CH. 8: Proving Worth

[Haahque]

"Don't worry, the food dye is completely harmless, and very temporary, you'll be able to eat the food just fine after the fight."

[TristenC]

I'm more worried about the application... leaning close to the Gnome he whispers quietly, if something miraculously chanced to go against you, I can't 'help' you the way I did before... you might even die. Perhaps ypu can be the 'idea man' and leave the execution to others... Doubting his talk had much effect, the goblin turns to the bard. Gregeddin, can you talk to him?

[HorizonsDream]

"Lead the way, Slinn," Kendra says, motioning for the draconian to take the lead of their little flanking adventure.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
"I can make myself and one other person invisible," Ismene offers. "But...I don't know what I could do to 'neutralize' anyone. All I'm really good at are illusions and phantasms."

"What if we just rush them?" asks Pen. "Maybe they'll be so surprised, we'll wipe most of them out before they can react. Bam, pow, slapacow!" he says, miming the throwing of punches.

"I think the goblin may have a point, Haahqae," Gregeddin adds. "It might be best to relegate yourself to the back and leave the heavy fighting to the hired muscle."

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
"Attack on my signal," Krup says, as the group splits up in three. Slinn and Kendra head to the right, moving from bush to bush for cover, and then climbing down deeper toward the camp, before crouching behind some more shrubbery. "I don't like this," Slinn mutters. "Too quiet."

From her vantage point, Kendra can spot the others moving into position. Nothing stirs in the camp, nor any sign of the occupants that stayed here. The tension in the air grows thicker.

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Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas looks around the room for anything that will help him open the chest next to the bed he woke up in. Aside from the beds and the chests (one by each bed), there are two man-sized candelabra that are illuminating the room, one at each end of the room.

[Haahque]

"Well Ismene, would you be able to throw up an illusion that makes it look like nothing is happening so that the lizard-things won't know that they need to react to their priest being neutralized, while Pen and a couple others do the job? An Illusion to mask the sound as well as the sight would be even better, but I know that those are very hard to cast and you pretty much need to be an arch-mage sitting in his tower to pull it off."

"Ismene can get herself and one other to the other side invisible, two more can drink from my potion and I guess I'll just sit back here and wait for the real battle to begin, after all I was smart to hire help, so I should let the hired help help."

[TristenC]

Wise decision, Grubnick murmurs. If you can take Pen, ismene, and we can get Felarn and Ne-chaz invisible with the potion I think that mskes the most sense. Yhe four of you approach the priest as quietly as possible and attack. Try lo leave each other room to strike. Then Ismene can go invisible again to stay out of harm's way. The raised area should be pretty defensible if someone guards the stairs. The rest of us can line up just this side of the half-wall so they can't swarm our ranged attackers. I think Arulia, I and maybe Gregeddin could do it... unless one of you other ladies would like to volunteer.

Does that sound acceptable to everyone?

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looks around from her vantage point. She looks of recent signs of the elf party that she is suppose to be helping. ~He is right in the fact that it is too quiet,~ she thinks to herself.

[BishGada]

Tulbas carefully examines the chest to see it he can use the candelabra as leverage to crack open the chest without endangering his precious spellbook.

[djhyland]

Although she wants nothing more than to flee, Aruila swallows her fears and nods. Not only would she lose out on any payment if she left, she can't just leave the others down here in peril by themselves. "Just tell me where you want me to go, and I'll do my best to protect whoever I can," she says, hoping that she sounds more confident than she feels.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
"I can create sound, but I can't mute it," Ismene admits. "If the target shouts out, everyone will still be able to hear him, even if I hid him with an illusion."

Yvette chuckles at Gobax. "Uh, we don't 'volunteer' for anything. But I'll be willing to do it, in exchange for a larger share of the loot."

"Haven't even found any loot yet," Xyleena grumbles bitterly. "Better hope there's something of value somewhere in this pit."

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
Kendra doesn't see any sign of the elves, no matter where she looks. Eventually, Krup sneaks into the camp itself, shield up. He moves to the first tent and throws open the flap, sword at the ready. But apparently there's nothing inside, as he just turns and moves to the second tent. This one also proves empty. Finally, he sneaks to the third tent and opens the flap to find...nothing. He stops and scratches his head, confused.

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas determines he might be able to use one of the candelabra to pry the chest open, if he can summon up the strength to do so.

[TristenC]

Don't worry, Arulia, we'll keep an eye on each other. Ismene, just do what you can.

Funny, I thought a share of the loot was what you had agreed on for helping in the first place, he teases back to Yvette. But if you are thinking of charging per fight I can tell you right now that's not going to happen. As long as you two put those crossbows to good use, I think Arulia, Gregeddin and I can keep you out of melee if we all stay just this-side of the short wall.

Unless anyone has a way to put him to sleep or poison him... he says, hopefully.

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm pretty sure he hasn't found anything," Kendra says with a sigh. "And there aren't any signs other than these tents."

[BishGada]

Tulbas carefully uses the candelabra to open the chest. His muscles hurt but the urge to get his spellbook back is stronger. He pushes a sharp corner of the candelabra between the lead and the chest, and then uses the bed as a weight to press down the candelabra.

[djhyland]

Arulia shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot at the goblin's last question. "I could try to charm the priest," she thinks, "but can I trust these people? They would certainly ask questions, and word could get back to the Dragon Queen's temple. Fizban told me to be subtle..." Deciding that it is best to remain silent on the matter, she simply shakes her head nervously. Hefting her mace and her shield, she mutters, "Let us attack before they take notice of us, then."

[Haahque]

"Grand idea" Haahqae agrees, unslinging his bow again and getting an arrow ready.