Revisiting The Caves: Pt.2

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

"Gotcha. Back thru the nice bedroom. Keep an eye out for tricks." He whispers and he quickly turns and leads the way back through the complex.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back To The Keep
Feeling Froggy
Late Afternoon, Clear

Returning Party

Ignoring the frog without incident, Keya and Magdal are certain they notice the creature roll its massive droopy eyes and shake its oversized head once they pass.

No matter, as they continue on their way, they also pass the remnants of the bandits tricks still placed at the edges of the trail. Knowing them for what they are, the silhouettes are ignored this time and the group passes the detour unscathed.

When they reach the Main Road again, the Keep can finally be seen upon its high rocky plateau well off in the distance.

The road ahead appears clear, but looking back towards the caves again, 2 figures are spotted on the road a good distance away, also apparently heading in the direction the Keep.

Lady LeNore speaks again. "Looks like we may get some company, eh? More friends of yours, I hope?"

Actions?

Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 8/12 CLW/CLW/CLW
Stobart (C1) AC:5 5/10 CLW/CLW/Sanct
Gyb the Meager (M1) AC:10 2/8
Pimlan (F1/T1) H-L AC:6 4/9
Renna (MU1/C1) Elf AC:4 4/9 Sleep/Sleep/Sleep CLW/CLW/CLW
Magdal (R1) AC:7 5/16
Crobeus (P1) AC:3 4/10
Former Bandit
Lady LeNore



INSIDE

While the others discuss their options, the one armed torch toting Crabgrass scuttles through the hallway and into the guard room where he and Dubricus started this whole ill fated endeavor. He walks through the bloody mess of playing cards left on the floor to tuck himself, torch and all, behind the dark curtain before sticking his head through the fake alcove to get a look at whoever belongs to the oncoming voices.

Unsure why anyone would move towards the danger in their current condition, every other member of the party wisely decides to leave the Half-Elf to his fate once again, immediately heading for the next cave where they might be able to exit unseen. They pass through the halls and beyond the lavishly decorated bedroom to head into the secret room that divides the two cave complexes. Listening for any danger beyond the secret door there, so far no voices or other noises are present up to this point.

Crabgrass becomes concerned when he spots the backsides of at least two human sized figures dressed in blood red robes already heading straight into the cave opening only feet from where he is hiding. Stopping dead in his tracks, the Half-Elf hears the voices coming ever closer to his hidey hole, clearly making an inspection of the cave he is in.

A timid, almost apologetic voice begins. "They might have already run away, I suppose. But I swear they were here. I ran as fast as I could to get you once they let me escape, but maybe I was not quick enough. I am sorry Nisir. I pray Erishkigal will forgive my failures."

A sultry female voice is heard next. "Do not fret young one, as we may yet find evidence of stragglers inside."

A third (male) voice sounds out last. "What in Nergal's name really happened in here. How many of them did you say attacked you? HELLO! Is there anyone left in here?"

Though he can't see anyone, Crabgrass can hear the trio looking around in the room only precious feet from where his is currently hiding.

Actions?

caves_of_chaos_large - Copy (5).jpg (53.73 KiB) Viewed 859 times

Rida (F2) AC:2 4/13
Crabgrass (MU1/C1) H-E AC:7 6/7 Sleep/SG/DM Sanct/CLW/CLW Torch
Haldric Hammerheart D (C1) AC:3 12/12 CLW/Light/CLW
Bugs Donato G (T2) AC:3 15/16
Loyn Shortbeard D (F1) AC:5 9/12 Torch
Meinhardt (MU1) AC:10 4/5 MM/MM/Sleep
Cobb (F1) AC:6 14/14 Torch

[Darithe]

Magdal

Nocks an arrow at the sight of the figures following. She squints trying to get a better look at them but keeps moving.

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan shrugs and squints trying to see the figures better "One can only hope they are not more bandits."

[shaidar]

Stobart

"Unless they speed up, we should arrive at the keep before they do, but let's keep an eye on them."

[Quonundrum]

Meinhardt


He looks around at the group with a bemused expression. "Are we missing anyone ... Crabgrass. Where did he go?"

[ateno]

Keya is suspicious of Lady LeNore but says nothing.

He looks behind the group making sure no one was looking at them as they leaved the forest.

He tries to see who also is heading towards the keep.

Bow is ready.

Keya

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

"Hmm? What? Crabgrass isn't with us? He's a slippery one isn't he?" Bugs looks to Loyn. "What do you think? If we get to the exit we may be able to see any comings and goings. Or I can wait here for him while you all exit?"

He keeps his ear to the secret door to cave C while he waits for orders.

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn -Dwarf fighter

He looks to the thief and the rest of the party, “Hmm…Crabgrass is on his own for now… Bugs, we need your shrewd senses to lead the way out as only you can! If the dreaded bandits are still outside, we could use ranged weapons as a distraction!”

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

Hiding in the spy alcove, the cleric-mage realises he is in trouble. The niche has a curtain to shield him from view, hence him leaving his torch balanced on the card table otherwise it would set the covering on fire. But he doesn't expect to be shielded for long, especially as the trio search the room.

Out of spells and not that great at fighting, he thinks creatively.

he figures to arm himself with a few defensive projectiles, oiling a few strips of bed cloth around the necks of his remaining oil flasks in order to ease them being set alight and thrown. He has four flasks left, so ties them in pairs to be slung together.

Over his shoulder are the four dangling flasks. Prepped to throw at any trolls, he feels his only choice is to take initiative rather than wait to be discovered; only a quick death or the orc-cave zombie factory look probable alternatives if he just stands there.

So I grab one pair of tied together flasks and throw them across the room towards the burning torch, hoping they smash open and explode in a fiery pool with the trio in the oily puddle. With a prayer to his God on his lips, "Aha! Take that."

Crabgrass: throws tied flasks [1d20]=14

[gurusql]

Renna

Renna will see if she recognizes the figures, otherwise will keep going.

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

"Right-o. Let's head out." Bugs pushes open the secret door and starts heading west. Sneaky-like. If there is nothing to be seen in the hall, he will pause at the orc door, making sure it's closed.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back To The Keep
Who Dat?
Late Afternoon, Clear

Returning Party

Seeming a bit nervous about the oncoming strangers, the group prepare for anything, though eventually decide it might be best to simply continue on towards the Keep.

While most can't tell who the pair might be from this distance, the keen eyes of Renna notices that one of them is clearly her Elf kin. When the Elf moving towards them notices her noticing them, he offers a friendly smile and waves his hand in the air at them.

Lady LeNore opines, "they dont look like bandits to me." The former bandit with them stares at the distant pair squinting. "I hope not".

Actions?

Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 8/12 CLW/CLW/CLW
Stobart (C1) AC:5 5/10 CLW/CLW/Sanct
Gyb the Meager (M1) AC:10 2/8
Pimlan (F1/T1) H-L AC:6 4/9
Renna (MU1/C1) Elf AC:4 4/9 Sleep/Sleep/Sleep CLW/CLW/CLW
Magdal (R1) AC:7 5/16
Crobeus (P1) AC:3 4/10
Former Bandit
Lady LeNore



INSIDE

Thrust into a situation he would rather not be in, Crabgrass finds himself all alone against at least three adversaries who are likely working as or for the evil priests he's heard about. Certain he is going to be discovered, he decides to do something desperate, even for the likes of him. Using his pair of tied oil flasks he created earlier, the one armed Half-Elf quickly pulls the curtain aside, much to the surprise to the 3 persons currently searching the room. He then spikes the oil onto the table and floor near the torch he left behind, creating a blaze of flame as the oil ignites. One of the searchers is standing directly in the oil pool, which starts him on fire as well, while the others are hit with a splash of the oil, causing them to keep their distance from the blaze.

After the initial shock passes, the pair not currently on fire turn towards Crabgrass and draw weapons. One of them stands between him and the exit, while the other stands in the corner on the other side of the blaze in the center of the room. He shouts through the flames. "STOP WHERE YOU ARE AND YOU WILL NOT BE KILLED! We only want to know who you are!"

---

Backtracking through this cave system into the neighboring cave, Bugs leads the group past the closed door leading into the dead orc room without difficulty. Taking caution to peer around the corner at the exit before rushing in, Bugs does indeed spot danger up ahead, as a pair of lumbering figures stands in the open entrance of the cave mouth. Neither figure is currently looking into the cave, and they don't move around much either, apparently content to stand there silently. It doesn't take the gnome long to figure out why this pair doesn't seem very energetic, once he notices their disturbing features and horrid, earthy smell.

Picture2.jpg (36.14 KiB) Viewed 762 times

Actions?

caves_of_chaos_large - Copy (5).jpg (53.73 KiB) Viewed 762 times

Rida (F2) AC:2 4/13
Crabgrass (MU1/C1) H-E AC:7 6/7 Sleep/SG/DM Sanct/CLW/CLW Torch
Haldric Hammerheart D (C1) AC:3 12/12 CLW/Light/CLW
Bugs Donato G (T2) AC:3 15/16
Loyn Shortbeard D (F1) AC:5 9/12 Torch
Meinhardt (MU1) AC:10 4/5 MM/MM/Sleep
Cobb (F1) AC:6 14/14 Torch

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

Remains unconvinced that these bandits and red-robed figures mean him not harm at all. So grabs his second and last tied flasks from his shoulder and hurls them also into the middle of the room.

Crabgrass: throws tied flasks [1d20]=16

"I am just the Lookout. The others are resting in the Halfling's suite." He tries to blag his lowly status and hopes to provoke them to go up the slope rather than pin him in the corner, indeed pin him with swords at all. He has to keep them at bay and burning since his only plan is to flee the caves and not engage in any melee if he can help it.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"More of us than them", Gyb observes. "Not a threat, perhaps".

[ravenn4544]

Haldric utters a curse, "Zombies! Rotten things.." He steps forward with his hammer boldly and pronounces his faith, "Dumathoin - return these unnatural creatures to rest!"

Turn Undead [1d20]=7

[ateno]

Keya continues, but sheaths his arrow. Again not saying anything to the helpful lady.

Keya Redd

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

"If we keep moving toward the keep at our normal pace, they can catch up if they wish, and we should be able to judge their intent if they do. They seem friendly, but recent events have me suspicious of those I don't know." His eyes cut quick glances at the former bandit and Lady LeNore. "Does anyone recognize the one waving to us?"

[Darithe]

Magdal

Magdal keeps her arrow nocked and continues to move, until the followers of their path make it known if they are friend or foe.

[gurusql]

Renna

"Looks like an elf-kind at pretending to be friendly if not actually being so."

Renna will wave back.