears to trust the newcomer he ends up seeming more bored than suspicious.  "What do you know... it's been years since I last ran into a surfacefolk in the wild, then I run into eight in two days. I'm Ildan,"  he states, not extending a hand.  "I suppose I can't blame you for coming across us, not with Natalia shouting all about like she's just inviting trouble." 

The drow turns back to the portal with regret.  "Having lost your friend with the unpleasant past, I'd say you ought to ditch one way of getting into the city. Heading to one of the slaver's district without a contact is just a creative form of suicide. Suppose that means you're going through the Quiet Crevice."  
 

 "It would seem that is our route",  Rhenner says, looking like he's having a headache again,  "So in that case, where do we go next?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan bites his lip as he watches towards Stephan, but once the rest of the party appears to trust the newcomer he ends up seeming more bored than suspicious.  "What do you know... it's been years since I last ran into a surfacefolk in the wild, then I run into eight in two days. I'm Ildan,"  he states, not extending a hand.  "I suppose I can't blame you for coming across us, not with Natalia shouting all about like she's just inviting trouble." 

The drow turns back to the portal with regret.  "Having lost your friend with the unpleasant past, I'd say you ought to ditch one way of getting into the city. Heading to one of the slaver's district without a contact is just a creative form of suicide. Suppose that means you're going through the Quiet Crevice."  
 

Natalia winces.  "Sorry, Ildan. Didn't mean for noise. Promise quiet...especially in quiet crevice."  she starts to stumble over the words, her voice especially erratic because of her agitation, but she manages.  "What else know about crevice? And...how far? Can...we rest before?" 

 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner follows Mithril and Natalia's exchange. When they quiet down, he sighs.  "Natalia... It is not possible to help everyone you meet, no matter how much you want to. Even the gods can't save everyone. We can only do the little we can, and hope we get out of this place alive afterwards." 
 "Look...",  he puts a hand on the girl's shoulder,  "If we come across a situation where it seems we could make a difference and maybe not die in doing so, we can consider it then. ...But you need to be prepared that we might see some horrible things on the way... and that there is nothing we can do about them." 
 "It would seem that is our route",  Rhenner says, looking like he's having a headache again,  "So in that case, where do we go next?"  
 

Faced with both Rhenner and Mithril against her, forced to argue alone with only the memories of Miriam and Kurt to back her up, Natalia sags, though she's internally firm.  I'm sorry. Just...can't do...nothing. Even if...if you right and...can't save...need to try. At least try. Even if...cant save. Kurt and Miriam...would too." 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Faced with both Rhenner and Mithril against her, forced to argue alone with only the memories of Miriam and Kurt to back her up, Natalia sags, though she's internally firm.  I'm sorry. Just...can't do...nothing. Even if...if you right and...can't save...need to try. At least try. Even if...cant save. Kurt and Miriam...would too."  
 

Rhenner doesn't answer. What is there to say to that? There is no fault in her ideals, he simply doesn't think they fit together with the ugly reality.

  If she is not careful, this world might break her.  
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Faced with both Rhenner and Mithril against her, forced to argue alone with only the memories of Miriam and Kurt to back her up, Natalia sags, though she's internally firm.  I'm sorry. Just...can't do...nothing. Even if...if you right and...can't save...need to try. At least try. Even if...cant save. Kurt and Miriam...would too."  
 

 "They would much rather you lived."   Mithril shook her head at Natalia's insistence.   Turning to Ildan she agreed,  "It is probably for the best.  Anything we should know before going that way?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan bites his lip as he watches towards Stephan, but once the rest of the party appears to trust the newcomer he ends up seeming more bored than suspicious.  "What do you know... it's been years since I last ran into a surfacefolk in the wild, then I run into eight in two days. I'm Ildan,"  he states, not extending a hand.  "I suppose I can't blame you for coming across us, not with Natalia shouting all about like she's just inviting trouble." 

The drow turns back to the portal with regret.  "Having lost your friend with the unpleasant past, I'd say you ought to ditch one way of getting into the city. Heading to one of the slaver's district without a contact is just a creative form of suicide. Suppose that means you're going through the Quiet Crevice."  
 

Stephan narrows his eyes.  "What exactly is the Quite Crevice?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "I will. We will,"  Natalia pleads.  "Won't danger any. Promise just can't leave untried."  she sighs, a hitch in her voice, and it sounds like she's choking something back she she replies to Stephan,  "Place of Rhenner's...tour of nightmares."  they're probably going to have to fight.  "If go now, can rest before," 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Rhenner's tour of Nightmare"  Stephan ask surprised.  "Look back in the pit there was this Kobold, Zik, nastly little bugger. He was always rambling about the Quite Crevice, specially about eyes and webs."  He glares at Ildan  "So I'll ask again, What is the Quite Crecive?" , his voice carrying just a hint of anger.
Admiral
Ildan raises his eyebrows.   "The Quiet Crevice is a deep valley that lies under Tol'Garun, the drow capital city. That's where the spideyshriners- er, the followers of Lolth- carry out their sacrifices and rituals. Not a pleasant place to travel... but it's the only way the drow don't guard, so your crazy friends here were going to use it to sneak into the city." 

Ildan frowns as he thinks.  "This crazy kobold of yours. Was he missing both his little fingers?" 
 
 Spoiler: For Dusk only 

Yep
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Yes, he was missing two claw fingers, I always figured he lost them on the pit"  he raises an eyebrow  "Do you know him?" 
Admiral
 "Not as such,"  Ildan says with distaste.  "There's a loose gang of kobolds in this territory known as Serpents- master thieves. Cutting off those fingers is what drow guards do to Serpents when they capture one. Makes it tougher for them to pick a lock, but doesn't keep them from fighting in the pits." 
 "I'd heard the Serpents had their ways in and out of Tol'Garun. So did I, but then it's easier for drow. Good chance this scaleyfolk's been through the Crevice himself." 
Dusk Eclipse
 "I wouldn't know, he was already in the pit when I got captured" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's ears prick up when they mention the kobold, though her fear subsides when Stephan gives his name and Ildan says he was part of a gang of thieves. No way. Karik was in the institute. And he had all his fingers. But he could have been part of the gang once. And she's also curious now.  "Are other kobolds here too? Or on surface? And...you think they help us too? I...know a kobold."  That may help a bit.  "How far is crevice?" 
 
 Spoiler 
wpuld it?

Is anything coming?
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "Not as such,"  Ildan says with distaste.  "There's a loose gang of kobolds in this territory known as Serpents- master thieves. Cutting off those fingers is what drow guards do to Serpents when they capture one. Makes it tougher for them to pick a lock, but doesn't keep them from fighting in the pits." 
 "I'd heard the Serpents had their ways in and out of Tol'Garun. So did I, but then it's easier for drow. Good chance this scaleyfolk's been through the Crevice himself."  
 

 "Do I even want to know what you're going to suggest next?" , Rhenner says, the irony creeping back to his voice,  "See",  he looks to Stephan,  "we've already got the guidebook for this tour. But our guide here",  he motions towards Ildan,  "is too concerned about keeping his facial features intact to risk the trip. Which leaves us with a small problem.." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "No. Might work. I...know kobold. May help...find guide. Even if kobold known not...same as ones here, but might guide anyway."  She doesn't remember, doesn't know if Karik was ever part of this gang before joining the institute, but she's known a kobold. That might help.

But still.  "Ildan, still need you. You...promised to find prison guide. How can if not with us? Unless meet again inside drowtown?"  wait a minute.  "Ildan, Stephan, where arena?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 "I don't know... I just ran blindly through the caves" Stephan lowers his face in shame "but I can find the way back there." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Wait. No drowtown between? Are fights...before Tol'Garun?"  if that's the case, then just maybe everything will become possible.  "Ildan, are they?" 

EDIT:  "How arena built? Where held?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 "The holding cells are located below the arena itself" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses.  "So you saw arena? Know how in, out?" 

She looks back at everyone.  "Think two prison rescues needed? Ildan, what know of this?" 
 
 Spoiler: Am I doing ok with Natalia? 
im sorry, on just short on time and it seems like this will expedite things. Guys, am I doing anything you don't like?
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan nods  "I know the holding area rather well and there isn't much to say about the arena itself, just a circular area, the drow sometime add stuff to make things "more interesting". 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Oh no, Stephan was replaced by Artorias! 😉
 


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia shakes her head.  "No. Might work. I...know kobold. May help...find guide. Even if kobold known not...same as ones here, but might guide anyway."  She doesn't remember, doesn't know if Karik was ever part of this gang before joining the institute, but she's known a kobold. That might help.

But still.  "Ildan, still need you. You...promised to find prison guide. How can if not with us? Unless meet again inside drowtown?"  wait a minute.  "Ildan, Stephan, where arena?"  
 

Ildan raises an eyebrow.  "Pretty sure I promised to get you to right around where you are. I'll lead you another mile and camp, but then I'm headed back to my work."  He gives Stephan a short shrug.  "Suppose I'll never learn the pleasure of your company." 
 "Speaking of pleasures and company..."  Shiny bounds forward to grab Stephan's hand.  "Hi, Shiny Sandsnatcher, petty thief and clockmaker. You say you were in a gladiator ring? If there was a inscription that reads 'Shiny was here' in gnome in one of the cells, then I know just the one. I remember this one fight-"  he raises his hands in explanation-  "with this big, nasty-looking orc. I figured he was too big to take on straight, but maybe I could lull him into thinking he was winning, get him to drop his guard. So I cast some illusions on myself every time he swung: makes it look like I'm getting bloodied, lose an eye or a finger, that kind of thing. It looked like it was working too: I was just swinging some dinky rapier at him, but I was getting some serious wounds in while he was distracted with mine. So I kept going at it." 
 "Fight went on twenty minutes, and I'd chopped off four of his fingers, eight of his toes, and left a pool of blood you could swim in- and yet he was still standing, swinging his axe at me. Wasn't until I took his second eye with barely a grunt before I figured it out- the old bugger was a cowardly sorcerer, and he was doing the exact same thing I was! We'd just been swinging at each other and missing by a mile while illusory pieces of us were raining all around." 
 "Evetually the guards caught on, and they came out and seized us to bring us back to our cells. I figured that was it, we were done for. But five minutes later the promoter arrived- turns out the crowd had  loved  our performance- nothing like seeing blood spurt while the fighters keep going. The fella asked if we could do the same thing to all their fighters- all the benefits of bloody combat but so very much cheaper. So thus began the career of Shiny Woundweaver, gladiator makeup artist and epic poet." 
 
 Spoiler 

It's a mystery why Shiny was quiet so long, though mourning Kurt is a reasonable interpretation.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 Stephan nods  "I know the holding area rather well and there isn't much to say about the arena itself, just a circular area, the drow sometime add stuff to make things "more interesting".  
 

Natalia lets out an odd noise somewhere between a whimper and a groan. Of course they would do something like that. And if course it probably involves spiders. Again.

She frowns at Ildan's remark and asks,  "Thought you said friend... Can lead through prison. But how meet him without you?"  If he has a way to do it that's fine, and Natalia's about to elaborate when shiny finally breaks his off silence and launches into his longest tale in a while. When it's over, Natalia stares at honk and Stephan, waiting for a reaction, and starts cracking up. She didn't realize until that moment how much she missed that.

 
 Spoiler 
seriously, I've missed that!

Back now, good day for me. How was everyone's? So were just going to rest, then arena?
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan stares dumbfounded at the small gnome; that tale is completely absurd and yet Shiny   "Perhaps he translated his name from gnomish....that would explain it.... I guess"   told the story straight faced.  The wounded swordsman is shaken out of his stupor by Natalia's laugher.
 "He is kidding right?"  he ask the black haired girl before turning towards Rhenner  "He got to be kidding"  he pleads.

 
 Spoiler 

OOC I'm already beginning to like Shiny
IC I think he might just broke Stephan's already fragile mind 😛
 
Athedia
 "Oh no, Shiny would never lie.  He is as honest a gnome as any I am friends with."   Of course this was only because she had only the one gnome friend and Shiny always lied.  She had given up trying to pick out the truth from his stories and now welcomed them as a distraction from the troubling times.
Dusk Eclipse
 "I.... I think I need to lie down" 
 
 Spoiler 
Congrats, you broke Stephan 😛
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "He Shiny Manymasks!"  Natalia says, the most cheerful she's been since being separated from Kurt.  "New story every sentence!"  She pauses, realizing that Stephan's never known him, and so reaches up to lay a hand on his shoulder.  "But not where counts." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks around and sighs, though her mood has lifted slightly.   "If we test, then...rest in mile, now, right?"  and who knows? Maybe, just maybe, Kurt might come back.

 
 Spoiler: Camping in a mile? 
we should start walking the , right?
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Errrr what?"  Stephan ask genuinely confused

 
 Spoiler 

I'm actually confused about what you said 😛 Good job!
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses, squirming uncomfortably. She braces herself for the verbal blows, and cracks open an eye when the muttered comment of "Nuts," doesn't come. There's not much reason to fear here. But it runs deep.

So she shakes her head and tries again,  "If we try escape, free weapons and Zik, then...need rest first, rest in mile, right?" 
 
 Spoiler: Heheh, thanks  
i don't remember either. It's been several days so I forgot whether that was a genuine typo or Nutspeak for something.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "So the plan is to rest here, go to the arena, free some slaves, get my stuff back and then get the hell out of there probably through this quite crevice?"  Stephan ask to no one in particular  "As far as plans go I've heard worse. 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods.  "And prison break in...Tol'Garun. Hope...you sneak well as you say."  And looking for friends, she says to herself as well.

 "What gear have?"  It might be easier to know now than later.
Admiral
 "We'll rest,"  Ildan states,  "but not here. I thought this place was secure, but that was before someone was able to stumble on it by accident-"  he gives Stephan an odd glare.  "I suppose I'll have to give up on this portal anyway now that it's been found. Anyway, about a mile up the road there's a spot we can stop." 

He hoists his belongings onto his back and sets off into the tunnel, the rest of the crew following him. The tunnel is crooked, narrow, and seems to be naturally formed- Ildan whispers behind him that it is rarely traveled. After twenty minutes of walking, the drow stops and carefully taps at a few points along the wall, as if trying to remember something. Finally he smiles as his hand goes through the illusory wall, and puts both his hands through to jiggle with something. It quickly becomes clear he is disabling a trap, similar to the one they had seen on Ildan's other stash.

Once his work is done, Ildan leads the party through the gap, up a short tunnel, through a tattered curtain (likely intended to muffle sounds and scent for anyone passing the secret chamber) and into an empty cavern, just large enough for the party to rest safely.

 "All right,"  the drow announces.  "Hate to say goodbye, but once you've rested this is where I'll be taking my leave. Fulfilled my end of the bargain, and I'm not looking to end up in a gladiator pit, and sure as soil not looking to walk into the Crevice. Once you've got whatever you were looking for, you'll be hardly three hours travel from the Crevice. Better get some rest." 

As the others set up, Ildan turns to Natalia.  "What was it you were saying about some firejuice you wanted to trade?" 
Athedia
As Mithril settled down to rest she nodded her thanks at Ildan.   "I hope we never cross paths again, though I wish you luck on yours.  Avoid driders next time." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia makes her way through the tunnel, again smiling because of the intricate traps. She smiles and says to Ildan,  "Hope if meet, friendly again. And for fire juice..."  she pulls out a bottle or two,  "Trade bottled flame for finger speech?"  A note of hope creeps into her voice again.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan asks Rhenner quietly,  "Firejuice? Finger Speech, what is she talking about?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 Stephan asks Rhenner quietly,  "Firejuice? Finger Speech, what is she talking about?"  
 

Rhenner shrugs,  "She speaks a bit strange, I've noticed. Exhanges words for others. But it's not that hard to understand, try to think of them as riddles." 
Dusk Eclipse
 "I've noticed that before."  he shakes his head  "So what is our next move? You said you want to raise some hell in the arena, what do you want to know?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "I've noticed that before."  he shakes his head  "So what is our next move? You said you want to raise some hell in the arena, what do you want to know?"  
 

 "Description of the place, where could we get in, how many guards there are, how are they positioned, can they cast spells and what kind? Pretty much anything tactically useful that you know of the place." 
Athedia
 "Can you say what kind of prisoners are in the pits?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, speaking up since they were talking about her.  "Guards, traps, who watches and where. How escaped, and...how back in?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Description of the place, where could we get in, how many guards there are, how are they positioned, can they cast spells and what kind? Pretty much anything tactically useful that you know of the place."  
 

 "Well, the gladiator pit consist of three parts, the arena, the holding cells and the viewers area. As I told you before the cells are under the arena and obviously the viewers stand surround the arena, there are a couple of special rooms dotted over the stands, I suppose they are for high ranking  guest and similar. Down there in the holding areas there is an infirmary and an armoury where they keep all the weapons and armour they give to the fighters; if they still have my stuff I bet that is where they are keeping it.
 

 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Can you say what kind of prisoners are in the pits?"  
 

 "Most if not all other gladiators are Underdark dwellers, I think I was the only one who couldn't see in the dark"  he traces a scar on his thigh  "See this scar? I got it when the promoter had the brilliant idea of making me fight in total darkness against some Deep gnomes, I'm still not sure how I beat them" 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia nods, speaking up since they were talking about her.  "Guards, traps, who watches and where. How escaped, and...how back in?"  
 

 "All the guards are Drows, some can cast spells some not....  how did you know there would be traps?"  he raises an eyebrow  "nevermind, there is a sort of gap between the arena and the viewers and it is lined with traps that shoot lightning, I'm not entirely sure how they work, but there seem to be a sort of threshold before they activate I supposed they are based on a  Lighting bolt  spell. There used to be about 4 guards patrolling the viewers entrance but if whoever is in charge is any smart he will have them replaced and even got a few extras".  he allows himself a feral smile as he mentions this.  "There is also a side-entrance that goes directly to the holding cells, I can make my way to either of them" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders at his scars and other horrific images that cross her mind at the same time.

But when he describes the arena Natalia nods, allowing herself a bit of a smile.  "Traps, trapsmiths everywhere. Figured...here too. Lightning traps..."  now the smile broadens. Oh, even for its horrible purpose some part of her wants to see how it works.  "I know traps. I...think can break. But need to stay up top. Can't break until nearly out. And...no humans watch, right?"  She pauses.  "Stephan, how escaped?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Some other gladiators helped me escape, an old dwarf cleric, Cranneg, protected me from the lightning traps with a spell, then once we were in the arena Voltag... well threw me and my weapons to the viewing area, I escaped in the chaos." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks.  "What...happens to them? Do guards know?"  They helped him out. But why? Did they become friends?  "What they like?"  It doesn't feel right; now Natalia knows they need to try to get them out.

EDIT: She pauses. What would Kurt do? What would his plan be? She can think of plans too, but...hm, maybe...

 "Guys, what plan you have?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 "I don't know, Cranneg may have survived, but I seriously doubt that Voltag did; an orc throwing a human to the viewers area isn't exactly subtle."  he chuckles darkly.
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "I don't know, Cranneg may have survived, but I seriously doubt that Voltag did; an orc throwing a human to the viewers area isn't exactly subtle."  he chuckles darkly. 
 

 "Maybe they thought he was trying to kill you on the lightning traps." 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Possible I guess" 
CoffeeIncluded
An orc saving Stephan. Natalia's reminded of Zenn, and how she betrayed him, albeit inadvertently but still.  "How met? And...what time escaped? Maybe...still time left to help."  She lets out one soft chuckle at their banger, but them something strikes her.  "Wait, you said threw. How far up?"  Her words are slow--a plan's starting to come together.

 
 Spoiler: Question about the plan 
Do you want Natalia to say it? If not, how should we discuss and propose the plan IC?
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "We shared a cell for a time, we fought against each others...I'm not sure how, but fighting almost to the death gives you a good insight into someone."  he sighs.  "I escaped just a few hours ago, all those wounds I had when you found me? I got them while escaping  he scratches his chin.  "I'm not sure how high he threw me, he is a pretty strong guy after all.... maybe 20-30 ft. up and about 15 across? I'm not sure" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia falls silent, pulling out a piece of paper and a stick of charcoal, making quick sketches and fast lines on the paper. The charcoal smears a bit on her left hand as she draws, but it's still perfectly legible (though the writing itself is somewhat shaky). It's clear that she's sketching out a rough image of the arena. Natalia pauses, looking at it, and hums to herself for a moment, pressing a finger to her lips as she does so.

 "If only few hours, then...maybe time to save."  She looks up.  "To break in and rescue...need distraction. What if break all bars?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Well, the gladiator pit consist of three parts, the arena, the holding cells and the viewers area. As I told you before the cells are under the arena and obviously the viewers stand surround the arena, there are a couple of special rooms dotted over the stands, I suppose they are for high ranking  guest and similar. Down there in the holding areas there is an infirmary and an armoury where they keep all the weapons and armour they give to the fighters; if they still have my stuff I bet that is where they are keeping it.
  
 

 "Is the arena built into the rock, or is it inside a bigger cavern?" 

  "Most if not all other gladiators are Underdark dwellers, I think I was the only one who couldn't see in the dark"  he traces a scar on his thigh  "See this scar? I got it when the promoter had the brilliant idea of making me fight in total darkness against some Deep gnomes, I'm still not sure how I beat them"  

 "So I take it that there's not much light anywhere?",  Rhenner looks to the others,  "We might need to down those darkvision potions, if we want to have any chance of sneaking in. Unless you have another idea?" 

  "All the guards are Drows, some can cast spells some not....  how did you know there would be traps?"  he raises an eyebrow  "nevermind, there is a sort of gap between the arena and the viewers and it is lined with traps that shoot lightning, I'm not entirely sure how they work, but there seem to be a sort of threshold before they activate I supposed they are based on a  Lighting bolt  spell. There used to be about 4 guards patrolling the viewers entrance but if whoever is in charge is any smart he will have them replaced and even got a few extras".  he allows himself a feral smile as he mentions this.  "There is also a side-entrance that goes directly to the holding cells, I can make my way to either of them"  

Rhenner is quiet for a while, then a small smirk passes through his face,  "What would you say... if we returned the escaped prisoner back to his captors, looking all bound and beaten? Now, don't look at me like that, I didn't say the bonds needed to be  real ."  He turns to Shiny,  "Hey, master makeup artist, think you could make his wounds look like they're still worse than what they are now?",  Suddenly he stops, like he's just thought of something,  "There isn't going to be a -what do call it, a 'show' any time soon, is there?"  It's not really clear from his voice what kind of answer he is hoping for.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Is the arena built into the rock, or is it inside a bigger cavern?" 
 "So I take it that there's not much light anywhere?",  Rhenner looks to the others,  "We might need to down those darkvision potions, if we want to have any chance of sneaking in. Unless you have another idea?"  
 

Natalia looks at the paper, tapping it idly when she looks up and says,  "Not sure. If this size, then those up top...need light. Darkvision only sees for...60 feet, about. And even if sight far enough...blood not red in dark. Ildan? Different for drow?" 

 Rhenner is quiet for a while, then a small smirk passes through his face,  "What would you say... if we returned the escaped prisoner back to his captors, looking all bound and beaten? Now, don't look at me like that, I didn't say the bonds needed to be  real ."  He turns to Shiny,  "Hey, master makeup artist, think you could make his wounds look like they're still worse than what they are now?",  Suddenly he stops, like he's just thought of something,  "There isn't going to be a -what do call it, a 'show' any time soon, is there?"  It's not really clear from his voice what kind of answer he is hoping for. 

Natalia smiles. This she can do as well!  "I know knots. Make tough binding, but loose when pulled right. Still need me top...stop traps, clear path..."  she pauses, looking at Rhenner in confusion, and the grins. Of course!  "Rhenner, you think...you make yourself drow? Or half drow? Watch but watch, tell friends instead? Though...I need there too for traps, and no dark humans here..."  she falls silent, then lets out a groan as the answer comes to her. Of course.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia looks at the paper, tapping it idly when she looks up and says,  "Not sure. If this size, then those up top...need light. Darkvision only sees for...60 feet, about. And even if sight far enough...blood not red in dark. Ildan? Different for drow?"  
 

 "Is that so.. Hmm, in that case there might be some minor illumination. Do you think it would be enough for us?"  he asks Stephan.

 
 Spoiler 
If you'd rather Admiral answer this, just ignore it for now. It's just that IC he would ask Stephan.🙂
 


 Natalia smiles. This she can do as well!  "I know knots. Make tough binding, but loose when pulled right. Still need me top...stop traps, clear path..."  she pauses, looking at Rhenner in confusion, and the grins. Of course!  "Rhenner, you think...you make yourself drow? Or half drow? Watch but watch, tell friends instead? Though...I need there too for traps, and no dark humans here..."  she falls silent, then lets out a groan as the answer comes to her. Of course. 

 "I... don't think I've got a spell like that",  Rhenner says looking confused. He's not really following Natalia's line of thought.

 
 Spoiler 
He doesn't have a clue of what she's planning.😛 How where you going to make him look like a half-drow? Can Shiny disguise others than himself?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs.  "We sneak in. You a half drow, made by Shiny's mask kit. And...I...your slave. We watch, break trap, help flee." 
Athedia
 "I could go with Stephan as another prisoner.  I don't need weapons or armor and I don't think I could pass for anyone who lives down here."  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia drums her fingers on the sketch.  "So I tie you both, shiny disguised leads you down. You get prisoners, find gear, tell us with mind speak. Then raise hell, flee up. We...above, watching. I break trap, we escape?"

 
 
 Spoiler: Sorry I'm not spending time on this  
bisy day in surgery today.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "Is that so.. Hmm, in that case there might be some minor illumination. Do you think it would be enough for us?"  he asks Stephan. 
 

 "The arena itself is illuminated, but the cells aren't" 

 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "I could go with Stephan as another prisoner.  I don't need weapons or armor and I don't think I could pass for anyone who lives down here."   
 

 "That might be your best defence, upperfolk such as us are priced as "exotic" slaves." 

 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia drums her fingers on the sketch.  "So I tie you both, shiny disguised leads you down. You get prisoners, find gear, tell us with mind speak. Then raise hell, flee up. We...above, watching. I break trap, we escape?"  
 

 
 
 "It is risky, quite risky in fact, but it can work." 
CWater
Rhenner rubs his forehead.  "I'm hearing you and yet somehow I wish I didn't."  He sighs.  "Still, it's not the maddest plan I've taken part in. Fine, let's give a shot. Really, what's the worst that can happen." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia can't help but let out a sharp bark of laughter, a single burst, at Rhenner's remark.  "We've done madder, and don't think other choice. And...if sign speech known, that helps masks too. Ildan, is bottled flame good price?"  
 
 Spoiler: Question  
can we cutscene some of the finer details of the plan to save time?
 


EDIT: Natalia closes her eyes and asks,  "What slave...most likely be? So not noticed?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia swallows and asks Rhenner, pointing to his book,  "You think...know enough to fake?" 

EDIT: Natalia pauses, then pulls out a bottle and shows it to Stephan.  "Darksight potion. If...surface lot but under dark, then...your need greater?" 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan takes the offered bottle  "Thank you, this will come in handy" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "just...sorry, but will need money back,"   Natalia says a bit uncomfortably.  "Sure you all safe?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "just...sorry, but will need money back,"   Natalia says a bit uncomfortably.  "Sure you all safe?"  
 

 "In a place like this, there is no such thing as safe",  Rhenner says, unusually serious,  "But I'd say we have a chance of surviving",  he adds dryly.
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "just...sorry, but will need money back,"   Natalia says a bit uncomfortably.  "Sure you all safe?"  
 

 "Don't worry, I've got it."  Stephan winks in a conspirational fashion.


 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
  "In a place like this, there is no such thing as safe",  Rhenner says, unusually serious,  "But I'd say we have a chance of surviving",  he adds dryly. 
 

 "Actually... I been thinking it could be safer if we all go together"  Stephan closes his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest  "you said Shiny was a good story-teller didn't you?"  he asks Natalia  "How good is he?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses. He is right--and the last time they split up outside Soshima came uncomfortably close to disaster, even if it all worked perfectly in the end. And there's no safe place here. Still, how would they escape?

 "Shiny...good. Very good. Made Us think he halfling lawyer,"  well it was more Miriam and Mithril he convinced, but Natalia skips over that with a sort of wistful smile,  "and words with drow before."  She's vague on these details, mindful of Ildan's presence and the fact that Stephan is a stranger.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan nods  "Ok here is what I think we can do, Rhenner and Shiny can disguise themselves as a drow and a deep gnome,take the three of us  he points towards Natalia, Mithril and himself  "to the cells, they can tell they are looking for new slaves or to sell one of us; that way if we get to the holding cells we'll be together, increasing our chances to survive and to pull this off" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses, clearly thinking.  "And you carry our steel. So all there, ready to fight. We bound, but...I know knots. Can make so loose with right pull."  She smiles.  "Could work! Though..."  Sheepishly she looks back at Stephan and Mithril and asks,  "If no darksight spell, then...potion back, please?" 
 
 Spoiler: You're right this is better! 
So is that it?
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan smiles at Natalia's antics.  "Sure"  he answers before giving her potion back.

 
 Spoiler 

I hope this is it.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods in thanks as she takes the potion back and puts it away. Tapping on the drawing, she says,  "Maybe disguise under invisibility. I sneak though unseen, Rhenner disguise though unseen. Extra veil."  She falls silent. That helps the twisting in her gut, though not as much as she'd like.
Admiral
As the group prepares for their rest, Natalia notices that Ildan has slipped out of the chamber. For a moment she worries, but suddenly he returns, likely gone for no more than two or three minutes. He nods to her and holds up a beaker she hadn't seen him carrying, filled with a dark, viscous oil.  "You said you wanted to trade for some firejuice? If you were trying to con me, this is your cue to chicken out." 
 
 Spoiler 

In case you're wondering, I know where he got the oil from; he's just not the kind to share his smuggling tricks. Maybe someday.
 


The elf steps down the tunnel a few yards with Natalia, beckoning her to follow.  "Here's my offer: three bottles and I'll teach you the basics of signing. Suppose it'll end up quite the party trick once you're up on the surface. You'll have to show me the bottles first: I'll pick one and test it." 
 
 Spoiler 

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. There'll be more time for me to post later in the day; don't think that this is slowing the group down.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 As the group prepares for their rest, Natalia notices that Ildan has slipped out of the chamber. For a moment she worries, but suddenly he returns, likely gone for no more than two or three minutes. He nods to her and holds up a beaker she hadn't seen him carrying, filled with a dark, viscous oil.  "You said you wanted to trade for some firejuice? If you were trying to con me, this is your cue to chicken out." 
 
 Spoiler 

In case you're wondering, I know where he got the oil from; he's just not the kind to share his smuggling tricks. Maybe someday.
 


The elf steps down the tunnel a few yards with Natalia, beckoning her to follow.  "Here's my offer: three bottles and I'll teach you the basics of signing. Suppose it'll end up quite the party trick once you're up on the surface. You'll have to show me the bottles first: I'll pick one and test it." 
 
 Spoiler 

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. There'll be more time for me to post later in the day; don't think that this is slowing the group down.
 
 
 

Natalia blinks as Ildan procured the oil--where did he get that? It looks the same, smells the same, and she's sure that it'll feel the same color if she were to touch it. She nods to her friends and follows Ildan deeper into the cavern, a little nervous from his idle comment and veiled warning. The rogue passes over three bottles of alchemist fire and says,  "Was promised these best. If wrong...I tricked."  She flashes a smile, a quick quirk of her lips.  "Hard enough...speaking without bluffing."  She hopes that's enough in case Rolsa actually tricked her (which she doubts, but still...) and these bottles are duds.

 
 Spoiler 
sounds good, and hope things are calmer for you today!
 
Admiral
Ildan grabs a bottle at random and examines it for a moment. Soon after he submerges the bottle into the beaker of oil, cork first, with one hand, and with the other draws his dagger. He moves more slowly than Rolsa, but Natalia gets the sense he's done this a number of times before.

 "I knew a drow growing up..."  Ildan says idly as he works.  "...who never quite managed to string together a sentence in the order it was supposed to go. Elven, Undercommon, even signing... just real slow to pick it up." 

Ildan drops his head to the ground, and uses his dagger to fiddle with the cork inside the oil to loosen it, and a small amount of the green liquid fills the bottom of the beaker. Moments later he tightens it, and with carefully held breath he lifts it back above the beaker to secure the cork- there's a loud crackle as drops of liquid drip off but he manages.

 "Other than that he wasn't too useless, and I always thought he'd be able to manage,"  Ildan continues.  "Our matron disagreed."  After placing the bottle back down, Ildan draws a flask and skims off half of the oil from the beaker into it. Finally he stretches out his arm to hold the beaker away from him.  "He didn't make it past thirteen." 

Ildan tilts his hand and pours the remaining contents of the beaker onto the ground. A pillar of blue fire engulfs the stream as the alchemist's fire ignites, and Ildan raises his eyebrows.

 "With that color signature, this isn't surface rootworm; it's made in the mines. Alvix? Deldon? Deepquill?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces at his casual admission, clenches her fists and stares down at the ground. He's so blase, or at least he sounds blase, about how this other drow was killed because he was born broken like...like her. How ****ed up is this society, where they'd kill people like her simply because they couldn't speak properly? And Natalia still isn't quite sure which is worse--being born broken is bad enough, but to be normal and have that taken away?

Then again, Natalia's acutely aware of how lucky, in a warped and twisted sense, she was to grow up in a village where she wasn't killed before leaving childhood (and a sudden idle thought shocks across her mind: How old is thirteen to a drow?!). Then again, how much more idyllic is a place that drove her to consider it by her own hand?

She shakes her head. But. But there are others like her, or similar if not exact; she's not so painfully alone. Rolsa, and this unknown drow, and Ildan cares. She looks up at Ildan, only now really noticing how he extracts a little bit of liquid, just as Rolsa did, and becomes more certain. He never once insulted or berated her for her speech, though everything else done by her and her friends was fair game. And now he's explaining this to her. And it's because he cares. He cares, and it must still hurt him and wear on his mind, even though he acts otherwise.

Natalia looks up at Ildan and exhales a long shaky breath.  "I'm sorry,"  she says.  "And...thank you."  She looks up and gives him a little nod; she understands.

And then the moment is gone and it's back to business. She pauses, looking at the flame and considering Ildan's question, and finally compromises to say,  "...Yes."  Looking back up at Ildan, she elaborates,  "It...dangerous to tell much now, not when close. If...we meet again, and meet good like now, then I say. But not when jailbreak so close?"  She hopes he understands.

 
 Spoiler: Thanks! 
This took me a while to think of a good response. I hope you like it!
 


EDIT: Natalia looks at the bottle.  "Are...they good?" 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Yep, I like it!
 

 "Well, it's none of my business anyway,"  Ildan states. He collects the three bottles and sticks them in his bag.  "So let's get started. " 
 "You're in luck; you're not the first one I've taught to sign- some of my associates think it a useful skill. So I've got something here that'll help."  He hands her a few sheets of parchment clipped together, on which are printed a set of crude drawings of hand signals. On the first page is a sign for each letter of the elven alphabet.  "That first page has what you need to spell names, words you don't know, so on. Drow spell in elven- &lt;Elven&gt;that's not a problem for you?&lt;/Elven&gt;"  he asks.  "The rest of it is some basic vocabulary. You can keep the pages, keep studying them. Now, every sentence..." 

Ildan goes over the grammar and syntax of the signing language, which Natalia recognizes as being closest to Elven. He follows this with practical vocabulary. Natalia can't help but notice the sentences he constructs as drills are heavily skewed towards his occupation- " Ditch the loot, ",  "Safe this way," ,  "Trap ahead,"  and so on. The language itself is clearly centered on battle tactics- Ildan demonstrates twelve distinct ways to say "Enemies approaching" depending on the direction, proximity and perceived threat level, but every time Natalia asks for the word for an emotion the elf is forced to spell it out. Indeed, when Natalia asks how she would say  "How are you,"  he replies with the sign for  "Are you wounded?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia can't keep the grin off her face; this is really happening! She already knows Elven, which makes things much easier for her, and though she sometimes needs a moments to make the words focus, the symbols are clear enough and she doesn't have much trouble pinning then down. But it works fantastically, much better than she had realistically imagined and maybe even better than she had hoped. It takes her a little while to piece words and symbols together, and it's clear she needs a lot of practice, and her right ring finger needs some coaxing to bend right, but she can sign it! She can actually sign it; her brain is actually connecting with her fingers properly like they fail to do with her mouth!

Even if the language is centered around battle tactics and purely informational situations (the most benign reason she can think of is that it's solely used in battle and on missions), she can still communicate properly and clearly!

Still wondering, Natalia asks,  "Is sign speech for...fights alone? And if for fighting, can...speak arou d blades?"  And as she asks this, she practices signing,   "Is this language only for fights? And if so, can you sign around weapons?"    it's clumsy but clear, and when Natalia realizes this she starts laughing in pure joy, so much so that it takes her a while to grip her blades and try signing around them.

 
 Spoiler: Thanks 
and this would actually work fantastically for Natalia. I read a couple of pubmed articles about aphasia patients learning sign language successfully!

Since the language is battle-oriented, can Natalia use it while holding weapons? h
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Still wondering, Natalia asks,  "Is sign speech for...fights alone? And if for fighting, can...speak arou d blades?"  And as she asks this, she practices signing,   "Is this language only for fights? And if so, can you sign around weapons?"    it's clumsy but clear, and when Natalia realizes this she starts laughing in pure joy, so much so that it takes her a while to grip her blades and try signing around them.  
 

 "No, mostly we use sign language for philosophy and art criticism, because Elven is just so clumsy,"  Ildan replies drily, rolling his eyes. Deciphering her second sentence as she signs it midair, he draws his dagger to demonstrate.  "If you've got a blade in both hands- you hold on to it with your thumb and forefinger, and the blade's orientation takes the place of those fingers' movement."  He demonstrates, wiggling the blade as he signs the words  "&lt;DSL&gt;Be careful not to cut your neck open.&lt;/DSL&gt;" 

After about two hours the lessons finish, and Ildan stands up to head back to the cavern.  "Keep practicing- you've got nimble hands but it takes time to get it right. If you're heading into the Crevice, here's a good sentence to practice."  He holds up his hands and signs  "&lt;DSL&gt;Please, I am begging you, do not eat me.&lt;/DSL&gt;" .


  
 Spoiler: Thanks 
and this would actually work fantastically for Natalia. I read a couple of pubmed articles about aphasia patients learning sign language successfully!
 
 

 
 Spoiler 

Sounds good to me (Ildan's friend likely had something more akin to Specific Language Impairment, which is why he couldn't pick up DSL)
 
Admiral
The party awakens in what they guess may be morning, though it has been some time since they've seen a sunrise.

Ildan is curled up in a corner of the chamber- he seems to have forgone trancing for the evening, and is using a charcoal pencil to sketch something detailed in a small notebook. He glances up as the party rises.  "So this is where I get off- just stuck around to set up the trap when you depart. If I recall you also owe me five hundred for getting you here, which I suppose is another reason to wait for you." 
 
 Spoiler 

Will be gone for at least a few hours so just posting this. You can write up the spell preparations and say your goodbyes to Ildan if you are so inclined, and then whenever you want Stephan can lead the group to the arena.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "No, mostly we use sign language for philosophy and art criticism, because Elven is just so clumsy,"  Ildan replies drily, rolling his eyes. Deciphering her second sentence as she signs it midair, he draws his dagger to demonstrate.  "If you've got a blade in both hands- you hold on to it with your thumb and forefinger, and the blade's orientation takes the place of those fingers' movement."  He demonstrates, wiggling the blade as he signs the words  "&lt;DSL&gt;Be careful not to cut your neck open.&lt;/DSL&gt;" 

After about two hours the lessons finish, and Ildan stands up to head back to the cavern.  "Keep practicing- you've got nimble hands but it takes time to get it right. If you're heading into the Crevice, here's a good sentence to practice."  He holds up his hands and signs  "&lt;DSL&gt;Please, I am begging you, do not eat me.&lt;/DSL&gt;" .



 
 Spoiler 

Sounds good to me (Ildan's friend likely had something more akin to Specific Language Impairment, which is why he couldn't pick up DSL)
 
 
 

Signing around a blade is a little tougher, but Natalia manages to pick it up eventually. As she does, she notices that the orientation makes it easy to quickly flip her swords back into her hands for an attacking grip. It's rather thorough.

The lessons pass far too quickly, but Natalia's left grinning and with a new root of confidence running through her, helping to support her increasingly eroded psyche.  "Thank you!"  she says, signing it though the words spoken convey a stronger emotion. It's also biggest compliment he's given her so far, and she realizes how big it is coming from him. With a laugh, she says,  "I won't...forget this. Practice every day. And...in Crevice, hopefully this sentence used instead.   Surprise! Other people know sign language too.  "  Still, she's aware of the danger and far from cocky or overconfident.

When Natalia returns there's a broad grin on her face.  "Look! Ildan taught me right words!   I can make sense in sign language!  " 
 
 Spoiler 
Ah, cool! And seriously, thank you so much for letting me have Natalia do this. And haha, now I kinda want to sign that before attacking, just to see the look on their faces.

Random question: Did Natalia see the drow in Deldon sign anything? And if so, does Natalia now know what they were saying?
 


 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The party awakens in what they guess may be morning, though it has been some time since they've seen a sunrise.

Ildan is curled up in a corner of the chamber- he seems to have forgone trancing for the evening, and is using a charcoal pencil to sketch something detailed in a small notebook. He glances up as the party rises.  "So this is where I get off- just stuck around to set up the trap when you depart. If I recall you also owe me five hundred for getting you here, which I suppose is another reason to wait for you." 
 
 Spoiler 

Will be gone for at least a few hours so just posting this. You can write up the spell preparations and say your goodbyes to Ildan if you are so inclined, and then whenever you want Stephan can lead the group to the arena.
 
 
 

Natalia awakes and instinctively looks for everyone--but Kurt's not there, instead replaced by Stephan. It's a hard pang in her chest, living it all over again, and it takes her some time to focus and remember the rest of last night, as well as their goals. She looks over at Ildan and steals a glance at what he's sketching, but not much more than that. At least she collected money from Kurt, though it doesn't feel quite right.

She nods.  "Thank you. Hope you safe too, and that we...find jailbreaker friend."  There's more there, but the quick signing of gratitude says it all. There's a pause, and she asks, both in speech and sign (the sign is shakier but more fluent),  "If we need you for smuggle or guide, or you need us, our strength...how find again?" 
 
 Spoiler 
Is it ok that Natalia took Kurt's gold since Stephan doesn't have cash to pay, and so we still only pay 100 each?

Also, is it ok if I put the sign language in a different font?
 
CWater
As Natalia and Ildan sneak away for the language lesson, Rhenner gets up for his morning prayers. He asks Fharlanghn to watch over their journey and to give him strength to overcome his own doubts.

Right after the cleric is finished, he begins casting the Sending to contact Kurt who was left on the other side of the portal. He gives no word to the others that he's casting the spell, mouthing the message quietly.

 "Everyone here safe. Met escaped gladiator. Going to arena to cause trouble and find guide to take us to drowtown through spidercave. What's your plan?"  
CoffeeIncluded
As Natalia waits for Mithril and Rhenner to finish preparing their spells she prepares her own, practicing the sign language as she focuses her mind. The feeling is wonderful each time, and as she focuses she notices how the gestures for the spell are rather similar to the drow sign language that makes up each spell's name. Perhaps it's a remnant left over from its Elven origins? She looks over at Mithril preparing her spells, at the way her smooth fingers run over the pages, and wonders if it's the same for her spells too.

She looks over at Rhenner and sighs. When the half-elf comes back, she asks,  "You able to learn sending spell today? Or...too many others needed for arena?" 
 
 Spoiler: Explanation 
natalia is NOT asking this because Rhenner just cast the spell IC. She's asking this because sue requested that he prepare the spell in the first place and was going to ask this regardless. I hope this is ok.

Are we going to wait for Kurt's response before continuing or will that happen retroactively?
 


EDIT: When Natalia has the chance, she takes Ildan aside and signs, clumsily but clearly,   "I won't tell them about your friend unless you say it's okay. It's not something you like talking about, right?"  
Dusk Eclipse
Despite the relative safety Stephan couldn't sleep through out the "night", every crunch of gravel, every drip of water falling from the stalactites in the cavern puts him on edge, rousing him from his light sleep and yet it was the most peaceful sleep he had gotten in quite a long a time.

While Natlia, Mithril, Rhenner and Shiny are busy preparing their spells, Stephan goes through some unarmed drills, more for his own sake, the well known forms calming him. When he finishes them he simply says  "I'm ready whenever you are." 
 
 Spoiler: Maneuvers readied: 

Moment of the Perfect Mind
Wolf- fang strike
Wall of Blades
Disarming Strike
 
Cavelcade
 "Found slaves, freed slaves...there are more slaves that still need freeing. I can’t leave them behind, there are so many slavers. I’ll catch up to - "  Kurt's voice is quietly confident, but tired sounding as well, as if he's been going nonstop since they last saw him.
Athedia
Mithril closed her book, going over to Ildan.   "That fingerspeech.  Is it used for spells too?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Fingersperch moves like spell speech, though...not exact. Root split?   The gestures seem similar,"    Natalia says then signs, though there's a hiccup with the signing as it turns out that the sign for  similar  is close to the sign for  mushroom colony.  

Does this mean Mithril wants to learn too? The thought makes her smile and become a bit giddy inside. As does the prospect of being able to sign spells.    "Can I cast with gestures alone? Have you done it?"   
 
 Spoiler: Question  
is this head canon-y thing ok? If not, that's perfectly fine. And I have the same question too.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Fingersperch moves like spell speech, though...not exact. Root split?   The gestures seem similar,"    Natalia says then signs, though there's a hiccup with the signing as it turns out that the sign for  similar  is close to the sign for  mushroom colony.  

Does this mean Mithril wants to learn too? The thought makes her smile and become a bit giddy inside.

 
 Spoiler: Question  
is this head canon-y thing ok? If not, that's perfectly fine.
 
 
 

 "Ildan, can it be used.  I don't care how similar it is, I just would like to know if it might be useful one day." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "Ildan, can it be used.  I don't care how similar it is, I just would like to know if it might be useful one day."  
 

 "You're asking if you can cast spells without speaking?"  Ildan asks thoughtfully.  "I suppose I've heard of it being done (handy for smugglers that have to stay hidden), but not with drow signing." 
 "Nope,"  interrupts Shiny cheerfully.  "You'd need gnome sign language for that."  His mouth sealed, he goes through a series of arcane gestures, and a glowing, translucent figure appears standing behind him. Mithril notices that the motions he made are more complex than are typical for that spell.

 
 Spoiler 

Please correct me if I misunderstood; I think Mithril is asking about the Silent Spell feat. DSL wouldn't allow a caster to escape the verbal component without using the feat as well.
 


 She nods.  "Thank you. Hope you safe too, and that we...find jailbreaker friend."  There's more there, but the quick signing of gratitude says it all. There's a pause, and she asks, both in speech and sign (the sign is shakier but more fluent),  "If we need you for smuggle or guide, or you need us, our strength...how find again?"  

Ildan smiles grimly.  "I don't make a habit of being easy to find."  He stretches as he stands.  "But based on past experience, I'd check the spider webs first." 

The party steps down out of the tunnel, Ildan departing in a different direction with a brief wave. Stephan soon gets his bearings, and the group heads back towards the arena he'd earlier escaped.

The journey is difficult- Stephan had stumbled onto side paths that had likely not been used in decades, which was probably the reason he'd managed to evade capture. The rock is rough beneath their feet and the group regularly has to duck under low overhangs or climb short obstacles. But in half an hour of careful traveling, they find themselves in a tunnel Stephan recognizes as near the audience entrance he'd escaped through. From what he'd heard from other prisoners in his careful plans, he knows the group can reach the guard's entrance through a four minute walk down some corridors and a stairway, but that the path is likely guarded.

 
 Spoiler 
OK, we're here, around the time for invisibility and disguises if I recall your plan correctly. Let me know if you have any questions and what spells you'd like to cast.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You're asking if you can cast spells without speaking?"  Ildan asks thoughtfully.  "I suppose I've heard of it being done (handy for smugglers that have to stay hidden), but not with drow signing." 
 "Nope,"  interrupts Shiny cheerfully.  "You'd need gnome sign language for that."  His mouth sealed, he goes through a series of arcane gestures, and a glowing, translucent figure appears standing behind him. Mithril notices that the motions he made are more complex than are typical for that spell.

 
 Spoiler 

Please correct me if I misunderstood; I think Mithril is asking about the Silent Spell feat. DSL wouldn't allow a caster to escape the verbal component without using the feat as well.
 
 
 

 "Oh."  she hopes Mithril still wants to learn.


 Ildan smiles grimly.  "I don't make a habit of being easy to find."  He stretches as he stands.  "But based on past experience, I'd check the spider webs first." 

The party steps down out of the tunnel, Ildan departing in a different direction with a brief wave. Stephan soon gets his bearings, and the group heads back towards the arena he'd earlier escaped.

The journey is difficult- Stephan had stumbled onto side paths that had likely not been used in decades, which was probably the reason he'd managed to evade capture. The rock is rough beneath their feet and the group regularly has to duck under low overhangs or climb short obstacles. But in half an hour of careful traveling, they find themselves in a tunnel Stephan recognizes as near the audience entrance he'd escaped through. From what he'd heard from other prisoners in his careful plans, he knows the group can reach the guard's entrance through a four minute walk down some corridors and a stairway, but that the path is likely guarded.

 
 Spoiler 
OK, we're here, around the time for invisibility and disguises if I recall your plan correctly. Let me know if you have any questions and what spells you'd like to cast.
 
 

 "So if need you, go...ask for spider netter?"  Natalia asks, a bit wry. Soon after she says and signs a thanks to Ildan, and wishes him luck. Who would have thought they'd meet an ally down here, in such circumstances?

The road to the arena is more treacherous than Natalia imagined it to be, and she swallows when they reach the tunnel Stephan recognizes.  "So we...start true sneak here? Stephan, you know all way?"  she asks, readying her blades and a spell.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia will cast an extended cats grace at the last possible moment to facilitate pretty much everything that has to do with sneaking or fighting. Do you need anything else from me?

And the surgery was fantastic to watch.
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
  "Found slaves, freed slaves...there are more slaves that still need freeing. I can’t leave them behind, there are so many slavers. I’ll catch up to - "  Kurt's voice is quietly confident, but tired sounding as well, as if he's been going nonstop since they last saw him. 
 

A huge wave of relief passes through Rhenner when the dwarven warrior sends a reply. Not just for Kurt,but for the rest of the party as well. Looking up to the questioning Natalia, he says,  "I just cast the spell. Kurt is alive, didn't say about the others. He's freeing slaves... We'll meet up with him later, at least I hope we can." 

 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Ildan smiles grimly.  "I don't make a habit of being easy to find."  He stretches as he stands.  "But based on past experience, I'd check the spider webs first."  
 

Rhenner nods to Ildan before he goes. He doesn't particularly like the drow, but he did help them a lot.


 The party steps down out of the tunnel, Ildan departing in a different direction with a brief wave. Stephan soon gets his bearings, and the group heads back towards the arena he'd earlier escaped.

The journey is difficult- Stephan had stumbled onto side paths that had likely not been used in decades, which was probably the reason he'd managed to evade capture. The rock is rough beneath their feet and the group regularly has to duck under low overhangs or climb short obstacles. But in half an hour of careful traveling, they find themselves in a tunnel Stephan recognizes as near the audience entrance he'd escaped through. From what he'd heard from other prisoners in his careful plans, he knows the group can reach the guard's entrance through a four minute walk down some corridors and a stairway, but that the path is likely guarded.

 
 Spoiler 
OK, we're here, around the time for invisibility and disguises if I recall your plan correctly. Let me know if you have any questions and what spells you'd like to cast.
 
 

Rhenner cast a small spell so the armour won't slow him down if they need to run, but that is all.
 
 Spoiler 
Casting Longstrider. It lasts for 8 hours.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gasps in delight, and excitedly says to everyone,  "Kurt alive! He freeing slaves! Knew he okay!   I knew it!   thank...you Rhenner!"  there's a definite perk in her now that she knows Kurt is safe, though the knowledge of their separation still weighs on her. Still, Kurt will be fine. She knows it. And this is just like him.

She needs to be more like him.

 
 Spoiler: Timing  
lets say this happens some time during the travel?

See you all whenever I have a break. How's everyone?
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia gasps in delight, and excitedly says to everyone,  "Kurt alive! He freeing slaves! Knew he okay!   I knew it!   thank...you Rhenner!"  there's a definite perk in her now that she knows Kurt is safe, though the knowledge of their separation still weighs on her. Still, Kurt will be fine. She knows it. And this is just like him.

She needs to be more like him.

 
 Spoiler: Timing  
lets say this happens some time during the travel?

See you all whenever I have a break. How's everyone?
 
 
 

Rhenner throws a quick slightly lopsided smile at the girl's enthusiasm. Her innocent optimism amazes him sometimes.

 
 Spoiler: Timing 
I'd say this was actually before they even left the cavern where they rested.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Oh."  she hopes Mithril still wants to learn.



 "So if need you, go...ask for spider netter?"  Natalia asks, a bit wry. Soon after she says and signs a thanks to Ildan, and wishes him luck. Who would have thought they'd meet an ally down here, in such circumstances?

The road to the arena is more treacherous than Natalia imagined it to be, and she swallows when they reach the tunnel Stephan recognizes.  "So we...start true sneak here? Stephan, you know all way?"  she asks, readying her blades and a spell.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia will cast an extended cats grace at the last possible moment to facilitate pretty much everything that has to do with sneaking or fighting. Do you need anything else from me?

And the surgery was fantastic to watch.
 
 
 

Stephan nods  "The entrance is just a little farther in, problem is that we will most likely find guards"  he offers Natalia his hands  "Tie me now, it will be better if the guards finds you with a "prisoner" to sell" 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "You're asking if you can cast spells without speaking?"  Ildan asks thoughtfully.  "I suppose I've heard of it being done (handy for smugglers that have to stay hidden), but not with drow signing." 
 "Nope,"  interrupts Shiny cheerfully.  "You'd need gnome sign language for that."  His mouth sealed, he goes through a series of arcane gestures, and a glowing, translucent figure appears standing behind him. Mithril notices that the motions he made are more complex than are typical for that spell.


Ildan smiles grimly.  "I don't make a habit of being easy to find."  He stretches as he stands.  "But based on past experience, I'd check the spider webs first."  
 

Mithril nodded,  "I thought that was the case.  By the way, sorry about the spider."   Still the signing looked helpful, but she didn't know if she would have the time.  Though if they were headed into the heart of drow territory, it might be nice to at least know the sign for "Kill the mage" so she would know when to run.


 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 A huge wave of relief passes through Rhenner when the dwarven warrior sends a reply. Not just for Kurt,but for the rest of the party as well. Looking up to the questioning Natalia, he says,  "I just cast the spell. Kurt is alive, didn't say about the others. He's freeing slaves... We'll meet up with him later, at least I hope we can."  
 

Mithril smiled in relief,  "I am glad he made it, and I hope he does well.  Maybe he will figure out how to bring Karn back for Rocky while they fight." 

EDIT: As Stephan offered his hands for binding, Mithril cast a protective spell over herself.  She watching Natalia, carefully reminding her,  "Not to tight remember." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods.  "Okay. Hold hands...yes! That! Think I know..."  She trails off as she makes the knots, testing several different styles before closing her eyes, running her ringers along the loops and bends of the silk several times before seeming to come to a decision.

 "Watch,"  she says, carefully looping the ropes around Stephan's hands, then repeating with Mithril's. She makes one loop, then slips another rope through it, following up with several intricate-looking knots and finishing with a catch. And then she demonstrates: With the catch the rope is taut no matter which way it is tugged. But once the catch is undone and one loop is loosened, the whole thing melts apart in their hands.

 "Should work..."  Natalia says, hopeful yet nervous.

 
 Spoiler: This good? 
Sorry I couldn't describe more, I'm...not feeling too great. We ready now?
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan tests the binds experimentally.  "Good, this should convince anyone"  Stephan then turns towards Shiny  "I don't suppose you could spare a  Mage Armour  spell for me, could you?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "hope. If they don't...know knots, then works.   if they do know knots they'll find the trick."   But...should safe. And I there to guard. Safe. Promise."  She flips her blades for emphasis.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 Stephan tests the binds experimentally.  "Good, this should convince anyone"  Stephan then turns towards Shiny  "I don't suppose you could spare a  Mage Armour  spell for me, could you?"  
 

 "For someone I met last night?  Always. "  Shiny whispers back. He taps Stephan on the back and the warrior feels the magical protection surround him.

Shiny takes both Stephan's dragonsplits and slings them over his shoulder.  "I'll hold on to these for the moment. I'll probably have to speak Undercommon to them, so if we have a code word in the common tongue I'll have to say it to Mithril. When I say "Do you have to carry that torch so close?"- that's your cue to grab the weapons and start swinging."  Next the gnome pulls out some makeup and works on Rhenner for a minute- soon the half-elf has the basic appearance of a drow.  "Can't be too careful, even if you're invisible." 

Moments later he casts three spells on himself: one that lets him speak and understand any language, one to make his words more believable, and another one that changes his appearance to be the deepgnomes they had passed in the tunnel. This is followed by a spell of invisibility over both Rhenner and Natalia. Then the group sets out towards the arena.

Two minutes down the corridor later, they turn right into a stairway leading down. At the bottom they spot a pair of drow guards, who turn with surprise towards the gnome and his companions. One shouts a short question in Undercommon.

 
 Spoiler 

Three spells: Tongues, Glibness, and Disguise Self.

Question: originally we planned on having Mithril pretend to be a slave, rather than be tied up. Does she have something basic like a tunic she can wear? Having her carry baggage would help sell the disguise as well- certainly she should be the one carrying the torch. Alternatively Shiny would be happy to make her invisible as well.
 
Athedia
Before they left Mithril put her magic items away in Natalia's bag.  Her clothing was plain, the same, much repaired items that had left with her all those months ago.  Muttering a quick spell her clothes became duller in color and she looked less clean.  She put the pack on, filled with the odds and ends and nodded to Shiny.  With all luck she could pass as a slave to him now.  She picked up the torch.   "Good luck Shiny." 

Realizing that having the weasel around her shoulders would probably clue the guards in she gave Whiskers to Natalia.   "Could you put him in the bag again?  Just for his safety?" 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  "For someone I met last night?  Always. "  Shiny whispers back. He taps Stephan on the back and the warrior feels the magical protection surround him.

Shiny takes both Stephan's dragonsplits and slings them over his shoulder.  "I'll hold on to these for the moment. I'll probably have to speak Undercommon to them, so if we have a code word in the common tongue I'll have to say it to Mithril. When I say "Do you have to carry that torch so close?"- that's your cue to grab the weapons and start swinging."  Next the gnome pulls out some makeup and works on Rhenner for a minute- soon the half-elf has the basic appearance of a drow.  "Can't be too careful, even if you're invisible." 

Moments later he casts three spells on himself: one that lets him speak and understand any language, one to make his words more believable, and another one that changes his appearance to be the deepgnomes they had passed in the tunnel. This is followed by a spell of invisibility over both Rhenner and Natalia. Then the group sets out towards the arena. 
 

 "Life is full of new exciting ecperiences.."  Rhenner mutters as Shiny paints the disguise on him,  "Now I'll just have to remember not to scratch my nose." 

He follows the gnome and his 'captives' to the tunnel, keeping a small distance. He tries not to make too much nouse as he walks, though he knows it's somewhat hard with the armour.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia swallows.  "Okay. Promise safe, keep eyes for signs,"  she says, carefully placing whiskers into the bag with the most space available. Just before they start, she pauses and takes out the dark vision potion.  "Wait! What about darksight? Or in...arena?" 

Either way, she creeps along carefully and quietly, as stealthily as if there weren't an invisibility spell at all, and hoping that Rhenner's clanking will distract attention from her as well.

 
 Spoiler: What about the potions? 
and the darkvisipn spell? When should we take them, inside the arena?

This is the most I can post for a bit, sorry! I hope it covered everything needed.
 
Athedia
 "Right!"   Mithril had forgotten the sight spell.  Quickly she cast it, putting a little more power in that before so she would have it when they entered the crevice.

 
 Spoiler 
Sudden Extend
 
CoffeeIncluded
For her part, Natalia readies her potion, not sure when she'll need to drink it but not sure it'll be necessary at this very moment because of the torch Mithril carries. She stiffens and tenses when the two drow guards appear--though she doesn't know the language she trusts in Shiny and Stephan to listen for trouble.

And she can search for trouble now too. Natalia peers intently at the drow and their hands, waiting even as she hides under the cloak of invisibility and her own skills for any sign language that will betray their intentions.

 
 Spoiler: Couple questions 
Shiny and Stephan are the only ones that can understand Undercommon, right? Have they said anything yet? Natalia's keeping an eye out for sign language. Do you need anything from her or the rest of us?
 
Admiral
As the drow guard shouts at Shiny, the gnome shouts back something in (temporarily) fluent Undercommon.

 
 Spoiler: Stephan (Undercommon speakers) only 

 "You- what's with the blasted light?" 
 "Got a human slave and prisoner here, can't be helped. Matter of fact, I reckon it's someone your boss'll be looking for." 
 

 
 Spoiler: Rolls 

Bluff (thank you Glibness):  (1d20+44)[ 57 ] 
 


Most of the party may not understand what he's saying, but the confidence in his voice is so deep it seems for a moment like he's betrayed the party right before their eyes.
Admiral
Shiny strides confidently down the steps toward the two guards, continuing to converse.

 
 Spoiler: Undercommon only 

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Yeah? Well, we'll take him from here, deepdigger.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 
 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Not a chance- after what I went through I'm getting the bounty in person.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 
 


One of the guards leans forward to leer at Mithril as the party comes closer, under the apparent pretense of glancing her for weapons.

 
 Spoiler: Undercommon only 

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Then you can wait up in the audience's section-&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 
 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;I look like I'm here to chew rotten meat and cheer over some amateurs slapping at each other? I'm going to find the boss.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 
 


Shiny steps right past the guards, his confidence and swagger carrying him through. He pulls the "bound" Stephan along behind him, with Mithril close to him holding a torch. The corridor is narrow, and the two drow guards are side by side- Rhenner and Natalia will have to step right between them.

 
 Spoiler 

Guard Listen checks, modifiers unshown:
 (1d20)[ 13 ] 
 (1d20)[ 10 ] 

Rhenner and Natalia please roll a Move Silently.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's tense, but it's not from what Shiny's saying so much as it is the worry they won't believe him. But they seem to buy his story, and so she sighs in relief--until she and Rhenner have to squeeze between the two guards. He'll probably alert them with his clanking armor, but she  might  be able to get through unnoticed. Holding out a hand she goes first, putting a wide berth between herself and Rhenner, trusting her armor to muffle her sounds as she slips through--and watches their hands as much as their faces.

 
 Spoiler: Move silently 
take 10 for 31. It's good to be a rogue.
 


As he sees the guard leering at Mithril as the Mage passes she silently snarls, her lips invisibly curling upward in fury at the way he looks at her as she fights both the urge to snarl and pin him against the wall, possibly with her blades as well. Bit though her breathing harshens she can't blow her cover now.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan does his best to appear the wounded, bitter captive he is supposed to be, he walks with the head low, favouring his right leg. The only thing that he doesn't have to fake is the absolute loathing he fees for the Drows.
Admiral
As the visible members of the party pass, Natalia and Rhenner do their best to slip past the guards unnoticed. Natalia easily tiptoes past without an audible noise, but Rhenner's armor cannot help but clank, and one of the guard's heads jerks reflexively to look straight at him. However, the drow simply shrugs and looks away, and the party makes it past.

 
 Spoiler 

It wouldn't have worked except that there were three visible people shuffling by anyway; a few stray sounds wouldn't really catch their attention. (If three people passed by you would rarely think "Hey, that sounded like four people!")
 


Shiny continues to lead the group down the corridor. A minute later they see a drow, heavyset for his race, nearly collapsed in the side of the corridor. For a moment he seems injured, but he shoots upwards as the party approaches, and it becomes clear he is simply drunk- likely an audience member from the arena. He mumbles a few incoherent phrases in Undercommon- something along the lines of  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;I'll keep moving-&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  and then staggers away from Shiny.

 
 Spoiler 

Let me know if you want to interact with the stranger. Otherwise:
 


The tunnel continues to bend and dip, and a minute later the end approaches. Soon their torch illuminates what lies in wait for them: four drow guards, each bearing one or a pair of swords, in front of a thick, round iron door. Stephan, though he has never walked these passages, possesses enough understanding of the local geography to know that beyond that door lies the dungeons where he had suffered.

 
 Spoiler 

Be continued later (as you're aware, don't like putting too much NPC action in a row).
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Since a bunch of you are online, just in case you'd like to progress.
 


Shiny shouts a salutation towards the guards- a few draw their weapons as the three approach, but keep them low. The disguised gnome hits a few of the same points as he had before- introducing his prisoner and his slave.  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;This was a tough one to trap. Stood up pretty good to torture, too- had to read his mind to figure out he came from here. Now who can I talk to about my bounty?&lt;/Undercommon" 

As the gnome talks, one of the drow walks up to Stephan suspiciously and grabs his arms to check the ropes.

 
 Spoiler 

Shiny's diplomacy to get access:  (1d20+18)[ 19 ] 

Does Natalia want to take 10 on her (earlier) Use Rope check? Guard will now get an opposed Search check to check the knot.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stops short, utterly silent, as the guard looks straight at Rhenner. She tenses and coils, but when they say nothing relaxes and moves on. She doesn't sigh in relief until they pass, though she tenses again seeing the drunken drow. Thankfully, she's easily able to twist out of his way even though he staggers right in her direction. And even if he bumped into her, she thinks, he's probably so drunk he wouldn't even notice.

But these four guards...it might not be as easy getting past them. Natalia takes a deep breath and hopes for the best, putting her faith in Shiny, her other friends, and herself.

 
 Spoiler 
Night everyone! Hope you all roll well and that tomorrow I do too!

EDIT: Never mind. What a time to get a natural 1--maybe Shiny should get that skill trick. Natalia takes 10.
 


EDIT: Natalia takes 10 on the use rope check.
Dusk Eclipse
&lt;Undercommon&gt; "You have exactly five seconds to get your paws of me"  &lt;/undercommon&gt; Stephan growls at the Drow guard in surprisingly fluent undercommon.
 
 Spoiler 
I'm not rolling intimidate cause that isn't really my purpose.  Incidentally Admiral, are there any other races from Drows who speak undercommon? Specifically is there any race that might not be inherently hostile towards "over-worlders"?
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  
 Spoiler 

Since a bunch of you are online, just in case you'd like to progress.
 


Shiny shouts a salutation towards the guards- a few draw their weapons as the three approach, but keep them low. The disguised gnome hits a few of the same points as he had before- introducing his prisoner and his slave.  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;This was a tough one to trap. Stood up pretty good to torture, too- had to read his mind to figure out he came from here. Now who can I talk to about my bounty?&lt;/Undercommon" 

As the gnome talks, one of the drow walks up to Stephan suspiciously and grabs his arms to check the ropes.

 
 Spoiler 

Shiny's diplomacy to get access: [roll0]

Does Natalia want to take 10 on her (earlier) Use Rope check? Guard will now get an opposed Search check to check the knot.
 
 
 

Mithril shied back behind Shiny as the guards drew their weapons.  She wished she knew what they were saying.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's lips are dry as the guards inspect the bindings. Nothing left to do now but hope that they don't see past her trick. She take a good look at the guards, waiting to see what will happen, hoping this will work. But Shiny's comment makes her wince: even without knowing the language she can tell he likely flubbed something based on the sudden stutter. If she has time she takes a look at the guards, pulling out the detect magic crystal out of her pocket if possible.

 
 Spoiler 
what armor are the guards wearing? Does Natalia have time to use the detect magic crystal and if so, what does she see?
 


But what's far more important is that she's ready to act at a moment's notice.
CWater
Rhenner tries to be as silent as possible, which at this moment means standing absolutely still. He studies the drows' faces, does it seem like they're falling for the trick? The cleric grips his holy symbol, ready to cast a spell if the guards decide to use those drawn weapons.

 
 Spoiler: Readied action 
Preparing to cast Bless IF things start to turn violent. It only affects allies so it won't break the invisibility, though the drow could hear him cast it.
 
Admiral
One of the guards speaks a short reply.

 
 Spoiler: Undercommon-understanders only 
 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;If that's true, you wait out here. We'll take him in.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 
 


The guard turns and knocks on the door several times, and the group hears a series of heavy locks and mechanisms shift within it, until the door swings open, and the party sees two more guards in the darkness that lies beyond it. The guard who was checking Stephan's bonds grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him towards the door.

Seeing the drow start to take Stephan away, Shiny frowns. Seeming irritated, he turns to Mithril-  "Do you have to carry that torch so close-"  and the next words he speaks are in an arcane tongue, imbuing all five of the travelers with mystical energy. Moments later Rhenner's voice breaks through the air as well, and the blessings of the god of travel fill them with courage.

 
 Spoiler 

Welcome to combat. Map will be up tomorrow, but you can roll initiative. If you roll above the enemies (see below) you can go ahead and take your first round (I'll tell you that Natalia could either move and flank with Stephan using a standard attack, or use the anklet and pull off a full flanking attack). You see six drow, the open door is twenty feet away, (though it may not be open for long). Stephan can break free of his bonds  and  grab his dragonsplits off Shiny's back as a single move action.

Shiny cast his  haste  spell as planned (as you see above he used his code phrase) to start combat, and Rhenner had specified a ready action so his spell was cast. I'm going to go ahead and count those as the first two things to happen in initiative and have everyone else roll for it (so Rhenner's already used his standard action for the round, though he can move afterwards).

Enemies:  (1d20+3)[ 23 ] 
 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Not beating that roll, but  (1d20+2)[ 19 ] 
 

 "Nats! Give me the bag!"  Mithril needed Whiskers back, and more importantly she needed her gear.  On a second thought, the most important thing she needed was something between  the swords and her front.
CoffeeIncluded
As Natalia flips the blades in her hands she brushes against the bag of holding, releasing a catch. The bag, with both whiskers and Mithril's gear in it, falls and suddenly appears by her feet.

 
 Spoiler: Initiative  
one more level until sudden leap!
 (d20+9)[ 17 ] 

Aww no surprise round either?
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan can't help but grin savagely at the "deep gnome's" words.
 
 Spoiler: Initiative 

 (1d20+3)[ 16 ] 
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Map is in sig.

The reason you didn't get a surprise round is that the drow were ready and waiting in case a fight started, so the question was "Who reacts first to Shiny saying something and casting haste." Let's say you got a +2 bonus because there was a code phrase, but sadly the drow had a very fast reaction.

On the plus side I'll say that since you were ready for a fight you weren't flatfooted.

I let Rhenner have a go because he'd explicitly made a simple ready action, and also because who doesn't like bless 🙂
 


The drow, already suspicious, react even faster to Shiny's spell than the party does. The one in front of Shiny lunges towards him to put a greatsword through his gut-  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;You lookin' to bewitch us?&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  The one next to him, already on edge, is startled by the action, and attempts to pull Stephan into a headlock.

 
 Spoiler 

D1 attack on Shiny:  (1d20+9)[ 15 ]   (1d20+9)[ 12 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 16 ]   (2d6+9)[ 13 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 20 ]   (1d20+4)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 19 ]   (2d6+9)[ 16 ] 

D2 grapple on Stephan (Improved Grapple so no AoO, besides which Stephan's hands are temporarily tied):
Touch Attack:  (1d20+11)[ 28 ] 
Opposed Grapple:  (1d20+11)[ 31 ] 
 


Behind them, one guard steps forward to come closer to the battle, while the other steps back in front of the door, which remains open for the moment.

 
 Spoiler 
Once Stephan has rolled his opposed grapple (assuming the touch hits), it's the party's initiative.
 
Dusk Eclipse
The sudden lunge from the Drow might have caught other people unawared, but Stephan had trained all his life to fight and even without a blade on hand he was not someone to be understimated, as swift as a snake strike, Stephan's hands shoot up to intercept the guard's outstretched hands with his own bound ones.
 
 Spoiler: Reaction: 

Immediate action: Use  Wall of blades 

WoB roll  (1d20+13)[ 18 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
The moment the drow attack Natalia quite literally leaps into action, suddenly bursting into view to plunge her blades into the grappling drow's throat, taking advantage of his attempt to headlock Stephan. With a shout of  "No!"  if she manages to quickly take down the drow grappling Stephan then she warps behind Shiny and tries to quite literally stab the guard attacking him in the back.

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
Grappling makes you flatfooted. 😏 If I kill D2 before using up all the attacks, then Natalia uses the anklet to teleport to J21 and unloads her remaining attacks on D1. I'll add in flanking bonuses (she'll be flanking with Shiny) just in case after I roll.

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 16 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 11 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 23 ]  (25 with flank)
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 22 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 18 ]  (20 with flank)
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 27 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 19 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:  (d20+9)[ 21 ]  (23 with flank)
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
 
Admiral
Natalia springs into sight with a flurry of slashes at the guard wrestling with Stephan. Her first swing misses, but the remaining ones slash straight into him, and the drow releases his adversary to collapse to the ground.

 
 Spoiler 

Took her turn to do that so didn't flank.

Shiny will take his turn in block init now.
 


Recognizing that their cover is long gone, the injured gnome draws the pair of dragonsplits on his back and hands them to Stephan.  "Think these... are yours..." 

He then reaches his hand behind him to the now visible Natalia, and casts a spell. The rogue goes invisible again.  "This one'll last,"  he mutters out of the side of his mouth.

 
 Spoiler 

Shiny likes avoiding casting offensive spells against drow due to their SR (and +2 against enchantment).

Shiny used a move action to give Stephan his blades (who can now Full Attack if he likes) then cast Greater Invisibility on Natalia. For eight rounds, free sneak attacks for her.
 
CWater
Rhenner steps forward to reach the wounded beguiler, careful not to stumble to the once again invisible Natalia, though to his surprise the girl doesn't seem to be there anymore.   Where did she go? ..Guess we'll find out soon enough.   He thinks, remembering her deadly effectiveness with those blades.

Not letting himself get distracted from his own task, the cleric casts a healing spell on Shiny.

 
 Spoiler 
Aid to CMW:  (2d8+8)[ 12 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephans accepts the blades with unhidden glee and breaks free of his bonds with a slight flourish just as Natalia showed him earlier. He twirls the unmatched blades in his hands, he grabs the smaller sword in a reverse grip as he steps right over the downed drow and unleashes a flurry of slashes into the guard.

 
 Spoiler 

Swift Action: Initiate  Pearl of Black Doubt stance 7
Non Action #1: Designate D3 as my dodge target (AC vs. him 19)
Non Action #2: 5 ft. step to K22
Full attack
Attack 1 (PA -1+1)  (1d20+11)[ 22 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 31 ]  (Battle Ardor allows me to add int mod to crit confirmation rolls)
Damage  (1d6+6)[ 11 ] 

Off-hand 1 (PA -1 +1)  (1d20+11)[ 23 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 33 ] 
Damage  (1d6+5)[ 11 ] 

Haste attack (PA -1+1)  (1d20+11)[ 21 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 25 ] 
Damage  (1d6+6)[ 10 ] 

Attack 2(PA -1+1)  (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+9)[ 12 ] 
Damage  (1d6+5)[ 7 ] 

If any attacks crits, nat 20 only the damage is x4
 
Athedia
Mithril knelt down at the bag Natalia had dropped by her feet.  Quickly opening the bag she grabbed Whiskers collar as he clambered out.   &lt;Draconic&gt;"Day's Sun."&lt;/D&gt; .  The spell cast a bright light filled the tunnel, light like this area of the world had never seen.  Light the group hadn't seen or felt for a while now.  As Whiskers collar glowed he glared at Mithril.  A chattering erupted from his mouth, and Mithril listened to his rant about "the stupid nothing bag" and "Not dark light".

 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Daylight
Evocation [Light]
Level:	Brd 3, Clr 3, Drd 3, Pal 3, Sor/Wiz 3
Components:	V, S
Casting Time:	1 standard action
Range:	Touch
Target:	Object touched  Whiskers Collar 
Duration:	10 min./level (D)  80 minutes 
Saving Throw:	None
Spell Resistance:	No
The object touched sheds light as bright as full daylight in a 60-foot radius, and dim light for an additional 60 feet beyond that. Creatures that take penalties in bright light also take them while within the radius of this magical light. Despite its name, this spell is not the equivalent of daylight for the purposes of creatures that are damaged or destroyed by bright light.

If daylight is cast on a small object that is then placed inside or under a light-proof covering, the spell’s effects are blocked until the covering is removed.

Daylight brought into an area of magical darkness (or vice versa) is temporarily negated, so that the otherwise prevailing light conditions exist in the overlapping areas of effect.

Daylight counters or dispels any darkness spell of equal or lower level, such as darkness.

____________________________

Hehehehe, I have been planning this since I got the spell.  I am glad I thought enough to get Whiskers a collar.
 
Admiral
Three of Stephan's swings strike true, badly wounding the drow in front of him. The dark elves recoil momentarily from the bright light emanating from Whisker's collar.

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Close it up!&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  the drow next to the gate shouts. The elf then taps his sword once, and suddenly he and his surroundings are back in shadow, after which he takes a single step towards the party to grant his allies the benefit of the darkness.

The drow behind him struggle to close the door- the portal is heavy, and they are momentarily disabled, so they can close it only slowly.

 
 Spoiler 

 Darkness  spell-like ability on his sword, which cancels out the Daylight to lead to regular light conditions in the affected area. They're still blinded for this round.

At the end of this round the door is still slightly open, enough to squeeze through with a DC 15 Escape Artist check if someone ran through right away. The door looks heavy, and as mentioned Stephan believes there may be magical protections on it.
 


The blind drow soldiers focus their efforts on the wounded gnome they had seen moments earlier.

 
 Spoiler 

D1 on Shiny:
 (1d20+9)[ 29 ]   (1d20+9)[ 13 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 13 ]   (2d6+9)[ 15 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 6 ]   (1d20+4)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 19 ]   (2d6+9)[ 15 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 

D3 on Shiny:
 (1d20+13)[ 21 ]   (1d20+13)[ 23 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+8)[ 16 ]   (1d10+8)[ 9 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 22 ]   (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
Damage:  (1d10+8)[ 13 ]   (1d10+8)[ 9 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 


In the elves' blinded disarray they never once come close to hitting the gnome.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thanks!"  Natalia says as she becomes invisible once more. She then gasps as she sees the drow counter Mithril's spell, then try and fail to kill Shiny (though one blow cracks the ground) and finally start to close the gate.

 "Door get door!"  Natalia screams as she attacks, striking out of literally nowhere, only visible by the wounds she leaves.  "Hold or through, I path!" 
 
 Spoiler: Attack  
I'm attacking both d1 and d3; d1 first! And I'm flanking.

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 26 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 19 ] 


Attack:  (d20+14)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 20 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 


Attack:  (d20+14)[ 28 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 33 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 


Attack:  (d20+11)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 30 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 13 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Crit damage!  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 

And if both drow are taken down in 3 attacks she anklets again and uses he fourth on d4. Otherwise, 5 foot step up at the end if both are down.
Admiral
Before the party's eyes one drow's neck seems to split open in midair- first its right side, then its left side, each with an explosion of blood. He drops his blades, grabs at his throat, and collapses into a gurgling heap.

A pair of deep wounds open on the other drow's side, under his armor.

 
 Spoiler 

D1 down, D3 bloodied.
 
Admiral
Shiny splays out a palm towards the closest assailant.

 
 Spoiler 

Whelm on D3: saving his more serious spells for when there are more assailants. Note that he's blinded and therefore flatfooted.

CL for SR:  (1d20+10)[ 27 ] 
Will save DC 17:  (1d20+4)[ 7 ] 
 


The elf falls unconscious as Shiny's spell wears at his mind.

 
 Spoiler 

In combination with Natalia's wounds, just made it. Couldn't have done it without Stephan bloodying D1 as well.
 
Athedia
Mithril threw up a hand, not bothering with her usual formalities and a shimmering mass of knives surrounded her.  She kept Whiskers close to her waiting for the darkness sword to be taken out.

 
 Spoiler 
From what I understand Darkness doesn't fully dispell Daylight, they just cancel each other out when they overlap so if someone can get the sword we should have light again.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan raises an eyebrow at the sudden carnage but in the end it didn't matter, he had to stop that door from closing and he had to do it now. He runs past his new companions, past the final drow guard, he just had to make it through the door.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Darn it, J,15 is exactly 35 ft. from Stephan's position... grumble grumble.
Double move action to J15
Designate Drow4 as dodge target AC vs. him 23 (assuming he makes an AoO when Stephan goes past him)
Escape artist check  (1d20+3)[ 21 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
Thanks to the spell from Shiny, Stephan is able to savagely attack the Drow just in front of him.  &lt;undercommon&gt; "Hello there" &lt;/undercommon&gt;.
 
 Spoiler: Action 

Standard action: Initiate Wolf Fang Strike
Attack 1 (PA-3, +3)  (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+11)[ 30 ]  (still using the slashing option so crit x 4)
Damage  (1d6+7)[ 9 ] 
Attack 2 (PA-3, +3)  (1d20+8)[ 24 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+11)[ 12 ] 
Damage  (1d6+7)[ 8 ] 

non-action designate D5 as dodge target effective AC vs. him 19

 
 Originally Posted by Dodge feat 
 During your action, you designate an opponent and receive a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class against attacks from that opponent.  You can select a new opponent on any action . 
 

 Emphasis mine.
 
CWater
The gory display stops Rhenner for a second. Not because of the flow of blood, there's hardly anything new about that, but because this merciless assasin is a strange match with the young girl who wants to save people and to be a hero.   Though that's not really anything I should be surprised about, is it? Wasn't it the same with the drows back in Deldon, only less... dramatic.  

This contemplations ends quickly as the reality demands attention. He sees their new comrade dash forward to stop the drow from blocking their path, and after a second of hesitation decides to follow him. It's going to be hard though, with the door is closing in front of him, and so the cleric speaks a quick spell, hoping it will help him to get through.

 
 Spoiler 
Casting Master's Touch for +4 on one skill check. Swift action.
 (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
 
Admiral
Stephan is able to slip through the closing door with little problem- besides his natural nimbleness, he had grown somewhat leaner in his time as a prisoner. The invisible Rhenner follows shortly afterwards, making it through thanks to a blessing from his god. Once inside, the former gladiator slashes into the elf in front of him, while the cleric drops a torch on the floor as a new source of light.

Inside the gate, one of the drow spends all his energy slamming the gate shut. The one Stephan had injured, meanwhile, takes a step back from the warrior, reaches his hand towards him, and casts a spell.

 
 Spoiler 

Stephan: DC 15 Will Save.
 


Outside the gate, the remaining drow reaches forward with a snarl and twists his hand midair. A burst of glittery dust appears above Natalia, Shiny and Mithril, settling down on them. The dust fights its way into their eyes, and creates a shimmering outline of the invisible rogue.

 
 Spoiler 

DC 16 Will Save for the three party members outside.

Shiny:  (1d20+4)[ 20 ] 

D4 had to save it for when there weren't drow he would have blinded. No one said this was going to be easy.
 
Dusk Eclipse
As soon as Stephan feels the tendrils of magic trying to sink into his mind, he retreats behind his mental bastion.

 
 Spoiler: Save and question 

Initiating Moment of the Perfect Mind
Concentration check  (1d20+12)[ 13 ] 

Question, is D5 an arcane spellscaster?
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses, staring as the blood--so much blood--that splatters onto her form. She stares wide-eyed at the gurgling drow, his throat ripped open in two places, and in that moment she's vulnerable.

 
 Spoiler: Will save 
 (d20+3)[ 11 ] 
 


The glitter settles over her form and in her eyes, suddenly blinding her.  "ARGH!"  Natalia screams, reflexively holding her hands to her eyes, trying to wipe the glitter out of them.  "Shiny, Mithril, help!" 
 
 Spoiler: Help! 
Do either of you have spells to fix this? And can I still go afterwards?
 
Admiral
It had been a long time since Stephan had had to use his mental defenses- the need had not arisen in the arena- and he is unable to summon the necessary energy. Stephen stiffens and is frozen in place by the drow's magic.

 
 Spoiler 

Stephen is  held .
 
CWater
Rhenner taps the paralyzed Stephan on the shoulder and says a quick prayer to Fharlanghn to free him.  "Wise Dweller on the Horizon, I ask of you, please do not let this warrior's journey end here, where he had the courage to return to."  He can't help but add in a sarcastic tone,  "Whether this courage turns out to lead to recklessness or bravery remains to be seen, but it would be a shame if he perished before having a chance, don't you think?"  It is unclear if the question is directed at his god or Stephan.

He takes a few steps forward, hoping the drow can't tell where he stands if they have noticed his presence.

 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Yes, casting Remove Paralysis.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Wait a minute. She has something to lock down this caster! And...it's not on her.  "Goo bag in bag dropped! Stop spells!"  Natalia shouts, stepping forward and blindly swinging at the drow, hoping that at least one of her attacks connects and that her friends can follow up.

 
 Spoiler: Attacks 
Natalia has at least one tanglefoot bag in the bag of holding or haversack by Mithril's feet, which means it's right by Shiny's feet too, if either of you wants to use it! I think Shiny might prefer using that because it's not a spell (and this guy will have both SR AND a good will save), can stop him from moving, lower his AC, and most importantly  make it harder for him to cast spells.  I'd use it myself but Natalia is blind. Better for it to be used on a non-blind guy, I think. Or next turn, maybe if you pass it to Natalia. I dunno.

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 18 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ] 
Miss on 1:  (d2)[ 2 ] 

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 29 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 27 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
Miss on 1:  (d2)[ 1 ] 

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ] 
Miss on 1:  (d2)[ 1 ] 

Attack:  (d20+9)[ 27 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
Miss on 1:  (d2)[ 2 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan lets one of his blade drop to the ground, and before it has even struck the floor he is already on top of the Drow caster, his remaining blade a bluring as e tries to skewer his enemy.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

free action: Drop one dragonsplit
free action #2: Grab the other Dragonsplit with two hands
non-action 5 ft. step to J,14
Full attack D5 (I'm assuming he is an arcane spellcaster, so I'm counting my favoured enemy bonus in the calculations, I'm also switching from slashing damage to piercing damage (19-20 x 2 crit)

Attack 1 (PA -5 +10)  (1d20+10)[ 27 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 14 ] 
Damage  (1d6+17)[ 18 ]  (4 from str x 1.5+1 bless +2 FE + 10 power attack)

Attack 2 (1d20+10)[ 25 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 15 ] 
Damage  (1d6+17)[ 20 ]  (4 from str x 1.5+1 bless +2 FE + 10 power attack)

Attack 3  (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+8)[ 24 ] 
Damage  (1d6+17)[ 19 ]  (4 from str x 1.5+1 bless +2 FE + 10 power attack)
 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Spoiler: Crit Damage (hopefully) 

 (1d6+17)[ 18 ] 
 

 10 characters blah blah blah 
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Attack:  (1d20+12)[ 14 ] 
Crit: [roll]1d20+12[/roll
Damage:  (1d6+2)[ 8 ] 
 


As Mithril dug through the bag she mentally flung a knife at the attacking drow.  Pulling two items out of the bag she shoved the circlet messily on her head while the other hand tossed out a bag toward the drows feet.

 
 Spoiler 
Tanglefoot Bag 3 range increments

Ranged Touch Attack:  (1d20+3)[ 6 ] 
 
Admiral
The drow dodges Mithril's knife, and the unpracticed wizard is unable to make contact with the bag.

Shiny casts a pair of spells: the first targets the drow caster, and the second Natalia.

 
 Spoiler 

Distract Assailant on D4 (at least it will unsettle him if it gets through the SR), then Dispel Magic on Natalia to try and get rid of the Glitterdust.

DA CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 22 ] 
DA Will save DC 16:  (1d20+7)[ 13 ] 

I've made the mistake of thinking before that you have to target a creature and the dispel will work against all their spells. However, it looks from the text like you can target just one at a time. That's some good news.

CL check against Glitterdust:  (1d20+8)[ 23 ] 
 


The glittery dust vanishes from Natalia's body, leaving her invisible and sighted once again, and the drow seems to shudder and flinch as Shiny's enchantment passes through him.
Admiral
The drow frowns as he sees two of his enemies shake off the worst of the spell, and the third be cured of it entirely. in front of him. He takes a step back, draws something from his pouch, and tosses a small glowing orb right into the middle of the party, where it explodes in flame.

 
 Spoiler 

Fireball:  (6d6)[ 17 ]  damage, Shiny, Mithril and Natalia Reflex save DC 17 for half (0 for Natalia). Remember that you get +1 bonus to Reflex from Haste.

Shiny:  (1d20+5)[ 18 ] 
 


--------------------

Stephan had practiced his maneuvers against arcane casters with great care, and he easily slices the drow into pieces with two expert strokes. The remaining drow snarls back at him, reaches to his neck, releases his cloak, and drops it on the floor where Rhenner's torch had fallen, plunging the tunnel into darkness. Moments later Stephan hears the whoosh of a blade coming towards him.

 
 Spoiler 

D6 on Stephan:

 (1d20+11)[ 26 ]   (1d20+11)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 15 ]   (2d6+9)[ 13 ] 

D6 is standing on top of the blanket which is on top of the torch. If Rhenner wants to try and grab the torch out from under the blanket, he'll need a Search check, as he'll run the risk of grabbing the drow's legs and revealing his position.

Incidentally, he's flatfooted in the dark so he cannot use the WoB maneuver.
 


Stephan cannot see the blade, but he feels it cut a deep wound into his chest.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Thanks!"  Natalia shouts to Shiny as her vision and invisibility return. Then her eyes widen as she recognizes the orb the drow hurls at the party--it's like the ones Rhenner used to make those fireballs.  "DUCK!"  she shouts, leaping into a forward roll.

 
 Spoiler: Reflex save: 
 (d20+15)[ 18 ]  All I needed was a not-one. 😏
Also, did her attacks hit last round? The not-blinded ones.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia instinctively tucks and rolls, somersaulting forward, and though the cacophonous blast of the fireball rings in her ears and the tips of her hairs are slightly singed, she evades the blast entirely. She jumps to her feet right in front of the drow, and slashes upwards as she leaps and spins to stand. Her heart races as she snarls, trying to end it as fast as possible.

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
Five-foot step (here roleplayed as part of Natalia's evasive maneuver for flavor). FULL ATTACK!

Attack:   (d20+12)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 22 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 

Attack:   (d20+12)[ 18 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 11 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:   (d20+12)[ 26 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ] 

Attack:   (d20+9)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
 
Admiral
As Natalia swings towards the drow, he suddenly springs into motion with a spell before she can make contact.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia Will Save DC 16, for Stay the Hand.
 
CoffeeIncluded
As Natalia brings her blades down for the kill, the vision of her tearing the drow's neck open and those awful sounds he made flashes in her mind, weakening her resolve.

 
 Spoiler: Will: 
 (d20+3)[ 19 ] 

Wow, I was totally expecting to fail that!
 


But...they have no choice. And he's guarding prisoners, forcing them to fight to the death for amusement. They're not like that. And what's more, he hurt her friends!
 "Sorry, but...No,"  she says, fighting through the spell, tearing the blades up as deep as she can to make it quick.
Athedia
 
 Spoiler 
Reflex Save:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
 


Mithril managed to avoid the worst of the damage though she didn't think she would get the smell of burning hair out of her head for a while.  Reaching back she cursed, a good two inches had been burnt off.   "I was growing that out!" 
Admiral
With Natalia's first swing she slices straight into the wizard's unprotected neck- with a gurgle he collapses into a heap.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pants as the last drow on this side dies by her hand. She turns back and shouts,  "Guys, you okay? I look...keys, can you gate?"  She drops to her knees, closes the dead guard's eyes, and then starts quickly looking for keys, maps, or any items or things that are nteresting or useful.

 
 Spoiler: Quick search check 
Natalia uses the detect magic crystal too if she can:  (d20+16)[ 21 ] 
 
CWater
Not going to risk searching for the torch in the darkness, the cleric decides to cast another spell instead.  "Lord of the roads and wanderers",  he prays,  "Your humble servant most humbly asks You to send a bright wandering healer to help and guide him and his companions in this dark place."  And a small shining orb appears on Stephan's shoulder, shedding light to the corridor and allowing them to see again. Its warm positive energy also heals Stephan a little.  "Don't worry, it's completely harmless",  Rhenner says to him,  "Well, to you at least." 

Now that he can see again, he takes a few steps away from the remaining drow guard.

 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Casting  Healing Spirit . Since it sheds bright light in a 10 ft. radius, is that enough to blind the drow again? Either way, this is not an attack; it's a healing spell, not Rhenner's fault that the drow happen to have sensitive eyes.😏

Healing:  (1d8)[ 1 ]  Well, damn. Oh well, at least they can see now.
 
Admiral
With the sphere of light appearing in midair, Stephan and Rhenner can once again see the enemy before them.

 
 Spoiler 

Argh, I agonized over this, but I decided that since the Daylight spell very specifically says "Creatures that take penalties in bright light also take them while within the radius of this magical light," I couldn't count it as blinding him. Similarly Nimbus of Light wouldn't count.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan grimaces a little at the sudden light.  "No more hiding" 
 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Swift Action: Initiate Punishing Stance (+1d6 damage -2 AC, end up with 16 AC)
Non-action Designate the Drow as Dodge Target (AC 17)
Non Action #2: 5ft. step to close the gap (if necesary)
Full attack
Attack 1 (PA -3 +6)  (1d20+10)[ 27 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 31 ] 
Damage  (2d6+10)[ 17 ] 

Attack 2 (PA -3 +6)  (1d20+10)[ 14 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 17 ] 
Damage  (2d6+10)[ 12 ] 

Attack 3 (PA -3 +6)  (1d20+5)[ 12 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+8)[ 20 ] 
Damage  (2d6+10)[ 14 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril started grabbing items out of the bag and putting them back where they belonged.  The rods went into her belt while she carefully clasped the amulet back around her neck, readjusting the circlet as she did so.
Admiral
The drow comes swinging at Stephan once again, though this time Stephan can see his attacks.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+11)[ 29 ]   (1d20+11)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 17 ]   (2d6+9)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 16 ]   (1d20+6)[ 8 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 20 ]   (2d6+9)[ 14 ] 
 


His first slash is expertly deflected by the swordsman, and his second misses entirely.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan sees the first attack coming and tries to parry it

 
 Spoiler 

Immediate Action: Initiate Wall of Blades
 (1d20+10)[ 30 ]  (Sadly PA penalties continue to affect me throughout the round).
 
CWater
While Stephan engages the drow, Rhenner begins to turn the handle that opens the door. He throws a quick glance over his shoulder to check that the healing spirit is still healing Stephan, but otherwise he trusts the warrior to handle the fight.

 
 Spoiler: Healing Spirit 
Healing:  (1d8)[ 5 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia continues to frantically search the dead drow, keeping ht eyes and ears open. Once she searches him she moves to the next.


 
 Spoiler: Searching! 
i already made the rolls on the ooc thread a couple hours ago. The first one was a 33, so Natalia has a 33 to search the drow this round. It's d4 unless you say otherwise, and if you say otherwise it's d3.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan enjoys the look of utter surprise on the Drow's face as his slash is parried.
 
 Spoiler 

non-action: switch to slashing damage and crit 20 x 4
Full Attack
Attack (PA -2 +4)  (1d20+11)[ 26 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 28 ] 
Damage  (2d6+8)[ 15 ] 

Attack (PA -2 +4)  (1d20+11)[ 22 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 23 ] 
Damage  (2d6+8)[ 17 ] 

Attack (PA -2 +4)  (1d20+6)[ 21 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+9)[ 16 ] 
Damage  (2d6+8)[ 15 ] 
 
Admiral
Stephan's first two slashes wound the dark elf, though he barely manages to dodge the last one.

 
 Spoiler 

D6 is bloodied (&lt; half HP).
 
Admiral
The two swordsmen continue their duel.

 
 Spoiler 

D6 on Stephen:
 (1d20+11)[ 13 ]   (1d20+11)[ 27 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 11 ]   (2d6+9)[ 17 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 16 ]   (1d20+6)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 19 ]   (2d6+9)[ 17 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
The longer their duel goes on, the easier Stephan finds to anticipated and reacts to his enemy's attack, pressing his advantage he continues his flurry of slashes on the Drow, before setting into a more defensive stance.
 
 Spoiler 

Full Attack
Attack 1 (PA -3+6)  (1d20+10)[ 15 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Damage  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 

Attack 2 (PA -3+6)  (1d20+10)[ 24 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 26 ] 
Damage  (2d6+10)[ 18 ] 

Attack 1 (PA -3+6)  (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
Damage  (2d6+10)[ 19 ] 

Swift Action After the full attack finishes: Change into  Pearl of Black Doubt (AC jumps to 19 +2 for every time he misses)
 
CWater
Rhenner concentrates on getting the door back open. The summoned spirit continues to heal Stephan.

 
 Spoiler 
Healing:  (1d8)[ 1 ] 

Btw, I forget, did Stephan start the day with full HP, or did he have some damage left from his escape?
 
Admiral
Even as the door opens the drow warrior focuses on his enemy.

Natalia quickly searches the body of the mage she'd killed before moving on to one of the fighters. On the caster's corpse she quickly finds a scroll and a wand in the caster's belt, and she grabs an impressive greatsword from the following one- she also finds a vial with a potion in each.

 
 Spoiler 

Scroll spells:  (1d3)[ 2 ]  (use only that many of the below)
Scroll Spell 1 Level:  (1d100)[ 87 ] 
Scroll Spell 1:  (1d100)[ 56 ]  Leomund's Trap, neat.
Scroll Spell 2 Level:  (1d100)[ 19 ] 
Scroll Spell 2:  (1d100)[ 44 ]  hold portal, reasonable thing for a security guard at a gate to have!
Scroll Spell 3 Level:  (1d100)[ 38 ] 
Scroll Spell 3:  (1d100)[ 45 ] 

Wand:  (1d100)[ 54 ] 
Wand charges:  (2d25)[ 28 ] 

2 potions, each CMW. Greatsword you can have identified later.
 
Athedia
Mithril continued to put her items on looking at the fallen bodies as she did so.

 
 Spoiler 
She spotted the guy who did something with his sword to cast the darkness spell.  Is the guy dead?  If so she is going to grab the sword.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

ETA: Oh, man. I am sorry but there is simply no way a drow wizard who worked with other drow as a guard would be carrying a wand of daylight. (Now, casting both daylight and darkness on adjacent objects would be a decent strategy against other drow, as you would exist in a safe pocket where the daylight was canceled out; but he works with other drow and that strategy would be untenable). So we're gonna go ahead and reroll that one. But since you were lucky enough to get a L2 wand, I will keep it an L2 by rolling only within that range.

[roll]37+1d63[/roll]
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Second try. Yes, Mithril can grab the darkness sword (it's a rapier).

 (1d63+37)[ 90 ]  All right, it is a wand of  shatter .
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia smiles as she pockets the wand, scroll, potions, and greatsword, though her cheer's tempered by the lack of maps or a key. She looks back as the gate starts to open, but continues searching, running through the moment it fully opens.

 "Have everything?"  she asks Mithril.

 
 Spoiler: Her action 
Natalia will go through the gate at the end of the round when it's fully open, I'm assuming the stuff you rolled included this round of searching?
 
Athedia
Mithril went over to the fallen drow who had used his sword to block out her spell.  The spell was still active, this much she could tell from the dim light.   She removed the sheath from his belt and grabbed the rapier.   "Don't want to leave them with such a powerful weapon." 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan suppresses a wince as the Drow's blades bits into his flesh, but he uses the momentum to sidestep the guard's follow up attack.&lt;UC&gt;  "it seems your luck ran out Drow" &lt;/UC&gt; Stephan chuckles darkly preying upon his enemies doubts as his blade twist in the air looking for blood.
 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Stephan's AC is now 20 (10+3(dex)+4(Mage Armour)+1(Dodge)+2 (PoBD)
Full Attack
Attack (PA-2+4)  (1d20+11)[ 28 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 31 ] 
Damage  (1d6+8)[ 11 ]  Crit  (1d6+8)[ 12 ] 

Attack (PA-2+4)  (1d20+11)[ 31 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+14)[ 23 ] 
Damage  (1d6+8)[ 13 ]  Crit  (1d6+8)[ 10 ] 

Attack (PA-2+4)  (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+9)[ 19 ] 
Damage  (1d6+8)[ 9 ]  Crit  (1d6+8)[ 9 ] 

(I'm following Admiral's method of rolling crit damage pre-emptively to avoid cluttering the thread)
 
CWater
Now that the door is open again, Rhenner turns around to cast a healing spell on the victorius Stephan.*  "I'm starting to understand how you survived alive this long." 
 
 Spoiler 
*I'm assuming that with those numbers, the last drow is dead.

Dispel Magic to CSW:  (3d8+8)[ 24 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "You'll die if you hesitate"  Stephan murmurs softly to himself, he picks both his own discarded blade and the guard's sword before starting to search the bodies for keys or anything that could be useful.

 
 Spoiler 

Two search checks one for each body:
Wizard  (1d20+8)[ 15 ] 
Swordsman  (1d20+8)[ 18 ] 
 
CWater
Rhenner picks up his torch and covers it again, before putting it away. While the others search the bodies for valuables, he keeps an eye on the dark corridor ahead.

 
 Spoiler 
Not sure how far he can see, but Whisker's Daylight should be working again, right?
 
CoffeeIncluded
As the door opens Natalia sees Stephan chuckle lowly as he plunges the strange sword into the final guard's chest. She blinks, thrown by how much he seems to enjoy it. Then again, they did trap him in here, force him to fight others for their amusement. And she is quite literally spattered in blood. It reminds her of what Kurt used to be like, a little.

 "How much...time hesitate left?"  Natalia shouts to Stephan as he loots both bodies and she prepares to dash through the door, though not before looking behind her.
Admiral
Stephan and Natalia are able to spend a few seconds grabbing what they can off the bodies. Stephan first grabs the drow's sword, which he guesses from its effectiveness is likely magically enhanced. Natalia still can't find a key or map, but she does grab a pair of scrolls and a potion off the mage.

 
 Spoiler 

Something:  (1d20+6)[ 21 ] 

Potion: CMW

Scroll 1:
Spells:  (1d3)[ 3 ] 
1 Level:  (1d100)[ 57 ] 
1 Spell:  (1d100)[ 3 ] 
2 Level:  (1d100)[ 64 ] 
2 Spell:  (1d100)[ 81 ] 
3 Level:  (1d100)[ 15 ] 
3 Spell:  (1d100)[ 11 ] 

Scroll:
Spells:  (1d3)[ 2 ] 
1 Level:  (1d100)[ 50 ] 
1 Spell:  (1d100)[ 23 ] 
2 Level:  (1d100)[ 56 ] 
2 Spell:  (1d100)[ 16 ] 
3 Level:  (1d100)[ 39 ] 
3 Spell:  (1d100)[ 19 ] 

One scroll has Arcane Lock, Scorching Ray, Color Spray; the other Jump, Cat's Grace; Comprehend Languages.
 
Admiral
Moments after the party has searched the bodies, they hear a pair of whizzing sounds approach.

 
 Spoiler 

If either hits, Fort DC 13 save.

On Stephan:
Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 23 ]   (1d20+9)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+1)[ 2 ]   (1d8+1)[ 7 ] 

On Mithril:
Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 13 ]   (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+1)[ 4 ]   (1d8+1)[ 2 ] 

Everyone roll an initiative roll please.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Mithril! Stephan!"  Natalia screams as she hears the sounds of something rushing past her towards them. Arrows?! She's heard that sounds before, against her! The reinforcements are here!

 
 Spoiler: Initiative 
And here are the guards. Can Natalia see them, and if so how far away are they? How many rounds of the spells are left? Where did the arrows come from, inside the gate or outside where we came from?
 (d20+9)[ 17 ] 
 
Athedia
 Mithril quickly sheathed the rapier, letting the bright light fill the area once more.  Quickly she cast a spell in the direction of the approaching reinforcements conjuring a horde of lashing tentacles.

 "It won't hold them long! But it should give us some cover, but hurry!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Black Tentacles
 
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan was to preucupied looting the fallen Drow that he couldn't dodge the arrow in time, thankfully the arrow didn't sink too much into his flesh, but he soon feels the tell-tale signs of a poisoned arrow.

 
 Spoiler 

Fort  (1d20+12)[ 32 ] 
Initiative  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril sheathed the rapier again, letting the bright light shine through the tunnels again.   "Stephan, which way to your stuff?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Deeper inside, they kept the "prisoners" away from the gear so we didn't get any smart ideas, but close enough that they could outfit and send us to fight as quickly as possible." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Think...see bars, where arrows from,"  Natalia says, peering closely.  "Guards must...be behind! Hurry! Follow fast!"  The spells Shiny has cast on her are wearing out, and she needs to hurry. Dashing forward, she hurries towards the bars, waiting for either Mithril's light to follow her or for the darkvision potion she took to take over.

 
 Spoiler: Explanation 
I'm pretty certain that Natalia took the darkvision potion on the path here. If not, then there's Mithril's light. Since there's no map Natalia's actions are somewhat dependent on what she finds. Is this okay? I'm not pissing you off, am I?
 

 
 Spoiler: If the guards are pressed right up next to the bars 
Natalia charges and attacks, stabbing through the bars.

Attack:  (d20+16)[ 27 ] 
Crit:  (2d0+16)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (3d6)[ 14 ]  (16 damage actually; see below.)
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 
 

 
 Spoiler: If the guards are NOT pressed right up next to the bars 
If Natalia can't charge attack them, then may I please have a description of what she sees before deciding to anklet through?
 
CoffeeIncluded
If Natalia is charging because she can attack a guard next to the bars, here's an extra d6 (I accidentally rolled 3d6 instead of 4d6 for sneak attack)  (d6)[ 2 ] 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan returns all his blades but one to their sheaths, he looks at Rhenner  "Can you get me past those bars?" 
 
 Spoiler: Edit 
Just to clarify, Stephan only sheaths one of the dragonsplits and the greatsword(?), he still has one blade (the one he killed the drow with) in his hand, ready to use.
 
Athedia
Mithril moved a little closer to the bars, readying her spell for when she saw the drow.   They wouldn't know what trapped them.

 
 Spoiler 
Readying Web to trap Drow when they come within view range.  I want to save BT.
 
Admiral
As Natalia approaches the gate, she sees two guards standing a short distance from the gate, both with their bows drawn.

 
 Spoiler 

Since she had a double move she can anklet through if she wants but can't do anything else. Haste is gone next round; greater invisibility the round after.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia prepares to anklet through, but first gauges the distance and glances back at Mithril.

Ten feet away. She shouts back,  "Two, but back!"  and anklets through. And once she does that, she's totally silent.

 
 Spoiler: Couple questions 
how far away are the guards? And Mithril and whiskers moved forward so the light has moved forward and they can see the guards too, right?

EDIT: more importantly, are they in range of bright light now?

Just saw the map. Natalia anklets through. ANd if they fire arrows I get a sneak AoO against one of them!
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan tries to close the door behind them, allowing someone to get the drop on them would be far too risky, besides they weren't locked in with the Drows, the Drows were locked in with them.

 
 Spoiler 

Move action move to the door (k,54 I think)
Strength Check  (1d20+3)[ 4 ] 
 
Admiral
Stephan pushes against the door, but it is heavier than it looks, and the blood on the floor means he cannot get a steady stance.

 
 Spoiler 

No progress on door yet.
 


The two drow caught in Mithril's web struggle against it.

 
 Spoiler 

Reflex save D1:  (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
Reflex save D2:  (1d20+6)[ 11 ] 

Either one will try and either break free or move:

D1:  (1d20+2)[ 12 ]  (to move, add +1 since uses Escape Artist)
Str check D2:  (1d20+3)[ 14 ] 
 


One of the drow escapes the worst of the tendrils but cannot break fully free, the other tries to move and is trapped.

Natalia hears the faint sound of Undercommon voices behind the web- at least two distinct drow, calling out what sounds vaguely like a question. One of the drow guards caught in the web shouts something out.

 
 Spoiler 

I assumed Natalia took 10 on Listen since she usually does.

For just Stephan and Shiny, who can speak Undercommon (temporarily for Shiny):

 
 Spoiler 

 "Four, and they're taken the gate!" 
 


Party's initiative.
 
CoffeeIncluded
****, there's more of them. Are they seriously going to have to fight and kill every guard here? Natalia groans to herself, then attacks. They need to hurry.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Natalia attacks D1 first, then D2. If she can't sneak attack d1 then she unloads her remaining attacks on D2". Also, apparently invisible opponents get a +2 attack bonus against sighted creatures, and ignore dex bonus to AC (not just get free sneak attacks. This seems to be a bit different from normal flatfootedness.), which I've been forgetting this entire time. At least I won't forget it this time!

I'm not sure if Haste runs out at the end of this round or whenever Shiny goes. I think it's the latter but if Haste is gone then just remove the second attack. Anyway, ATTACK!

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 32 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 17 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 19 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ] 
 
Admiral
With three deadly and precise slashes Natalia carves apart one of the drow trapped in the web, and spins to cut a brutal slash into the other's throat.

 
 Spoiler 

D2 is dead, D1 is wounded but not yet bloodied.

Party's turn; once Shiny goes the  haste  party is over.
 
Athedia
Mithril cursed as she was unable to close the distance.  Her knives wouldn't hit from here.  Carefully she picked Whiskers off her shoulder and whispered in his ear.   "Natalia has Holy Water."  Pointing him in the right direction she set him down and retreated back into the darkness.

Whiskers did not like this place.  He kept being put in the nothing bag, having his naps interrupted and worst of all there had been NO holy water.  Hearing that the twitchy big one might have some he started running toward toward Natalia, jumping through the bars to her just before her next strike.  He didn't notice the light following him, so intent was he on his goal.

 
 Spoiler 
Sorry Coffee, you wanted some light but now we will have to deal with a grumpy weasel later.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan grimaces as the unmistakeable sound of undercommon reaches his ears "More Drow are coming"  he turns towards the casters  "I need to get over there" 
 
 Spoiler 

Can anyone use DDoor to take Stephan to the other side of the web (J 16 or K 16) so he can give a warm welcome to the coming drows?
 
Admiral
Shiny reaches out towards the gate and casts a spell, and moments later it unlocks and swings open.

Rhenner and Stephan lean against the door and push.

 
 Spoiler 

CWater and Dusk: Go ahead and roll your Str checks for closing the door: if they add up to more than 25, you can close it in one round. Then you can go ahead and take your next round right now; party's initiative after the below.
 


The drow in the web desperately tries to break free.

 
 Spoiler 

Check:  (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
 


He remains trapped tightly within its tendrils.
CWater
 
 Spoiler 
Str:  (1d20+2)[ 6 ] 

I'll assume there was a brief exchange of words regarding the plan IC.
 


Rhenner places a hand on one of Stephan's weapons and casts a spell to make it more deadly. Since the cleric is still invisible, all they can see is that the blade suddenly starts bleeding by itself and emanate unfriendly energy. Rhenner winces a little when the spell drains his life force.  "Give my best regards to your captors",  he says, then turns around and heads for the gate.

 
 Spoiler 
Casting Blade of Blood, it's a swift action spell. Then double move towards the gate. Rhenner takes the 5 HP damage.

If we can't close the door this round and really want to get is shut, assume this takes place on the round after that.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia feels the sudden burst of speed drain away and knows that the invisibility spell is next. It's almost as if her mind isn't entirely there as she attacks the last drow she can see, and listens for the others.

As light fills the tunnel she looks down and sees Whiskers staring up at her before she attacks.

 
 Spoiler: Attack and question 
Can Natalia hear or see the drow behind the web? You said there's partial light.
Attack!

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 13 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 31 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 31 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 16 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+10)[ 24 ] 
Crit:  (d20+10)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 
 

 "Hurry!"  she shouts. There's nothing around her but red and blood.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan pushes the door alongside Rhenner.  
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+3)[ 6 ] 
Next purchase will definitely be a belt of strength.

Edit: I hate the RNG 😩
 
Admiral
Natalia slays the second drow in a pair of precise slashes. She looks down the corridor: the web is too dense to see any detail through forty feet, but upon focusing she realizes that the light shed by Whiskers is not the only one in the corridor. Deep within the tangle of webs emerges the yellow glow of fire.

 
 Spoiler 

Forgot to mention the above.
 


Shiny runs down the hallway towards Natalia, getting into position for when Mithril dismisses her spell.

 
 Spoiler 

Just Mithril left- let me know if she wants to cast a spell.

Also you can decide if Rhenner and Stephan want to finish closing the door or save the round.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks as the sixth drow slain by her hand falls to the ground and she sees the glow of flame consuming the web.  "Web, fire burns!"  she shouts to her friends behind her.

 
 Spoiler: Should I edit this in? 
It seems like Natalia wouldn't have seen this until after killing the drow, and it's something she'd absolutely tell everyone. If you want me to delete this post and edit it in, I'll do it.
 
Admiral
Rhenner and Stephan give up on pushing the door and run towards the gate where the others are. After their sprint they assemble at the door.

The fire in the web gets brighter still.

 
 Spoiler 

Hey, maybe you'll need that door to be open to get out. Though they still might secure it.

For simplicity's sake we'll say you're all next to the web. See map.

New round. Mithril can get rid of the web right now (though if you prefer you can spend a round buffing. As soon as Mithril gets rid of the web Shiny will cast  haste  on the party again.
 
Athedia
Mithril almost reached out to dimiss the web from the ground but changed her mind and latched a hand on Natalia's shoulder.    &lt;Draconic&gt; "Speak and Understand. &lt;/D&gt;  Maybe you should hear who is coming."   She smiled a bit before looking around to see the others reactions.  She knew she had spent some precious seconds on that spell, but knowledge of what people were calling out, especially in the one person who loved to run ahead, would be worth more in her mind.

 
 Spoiler 
Tongues on Natalia to make things a little easier.  I figured she would hear more than Mithril could and didn't understand Undercommon and was our scout.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's eyes widen when Mithril casts the spell on her once more.   "But the web--"  she starts, and then looks back at the fire. Suddenly she gets an idea. If she can stop more violence...  "You!"  she shouts out in undercommon.  "Surrender or die like the rest!"  Anyone listening to her can tell that the stutter and lost words and trailing off mid-sentence are all gone, but that her speech still has a very odd, stilted, unnatural cadence to it.

 
 Spoiler 
Talking is a free action, and Natalia's trying intimidate? Or diplomacy? Whichever works best, and they run off the same modifier.

Intimidate/diplomacy:  (d20-1)[ 14 ]  Does Natalia get a bonus for her rampage?

Also, do you want listen checks?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

No bonus for the rampage; no one she's talking to saw it or is aware of it.

Nothing wrong with Natalia branching out to diplomacy/intimidate, but still not exactly her strong suit 😏
 


Seeing a free moment in Mithril's pause, Shiny claps his hand on Stephan's back. The warrior turns blurry and wavy.

 
 Spoiler 

Casting  blur  on Stephan, giving him 20% miss chance against attacks for 8 minutes (spreading the buffs out). Choosing that over  displacement  since it will (presumably) last the whole mission.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stands awkwardly as they wait for the drow to approach. As Shiny casts his spell the invisibility fades--and the one who killed six drow in brutal precise strikes is revealed to be a small human girl, wide-eyed and barely twenty if that, gripping two bloody blades, and covered in blood.

An idea comes to her. She passes an antitoxin to Stephan, and in the same movement chugs another one down. There'll be more poisonous arrows, and they can't take a chance. As she quickly drinks, grimacing against the bitter taste of charcoal, she looks through the fog and listens.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia drinks an antitoxin (standard action), passes another to Stephan (move action), and looks and listens (free actions). Mithril's spell means I should take advantage of this, right? Please, Admiral.

And I know that diplomacy and intimidation aren't Natalia's strong suits. It's just in character for her to try and stop the fighting.
Spot: Take 10 for 22
Listen:  (d20+12)[ 32 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan takes the offered bottle and drinks from it.  "Thank you"  he says softly.
CWater
Rhenner is also thinking of drinking an antitoxin, but after noticing Shiny's wounds, he decides to heal him instead.

 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Nimbus of Light to CLW:  (1d8+5)[ 12 ] 
 
Admiral
Rhenner heals most of Shiny's wounds, and others take their potions.

The party sees the glow of the flame through the web grow brighter, and can start to feel the . The wizard, seeing the chance to take them by surprise, reaches out and lets the web vanish before them.

Twenty feet away from them stands a pair of drow, both holding a torch and a blade. Behind them stands two more guards, both bearing greatswords, and the party can see two others approaching from behind them. The drow stop and shield their eyes when they are hit with the force of Mithril's  daylight  spell, no longer hidden by the thick web.

Shiny, who had been waiting for this moment, re-casts his spell granting speed to the whole party.

 
 Spoiler 

I am assuming that Mithril dismissed the web on her following turn, which sounded like it was her plan ("Mithril almost reached out...") though she didn't explicitly say it.

Everyone except Mithril (who just dismissed it) and Shiny (who just cast haste) has a turn now that the web is down.

Drow are blind for this round of yours and their round after yours.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Six more. Dammit, will they stop coming?  "Thank you! Stephan, now! We need to hurry; help me!"  She runs forward, her blades flashing in the air as she runs forward, preparing to cut her way through the drow.  "Sorry, but I offered!"  she shouts as she attacks the first one in front of her.

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia attacks! What do D5 and D6 look like? And oh man, what percentage of the guards have we gone through already? Would Stephan know? 😦

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 21 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan grips the great sword tighter as he charges at the closest drow, the blade trailing behind him to put as much power as possible in the first strike.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Non-action: Designate D2 as Dodge Target
Full Round Action: Charge D2
Attack (-4/+8)  (1d20+10)[ 15 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 22 ] 
Damage  (2d6+12)[ 21 ]  Crit damage  (2d6+12)[ 19 ] 
Swift Action: Refresh Maneuvers
AC is 18 vs D2, 17 vs other ones.
Stephan is still in Pearl of Black Doubt Stance.
 
Admiral
Natalia cuts a brutal gash in one of the drow. Stephan feels the power of the blade in his hands as he swings, and from his experience recognizes that the blade is magical. Still, he cannot make contact with his enemy.

 
 Spoiler 

Natalia doesn't quite bloody her enemy

I'll say that he can tell the blade is magical from an actual attack but wouldn't have been able to from a test swing. It has +1 to attack and damage, and may have other magical properties he can't recognize from an unsuccessful swing.

Rhenner's turn.
 
CWater
Rhenner touches his holy symbol and begins casting the summoning spell. With this many enemies, it would be good if a few of them could be distracted.

 
 Spoiler: Summon 
Summon Monster III, Celestial Hippogriff. Casting time is one round, so it will appear on his next turn.
 
Admiral
The two drow in front of the party focus their slashes on Natalia, as she had proven the most dangerous adversary so far.

 
 Spoiler 

D1 on Natalia
 (1d20+12)[ 26 ]   (1d20+12)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 14 ]   (2d6+6)[ 13 ] 
 (1d20+7)[ 26 ]   (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 12 ]   (2d6+6)[ 16 ] 

D2 on Natalia
 (1d20+12)[ 23 ]   (1d20+12)[ 24 ]  (crit range 17-20)
Damage:  (2d6+8)[ 14 ]   (2d6+8)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20+7)[ 8 ]   (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  (crit range 17-20)
Damage:  (2d6+8)[ 17 ]   (2d6+8)[ 16 ] 

28 damage total

More drow turn after this
 
Admiral
One of the guards behind them has a bow, but he cowers in the face of the light, unwilling to shoot into the fray. The same is true of the ones standing behind them, who stagger forward a few paces but do nothing else.

 "Vicina, I'm wounded!"  shouts the drow that Natalia had slashed into. The drow behind him, a female elf with long silver hair, reaches forward to touch him, healing most of his wounds. The party suddenly notices that her armor bears a familiar sigil of a spider.
Shiny first casts a quick spell towards the drow Natalia is facing, then reaches out his hand and twists it in midair. A burst of glittery dust falls onto the enemies.

 
 Spoiler 

Distract Assailant on D1:
SR check:  (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 
Will save:  (1d20+3)[ 7 ] 

Glitterdust (DC 16, 17 for D1 if failed DA):
D1 CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
D1 Will save:  (1d20+3)[ 5 ] 
D2 CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 16 ] 
D2 Will save:  (1d20+2)[ 22 ] 
D3 CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
D3 Will save:  (1d20+8)[ 17 ] 
D4 CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
D4 Will save:  (1d20+4)[ 17 ] 
 


The four combatants are cloaked in a shiny powder, though only the one Natalia is fighting seems to be fully blinded by it.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan presses his attack on the drow, hoping to diver their attention from Natalia on to him. Despite his focus on the guard in front of him, he is able to catch a glimpse of the female drow casting something,   Perhaps those lessons at the institute do have their uses.   he thinks to himself.
 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Full attack
Attack 1  (PA -4 +8) (1d20+10)[ 19 ]  (8 BAB +3 STR +1 Haste +1 bless +1 magic weapon -4 PA)
Crit confirmation   (1d20+13)[ 29 ] 
Damage  (2d6+13)[ 17 ]  Crit  (2d6+13)[ 18 ] 

Haste Attack   (PA -4 +8) (1d20+10)[ 27 ] 
Crit confirmation   (1d20+13)[ 19 ] 
Damage  (2d6+13)[ 22 ]  Crit  (2d6+13)[ 17 ] 

Attack 2  (PA -4 +8) (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
Crit confirmation   (1d20+8)[ 19 ] 
Damage  (2d6+13)[ 20 ]  Crit  (2d6+13)[ 19 ] 

Spellcraft  (1d20+9)[ 16 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia manages to dodge two of the slashes, but not the first and third, and she cries out in pain as the drow blindly slash into her side and legs.  "Rhenner, help me!"  she shouts even as she staggers forward and launches into a flurry of attacks, repeatedly cutting into the drow which the cleric--Vicina--behind him healed while sapping his health with the stored spell. Now seems as good a time as any to use it, especially if it'll save Rhenner one of his more powerful spells for later.

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
Natalia goes for D1, then if she finishes him takes a 5 foot step up and unloads any further attacks on D3

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 16 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 22 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 13 ]  plus Vampiric touch  (2d6)[ 9 ]  (if this attack misses, move vampiric touch to the next attack that hits)

Attack:  (d20+12)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 

Attack:  (d20+9)[ 12 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ] 
 


She fells the drow, then steps over his body, covering herself in more blood. She addresses the cleric before her.  "Vicina!"  she shouts in Undercommon--and by uttering her name, makes her more real, as if the sight and smell of blood wasn't enough.  "All of you; surrender or die!" 
CWater
Rhenner completes the summoning and an unusually graceful-looking hippogriff appears between the two pairs of drow. It immediately lunges at the one that is not wearing any visible armour, trying to catch him in its claws.

 
 Spoiler: Grapple 
Trying to grapple D5. Now let's see if I can do this right...
Touch attack to grab the target:  (1d20+11)[ 25 ] 

If successful, add this attack:
Damage:  (1d4+4)[ 8 ] 
 


Hearing Natalia's cry, the medic runs to her side and heals the rogue. Only then does he notice the spider sigil on the drow lady's armour.
 
 Spoiler 
Sound Burst to CMW: (2d8+8)[ 21 ] 
 
Admiral
As the hippogriff lunges at the unarmored drow, the drow responds with a fast jab to the underside of the creature's neck.

 
 Spoiler 

I never said he was a caster, now.

AoO (if successful, grapple fails):
Attack:  (1d20+10)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+4)[ 11 ] 

If the AoO fails, need a grapple check from Rhenner's hippogriff, opposed by:

Grapple check:  (1d20+10)[ 22 ] 

(Note that the hippogriff's damage roll wouldn't apply; that wouldn't happen until his next turn).
 
Athedia
Mithril took a step forward as a final knife shot forward aimed at the drow fighting with Natalia.  As the knife flew forward the rest of the cloud disappeared from around her.

 
 Spoiler 
5ft step to 25J and free action to release knife

Attack:  (1d20+12)[ 17 ] 
Crit:  (1d20+12)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+2)[ 7 ] 
 


Crossing her fingers Mithril cast out her powered orbs, grasping the empowering rod and letting the circlet do its work.  Hopefully it would penetrate the drows natural defense against such magic.  The orbs hurtled toward the cleric, she presented the most pressing danger.

 
 Spoiler 
MM against cleric

SR: (1d20+8)[ 10 ] 
Damage:  (4d4+4)[ 14 ]  * 1.5 = ?
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Natalia actually killed D1, so Mithril's attack could go against the cleric instead.
 


Mithril's knife bounces off the cleric's steel shield, and her spell cannot quite penetrate her natural defenses.

The cleric, her sight regained, lunges towards Natalia to cast a spell on her.

 
 Spoiler 

Touch attack:  (1d20+6)[ 20 ] 

If it hits, DC 17 Will save from Natalia.
 
Admiral
The unarmed drow unleashes a pair of kicks against Rhenner's summoned hippogriff.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack 1:  (1d20+9)[ 27 ]   (1d20+9)[ 10 ] 
Damage 1:  (1d8+4)[ 8 ]   (1d8+4)[ 8 ] 

Attack 2:  (1d20+9)[ 24 ]   (1d20+9)[ 18 ] 
Damage 2:  (1d8+4)[ 11 ]   (1d8+4)[ 6 ] 
 


His strikes, combined with his earlier jab, cause the summoned creature to vanish into air.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia almost dodges the cleric's attack. Almost.

But almost isn't good enough.

 
 Spoiler: Will save 
 (d20+5)[ 19 ]  Is Stephan in a +2 save to allies as a result of his feat stance? I can't remember--I rolled as if it is, but subtract 2 if it isn't.

Touch attack will save? Oh boy.

Oh, and I'm posting this now because I'm about to go.
EDIT: YAY! +2 to saves or not, I made it! I MADE IT!  
 
Admiral
With the hippogriff out of the way, one of the drow in back fires four arrows in quick succession towards Natalia.

 
 Spoiler 

In case you're wondering, he has Precise Shot so no cover from melee.

Attack 1:  (1d20+10)[ 17 ]   (1d20+10)[ 20 ] 
Arrow 1:  (1d8+2)[ 3 ]   (1d8+2)[ 4 ]   (1d8+2)[ 7 ] 
Arrow 2:  (1d8+2)[ 5 ] 

Attack 2:  (1d20+10)[ 28 ]   (1d20+10)[ 12 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]   (1d8+2)[ 6 ]   (1d8+2)[ 9 ] 

Attack 3:  (1d20+10)[ 13 ]   (1d20+10)[ 20 ]  (FYI, this attack was me screwing up the math on the number of attacks he had. Didn't actually happen).
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 3 ]   (1d8+2)[ 5 ]   (1d8+2)[ 9 ] 

Attack 4:  (1d20+5)[ 25 ]   (1d20+5)[ 8 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 3 ]   (1d8+2)[ 9 ]   (1d8+2)[ 5 ] 

One more action once this has happened.
 


A pair of arrows find their mark.
Admiral
The remaining drow, seeing the elf in front of him die and Stephan step forward, drops his bow to the ground and draws a greatsword from his side, leaning in to take a slash at the warrior.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+9)[ 18 ]   (1d20+9)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 13 ]   (2d6+6)[ 13 ] 
Miss on 1 from  blur :  (1d5)[ 5 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny runs forward and claps his hand on Natalia's back. The rogue turns invisible once again.

 
 Spoiler 

Hey, everyone already has haste, and Shiny's bag of tricks is limited if he's avoiding SR. He'll save his other 2 L4s for an emergency so make it count.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia cries out as two arrows ram into her. One runs through the top of her arm, but the other one skates across her ribs and is only millimeters away from possibly puncturing a lung. As she groans under the weight of whatever spell the cleric cast on her and manages to throw it off, she feels Shiny clap his hand on her back and watches herself vanish.

 "Thanks, Shiny! Sorry,"  she then says in Undercommon as her blades come down,  "But I warned you twice!" 
 
 Spoiler: Attack 
First the cleric (d3), then the Ranger (?) (d4) if there are any attacks left, then 5 foot step up regardless if d3 is down. They're flatfooted against me too.
Attack:  (d20+14)[ 29 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 16 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 13 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 29 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 9 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 28 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 15 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 
 


EDIT: Natalia steps over the body of the cleric and shouts,  "Mithril, I have scrolls in my bag! There's one to stop the two ahead; use it!" 
Admiral
The invisible Natalia scores three slashes against her foe- only with the third one does the cleric collapse.

 
 Spoiler 

D3 is down, though no attacks saved for D4.
 
Athedia
Mithril listened to Natalia's shout and quickly dug through the bag.  Pulling the scroll she had been looking for Mithril read the incantation on it hoping that it worked.  A patch of oily slick substance appeared under the feet of the furthest away drow and she smiled.

 
 Spoiler 
Grease (scroll) on D5 and D6
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
 Mithril listened to Natalia's shout and quickly dug through the bag.  Pulling the scroll she had been looking for Mithril read the incantation on it hoping that it worked.  A patch of oily slick substance appeared under the feet of the furthest away drow and she smiled.

 
 Spoiler 
Grease (scroll) on D5 and D6
 
 
 

The two drow try to avoid slipping on the new patch of grease.

 
 Spoiler 

D5:  (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
D6:  (1d20+9)[ 29 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Stephan grits his teeth at his latest injury oand continues his furious attacks, now also slightly embarrassed at being outclassed by the tiny girl next to him--who's begging for them to surrender as she strikes, no less!

 
 Spoiler: Attacks 
I'm not kidding, he told me that off-forum!

Does the magic weapon have any additional effects?
If Stephan is flanking with Natalia add +2 to his attack rolls please.

Power Attack -4/+8:  (d20+11)[ 21 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+13)[ 17 ] 
Crit damage:  (2d6+13)[ 19 ] 


Power Attack -4/+8:  (d20+11)[ 17 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+13)[ 23 ] 
Crit damage:  (2d6+13)[ 23 ] 


Power Attack -4/+8:  (d20+6)[ 24 ] 
Crit: [roll]d20+8[//roll]
Damage:  (2d6+13)[ 24 ] 
Crit damage:  (2d6+13)[ 24 ] 
 
Admiral
With three powerful strikes Stephan drops the drow in front of him.

The drow with the longbow fires four more arrows at the warrior.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack 1:  (1d20+10)[ 20 ]   (1d20+10)[ 11 ] 
Arrow 1:  (1d8+2)[ 6 ]   (1d8+2)[ 10 ]   (1d8+2)[ 6 ] 
Arrow 2:  (1d8+2)[ 10 ] 
Miss on 1 (covers both):  (1d5)[ 5 ] 

Attack 2:  (1d20+10)[ 13 ]   (1d20+10)[ 13 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 4 ]   (1d8+2)[ 3 ]   (1d8+2)[ 10 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 3 ] 

Attack 3:  (1d20+5)[ 9 ]   (1d20+5)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 7 ]   (1d8+2)[ 6 ]   (1d8+2)[ 4 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 2 ] 

Looks like 2 arrows for 16 damage.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan tries to use strike the arrows out from the air, but in fury he simply cannot focus enough to do so.
 
 Spoiler: Reaction 

Try to use  wall of blades  to parry the first attack, I'll write the description after knowing the result
Immediate Action: Wall of blades  (1d20+11)[ 15 ] 

Figures ¬¬
 
Admiral
The unarmed drow rushes forwards and drops into a dive towards the swordsman's legs. Stephan had seen this maneuver used by the monks of the prison before, to drop an unruly prisoner.

 
 Spoiler 

Trip attempt (Improved Trip, so no AoO). Touch attack:  (1d20+10)[ 27 ] 

If hits, Str check:  (1d20+4)[ 20 ]  opposed by Stephan's Str check.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan can't help but notice the Drow's eyes widening as he strikes empty air; the swordsman exploit the minute weakness in the Drow's stance and unleashes three rapid slashes at the same time he sizes up his enemy.

 
 Spoiler 

Non-action: Designate Monk (D6?) as dodge target (AC 19 vs. him) and since he missed when he attacked Stephan,  Pearl of Black Doubt  sends his AC to 21.
Full Attack
Attack 1 (PA -3/+6)  (1d20+12)[ 21 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+15)[ 30 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 18 ]  Crit Damage  (2d6+11)[ 17 ] 

Attack 2 (PA -3/+6)  (1d20+12)[ 30 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+15)[ 26 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 14 ]  Crit Damage  (2d6+11)[ 20 ] 

Attack 3 (PA -3/+6)  (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+10)[ 17 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 21 ]  Crit Damage  (2d6+11)[ 20 ] 
 
Admiral
Stephan's first swing lands solidly in his adversary's chest. His second slash cuts into the drow's neck, and as Stephan prepares his third swing he is surprised to see the wound burst with blood- it had landed far deeper then he had expected. The drow collapses and chokes out on the ground.

 
 Spoiler 
Surprise: the greatsword is Keen.

Will post later with what you can see ahead
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Stephan, calm down!"  Natalia shouts as the warrior fails to block the two arrows headed at him, and only dodges the monk's trip attempt as he slides through Stephan's blurred form.  "And you're not hurting anyone else!"  she shouts at the monk, preparing to swing her blades--but Stephan fells the drow in two savage attacks, one which bursts an artery and sprays the floor and wall with blood. She blinks and shudders briefly at the visual, then looks ahead at the one drow remaining and whatever may lie behind.

 
 Spoiler: Action(s) 
Natalia has Whiskers on her shoulder so she can see 120 feet in front of her. What does she see, and do you need a listen check too? This'll decide whether she runs straight forward and attacks whomever else is coming or gets a shot in against the archer instead of running the whole way.

Actually, can Natalia run to J14 and from there decide whether to keep charging or running or attack the drow archer, depending on what she sees?
 
Admiral
As the last of the drow fall the party can see the center of the prison ahead.

Stephan had explained that the prison was built as two perpendicular tunnels: the party is approaching down the tunnel from the guard's entrance, which puts the barracks ahead of them on the right. They can spot an open iron gate ahead that would appear to lead to the barracks. Past it they can see what the prisoners refer to as the Town Square: a small block with four locked gates leading out. Besides accessing the tunnel they were currently walking down, the Town Square allows access to Cell Block A and Cell Block B. Block B held the more dangerous prisoners (Stephan had been included within them), each confined one to a cell, while Block A shared three to a room. Down the fourth corridor lies the Arena. At the end of Block B lies the Shredder, a torture chamber saved for extracting information and punishing unruly inmates.

 
 Spoiler 

Mithril now has a wand that shatters locks if she wants to use it. (Boy I wonder why a guard be carrying that. Maybe he was planning a prison break, and y'all stepped on his toes).

More information about the prison:

Recall that prisoners in Block B have collars that do 2d6 shock damage on each attack, as well as requiring a Fort save or get dazed. The prisoners in Block A have less harmful collars that do only 1d6 shock damage, but then the prisoners are less tough (read: lower level).

There are three prisoners Stephan was hoping to check in on, all of them held in Block B. One is Orgun, the orc who helped him escape by tossing him out of the arena. Orgun is one of the very few prisoners who is even more dangerous than Stephan. Another is Rook, a Deepdwarf cleric of Moradin (who had kept his divine gifts secret from the guards) and who had cast protection spells on Stephan that let him survive his escape. The third is Zik, the crazed halfling who might hold the secrets to navigating the Crevice.

Remember they'll all be wearing collars, and only a magical key (whose location is kept a secret) can open them safely (unless Natalia can disable the traps and pick the lock).
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia swallows as she sees the cell blocks, and the prisoners within.  "Get the doors and weapons! I've got the collars! Find the key too?"  if the key is secured then it's got to be in the barracks, or on one of the drow.

As Natalia shouts this she runs forward and around the last drow archer to quickly stab him once.

How are the prisoners reacting to this?

 
 Spoiler 
Natalia runs so that Stephan can potentially flank with her against the last archer next turn. Can she also look and listen to see and hear if anyone else is coming out of the barracks?

Oh, all the drow get -1 to attack rolls in range of Whiskers's light.

Attack:  (d20+16)[ 34 ] 
Crit:  (d20+16)[ 31 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 16 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
 


EDIT:  "SURRENDER OR DIE!"  Natalia screams, hopefully loud enough for any drow left in the barracks to hear.
CWater
Rhenner casts one more spell to heal Stephan.  "I have only a few spells left for healing",  he warns,  "Though I suppose you don't intentionally throw yourselves at their weapons. But we should hurry, where's the prisoner we were looking for held?" 
CWater
 
 Spoiler: Right, the spell 
Searing Light to CSW:  (3d8+8)[ 17 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Mithril briefly considers running out and shattering the locks right now, but decides against it. Not while that archer is left. So instead she snatches up one or dropped weapons from nearby dead guards, then steps forward and casts another magic missile stored in her circlet, empowering it with the rod. Maybe this time it'll get past his defenses.

 
 Spoiler: I hope I did ok, Athedia  
Mithril grabs however many dropped weapons lying around can be grabbed in a move action (one or two?), then 5-foot steps and casts magic missile, saving it in her circlet again and using the empower rod. I figured Mithril wouldn't run out and start shattering locks while there was one archer still standing.

I hope I do a good job and treat Mithril with respect and don't get her killed.

Spell resistance:  (d20+8)[ 16 ]  damn, not enough is it.
Damage:  (4d4+4)[ 15 ]  x1.5 22 damage if it is.
 
Admiral
Mithril's spells are again frustrated by the drow's natural resistance.

Feeling the slash of Natalia's blades against his back, the archer takes a step forward and fires more arrows at his adversary.

 
 Spoiler 

Steps out of range of Natalia's AoO before shooting.

Attack 1:  (1d20+10)[ 23 ]   (1d20+10)[ 11 ] 
Arrow 1:  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]   (1d8+2)[ 4 ]   (1d8+2)[ 3 ] 
Arrow 2:  (1d8+2)[ 9 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 3 ] 

Attack 2:  (1d20+10)[ 19 ]   (1d20+10)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 4 ]   (1d8+2)[ 7 ]   (1d8+2)[ 9 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 1 ] 

Attack 3:  (1d20+5)[ 12 ]   (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 7 ]   (1d8+2)[ 7 ]   (1d8+2)[ 10 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 2 ] 
 


Natalia hears the sound of footsteps behind her, and two drow emerge from the barracks door, both of them unarmed but looking ready for a fight. The first runs straight into the invisible Natalia as he approaches the battle.

 
 Spoiler 

Natalia gets an AoO on D1 (yes, we're starting the drow-numbering over again).

Anyone can make a Listen check to hear what else is going on in the prison.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia reflexively lashes out as the guard runs into her. More?! Please surrender! Please just stop!

 
 Spoiler: AoO and listen check  
okay this is starting to get nuts.

Don't forget that d1 and d2 are now blinded!

Attack:  (d20+16)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+16)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ]  dammit.
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 
Listen check: Take 10 for 22.
 
Admiral
Shiny casts an enchantment on the injured archer, trying to get on his good side.

 
 Spoiler 

Shiny missed his last action; this is *before* the new drow came out.

CL check:  (1d20+8)[ 16 ] 
Will save (with +5+2):  (1d20+10)[ 17 ] 
 


He cannot overcome the drow's natural resistance to magic.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Stephan, calm down!"  Natalia shouts as she strikes out at the two drow that just appeared.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Natalia attacks d1 and d2 if she downs d1 before exhausting her attacks.

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 31 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 32 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 


Attack:  (d20+14)[ 26 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 34 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 8 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 30 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 21 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 15 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 11 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 
 
Admiral
In a pair of brutal slashes Natalia manages to fell the drow she'd already wounded, and with a quick step and another attack she just barely manages to drops the other.

 
 Spoiler 

Since they're blinded (+she's invisible) all four attacks hit, D1 and D2 dead.
 
Admiral
Shiny tries again to gain influence over the remaining guard's mind.

 
 Spoiler 

CL:  (1d20+8)[ 23 ] 
Will:  (1d20+10)[ 18 ] 

So close. At least since it got through his SR he has -2 to Attack and AC for the round.
 


The drow resists his attempt, though he does seem distracted by the spell.
CoffeeIncluded
Mithril listens for more guards as she tries to decide what to do next.

She then runs past, trusting whiskers's light to shield her ad she runs towards the cells, placing a finger over her lips to hush the prisoners as they approach.

 
 Spoiler: Listen check  
 (d20+3)[ 11 ] 

What can she see as she runs past the open barracks door? Her next action depends on that.
 
CWater
Rhenner follows Mithril when she darts towards the cells. On the way, he throws a glance at the barracks to see if there are any more guards or anything else noteworthy.

 
 Spoiler 
Move action to move 60 ft. towards the cells. He might stop at the door to the barracks if there is something particular. I'll decide his other actions once I know what he sees.
 
Admiral
As Mithril passes the barracks door, she glances in and sees a set of tables and some clothing racks, mostly empty, along the walls. Two more soldiers are moving towards the door, both unarmed and with clenched fists, and in the back she sees one who is still getting his boots on, with a sword sheathed on his back. From appearances he had just woken up.

At the back of the barracks she sees a heavy iron gate, behind which stands a drow carrying a bow and arrow, now armed.
CoffeeIncluded
 "There's four more in the barracks! Two unarmed, one with a sword, and an archer behind a gate!"  Mithril shouts as she runs towards the cells, confident that the daylight spell she cast will hide her. She mentally taps the gate blocking off the town square with the wand (though she stays behind Natalia, as far away from the approaching guards as possible) and winces as it shatters with an ear-ringing noise.

That gate in the barracks must be where the armory is.

 
 Spoiler: Action 
Mithril casts Shatter on the lock to the gate barring off the town square.
 
CWater
The cleric casts one more healing spell when he passes Stephan.

  It's been a while since I last used this many spells in a day.. Travelling with other people again does that, I guess.  
 
 Spoiler: Healing 
Recitation to CCW:  (4d8+8)[ 17 ] 
 
Admiral
The two monks approach the door, but when they are in range of Natalia's daylight they stumble back a bit, eyes blinking as they adjust to the light.

 
 Spoiler 

It's not that clear how "Daylight around a corner" works, but I'm calling it such that D1 and D2 currently in range of Daylight but weren't before. There's some extent to which Daylight can surely bounce off walls, though not to a full extent. They're hanging there until they can see anything.

From her current position Natalia can't see the rest of the barracks (she was just peeking).
 


The remaining guard drops his bow after Stephan charges, drawing a greatsword instead, and takes a swing at the swordsman.

 
 Spoiler 

If you're curious, he didn't get an AoO on Shiny or Mithril when they ran by because he wasn't at the time holding a melee weapon.

Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 20 ]   (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+4)[ 9 ]   (2d6+4)[ 10 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 4 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Mithril sidles over to the cells and uses the wand again to shatter the lock on cell block B, asking in a low voice if she can,   "Stephan's with us. Where are Orgun, Rook, and Zik?"  

Natalia, for her part, steps into the barracks and lays out four swift brutal strikes against the first blinded drow she sees. Just before, she shouts once more in undercommon, still invisible and carrying the light with her,  "Surrender or die!"  hopefully the drow getting his boots on will listen.

 
 Spoiler: attack  
Natalia takes a 5-foot step and full attacks d3. Mithril goes up and shatters the lock to cell block b.

How long is Natalia invisible/hasted? And they're both blind and flatfooted and lost 2 ac, right?

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 23 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 33 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 9 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 16 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 17 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 17 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 30 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 7 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ] 

Attack:  (d20+11)[ 18 ] 
Crit:  (d20+11)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 23 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 

I don't know when I'll be on tonight. Probably shouldn't.
 
Dusk Eclipse
  "This is getting old"   Stephan thinks to himself as he attacks the drow in front of him.
 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Full Attack D6

Attack (PA -3/+6)  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 27 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 17 ]  Crit  (2d6+11)[ 23 ] 

Attack (PA -3/+6)  (1d20+10)[ 14 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 19 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 20 ]  Crit  (2d6+11)[ 14 ] 

Attack (PA -3/+6)  (1d20+5)[ 18 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 18 ]  Crit  (2d6+11)[ 21 ] 
 


Only to have the enchanted blade run through him,  "I'll give you that, you know how to make swords"  he comments dryly as he starts running to catch up with Natalia, only to stop in front of two more guards. &lt;UC&gt; "Hello fellas, nice night isn't it?"  &lt;/UC&gt;

 
 Spoiler 

Move to (M,16), I don't suppose we could retroactively let Stephan refresh his maneuvers could we? (It takes an attack action+swift and not using maneuvers that turn).
 
Admiral
Mithril shatters the second lock with her wand. As she steps through the gate to approach the door, an arrow flies out of the corridor to her right, fired by a waiting drow.

 
 Spoiler 

This is why wizards don't run ahead. While you didn't specify this, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and say that with a Reflex save DC 15 she can peek around the corner and jump back when she sees the archer. Otherwise will roll for the shot.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Mithril tries to stop in her tracks and jump back when she sees the drow in the darkness.

 
 Spoiler: Reflex save 
okay, good point. I'm sorry, Athedia.

Reflex:  (d20+8)[ 24 ] 
 


She tumbles back on her heels and successfully evades, shouting,  "There's another archer opposite the cell block!" 
Admiral
Mithril peeks around the corner of the open gate and just barely manages to pull back when she sees an archer standing guard.

Now that Natalia has taken the light into the barracks, Shiny waves his arm and casts a spell to conjure a set of four lights to illuminate the hallway Mithril is standing in. Afterwards he steps forward to see into the room of the barracks.

 
 Spoiler 

Really should have generated those lights before Mithril's action or she couldn't have seen anything.

If anyone's wondering, Rhenner is still invisible.
 


As Stephan rounds the corner he sees the two corpses Natalia had dropped, and one archer behind the gate that leads to the armory, but he barely notices him when he sees who is standing between him and the armory. The muscular drow stands up slowly, scowling in the face of the light, and Stephan recognizes him as Ilgarn- the chief of the guards and battlemaster of the arena. Ilgarn was the one who'd captured both Stephan and Olgun, and never missed a chance since then to torment his prisoners. Having apparently been on a break, he isn't wearing his usual heavy armor, merely a simple cloth tunic. This puts him on equal ground with the warrior standing across from him, and indeed for a moment Stephan feels exactly like he is back in the arena.

 
 Spoiler 

Rhenner should either go or pass his action before the drow have their turn. Stephan could use even more healing before this fight, even if it's just a CLW.

If I were Natalia, maybe I'd let Stephan have the first crack at the big one. Shiny will magick open the gate so she'll have a crack at the archer in the armory.
 
CWater
Rhenner follows the warriors to the barracks to cast a protective spell on Stephan. A shimmering energy field appears to surround him.  "I have very little healing left, so I hope that will help prevent you from getting more wounds." 
 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Casting Shield of Faith, +3 to AC. Unless Dusk says he doesn't want it, then he'll just heal.

Sorry, I'd have put more words to this post, but I'm in a hurry. I might edit it later.
 
Admiral
Ilgard squints as the sight returns to his eyes, then opens them and recognizes the warrior before him. With a low growl, he rushes forward, drawing his greatsword from the scabbard on his back, and unleashes a powerful swing.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+11)[ 15 ]   (1d20+13)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+12)[ 20 ]   (3d6+12)[ 23 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 5 ] 
 


The archer behind the fence, seeing the gnome come into view, fires a pair of arrows at him.

 
 Spoiler 

On Shiny:
Attack 1:  (1d20+10)[ 12 ]   (1d20+10)[ 16 ] 
Arrow 1:  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]   (1d8+2)[ 7 ]   (1d8+2)[ 9 ] 
Arrow 2:  (1d8+2)[ 8 ] 

Attack 2:  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]   (1d20+5)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 5 ]   (1d8+2)[ 9 ]   (1d8+2)[ 8 ] 
 


The first two arrows miss, but the third lodges itself in the gnome's stomach.
Admiral
Groaning in pain as he resists the arrow's poison, Shiny waves his hand towards the archer and grunts out a few arcane syllables. The door to the cage opens.

 "Natalia... get him..." 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Groaning in pain as he resists the arrow's poison, Shiny waves his hand towards the archer and grunts out a few arcane syllables. The door to the cage opens.

 "Natalia... get him..."  
 

Natalia looks back at Shiny and nods, though he can't see it. But he can hear her running towards the drow, can her hear her shout,  "I warned you!"  She runs forward, grabs the gate and swings around it, uses the momentum to drive her bade into the drow's stomach.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Hope this hits!

Attack:  (d20+16)[ 32 ] 
Crit:  (d20+16)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 8 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 6 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Ilgard!"  Stephan spats as he dodges his former tormentor attacks.  "It seems you are loosing your touch"  he nimbly avoids the follow up slash  "Tell me, how does it feels to fight on even terms, no having your full squad of squires to take two persons" 
 
 Spoiler: Actions/Note to CWater 

Non-Action: Designate Ildgard as dodge target (AC 22 vs. him)
Non-Action#2: Stephan's AC increases to 24 vs. Ilgard due Pearl of Black Doubt
Full Attack
Attack 1(PA -3/+6)  (1d20+10)[ 15 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 18 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 19 ]  Crit damage  (2d6+11)[ 17 ] 

Attack 1(PA -3/+6)  (1d20+10)[ 22 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+13)[ 31 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 19 ]  Crit damage  (2d6+11)[ 21 ] 

Attack 1(PA -3/+6)  (1d20+5)[ 21 ] 
Crit confirmation  (1d20+8)[ 27 ] 
Damage  (2d6+11)[ 17 ]  Crit damage  (2d6+11)[ 21 ] 

If this attacks drop Ilgard, Stephan takes an 5 ft. step towards the right (N,16)
Also the description of PoBD mentions that it works by preying on your opponents’ fear and lack of confidence. Each failed attack against Stephan reminds them that their skill cannot hope to match his. I know Ilgard only made one attack, but I thought having Stephan dodge more than one attack works better for the Narrative.

@Cwater: I'll take that Shield of Faith Spell, 21 AC  Why wouldn't I want it 😛, besides if I did my math right Stephan is currently at 60/69 HP so further healing is not needed... for now at least.

Thank you.
 
Admiral
The first of Stephan's attack seems to bounce off the battlemaster's skin, but the second and third land solidly.

 
 Spoiler 

Not yet bloodied.

Rhenner and Mithril's turns.
 
Athedia
Mithril ran over to Shiny and laying one hand on her belt and the other on the top of his head she attempted to heal some of the arrows damage.

 
 Spoiler 
Belt of Healing
Health:  (2d6)[ 7 ] 
 
CWater
 "Yes, let's switch roles for a moment",  Rhenner says and snatches the wand from Mithril who is busy healing Shiny. He heads to the Square ahead and from there to the corridor with B cells, trusting the gnome's spell to keep him hidden. When he reaches the cells he looks around for the people Stephan had described.

 
 Spoiler 
Does he see them? I think both locks on the way were already broken, but correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Admiral
As Rhenner passes into the main square, he has to push open the cell door. He hears a few Undercommon words to his right, and then a pair of arrows being loosed.

 
 Spoiler 

Naturally opening a door alerts people that someone's there, and the drow had a readied action.

Attack 1:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ]   (1d20+7)[ 24 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+3)[ 6 ]   (1d8+2)[ 3 ]   (1d8+3)[ 6 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 

Attack 2:  (1d20+7)[ 12 ]   (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+3)[ 11 ]   (1d8+2)[ 10 ]   (1d8+3)[ 5 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 

Roll DC 13 Fort save for each one that hits, please.

Let me know if Rhenner understands Undercommon or has Tongues active; I don't believe either is the case. Others can't hear the words.

ETA: Silly me, I had forgotten that you can only ready a standard action, not a full action like a Rapid Shot. As it is we'll say he had a drow-only feat that allowed him to prep a full round action.
 


One arrow passes uncomfortably close to the cleric, but the archer had guessed incorrectly as to his position. The drow overcompensates for his next shot, and Rhenner is able to get through the second gate safely. The half-elf starts moving down the tunnel. Ahead of him on the right he sees the first cell built into the stonework. A muscular, collared orc stands close to the bars, leaning to take a look out.

 
 Spoiler 

Since he had to open two doors on the way I'll say that (even with haste) he can just make it to the location on the map. The cell is twenty feet in front of him.
 
CWater
One of the arrows flies right at Rhenner, but thanks to good reflexes he's able to dodge it. He mouths a soundless prayer of thanks to Fharlanghn.   Right, better not to act careless even if they can't see me. That kind of arrogance could end badly.  
 
 Spoiler 
Moving the morningstar's +1 enchantment to AC. Dodge against one of the drow, you can decide which, I can't see the map atm.  Can he get through the other door on this turn? 

Swordsage'd me!
 
Admiral
  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;How long has he been in the Shredder?&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  
  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Five days, sir.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  
 Stephan feels his hair pulled back as Ilgarn examines him. The room is pitch black but he can feel the battlemaster's warm breath. He isn't in pain, not exactly- after the first two days hanging by his wrists he had gone almost entirely numb, though he still had enough of his senses about him to feel hate. 
  "They tell me you still refuse to fight. I wonder, where was this reluctance when you killed six of my men? No matter- if it takes ten days or ten years, you will find yourself in my arena."  
 Stephan feels a crushing blow in his belly as Ilgarn's gauntlet pummels into it. He barely hears the drow's footsteps and words over the ringing in his ears and his own choking. 
  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;In two days he'll start to turn orange as his liver fails.&lt;./Undercommon&gt;"   A brief pause.   "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Wait until the day after that to have him healed.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  

--------------

Ilgarn's eyes widen as his first attempt misses and he is met with a pair of retaliatory attacks, but in moments he has recovered. He steps into a new pose and takes three swings at Stephan, aiming them with less strength and more precision.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+14)[ 18 ]   (1d20+16)[ 23 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+8)[ 23 ]   (2d6+8)[ 13 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 5 ] 
 (1d20+9)[ 14 ]   (1d20+11)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+8)[ 16 ]   (2d6+8)[ 15 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 3 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 24 ]   (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (3d6+8)[ 16 ]   (2d6+8)[ 14 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d5)[ 1 ] 

Oooh, sucks to be Ilgarn.

Forgot to mention his sword is on fire.
 


The battlemaster is clearly a skilled and experienced swordsman, and his flaming sword strikes a fearsome arc with each swing. But Stephan's taunts seem to have hit the mark- it has been a long time since he has fought on his own, like the gladiators he sends into battle.
Admiral
The drow in the armory jumps back from Natalia's sudden attack. Dropping his bow, he draws a longsword and short sword from the rack next to him and swings the longsword at the invisible rogue.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+10)[ 27 ]   (1d20+10)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+3)[ 5 ]   (1d8+3)[ 8 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 

Since it hit, DC 13 Fort save, please.
 
Dusk Eclipse
&lt;UC&gt; "You still don't get it do you?" &lt;/UC&gt; Stephan continues to dodge, block and parry the Drow Batlemaster's attack.  
 Spoiler 

Full Attack:
Attack (PA -4/+8)  (1d20+9)[ 14 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+12)[ 21 ] 
Damage [rolll]2d6+13[/roll] Crit  (2d6+13)[ 25 ] 

Attack (PA -4/+8)  (1d20+9)[ 13 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+12)[ 18 ] 
Damage [rolll]2d6+13[/roll] Crit  (2d6+13)[ 16 ] 

Attack (PA -4/+8)  (1d20+4)[ 8 ] 
Crit Confirmation  (1d20+7)[ 19 ] 
Damage [rolll]2d6+13[/roll] Crit  (2d6+13)[ 17 ] 
 

But the old memories brought up by his appearance dull his mind and his blade, allowing  Illgard a brief moment of respite.
CWater
Rhenner walks further down the tunnel, to see the inmates of the other cells.
Admiral
Rhenner gets a better look at the first cell: it's nearly bare, with just a straw mattress and a crude toilet.

The next cell, fifteen feet ahead on the left, holds a drow, who is sitting against the wall with his eyes closed and seems to be listening intently. The cell after that holds what looks like a dwarf, but with sunken and harsher features. Based on what he'd heard during his time at Deldon Rhenner suspects it is probably a deepdwarf.

 
 Spoiler 

These three cells are the only ones Rhenner can see based on the light from Shiny's spell. Shiny may join Rhenner soon; it depends how the battle goes.

Listen and Spot checks from Rhenner, please.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shouts in pain as the sword cuts through her, then groans at a sudden weariness that seizes her.

 
 Spoiler: Fort save 
i took an antitoxin so...

 (d20+11)[ 22 ] 

Yay!
 
CWater
 
 Spoiler: Skill checks 
Spot:  (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
Listen:  (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 

So he can't see into the cells in the dim illumination? You said that reached as far as 80 ft. for one with low-light vision.

Oh and no, Rhenner doesn't speak Undercommon, only Elven and Celestial. And he doesn't have Tongues.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia snarls as she strikes, cutting up into his sternum and lashing out at his neck.

 
 Spoiler: attacks  

Attack:  (d20+14)[ 29 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 33 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 


Attack:  (d20+14)[ 18 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 28 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 12 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ] 


Attack:  (d20+14)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 17 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ] 


Attack:  (d20+11)[ 27 ] 
Crit:  (d20+14)[ 22 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
 
Admiral
Rhenner hears some whispers down the corridor, followed by a few curt shouts. While he doesn't understand the language, it's not hard to guess that the latter voice belonged to guard quieting the inmates.

 
 Spoiler 

Forgot to mention: Stephan would have told you the locations of the prisoners you're interested in. Orgun is in the sixth cell, Rook is in the eighth, and Zik is in the tenth (Stephan's old cell was the seventh). There are 15 down this hall total, followed by the Shredder chamber.
 


Natalia's first and third slash slash through the drow's armor, and he collapses in a pool of blood.

With the drow dead, Natalia can see the armory a bit better. Along the walls sit racks of weapons and armor, which seem to be divided into those some meant for gladiator battles and some belonging to the prison guards. She even spots a few wooden swords similar to the ones she's used in the Soshima tournament. On the left wall she sees a small slot blocked by a heavy iron mechanism: presumably the slot is used to pass weapons to the gladiators. In the wall at the back of the cage she sees a heavy iron door with a complex-looking lock.

Shiny steps forward to clap his hand on Stephan.  "Think you could use a bit more help."  The already-blurry warrior seems to phase out of his own body, until he looks to be standing a few feet from where he had just been.

 
 Spoiler 

 Displacement  on Stephan. Admittedly it renders  blur  temporarily redundant but I think he could use it in this battle.

Mithril's turn.
 
CWater
Rhenner stops next to the dwarf's cell and looks around. What now? While his eyesight is not bad, he can't see further without bringing in more light, but that would be the same as shouting where he was. They could all use a diversion... but some of these prisoners might be here for a good reason.. Would releasing them be wise? He ponders this for a few passing moment.

  Well...  , he thinks, throwing a quick glance upwards,   In a way all prisons are an abomination to you, Lord of Roads and Travels, are they not? Guess I'll put my faith in your teachings.  

He points the wand at the lock on the deepdwarf's door, shattering it to pieces.
Athedia
Mithril pulled out the second grease scroll and cast it under the feet of the drow Stephan was fighting.  She was sure the man could handle it, but a little help could not go wrong.

  
 Spoiler 
Grease on N16 and O16
 
Admiral
The drow tries to balance on the oil as it appears under him.

 
 Spoiler 

Reflex:  (1d20+6)[ 24 ] 
 


He manages to react and stay upright.

---------

The deepdwarf's eyes widen as the lock to his cell shatters. He steps forward cautiously to peek each way down the corridor. He whispers a short question in Undercommon, then repeats it in what sounds like Dwarven.
Admiral
 Stephen feels the accursed collar get removed from his neck, then his hands, still behind his back, uncuffed. Once the window behind him has slammed shut he kneels down and picks up his the two dragonsplits they had left for him; poor substitutes for his own." 
 The crowd cheers as Stephan steps out into the arena, eager for blood. His body feels stiff with wounds freshly healed, the remnants of the last few rounds of the tournament. Behind the gate to his right he sees Ilgarn grin his sadistic grin, and he immediately knows why. Across from him stands Orgun, the only true friend he'd made in the Underdark- seven feet and three hundred pounds of war incarnate. Ilgarn's favorite activity was to place two friends in a match to the death, and now he and Orgun were here, only one permitted to leave the arena alive. 
 Just what they'd counted on. 
 Stephan charges at Orgun, in the last moment stepping up onto the orc's waiting palms, and leaps. 

--------

Scowling as the grease is conjured beneath his feet, Ilgarn tries to gain enough balance to step to his right.

 
 Spoiler 

The rules aren't 100% clear to me so I'm ruling a compromise: Ilgarn does have to roll a balance check to take a five foot step, but once he does it still counts as a five-foot step and he can full attack.

Balance:  (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
If failure, Reflex:  (1d20+6)[ 22 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks back from the lock to see Stephan locked in battle with a drow. He looks to be the toughest and strongest so far, and that look of hatred on Stephan's face...this is clearly personal for their newest ally.

It would be sporting to leave them to their duel. But Natalia doesn't fight fair. And Stephan's hurt. And she's not going to abandon him.

Natalia runs to a flanking position, grabs the guard by the back of his shirt, yanks him slightly backwards, and drives her blade into his back.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Natalia is flanking.

Attack:  (d20+18)[ 27 ] 
Crit:  (d20+18)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 14 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
 


A stab to the kidneys will ruin anyone's day, and Natalia's sword is buried several inches deep.

 "You've hurt enough people!"  Natalia shouts as she pulls the blade free, worsening the damage.  "Stephan! Calm down, you're blinding yourself!" 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan tries to parry the savage strike from his former tormenter, but blinded by rage and grief Stephan can only offer a flimsy defence which Illgard simply smashes through, delivering a brutal wound to the human swordsman's torse, recoiling from the blow he can't avoid the follow up strike which leaves yet another wound. With Strength borne of panic Stephan manages to parry Illgard's last few attacks. Stephan knows he is on his last leg, he should cut his looses and run... but he can't.... he can't let him win once more... these monstrous Drow has already taken  her ... he won't give him the satisfaction of seeing him flee.   To wield a blade is to walk with death   his breathing slows...   To wield a blade is to walk with death   he tighens the grip on the drow-blade   To wield a blade is to walk with death   Stephan strikes.

 
 Spoiler 

Full Attack
Attack (PA -4/+8)  (1d20+11)[ 23 ] 
Crit confirm  (1d20+14)[ 23 ] 
Damage  (2d6+13)[ 20 ]  Crit  (2d6+13)[ 20 ] 

Attack (PA -4/+8)  (1d20+11)[ 13 ] 
Crit confirm  (1d20+14)[ 23 ] 
Damage  (2d6+13)[ 20 ]  Crit  (2d6+13)[ 21 ] 

Attack (PA -4/+8)  (1d20+6)[ 25 ] 
Crit confirm  (1d20+9)[ 16 ] 
Damage  (2d6+13)[ 20 ]  Crit  (2d6+13)[ 22 ] 
 
Admiral
The swordmaster's first blow lands deep in Ilgard's belly, staining his tunic red with blood, but he still remains standing. The second is fast but the drow is able to parry, and Stephan knows he has only one more chance. He feints a side slash and then lands the blade in the center of the drow's chest. Ilgard chokes deeply, and then collapses onto Stephan's blade.

Behind Stephan, Shiny breathes a sigh of relief, then casts a spell turning himself invisible. Moments later they hear his footsteps as he disappears down the corridor.

Rhenner sees the lights that were in the center of the prison move fifty feet towards him, bringing them close to his position and more clearly illuminating the drow and other cells.

 
 Spoiler 

Spot check from Natalia, Mithril and Stephan.

Rhenner still has his turn (as does Mithril). Rhenner can decide to head back to the group, can keep breaking locks, or both. If someone wants to shout that they need Rhenner to return they may, perhaps choosing their language strategically.
 
CoffeeIncluded
As the big drow falls Natalia looks up at Stephan, then around.  "You okay?" 
 
 Spoiler: Spot 
 (d20+12)[ 31 ] 

I'll respond tomorrow; stayed up late enough as it is. CWater, could you wait until then please, depending on what it is? Night!
 
Admiral
As the drow falls in front of Natalia, she spots something hanging around his neck under the tunic.

 
 Spoiler 

Good spotting.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 As the drow falls in front of Natalia, she spots something hanging around his neck under the tunic.

 
 Spoiler 

Good spotting.
 
 
 

Natalia looks down at the string hanging around his neck...and what it might lead to.  "Stephan, Mithril, look at his neck!" 
 
 Spoiler: One last question 
Can she grab it this round? If so she does.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan dislodges Illgard's corpse from his blade and with a simple twist he flicks some of the blood from it. It wasn't perfect and he would need to clean the blade more thoroughly but he doesn't have the time right now. He turn his head towards the remaining drows. &lt;UC&gt;  "If I did this to him, imagine what I can do to you"  there is no threat in his voice, but a promise as he coldly scans the room, his eyes only stopping for a moment where he suspects Natalia is standing, he gives her slight nod.

 
 Spoiler 

Spot  (1d20+10)[ 15 ] 
 


Edit: Stephan turns his head down at Natalia's comment, seeing the key. He steps over his former jailer's body to protect the key from any drow that might have any ideas.
 
 Spoiler 

5 ft. step to N16/15 as I'm not sure which D was supposed to be Illgard.
 
Athedia
Mithril quickly ran behind Stephan and crouching at his back for the little cover he provided she reached up and touched his arm. She whispered low enough for him to hear her but so the drow in the prison would not.  "This will take the edge off.  Sorry I can't do much more." 
 
 Spoiler 
Belt of Healing
 (2d6)[ 8 ] 
 
CWater
Oblivious to the dire battle that just took place in the barracks, Rhenner is relieved to see the lights move closer, and now he can notice the approaching guards too. Monks, judging by the appearances. He points the wand back in the direction from where he came and shatters the lock on the drow's cell door. The orc looked like he could cause more havoc, but the cleric doesn't feel like running back, so the elf has to do. Hopefully he can do more than just listen.   I pray to You Fharlanghn, that I haven't let loose anything that will be a bigger danger to us.  

He takes a few steps forward, trying to see if Orgun, Rook and Zik are in their designated cells.

 
 Spoiler 
If he is close enough and there is light to see any of them yet. I'll mark his new position on the map once I know where the new guards are. If they walk past him, he'll try to stay as close to the wall as possible to avoid running into them.
 
Admiral
Rhenner approaches the two guards after shattering the locks.

 
 Spoiler 

Listen checks
D9:  (1d20+5)[ 20 ] 
D10:  (1d20+6)[ 11 ] 

Please note that the map's been adjusted a bit. Just realized it made prison-design sense for all cells to be on the same side (make it harder to communicate).
 


One of the guards shouts to the prisoners as he sees the locks breaking, then both start moving towards Rhenner, arms outstretched and ready. The cleric presses against the wall to avoid them.

 
 Spoiler 

Right now they're looking for someone invisible (they heard the spell and some movement), so Rhenner has to make an Escape Artist check to avoid them.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Whiskers, don't follow me until I turn visible,"  Natalia whispers to Mithril's familiar as she feels Shiny's haste spell wear off and realizes that invisibility is next. But she's invisible right now. Then she runs forward, draws her bow, ducks through the gate, and fires an arrow at the guard standing behind it.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
attack:  (d20+15)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+15)[ 35 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 6 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 11 ] 
Crit damage:  (d8)[ 7 ]   (d8)[ 8 ] 
 
Admiral
Rhenner hears the guards speak harshly to the deepdwarf prisoner whose lock has been shattered- it sounds like they're warning him to stay in his cell. The prisoner responds calmly: for now it seems like he's complying, though the guards appear scared. Rhenner hears a few sentences from the drow prisoner further down the hall, and the guards seem to be splitting their attention.
CWater
Rhenner stays quiet and pressed to the wall until the guards have passed him. He glances ahead, but can't see very far from where he stands. He looks back to where he came, but doesn't see anyone else than the two guards and the archer farther away. Still, the lights moved jus a moment ago.. So Shiny might be at least close enough to hear him. Deducing that the guards are going to figure out that they passed him soon enough anyway, Rhenner shouts:  [Celestial]"Any chance of getting more light in here?"[/Celestial] 

Without staying to wait for a response however, he heads deeper into the tunnel, squinting his eys in the dark.

 
 Spoiler 
Move Silently:  (1d20-1)[ 10 ] 
He'll shatter one more lock, which, depends again on what he sees when he gets closer.
 
Admiral
Hearing Rhenner's request, Shiny moves the light forward. Afterwards a gnome's voice issues from forty feet into the tunnel.

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Prisoners: The battlemaster and his soldiers are dead. The armory is yours for the taking.&lt;/Undercommon&gt;" 
 
 Spoiler 

Cast Ventriloquism. Drow will saves to notice the voice is an illusion:

D9:  (1d20+6)[ 7 ] 
D10:  (1d20+7)[ 22 ] 

Rhenner can speak (briefly) out of turn since it's a free action, so we can say Shiny went before him and used his turn on this and Rhenner can unlock something.
 


Shiny's lights move forty feet further into the tunnel, illuminating a few more cells, and Rhenner steps forward. After the hobgoblin in the fourth cell, he sees another drow in the fifth cell. Upon approaching the sixth cell he realizes it is empty.

 
 Spoiler 

Can shatter cell 4 or cell 5 (or 6 I suppose).
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan bends down and rips the key from Illgard's still cooling corpse &lt;UC&gt; "I think it is time that I take what it's mine" &lt;/UC&gt;. He turns towards Mithril  "Thank you."  and moves towards the armoury.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
 Stephan bends down and rips the key from Illgard's still cooling corpse &lt;UC&gt; "I think it is time that I take what it's mine" &lt;/UC&gt;. He turns towards Mithril  "Thank you."  and moves towards the armoury. 
 

Stephan sees that the key around Stephan's neck, made of gleaming steel, is of a more complex shape than the kind he'd seen used on cell doors and other gates around the prison, though it does not quite resemble the magical key used to open the prisoner's collars.

He glances around the armory and the various guard and arena weapons within it, but doesn't yet see his own armor or blades. He does notice that the lock on the iron door at the back of the armory is made of a similar steel to the key he holds.

 
 Spoiler 
He can reach the armory and look around this turn, will wait until next turn if he wants to try opening the door.
 
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan gives the place a quick glance, he knows there are some quality weapon in there, but he doesn't care about them; he stares curiously at the more complex lock, it does matches the key so he supposes he should try the key, but just as he is about to put the key into the lock, he remembers who built this. He carefully presses his ear to the iron door and listens.

 
 Spoiler 

I think you meant Illgard's neck.  😛

Listen through the door  (1d20+10)[ 13 ] 
Spot  (1d20+10)[ 19 ] 
Search (1d20+8)[ 23 ]  (nothing in particular, just to see if something catches his attention)
 
Admiral
Rhenner glances between the two cells, and decides to free the hobgoblin first. He points the wand at the lock and it shatters.

 
 Spoiler 

Playing as CWater suggested; guessing his preference based on the fact he earlier freed the deepdwarf rather than the drow.

Just Mithril's turn remaining. I think she's still standing in or right outside the barracks. If she has a spell prepared that can generate light, Stephan's about to need some since Whiskers is running off. He can also use Ilgarn's flaming greatsword but that sheds only dim illumination.
 
Admiral
The guards turn and shout towards the cell they hear opening.  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Korg!&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  one shouts.  "You too, you stay right in your cell or I  swear  you'll never leave the Shredder."  They seem inclined to run down the corridor towards him, but hesitate and stay to keep guard over the open doors.

The drow Natalia had shot fires back at where his assailant had seemed to be.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+11)[ 17 ]   (1d20+11)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 3 ]   (1d8+2)[ 10 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 22 ]   (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]   (1d8+8)[ 13 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 

Any that hit, DC 13 Fort save.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grits her teeth--she's not sure whether or not that arrow hit in the adrenaline of the moment. Quickly she fires two more arrows in his direction.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
not sure if that hit or not, especially since if whiskers ran forward after her attack and blinded the drow like he asked then the drow would get -2 to his attacks (and ac too). But just in case:  (d20+11)[ 12 ] 

****. I'm pretty sure it missed though because of him being blinded.

Attack:  (d20+13)[ 33 ] 
Crit:  (d20+13)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 5 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 

Attack:  (d20+8)[ 21 ] 
Crit:  (d20+8)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 1 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 20 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Crit damage (if needed):  (d8)[ 7 ]   (d8)[ 7 ] 
Admiral
As Whiskers rounds the corner and blinding light spreads through the corridor, the invisible gnome makes a complex motion towards the cell closest to him, and the gate springs open.

 
 Spoiler 
Silent Knock (out of L2s anyway).
 

 "&lt;Orc&gt;They're blind, the archer's dead- move now,&lt;/Orc&gt;"  comes a whisper next to the cell. The Orc seems to need little encouragement, as he slips through the gate and races down the corridor towards the exit, barreling past Natalia like she's not there. Shiny also pushes the light farther down the tunnel to help Rhenner.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Wait!"  Natalia asks in orcish as she steps back after killing the archer and the orc barrels past her, the harsh language rough on her tongue,  "What about your collar? Are you Orgun?"  She couldn't see what cell he came from.

 
 Spoiler: Question 
Was Shiny talking there?
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Wait!"  Natalia asks in orcish as she steps back after killing the archer and the orc barrels past her, the harsh language rough on her tongue,  "What about your collar? Are you Orgun?"  She couldn't see what cell he came from. 
 

 "&lt;Orc&gt;What about it.&lt;/Orc&gt;"  the orc grunts as he rushes past Natalia, squinting a bit in the spell's light.

 
 Spoiler 


 Was Shiny talking there? 

Perhaps it was Shiny... or perhaps it was the  Voiiiiiiiiiiiceeeeeeeee!?!?!?  😦😦😦
 
 Spoiler 
(It was Shiny).
 

 


Rhenner steps farther down into the cells as the light moves with him. He passes by the empty sixth cell, and finds a spindly undergnome in the seventh cell (he recalls that this was the cell Stephan had occupied; apparently since replaced).

In the eighth stands another deepdwarf, who leans close to the bars and peers out towards the light. Based on his bushy white eyebrows and speckled beard, he matches the description Stephan had given him of the cleric Rook. The dwarf raises his eyebrow as the lock shatters, then leans out and whispers a short sentence in Undercommon.

 
 Spoiler 

Just following CWater's instructions to free anyone matching the description of Stephan's allies. This'll be the last move I make before CWater returns, including if Rhenner wants to say anything.
 


The drow guards step and stumble towards the light, squinting as they do, their arms ready for battle.

 
 Spoiler 

Party's turn again. Makes sense for the drow to get the light blindness over with. They're blind right now.
 
Admiral
 "You'll have to try this,"  comes a gnome's voice next to Natalia,  "I'd recommend it to anyone." . Natalia feels a hand clamp down on her arm, and moments later she feels herself turn invisible again.

 
 Spoiler 

Awww, I'm not going to leave Natalia in the lurch. Just mostly wanted to feel like it was Shiny's decision instead of a request (I guess you could consider it a test). It's a little childish, but as Ferris says, so is high school.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Because I might be able to break the collars..."  Natalia replies in Orc.

===

 "Thanks! I'd recommend it too!"  Natalia says to Shiny as he turns her invisible once more. Shouting to Rhenner in Celestial,  "Did you find them?"  Natalia runs forward, draws her blades, and strikes the nearest drow in a downward sweep.

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
I'm not quite sure if D10 can be attacked without charging. If I can only attack him by charging, then add +2 to attack and crit.

And thanks for this! You didn't have to but I really appreciate it.

Attack:  (d20+18)[ 24 ] 
Crit:  (d20+18)[ 34 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 9 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rhenner steps farther down into the cells as the light moves with him. He passes by the empty sixth cell, and finds a spindly undergnome in the seventh cell (he recalls that this was the cell Stephan had occupied; apparently since replaced).

In the eighth stands another deepdwarf, who leans close to the bars and peers out towards the light. Based on his bushy white eyebrows and speckled beard, he matches the description Stephan had given him of the cleric Rook. The dwarf raises his eyebrow as the lock shatters, then leans out and whispers a short sentence in Undercommon. 
 

Rhenner shakes his head at the deepdwarf's words, not realising  that he can't actually see that. But he can hear hear the answer.  "I'm sorry, I don't speak the local tongue. Nor Dwarven I'm afraid, for all the time I spent with Dwarves, I could never figure out the language. Do you speak Common? We broke in with Stephan, who I think you know. We're looking for a dwarven cleric and a half-orc called Orgun and a kobold called Zik, who might have information the rest of us need. Do you know where they are?"  
 
 Spoiler 
Or was he an orc? I can't remember..
 


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Thanks! I'd recommend it too!"  Natalia says to Shiny as he turns her invisible once more. Shouting to Rhenner in Celestial,  "Did you find them?"  Natalia runs forward, draws her blades, and strikes the nearest drow in a downward sweep. 
 

 [Cel]"One at least, I'll look for the others![/Cel]" , Rhenner replies.
Dusk Eclipse
Satisfied with his cursory examination of the door Stephan drinks the potion before trying to open the door.
 
 Spoiler 
CMW  (2d8+3)[ 16 ] 
 
Admiral
Stephan slides the wide, complex key into the lock and twists it: it takes some force but unlocks, and he pulls it open. It leads to a deeper chamber, about twelve feet by ten feet, that seems to be the inner vault of the armory.

The first thing Stephan and Mithril see is a board at the end of the room, with keys hanging from it. He can see it is divided into two sections, with the Undercommon lettering for "A" and "B" scrawled above each, and drow numerals inscribed on each key. At the top hangs a faintly glowing blue key that he immediately recognizes: it is the one used to open the prisoners' magical collars.

Their eyes move away from the keys and glance around the room. While the outer section of the armory is designed to guard against the prisoners, it seems this inner vault is designed to hold, besidse  the goods that the guards themselves might steal. Several suits of armor and blades line the walls, and a few chests along the floor contain, presumably, other valuables. Stephan takes a moment to scan the wall before breathing a sigh of relief- he recognizes both his dragonsplits and the suit of armor he'd been captured with in the corner, and a bag sitting in the corner that resembles his own.

--------------

The blinded drow grunts as Natalia drives her blade into him, but soon he recovers and opens his eyes, startled to see that no one is there. He lunges in the direction of his assailant.

 
 Spoiler 

D9 (let's say that's the one you attacked) grapple attempt.

Touch attack:  (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 
If successful, grapple attempt opposed by Natalia:  (1d20+8)[ 16 ] 

Important: It's been two minutes since the start of the battle so this is Natalia's last round with Cat's Grace (gone by start of her turn).
 
Admiral
After the first guard struggles to get ahold of Natalia, the second jumps towards her as well.

 
 Spoiler 

D10, similar deal:

Touch attack:  (1d20+9)[ 29 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 1 ] 
If successful, grapple:  (1d20+9)[ 15 ] 
 


The guard's movements to take down his opponent are expert and precise- but aimed entirely at air.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Last bit I forgot:
 


As Stephan and Mithril survey the room in front of them, an orc screeches to a halt outside their door, then turns to look in. He takes a few steps into the room. Stephan recognizes him immediately: Kane, a long-running champion of arena tournaments, impossibly tough and furiously psychotic when angered.

 "&lt;Undercommon&gt;Ax...&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  he grunts, looking over the weapons in the outer and inner armories.

--------

Rook nods in understanding.  "So he kept his word,"  he answers in stilted common.

 "Last I saw Orgun they were dragging him to the Shredder, that's how I knew the plan had worked. I'll lead you there."  Glancing down the hallway at the monks and seeing them in combat with an invisible foe, he steps out into the cell and hurries along.  "But what in the Allfather's name could you want with poor Zik?" 
 
 Spoiler 

BTW, Orgun's an orc, not a half-orc.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia twists out of the way of the first drow's grapple, and in doing so evades the second outright. She twists her blades and attacks, then quickly steps back.

 
 Spoiler: Attack! 
actually, Natalia used an arcanist glove cats grace. She still has four minutes left!

Finishing the wounded d9 first, then unloading remaining attacls on d10. Lucky you got me on my lunch break!

Attack:  (d20+15)[ 29 ] 
Crit:  (d20+15)[ 31 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 8 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 13 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 7 ] 


Attack:  (d20+15)[ 25 ] 
Crit:  (d20+15)[ 25 ] 
Damage:  (d4+5)[ 7 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 
Crit damage:  (d4+5)[ 8 ] 


Attack:  (d20+12)[ 20 ] 
Crit:  (d20+12)[ 29 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 18 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 9 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril grabbed the key for the collars before ducking back behind Stephan.   "Is this one of your friends?" 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Sort of, we fought together and against each other"  he turns to glare at Kane &lt;Orc&gt; "Who freed you kane?"  &lt;/Orc&gt; he ask in a guttural language.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rook nods in understanding.  "So he kept his word,"  he answers in stilted common.

 "Last I saw Orgun they were dragging him to the Shredder, that's how I knew the plan had worked. I'll lead you there."  Glancing down the hallway at the monks and seeing them in combat with an invisible foe, he steps out into the cell and hurries along.  "But what in the Allfather's name could you want with poor Zik?"  
 

Still invisible, Rook can't see Rhenner's expression change.  "It's behind the last door in the tunnel?" 

When he asks about Zik, he says,  "Long story, I tell you later. You're a cleric, right? Can you heal?" 

  
 Spoiler 

BTW, Orgun's an orc, not a half-orc.
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Ok, I couldn't remember which and guessed wrong.

If the door to the Shredder (that name brings back memories btw) is locked, he will shatter it.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Dusk Eclipse 
  "Sort of, we fought together and against each other"  he turns to glare at Kane &lt;Orc&gt; "Who freed you kane?"  &lt;/Orc&gt; he ask in a guttural language. 
 

 &lt;Orc&gt;"I do not know and do not care,"  Kane states flatly. He glances down with plain disappointment at Ilgarn's dead body. Stephan had heard that a few months ago Kane had snapped while being transported back to his cell, broken through his handcuffs, and killed two guards with his bare hands, even with his collar shocking him. He'd spent a month in the Shredder, but had to be brought back by popular demand. Ever since then Stephan noticed Ilgarn personally took charge of Kane's transport, and took charge of finding new torments for him, giving him cursed weapons in the arena and leaving him to suffer his wounds instead of bringing him to the infirmary.

He steps over the drow's body and steps briskly towards the cage.  "The key to this collar, a greataxe, its placement into Nixar's head. Those things I  do  care about."  Nixar, a sadistic master of torture, oversaw the Shredder. Stephen knew him far too well.

---------

Natalia kills one of the drow guards with a pair of precise slashes, and manages to wound the other one. He leaps desperately towards her.

 
 Spoiler 

Touch:  (1d20+9)[ 27 ] 
Miss on 1:  (1d2)[ 2 ] 
Grapple:  (1d20+9)[ 21 ] 
 


Seeing one guard fall and another occupied, the drow prisoner in the cell behind Natalia slips out and moves quickly down the corridor.

---------


 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Still invisible, Rook can't see Rhenner's expression change.  "It's behind the last door in the tunnel?" 

When he asks about Zik, he says,  "Long story, I tell you later. You're a cleric, right? Can you heal?"  
 

Rook winces and glances around with a paranoid expression, an apparent reflex.  "Wouldn't mind you keepin' that down,"  he whispers,  "even if we  are  breakin' out. But yes." 
 "And as for Zik..."  the two pass by an orc in the ninth cell who rattles the bars angrily as Rook passes,  "I'm sorry, but lives are cheap in the arena. He went against a pair of orcs in the same tournament where Stephan escaped- I overheard that the guards were sick of dealing with him- and he never had a chance."  The two reach the tenth cell, and see it is empty. The room was clearly home to a troubled mind- the burlap in his mattress is covered in thousands of scratches, as are the walls and floor.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Gck!"  Natalia shouts as the wounded monk manages to find her position and grab her by the throat.  "Rhenner! Help!" 
 
 Spoiler: Grapple 
 (d20+6)[ 20 ] 

And Zik's dead. That's not good. How are we gonna get through the crevice now?
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Rhenner! Shiny! Pinned!"  Natalia shouts as the monk clamps down on her nearly-successful attempt to wriggle free. So instead she takes her shortsword and blindly jabs it into the monk's side.

 
 Spoiler: Attack 
Dammit, so close. I don't know how sneak attack works when you're being grappled, so if Natalia can't sneak attack just remove those.

Attack:  (d20+9)[ 14 ] 
Crit:  (d20+9)[ 20 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 17 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ] 

Attack:  (d20+4)[ 24 ] 
Crit:  (d20+4)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (d6+5)[ 10 ]  plus sneak attack:  (4d6)[ 10 ] 
Crit damage:  (d6+5)[ 11 ] 
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  &lt;Orc&gt;"I do not know and do not care,"  Kane states flatly. He glances down with plain disappointment at Ilgarn's dead body. Stephan had heard that a few months ago Kane had snapped while being transported back to his cell, broken through his handcuffs, and killed two guards with his bare hands, even with his collar shocking him. He'd spent a month in the Shredder, but had to be brought back by popular demand. Ever since then Stephan noticed Ilgarn personally took charge of Kane's transport, and took charge of finding new torments for him, giving him cursed weapons in the arena and leaving him to suffer his wounds instead of bringing him to the infirmary.

He steps over the drow's body and steps briskly towards the cage.  "The key to this collar, a greataxe, its placement into Nixar's head. Those things I  do  care about."  Nixar, a sadistic master of torture, oversaw the Shredder. Stephen knew him far too well. 
 

 "What did he say?  Please tell me it wasn't a plan to kill us?"   Mithril had taken advantage of the temporary break from the rushing of combat and had opened one of the chests looking inside.  She still had Natalia's bag and it couldn't hurt to shove some supplies for the Crevice in before they had to flee.
Admiral
With a pair of well aimed stabs to her assailant's gut, Natalia feels the arms around her shoulders loosen, and the drow collapses off of her.

 
 Spoiler 

Wow, even when grappled, invisible Natalia is a killing machine. (Just barely made his AC when Dex is removed). Good to see you took both the -4 for grappling and negated the Cat's Grace.

FYI for Mithril: Grabbing what you can while you're in these rooms is a good idea; I'll happily roll treasure for all the things Stephan and Mithril indiscriminately loot after the encounter is over. It will likely be more generous than the CR (which is already quite high) thanks to the fact that you stumbled onto such a goldmine.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pants heavily as the  sixteenth  guard she killed slides off of her, leaving a faint trail of blood down her front. She steps forward and shouts,  "Never mind!"  then adds in Undercommon, loud enough for most of the prison to hear,  "All the guards outside are dead! These--"  she motions to the two monks she killed, then nudges their bodies when she remembers she's invisible  "--make twenty-two! How many guards are left? Prisoners, who's here?"  She needs to find and free Orgun, Rook, and Zik at least and search these guards. But they need to check everywhere first.

 
 Spoiler 
Yeah, my reaction there was a muttered "Dear god!" and muffled laughter. Natalia's been a killing machine! Even if some of it was luck (one blown save could have stopped the rampage in its tracks), most of it was...wow. If this is Natalia at max power, this is insane. And if it's not, that's even more insane!
 
Dusk Eclipse
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
  &lt;Orc&gt;"I do not know and do not care,"  Kane states flatly. He glances down with plain disappointment at Ilgarn's dead body. Stephan had heard that a few months ago Kane had snapped while being transported back to his cell, broken through his handcuffs, and killed two guards with his bare hands, even with his collar shocking him. He'd spent a month in the Shredder, but had to be brought back by popular demand. Ever since then Stephan noticed Ilgarn personally took charge of Kane's transport, and took charge of finding new torments for him, giving him cursed weapons in the arena and leaving him to suffer his wounds instead of bringing him to the infirmary.

He steps over the drow's body and steps briskly towards the cage.  "The key to this collar, a greataxe, its placement into Nixar's head. Those things I  do  care about."  Nixar, a sadistic master of torture, oversaw the Shredder. Stephen knew him far too well. 
 

Stephan grabs the nearest axe to him and tosses it to the former champion &lt;Orc&gt; "I don't care what you do with Nixar, just know that if you harm any of my friends.... I'll hunt you down"  &lt;/Orc&gt;
 
 Spoiler 

That's it.... next level I'm dumping all my SP into intimidate  (1d20)[ 1 ] 
 


 
 Originally Posted by Athedia 
  "What did he say?  Please tell me it wasn't a plan to kill us?"   Mithril had taken advantage of the temporary break from the rushing of combat and had opened one of the chests looking inside.  She still had Natalia's bag and it couldn't hurt to shove some supplies for the Crevice in before they had to flee. 
 

 "He isn't.... I'll make sure of it"  Stephan said without taking his eyes off the Orcish warrior; once he is sure Kane won't attack him or Mithril he grabs his belongings.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rook winces and glances around with a paranoid expression, an apparent reflex.  "Wouldn't mind you keepin' that down,"  he whispers,  "even if we  are  breakin' out. But yes." 
 "And as for Zik..."  the two pass by an orc in the ninth cell who rattles the bars angrily as Rook passes,  "I'm sorry, but lives are cheap in the arena. He went against a pair of orcs in the same tournament where Stephan escaped- I overheard that the guards were sick of dealing with him- and he never had a chance."  The two reach the tenth cell, and see it is empty. The room was clearly home to a troubled mind- the burlap in his mattress is covered in thousands of scratches, as are the walls and floor. 
 

 "He's dead?"  That would be bad.. They would need to find another guide, or another route.. Well, getting out of here is most important right now.

Rhenner throws a quick glance back after Natalia's shout's.  "22.. So how many does that leave?" 
 
 Spoiler 
How far towards the Shredder did they get this turn? And was his standard action used for something.
 
Admiral
The orc scoffs.  &lt;Orc&gt;You're lucky we never fought to the death, puny human,&lt;/Orc&gt;  he states as he strides towards the two, snatching the axe from Stephan's hand.  "&lt;Orc&gt;Key.&lt;/Orc&gt;  he grunts violently at Mithril.

 "I'd give him what he wants,"  comes a voice in the common tongue. Stephan recognizes the drow who slips into the barracks, looking alert but amused.  "Dreadful sight when he doesn't get it." 

----

As Natalia shouts, the deepdwarf Stephan freed also runs out of his cell and down the corridor.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Maybe two?"  Natalia answers Rhenner's question, though she's clearly unsure. They need to hurry.

 
 Spoiler: Rhenner addressed Natalia, right? 
Did Natalia hear that Zik's dead? What can she see/hear, and how close is she to the Shredder, Shiny, Rhenner, and Rook?

Seems like we're headed to the end, right?

Night!

I replied since I thought Rhenner was talking to Natalia. Should I delete this? I won't be able to until tomorrow though.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The orc scoffs.  &lt;Orc&gt;You're lucky we never fought to the death, puny human,&lt;/Orc&gt;  he states as he strides towards the two, snatching the axe from Stephan's hand.  "&lt;Orc&gt;Key.&lt;/Orc&gt;  he grunts violently at Mithril.

 "I'd give him what he wants,"  comes a voice in the common tongue. Stephan recognizes the drow who slips into the barracks, looking alert but amused.  "Dreadful sight when he doesn't get it."  
 

Mithril froze as she realized the orc was talking to her.   "I don't know what you want!"   She was scared as Stephan's message to the orc had seemed rather... unbacked.  She had heard her younger siblings sound scarier.  Did he mean to kill them?  She repeated her message in the elven and dragon tongues in the rare hope she might be understood.

 
 Spoiler 
And Mythweaver was down so I wasn't able to check other languages.  Oh well, I think Celestial, Draconic and Elven were her extras and she just figured Celestial was out of the bucket here.
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "He wants the key"  Stephan growls as he puts himself between Mithril and the Drow.
 
 Spoiler 
Who is it?
 
Athedia
Mithril carefully approached the orc.   "Can someone tell him I am just unlocking the collar?  Ask him not to kill me please?"   She carefully reached up toward the orcs collar, her height finally giving her some small advantage after so much time in cramped tunnels.  Her hands were shaking madly as she stood there, looking for the keyhole.
CWater
 
 Spoiler 
Sorry that I post again before you had a chance to reply to the previous one, Admiral, but I forgot this bit.
 


 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rook winces and glances around with a paranoid expression, an apparent reflex.  "Wouldn't mind you keepin' that down,"  he whispers,  "even if we  are  breakin' out. But yes."  
 

Rhenner lowers his voice.  "Then, I ask for your help. I'm almost out of healing myself and I don't know how the fight went for the others. I hope they weren't gravely wounded after I left to come here, but I've seen enough of battles to not to trust that. Could you go to them?" 
Admiral
Kane snatches the key from Mithril's hand as she reaches up towards him. He reaches behind his own neck and twists the key, letting the collar pop off. He grunts, turns around, and drops the key on the floor as he charges out of the barracks. The drow at the door steps aside to give him room.

 
 Spoiler 
Sorry, he's just not a nice fellow. Technically Mithril gets an AoO melee attack on Kane when he "disarms" her. I'm going to take a wild guess she doesn't take advantage of it. Let me know if she would like to. Do let me know if Stephan wants to stand up to him.
 


The other prisoner turns back to Stephan and Mithril and starts walking towards them with his hands raised in a calming motion.  "You know, there's at least a dozen soldiers on their way  If any of us are to get out of this alive, you'll need to arm more prisoners than our ill-tempered friend."[/B] Stephan recognizes the drow as Aldus, a somewhat devious operator. The drow gestures towards the key on the floor.  "May I?" 

 
 Originally Posted by CWater 
 Rhenner lowers his voice.  "Then, I ask for your help. I'm almost out of healing myself and I don't know how the fight went for the others. I hope they weren't gravely wounded after I left to come here, but I've seen enough of battles to not to trust that. Could you go to them?"  
 

The deepdwarf nods curtly, and turns around to move back down the corridor.

 
 Spoiler 

In response to CWater's question: You're in a sort of semi-combat. We don't need things to happen synchronously, but there is a time pressure. If you say "Rhenner runs to the Shredder" you can trust that that's what happens and I'll count the appropriate number of rounds off.
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Everyone, head out! Stephan and our other friends are by the barracks; they'll help you too!"  Natalia shouts in undercommon as she raves down the hallway towards Rhenner and the shredder, taking a look at each cell as she runs by. She needs to inspect the place but if there are more drow she needs to help Rhenner fight them.

 
 Spoiler: Natalia's action 
Natalia runs to follow Rhenner; she'll inspect Zik's cell and maybe search the monks later.

5 surgeries today, gotta go.
 
Athedia
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Kane snatches the key from Mithril's hand as she reaches up towards him. He reaches behind his own neck and twists the key, letting the collar pop off. He grunts, turns around, and drops the key on the floor as he charges out of the barracks. The drow at the door steps aside to give him room.

 
 Spoiler 
Sorry, he's just not a nice fellow. Technically Mithril gets an AoO melee attack on Kane when he "disarms" her. I'm going to take a wild guess she doesn't take advantage of it. Let me know if she would like to. Do let me know if Stephan wants to stand up to him.
 


The other prisoner turns back to Stephan and Mithril and starts walking towards them with his hands raised in a calming motion.  "You know, there's at least a dozen soldiers on their way  If any of us are to get out of this alive, you'll need to arm more prisoners than our ill-tempered friend."[/B] Stephan recognizes the drow as Aldus, a somewhat devious operator. The drow gestures towards the key on the floor.  "May I?" 



The deepdwarf nods curtly, and turns around to move back down the corridor.

 
 Spoiler 

In response to CWater's question: You're in a sort of semi-combat. We don't need things to happen synchronously, but there is a time pressure. If you say "Rhenner runs to the Shredder" you can trust that that's what happens and I'll count the appropriate number of rounds off.
 
 
 

Mithril picked up the key again swiftly.   "Stephan makes the call."  She handed him the key and went back to opening the chests and filling Natalia's bag.
Dusk Eclipse
Stephan narrows his eyes, he knows Aldus is right.... but should he trust him?  "Fine, just take some weapons and go"  Stephan sighs as he opens the drow's collar.
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 The deepdwarf nods curtly, and turns around to move back down the corridor.

 
 Spoiler 

In response to CWater's question: You're in a sort of semi-combat. We don't need things to happen synchronously, but there is a time pressure. If you say "Rhenner runs to the Shredder" you can trust that that's what happens and I'll count the appropriate number of rounds off.
 
 
 

  
 Spoiler 
Ok, thanks for clarifying. That does sound most workable solution. He btw does exactly that.
 


Rhenner replies with a quick thanks, before hurrying towards the dreaded torture chamber.
Admiral
Natalia sees the hobgoblin Rhenner had freed run out of his cell and down the corridor. A few seconds later she sees a deepdwarf running towards her as well: he seems to resemble Stephan's description of Rook, and she had briefly heard Rhenner greet him as such. The dwarf appears set to hustle past her, as she's still invisible.

-----------

Aldus smiles as the swordsman opens his collar, then steps into the armory. He collects a handful of weapons while whistling an uncanny drow tune. Then he reaches up to the board to grab a few of the cell's keys, for some reason picking some cells and not others.

A third prisoner barrels around the corner, this one a deepdwarf. Stephan knows him by sight but not name.  "&lt;Undercommon&gt;So you're who I've to thank,&lt;/Undercommon&gt;"  he growls.  "Think you can get this off me?" 
 
 Spoiler 

Sorry it's repetitive, just how it would happen 🙂. If the general gist is "Whoever comes in Stephan unlocks and allows to grab some weapons," you can say so.
 


-------------

Rhenner runs to the end of the corridor, passing by five more inhabited cells as he does. By calling out to Shiny he is able to encourage the gnome to follow along with the light. Finally they reach the end of the corridor, and see a heavy iron door. As it's clearly barred from the inside there is nothing the cleric can shatter with his wand.

 "I could open it, though it'll be among the last magic I can cast today,"  offers a gnome's voice next to Rhenner.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Can I have a look first?"  Natalia asks, catching up to shiny and Rhenner, casting another cats grace augmented with the arcanist gloves at the last moment. She might be able to open it.

 
 Spoiler: Question  
can Natalia look at the door and see of she can unlock it?

Since I'm headed back to surgery soon here's the search check now:  (d20+16)[ 25 ] 
Open lock (in case she can roll it):  (d20+11)[ 31 ] 
 
Dusk Eclipse
 "Might as well"  Stephan grunts as he begins to unluck the collar.
 
 Spoiler 

Yeah, let's assume Stephan will unlock every prisoner that asks for the time being and in between them he starts putting on his armour and stuff.
 
CWater
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Rhenner runs to the end of the corridor, passing by five more inhabited cells as he does. By calling out to Shiny he is able to encourage the gnome to follow along with the light. Finally they reach the end of the corridor, and see a heavy iron door. As it's clearly barred from the inside there is nothing the cleric can shatter with his wand.

 "I could open it, though it'll be among the last magic I can cast today,"  offers a gnome's voice next to Rhenner. 
 

Rhenner winces slightly, he had been so focused on other things he hadn't heard Shiny catch up with him. Or maybe the gnome had used that silence spell too.

 "That is bad, but if there's no other way to open it quick, that might be necessary." 

After the door has been unlocked*, Rhenner is careful in opening it and doesn't rush in right away. He was reminded of the dangers by being shot at last time. And a barred door might well mean that there are more guards inside, even if you can accomplish all kinds of tricks with magic.

 
 Spoiler: * 
Since Shiny offered, I'm assuming that he is willing to cast the spell.
(I can't think of another way to open the door.)
 
CoffeeIncluded
After a moments hesitation, Natalia draws her foe instead of readying her blades. If they need to run in and attack she can just switch her weapon then and there.
 
 Spoiler: Natalia's actual action  
since she couldn't unlock the door, instead she does an arcanist glove cats grace and runs forward, drawing her bow and peering around where the door opens?
 
Admiral
Natalia and Rhenner hear Shiny cast an incantation, and the three invisible travelers hear a heavy bar slide and watch the door creak open in front of them. The moment it opens, a drow wielding a pair of blades and a breastplate comes charging out, screaming a battle cry.

 
 Spoiler 

Map is updated; look way the hell down to C70. Natalia can have a readied action to shoot him (sneak attack). Then comes the enemy's turn (this was his readied action), then party's initiative.

Counted it up and this next round is the last of Natalia's greater invisibility. Rhenner is (non-greater) invisible for about 3 more minutes.

Most importantly, please join me in  Lost in the Flood Part II. 
 
flat_footed
  The Fullmetal Mod   : Raise Thread 