(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Infiltrate

A cultist came forward and helped to guide the oxen through the big open doors. Inside, the gatehouse consisted of a large room with a wooden loft. The man who was most likely Argyle was a human of about sixty years of age, wiry, bald, and covered in dragon tattoos.

"Thas whatchya get fer dealin' with those shifty bastastards. Disloyal, I have always said. Kobold may seem ta worship Dragons, but they're just afraid - an' rightly so! But they'll turn when it suits 'em."

He was up in the loft, but looked for a moment like he would come down, as he bantered with Lorent. It seemed unlikely that Lorent's impersonation of Rawick would hold up to too close an inspection, in particular if the two cultists had been friends, but then Argyle paused at the top of a ladder and waved to two of his subordinates (of which there were five) saying, "Shut down the grinder and help Rawick get this stuff ta th'storehouse."

The one who had been leading the oxen continued to do so, while another opened a second set of doors in the back wall, that led to a long hallway that went deep into the mountain.

 

[Neurotic]

"Yeah, yeah." Lorent waves it away as the cart is lead away

OOC: First step is done. When we are alone with this guy (or two?) we need to act quickly (and quietly)

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Infiltrate

Similar to the switchback road outside, only much less steep, the hallway past the gatehouse turned back and forth as it travelled gradually downward. The cultist at the front led the oxen around each turn - something that would be awkward for the driver to do from his seat - while the other cultist followed along behind, making small talk with Copper, who was standing on a footboard at the rear (though it would be easy for him to hop down and walk along behind).

"Come t'join us, have yeh?" asked the cultist, happy to have so big a fellow added to their number. "Where y'from?"

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

On foot, the party that had left the wagon behind at the Watchtower, travelled for about twenty minutes over and around jagged rocks that had fallen from Blackpeak. Once, they saw one fall - it cracked off of a protruding peak and tumbled down to crash to the ground among many others.

Finally, they came to a small series of caves, about which Corrah said, "Most of 'em are shallow an' just have bats, badgers, and porcupines living in 'em. But down here is where the kobolds are, and we're sure that their tunnels reach the Temple."

She spoke as she hopped down a slope into a gravel-bottomed gully that wound toward a low-lying cave.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Team Lake - Aywin

Aywin relates what Svetlana describes to the rest of his companions. He takes a few seconds to see for himself from her eyes and responds telepathically "Yes, please take a closer look but be careful; don't touch anything"

 

[Kobold Stew]

Team Caves.

Urgan slips through the fissures, staff in hand, his eyes instantly becoming accustomed to the darkness. He says to the others, "Kobolds have reputations for being tricksters, or I guess rather trapsters..." He hesitates, unsure if he's made a joke or not. "Either way, they might let us pass. All we want is through. Does anyone here speak Draconic? I would be very happy to get by without needing to kill them all." There is no doubt in Urgan's tone that he sees that as the only alternative.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Lake

Svetlana was out of communication range for a few moments, but then she returned, telling Aywin, *"I didn't get a chance to get a good look it it. There's a lizardfolk that came out of the water. I think he knows you're here (your light is flashing around the corner).

They had been slowly making their way around the twisting vines, careful not to disturb them. Bjorn had decided not to go very far up the sewer tunnel after all, and had returned to lead them through the vines.

Spoiler: Lake Map with Notes

1) Mucky banks. 2) Strange object. 3) Second "Sewer". 4) Swifter Current.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

As Urgan spoke, quietly making a joke about kobolds and traps, he stepped forward and the gravel began to slide out from under him, revealing a pit trap with wooden spikes at the bottom. In addition, the falling gravel banged on a few hidden tin cowbells, making a racket.

OOC: @Kobold Stew Urgan will need to make a dc12 DEX Save or fall in a pit and take 4 Bludgeoning and 5 Piercing damage! (Sorry, I rolled to see if you spotted it and you didn't.)

 

[Kobold Stew]

As the ground slips beneath him, Urgan steps aside with a deftness that surprises even himself.

Urgan looks to the others. "See what I mean?"

OOC: Dex save: 1d20+2=22. What's funny, is Urgan can now take the Study action as a bonus action -- I'll be clear he is doing so in the future!, studying the path in front of him.