Chapter 3: The truth lies in the mountain...

[Rukellian]

The bandit, now on the floor and trying crawl away from Deceidon, just shakes his head frantically showing a blank expression on his face. The man looks like he truly knows nothing else.

All that is found on the corpses is standard bandit equipment (leather armor and shortswords) and torches (4 unused).

[Rukellian]

If you guys are still not done with the bandit, now is the time to finalize your business, otherwise I will just move things forward here.

As the group finishes getting back into formation and starts to descend down the tunnel once more, the group notices that the door to the treasure room is still open. Mial, Laywin, and Captain Hal all pause when they look into the room and witness the mountain of coins within. Laywin and Mial drops their weapons as well as their jaws they gaze upon the rare spectacle. The other adventurers behind fidget around as they ask what is going on, still unaware of the treasure room just ahead of them.

[onlyme]

Witsell is done.

Whitsell wipes off his blade, and looks around for any more bandits hiding.

[Grognardsw]

"Discipline men! We'll have time for treasure once the bandits are vanquished," says Deceidon. "Marching order and proceed!"

[Rukellian]

"As the man says! No point in grabbing your reward now if the bandits are still there to steal everything back." The soldiers nod in understanding and the adventurers just goes along with everyone else grudgingly. Some of them occasionally look back towards the room, but then quickly fix their gaze back towards the tunnel. After a couple more hours of marching, the grade of walkway starts to slope up. The mouth of the tunnel exit can be seen from a distance.

[tooleychris]

"Aye. Onward and be wary. These are treacherous dogs and there may be surprises in store still." claims Flynn. He looks once again to Amber and nods. "Ready?"

[Rukellian]

"Aye. Onward and be wary. These are treacherous dogs and there may be surprises in store still." claims Flynn. He looks once again to Amber and nods. "Ready?"

She responds with a quick nod of her own, staying close to Flynn's side.

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon motions the force to pause before the end of the tunnel. He tells Capt. Hal to have the men search for secret doors, should the tunnel clandestinely continue into the mountain itself.

Deceidon whispers to Gustove his fellow fighter-thief: "Shall we don bandit cloaks and stealthily scout ahead? Should there be 50 bandits out there our force will lose a direct confrontation."

[NJWilliam]

Gustov

Gustov smiles at Deceidon's words and nods, "Aye, let's just make sure these fellas don't shoot at us."

[Rukellian]

"Tis fine if my men do so as well, but I should advice that everyone else, including myself, stay out of this ruse. They know the face of he who has been hunting them for too long now, I'd give everyone away, some of our other adventurers may fall into this category as well, but my men have a level anonymity. If you would have them, they can help act as part of the bandit force that was found in the tunnel, surviving an untimely attack from a group of 'adventurers'." The captain winks as he says this.

[Grognardsw]

"That sounds good captain," answers Deceidon. "But first let Gustov and I reconnoiter above."

"Did the men perchance find any secret doors about, should this tunnel continue into the mountain?"

[Rukellian]

Looking around, most of the soldiers/guards seems to be having no luck at finding any secret entrances. The walls seem to be solid. Looking around the floor, you notice that there are no trails of footprints to give anything away either, no drafts, nothing.

[Grognardsw]

Bow drawn, bandit cloak worn, Deceidon slowly and silently advances up the tunnel with Gustov. He stays to the shadows, then to vegetation and trees if available around the outside exit of the tunnel.

- Move Silent: [1d100] = 34
- Hide in Shadows [1d100] = 58

[Rukellian]

Action seems to be at a stand still for half the group, I realize this. Don't feel that you are obligated to post an action unless you think your character's input is needed. Right now, I am just waiting on Gustov, to see what he will be doing (following Deceidon's example or walking in as a bandit, maybe even something else).

[NJWilliam]

Gustov

Gustov, like Deceidon, don's a bandit cloak and quietly proceeds through the shadows.

Gustov, move silent: [1d100] = 85
Gustov, hide in shadows: [1d100] = 19

[Rukellian]

Both Deceidon and Gustov don bandit armor and exit the tunnel. They find themselves in front of a walled in open air arena of sorts, with no visible way out other than the tunnel or the wooden gate ahead. Two watch towers stand on each side of the gate, with an archer on each pointing their bows at the warrior thieves. "HALT," shouts one of the archers, as he fires a warning shot just in front of their Deceidon's feet. The archer squints his eyes and then says in a shout, "I do not recognize you two... where did the rest of the group go? There was at least twenty of you guys that left for food, well?"

Considering the fact that there was nothing to hide behind or any shadows to lurk in, the two were easily spotted and now have to decide what their next course of action will be.

[NJWilliam]

Gustov

Gustov raises his voice to carry to the archer, putting on a gruff tone, "Aye, and we've so much we were sent for more to help carry! I think some ain't carrying their full load, but that's what we're sent to do. Send some after us, eh?"

[Rukellian]

"The bloody slackers! Can't even do a simple theft right...FINE." The archer turns around and motions towards the back for some bandits to come and help out. The gates open and 12 appear, swords sheaved and moving along grudgingly towards the tunnel entrance.

[NJWilliam]

Gustov

Gustov nods and waves, and motioning for Deceidon to head back with him, double times it back to the party to let them know what is headed their way.

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon / back in tunnel

Deceidon whispers to Gustov: "I'll have them ambushed 200'. You be in front with torch. Trip, drop torch, stay down for arrows." Deceidon hurries back into the tunnel, silently motioning for the soldiers to retreat further back into the tunnel well out of earshot to the fort. Then he whispers quick instructions: "A dozen bandits being led by us. Run back 200', when you see the torch drop fire arrows and follow up with melee. None must get back out."